Former Community – We Moved
🆕 Coached community here, for posts & feedback public community here.
Hello + Updates (What I'm Doing, Where & Why)
I don’t know if you already did: it think it would be great if you link to your blog from here when you write a new blog post. I’m going to read your blog as there are quite thought provoking topics already!
Thank you for the notes, John!
Quote from John Freeman on September 10, 2022, 12:44 pmI don’t know if you already did: it think it would be great if you link to your blog from here when you write a new blog post. I’m going to read your blog as there are quite thought provoking topics already!
Yeah, there's a reason why so far I decided to keep the two separated, and in brief it's:
- TPM is "what's true", blog is opinions: funny enough, it's exactly like that blog article on good scientists being unknown and low power because they put science first. If you want to do good work that works in the real world, then your personality must take a step back to the work. Work that also isn't necessarily the founder's work, but:
- TPM is community/multi-author, blog is Lucio: I prefer to have TPM more as multi-author and community based, and grow it in that direction, rather than being just the "founder's work", which is far more limiting. So in that sense, it's best to keep the blog out of it.
- Neutral VS subjective/political: the separation also serves to avoid possible personality contamination where someone may like or dislike TPM based on a single individual personality. And since the blog will contain plenty of political -and politically incorrect- takes, it's best to keep it separated from TPM
- TPM is "practical", blog is "food for thoughts": TPM's work on self-development is more for what's useful in real life.
TPM provides tools that people can and will use to take action and get better results. The blog is more random thoughts, and albeit it may help change some mindsets, it also deals with issues that I -or many of the readers- will not prioritize to change or influence. And when you discuss topics that you are not going to change, in a way, that's bound to be "mental masturbation" - TPM is timeless, blog may include events: the work on power dynamics and social strategies is evergreen, while the blog may include various events
Finally, sharing new articles feels to me a bit too "plugging and pushing", as in "here's what I wrote, can you please read it" :).
And I generally prefer a "pull" approach. Such as, if someone wants to read, it's there, and if not, they don't need to see it on TPM, a place with a different mission.
So, as briefly as I could, that's why I prefer to keep the two apart.
Quick updates:
Back in EU now, and finished the PU 8.2 upgrade.
The next update will be a whole read-through + adding all the many notes I've taken + some new lessons (incluiding "how to be an alpha male" with more examples and "politically incorrect" but effective advice).
Focusing Now: Reviews & Marketing
Now I'll focus on:
- Publishing reviews of best books/courses I've gone through in the last months. There are some great upcoming ones including:
- Leadership BS
- Corruptible
- Good Strategy Bad Strategy
- Marketing. I believe it's been a while that PU is a best in class, but without equally good marketing. I've just srtarted B-School by Marie Forleo, got Alex Hormozi's book, and probably will also take his course right after Forleo.
Looking to find some great stuff with practical things I can implement.
Learning Now:
- The Power Broker - Robert Moses (audiobook): some great wisdom that justifies a review, but don't recommend reading the full thing because it's way too long
- Various sourcebooks (ebooks) such as "handbook of research methods in social and personality psychology" (so so), both for learning's sake and to increase TPM's authority profile a with the corresponding reviews
Upcoming:
- Marketing studies and reviews as previously mentioned
- The Status Game
- Make Every Man Want You More
- Henry Kissinger biograph(ies)
- ...
And a lot more.
Upcoming Projects
- Business University (re-)launch, with Ali's new lessons
- Sales & customer care: right now TPM minimizes contact as much as possible. It's a bit of a "old school Ferrari model & attitude" as in "our product is the best, the buyers better be good enough for it, or don't bother".
As part of better marketing, I'm thinking to do the opposite and make it easier for people and prospects to write
And one of the longer-term bigger projects I'm thinking over:
PU In Video Format
The vision I'm pondering right now is:
- Video formats to introduce lessons and provide 70% of the wisdom
- Current mixed format of writing, video examples, quizzes, pictures, etc. etc. for those who want more
The videos introduce the longer mixed format lessons to provide a quicker overview and summary, and to help people decide whether they need to drill down more, or skip to the next lesson.
The videos also allow those who are truly short on time to come out of PU as more effective men and women, and get 70% of the wisdom, in 30% of the time.
I may have to book a studio for the video with me speaking, but I'll also use slides and pictures (I'll also learn how other premium courses do it).
Some of those videos may also serve as marketing material and/or for the sales page.
I'm thinking it'd be cool to have it for the 10th version.
Hello all,
Happy Christmas, holidays, and New Year :).
Some info about TPM.
2024 Projects
These days I'm thinking about how to best tackle the upcoming bigger projects.
The targets are:
- PU upgrades
- SU V.2 upgrade
- New course (confidence / self-esteem / “inner work”), only if there is time left after 1 and 2
So the “ideal progression” for the products would be:
First handle the midnsets.
Then practical social/life effectiveness with PU.
The add dating processes once you’re already a much higher value man (everything’s easier at that point).
And then get back full circle to the “inner life” once you’ve achieved enough and can focus more on enlightnment/serenity, etc.
No matter what extra courses or products may come in the future, these would remain the main 3.
And PU, as the more practical and more foundational to anything else, the "meatier", main one.
Videos
Panning to keep up the shorts, and add some more long-form videos.
Specifically, more long-form videos of me talking in front of a camera, potentially towards the end of 2024.
Marketing
This will need to go in parallel with all the rest.
TPM is going through a time that requires me to get a bit more serious about marketing.
Maybe some proper analytics finally, A/B tests, etc.
+ The Usual
Of course, in-between new articles and review.
Future of This Forum
All of the above will be a full plate for the whole year.
Full bordering to over-flowing :).
So, also following some recent events and as already mentioned, I've been thinking about the forum.
And the time that goes into it.
The way I’ve been using in the past, the forum does take significant time –it’s daily time, so it constantly adds up-.
Recently I tried a different approach.
Maybe you’ve noticed in the last few weeks I’ve been replying less.
Or where in the past I may have given specific advice with exact words, I’ve instead given more general advice.
It can be challenging for me to not reply or keep it general when I think could add value.
I do feel some "obligation" to participate/give, and that's a mental drag to properly regain some time.
Questions I'm Pondering
I'm pondering some questions about the form.
About the benefits of saving time, and the costs of losing touch with some of the people and the community -that would suck-.
Or if the forum can thrive without me, or very little from me -in the spirit of straight talk, I do have doubts-.
And also if a "forum break" option may impact the possible Spring 2024 Meetup as I liked the idea -but there would be ways around it-.
Alternatives & options
Some options I'm considering:
- Keep it going with (much) less personal involvement, and see how it develops
- Make the forum read-only for some time, then re-open it. Some options:
- Simple re-open "as it was"
- Get some advanced members/coach to give advice and properly compensate them
- Re-create a forum community somewhere else. From a psychic/emotional point of view, it's an important plus to me that the expectations of my involvement would be gone
- Discord
- ....
As of now, all options are on the table and wanted to share it with you.
Cheers! :)
Hello Lucio,
thanks for being so open about the challenges. We’re team TPM as you know so I guess we all feel involved (out of sense of belonging and pride of course).
First handle the midnsets.
Then practical social/life effectiveness with PU.
The add dating processes once you’re already a much higher value man (everything’s easier at that point).
And then get back full circle to the “inner life” once you’ve achieved enough and can focus more on enlightnment/serenity, etc.
As a fellow student of self development I think this is solid solid framework/structure/plan. I would not change a thing at this point. In terms of structure I think it’s getting to the 95-99%.
About the forum. Straight talk: I consider you as a friend. That means that I want the best for you: happiness, etc. the whole she-bang. I want you to win. I’m saying this as a fellow soldier from the trenches. So coming from equal position here.
That being said I think the forum must be something enjoyable for you. If it’s not anymore then something is wrong. Of course you know I learn a lot from you, get a lot of value and eagerly await your responses. You know that. But I don’t want that at any price. I’m talking for me but one can take it at the general level. Just don’t want to speak for other people.
So probably a break sounds like it could give you some peace of mind. I think that you are and always be the leader here. No doubt. Even if you’re absent for a while. Apart from pleasure and keeping it fresh it’s also about priorities as you said. And of course one must respect it if genuinely interested in the person’s interest.
In case that seems like a plus for you, I think our attitude will be to be here until you feel it’s the right time/priorities are in order.
I’m not convinced about the read-only or making another community.
Leadership can be draining. Being the alpha male the same. So the tribe must respect the time for this person to take a rest/a break from the tribe. Of course it creates a leadership void that social vultures could take advantage of. For instance to veer off the philosophy/ideology. So 2 options:
- Let it roll and see how people react
- Choose someone who will play your role during the break (not talking about me here and can not propose someone you’re in charge)
That’s how I see it. From my experience as a leader sometimes driving alone/too hard can be draining and if the tribe feels like deadweight there is no joy in leading anymore. So it’s about self care in the larger sense: including priorities.
Of course my selfish interest is for you to answer to posts. But I think you know me by now. It’s not what’s best generally speaking for you and the community.
As said in the other post about the forum: I deeply believe the community (as long as you’re alive) would not get the same value from someone else. Even if this person would be very advanced. It’s about the tribe you created, the idea. I think legacy would be in the agenda if you would not be able to physically do it or that it would not have the same taste in your mouth: meaning you don’t like it anymore.
You’ve been going hardcore for 6 years on it. Built the best self development forum in the World (serious here). Even athletes need a break. I admire a lot your determination, work capacity and mental strength. AND we’re humans with inner feelings, phases, etc.
I hope my message makes sense to you.
Respectfully,
John
Edit: about creating another community: it would check a lot of boxes for you but the quality would be (much) lower. So it depends what you’re aiming for. If you’re ok with it you could save mental energy and time yes. If it would be on Reddit or somewhere else I’ll be straight: I would not participate. I would participate in the forum here without you but I would not start from scratch. Being assertive here. I respect the idea but that would not fit my needs/wants.
edit2: maybe also brainstorm on the phone with Kavalier and Ali.
I’m but one voice: other members might add concordant/discordant input.
Thank you so much, John!
Going to take some time to go through it and chew on it.
And if anyone has anything to add or comment, happy to read.
