The Long Tail

Forget squeezing millions from a few megahits at the top of the charts. The future of entertainment is in the millions of niche markets at the shallow end of the bitstream.

~ Chris Anderson, from The Long Tail

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There are certain pivotal works in any field. If your work, or your business, is online. This is a work you should read. It would be better if you read it when it came out, back in 2004. But, at least you can read it now so you understand where the idea of the “long tail” originated.

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Contact with Nika Jankovic

What is the relationship between physical movement practices like floor work, yoga, and breath, and how do these practices influence personal growth and teaching methods?

Discover how confronting the hardness of the floor can transform both physical practice and personal resilience.

You want to be friends with the floor. You wanna caress the floor, you wanna melt into the floor. There’s always you in relation to this thing.

~ Nika Jankovic (2:42)

The conversation discusses the interplay between movement practices such as floor work, yoga, and dance. Floor work, described as forming a “relationship” with the ground, is explored as a practice that transforms how one interacts with space and movement. The connection between breath and movement in yoga is also highlighted, emphasizing how breath awareness influences other practices like dance.

Teaching and learning are recurring themes, as challenges in balancing simplicity with complexity for beginners are examined. The discussion touches on the teacher-student dynamic, emphasizing the necessity of full-circle growth to effectively communicate foundational skills. Personal reflections on the evolution of movement practices during times of isolation, reveal the adaptability required in both practice and teaching.

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Diligence, energy, patience

If you do the job in a principled way, with diligence, energy and patience, if you keep yourself free of distractions, and keep the spirit inside you undamaged, as if you might have to give it back at any moment— If you can embrace this without fear or expectation— can find fulfillment in what you’re doing now, as Nature intended, and in superhuman truthfulness (every word, every utterance)— Then your life will be happy. No one can prevent that.

~ Marcus Aurelius

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Oxytocin

“We often see it discussed in relation to attachment and social-related behaviors, including empathy and bonding,” says Lily Brown, PhD, Director of the Center for the Treatment and Study of Anxiety at the University of Pennsylvania. But it’s a lot more than a fleeting chemical high. Oxytocin is a hormone that functions as a neurotransmitter in the brain. It’s thought to be a driving force behind attraction and caregiving, and even controls key aspects of the reproductive system, childbirth, and lactation.

~ Alexandra Owens, from Tell Me All I Need to Know About Oxytocin

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I regularly have conversations with people. I am fascinated by how the privacy, exclusivity of attention, and close proximity of a good conversation works. There’s magic— deep seated, ancient, evolution-driven, psychological and biological affects—in a good conversation.

The other day, I stumbled over a post mentioning the hormone Oxytocin being produced by eye contact. I wanted to leave a link for myself, and perhaps you’d be interested too.

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Engaging with Nikki Lerner

How do personal and professional experiences influence the creation and impact of a podcast?

The intersection of public speaking, coaching, and podcasting reveals unexpected insights into connection and authenticity.

I almost feel like that crowd of people is always with me…while I am also carrying a community, if you will, or a sense of community that is bigger than me.

~ Nikki Lerner (2:20)

The conversation explores how experiences as a public speaker and minister have influenced the transition to podcasting. Nikki reflects on how addressing a live audience of thousands contrasts with the intimacy of podcasting, where speaking directly to one imagined listener fosters deeper connections. The sense of community created through both mediums is central, as is the challenge of conveying authenticity and vulnerability through audio.

The discussion also highlights the practical and emotional challenges of podcasting, from overcoming perfectionism to embracing the iterative process of creating content. Insights from a coaching relationship inspire the speaker to launch their podcast, emphasizing the significance of consistency and self-acceptance. Stories of audience impact demonstrate how podcasts can serve as valuable resources and tools for building relationships and fostering engagement.

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I matter

That I matter, that my life demands the ceaseless attention I give it, is exactly what those genes would have any organism believeing, if that organism was evolved enough for belief. The will to survive evolves, in a higher creature like us, into the will to matter.

~ Rebecca Goldstein

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Our feelings

Our feelings aren’t the problem. It’s our relationship to them.

~ Amber Rae

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Consistent, Current and Context-driven

The podcast episode, Consistent, Current and Context-driven, is a scant 5 minutes and 43 seconds long. You’ll probably want to pause and take some notes. After it widens your eyes, go revisit your copy of Getting Things Done—or omgbecky buy a copy, …how do you not own a copy?

Everything I have ever accomplished is because I have systems within which I can think and operate; our brains are for having ideas, not for remembering things [such as: to-do lists, dates, reminders, etc.]

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Questions with Joe Boyle

How do individuals decide what to share with others, and what strategies are effective for meaningful communication?

The conversation explores the interplay between offering help and withholding it to foster personal growth.

Anything that, sort of, gets you out of the rigidity of pattern is what lights you up.

~ Joe Boyle (17:50)

The conversation explores the complexity of communication, focusing on the tension between offering and withholding help. It examines whether sharing insights is always beneficial or if the onus lies on others to ask for guidance. This perspective ties into the idea that readiness and willingness to seek knowledge often dictate the effectiveness of learning.

The discussion transitions into topics of self-reflection and change, emphasizing how beliefs are often challenged in specific contexts rather than in abstract terms. It also touches on the importance of balance—between consuming information and creating opportunities for others to learn through subtle cues or “Easter eggs.” Personal practices, such as quieting the mind to enhance focus and creativity, are highlighted as valuable tools for personal growth.

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Attitude

Attitude puts apptitude on steroids. Attitude is the soft stuff, but when the chips are down, as they so often are, it’s the soft stuff that often counts.

~ Peter Guber

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