Today I’m pumped to share the unusual story behind how Marc Ecko turned his love of street art into a billion dollar clothing company.

You see, like most artists, he got the “itch” early on, but he abandoned his craft for a much more stable career move – pharmacy school.

He didn’t last long though, and he soon dropped out to launch a clothing company.

He shares everything on this new Social Triggers Insider podcast, and here’s why I’m excited to share this with you:

Marc Ecko’s Secrets to Success in Business

Here are 5 reasons why you should listen to this podcast today:

1. This isn’t some “rosy” tale of crazy success. Yes, he built one of the largest clothing companies, but he flirted with failure and beat it. It’s inspiring.

2. He’s a commercial artist. He never “sold out,” but he did turn his art into a successful business. All business owners should take note.

3. If you’ve ever stressed about designs or logos, you’ll see what Marc Ecko – the street artist – thinks about logos. It might surprise you.

4. Have you ever thought, “It’s gotta be hard to build a business based on creativity?” If yes, you’ll see how Marc Ecko makes it sound like anyone can do it.

5. And more.

Download audio file (16-Social-Triggers-How-Street-Artist-Marc-Ecko-Launched-A-Billion-Dollar-Clothing-Company.mp3)

“Logos are guns without ammo” – Marc Ecko – Click to Tweet

When you’re done, leave a comment sharing your BIGGEST insight – and how it’s going to help you.

Or, have you ever walked away from pursuing one of your dreams because you went after what you thought was “more stable?” What happened? Share your story as inspiration!

Also, one more thing…

As I mentioned on the podcast, Marc Ecko has a new book out. It’s called Unlabel: Selling You Without Selling Out.

I received an advanced copy and read it in like 2 days. It was a book I just couldn’t put down. If you’re a creative, and you’re looking to make a living from your work, I believe this book will be the book you reference for years to come.

So, I highly suggest you pick up the book here on Amazon. That’s an affiliate link, but trust me – it’s not for the commissions. I use book sale numbers to ensure I continue to land the BEST guests on Social Triggers Insider. Period.

I should also note: By now, as a Social Triggers subscriber, you probably know I’m an avid reader, successfully reading a few books each week. And I can honestly say this is one of the better books I’ve read in the last 12 months.

Did you know Social Triggers Insider is now on iTunes? If you enjoy this series, please take a few seconds and leave an honest review. There are 317 of them and we need to hit 350!

Right click this link to save the audio as a MP3 file to your computer

The transcript for this podcast is not available… yet. Please check back.

Social Triggers is hiring an online training course product developer. More details right here

There are 2 types of passion: One is good. The other is very bad.

I invited Adam Alter, NYT best-selling author, and professor at NYU, to explain the difference.

I find myself walking the line between these “good” and “bad” passions. Especially when it comes to my business.

You may notice the same thing.

So, here’s what I’d like to hear from you…

Leave a quick comment sharing your personal experience with each type of passion. Also, if you know someone who may struggle with the same issue, can you do me a favor? Share it.

Also, here’s what else you can expect from this 30 minute interview:

* There are two types of passion. One is good. The other is very bad. Find out which one you have and why.

* Two simple ways to break bad habits: distract and replace. Adam walks you through each example in the video.

* Why you should read Adam Alter’s new book Irresistible.

Here’s the audio version:

Download audio file (ADAM_ALTER_-_audio_only.mp3)

Download the Audio Version of the Interview

Before I got started packaging up my skills and expertise as online courses, I had a HUGE mental block standing between me and my success.

I kept telling myself, “Why would anyone buy this? If they just buy these books, read these sites, and start testing things on their own, they’ll be able to figure it out.”

Just writing that today makes me feel like an idiot.

Why?

As Sweet Brown would say, “Ain’t nobody got time for that.”

Reading 1000s of books, research papers, and then spending months (if not years) figuring out how to IMPLEMENT the stuff takes time. And…

“Ain’t nobody got time for that.”

But check it:

There’s a psychological reason why you SHOULD sell what you know.

Even if they can find what you know somewhere else at no cost.

Why You Should Sell Your Expertise

On today’s podcast, I brought Francesca Gino, a Harvard professor and author of the book Sidetracked (aff), on Social Triggers to talk about why people only trust information with a price tag.

Download audio file (17-Social-Triggers-Why-you-should-sell-what-you-know-with-Harvard-professor-Francesca-Gino.mp3)

(If you can’t see the audio player, here’s the MP3 download).

Also, if you get a second today, can you please leave a review on iTunes? Reviews are how iTunes rank podcasts – and taking 10 seconds to leave a review will be a HUGE help. Thank you!

We cover a lot more game-changing insights in addition to that, so download this podcast and listen today. You’ll see:

* why people CHOOSE to wait in line for hours for something they can find somewhere else… instantly.

* Why creating “rituals” can help you perform high stress tasks better.

* And more.

When you’re done, since I mentioned a mental block I had about business, I’d love for you to share one mental block you think you have preventing you from getting what you want.

Leave a comment or send me an email at news@socialtriggers

Tim Ferriss thought about killing himself…

…Now he’s a best-selling author, wildly successful investor, and entrepreneur.

On this new podcast, for the first time ever, Tim Ferriss talks about his troubled beginnings — and how he became the Tim Ferriss we know today.

And you can listen to the whole thing for free.

We go deep.

People always ask Tim questions like, “How do you sell so many books, “how do you land equity deals,” and “how do you get so much traffic?”

But those questions are misguided.

Here’s why:

There are other battles fought – and won – behind the scenes. And These skirmishes, while rarely talked about, have the biggest impact on whether you live a status quo life or an exceptional life.

Want to know more? Tim and I talk about all of this and more on the podcast.

Download audio file (22-Tim-Ferriss-On-Suicide-Fear-of-Failure-and-The-Secret-to-Success.mp3)

(And here’s the MP3 download link)

Note: Want the transcript? Download it right here.

Also – if you like this podcast, and want me to host MORE podcasts just like this, please go to iTunes and leave an honest review.

More specifically, we’ll cover:

* The quickest way to cure any bad mood (use this when you’re feeling down, mad, or just need a pick-me-up)

* What happens when people crack under pressure – and how to prevent it from happening to you.

* How to eliminate the fear of failure TODAY

* And of course: how Tim Ferriss became the Tim Ferriss we know today (a best-selling author, wildly successful investor, and entrepreneur).

Now listen to the podcast.

And if you have any experience with anything we talked about, I’d love for you to open up in the comments.

Both Tim and I talk about the good and the bad. And it’s OKAY if everything isn’t as perfect as it seems on the outside.

Share your story in the comments.

Show Notes:

1. The Tim Ferriss Show (His podcast)

2. The Tim Ferriss Experiment (his tv show)

3. “Productivity” Tricks for the Neurotic, Manic-Depressive, and Crazy (Like Me)

P.S. I’ve had an on and off again relationship with podcasting. And while this is the first podcast I released in more than a year, I believe it was worth the wait. So listen to it today.

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I recently read Adam Braun’s new book, “The Promise of a Pencil(affiliate link)” And let me tell you – it was GREAT. I could spend this whole blog post raving about how great the book is…

…But instead, I’m going to share just one story inside his book that SHOCKED me (and I’m not easily shocked). This story reveals an important insight into why Adam was able to become so successful and has been able to inspire such change. You’re going to love it!

Here’s what happened…

Adam was at a nice restaurant in NYC eating a fancy steak dinner. After backpacking, on a shoe string budget, all over the world, I could only imagine how great that steak must have tasted.

He was invited to this dinner because he had interviewed for a prestigious consulting company and they were going to offer him a job. The company took everyone out to celebrate with steak and champagne.

He finished his steak and watched as the waiter began clearing plates. That’s when he noticed another, perfectly cooked, UNTOUCHED steak on a plate being taken from the youngest female partner at this consulting company. All she ate was the vegetables and left the juicy steak behind.

Imagine what must have been going through Adam’s mind – what would have been going through YOUR mind if you were in his position. He was thinking, “I want that steak.”

So he did what most of us would never have the cojones to do: he SNATCHED that steak off the woman’s plate.

OMG.

Reading this story in his book, I got embarrassed FOR him. Because really, who does that?

But what’s strange is this:

The fact that he had the confidence to do it is what mattered. Adam tells the WHOLE story on this new Social Triggers Insider podcast.

Download audio file (21-You-Wont-Believe-What-Adam-Braun-Did-At-Dinner-And-Thats-Why-Hes-Successful.mp3)

(If you can’t see the audio player, here’s the MP3 link).

And you’ll hear more than just this steak story in this new podcast. His new book is, I think, a collection of “the principles that separate winners from losers,” but we don’t just talk about the book.

Instead, I get him to reveal stuff he doesn’t even mention in his book or in other interviews. Things like:

* The ONE secret to success most people NEVER talk about.

* The Big Reason Why You Need To “Do Something On The Side.”

* The BEST way to deal with naysayers.

* And more.

So listen to this today.

And I highly suggest you buy his book “Promise of a Pencil.”

Do you dig this podcast? Leave a review on iTunes. If I hit 400, I’ll start releasing podcasts more regularly

And then here’s what I want you to do:

Leave a comment telling me what you’re trying to build, and WHY you’re doing it. Who are you helping? What’s your big mission? Describe what you want to do in detail.

I will pick 10 people who leave a comment to send a copy of this book to. It won’t be random. I’m going to pick the comments I like most. So leave one now and I’ll pick the winners on Friday, March 21st, at 5pm Eastern.

I should also mention that, whether you leave a comment or not, you really should pick up this book. His memoir was a quick, inspirational read. And he’s donating ALL of the proceeds from the book to his non-profit, Pencils of Promise. So just getting this book could help a kid get access to education.

Personally – I plan on buying a copy for myself, and for a friend.

According to Adam Grant, the New York Times best-selling author of “Give and Take,” there are three types of people in the world.

Givers. Takers. And Matchers.

Which one are you?

And does it matter?

As you’ll soon see, the answer is YES.

The most successful people in the world are Givers. But some of the least successful people are also givers.

What separates the two?

A Discussion with Adam Grant, NYT Best-Selling Author of Give and Take

Download audio file (20-Social-Triggers-The-Three-Types-of-People-Which-One-Are-You-with-Adam-Grant.mp3)

(If you can’t see the audio player, here’s the MP3 link).

If you dig this podcast, make sure you say hello to Adam Grant on Twitter. Here’s the link.

In addition to talking about these three types of people, we also cover:

• Why some givers succeed while others fail
• How using this one phrase will help you get more donations (this works for non profits and crowd-funding)
• The ONE thing you should consider before you help anyone
• And more.

When you’re done, share two separate stories in the comments:

1. Tell me about a time when you offered someone help – and it paid off for you and them.

2. Tell me about another time when you offered someone help – and it came back to bite you.

Leave a comment below.

Also – if you loved this discussion, I can be sure that you’ll love his book, Give and Take. Pick it up on Amazon right here: Give and Take(aff).

Do you dig this podcast? Leave a review on iTunes. More reviews helps us with our rankings. Help a brother out!

This past weekend, the day before I was set to give the closing keynote at the financial bloggers conference, a woman walks up to me, interrupts my conversation, and says, “I won’t be at your talk tomorrow, but don’t be a douche.”

“Oh?” I said.

And she went on. “I don’t subscribe to your site, and I don’t watch your videos. You’re always yelling and I don’t like it…They had Ramit Sethi last year, and he was a douche”

The guy sitting across from me, the guy I was originally talking to starts laughing. “She keeps putting her foot further and further down her throat.”

I’m mischievous, so I humored her.

You Can’t Make Everyone Happy – And You Shouldn’t

“Ramit’s a good friend… You ever stop to think that maybe I don’t want you as a subscriber? Or maybe that you not being a subscriber hurts you more than it hurts me?”

“Maybe, but I’m not the only one who thinks this,” she said, desperately trying make her point mean something to me.

The whole scenario was hilarious. And I’m sharing it today for two reasons.

#1

People always have an opinion on what you do.

It’s up to you to assess the source of the opinion, and choose whether or not you should ignore it.

This lady was over the top, and sure, maybe I do yell a lot and should consider it…

…or I could look at the 50 other people I met at the conference who told me, “Derek – I love your stuff.”

Interesting.

And the next point…

#2

People don’t have an opinion on everything…

They don’t have opinions on things like brain surgery, rocket science, physics, or anything complicated.

They only have opinions on things like what clothes you should wear. Or what color your website should be. Or anything that’s “on the surface.”

Why do people have these surface level opinions?

On this new podcast with Adam Alter, the New York Times best-selling author of “Drunk Tank Pink” (Aff) we talk about just that.

And we also go over some other interesting things like:

* The scientific case for why Apple products are the smart choice for creatives

* Why people have an opinion on almost everything

* Why you should never use the color red as your website background

* Why single women should wear the color red (I know that has nothing to do with business, but the data was so interesting that I had to share it).

* And more.

Download audio file (19-Social-Triggers-Why-People-Have-Opinions-On-Almost-Everything-And-More.mp3)

(If you can’t see the audio player, here’s the MP3 link).

Then, what I’d love for you to do is share an interesting story where someone gave you criticism. Criticism that was worth as much as that time you stepped in…

Leave a comment.

And if you know someone who battles with taking some criticism too seriously, pass this along to them. They may find this enlightening.

Do you dig this podcast? Leave a review on iTunes. More reviews helps us with our rankings. Help a brother out!

P.S. Another person at this same conference asked me how I deal with haters, and whether or not they offend me. For that, take these words from Chris Rock to heart:

“You can only offend me if you mean something to me”

A few weeks ago, I was browsing a book store – yes, I still do that – and I stumbled on this book called “Fooling Houdini” by Alex Stone.

The title grabbed me by throat and said, “Take me home.”

So I did.

As I started reading the book, I realized something: I needed to cancel everything else for the day and finish the book. It was that good.

And it got better.

While reading, I noticed I was taking a ton of notes – lessons about business, life, marketing, and psychology. And that’s when I decided, I’m going to get Alex Stone on my podcast if it kills me.

(I got your back :-D)

Luckily, he wasn’t too hard to track down, and today I’m PUMPED to share our discussion with you.

Fooling Houdini: What magicians, jugglers, and psychics can teach you about marketing

What can the world of magic teach you about becoming a better salesman and marketer? This deep dive discussion with Alex Stone, New York Times best-selling author of Fooling Houdini (affiliate) will reveal the answer.

More specifically, you’ll learn:

• Why “experts” aren’t always right. And when they’re wrong, they’re REAL wrong.
• The secret to becoming a master performer (as it relates to magicians, salesmen, communicators, and more).
• Why jugglers drop the ball at least once (and how this helps you WOO your customers).
• The psychological principle behind a multi-billion dollar industry – and how you can take advantage of it.
• And much more.

Download audio file (17-Social-Triggers-Crazy-Magician-Alex-Stone-Shares-Great-Marketing-and-Psychology-Tactics.mp3)

A short while into this podcast, we reveal a story about why experts aren’t always right. And when they’re wrong, they’re real wrong.

So, what I want you to do is this:

After you hear that story, tell me about a time when an expert was wrong in your life. It could have been a teacher, a family member, a boss, anything. What happened? Leave a comment.

Also…

Did you know Social Triggers Insider is now on iTunes?

If you enjoy this series, please take a few seconds and leave an honest review. There are 322 reviews and with your help, we can hit 350. You see, I could sell discussions like this, but I choose to give them away for free. All I ask in return is a little review ;-).

Right click this link to save the audio as a MP3 file to your computer

The transcript for this podcast is not available… yet. Please check back.

Social Triggers is hiring an online training course product developer. More details right here

When you break down some of the best sales pitches, you’ll notice something that can change your business.

You’ll notice that being GREAT at sales has nothing to do with “natural talent.”

(As far as I know, there’s no “sales gene.”)

Instead, when you break down the pitch, you’ll find that the world’s greatest salesmen follow a framework for selling.

A framework that’s repeatable. A framework that anyone can learn. A framework that YOU can learn – and be better at selling TODAY.

What is it?

Here’s the Deal…

I’m PUMPED to announce the return of the Social Triggers Insider podcast.

Because on this NEW podcast, I’ve got an amazing guest. His name is Mike Del Ponte, and he’s going to share a sales framework he used to sell more than $100,000 of a product that did not yet exist – and MORE.

Who is Mike Del Ponte? He’s the co-founder of Soma, a beautiful water filter that took the world by storm. It started with an idea, a successful Kickstarter campaign that raised $147,444 in less than 10 days, and desire to change the game in what was a “boring” water filter industry. I bought mine last week ;-).

You’ll hear the full story, and get proven frameworks and tactics you can begin using in your business TODAY below:

Download audio file (14-Social-Triggers-Use-this-framework-Close-Your-Next-Client-with-Mike-Del-Ponte-of-Somawater.mp3)

Now if you’re as excited as I am about the return of the Social Triggers Insider podcast, I need your help.

You see, these podcasts often take me 5 days of prep time. It’s a TON of work, and it’s one of the reasons why I put it on hiatus for a few months.

But I started to get emails from people who wanted to see my podcast back in action. People who said this:

“Quite possibly the most informative, useful, and practical podcast I subscribe to. You’ll take something useful away from every episode and his guest speakers are among the leaders in the field!”

So I caved.

My goal has always been to be one of the BEST websites for entrepreneurs on the web – and to do that, the podcast is ESSENTIAL.

So, what do I need your help with?

Two things.

#1

I’d love for you to listen to the podcast today, and leave a comment telling me how you plan on using this sales framework in your business.

After all, the podcast isn’t about me. It’s about you, and the value YOU get from it. I just want to hear how it’s going to help

#2

I plan on doing this podcast weekly, and the only way to ensure you don’t miss out on each episode is to subscribe via iTunes.

(Plus, you’ll find the archived podcasts, each of which is AMAZING on iTunes… including one with Tim Ferriss).

If I’ve ever helped you with my free content, I’d be thankful if you left an honest review today. It will take you less than 30 seconds, it won’t cost you a cent, and it will be a HUGE help.

Use this link – and fire up iTunes.

(click the little blue link that says “View in iTunes”)

Thanks!

Did you know Social Triggers Insider is now on iTunes? If you enjoy this series, please take a few seconds and leave an honest review. It would be a huge help.

Right click this link to save the audio as a MP3 file to your computer

The transcript for this podcast is not available… yet. Please check back.

Note: It appears that the 4P framework was originally taught by Michael Masterson (or Mark Forde). So, thanks for that.

A few weeks ago, this guy asked me “Should I quit my job to start my own business?”

This guy, and many other people who read Social Triggers, need help making tough decisions just like this. Decisions like:

“Should I quit my job?”

“Should I start a business?”

“Should I invest in my education?”

“Should I end my relationship?”

“Should I fire an employee?”

And that’s why today I’m excited to share this new podcast with Dan Heath, a NYT best-selling author of two (and soon to be three) books.

Decisive: How to Make Better Decisions in Life and Work

Before you jump into this podcast, I want you to think about a tough decision you’re currently trying to make. Then I’d like you to imagine how much better you’ll feel when you finally MAKE THAT DECISION.

Why?

Because when you’re done listening to this podcast, you’ll learn how YOU can make better decisions in life AND work. I’ll also reveal how you can win a free copy of their new book.

Download audio file (15-Social-Triggers-Decisive-How-to-Make-Better-Decisions-in-Life-and-Work-Dan-Heath.mp3)

Who is Dan Heath? Dan Heath is the NYT best-selling author of Made to Stick and Switch. And now he’s got a NEW book that he just released called Decisive: How to Make Better Decisions in Life and Work (affiliate link). As you’ll hear in the podcast, this book shows you how to make tough decisions the RIGHT way.

Now leave a comment below.

Did you know Social Triggers Insider is now on iTunes? If you enjoy this series, please take a few seconds and leave an honest review. It would be a huge help.

Right click this link to save the audio as a MP3 file to your computer

The transcript for this podcast is not available… yet. Please check back.

What’s the secret to successful viral marketing?

An Ivy League professor, Jonah Berger, released a new book this week called Contagious: Why Things Catch On< And in this book, he reveals a simple framework that you can use to make your content and products go viral. (That means you'll be able to entice your readers and customers to talk about your stuff!) After appearing on Good Morning America and NPR, he's now a guest on the Social Triggers podcast (an obvious next step, right? :-D) Listen to the podcast here:

Contagious: Why Things Catch On

A couple of years ago, I stumbled on some of Jonah Berger’s work while scouring through the academic journal databases.

And I even featured him on Social Triggers (I shared his research behind creating viral content and how bad press helps sales).

But today, on this episode of Social Triggers Insider, I asked him to reveal some of his new and BEST ideas about generating word of mouth for your business.

Download audio file (13-Social-Triggers-Viral-marketing-secrets-revealed-by-Ivy-League-professor-jonah-berger.mp3)

The one thing I want you to pay close attention to is the framework he developed for what he calls “Social Currency.” It’s a 3-step framework, and he covers it in complete detail on this podcast.

And if you dig it, help Jonah Berger out by sharing this article on Facebook and Twitter. You may even find that your friends and colleagues will thank you for introducing them to this podcast!

Listen to this podcast where Ivy League professor reveals the secret to great viral marketing – Click to tweet

Did you know Social Triggers Insider is now on iTunes? If you enjoy this series, please take a few seconds and leave an honest review. It would be a huge help.

Right click this link to save the audio as a MP3 file to your computer

The transcript for this podcast is not available… yet. Please check back.

What next?

Now I’d like you to do two things:

• If you think what you learned will help you get more people to your business, leave a comment letting me know how. The one thing I LOVE about research like this is that it’s insanely practical. And I love to hear how entrepreneurs like you plan to use it.
• If you’d like to learn more about Jonah Berger’s book, pick up a copy of it on Amazon (aff). No hard sell here because the book truly sells itself.

(If you’re curious, there are 6 main things that you must learn to make your products and content go viral. We covered Social Currency and Practical value on the podcast. But in his book, he goes over the 4 other things: Triggers, Emotion, Public, and Stories).

Also, if you want to say Hello to Jonah Berger, you can hit him up on Twitter right here. Or visit his website right here.