George Kao's Blog, page 29
August 16, 2019
Authentic Social Media (beware the yearning for validation...)
You post things on social media.
Most of the time, you don’t get as much engagement as you see others get.
Maybe you get discouraged.... why don’t people like you?
I’ve been there.
You need to understand how the algorithm works… Not so that you can game the system to be more visible. (Not authentic!)
You need to understand that when you are browsing the news feeds, you are only seeing the tiniest percentage of posts that already got more engagement than the average post.
In other words, social med...
Most of the time, you don’t get as much engagement as you see others get.
Maybe you get discouraged.... why don’t people like you?
I’ve been there.
You need to understand how the algorithm works… Not so that you can game the system to be more visible. (Not authentic!)
You need to understand that when you are browsing the news feeds, you are only seeing the tiniest percentage of posts that already got more engagement than the average post.
In other words, social med...
August 12, 2019
Stuck on defining your niche? Build an audience first.
Stuck on defining your niche? Build an audience first.
When creating your authentic business, you might get stuck defining your “niche”, or figuring out your “target market.”
Maybe you’re trying to get clarity too early in your business.
You’re under the illusion that you have to get everything figured out before you can really start to grow your business.
Here’s the typical reasoning:
Define Niche ➜ Create Content & Offerings ➜ Get Clients
In my experience of coaching many so...
August 9, 2019
Uninspired, but Willing.
I share this “secret” with many writers -- I don’t feel inspired until after I start writing for awhile... as short as 5 minutes, upwards of 45 minutes.
I often feel uninspired, but I am willing to write anyway.
In fact, this is how I work most of the time. This very piece you’re reading has been written this way.
Most of the time, our working conditions are not optimal.
Examples: I’m not feeling like doing what my schedule says (because it takes work!)
Or there’s construction / other noise goi...
I often feel uninspired, but I am willing to write anyway.
In fact, this is how I work most of the time. This very piece you’re reading has been written this way.
Most of the time, our working conditions are not optimal.
Examples: I’m not feeling like doing what my schedule says (because it takes work!)
Or there’s construction / other noise goi...
August 6, 2019
Conscious Systems Design for a Better Life & Business
Here’s a thought to consider…
Your life is actually working perfectly.
Anything and everything occurring in your life has a system behind it. There’s cause and effect. You experience the effects. And you have more choice in the cause than you often assume.
Even though there are causes beyond your control, you have a choice of where you will focus.
Sure, we can blame others for the bad effects in our life -- other people, society, the economy, our upbringing, our genetics, or karma and the stars...
Your life is actually working perfectly.
Anything and everything occurring in your life has a system behind it. There’s cause and effect. You experience the effects. And you have more choice in the cause than you often assume.
Even though there are causes beyond your control, you have a choice of where you will focus.
Sure, we can blame others for the bad effects in our life -- other people, society, the economy, our upbringing, our genetics, or karma and the stars...
August 2, 2019
About the Course: How I Organize my Digital Life and Business Files
I’ll be teaching an online course about how I organize my digital life with Google tools (google drive, docs, spreadsheets, chrome, calendar).
Sign up here.
Here are some background thoughts in preparation.
The way I think about organizing my information is a hierarchy:Framework > Courses/Books > Content > Research
The Framework is my overall philosophy about my work. (I've also taught an online course about How To Create Frameworks.)
Underneath the Framework is my series of courses/books that d...
Sign up here.
Here are some background thoughts in preparation.
The way I think about organizing my information is a hierarchy:Framework > Courses/Books > Content > Research
The Framework is my overall philosophy about my work. (I've also taught an online course about How To Create Frameworks.)
Underneath the Framework is my series of courses/books that d...
July 29, 2019
The Antidote to Content Perfectionism and Publishing Anxiety
When it comes to your content, here is a harsh truth which at the same time, is strangely calming:
No one is going to remember any of your content, except the few pieces that are exceptional.
Honestly, we're all too busy. There's always another shining piece of content that will distract us right after seeing yours. We don't think about yours at all, unless it's awesome, or greatly offensive (which you won't be!)
Does this mean you should give up, if you haven’t created anything viral yet?If tha...
No one is going to remember any of your content, except the few pieces that are exceptional.
Honestly, we're all too busy. There's always another shining piece of content that will distract us right after seeing yours. We don't think about yours at all, unless it's awesome, or greatly offensive (which you won't be!)
Does this mean you should give up, if you haven’t created anything viral yet?If tha...
July 28, 2019
A Surprising Antidote to Content Perfectionism
A Surprising Antidote to Content Perfectionism...
One realization, early on my in my content creation journey, set me up for life: "The vast majority of your content isn't going to make an impact." I know that sounds negative, but the corollary is: "Therefore you are liberated to experiment! And you'll eventually come across the few gems that will make your career..." This idea had a deep impact on me, and has helped me create consistently for 9+ years now. And it's true: Most of my video...
July 26, 2019
Can we be authentically ambitious?
A reader asked:
“How can we maintain an authentic approach, yet integrate business practices such as target goals? I have a personal challenge to top my best efforts from the previous quarter, e.g. doing twice as many videos, selling more products, etc. Is it possible to have ambition, while being authentic?”
I love this question. I feel that it aims to integrate spirituality and worldliness, right and left brain, heaven and earth.
Here is my approach to synergize these polarities:Curiosity & P...
“How can we maintain an authentic approach, yet integrate business practices such as target goals? I have a personal challenge to top my best efforts from the previous quarter, e.g. doing twice as many videos, selling more products, etc. Is it possible to have ambition, while being authentic?”
I love this question. I feel that it aims to integrate spirituality and worldliness, right and left brain, heaven and earth.
Here is my approach to synergize these polarities:Curiosity & P...
July 19, 2019
Reframing your “money problems” into something more uplifting and actionable…
I used to think: “If I could only just solve my money problem, then I could finally live the life I want.”
This made me get into all kinds of get-rich-quick schemes, which actually made me even poorer, and alienated my friends.
Those painful experiences eventually taught me that the real life I wanted wasn't about money. It was about being of real contribution to other people. In other words, I wanted a right livelihood.
Instead of seeing money as a problem to be solved, let’s see money as an op...
This made me get into all kinds of get-rich-quick schemes, which actually made me even poorer, and alienated my friends.
Those painful experiences eventually taught me that the real life I wanted wasn't about money. It was about being of real contribution to other people. In other words, I wanted a right livelihood.
Instead of seeing money as a problem to be solved, let’s see money as an op...
July 15, 2019
Niching Venn Diagram
5+ years ago, I drew up this Venn Diagram to help people reflect on their niche… 
In this blog post I'll explain what it means, especially the importance of the two dots.The circle on the right represents your Passions, which can be...
Topics you love to talk aboutProblems you find fulfilling to work onA type of person you love to help (I call this your "ideal client audience" or "ICA")... or a combination of the above.
The circle on the left represents high-demand markets, and these tend to be...
In this blog post I'll explain what it means, especially the importance of the two dots.The circle on the right represents your Passions, which can be...Topics you love to talk aboutProblems you find fulfilling to work onA type of person you love to help (I call this your "ideal client audience" or "ICA")... or a combination of the above.
The circle on the left represents high-demand markets, and these tend to be...
