Hi guys,

Yes, it is I. I had not died as some of you appeared to presumed. I honestly have no idea how many people still read my blog or have me in their RSS feeds as I stopped publishing over 18 months ago. However, according to analytics I still get good daily traffic and so let me introduce you to something I have been working on over the last 18 months.

How To Do What I Do – The Best Possible Step By Step Instruction I Could Create

On this blog the most common question I get is “How Do I Do It?” – Honestly the answer is not as simple as “Like this” However I have spent the last 18 months creating a course while I was living in America trying to explain the process as best I could. It has been taught as a internship, a consultancy program and now finally it is an online course – which is great for you because it brings the cost down to less than 10% of what other people paid.

For those that don’t know I currently have an online company I created a few years ago that is projected to turnover $1.5million this year, it takes up 2 hours of my time a day which means I can explore life, travel and do whatever I please. The way I did it was to change my personal brand, a process I started 4 years ago when I was a project manager working in the UK. The Gobrand.me course is the EXACT course and tools I used to change my own situation and I have seen it successfully help many, many, many people since its original conception.

It is now in version 5 and finally available online. In my humble opinion it is the best course you can invest in this 2012 to transform your life, career and situation. I know because I did it.

If your are committed to changing your situation and making lifelong changes and want more out of life, I challenge you to give this course ago. I will give you your money back if it doesn’t have massive impact to change you life so you have nothing to lose – You only have opportunity to miss.

Don’t miss out and until next time I blog, have a great life.

Visit GObrand.me – It might just be the best decision you make this year.

This Course Might Just Change Your Life is a post from: thelifething.com
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Hello all,

The other day I had Eureka moment involving Bamboo and what makes it successful. I initially was only going to write the report for myself but then got carried away with graphics and created an ebook.

You can download it for $0.99 – so well worth checking out.

Also, here are some freebee desktop wallpapers based on the book. They look cool but you will need to purchase the book to understand what they mean. Click to enlarge.

You can also check out all my other books on the right hand side of this website. Look this way ———–>

Bamboo (A Philosophy for Success) – Out Now $0.99 is a post from: thelifething.com
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Read Time: A few seconds.

No explanations. Download your copy for free.

Read my latest post on Killer Personal Branding.

“Top Gun” Shows Us The Importance of Killer Personal Branding

The Greatest Self Help Book Of All Time is a post from: thelifething.com
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Read Time: 5-6 Mins

Overview: This post is a quick review of the last year at thelifething and a look at the year ahead. In it I will go through some of the goals I set myself, how I achieved them and also highlight the ones I failed miserably at. In addition I’ll highlight my 7Life 7 goals for this coming year so I can be accountable to you guys and hopefully some of you will be up for including your own 7 goals for this year in the comments so you too can be accountable to  others.

Major Announcement

I will be slowing down my writing here but ramping it up and focusing solely on the topic of Creating Killer Personal Brands. If you are interested in creating a Killer Personal Brand and enjoy my writing, you should check it out.

Happy New Year

Hello happy campers. Another year, another month or so to work off those damn extra mince pies. I say “extra” but in truth it was more like an entire box at a time.

Here’s a quick narcissistic look at the year I had in 2010 as everyone seems to be doing it, and a look to the future.

The Seven 7Life goals I had for 2010

1. • Make £1500 Non-Job Related Monthly Income (I class my companies as a job so this is passive income) - FAILED
2. • Spend 6 Months Abroad – FAILED
3. • Start Another Company – SUCCESS
4. • Complete 3 Running Races Including 1 Marathon – FAILED
5. • Reach 2000 blog subscribers – FAILED
6. • Publish A Commercial Ebook – SUCCESS
7. • Read 52 Books – SUCCESS

So it looks like I failed half my goals, which is not a great effort for someone who pitches the value of a 7Life system now is it. A little more detail for those that care.

1. Make £1500 Non-Job Related Monthly Income – I only make “Truly” passive income though my ebooks and a design I have patented and license out. I do not count consultancy and until I am spending less than 4 hours a week on my businesses I do not class that income as “Passive”. As you can see from the fact that some of you may not even be aware I have books for sale on this site, I have not been great at advertising my work this year. Sales of the Ovo are ok but not to the point of £1500 a month. Big fat fail on that one.

2. Spend 6 Months Abroad – I hit just over 4 months. 3 traveling in India and some stints in the States and Ireland. I could have made this goal but decided to focus on building my new company instead.

3. Start Another Company – This was a massive success and there will be more information to follow. You will all want to check this new company out.

4. Complete 3 Running Races Including 1 Marathon - 2 out of three. I ran a beach race in Ireland and did the Three Peaks Challenge which is running the three highest Peaks in the UK within 24 hours. Just didn’t get round to the marathon, no excuses on that one.

5. Reach 2000 Subscribers – Nope, not even close, I had a tiny 750 on last check and a few more hundred on email. Poor show, very poor.

6. Publish A Commercial Ebook - Oh yeah. Check it out here and get ready to take the first step in stopping throwing your money away and learning to think like the rich. My next book, Pictomins, is coming out sometime this month.

7. Read 52 Books – I’m not going to list all the books but the image above is a good one to get an idea of them. Incredible experience and something I am going to try and continue as a habit into the future.

And here is an except from my “Year in Review” of the main things I did achieve:

• • Spent 3 months traveling in India
• • Built EFS to a position where it is currently turning over a good 5 Figure number a month.
• • Created GObrandme Concept and setup officially as a Personal Branding Consultant
• • Reached over 700 subscribers to thelifething.com
• • Wrote 5 Ebooks
• • Successfully Sold 2 Commercial Ebooks
• • Read 52 Books

And now to 2011.

7Life goals for 2011

So I was a little lax in successfully completing my goals for last year, I know this because a buddy and I set forfeits to do when we miss goals and I did a fair few forfeits this year. Here are my main 7 for 2011.

• • Become an Established Authority On Personal Branding In The UK – (The Dan Schwarbel  of the UK)
• • Write a Novel
• • Achieve and maintain a 10% Body Fat
• • Spend Three Months Abroad
• • Live By The Rule Of Once
• • Complete 1 Marathon, 1 Iron Man, ad 1 Triathlon
• • Create and Patent Hangflex

1. Become an Established Authority On Personal Branding In The UK – I have unofficially been doing this for the last half decade but now want to make it my main focus. I have checked the market and the competition, know I can beat them all, and so this is a realistic possibility.

2. Write A Novel – Last year I drafted about 30,000 words each for two novel ideas but never got round to actually completing one. This year I will and who knows, by Christmas you might be able to buy a copy – if it’s any good.

3. Achieve and maintain a 10% Body Fat – I’m a pretty fit buy with a horrendous sugar habit. When I am in training I usually have an 11% body fat but am currently at 12% and have never maintained a 10% index for more than a week or so (I like sugar too much). To reach and maintain a 10% index over the year will take a drastic change of diet more than anything else, as the difference between 11% and 10% is exponential.

4. Spend Three Months Abroad - Part of my new lifestyle design is to focus on business if I am going to reach Decamillionaire status in the next decade. That being said, I want to make sure I create a habit of spending 3 months abroad a year for as long as it is viable.

5. Live By The Rule Of Once – This might take some explanation. I was notorious for watching films multiple times last year and so this year I wanted to stop that habit and only watch films I haven’t seen before, no repeats. This then got out of hand and I extended it to practically everything – food, experience, travel. My only rule was that I would not violate social norms so if I was with mates and something came up that was a repeat it doesn’t count – I don’t want to be a d*ck about these things after all.

6. Complete 1 Marathon, 1 Iron Man, ad 1 Triathlon – This one is going to be a big one. Period.

7. Create and Patent Hangflex – A new product idea I have had in blueprint for a few years. This is the year to make it happen or burn the designs.

So there you have it, my goals from last years and ones aiming for the future. If you are brave enough, put your own goals into the comments.

Oh, and whats the biggest thing I learnt from 52 books this year?

I know very little about anything.

Peace.

What Reading A Book A Week For an Entire Year Taught Me (Year Review And The Year Ahead) is a post from: thelifething.com
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The Smart Arse Way To Stealing Back Your Free Time is a post from: thelifething.com
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Bookmark This Page…It Will Change Your Life

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For those of you who have never heard of TED and the TED talks, it is time to get out from under that rock, stretch your legs and start investing in yourself. Time to be taught by some of the most inspiring people in the world…for free. It’s a no brainer really.

I have been a massive fan of TED for over a year now and try to watch an episode a day, usually while stuffing my face with chocolate cake and any other sugary goodness I can get my hands on. Lets just say I have watch a few and know a goodun whenI see one.

Here are 10 guduns that, like a gorilla with maracas, are seriously going to give your world a good old shake. I have put them in order of awesomeness, the most awesome first. Enjoy and give them a good spread around the social networks, you know you want to/must/are being blackmailed to.

John Wooden – True Success

Still my favourite TED episode of all time the UCLA basketball coach tells it like it is. His humility, wisdom and all round badassishness is truly inspiring. I challenge you not to be changed by this little number.

Steve Jobs – How To Live Before You Die

Any man who can create a company like Apple, be fired, go off and create a company like Pixar and then come back and save Apple again deserves to be listened to in my books. If this doesn’t get you fired up then I just don’t know what will. Sitting on top of a bonfire perhaps.

Rick Warren – A Life Of Purpose

Whether you believe in God or not, everyone needs a purpose in life. Rick Warren, one of the worlds best selling authors of all time has a few pointers on what it might mean. Seriously, one of the best selling authors…OF ALL TIME.  You will definitely   learn something.

Jeff Bezos – What Matters More Than Your Talents

He created Amazon.com and he is telling you what matters. Enough said, listen up people.

Seth Godin – Standing Out

A bald head and a pet purple cow, what is not to like. He just so happens to also be a marketing genius so well worth a listen if you want to get yourself out there, which I am sure you do.

James Cameron – Before Avatar

You all know him, you have no doubt seen his movies but what did he do between Titanic and Avatar, the two greatest grossing films of all time? Watch the video of course, I thought that would be obvious by now.

JK Rowling – The Fringe Benefits Of Failure

J.K. Rowling Speaks at Harvard Commencement from Harvard Magazine on Vimeo.

Admit it, most of you have read the books and most of you liked them. You are only lying to yourself. Here good old JK, as I like to call her, mixes surprising humour with some serious kick ass insights. Your gonna love it.

Richard St John – 8 Secrets Of Success

4 Minutes of power learning. Get stuck in.

Dan Gilbert – The Secret Of Happiness

Defiantly check out his KEYS TO HAPPINESS. Might not be exactly what you are expecting.

Benjamin Zander – Music And Passion

Watch this and you will look upon classical music with a completely new set of blinkers. Benjamin is entertaining and has some seriously cool things to say.

Mission Probably

So there you have it, 10 TED episodes that will seriously rock your world like a giant gorilla on steroids. Bookmark this page people and visit it once a quarter, it will change your life. Make it part of your New Years planning, and send it round the social networks to give everyone a bit of gorilla action.

10 TED Talks That Will Rock Your World Like A Giant Gorilla On Steroids is a post from: thelifething.com
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The Cost Of Not Having A Mentor And How To Change That

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In this article we explore:

30 Second Summary

The Mentor Relationship – Yoda/Skywalker

What a good mentor will do for you

A good mentor will do three thing:

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A good mentor needs only:

How To Find A Great Mentor

If you don’t know that we are now in the Information age and no longer in the industrial one then you will be playing the money game by the wrong set of rules and you are throwing money away because of it. Stop it now in less than an hour.

[The CHOOSE ebook] is brilliant ! The design is fucking cool – I have never seen such a visual ebook in my life before ! I especially love [it's] take on money and the teaching part, very kick ass ! The way [the book] presents the information is both entertaining and valuable, it was a pleasure to read through.” - Mars Dorian

Get the CHOOSE ebook now and start playing by the new rules. [Buy Now]

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The Three Things You Can Do Right Now To Find Your First Or Next Mentor

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Would You Like To Be Mentored By Me?

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How Kick Ass Mentorship Will Make Your Life More Awesome is a post from: thelifething.com
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Another month, another forfeit.

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As Tim and I have yet again failed to achieve everything we wanted to this month it was time to go and lose a nipple. I have put up the videos here purely for your entertainment. Enjoy. (Caution, there is some mild nudity, those that would rather not see a nude male bottom skip the start of Tim’s video)

For those that missed the first forfeit, you can check it out here.

This months forfeit was a zero degree river swim, I highly recommend you don’t try this at home. I am up first and then Tim’s video follows.

If the video doesn’t show, click here.

If the video doesn’t show, click here.

Next months forfeit was suggested by the Facebook community and is to wear a suit and tie for an entire week regardless of the activity. For anyone who knows Tim and I, this is more than just a minor inconvenience. I also have a hockey training so that could be interesting. No worries though, I am confident this month is the month.

If anyone would like to get involved in this little project we have going, let me know in the comments – Only those truly committed need apply.

Last Chance

Also, last chance to sign up to the free WorkSmart newsletter and download any modules you may have missed before it comes to an end and the commercial ebook of the course is created. If you want to make better use of your time, achieve more with less effort and free up some more hours each day for what is truly important to you then what are you waiting for. [SIGNUP NOW]

August Forfeit: Zero Degree River Swim is a post from: thelifething.com
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A man on his back in the middle of the street – Error.

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Read Time: 6 Minutes

So a mate and I have got into the habit of setting some goals to achieve every month based on the 7Life System. Stupidly though we also though it would be a good idea to attach forfeits to missed goals every month.  Last month we both missed out on completing all our goals and so this month were the forfeits. (This Post is a little late)

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July Forfeit – The Tim Ferris Score

You know the Tim Ferris challenge where you have to lie down for a minute in the middle of a busy street? Well, easier said then done. I had struggled with actually doing it for years. We set is as a forfeit, we both missed our goals. Now way out for either of us.

Here is mine.

And here is Tim’s

Having settled the score and actually done it do you know what the biggest realisation I had was – strangers really don’t give a rats ass about you. It’s a very freeing realisation. There are very few things you can do that will actually shock people, almost all of our fear and apprehension about anything is in our minds.

When I was lying on the ground in the middle of a busy Liverpool shopping centre my heart was thumping and I thought everyone would be looking and making comments. Having reviewed the videos, this couldn’t have been further from the truth. I could probably put out a beach towel, stripped to some swim shorts and have made a pinocolada and incited little extra interest.

Most of the challenges that we face that destroy our confidence is due to nothing more than unfounded fear in the mind. Once you have experienced first hand that very few people care what you are doing, you are in a great position to take bigger and better risks.

Usually, the bigger the risk, the bigger the potential payoff so start small and do the “Tim Ferris Challenge” If you record it, leave a link in the comments and if there are enough I will created a post highlighting them all.

July Forfeit: Street Bathing is a post from: thelifething.com
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Six Simple Steps To Significantly Superior Copywriting

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Read Time: 3-4 Mins

I would not necessarily consider myself a writer, not in the conventional use of the word, so to speak. I have never been paid for my writing ability and I have not yet, though two attempts lie gathering digital dust on my computer, written or published a book.

However this lack of experience and success within the field has not dulled my love of the art and having been blogging for a few years now there are a few things I am picked up along the way for all together greatly improved copywriting.

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1. Use Alliteration

Alliteration, as demonstrated in this posts heading, and song go hand in hand and will quite happily skip down the road together. The use of alliteration is common in marketing campaigns and slogans as the rhythmic beat created by using repetitive sounds helps in creating easily remembered one liners.

Allied Irish Bank : Britain’s Best Business Bank

Greyhound: Greyhound Going Great

Fila: Functional…Fashionable…Formidable…

In blogging, alliterative phrases like “Six Simple Steps…” or “ Business Building Basics” or even, “Britain’s Best Batter Badly Beats Ball Boy” creates impact and are easier to remember for your audience.

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2. Replace “But” with “And”

Ok, so the situation is that you have just written an email to your boss asking for a pay rise and have outlined the reasons why you believe you are entitled to one – rightly or wrongly, it is rejected. No problem, time to rewrite it but this time just chance one simple word.

Now the magic word is not please. It is “BUT” and you need to remove the nasty little blighter from your vocabulary right now and replace it with the much easier on the tongue and all together more productive word “AND”. This simple and easily applied process will instantly make your arguments hold substantially more weight. I give an example of this in action here.

“BUT” is a restricting word that makes you shy away. “AND” is a freeing word that forces you to explain the reasons behind your request in more open terms without challenge.

“AND” keeps things open and doesn’t challenge. That is why “AND” is more productive.

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3. Increase Your Paragraphs

There is nothing better than a bit of space to breath, some open fields to help bring clarity. It is the same with your copy.

Sentences that are tight and compact create visually agitation on the page and become cramped and unwelcoming. Clear themes in the paragraphs are more difficult to follow and a solid page of writing with little white space is intimidating for the reader.

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Let your work and words breath and give them space.

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Create succinct paragraphs that have a little bit of room on each side to breath. This will allow you readers to take a second to consider the last batch of words and underlying message before being forced into the next line of text.

It makes a difference.

Trust me.

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4. Focus on 3 Core Points With A Central Theme

As a species we are not very good at remembering things, this goes double for men and especially if it is a birthday or anniversary. Any more that 3 or 4 items in one go and things go a little downhill. This is why most phone numbers are grouped into a structure of 4-3-4.

Blog posts containing the “25 Steps To A Killer Business Plan’ are no doubt going to have a lot of good advice but how much of it is the reader actually going to recall.

Breaking this down into the “3 ESSENTIAL Steps To A Killer Business Plan” is a better approach and forces you to clarify the MOST important and focus on the MOST concise way of getting across your message to your reader.

People are more likely to remember the 3 essential steps than the 25 necessary ones.

“3 ESSENTIAL Steps To A Killer Business Plan And A Magnificent Marketing Campaign” is taking it too far and bringing in too many themes. Focus on one core theme. Your reader should finish your copy in no doubt about what the themes was and the core 3 points it discussed.

*Authors note: I have noted the irony that I have used 6 points.

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5. Fight the Urge to waffle

No one likes a waffler, and no one likes a waffle writer because, frankly, time is precious to people and if you cannot get the message across simple and effectively with as few words as necessary then many will give up on you and rightly so.

If you have taken the time to plan your copy well and have a good structure in place then there should be no need to waffle and repeat yourself. Your writing should flow naturally from point to point and develop on the ideas made previously, not bounce back and forth explaining multiple ideas all over the place.

K.I.S.S and K.I.C. “Keep. It. Simple, Stupid” and “Keep. It. Concise.”

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6. Read Ferociously

Good news, the book worm look is now back in so get out your designer reading specs, put in that side parting and get your nose back into the written word.

There is no better way to drastically improve your writing then by significantly increasing your reading word count and your scope of reading.

The best writers are always those that read the most and explore the greatest variety of styles. How else will you improve than to learn from others.

If you have never been a fan of Shakespeare, give him a go. There are some great chat up lines and even better one liners in there just waiting to be given a 21st century makeover. If you have never read an actually book, (they are the paper things on most people bookshelves) then I suggest venturing a gander sometime soon.

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Reading other bloggers work is great and there are a great many talented writers out there, many already writing for this blog but don’t over look the published market. The writers here got published for a reason and they too have a lot to offer.

Six Stupidly Simple Steps To Significantly Superior Sentences is a post from: thelifething.com
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