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Brad Burt Inner circle 2675 Posts |
Change 'stop' to 'do' in the following video and the secret to making money as a performing magician comes forth...like, well, magic.....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BYLMTvxOaeE
Brad Burt
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Dr. JK Inner circle Sandusky, OH 1191 Posts |
I've always loved that skit. Absolutely classic. Bob is one of the best!!!
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Brad Burt Inner circle 2675 Posts |
I thought it would be fun to lighten things up a bit and I honestly think it illustrates a good, solid point. Some times you just have to DO IT or STOP IT to get something accomplished. Bob just says in better than most... ;-)
Best,
Brad Burt
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Ray Pierce Inner circle Los Angeles, CA 2607 Posts |
Lol...brilliant. The "10 words" killed me!
I agree... it's really pretty simple at the core. Do, or don't do. I like to "do". As a side note, I directed the magic for an episode of the Bob Newhart show where the Brothers (Larry, Daryl & Daryl) had to saw Bob in half. I knew that the thin sawing would have to be a little bigger than normal so I went in to measure him. I put down a furniture pad in the middle of the set and had him lay on his side and pull his knees up as far as they can go just to get an idea. He brought his legs up to what would have been a sitting position and said, "Hurry and measure". lol.. I said "Relax, we might have to re approach this thing!" I ended up coming up with a different method that worked great on camera. It always keeps you on your toes!
Ray Pierce
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Donald Dunphy Inner circle Victoria, BC, Canada 7563 Posts |
Fellow magician Tom Boleware wrote a nice little book on the habit of taking action:
http://www.tomboleware.com/howto.html More than just "do it," Tom shared the idea of putting the word "now" on the end of the phrase. "Do it now." - Donald
Donald Dunphy is a Victoria Magician, British Columbia, Canada.
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Brad Burt Inner circle 2675 Posts |
Just ordered a copy. Jeesh....I just love mail order!
Best,
Brad Burt
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Donald Dunphy Inner circle Victoria, BC, Canada 7563 Posts |
It's not a thick book, but I thought it was well worth the price he's asking.
- Donald
Donald Dunphy is a Victoria Magician, British Columbia, Canada.
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ViolinKing Veteran user a loyal user has no more than 307 Posts |
@Donald, this is brilliant. Did it ever occur to any of you guys how easy it would be to write some book like this and make money?
I'm thinking about it right now, but don't view it as ethical. ~Nick |
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Brad Burt Inner circle 2675 Posts |
Since there are about a zillion books on HOW not to procrastinate that would be a whole LOT of unethical activity out there! In my wildest imagining I can for the life of me see why writing a book on how to get things done could be a bad thing?
I have a library of 12-13,000 volumes, of which maybe a dozen address this subject from one angle or another. Always found at least one insight that made reading each one worthwhile. But, then, each to his own.... Best,
Brad Burt
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ViolinKing Veteran user a loyal user has no more than 307 Posts |
@Brad
You mean, you think I should do it? I just think its too easy to prey on people's desires by writing some hokey book filled with inspirational quotes. Not to mention that the few tricks out there to getting people to do things are already known. It just seems like doing it to get money would be unethical, and the only reason I would do it would be to get money. Its just too easy, like a get rich quick scheme or something. There's a whole lot of books like that. You could write one on some new diet for weight loss, or on some new niche diet that treats some niche illness, or for spirituality, or enlightenment doctrine, or "living in the now", etc. How about this for an explanation for why it isn't ethical. It uses people's most basic and vulnerable hopes and dreams just to get them to buy the book, and then makes them feel like a failure if they bought the book and they still procrastinate, because the book ALWAYS puts the onus on the person. Its just such a strange little avenue of thinking. Its not like buying a book that teaches you how to build a boat. Its a book specifically targeted at people who don't do anything, and feel bad for it, or some who don't feel bad, and just wish that they had better things in their life. But nobody is so confused that they believe that there is "something to it" which is so confusing that they have to read a book in order to learn how to take action. Or here, here's another reason why it is unethical: Because at the end of the day, nothing is accomplished by writing the words "Just do it" in a book and selling it. It just increases the procrastinator's pain, without really helping them in any way. Couldn't they have written those same words in a book and sold it to themselves for absolutely nothing? Sure. (In fact, a procrastinator often is the BEST type of person to write the book, because they know all of the reason's why they "should" be doing something, and use those reasons to make themselves feel bad.) So at the end of the day, I write a book that essentially says "Do it," and I get money from procrastinators for it, which basically means that doing anything, absolutely anything, is more valuable than doing nothing, since I'm the one with more money at the end of the transaction, and the procrastinator is the one with less. ~Nick |
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TomBoleware Inner circle Hattiesburg, Ms 3163 Posts |
Hey Ya'll.
Thanks for the plug/link Donald. I appreciate that. Burt, thanks for the order. The book was shipped today and after reading it, if you have questions, just let me know. As Donald said, it is not a thick book, but I do include some extra reading material I think you will like too. Also thanks for the link to the video. I loved it. seen it before but I had forgotten all about it. Nick, I didn't write it for the money. I wrote it because I could. I like to share my thoughts with others. I like to 'DO' things. As soon as I received Brad's payment early, I packed it up and went to the post office, and it is on the way. I like to practice what I preach. If he (or anyone) is not completely satisfied with the purchase, I have no problem refunding every penny of the money. So how is that taking advantage of anybody? I too have a ton of motivational books, and like most readers, I don't read them expecting to find some big secret to success. I read for the enjoyment, and if I do find a little motivation, then I feel it was worthwhile. Nope, I'm not selling instructions to build a boat, just a little fuel for it. We all need it, myself included. I've never meet a successful man that didn't need refueling with a little go power. Still I understand what you saying and see how it could be unethical in some cases, but Please don't say we all weak because we read such books. You might be surprised at how strong we really are, and even more surprised at how we got that way. Do It Now, Tom
The Daycare Magician Book
https://www.vanishingincmagic.com/amazekids/the-daycare-magician/ My Blog - https://boleware.blogspot.com/ |
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Brad Burt Inner circle 2675 Posts |
Dear Nick:
Let's apply your logic to anything having to do with helping folks. Books on the newest data that might have anything to do with depression, anxiety, alternative medicine, oh my the list could be thousands of item long. Why write books on any of them? In fact apply your logic to virtually ANYTHING that's been written before and it would apply. I assume you are against newer text books dealing with math, science, et al. Now, wait, if you say that, hey, new discoveries crop up in those disciplines and stuff needs to be updated, so what? Maybe a new book on procrastination could have just the one 'new' insight or that old insight that I or anyone else might not have gotten before? I assume also that you are dead set against a set of books like Card College. You MUST be. I seen 'em. Virtually everything in them can be found somewhere else. You can't use the argument that 'maybe' the explanations are a little fresher or even better, you've ruled that out a priori...read your post above. Giobbi JUST put them out to make some extra bucks, etc., etc. By the way, if you really feel the way you do, that's cool. Go for it. At least you haven't yet called for laws that say a subject can only be addressed once and that's all she wrote. Best,
Brad Burt
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ViolinKing Veteran user a loyal user has no more than 307 Posts |
OMG Burt, this was awesome.
You're like an awesome inspirational writer!!! :) By the way, PLEASE EXCUSE A FEW THINGS I WROTE: When I wrote, Quote:
I just think its too easy to prey on people's desires by writing some hokey book filled with inspirational quotes. I meant, I think it is too easy FOR ME. I meant to say that, and I hope that you assume in the future that I'm not making any statement about what is ethical or not for anyone else. Its just natural for me to phrase my thoughts that way. I know it doesn't sound like that's what I meant, but especially this statement: Quote:
It just seems like doing it to get money would be unethical, and the only reason I would do it would be to get money. Is meant to express that I'm just thinking out loud about these books, and how I feel they apply to me. I would NEVER criticize another writer. BUT WAIT? Aren't a lot of the statements that I made pretty specific to the books in general? Hey, I have no problem helping people, but its just the exchange of money I don't agree with. Although, Burt, you are starting to change my mind about this whole book thing. If I end up writing something, not only would you be listed as inspiration, you would probably be deserving of every penny it earned!!! Plus, it seems that people respect you more if you charge them!! So, if need be, I will reword my post to change what I wrote and make it specific to me, but please note, Tom, I hope you aren't offended. |
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Andrew Zuber Inner circle Los Angeles, CA 3014 Posts |
Quote:
On 2011-07-27 23:11, ViolinKing wrote: So psychiatrists, therapists, doctors, EMTs, teachers, social workers...these people should all just be volunteering their time? And don't kid yourself - just because you don't hand them a wad of cash when they walk out the door doesn't mean you aren't contributing to their salaries. Let's also keep in mind that no one is forced to buy these books. They do so because they choose to.
"I'm sorry - if you were right, I would agree with you." -Robin Williams, Awakenings
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TomBoleware Inner circle Hattiesburg, Ms 3163 Posts |
No problem with me Nick.
But I am sorry I called Brad by his last name, Burt in my post. Hard to say one without thinking of the other. For that I do apologize. Tom
The Daycare Magician Book
https://www.vanishingincmagic.com/amazekids/the-daycare-magician/ My Blog - https://boleware.blogspot.com/ |
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Brad Burt Inner circle 2675 Posts |
Oh, well, since your comments only revolve about "you" and what "you" would do, I guess that makes it all right...sorry. Generally, although not always, most of us assume that posts are designed for a broader spectrum of application. A personal ethical dilemma that reduces via reductio ad absurdum to: "I don't think that helping folks should be financially compensated" is, as Andrew noted above not helpful to folks not independently wealthy and thus need the income they get from offering said help on the free market in order to support their families.
I applaud your ability to do good without having to worry about the doing 'well' part. Cool. Best,
Brad Burt
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ViolinKing Veteran user a loyal user has no more than 307 Posts |
Quote:
On 2011-07-28 01:15, Andrew Zuber wrote: I don't know about all of those people, but I know that if someone came to me and had some problem, I would gladly help them, if I knew I could (if I knew how to fix it), and would certainly not withhold anything just for some money. Quote:
A personal ethical dilemma that reduces via reductio ad absurdum to: "I don't think that helping folks should be financially compensated" is, as Andrew noted above not helpful to folks not independently wealthy Why not just reword it so that it doesn't have to apply to everyone? How about "I, Nicholas Vollmann, would gladly volunteer my time for free, given that I was doing something I wanted to do. I, N. V., do not believe that I have anything to offer anyone, in terms of motivational writing, that they do not already have within themselves." Quote:
Let's also keep in mind that no one is forced to buy these books. They do so because they choose to. How could one NOT keep that in mind? That seems so obvious to me that I never once forgot it. Did I ever attempt to stop the purchase that Brad made? Or get Tom to give the money back? Absolutely not, they are both adults. ~Nick |
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Brad Burt Inner circle 2675 Posts |
O.k., no argument. Not only that, but as you state it above I not only agree, but that's the exact way I live my life. It can be confusing to conflate the personal with the professional. My wife makes her living as a licensed professional therapist, but she does a lot of pro bono work also.
By the way are you saying that if you had what you thought was a great way to help folks that you would distribute it free? Book, video, MP3, etc.? At this point just curious. It seems the implication of all you have said above. I'm trying to phrase the question in such a way that I do not, in fact, put words in your mouth, so if I have misinterpreted what you have written please do clarify. Another by the way: I have no problem with that at all. I have made my living for the last 40 years by in effect selling information, so ideas are part and parcel of what has always paid the rent and put food in my children's mouths, but if one need not do that I have no problem with the distribution of information free for whatever the reason. Best regards,
Brad Burt
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ViolinKing Veteran user a loyal user has no more than 307 Posts |
@Brad:
That is a tough question to answer, and part of the reason is because it is all hypothetical. I'm sorry, I can't really answer it. No one comes to me for advice, but if they did, I probably wouldn't charge. I say probably because there are many different kinds of advice, one of them being performance advice. I've read some posts from folks on the Café who had to start charging for advice just to get people to listen, and to weed out the people who didn't really want to listen. You know what, though? Your video was great, I really enjoyed your posts, and I suppose if Bob Newhart only wants to charge $5, who cares? I'd give him $5. ~Nick |
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Brad Burt Inner circle 2675 Posts |
Nick: Cool. LOL....some of us would LOVE to get paid by the post.... ;-)
Best,
Brad Burt
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