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Information Diet, Part 1

Sterling (Jeremy Frandsen) 7 Comments

Hi, I’m Sterling and I’m an information addict. (HI STERLING). It’s been 3 years since I have watched a news program, 2 years since I’ve watched an entertainment gossip show, 1 year since I’ve had cable television and nearly two weeks since I have read over 50 blogs a week, listened to all of the 25+ podcasts I’m subscribed too, unsubscribed to the 30+ email newsletters, took 5 books back to the library that I was reading simultaneously (all non-fiction), and stopped consuming info like it was going out of style. I feel like a 50 pound monkey is off my back.

The cause for this info dump was ‘The 4 Hour Work Week’ by Tim Ferriss. That book has been the second most influential book I have ever read. I have been an info addict my whole life. When I am into something I study it voraciously, to the point of obsession. I have never smoked, gotten drunk or done drugs, but I have been an info junkie nearly my entire life.

This obsessive behavior has an upside and a downside. The upside is that I gain a massive about of knowledge very quickly, the downside is that I have a pitiful lifestyle and very few ‘hobbies’. The other downside to taking in information that quickly is that you have very little chance of putting even half of the info to real use. Knowledge is only POTENTIAL power. Action is where knowledge becomes real power.

The goal for me now is not to consume a piece of information until I need it. I will not read about traffic generation until I am working on my traffic generation again. I will read no more about search engine optimization until, you guessed it, I’m doing more search engine optimization.

I turned on the radio in my car for the first time in… years. Usually I plug my iPod in and listen to various podcast on subjects from eBay to skepticality. It’s been long enough that the music I listened to in high school is now considered ‘adult contemporary’! I also realized that hip hop is not my cup of tea.

I’m going to now balance the info I bring in with the entertainment! I have been doing this for the last couple weeks and I thought I would share with you, in the next few blog posts, the list the information and entertainment I now consume.

Blog-a-mania!

I use google reader to sort through and read my blogs. I have more then 60 blogs in my reader, but I have started a ‘must read’ folder and here is what is in it:

  • ProBlogger Blog Tips – Darren Rowse is a top blogger that actually makes a fantastic living by blogging. I met Darren at Yanik Silvers Underground seminar in March. He is a very down to earth, friendly guy that is also very prolific. I get a lot of great tips from his blog.
  • Marketing What Works – Dean Hunt talks a lot about traffic and using social media to get lots of it. He also talks about mindset, which is a pet topic of mine. He has a very blunt, no BS style, which I enjoy
  • Jason Van Orden :: Podcast Consultant – Jason is my business partner, but I still read his blog and listen to his podcasts. I really like his writing style and way he delivers information and you will too!
  • Social Media Optimization – I love using and learning about social media optimization and here is a place I go to learn more.

BLATENT PLUG:

BTW, if you are into making money using eBay I have a podcast that I do with Andrew Lock called Renegade eBay Sellers, check it out!

I also run a blog called Dan Kennedy Says, with tips and advice from ultra-famous marketing expert Dan Kennedy.

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This post is in: 4-Hour Workweek, Automating, Streamlining and Outsourcing, Productivity

7 Comments Leave a Comment


Blush.

Thanks for the kind mention. I am glad my no BS style is appreciated. There are some areas where you can be gentle and patient, but when it comes to making money, I don’t have the time to be anything other than direct.

Of course, as Sterling can confirm, outside of the internet I am a pussy cat.

Thanks again for the kind words. I look forward to reading part two.

Dean Hunt

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Sterling,
I listened to a recording Yanik Silver and Tim Ferriss did. It opened my eyes to “The 4-hour Work Week”. However, it wasn’t until your latest podcast that I actually went out an bought it. I have the Audio Book AND the physical book.

What you all said in your last podcast about, “I just need to get this one more info product” or “I just need to go to this one more seminar” was great. If you always need “One More”, you’ll never START and take action. What you all said was right in line with Tim’s book.

With that said, I’m happy to say I now have an Aweber account, just finished a product I’m giving away in return for addition to my list. Then I’ll give them a workbook free if they tell me the names and emails of some friends they want to share this with.
Then I’ll package the book, workbook, questions and answers, and audio version of the book in a package and sell that as a sort of “upsell”.

I’m also about to launch a bunch of other affiliate sites.

NOW, my biggest thing is to actually stop doing all the work! My old mindset was, “If I can do it myself, it will save me money.” but now I look at it like it’s costing me time. Time is WAY more valuable to me than money!

Hi, I’m Mike Copeland and I’m an Information Addict

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@ Dean,

Yeah, Dean is a great guy. I got a chance to hang out with him for a couple days at Yanik Silvers Mastermind Group several weeks ago. He has several personality driven blogs, which I reallllly enjoy!

HI MIKE!

It is really awesome to see that you have taken action! Step two complete! The fact that you are getting out of the ‘work too much’ trap right up front is fantastic to hear! I just figured it out YEARS after I started!!

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Dan

Hi Sterling. You said that 4HWW is your second most influentual book. I’m interested to know what the other one is?

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Bill

So, Sterling, or is it Jeremy, why the different names? just curious if you think it helps somehow.

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@ Dan,

The first book to really influence me to the point of a real life change was the Rich Dad, Poor Dad books.  They are very basic mindset books as I look back now, but at the time I was in total need of them!  It was all new info for me then.

I would also say that I was really into Anthony Robbins and the other ‘self help’ gurus back when I was fresh from high school.  I don’t read any of that now, but I would have to say that much of my optimism and self esteem was created back while going through that phase.

@ Bill,

Originally, Jason and I wanted to keep our names hidden for several reasons.  First, we didn’t want people to try to just copy what we did without knowing the backend and inner workings.  We want people to actually learn how to do things from start to finish.

We later realized that we would rather be more open about a few of our pursuits as more of a credibility issue.  Plus we were just too anxious to share everything.  Hidden identities are just not our thing.

We are working on an about me page right now shedding more light on …us.

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[...] wrote the original Info Diet, part 1 post 3 years ago, and I thought it was time for an update and a process you can use to stop [...]

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