There really isn't enough sociology in advertising nowadays...

What do you think folks, shall we do some bad book covers today?

I think we should...

"I have made some bad decisions in my life..."

Dressed Up For Murder, by Gary Brander. Fastback, 1986.

"It's not you Mr Darcy, it's me..."

Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen. Bestseller Library, 1966.

Move along Twitter, nothing to see here...

The Star Fox, by Poul Anderson. Panther Books 1968. Cover by Bob Haberfield.

Fangs For The Mammaries, edited by Esther Friesner. Baen Books 2010. Art by Clyde Caldwell.

I see what you did there Clyde...

On 23 September 1984 the BBC broadcast the apocalypse: the story of nuclear war and its effects on the people of Sheffield. Filmed on a shoestring budget it still causes nightmares to this day.

This thread is not for the squeamish.

This the story of Threads...

In 1965 the BBC had filmed The War Game, a fictional docu-drama about a nuclear attack on Britain. However under pressure from the government the BBC withdrew it from screening. It was finally released in 1966 as a film in selected theatres.

For many years the withdrawal of The War Game had rankled many at the BBC. Surely it was a public broadcaster's duty to show the public what the reality of nuclear war would mean. Finally in 1982 they did so.

A Guide To Armageddon was a documentary for the BBC's peak-time science series Q.E.D. Produced by Mick Jackson it graphically depicted the effect of a one megaton explosion on London. It also explored how well people could survive such a blast if they were in a fallout shelter.

Jackson had carefully researched his subject and knew how under-prepared the UK was for nuclear war. The physical and psychological effects of atomic attack would catapult what was left of Britain back to a 14th century mode of living, a time when bubonic plague killed millions.

Today in pulp... I look back at Raleigh bikes: the most exciting bikes on the planet! #ThursdayMotivation #cycling

Raleigh was the all steel bike that defined a generation of cyclists: for many it was their first introduction to the joys - and perils - of cycling!

The brand was named after Sir Walter Raleigh - inventor of the cigarette. And it was built in Nottingham - home of the cigarette. So obviously everyone who rode one smoked...

Now of course British cycling has a long and noble history...

...but you didn't come here for that! You want a big fat hit of nostalgia, so let's get right to it.

It's now over half a century since 1970, and I'm starting to wonder if we should bring back its concept of gracious modern living...

You see we've grown so used to Swedish-style modernism that we've sort of forgotten that maximalism, rather than minimalism, was once the sign of a cultured abode.

The 1970s in many ways reached back to the rich ideas of Victorian decor: heavy, autumnal and cluttered. Home was meant to be a baroque and sensual experience, rather than a 'machine for living in.'

Gaudy was certainly in by 1970: colour choices for interior design were rich and varied, with every room becoming a boutique of signature design.

Experimentation and adventurism were also coming to the fore: now we had landed on the Moon surely we should start to live like astronauts on Earth.

As it's #AppreciateADragonDay let's do some classic covers from Dragon magazine!

Tony DiTerlizzi's cover art for Dragon magazine #242, December 1997.

Dragon magazine issue 106, February 1986. Cover by Keith Parkinson.

Dragon Magazine #71, March 1983. Cover by Clyde Caldwell.

Dragon magazine issue 65, September 1982. Cover by Clyde Caldwell.

Physical things that influence your personal brand.

-Thread.

This is going to be a very different thread from the ones I’ve done before on personal branding. People are looking for people who they can proudly advocate for and recommend, hence in today’s economy

you’re the most important touch point of your product / service and this is why personal branding is important. In previous threads I’ve spoken on the fundamentals to building a personal brand, here I want to share a few things that influence your personal brand.

1. EARS: The things and people you listen to influence your actions, behavior and character.

2. MOUTH: How you say what you think says a lot about how you feel about yourself and how you treat others. Do you leave room to be teachable? Listen as well as you speak? Your destiny is dependent on what you say.

Why digital advertising is broken and how we’re fixing it: (thread)

1/ Attention is a scarce asset. Yet, today’s advertising platforms are built on a model of interruption, forcing brands between you and your intention.

2/ Though ads are everywhere, people don’t trust them. Study after study shows, when you pay to reach people in an interruptive way, less than 5% pay attention.

3/ In today’s interruption-based ad model, the more money you spend, the more people you annoy. Advertisers are trying to solve this problem by spending more money and showing more ads but that only makes it worse.

4/ Ads interrupt us everywhere, leading to more people tuning them out. This is not a content problem. This is not a targeting problem. It’s a context problem.

Whether you like it or not.... you are ALWAYS selling

And many of you here have ambitions to make loads of cash, so you HAVE to understand this FUNDAMENTAL skill and get really good at sales

The following will help you

{THREAD} on How To Sell ANYTHING High Ticket (Properly)

Many of you know me for my fitness content or NRG or sarcasm primarily

But my good friends know I’ve been in the sort of “online business” sphere for a couple years.

Done a lot of different things, but the most natural of those- has been sales.

Got a lot of experience working for one of my mentors, would close his personal brand offers for him and managed that. And was the COO of the agency we built together from Aug ‘19-July ‘20, which is where I got GOOD.

Closed a few $30k deals on the phone/zoom there.

All that being said, I had to dial a lot back. Find focus. Do just a few things rather than being all over the place

So now, I’m focusing only on my fitness company, and the past few months have been building a small sales agency. (Along with a redacted project/lvrged ptnrships)

Anyway, let’s get into it. SALES-

First I’m going to say DO NOT use this if you are selling some bullshit. To actually sell requires belief in your product/offer, and I only do things with offers I genuinely have full confidence in.

This also gives you leverage...