Here’s a note from a reader…

December 16, 2008 - 12:04:16 PM
J.R. Whipple

Hi Tim, Not a question, just a low cost marketing thought. One of your recent articles about the startup gunsmith, and his inability to do big marketing, reminded me of something I did. Over a decade ago I moved from the big city to rural America, and needed to re-start my business on a shoestring. Local newspaper & TV ads were out of my budget. The local talk radio station, that carried the Art Bell show, now called Coast to Coast AM, offered 30-second spots, in the wee hours of the night, for a dollar a pop! That’s only $1 per spot! I had to do my own narrative, and they mixed the music, at no additional charge. I stopped the ads over eight years ago, but still meet folks that say, didn’t you used to advertise on the Art Bell show? These cheap ads worked wonders for me, and are still in the minds of many, eight years later.

Hi JR,

Thanks for your great advertising tip!  One thing that I know for certain is that when you BELIEVE in something your mind finds a way to DO!  But if you have any doubt, then your mind will just find every excuse to not accomplish your task at hand.

A great book about the power of belief is “The Ant and the Elephant” by Vince Poscente.  His clever story refers to Adir, the Ant, as the intentional part of our brain, and an Elgo, the Elephant, as the instinctual, impulsive part.

Get YOUR elephant under control!

1. Adir’s five Action Steps in the book are:
   1. Clarity of vision:  A goal with a depth of meaning has an emotional buzz
   2. Commitment:  Commit to a process of positive dominant thoughts! : )
   3. Consistency:  Apply consistent strategies
   4. Confidence:  Strengthen confidence by breaking negative patters
   5. Control:  Practice responses to the unforeseen events that may arise

Aren’t those awesome!  In the book ‘Adir’ calls those his 5 ‘C’s.  I challenge you all to think about your 5 ‘C’s! 

The Afterword at the end of the book has some really interesting information.  The author, Vince Poscente, tells of a speech he heard by Dr. Lee Pulos in 1992.  Dr Pulos revealed that in one second of time, the conscious mind uses about 2,000 neurons.  In that same second, the subconscious mind uses 4 billion neurons.  WOW!  Tell me, who is in control of your life?  Your Ant or Elephant? 

Take care,

Tim Schmidt