Today I’m pumped to share the unusual story behind how Marc Ecko turned his love of street art into a billion dollar clothing company. You see, like most artists, he got the “itch” early on, but he abandoned his craft for a much more stable car

There are 2 types of passion: One is good. The other is very bad.

Mar 27th, 2017

There are 2 types of passion: One is good. The other is very bad. I invited Adam Alter, NYT best-selling author, and professor at NYU, to explain the difference. I find myself walking the line between these “good” and “bad” passions. Especially

The psychological reason why you should sell what you know

Sep 7th, 2016

Before I got started packaging up my skills and expertise as online courses, I had a HUGE mental block standing between me and my success. I kept telling myself, “Why would anyone buy this? If they just buy these books, read these sites, and st

Tim Ferriss On Suicide, Fear of Failure, And The Secret to Success

May 5th, 2015

Tim Ferriss thought about killing himself… …Now he’s a best-selling author, wildly successful investor, and entrepreneur. On this new podcast, for the first time ever, Tim Ferriss talks about his troubled beginnings — and how he became the Tim

HA! You won’t BELIEVE what this guy did at dinner. And that’s why he’s successful.

Mar 20th, 2014

I recently read Adam Braun’s new book, “The Promise of a Pencil(affiliate link)” And let me tell you – it was GREAT. I could spend this whole blog post raving about how great the book is… …But instead, I’m going to share just one story inside h

There are three types of people – who are you?

Nov 18th, 2013

According to Adam Grant, the New York Times best-selling author of “Give and Take,” there are three types of people in the world. Givers. Takers. And Matchers. Which one are you? And does it matter? As you’ll soon see, the answer is YES. The mo

You can’t make everyone happy – stop trying

Oct 21st, 2013

This past weekend, the day before I was set to give the closing keynote at the financial bloggers conference, a woman walks up to me, interrupts my conversation, and says, “I won’t be at your talk tomorrow, but don’t be a douche.” “Oh?” I said.

Crazy magician shares GREAT marketing and psychology tactics

Oct 7th, 2013

A few weeks ago, I was browsing a book store – yes, I still do that – and I stumbled on this book called “Fooling Houdini” by Alex Stone. The title grabbed me by throat and said, “Take me home.” So I did. As I started reading the book, I realiz

Use this framework – close your next client (the return of the Social Triggers podcast)

Sep 23rd, 2013

When you break down some of the best sales pitches, you’ll notice something that can change your business. You’ll notice that being GREAT at sales has nothing to do with “natural talent.” (As far as I know, there’s no “sales gene.”) Instead, wh

How to Make Better Decisions In Life And Work

Apr 1st, 2013

A few weeks ago, this guy asked me “Should I quit my job to start my own business?” This guy, and many other people who read Social Triggers, need help making tough decisions just like this. Decisions like: “Should I quit my job?” “Should I sta

Viral marketing secrets revealed by Ivy League professor Jonah Berger

Mar 7th, 2013

What’s the secret to successful viral marketing? An Ivy League professor, Jonah Berger, released a new book this week called Contagious: Why Things Catch On< And in this book, he reveals a simple framework that you can use to make your content

To Sell is Human by Dan Pink (Free Audio Download)

Jan 3rd, 2013

This guy spits in the face of “old school sales tactics,” and I’m happy that he did it. Here’s the deal: We live in a world where we’re all in sales. You. Me. Everyone. Whether we’re trying to convince our bosses to give us a raise, persuade ou

The science of making—and breaking—habits (with Charles Duhigg)

Dec 21st, 2012

With the new year fast approaching, I’m setting some new goals for myself, and I’m sure you are, too. My New Year’s resolutions include breaking some of my annoying habits and making some useful ones. How will you keep your New Year’s resolutio

The simple path to becoming a highly-paid expert (new podcast with Tim Ferriss)

Nov 19th, 2012

Before you become a highly-paid expert, you must first BE an expert. Yep… That means you can’t “fake it til you make it,” but instead, you’ve got to be a REAL expert. “How?” Ever since Malcolm Gladwell released Outliers, the world believes it t

How to Eliminate “Wallet Closing Words” From Your Emails, Sales Pages, and Speech

Jul 31st, 2012

There are words that REPEL your customers… Words that stop them—dead in their tracks—from buying whatever it is you’re selling. Words that are so prevalent that you’ll be SHOCKED to hear that they’re HORRIBLE when it comes to communicating with

How to Create Great Presentations (tips from the CEO of the top presentation design firm)

Jun 4th, 2012

If you think, “Derek, I’ll never have to give a presentation,” consider this: You may have to land a big client, create a compelling sales video, speak at a huge conference, or go on a job interview… …It doesn’t matter. Each scenario requires a

Why We Buy What We Can Get For Free

Apr 30th, 2012

Today I’m super excited to introduce the latest edition of Social Triggers Insider. You’ll learn: Why people buy what they can get for free Why you should design your website for the “Homer Simpsons” of the world Why people overvalue their work

The #1 Sales Killer On Your Site—And How to Get Rid Of It For Good

Mar 21st, 2012

How would you enjoy suddenly having an influx of people, “chomping at the bit,” ready to buy whatever it is you’re selling? It would be insanely great! But what holds those people back… preventing you from experiencing the surge that you deserv

Why People Bought The White iPhone… When They Wanted The Black One

Feb 29th, 2012

Back when the iPhone 3G first came out, people had two options: They could buy the black iPhone or the white iPhone. You may think people made their decision based on their color preference, but as you’ll soon find out, it’s not that simple. Wh

How These 3 Small Tweaks Lead to Lasting Results (with Timothy Wilson)

Feb 9th, 2012

No matter what you do, you’re in the business of changing behavior. If you’re looking to sell products and services, you’ve got to get your target customers to switch from their trusted brands to your brand. And if you’re looking to improve you

How People Make Decisions (and How it Helps You Grow Your Business)

Jan 26th, 2012

What makes people buy one product over another? Why is discounting HORRIBLE for your business? Or, more broadly speaking, how do people make ANY decision? The answer lies inside your brain… …and to help you understand how it works, I’ve got the

How to Charge 100X More Than Your Competition (Interview with Ramit Sethi)

Jan 12th, 2012

How can you charge what you’re worth and get it? You could slap a price on your product (or service) and hope for the best… …or you can take matters into your own hands, and watch customers LINE UP to buy your products. I know you prefer the la

How to Get Major Media Coverage For Your Business with No Connections

Jan 5th, 2012

Getting featured in the media is GREAT for credibility, traffic, and sales. And you can do it WITHOUT CONNECTIONS. Here’s how… How the “Drafting Technique” Helps You Score Loads of Press, Traffic, and Links What an unfortunate freeze frame, rig