How To Succeed Like Ramit Sethi

ramit-sethiI found Ramit’s book and blog, “I Will Teach You To Be Rich,” by reading Tim Ferriss’s book and blog, “The Four Hour Work Week.” As it turns out, they’re friends, and not just because they both have scammy sounding books and blogs.

They both seem to be perfecting the ‘work smarter, not harder’ mentality, tirelessly investing in their own smarts and values to play and win the game of creating and marketing content. They also both seem to really understand and utilize media, new and old, blog and book.  So when I found Mixergy the other day, I saw an interview with Ramit on blog marketing, checked it out, took a bunch of notes and got a bunch of good ideas.

  • started for friends, found no one would show up for money talks, so started a blog
  • blogged for years before getting recognized by WSJ
  • had routinely, tirelessly emailed the WSJ finance reporters about his blog, mentions, until they covered him
  • says, “tell the right people” — like if you post on saving money for a wedding, tell the wedding bloggers
  • methodical about writing (10-15 hrs a wk) and marketing (10 hrs a wk)
  • says read, “Never Eat Alone,” “Permission Marketing,” mentions, “The Paradox of Choice”
  • make friends with reporters, find out what they need, be a resource, add value to the relationship
  • says remind yourself until you don’t forget “Nobody cares about me” (you have to appeal to people)
  • on your blog -> engage, engage, engage
  • get people on your email list (it’s a different crowd that visits your blog)
  • on email list: split test your emails to determine what works, what people want
  • provide your email list with fresh content
  • identify hero visionaries (even outside of your field), work for them for free, and knock it out of the park
  • don’t monetize too quickly, value your long-term relationship with your people more and it’ll pay off more, longer
  • the real payoff from blogging is the doors it opens like speaking gigs, opportunities, etc.
  • everyone is a consumer, be a producer of great stuff

I am, by the way, only a few chapters into Ramit’s book, because I’m still automating my bills and savings, which are his first prescriptions at the end of ch. 1. It’s got lost of tactical advise on making money management easier.

What this all made me think and how I can apply it…

  • keep writing songs, posting, figuring out the new-media game and committing to being a producer of cool stuff
  • start getting to know (perhaps persistently, but politely bugging) music reporters, local (Chronicle, Austininst, etc) and bloggers. in addition to reminding them of what i’m doing, provide them with what they need whether it’s a pre-written story with a good angle as part of my press-kit, or to connect them with the news or content that i know-of and they might appreciate
  • when i post a song called “Bananas” look beyond music people to food people, kid people, etc. for cross posting
  • keep as disciplined as possible about both producing and posting stuff but also about doing the marketing stuff
  • don’t assume people care about what i’m doing…give them a reason and appeal to what i know they like
  • i’ve started by taking Amy Mitchell, Sarah Sharp, Austin Kleon out to lunch…don’t stop there. ask all kinds of local heros out for a drink, meal
  • make more videos, lo-fi is easy, and one of the easiest ways to draw people in
  • get my mailing list going with monthly updates and special info, put a sign-up form on my homepage
  • get the podcast going again too
  • i’m now collaborating with Sara Hickman…knock it out of the park…this is the best opportunity i’ve ever had. but keep thinking beyond to other visionaries i’d gladly help.
  • don’t worry about making money with the blog (though i do want to sell t-shirts and music directly), think about who i’d like it to connect me to and connect
  • and again…make cool stuff. don’t just be a consumer, produce value

Any other ideas out there?

Bananas!

ceci nest pas une banana

0.3
[audio:2009/4/bananas-0.3.mp3]
I’ve added another guitar, a few more chords, some (sampled) shaker, bass and other stuff.

da da da da, da da da da

i greeta da bananas in da morning
and eata da banana most every day
i dip a da banana into my yoghurt
and peck at peanut butter you got on your plate

oh how i am hungry for something so healthy
i needa da energy so i can play
hello mister granola or you can say hola
anyway you mix it it’s quite a parfait

my little banana my little banana
oh you’re so yellow my bright happy fellow
i love my banana more than i can say
da da da da, da da da da

i packa da banana for de afternoon time
for a sweet snack in a slice of da shade
it’s got it’s own package but squeeze it so lightly
or you’ll get all slimey wherever it’s laid

banana beer banana bread banana chip banana pudding
banana split, cherry and chocolate on it
banana boat and a banana cream pie
banana lips banana nose banana eyes

my little banana my little banana
you’re good for my tummy and so sweet and yummy
i love my banana more everyday
da da da da, da da da da,

i peela the banana in the evening
when you come around i make you fresh fruit
you say you love it when we get together
and you let me feed you with my little spoon

oh how i love you, oh you’re so beautiful
you make me happy more than i can say
when you go away oh i’m so lonely
but i go bananas and then i’m ok

my little banana my little banana
you’ve got such a luster when out with your cluster
you follow your hunches and travel in bunches
stick it in your ear and pretend you can’t hear
but please never take my banana away
da da da da, da da da da

0.1
[audio:2009/4/bananas-0.1.mp3]

da da da da, da da da da,
da da da da da da da da da da,
da da da da, da da da da,
da da da da da da da da da da

v1
i greeta da bananas in da morning
and eata da banana most every day
i dip a da banana into my yoghurt
peck a peanut butter you got on your plate

oh how i am hungry for something so healthy
i need the energy so i that i can play
hello mister granola or you can say hola
anyway you slice it’s quite a parfait

ch
my little banana my little banana
oh you’re so yellow my bright happy fellow
i love my banana more than i can say

da da da da, da da da da,
da da da da da da da da da da,
da da da da, da da da da,
da da da da da da da da da da

v2
i packa da banana for de afternoon time
for a little snack in a slice of da shade
it’s got ait’s own package but squeeze it so gentle
or you’ll get all slimey wherever it’s laid

br
banana beer banana bread banana chips banana pudding
banana split, cherries and chocolate on it
banana boat an’ a banana cream pie
banana lips banana ears banana nose banana eyes

ch
my little banana my little banana
you’re good for my tummy and so sweet and yummy
i love my banana more everyday

da da da da, da da da da,
da da da da da da da da da da,
da da da da, da da da da,
da da da da da da da da da da

v3
i peela da banana in the evening
when you come around i make you fresh fruit
you say you love it when we get together
and you let me feed you with my little spoon

oh how i love you, oh you’re so beautiful
you make me happy more than i can say
when you go away oh i’m so lonely
i go bananas and then i’m ok

my little banana my little banana
stick it in your ear pretend you can’t hear
but please never take my banana away

da da da da, da da da da,
da da da da da da da da da da,
da da da da, da da da da,
da da da da da da da da da da

—

[unused, potential lyrics:
pretend it’s a phone if you want them to groan
yes we have no bananas!

i packa da banana for the day hike
whenever i know that i’ll be out and away
when i know i’ll need extra energy
grab a banana and get out in the day

my little banana is such a good dancer
you’re good on all topics especially tropics
you make me say yum and have potassium
you’ve got such a luster when out with your cluster
you follow your hunches and travel in bunches]