The Three Month Vacation Podcast
Business
Sean D'Souza
Sean D'Souza made two vows when he started up Psychotactics back in 2002. The first was that he'd always get paid in advance and the second was that work wouldn't control his life. He decided to take three months off every year. But how do you take three months off, without affecting your business and profits? Do you buy into the myth of "outsourcing everything and working just a few hours a week?" Not really. Instead, you structure your business in a way that enables you to work hard and then take three months off every single year. And Sean walks his talk. Since 2004, he's taken three months off every year (except in 2005, when there was a medical emergency). This podcast isn't about the easy life. It's not some magic trick about working less. Instead with this podcast you learn how to really enjoy your work, enjoy your vacation time and yes, get paid in advance.
Why sequences are crucial for your business and how to go about implementing it.
When you go for a meal, you follow a sequence. When you are part of a wedding ceremony, there’s also a sequence. Sequences allow us to follow a thread, but it also gives the client a clear pathway. In this episode we look at the power of sequences, how to implement one and why you may want to change your sequence as technology moves forward. Let’s go!
22:0601/11/2024
Why you need to get off the Internet – and meet real people instead
The Internet has and will always be a great source of getting clients. However, if you notice, it’s also a very crowded space. There’s a place that’s a lot less busy. It’s called “the world offline”. Here’s why you need to do some exploration away from your computer.
13:3025/10/2024
Rerun 5 Why Willpower Is Weak (And How Numbers Help You Stay on Track Instead)
13:0919/10/2024
Rerun 4:The Results Paradox: Why We Have To Keep Searching For New Clients
25:1412/10/2024
Rerun 3 Why A “Lack Of Memory” Causes You To Be Less Talented In Life
16:0405/10/2024
Rerun 2 How To Create An Intensely Curious First Line For Your Article
12:1128/09/2024
Rerun 1: How To Get Clients To Go From “No” To “Yes” (And Why The Right Mindset Is Crucial)
12:1921/09/2024
The “Unobvious Reasons” WhyAdults Struggle With Language Learning - Part 2
We continue on our two part series of why adults struggle with learning. And this time around, we have an unusual enemy. The enemy is “vocabulary”. How can that be the case?
15:5414/09/2024
The “Unobvious Reasons” WhyAdults Struggle With Language Learning - Part 1
We all believe that languages should be learned early, and we’re not wrong. However, most adult learning is based on a school system that’s boring and plainly illogical. Why do adults struggle so much? The short answer is that they don’t learn like kids. The question is: what do kids do differently that makes learning so enduring? Let’s find out.
21:1107/09/2024
How to increase prices from left to right (or right to left).
In most cases, you can increase your prices by as much as 15% by moving from left to right. But what if you wanted to increase your prices by, say, 20%, instead. Well, then you move from right to left. What does all of this right, left, right mean? Well, listen to the podcast and it will make sense in a few minutes.
06:3031/08/2024
How to calm your nerves before a speaking opportunity
Giving a presentation is often nerve wracking. You know you need to relax but you are driving yourself up the wall. The usual way to solve the problem seems to be that you need to practise more. You practise, practise, and practise, but the stress won’t go away. So what does reduce the pain? It’s simpler than you’d think.
22:4924/08/2024
The "Pain Map of Learning": How Trainers Can Make Learning Fun Again
When we get into a learning situation, we’re usually excited. Then, almost immediately we feel unsure. We stumble along, not keen to move ahead. What’s happening in our brain? I’ll tell you what: a pain map is being created. This pain map is because of a lack of good instructional design. How do we avoid creating this pain map for our kids and especially for our clients? Let’s find out
27:4419/08/2024
Why Catching Up Is a Poor Strategy (And Why the “Next Sunrise” Method is More Powerful)
When we fall behind, the core instinct is to catch up. In most cases, that’s a strategy that stresses us out, and achieves very little. It feels like one foot inside and another outside. But is there a better method? Try the “next sunrise” method and see how well it works for you..
05:5703/08/2024
Why “Prompts” Speed Up Learning (And Avoid the Boring Hard Work Syndrome)
We are told time and time again that we need to practice. That we need to work hard. That’s usually a load of rubbish. Learning depends less on you as a learner and more on how the learning is designed. Here’s an understanding of how “prompts” in learning make the client eager to get to and finish an assignment, even if the learning journey is extremely long and complicated.
17:5413/07/2024
A Memory Test: Are you bad with names or is it a myth?
You've probably heard it before: I am bad at names. I don't remember names so well. But are you truly bad at names? Or is it something that we all say? In this podcast you can test yourself and figure out how impressive your memory really happens to be. Best of all, you will never say that you're bad at names – or even have a bad memory. Your perception of memory will change quite substantially. Let's go, shall we?
14:1406/07/2024
The elegant strategy to overcome “information overload” (and how to do it almost overnight).
We all struggle with information. We’re almost always behind, always making notes, trying to catch up. Should we cut back on information completely? Is that the solution? Or is there a simpler, more elegant way to relax and take in endless amounts of information? Let’s find out
17:5529/06/2024
Re-run 7 Storytelling: Why Fairy Tale Endings Are Unnecessary for Article Writing
25:4515/06/2024
Re-run 6 Balanced Feedback: Why People Want Endless Amounts of it
26:5808/06/2024
Re-run 5 How to Systematically Generate a Uniqueness (Even If You've Struggled With It Before)
21:2601/06/2024
Re-run 4 How random pieces of advice from friends and bosses help me keep my focus
19:5625/05/2024
Re-run 3 Why We Stall—And How To Pull Out of the Mess
15:0918/05/2024
Rerun 2: Why You Should Never Trust A Silent Customer
12:5411/05/2024
Rerun 1: Why We Struggle With Writing Well (And How Your Brain Is Trying to Drive You Crazy)
22:4204/05/2024
Why Negotiation Consistently Fails In Real-World Scenarios: 3 Overlooked Stages of Negotiation
When you read a book about negotiation, it seems like you should be able to get exactly what you want. However, when you go out into the real world, your negotiating turns to custard. Others don't seem to agree with your terms, and you're left hanging. Often this problem arises because of a simple set of stages that we ignore. In this podcast, we look at those three stages and see how they boost our negotiating power, without us doing anything extraordinary.
26:5827/04/2024
Why Creating a Series Gets Greater Client Involvement
When we create information, we tend to think of a single book, a single article—and may I say—a single podcast. That system works fine, but there's a method that is far superior. It's called a series. Here's why a series works so much better and how to go about creating a series of series.
19:4820/04/2024
The Five "Psychological Stages" of Entrepreneurship—And One That's More Scary Than The Rest
We don't always realise it, but we go through precise psychological stages when we are becoming entrepreneurs. The biggest problem is that one stage is more deadly than all the other stages put together. It's the stage where we lose control because we are driven by outside forces. How do we know which stage we are in? And how do we prepare ourselves for the stage that is going to seriously rock the boat?
23:0613/04/2024
The concept of bandwidth: How to control the "uncontrollable"
On any given day we will have some amount of chaos. And someday the chaos is just looking outside the door, but other days it forces its way through with an intensity that's hard to control. It seems like we are always juggling too many things, but there is a method where we can manage chaos in a less frustrating manner. Let's find out how we can look at chaos differently so that, in general, we have mostly wonderful days.
17:1705/04/2024
How to Win Friends: The Hug, Hear, Help Method
We often want to help others. It's a great trait to have in a world that is rather selfish. Yet, it can be a terrible idea when you're communicating with friends and clients. People rarely want your help. What do they want instead? Listen to the "hug, hear, and help" method to change the way you see the world and also the way the world sees you. Next Up: The Not So Obvious Angles For Succeeding In Life
21:0922/03/2024
Unexpected Impact (And Why You Shouldn't Give Up Communicating With Your Audience)
Sometimes we think that we're just wasting our time writing articles or recording a podcast. Or maybe even the advice we give seems to go nowhere. You'd be surprised to know that you're making an impact beyond your wildest imagination
10:2016/03/2024
How to have conversations when you don't necessarily agree with the other person.
Do you feel like you're in the world where everybody is just angry with each other? How do you cope with a situation where you don't agree with the other person? You may not agree with their politics, their way of life, and you may have no intention of going over to the other side. The answer to most "aggressive conversations" is simpler than you would expect. And it's also a lot more fun and you get to stay friends. Let's find out how.
24:3409/03/2024
Three "Slightly Boring" Ways To Create Metaphors For Your Articles
While writing an article, report or book, you're more than likely to need a metaphor. In fact, you may need at least a dozen. The problem with metaphors is that they're usually very predictable. How do you take a "boring method" and make a metaphor quite exciting? Let's find out.
21:1702/03/2024
The second best way to get out of a rut
The quickest way to get out of a rut is to have a deadline. The moment you don't have a deadline, you're in trouble. Soon, that blip becomes a blurb, which becomes a balabooza that you can't control. How do you get out of a rut quickly—really quickly? Let's find out in this episode. Next Step: Listen to—How To Get Unstuck Bit By Bit (And Why Speeding It Up Doesn’t Usually Work)
08:2723/02/2024
How to give praise (even when it's hard to do so)
We all want to praise others, but sometimes, it seems extremely difficult to do so. This is why we often resort to something like "great job" or "that's cool. And Facebook has trained us to just "like" everything. This means that the person you're praising rarely feels the impact of that praise. In this episode we'll look at how to go about praising someone, and especially how to give praise when you don't have much to say. Next: Let's look at How To Introduce Yourself At An Event (Without Describing Your Achievements)
26:5310/02/2024
Rerun 07 The “Coats Of Paint” System To Break Out Of The Curse Of Perfection
23:3502/02/2024
Rerun 06 How To Write The First Line Of An Article (And Instantly Get The Reader’s Attention With A Story)
25:4526/01/2024
Rerun 05 How To Avoid High Conflict – Even When You Don't Agree With The Idea
05:1720/01/2024
The Eternal Sales Page Dilemma – How To Choose The Precise Headline To Get Clients Interested On Your Sales Page
23:3513/01/2024
Rerun 03 Effective Sales Tactics: How To Create Bonuses For Your Products Or Services
15:5006/01/2024
Rerun-002 How To Get Unstuck Bit By Bit (And Why Speeding It Up Doesn't Usually Work)
30:4329/12/2023
Rerun 01 Why “A Walk In The Forest” Reinvigorates Our Busy, Stressful Lives
13:0923/12/2023
How to get clients to go from "NO" to "YES" (And why the right mindset is crucial)
Usually a "NO" feels like a door slammed in your face. However, in many cases, a "NO" isn't a forever thing. If you look at "NO" differently, there's a good chance you'll get a bucketful of "YESES". Here's my experience of going from "NO to YES". Next Step: Listen to Three Ways To Harness The Mastermind Mindset (And Use It Across Your Business)
12:4908/12/2023
The "Blindingly Obvious Reason" That Drives Success in Almost Any Sphere
You'd think that success parameters are everywhere—and they are. Yet, some of them are so obvious that we completely miss them. In order to turn things around and get people to get your clients—and yourself—to understand success better, you have to know the difference between ego and mastery. In this episode, that's what we explore and why it makes such a vast difference. Next Step: Find out How Ego-Killers Can Drive Clients Away
21:4202/12/2023
The Myth of Poor Memory (And How to Overcome It Instantly)
Have you heard yourself saying: I'm not good with names! Almost everyone you run into is likely to say something similar. Is it because we're bad with names and have terrible memories? Or is it a myth that we've been perpetuating? Let's find out in this slightly odd view of memory. Next Step: Have a listen to Why A “Lack Of Memory” Causes You To Be Less Talented In Life
12:5225/11/2023
How to create an intensely curious first line for your article
The first line is what pulls us into an article. Yet we end up writing a really boring first line. What's worse is that you could use the power of story to create an intensely powerful first line in minutes. Don't believe me? Well, do you have 10 minutes? Let's start. Next Step: Don't miss the series on Writers's BlockWriter’s Block Series: Why Discussion and Feedback Are A Writer’s Secret Weapon (And How Professionals Use it to Their Advantage)
12:4210/11/2023
Overwhelmed with Too Much to Learn? How To Solve The Problem Once and For All
If we went back in time, we'd all feel a little less stressed out. We weren't being pounded with endless information all the time. There weren't a million courses, workshops, training and videos, let alone an endless parade of books. It seems like we'll never keep up. And no, we won't. But there's a way around the problem and it's quite permanent. Let's fix it, shall we? ________________________________________ Here is another podcast on Overwhelm The Overwhelm Virus: How To Get It Out of Your Daily Routine
08:0427/10/2023
Why a "Lack of Memory" Causes You to be Less Talented in Life
I was chatting with a client, and he told me how he needs to improve his drawing. "I always draw stick figures", he said to me, "and somehow, I need to improve these drawings." This strategy struck me as odd because I didn't see a problem with his stick figures. The stick figures looked as good as they would always be, with little room for improvement. "You don't have a problem with stick figures," I said. "You have a problem with memory!" My comment confused him because he was talking about drawing and learning to draw, but I was referring to "a lack of memory". What is this "memory" bit all about? Let's find out. Once you finish listening, you may like this podcast too: Rapid Talent (How To Get There and What Holds Us Back)
16:3420/10/2023
The Results Paradox: Why We Have to Keep Searching for New Clients
The biggest underlying success factor of a business is repeat clients. Yet time and time again, we have to keep looking for new clients. This sorry situation is often because we are seduced by information, not results. We know results are important, but we still go in the "opposite" direction. How do we solve this ongoing nightmare? Let's find out. Next Step: How To Gain Momentum In Business Using The Subsets Technique (And Gain New Clients Too!)
25:4414/10/2023
The Not So Obvious Angles For Succeeding In Life
Do you remember the story of the Three Kings in the Bible? You might have heard that they didn't come empty-handed. That's because they understood one of the core principles of living was "giving". Not all the advice you get is obvious. Today, let's look at some not so obvious ones, shall we? You can also listen to: Why You Should Pay Attention To Giving (And Why Receiving Is Just As Important)
31:3409/10/2023
Why "Dribbling" is better than "Practice, Practice, Practice"
We're told we need to practice if we want to get better. However, most of the times when we're practicing, we're quite bored. Instead, "play" is far superior in every way. It's not boring and like that kid next door, we "dribble" all the time. Let's look sideways at dribbling, instead of just practice, practice, practice. Next Step: Don't miss How To Get Results Like A Pro (Without Endless Practice)
12:5329/09/2023
How to Stay on Track With Your Goals (Without Depending on Willpower): Guest appearance by Keira Menon
Last week we heard about willpower and how ineffective it can be when we most need it. Today, we have guest—the first ever—Keira Menon. She not only gives you her version of willpower, but also tells you how she went about recording this podcast. This a fun listen so don't miss it. We had so many people write and tell us how much they enjoyed the episode. ___________________ OMG I did, and it made me smile so much. I know you have been involved in your niece's life for some time as Sean has mentioned her often in the past, to hear her sounding so grown up and mature! My first thought was noooo....surely not! and it instantly reminded me just how long I had been following your work. She did a fabulous job. Congratulations, and was an episode I starred becaue the podcast tips as well as brain tips. And I have quoted the "edamame beans, naan bread, chai tea" evidence used by Sean Nicky T ___________________
14:3223/09/2023