My friend Escondido-based trainer Ashley Mahaffey, invited me to jump on a call with her and Todd Durkin, elite fitness coach to high-performance athletes like NFL quarterback Drew Brees.
Now in the interests of full disclosure my friends will laugh because everyone knows I know next to nothing about sports. But I know this much: top pro athletes have a ton of experience with peak performance, so I figure that what they know would be useful for entrepreneurs.
Todd shared what he believes is the key secret champions use to be champions. I’ve distilled it into a 3-minute-15-second video.
Watch it below
When you’re done tell me what you think. Also, if you could do me a favor and let me know if you prefer video posts or written ones and why.
Thanks.
-pl
thanks for the five letter word video as it shows; focus is the key,let me say I prefer the video because I feel like I am with you in the seminar.
Video definitely more “intimate,” isn’t it. More like live, even though some of us hear the writing in our heads. I do.
Hi Paul,
WOW!!! Short but Sweet Nugget of GOLDEN TRUTH, that we all need to remind ourselves of, because it is so easy to get caught up in our daily distractions, and the chatter of the world.
CLEAR THE CLUTTER, FOCUS, AND ACT UPON YOUR TASK AT HAND!!!
Love It! I like the video better too, but there is something to be said about the printed word as well when we read it.
In His Peace…
Be Blessed,
Randolph L. Scott
Randolf… Golden Truth! I like that.
–pl
my triple appreciation, Paul, i directly
implement all you’re talking about.
So saying, am kinda “vamp” perhaps,
who absorb your wise and tailor for
myself clients included.
About preference: video+txt.
If only video, then i take notice or almost
transcribe myself, simply because i love to
have under the hand useful info.
And in this case will be far better memorization, which
means better comprehension.
Also might be the audio+ppt presentation as well,
it works great, but ask much more time and work
to done.
Especially when ALL suggestion is absolutely doable & realizable.
Thank you once again, it’s true honor to
get in touch with you wise.
Zen – nice name… Thank you.
Paul,
You are a man of action! Way to get the best points out through video.
I agree with your point about chunking down your time blocks into 20 minutes when first creating the focus habit. 60 minutes can be overwhelming for those driven to distraction.
Ashley — it’s all a matter of personal preference. 20 minutes seems kind of ADD to me. 60, yes — too long. For me the magic number is 45 minutes. But as I said, it’s all about taste.
Awesome video Paul, thanks, Ed
Ed – you’re welcome. As my kids say, DFTBA.
pl
paul, best piece of advice.short but sweet video much better.thanks
This much seems clear: the older guys and gals like text, the younger, video. But short video. So then, what to with a “longer” message. One not easy to put across in 2-5 minutes?
Hi Paul,
I prefer the video blog! You are of course 100% correct! I read once that the two things we need to guarantee success is focus and execution. Thanks for the nudge!
Joseph
Joseph… We’ll talk about the E-word later. -pl
Paul…very nice. I personally prefer videos as I feel they occupy two of my senses, sight and sound, simultaneously which keeps me more focused on the delivered message. Short videos seem to stay on task better and subsequently not lose the audience. Keep up the good work…thanks!!!
Tim – appreciate your response and you’re point is key – STAYING ON TASK – that what this was all about, right?
Hey Paul,
Great post! I tuned in late, so I got to see the whole thing!
Here’s what I printed out and taped to my computer monitor as a result of watching this video:
1. Know your purpose & be passionate about the thing you are purposeful about.
2. Know what you want to accomplish next to achieve your purpose.
3. Know that it’s going to take to accomplish that specific goal.
4. Commit to doing that and while doing it, give it 100% of your focus and energy.
To answer your second question about video vs. written, with your stuff I prefer video. Your brief, 3 to 5 minute format is nice and digestible. Your audio is always good and you don’t ramble off-topic (which I very much appreciate). You also have a great rumbly voice perfectly suited to the medium.
David – perfect summary. I’m working on shorter videos that don’t ramble. This takes more effort (and focus) than you might imagine. –pl
As I mentioned in my post, the reason I like your videos is that I think they are already a good length and they don’t ramble now. Of course if you want to give your audience the best of both worlds, you could post the video with the copy below it.
David – I’m hearing it. Video AND text. May not happen on these short posts, but that’s definitely how I’m creating my next product. Video + Transcripts (BTW, been doing that since FormulaFIVE. Getting Started In Business is about half and half, the rest is being transcribed now.
Nice Video. I like the short format video.
Question: Do you think we should use part of our day focusing on our weaknesses or our strengths?
Tim – you’re going to love my answer… depends. It depends on the issues at hand and what’s at stake. Interestingly, any time you improve on a strength, what you’re actually doing is getting better at some part of it that could be “done better.” If your goal is to be a “public speaker” and you don’t do that well, then you’re obviously FOCUSing on improving that weakness. OTOH, if you’ve got a decent sales conversion rate, and you want to improve that – part of which is getting better at understanding your clients’ motivations, is that fixing a weakness or building on a strength. Get it?
I think this may be today’s video.
There’s one thing I like more in this video than the message. Your presence. Thanks! Oh, and this means, yes, video! — John
John – yeah, video does that doesn’t it. I’ve spent a lot of time in front of the camera, and only recently become more comfortable being me doing it. –pl
We always need a reminder, that is until we develop the habit. However, with ADD there are just so many things to focus on. ;o)
Short videos are assuredly the best for people with ADD. It provides a single subject and doesn’t allow the time to explore tangents from the subject.
Keep up the good work Paul.
Jack – the ADD thing runs strong over this way, and short may be the ONLY way to go.
Hi Paul- Best solution….
Do video and have it transcribed.
This way you accomodate the differnet types of people and how they consume content. Even better the pdfs if done properly will add more seo value to your site and you’ll reach even more people. (if you have ?’s on how to do it just shout)
So ultimatly the video will be fast and easier for you, the transcription allows for others who prefer to read or to have “hard” notes for easy scanning and the search spiders will love you even more.
Besides it gives you a chance to repurpose that 1 piece of video (essentially double your content fast and easy)
Hope that helps
John Bogdanski
http://www.HorseMomsSupplements.com
Encouraging good health in your horse – naturally –
Thanks, John – this seems to be the “trend”
Hi again Paul..
Seems you caught a lot of feedback over one simple hiccup. For any who would be critical, perhaps it would be good to remember a famous sentence.. “Let he who is without sin cast the first stone.”
AS USUAL PAUL… GREAT CONTENT in the video.
But given the thread so far, and the sense (it seems) that more of your viewers who would prefer reading are taking the lead in these comments, I want to make a counterbalance statement for the pro-video side of the equation.
I prefer video or audio simply because I can do other things at the same time, and if a video gets technical, I can pause long enough to watch the instructional portions.
All-in-all though.. I think (ultimately..) it would be good to post either a split page, or perhaps in your email announcement, offer two optional pages to go to. One for the text version and one for your video — both with a funneling link that takes the viewer to a common comments page on the topic where both sets of viewers could merge their responses. That way everyone could have their cake and comment on it too.
http://www.paullemberg.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/Hemingway_at_his_writing_desk..jpg
Thanks for the feedback Dave. You know, they aren’t at all equal in terms of process. The written pieces require careful thought, editing, choosing one word over the next, phrasing, rhythm and so on. The videos? A few quick notes, maybe a powerpoint slide or two, and bam – turn on the “tape” and go. Maybe some editing, maybe not. Hopefully they get encoded correctly, and you’re good to go. So whether it’s one or the other depends on what else is going on.
For now, I’m going to focus on videos. I’m committed to one short video a day for the next thirty days as a way to put out a lot of quick, powerful ideas which are easy to digest. Some will show up on this blog, others will go to YouTube and all around the SocialMediaVerse.
I’m done Day 3. Maybe I’ll write again in a month!
–pl
Well said Paul. I am a “both and” kind of guy. Video for wifi, text for blackberry…
Hey Paul, great to hear from you. BTW, I never responded, but yes – I’d be delighted to guest blog. What do you think about a webinar? Do you draw a crowd with your crowd?
The video was only 2 minutes, 2 seconds long, cutting you off mid sentence. Same results after reloading the web page.
Good message. Bad grasp of the technology.
John, cut a guy some slack… Encoding problems being resolved NOW.
Everyone learns differently. Some prefer video, I prefer written. It probably costs you nothing to post a transcription of the video.
I’m on wireless out in my workshop having a coffee break. Only 33 seconds into your video, the feed stopped twice. I paused it for now. If it does not work when I’m done typing this, I will move on to the next e-mail and you will be forgotten. I would have taken the time to read your transcription.
Thanks
John – good point. Connectivity is essential for video. I’m about to buy a 4G phone — monster download and upload speeds almost ANYWHERE. But will it make text obsolete? I was driving to Las Vegas today and had to stop at a Starbucks to connect to Internet for five minutes…
Is it a 4 minute video, you said? But there is only 2 minutes of it.
It’ll be fixed and re-announced. Promise.
Hi Paul,
I prefer the written post at this time, as the video post, wasn’t 4 mins, but only 2 and it kept jumping.
Thanks,
Caroline
Caroline – have you ever seen a text/written post hang in the middle? Get messed by a tech failure? Of course not. I’ll let you know when it’s fixed. Thanks for commenting. Paul
I prefer videos, but the preference is a weak one. I learn best in short sessions. That means that either written or video posts work for me, especially in segments of up to about 7 minutes.
BTW, that is about what you do.
I especially like that your posts are carefully organized and concise. You stick to the subject and cover it well.
Keep up the good work.
Ken – the time/length thing is interesting. I find that the 2-4 minute ones work well. And I’ll let them run until about 10 minutes. I need notes though – I tend to talk way too much without them. The notes keep me FOCUSED. Got to get help some how -pl
I like the idea of how to focus by getting clear goals. Goals that come out of your values and purpose. Focus comes from clear goals! Great info.
I always prefer video or audio over written. Why? Because I’ll get to it and hear it.
Interesting point, Tim. I’m pretty sure that’s the way it works. It’s hard to multitask while “watching” a video. It actually gets done. –pl
Great 2 minute video….. but you said 4 minutes.. hehehehe, anyway, I take it PURPOSE is the 5 letter word so you got your point across.
Yeah, Bob. See below.
The post was very useful, right up until the point where the video ended abruptly at 2:02.
Simon – accidents will and do happen. More to come. -pl
Hi Paul..
ONLY 2 minutes & 2 seconds of your video ended up posted on the page. I take it that’s only half of it. Please notify me when the 4-minute version is posted.
Thanks very much!
Dave
Thanks, Dave. See below. It’s actually 3:15 – the rest to come.
I prefer written items with photos, not videos.
Here’s why:
With a video I don’t have any control of the time being spent. I’m forced to make a quick decision whether to watch the whole thing or not. Frequently I bail out of the video if it’s not moving fast enough.
However with a written piece I can scan and see what it’s all about – and dip in or read throughly as seems appropriate. While the video does offer more “personality”,I can get the meat from a written piece 3x as fast!
IDEALLY, I’d like to have both available – the video and the written version.
Then I can scan the writing – and watch the video if I think it’s worthwhile.
My PET PEAVE is videos that have no indication of length and so when you start watching you don’t know if your getting into a 2 minute or 22 minute chunk of time.
Hope this helps.
John – I actually feel the same way about video, especially longer ones – I tend to speed up everything I listen to and the technology for speeding up video is a little weird and cumbersome. That said, most people, I”m finding, prefer video. Period.
I TOTALLY agree with what John said. I prefer to read the message, with the option to listen in if I so desire. Reading is so much faster. I have the same pet peeve about videos with no indication of length, etc.
Thanks for the info. It is exactly what I needed today!
Beth – glad it hit exactly what you needed. Isn’t it weird how it works that way?
Paul
Yes, completely correct, Focused in the minute. But being the head of a business and responsible for every aspect including building the team = the super athletw lready has a team – is far more complex. Maybe in a way this means for the entrepreneur staying focused in the moment with complete clarity on the goal and as Rich Shefren points out knowing the minimum actions required to reach that goal is evwen more important and critical.
But even with all this success can remain elusive. Life happens or business happens while we make plans, So learn to live with disappointment and never give up.
In terms of effort and obstacles the shortest distance between two points is NOT a straight line. Better to live your life like a river – going around the hard places and through the soft – versus a canal.
And stay cheerful always.
George, agreed and agreed. The minimum action thing tends to be a bit obsessive, and not very river-like, though. When I apply myself in a focused way things happen. Not always AS MUCH FUN – I personally like to meander, but things do happen. -pl
I prefer written. I do not relate well to video training. I grew up in a literary period so written instructions work for me. I’m 78 years old.
Well Paul, river meander but your point is interesting. I never thought of minimal actions as being obsessive, but I can see how it could be.
Would you go look at: http://www.totalhealthcircle.com/ and tell me your reaction.
May I send you an executive summary of what we’re doing. I’m looking for partners.
George, perhaps I could have said that better. I don’t think minimal efforts are obsessive, I think pursuing minimal efforts obsessively is obsessive. If it at any moment in time you could just as easily create something new or make something else better, which would you choose?
Mr>Lemberg
Always good stuff!! Video(post) or Written(post),hmmmm, i like Both!!(on the same page) Why….it captures the attention span of most people,(like great copy)! There have been times where i have been multi-tasking and do not want to read>video(less messy)would cure that in my opinion!! Written posts sEems more traditional..& anybody can view it!….If you were to ask this question 2 years ago it would be Written, Now a days its going to be VIDEO hands down!!!!!!!!
P.S>What do you prefer Mr. Lemberg??????
Video + Text? Mayne, so you are one of those people who wants to have it all!
Paul,
While your wisdom is superb, regardless of the medium by which it is delivered, I favor video considering that you are in fuller control of emphasis and other factors that your spoken word and inflections convey. It’s not about laziness or ‘entertainment;’ but rather, one of receiving your message at a deeper level that you are able to present ‘in person.’
This particular video was ‘cut short’ however. That can be frustrating to the recipient. For me, it loads and cuts you out mid-sentence at marker 2:02. If you resolve this, please send another invite? Please?
As always, thanks for what you do. You are priceless.
Glenn – I will definitely let you know. (But only you!)… And you’re welcome. -pl
Paul,
I am certain that you know more about this than do I; but, while it would obviously require additional effort on your part [albeit minor, I will assume], I suggest that both text and video would be the optimal option – for you and for us. 1) It should satisfy everyone’s preferences. 2) With what I presume to be few exceptions, the text can simply be a transcript of the video – a readily outsourceable task that also affects a practical quality checkpoint for video issues such as that which we have just experienced. 3) If you value search engine visibility over strict control of distribution via your list, I am also inclined to believe that combined text/video would produce better SEO rankings than would either option alone.
Glenn, good points. I think the issue for me is that blog posts are informal, and i find that too much production effort them. I really appreciate everyone’s feedback, and I think I know where the balance lies. But the real concern now is for FOCUS – and I’m focused on creating two new products, keeping the production-intensity directed in that direction. Those will definitely be video, audio, and text. –pl
Many thanks for this great video – It brings it to the point perfectly. great value. Best regards from Munich, MWGBC
Hey Marius – but aren’t the Münchner focused? -pl
Good info – focus – but… your 4 min video is 2 minutes
Imre, thanks. I’m currently focused on fixing it. -pl
Paul, thanks for your meaningful distillations like this one on focus. Continuous reminders like your are critical for creating success and maintaining momentum. I prefer video because it’s so much more engaging and memorable and it lets you express your passion in a way written words cannot.
Mike, appreciate your feedback. And the videos are easier! -pl
Paul,
You say this is going to be a 4 minute video, but it only plays for a little over 2 minutes. I was really enjoying it, but would love to hear the other 2 minutes.
Tech failure, Albert. The rest will be reposted later. -pl
YES focus is so KEY to success. Thanks for the reminder Paul.
Anne – you’re welcome. I think we would each of us profit by having someone remind us of this at least weekly! -paul
Hi Paul,
I enjoyed your video and agree…. focus is key!
Your video seemed to end abruptly? I would rather have the message in video but only if you get to the point and don’t ramble. That’s what I like about your videos you deliver the message and leave out all the (chatter).
Rebecca, the ending is a video error. Been on the road all day and no one could fix because the original was on my laptop. Just being re-encoded right now. Thanks, Paul
I love your post….
I prefer the video, the 2 minute mark is perfect…
Love the Cliff…..
and pertinence of the sentence you chose.
More connection, interpretation is better.
I think your example of “Coach in Action” is very well done.
Thank you for asking and caring what the answer is… this also makes a difference.
Hi Crystal, I wish I could take credit for the cliff. I’d have to say the fates chose that one. Fixing as “we speak.” -paul