Adam Street's Blog
The spiritual and practical path to freedom to do your art

Scumdog [wanna-be] Millionaires

Over the years I’ve picked up a variety of skills.  One is the ability to spot a Scumdog [wanna-be] Millionaire.  I met one this week.  Scumdog [wanna-be] Millionaires are narcissistic and almost always men for some reason.  

Their playbook is to charm you with flattery and drone on and on about ALL the famous people they know and how big an opportunity it is to work with them.  And then they make you a ridiculous offer to work on their art project. 

I met a Scumdog [wanna-be] Millionaire this week.  Even though hype and b.s. was oozing from every pore in his body, I decided to do a test sketch for him.  He was in a hurry and I figured it was something I could knockout fast.

In the end, my drawing wasn’t a good fit.  He tried to give me edits but the smell of scope creep started kicking in like fresh cut onions.  I sent an email and bounced off the assignment.  

Like a true Scumdog [wanna-be] Millionaire he never responded.  No thank you.  No nice to meet you.  Nothing.  I even offered a referral (which I now regret).

So what’s to be learned from the Scumdog [wanna-be] Millionaire?  

Too many people say one thing and mean something else. Most aren’t as nefarious as Scumdog but you want evolve how you speak to your prospects.  For example…

When Scumdog [wanna-be] Millionaire said:  Adam you’re so talented and fast…

What he really meant was:  You can do this quickly so you won’t mind me trying to screw you over on price.

Before you may have said:  “My course isn’t expensive, it’s an investment.”

Now you may want to say: “Yes, my course is expensive. I did this to offer the best quality and value so my students get big results.”

Like a smart phone we constantly need to update ourselves.  If not you’ll be a Ford Edsel driving among newer, faster, and better cars.

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Adam

Coaching and the Elephant in the room

I remember when I wanted to start coaching.  I thought…

I’m good with relationships, communication, and helping people solve problems. 

Did I mention I am a fantastic listener?

But sooner or later I had to acknowledge the elephant in the room.  I had no idea how or where to start. 

Do I make a website?  Buy ads?  Annoy my friends with calls and emails like I just started selling Amway?

Years ago I would have done like Hermione Granger from Harry Potter and marched to the library—straight away!  Or to Google.…  But now that I’m older and wiser I’d say go to the “library” AND hire an expert.  

A lot of people talk about how CEOs make on average 200x more than the average American worker.  And this is due partly because they average reading 5 books a month.  This is true.  

You know what CEO’s also do?  They hire experts and consultants.  They network with other CEOs and attend about 8 seminars a year.  

I love books and the great ones are priceless but nothing compares to talking to a human being who understands where you are and can solve your problem in less than an hour.  

That’s the CEO playbook.  Learn from it.

For daily updates like this one join my email list at:  https://adamstreet.net

Adam

Adding flair, Jennifer Anniston style

The movie Office Space has so many hilarious moments.  One of my favorite scenes is when Joanna (Jennifer Aniston) gets lectured by her manager Stan for not having enough “flair”.  

Flair is little buttons and trinkets on their uniform.  If you haven’t seen the movie, you can see the scene here:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3vdcw415OcQ  

Here’s how their conversation went down:

Stan, Chotchkie’s Manager : Fifteen is the minimum, okay? It’s up to you whether or not you just want to do the bare minimum or…

Joanna : Okay. So you… you want me to wear more?

Stan, Chotchkie’s Manager : People can get a cheeseburger anywhere, okay? They come to Chotchkie’s for the atmosphere and the attitude. Okay? That’s what the flair’s about. It’s about fun. 

Joanna : Yeah. Okay. So more then, yeah?

Yaas, more flair Joanna!  

And the same is true for you too!  People can get your “hamburger” from anywhere.  The flair you bring to the party is what sets you apart.  

Jesse Cole who owns a minor league baseball team and more than one yellow tuxedo (cause you’d think one would be enough), said this in his book Find Your Yellow Tux.

“We have a responsibility to entertain our customers.  If you’re all about selling and nothing more, you’re going to lose out eventually.”  

Think about this…

How can you add more flair to your emails?  To the atmosphere you create?

Your processes…and your procedures?

To add more flair to your email  marketing subscribe to my daily email tips at https://adamstreet.net .

Adam “flair” Street

The first step to writing better emails

I was at the farmers market by my house, waiting to check out.  The lady directly ahead of me kept tinkering with her cell phone.  She’s lazily putting her stuff on the conveyor belt and I’m trying not to get frustrated. 

I look left.  I look right.  Yup. This lane is still probably the fastest option out.  

She finally starts moving forward with her items.  She’s not quick about it and I imagine she’d do it a lot faster if she stopped fiddling around with her phone.

Is she texting?  Is she on Facebook?  Who knows.  I wish she could get it together though because I’d really like to get outta here with my “two things”.  

Who is this lady?  She is most of the people that are looking at your emails (and social posts too for that matter).

We want to believe that our readers are at home opening our emails with undivided attention and discernment.  This was true in the 90’s maybe but that was a LONG time ago.  

Now when your list is reading your emails they’re in line at the bank, grocery store, or at the gym.  Or worse they’re ‘reading’ while they’re texting and watching YouTube.  Or driving!!!

Your first step to writing better emails is understanding that the people who will read them are more ADHD than Hammy from the movie Over The Hedge.  Hammy is loving and adorable but a tough nut to crack with average emails.

Better to put in the work using a little flash and Blockbuster Storytelling to capture Hammy’s focus than to make believe your reader is some unicorn that’s giving your email her undivided attention.

To learn how to write captivating emails (even for ‘Hammy’s’ at the grocery store), subscribe to my newsletter at https://adamstreet.net for daily emails.

Adam

Labor Day on purpose

Yesterday me and my mom were discussing Labor Day and phone calls.  I explained to her why I can only be reached by phone about 20-60 minutes a day.  

When I work I don’t answer the phone.  

When I’m not working I’m relaxing, so I don’t answer the phone. 

When I’m with my kids I’m being a dad and I don’t answer my phone.  

If I’m eating, I can’t be talking.  So you guessed it, I don’t answer my phone.

I enjoy talking.  I enjoy working (hell, I’m writing this on Labor Day) but I don’t enjoy multi-tasking and not giving a task or client my all.

But this doesn’t happen on accident.  It’s all done on purpose and with intention.

I hope you enjoy your Labor Day on purpose and however you see fit.

Make it the best,

Adam