Interesting to see the hbo reference… though I don’t watch it, I remember learning the most ever about history, from the old “The Bastard”/”The Rebels”/”The Seekers” tv miniseries shows from the John Jakes tv adaptations back when I was a teen in the 70s… the tv show is what brought it all to life… oddly enough, reading books never brought history to life for me… but watching tv shows/movies about period pieces does the trick. Sounds like this one may be even better, so I’ll look forward to catching it on dvd in the future.

Thanks,

Ken

Thanks, Kevin, for reminding me to remind people about that free tutorial on salesmanship.

John

What you guys need is a copy of John’s “Strategy School Mini-Tutorials.”

I got mine a few months back, and it is pure GOLD. I’d pass it on to you guys if you wanted it, but I’m not sure if John would be OK with that or not. It’s his material. It may still be available online on one of his websites.

Check it out and see if you can find it.

Reading your post made me think of copy that begins saying something to the effect: “This may be the most important [information, letter, website, etc.] you’ve ever [discovered, read, visited, etc.]. Rarely, it seems for me, the subsequent content reaches the lofty elevations of those initial assertions.

But with a clean conscience, I could put such a high claim in front of your post — and sleep very well tonight (without any pharmacological aids!).

My undergraduate degree was in history. You accomplished what my major prof was constantly hoping he’d get from his students: In a few words, you captured the complexities and nuances of the American “experiment.”

These messy details of conception and birth are often overlooked, ignored, or avoided today. It doesn’t matter so much if we live in a blue or red state. The more important question is: Are we blissfully residing in the state of deception? There, we citizens risk selling our birth (bill of) rights for a pot of (security) porridge. I hope your thoughts on these critical issues gain a wide reading and discussion.

Thank you.

Instead of writing a blog post about salesmanship, have you considered writing a special report on it… giving people THE DIRT on what it REALLY is (and how to use it)?

Maybe tie it to a high-priced seminar or one of your higher-priced products (like Schefren did with his Attention Doctrine 2.)

You’ve got it in your blood John.

How can your specialized knowledge benefit the most people AND get YOU the most return for your time investment?

What do people NEED to understand about sales that NOBODY else is teaching?

What’s the next step in your (so far) brilliant marketing legacy?

I’m dying to find out,
Matt H

… and THAT is what makes you one of the worlds best writers!

(America is very lucky that you are one of the ‘good guys’)

love it!

I, too, would like to hear your take on salesmanship John.

You’re previous blogs about (and especially the free videos you;ve released) it DID provide great value. I definitely get pumped up when I hear you speak. But I’m looking for more…

I’m looking for gut-level understanding, or maybe even “conscious understanding” of what I already know works in real life.

I’d love to hear you “put into words.”

I’ve read all the great books you and Halbert have recommended but I STILL CAN’T TEACH IT to someone if they asked me!!!

IMO, this means I can use more input… and I know you’re the best around.

Sincerely,
Matt

The myths about this country don’t end at how it was created. If every single voter was told, and understood, how badly we are being ripped off, I believe a new revolution would be underway. How many people think “the Federal Reserve” is part of the government? How many people realize it is actually a private entity where 7 or 8 men actually control our economy?

It is an infuriating, seemingly helpless situation. It is going to take the media to tell the truth en masse in order for the blinders to be taken off.

As far as electing someone like Ron Paul as president . . . he would be a sitting duck. Congress controls nearly everything. The president can do almost nothing by himself. It is going to take an angry, fighting back public to make any real change in the status quo.

Thanks for the early morning blood boil John!

James G. Artre
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Give Me Liberty Or Give Me Death

Patrick Henry, March 23, 1775.

No man thinks more highly than I do of the patriotism, as well as abilities, of the very worthy gentlemen who have just addressed the House. But different men often see the same subject in different lights; and, therefore, I hope it will not be thought disrespectful to those gentlemen if, entertaining as I do opinions of a character very opposite to theirs, I shall speak forth my sentiments freely and without reserve. This is no time for ceremony. The questing before the House is one of awful moment to this country. For my own part, I consider it as nothing less than a question of freedom or slavery; and in proportion to the magnitude of the subject ought to be the freedom of the debate. It is only in this way that we can hope to arrive at truth, and fulfill the great responsibility which we hold to God and our country. Should I keep back my opinions at such a time, through fear of giving offense, I should consider myself as guilty of treason towards my country, and of an act of disloyalty toward the Majesty of Heaven, which I revere above all earthly kings.

Mr. President, it is natural to man to indulge in the illusions of hope. We are apt to shut our eyes against a painful truth, and listen to the song of that siren till she transforms us into beasts. Is this the part of wise men, engaged in a great and arduous struggle for liberty? Are we disposed to be of the number of those who, having eyes, see not, and, having ears, hear not, the things which so nearly concern their temporal salvation? For my part, whatever anguish of spirit it may cost, I am willing to know the whole truth; to know the worst, and to provide for it.

I have but one lamp by which my feet are guided, and that is the lamp of experience. I know of no way of judging of the future but by the past. And judging by the past, I wish to know what there has been in the conduct of the British ministry for the last ten years to justify those hopes with which gentlemen have been pleased to solace themselves and the House. Is it that insidious smile with which our petition has been lately received? Trust it not, sir; it will prove a snare to your feet. Suffer not yourselves to be betrayed with a kiss. Ask yourselves how this gracious reception of our petition comports with those warlike preparations which cover our waters and darken our land. Are fleets and armies necessary to a work of love and reconciliation? Have we shown ourselves so unwilling to be reconciled that force must be called in to win back our love? Let us not deceive ourselves, sir. These are the implements of war and subjugation; the last arguments to which kings resort. I ask gentlemen, sir, what means this martial array, if its purpose be not to force us to submission? Can gentlemen assign any other possible motive for it? Has Great Britain any enemy, in this quarter of the world, to call for all this accumulation of navies and armies? No, sir, she has none. They are meant for us: they can be meant for no other. They are sent over to bind and rivet upon us those chains which the British ministry have been so long forging. And what have we to oppose to them? Shall we try argument? Sir, we have been trying that for the last ten years. Have we anything new to offer upon the subject? Nothing. We have held the subject up in every light of which it is capable; but it has been all in vain. Shall we resort to entreaty and humble supplication? What terms shall we find which have not been already exhausted? Let us not, I beseech you, sir, deceive ourselves. Sir, we have done everything that could be done to avert the storm which is now coming on. We have petitioned; we have remonstrated; we have supplicated; we have prostrated ourselves before the throne, and have implored its interposition to arrest the tyrannical hands of the ministry and Parliament. Our petitions have been slighted; our remonstrances have produced additional violence and insult; our supplications have been disregarded; and we have been spurned, with contempt, from the foot of the throne! In vain, after these things, may we indulge the fond hope of peace and reconciliation. There is no longer any room for hope. If we wish to be free– if we mean to preserve inviolate those inestimable privileges for which we have been so long contending–if we mean not basely to abandon the noble struggle in which we have been so long engaged, and which we have pledged ourselves never to abandon until the glorious object of our contest shall be obtained–we must fight! I repeat it, sir, we must fight! An appeal to arms and to the God of hosts is all that is left us!

They tell us, sir, that we are weak; unable to cope with so formidable an adversary. But when shall we be stronger? Will it be the next week, or the next year? Will it be when we are totally disarmed, and when a British guard shall be stationed in every house? Shall we gather strength by irresolution and inaction? Shall we acquire the means of effectual resistance by lying supinely on our backs and hugging the delusive phantom of hope, until our enemies shall have bound us hand and foot? Sir, we are not weak if we make a proper use of those means which the God of nature hath placed in our power. The millions of people, armed in the holy cause of liberty, and in such a country as that which we possess, are invincible by any force which our enemy can send against us. Besides, sir, we shall not fight our battles alone. There is a just God who presides over the destinies of nations, and who will raise up friends to fight our battles for us. The battle, sir, is not to the strong alone; it is to the vigilant, the active, the brave. Besides, sir, we have no election. If we were base enough to desire it, it is now too late to retire from the contest. There is no retreat but in submission and slavery! Our chains are forged! Their clanking may be heard on the plains of Boston! The war is inevitable–and let it come! I repeat it, sir, let it come.

It is in vain, sir, to extenuate the matter. Gentlemen may cry, Peace, Peace– but there is no peace. The war is actually begun! The next gale that sweeps from the north will bring to our ears the clash of resounding arms! Our brethren are already in the field! Why stand we here idle? What is it that gentlemen wish? What would they have? Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!
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“These were men of the Enlightenment, mostly — as educated and progressive as anyone on the planet at the time (and more so than most of the clueless mob we live with today)… interested in Big Thoughts about what it meant to be free.” - John Carlton