The end goal for all successful people and whales (even Ray Dalio):
Why become a thought leader?
At least for us Americans, to become a thought leader seems to be the ultimate end goal. We become rich, then what? It seems this is the distraction:
- We seek to become rich because we think it will make us “happyâ€.
- But in actuality, happiness is not the real end goal.
- At the end, what we seek is more impact on planet earth — thoughts are the ultimate metaphysical (not bound by the laws of physics) thing.
The straight line.
Then, the straight line approach in life:
Disregard the money and getting rich thing. Instead, focus on the direct path to become a thought leader.
How to become a thought leader
- Harness all the media forms. Video, audio, vlog, blog, video podcast, audio podcast, photo, email, blog, website. The nuance — make sure you own the platform. Otherwise your ability to become a thought leader will become stunted, because extraordinary ideas will eventually get censored on social media (soft or hard censorship).
- Speak boldly. Don’t censor yourself, irregardless of how politically incorrect or insensitive you may be.
- Speak whenever you feel like it. Don’t follow any rules. Disregard notions of “publishing too muchâ€, or “not enoughâ€.
- Harness the power of Google and YouTube.
How to become #1 on Google
GOOGLE SEARCH ENGINE OPTIMIZATION (SEO) — and also YouTube SEO is simple:
- Create blog posts and upload YouTube videos (titles) basically how you would type it out yourself.
- Make it as meaty, juicy, and in depth as possible. Typically the longer it is, the higher it will be ranked.
- Time: It took me a decade to become #1 on Google for “street photographyâ€.
- Pave new concepts. For example, my farsighted ability to innovate the “photography entrepreneurship†concept. Don’t follow trends, follow your own gut, and try to predict what people will be interested in the future. For example the future of photography won’t be camera based or technological, it will be meaning-based and existential.
- “Skate to where the puck is GOING TO BE†(Wayne Gretzky)
- Link to others: Build influence through OUT-LINKING, not just “in-linking†to your own website or blog.
- Quote others, and link to them. Give them shout outs!
What do you do once you’re on top?
Then use your privilege to continually pave even deeper, more interesting, introspective and even more turbo thoughts! And help others on their journey as well!
ERIC
LAST DAY FOR SEOUL
SEPT 9th (today) as the early-bird cutoff date for SEOUL WORKSHOP 2022
See all upcoming ERIC KIM WORKSHOPS >
Tech thoughts
- The best iPhone is iPhone SE— keep it and beat it!
- The best Apple device is (still) iPad Pro.
- The new Apple Watch Ultra is a great idea.
Lifting thoughts
- Better to attempt an insanely high weight and miss/fail it, then attempt a too low “realistic†weight and succeed.
- Trap bar is supreme for deadlift and “safestâ€. I just tried 562 pounds (255KG) and kinda lifted the weight. My personal courage for attempting it is what made me the most proud of myself!
ERIC KIM SUPPLY
“Are you on 10 yet?†(Black Panther album)
- HENRI NECK STRAP MARK IV: Immortal.
- ERIC KIM NECK STRAP MARK II: I put my name on it.
Design thoughts
- The new Lamborghini Urus Performance — the future concept. “For bar raisers onlyâ€â€” great marketing.
- New iPhone Pro in purple great idea to differentiate it. They should also just get rid of the “Max†version to streamline their lineup (note the new really big iPhone size and no more mini size)
Share the thoughts!
If this sparked any interesting thoughts within you feel free to republish, share, translate into your own language! All is open source.
Cheers!
ERIC