Why I Suck As A Salesman

I think most of us will remember this classic hilarious scene from Tommy Boy where he, in great detail, explains why he sucks as a salesman.

Once he lays it out and destroys the biscuit, two things happens.

1. He changes the waitresses mind.

2. The explaining opened him up to the solution to his problem.

It turns out he didn’t suck as a salesman…he was just doing it wrong.

He had all the tools, he was just using the wrong ones at the right time.

But ‘I suck as a salesman’ was the trigger for becoming a great one.

‘I am an ok salesman’ wouldn’t have triggered such a change.

It might be time to say out loud that you suck at…..

That way it’ll change.

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I’m always interested in your perspective, whether affirming or dissenting. Continue the conversation anytime: gabethebassplayer@gmail.com

Push Through For A Week

Every day for an entire week, push through.

I’m writing this for the songwriting folks out there but I’m sure even if you’re not one you can apply your own version.

The idea of writing a full song everyday for an entire week…

Seven days seven songs. Complete.

When the frustration, un-creativity, un-inspiration and tiredness inevitably pop up…push through.

Get to the other side. Don’t back down. Don’t take the afternoon or the week off.

Writers are constantly trying to find the fleeting balance between digging up the muse and letting the muse come to them…but for one week: force it. For one week you have your answer: keep going and finish.

Don’t short it, don’t skirt the edge, don’t make concessions and excuses, don’t wiggle out.

Seven completions.

Start Sunday. Commit for seven days and find out what it feels like on the other side.

I’d love to hear from you on this.

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I’m always interested in your perspective, whether affirming or dissenting. Continue the conversation anytime: gabethebassplayer@gmail.com

The Only People Who Are Going To See

(Sorry for the incorrect link at the bottom of yesterday’s email. Here’sthe right one.)



The only people who are going to see, watch and hear it are the ones interested in seeing, watching and hearing it.

So don’t worry about the rest.

Because in order for someone to see, watch and hear it there had to come a moment just before that where they decided they wanted to.

Their encounter with you is now elevated.

So…now you don’t have a completely random person anymore consuming your thing…you have a person who (even if it’s every so slightly) hopes that they’re making a good decision by seeing, watching, hearing your thing.

They’re actually rooting for you to come through with something awesome (even though it might be a selfish rooting).

That’s why when you’re creating something new to put out into the world the only people you need to concern yourself with are the type of people who are actually going to consume it…the people who consciously or subconsciously rooting for you to begin with…beginning with that moment just BEFORE they consume your thing.

And if they want it to be good (which they do) it’s much more likely that they’ll receive it as good.

The only people who are going to see, watch and hear it are the ones who are going to.

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I’m always interested in your perspective, whether affirming or dissenting. Continue the conversation anytime: gabethebassplayer@gmail.com

Rhyming And Alliteration

We often believe things are better, truer, more memorable because of rhyming or alliteration.

Or perhaps better said…

It always sounds better
When it rhymes together
Or when sounds are similar
And singable and spectacular

Rhyming and alliteration are powerful tools. Not just for writing and speaking but for your style and marketing and messaging.

Upon first impression, if you rhyme with something you’re easier to remember.

And Taco Tuesday will always sell more tacos than Taco Wednesday. (Something I wrote about almost exactlythree years ago:)

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I’m always interested in your perspective, whether affirming or dissenting. Continue the conversation anytime: gabethebassplayer@gmail.com

The ShowBusiness Commission

***a knocking on the door

“Who is it?”

“It’s The ShowBusiness Commission and we’d like to speak with you.”

***opens door

“We here at The ShowBusiness Commission have chosen you. You’ve been spending a lot of time just sitting around here in your apartment, but your name came across the wire today and we’re here with the rocket ship: fame and riches and respect and fulfillment, it’s all yours

Sure you haven’t really proven to more than a few dozen people that you can do it, but we’re willing to look past that if you can.

We know you haven’t really been working super hard…yet somehow you manage to still think you deserve worldwide acclaim…and it turns out the thin confidence, the shallow foundation, the wavering commitment which that expectant attitude provides is just what we’re looking for.

So come on, kid.  The ShowBusiness Commission is waving its wand, bestowing glory and christening you into your dreams.”


We hope we can all appreciate the humor.

But I also know that tucked waaaaay back in our brains, deep down in the places we don’t like to admit or speak from…in whatever job we’re doing, we have real honest moments where we wish The ShowBusiness Commission was real and the above conversation could be true for us.

(If you liked this post you will also like Season 5 Episode 11 of Comedians In Cars Getting Coffee)

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I’m always interested in your perspective, whether affirming or dissenting. Continue the conversation anytime: gabethebassplayer@gmail.com

100th Row Fantasy

The further you go into a crowd the more surprised those people will be that you are there.

People in the front row already have half the fantasy realized.  They bought the front row ticket so some type of interaction is almost expected. That’s why you buy that particular ticket.

The further the people are away from the stage the bigger the fantasy they have to create in their minds that they’re going to get to be face to face with the artist.  So when it happens the pay off is even more breath taking.

As an artist, if you’re looking for a sure fire home run pitch…go further away from the stage.  Those people secretly hoped you’d see them, but never expected it.

The people in the front row are the ones that get that kind of attention, but not in the 100th row.

Except when they come to your show.

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I’m always interested in your perspective, whether affirming or dissenting. Continue the conversation anytime: gabethebassplayer@gmail.com