DID YOU KNOW?

How cool is that?

I noticed my friends will play it safe and chase trends, especially after it's gone viral.

Fair play, it's proven to work.

But what if we have to focus on the beginning of the curve, the early adopters?

I'm reading “Purple Cow” (Seth Godin) as I'm starting my newsletter journey.

It describes how the first people that discover your product will be the ones to tell others about it - but only if it's really good.

Which makes sense - you wouldn't want to tell anybody else about it if it's bad.

Maybe, if it's that bad, you would. (To tell them to stay away.)

Anyways, it's the innovators and the early adopters.

The people who are seeking out new things.

The people who want to find something new to talk about that he says to target.

A cool trick to get into the mind of an early adopter using your YouTube account:

Let's say you got really bored with your YouTube videos.

One day, while feeling this way, I purposely sought out channels I'm usually not familiar with.

In a few days I started to get recommendations from channels and videos with under 20 views, sometimes under 20 subscribers.

I told YouTube that I was an early adopter interested in that.

For me, I like hidden gems, either to tell my friends about them or to write about it in my newsletter.

(I know it seems like I'm CTAing, but it's true.

I'll get into a future video about why it's really important for me to write it out.)

Other people like to be recognized for their knowledge. Some people just like to help.

They've done it before, so they can recognize exactly where you're at, and they know what to say.

I really like this term. Somewhere between a hobby and a obsession.

These are the same people that will travel across the country to go to a restaurant that they're a big fan of.

These are the same people that would do anything to try In-N-Out.

One example in the book is when Krispy Kreme opens up a new location, they give away donuts for free.

So, fans of Krispy Kreme will take their friends and say:

"Come on dude, we're about to get so many free donuts."

Now, that friend who wasn't a Krispy Kreme fan is like:

"Oh that's kind of cool." Eventually it ended up selling more.

For example, do you know someone that can always name the movie title or the actors' names?

A movie otaku.

Or how about someone who wipes the floor with you in trivia? Or is that you?

Either way, one of you is an otaku.

They've already seen the new shows, they're the ones recommending you the one that you’re currently on.

Grab something you can write or take notes with. Let's do some soul searching.

Think about recent things you've consumed, watched, done - restaurants or movies you've tried -

…that come to the top of your mind when I ask you this:

If you mostly discovered them, then you are an otaku.

If you mostly get told, well, what do you tell others about?

Come on I know there's something in there.

I believe everyone has something that they kind of can't shut up about.

Whatever that is, whatever you wish you could do, do it - that's what you're an otaku about.

The thing that came to your mind when I talked about it!

If nothing comes to your mind then maybe you have to do some digging or soul searching.

Some of you had something. That's it, that's it!

I've got a friend that's practically my filter for excellent TV and film. Holy shit.

My house is like a 24/7 indie movie theater - there's always something really good in the queue.

I can honestly say it's made my life better.

If I watch something that he's recommended, I'll get his analysis, and I’ll give him mine.

When I'm looking for something new, 50% of the time I'll pick one of his recommendations.

I don't regret it.

Speaking of which, Fargo has been on my mind.

Seriously Fargo or Legion - you have to watch it, it is immaculate.

Do you see what I just did there?

But it's true, it really is that good.

That's what otakus do!

They spread your idea like mad, especially if it's worth talking about, especially if it's good.
(Which Fargo is!)

Seth says there isn’t really a formula but there are guidelines.

Two of the things they have in common:

ONE: They don’t have things in common.

More so that they don't fit cleanly into boxes that they're in.

TWO: People love to talk about them.

I haven't figured out how to do it exactly for myself just yet...

By ghostwriting for others:

I’d jump into the social conversation either by injecting myself via pop culture or finding an interesting underserved market.

Another quote I think points us in the right direction is something Gary Vaynerchuk has said:

I don't think that means to not post and take so much time that you never do.

I think it means the opposite - refine your tactics, refine your technique by doing.

If you're rushing through it:

If you're not actually learning more and figuring out how to improve your craft, then that's the death right there.

You're in the same spot, in the same place.

You blame the algorithm.

Even if the algorithm has changed, you can de-platform the user to not worry about algorithm changes.

You can make good content that is shareable, regardless.

We could always make better content. That's what I think he means.

I just want to be really clear about that.

That connects nicely to my last quote by Seth Godin, and a variation is said by John Wooden: