@Stephen G. Pope Quick question. Is the affiliate program for KEDB still active?

A few unfiltered thoughts on how I think about attaining success.

Is selecting the right niche really that important? Well yea, but let's put some meat on that bone. It is important, I have a niche and it helps a lot. But only a well educated person (and by well educated, I mean educated on market desires, not skills) can just select the right niche and be successful. What I mean is, only someone that knows a niche well, someone that has researched it, and knows the problems well can just select a niche out of the blue and serve them. Only a person that has that type of mindset can just "select" a niche and run with it successfully. There are some people that can do that, they just go talk to people, find a problem, and solve it. That takes a special type of person, one who's only motivated by the "game" of business. They could careless about their passions, what they prefer, they only care about money, they go find a problem, and then they solve it. They could care less if they enjoy the work. If you do that things can happen very fast for you. BUT. Most of us, are driven by our passions. We are not like that, it's not JUST for the money, it's to live a life we love. When you're driven by passion, success requires you to develop a valuable skill within your zone of genius. You'll have to twist, turn, and flop around a bit until you match that with passion with people that want to hire you. That means you just have to get out there and help people, and eventually your niche will pick you. That is, if you're doing the work and pushing forward without the perfect answer. Your niche, your unique selling proposition isn't a course module away, where you fill out yet another GURU's business template. Do you really want to fill out another ICP module?? How many times have you done that now? how many times has it helped? I can't stand those anymore. No! Your niche and unique ability is found in doing work for people, having success, having failures, doing more of this, less of that, and iterating on that until you find your zone.

I feel great right now, just finished my YouTube video. But, last night and earlier today I felt quite anxious. I've always been a bit anxious before I record, though the reason why has changed overtime. That resistance whatever it is, is still something you need to push through (if you want a personal brand). In the beginning it was about my looks, how I talked, my background, cameras, lighting etc. Now it's because a lot of people see my videos and I want them to be very good. I want to help people. But either way I'm anxious, but I've learned to live with it. I must deal with it, if I want to full-fill my mission and vision. Which is to help build a world where everyone has the tools and resource to reach their maximum potential. Mission and vision does everything for me, it pushed me past any selfish insecurity or anxious feeling that keeps me from helping my tribe. At each step of your content creation journey you'll hit resistance, tap into something bigger that gives you no choice but to overcome. A little anxiety is nothing compared the feeling of letting your people DOWN. Anxiety < Guilt

I was chatting with my Dad last night and he made the most interesting (and correct) observation. "When I was in business, it was like getting into a competitive landscape." "It was everyman for himself, fighting for clients. Working against your competition." "Now business is all about helping as many people as you can." "The one who wins is the person who helped the most people." It's true. He's retired now, but he can see it too. Can you? You never need to worry about your competition. In fact you should help them win too. You never need to worry about them. You never need to look at them at all. You don't need to study their products, their messaging. It's wasted time that you could be impacting the world. You just need to help the people you can, without holding back. You only need to study your audience and what they want. Give, give, give, give. Focus on who you can help, potential clients, everyone, even the competition. That makes you the leader in the space. If you look at the competition, you're behind them, you'll hold back, you'll withhold, you'll fall behind! Instead, let them copy you, let them follow you! Innovate faster by opening up and being free with your knowledge. Move at light speed! It's OK if they copy you, word for word, what better confirmation that you're on the right track? Sometimes people DM me, "Stephen, I saw [INSERT PERSON HERE] copy your video almost word for word". I appreciate them looking out for me, I do. (thank you for letting me know) But I don't care. "Good" I think, I put it out there to help people anyway. Not just my potential clients, everyone! So I know it's working, and I've copied people too. I'm not sure humans were meant to copyright everything they touch or create. It holds us all back. Deep inside, I know I'm leading the pack. Just help as many people as you can as fast you can. Everything else will fall into place. It takes a deep faith in your own ability and insight. But it's the way modern business is done.