There have been periods of my life — years at a time — when I’ve made a habit of walking up to strange but attractive women on the street, giving them a compliment, and starting a conversation.
It’s surprisingly hard to do.
Not because of the women. The worst that ever happens from their side is a polite thank you and a smile.
The best that ever happens — well, I’ve had two long-term relationships that started in this way.
No, the reason it’s hard is because of my own fears, insecurities, and the stories I tell myself.
For example, if I see an attractive woman walking on an empty street, I will think, “It’s not a great place to go talk to her… she will be freaked out because there’s nobody else around.”
On the other hand, if I see even one other person around, I will think, “It’s not a great place to go talk to her… everybody will be standing around and watching.”
In other words, right is bad, left is bad, and you don’t want to go straight either.
A hard way to live, no?
I’m telling you this because yesterday I wrote an email promoting a new book by Travis Sago. As I said in that email, I’ve listened to Travis and learned more from him this year than from anybody else.
Even though Travis doesn’t sell any courses for less than a few grand, and even though his yearly mastermind costs something like $50k, this book is a $9.99 summary of his best marketing ideas.
And yet, in reply to my email yesterday, I got the following message from a reader:
“It’s only got 42 reviews… not great”
I’m featuring this reader reply because I recognized myself in it. Maybe you can recognize yourself too.
Specifically, maybe you can recognize the part of the brain that likes to make living hard. It says things like:
“It’s only got 42 reviews… not great. It can’t be, if nobody else is reading it.”
Or…
“It’s already got 420 reviews… not great. Everybody else has read this, so I can’t get any advantage from it.”
The fact is, a good idea is a good idea, whether it comes in a new or old package, whether it’s popular or fringe.
I’m currently re-reading the Robert Collier Letter Book, which was published 100 years ago and which has hundreds of 5-star reviews. I’m also reading Travis’s book, which was published a month ago and has 42 5-star reviews.
I could give you more proof to back up Travis’s credibility.
Would more proof matter to you?
Maybe. Or maybe that part of your brain that likes to make living hard would still pipe up with a new story.
One thing I’ve learned over all those years of walking up to women on the street is that you don’t always have to accept all the stories your brain serves up.
Life can be easier, more successful, and actually more pleasant that way.
Also, if you’d like to get Travis’s book, and maybe learn something valuable, here’s the link: