Derek's Blog

Rating: 8/10 I discovered this book by listening to Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg on the Tim Ferris Show. They said they heard it was Woody Allen's favorite book, and that about sixty percent of it was outdated, but that other forty percent was gold. Overall I agree, I double-weighted the gold because I do think it gives important insights into how to tell a story. My Notes

The following is chapter 9 of Lao Tzu's Tao Te Ching : Better stop short than fill to the brim. Oversharpen the blade, and the edge will soon blunt. Amass a store of gold and jade, and no one can protect it. Claim wealth and titles, and disaster will follow. Retire when the work is done. This is the way of heaven. These words are monumental--powerful in their simplicity. Try each day to follow the way of heaven. 

This information was culled from The Robert Collier Letter Book , a dated but revered book on copy writing. While there are other golden nuggets of information in the book, I believe this to be most useful to marketers and anyone looking to persuade another person. In fact, I'm posting this primarily for self-interest; I'm tired of searching for and consulting a post-it note with chicken scratch on it every time I want to write something marketing-related (today it's eBay listings). But I do hope every and any body who reads this gets something out of it. 1. Description or explanation, which pictures your proposition by first outlining important features. 2. The motive or reason why; creates longing by describing comfort, pleasure, or profit from the product. 3. The proof or guarantee. [Testimonials, especially from individuals in your target market, are a very powerful form of social proof.] 4. The snapper or penalty, which gets immediate action. [This ties into th...

Rating: 10/10 This book speaks for itself. It's on the lists and book shelves of writers and readers of the most prestigious magazines. Dale Carnegie offers sage advice in clean easy-to-read copy. I highly recommend How to Win Friends and Influence People to everyone. My Notes Principle 1: Don't criticize, condemn, or complain.

The following is chapter two of Lao Tsu's TAO TE CHING . It's a powerful and wisdom-filled book I am only beginning to discover. Enough preamble: "Under heaven all can see beauty as beauty only because there is ugliness. All can know good only as good because there is evil. Therefore having and not having arise together; Difficult and easy complement each other; Long and short contrast each other; High and low rest upon each other; Voice and sound harmonize each other; Front and back follow each other. Therefore the wise go about doing nothing, teaching no-talking. The ten thousand things rise and fall without cease, Creating, yet not possessing, Working, yet not taking credit. Work is done, then forgotten. Therefore it lasts forever."

"Hard work beats talent when talent doesn't work hard." "There's no way around hard, hard work." A commonality I am seeing among top-performers is their work ethic--it's top-notch. Put your all into everything you do.

Rating: 10/10 Brain Rules : 12 Principles for Surviving and Thriving at Work, Home, and School is an incredible book. The author solidifies his position as an authority on the brain by systematically keeping the reader interested while explaining the complexities of the brain. He utilizes and thoroughly explains tactics to learn, pique and keep interest, and many other valuable neurological activities. This book is entertaining and educational, I highly recommend it. My Notes Rule #1: Exercise boosts brain power. -Our brains were built for walking--12 miles a day! -The gold standard appears to be aerobic exercise, 30 minutes at a clip, two or three times a week. Add a strengthening regimen and you get even more cognitive benefit.

2015 Book List (in Order Read) 1. BUTCHER'S MOON- Richard Stark 2. FOUNDATION- Isaac Asimov 3. FOUNDATION AND EMPIRE- Isaac Asimov 4. UNLIMITED POWER- Anthony Robbins 5. SECOND FOUNDATION- Isaac Asimov 6. HOW TO WIN AT THE SPORT OF BUSINESS- Mark Cuban 7. THE CATCHER IN THE RYE- J. D. Salinger 8. THE LITTLE RED BOOK OF SALES- Jeffery Gitomer 9. THE ALADDIN FACTOR- Jack Canfield 10. THE ART OF LEARNING- Josh Waitzkin 11. 4-HOUR WORKWEEK- Tim Ferriss 12. 4-HOUR BODY- Tim Ferriss 13. THE QUICK AND EASY WAY TO EFFECTIVE SPEAKING- Dale Carnegie 14. EATS, SHOOTS & LEAVES- Lynne Truss 15. ONE SECOND AFTER- William R. Forstchen 16. GETTING PAST NO- William Ury 17. THE 22 IMMUTABLE LAWS OF MARKETING- Al Ries and Jack Trout 18. GROWTH HACKER MARKETING- Ryan Holiday 19. THE GETAWAY CAR- Donald Westlake 20. LETTERS FROM A STOIC- Seneca 21. A RAGE IN HARLEM- Chester Himes 22. PICK-UP- Charles Willeford 23. TRUST ME, I'M LYING- Ryan Holiday...

"Gimme all yo money and gimme all of yo residuals." - Nikki Minaj  Residual: a quantity remaining after other things have been subtracted or accounted for. a difference between a value measured in a scientific experiment and the theoretical or true value. a royalty paid to a performer, writer, etc., for a repeat of a play, television show, etc.  I selected this word while concerned with the semi-coloned definition and second bullet-pointed one. I'll address the latter, arguably the more intriguing of the two, first.  I believe residual payments are a common ingredient for many of the individuals lucky and gritty enough to become financially independent. They can be highly lucrative from time, money, and attention standpoints.  I intend to pursue as many residuals as possible while I produce work and live. I think of residuals as a product of successful work coupled with luck and persistence. It's a way to generate enough cash currency to free up ...

"Derek says it's always good to end a paper with a quote. He says someone else has already said it best. So if you can't top it, steal from them and go out strong." - American History X Tonight's post is reflection on quotes from a different Derek, Derek Sivers , on the Tim Ferriss Show podcast. I listened to this follow-up episode twice today. Here's perhaps the biggest nuggets of gold in the short creative self-interview: "If you want to be undeniably successful, you need to both master yourself and help others. Don't focus on the money or the fame. The real success is mastering your emotions and actions and actually helping lots of people." And later,  "Habits and skills for success: 1. Managing your state and your emotional reactions and actions.  2. Knowing what people need in general, and what you need in particular. 3.People skills--how to see things from the other person's point of view, and how to communicate from ...

Human beings learn by doing. When we are young, we model those around us to begin walking and talking. At first we observe--but the real learning happens when we start babbling nonsense or taking a couple steps before falling down. One can learn only so much from observation. In order to cultivate muscle memory or automatic firing in the brain, specific actions or thoughts must be taken again and again and again until it's automatic. Practice makes permanence. This is a double-edged sword. The bad neurological and motor patterns become ingrained just as easily as the good, which is why constant mindfulness and vigilance over one's thoughts and actions is paramount to being happy . If you can remember and really internalize practice makes permanence, you will become a better human being and, by extension, make the world a better place.