From Rocky Roads to Breathtaking Views
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✏️ ON MY MIND
From Rocky Roads to Breathtaking Views: Lessons Learned on our Journey through Dalat
"I'm walking!" Cindy exclaimed with a mix of disbelief and determination.
Picture us, perched on a motorbike, staring down a crazy steep and rocky hill in Dalat. The whole situation had our hearts racing, but we were determined to reach our destination.
Encouraging Cindy to hang tight, we took a deep breath and braved the descent. The wind whipped through our hair as we bounced and bumped along the rough terrain. Fear clutched our hearts, and I clung to the handlebars for dear life.
But you know what? We pushed through, trusting in each other and our rental motorbike to conquer the challenge.
Finally, reaching the bottom of that treacherous hill was like unlocking a secret achievement. That feeling of accomplishment pumped us up, leaving us eager to see what lay ahead.
Climbing the opposite side of the hill, excitement bubbled within us. With every twist of the throttle, we steadily ascended, curiosity building with each meter gained.
And then, as if stepping into a dream, we arrived at a hilltop cafe that could make any traveller's heart skip a beat.
Picture this...
Mind-blowing views stretching out before us, encompassing our entire field of vision. The jaw-dropping scenery hugged us tightly, stealing our breath and leaving us in awe of Mother Nature's artistry.
But it wasn't just the stunning vistas; the perfect blend of creativity and serenity made Cafe Yahe a sanctuary for both the mind and the soul. It whispered, "Come in, relax, and let your spirit soar."
The young cafe lady greeted us with genuine warmth, her smile radiating like sunshine. Other than her, we were the only humans there.
And to our delight, a couple of playful doggies wagged their tails and joined us at our table in search of delicious treats (how'd they know we had picked up some yummy baked goodies at the bakery earlier?).
The atmosphere was infectious, brimming with joy and a sense of belonging as if the universe had conspired to make our visit unforgettable.
Business Lessons from the Journey
Our thrilling adventure in Dalat taught me invaluable lessons that apply to growing a business:
Embrace Fear and Take Risks
Just like facing that crazy hill, successful entrepreneurs understand the importance of embracing fear and taking calculated risks. Playing it safe won't get you anywhere in the fast-paced business world. Take that leap of faith and see how far it can propel your dreams.
Triumph Lies Beyond Comfort Zones
Conquering the challenging terrain on our journey revealed that the best rewards often await outside our comfort zones. We had to travel 20 mins outside the city to find this cafe in the mountains.
Growing a business demands stepping into the unknown, pushing boundaries, and embracing discomfort. Amazing opportunities lie just beyond that edge.
Embrace Unexpected Surprises
The enchanting hilltop cafe and its delightful surprises reminded us of the power of embracing unexpected moments in business. Flexibility and adaptability can lead to exciting discoveries and innovations. Stay open to new ideas and be ready to pivot when opportunities knock.
As we soaked in the serenity of that hilltop haven, gratitude washed over me. I'm super grateful for experiences like this, and being able to share them with my wife makes it that much more special.
(This newsletter was drafted with the help of GPT-3.5 and edited by yours truly.)
PS. My wife posted her own account of this story on Linkedin.
🔨🧰 MARKETING TIP
SEO in 2010:
Article + Keyword = Profit
SEO in 2023:
- Find topic
- Find 1,000 keywords
- Group by semantic relevance
- Form groups into clusters
- Check search intent
- Write 1 article
- Write 2 articles
- Write 5 more articles
- Link them
- Combine 2
- Refresh 3
- Delete 1
👍 3 THINGS THAT CAUGHT MY ATTENTION
1/ Read: AI in Accounting: Real-World Examples and Practical Use Cases
Interested in learning about the real-world applications of artificial intelligence in the field of accounting? Then check out Meryl Johnston's latest blog post.
2/ Watch: What I learned from 100 days of rejection
A few years ago, I had the opportunity to join Jia Jiang's pilot program, "Fear Buster Gym," after hearing him speak at World Domination Summit 2014. I hesitated at first, but I finally took the leap and emailed Jia expressing my interest.
Here's what unfolded next:
🌟 Jia accepted me into his 30-day rejection gym program, which was a game-changer.
🌟 The program helped me tackle my fears, such as asking for what I truly wanted and knowing my worth.
🌟 Ultimately, the experience empowered me to negotiate better terms for a new full-time role and significantly boosted my self-confidence.
Today, I'm grateful to have taken that step, as it has transformed my personal and professional life in unimaginable ways.
If you're struggling with similar fears, I have a recommendation for you:
Jia's TED talk, "What I Learned from 100 Days of Rejection," just hit 10 million views. I highly encourage you to watch it and reshare it. This inspiring talk might be the catalyst to face your fears and unlock your full potential.
3/ Watch: Will ChatGPT and Bard Take Over SEO? AI Explained
There has been a lot of concern regarding the potential negative impact of AI tools on SEO. However, in the short term, these changes may not be as drastic as they are often portrayed on social media. The current hype around AI tools feels similar to the hype surrounding voice search a few years ago – albeit, the AI tools of today are on a different level.
💸 WEALTH BUILDING TIP
How to have FUN money conversations with your partner (yes, it’s possible!)
Try asking your partner the 7 Best Money Questions tonight:
🐦 COOL SOCIALS THIS WEEK
Took some time to spruce up my media kit today!
Highly recommend for anyone in a public-facing role.
• Short (70-word) and long bios
• Guidance on pronouncing your name
• Hi-res photos
• Curation of past speaking opps and notable content
Signing up for your slack or discord does not make somebody a part of your community.
Until they contribute they are part of the audience.
Communities require contribution.
RIP to MILKRUN, the last bastion of 'instant' grocery delivery apps that were all the rage in early-2022.
Just 15 months ago it raised $75 million in funding.
Now it will be closed by end of week.
More from @DavidAdams_AU ⬇️
🔧 TOOL OF THE WEEK
AudioPen
With AudioPen, you can finally think out loud and let your thoughts flow freely. ✍️✨
This app utilizes AI technology to convert your voice notes into beautifully summarized text, eliminating all the filler words, repeated sentences, and pesky 'umms'. 🚀🗣️
It can effortlessly capture the essence of your ideas and condense them into clear and concise text. It'll make your note-taking process a breeze! 🌟
Here are four use cases I can think of for this:
Meeting Notes: Capture and convert meeting discussions into concise, shareable text.
Research: Record interviews or gather data and transform them into written form for analysis and reference.
Content Creation: Speak your ideas aloud and have them converted into text.
Ad Hoc Ideas/Brainstorming/Inspiration: Quickly capture and transcribe spontaneous ideas, brainstorming sessions, or moments of inspiration, allowing you to revisit and develop them further. You can even use Zapier to send your notes into a tool like Notion.
And guess what?
Right now, AudioPen offers a limited-time lifetime deal for just $99 USD! 😱⏳ It's an absolute steal considering the immense value it brings.
You can give the free plan a go before upgrading (you'll only get 3 mins recording time compared to 15 mins on the premium plan). But don't wait too long because the solo creator has mentioned that the price is set to increase in just a day or two.
Works on both desktop and mobile apps.
🤔 PARTING THOUGHTS
I am now opening my calendar to guest speaking opportunities on business and marketing podcasts and virtual summits, specifically for B2B audiences.
I can dive into topics such as:
Strategies for Effective Podcast Outreach for service businesses and business authors
Leveraging Podcasts for generating leads
The Dos and Don'ts of Pitching Podcast Hosts
I've got firsthand experience and a fresh guide on landing podcast spots for B2B.
Got a show or know a host who'd benefit? Reply and let me know! Let's make some podcast magic happen.
(I've also shared this as a Linkedin post in case you want to tag someone there)
Have a fantastic weekend!
Anfernee Chansamooth
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