Maximum stoke
As I do every July, I spent last week with my family and a few close friends hiking in the high Sierra.
Each year, I hike up Mt. Conness, a 12,500 foot peak with a lot of hard scrabbling and some pretty terrifying moments before you arrive at the summit.
When we reached the top, we met a guy who’d just free soloed the mountain. While we were hiking up, which was hard enough, he climbed the face of the mountain without ropes or a partner.
That climber, to quote one of my friends, was "maximum stoke". As enthusiastic and optimistic as I can be, he made me look like Eor from Winnie the Pooh.
Climbing Mt. Conness is always a peak memory from my week in the mountains, but I’ll remember this year because of that free climber who was living his best life on top of the mountain.
Sometimes, just being the most enthusiastic person is a competitive advantage.
Genuine
Now that I'm back to civilization, I’m in full production mode on Responsive Conference. As I write this, the 2-day event is 46 days away!
We released made a video about the conference, filmed at our incredible venue the Oakland Museum of California. You can watch the video here!
The video is genuine. It reflects the kind of event we are creating.
There's an absence of authenticity in the world today. We don’t need more bombastic sales people. We need true believers; people who are convinced in the value of what they are selling.
The authentic advantage
I’m genuine. That’s authentic to me. You could say that “genuine” is part of my brand.
If you are particularly funny, or sincere, or clever, or whatever - lean into that.
The more you show up in alignment with who you are, the better you’ll be able to perform – or to sell.
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Homework
My friend Adam has a big smile. He's built his entire brand around the nickname “Smiley.”
Seth Godin always wears distinctly colored glasses. That aesthetic is now part of his brand.
I used to hide the fact that I’m an acrobat. These days, I start new business meetings with the fact that I used to perform in the circus.
What’s one character trait you have that is a bit unusual? Take something that kids in middle school made fun of you for and own it. Make it a strength.
Whether you’re a bit funny, great at remembering names, or have big ears, lean into it.
That thing - your authenticity - will make you memorable.
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3 things I’ve loved this week
Even our “maximum stoke” climber at the top of Mt. Conness pointed to El Capitan in the far distance with awe.
If you haven’t watched this documentary about Alex Honnold’s free solo climb of that legendary Yosemite rock, drop everything you have planned for the weekend and do so now.
As a mountaineer, I consider that climb to be a breathtaking undertaking. And as a videographer, the documentary is a stunning piece of art.
Every few years, I discover a new water bottle that I really love. These days, I love the Hydro Flask, so it is unsurprisingly that they’re increasingly common in the home and on the mountainside.
I recently lost a white 16 oz bottle, and missed it enough for the following week that I promptly went out and bought another.
They are nearly indestructible, and the vacuum insulation means that they keep liquid hot or cold for eight hours.
Charles Duhigg, author of the New York Times bestselling The Power of Habit, just published his latest book Supercommunicators.
Pulling stories from FBI interrogators, therapists, and the NRA, journalist Duhigg’s new book offers tactics that all of us can apply today to improve how we communicate and relate to each other.
I sat down with Charles for a podcast interview recently, which you can hear to on Apple, Spotify, or anywhere else you listen.
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Support Snafu
This newsletter is free and I don’t run ads. But I do spend dozens of hours researching and writing about selling each week. Here’s how you can support Snafu.
Share Snafu - If you're enjoying Snafu, it would mean the world to me if you would share it with one person who you think would like it. What friend, co-worker, or family member comes to mind? Forward this along!
Books by Robin - I've published two books - so far! If you’re interested in learning to do a handstand, check out How to Do a Handstand. If you’re building a company or want to improve your company’s culture, read Responsive: What It Takes to Create a Thriving Organization.
Attend Responsive Conference - We are hosting an immersive 2-day conference this September in Oakland, CA. This is my one big event of the year and I'd love to see you there!
Thanks for your consideration!
Until next week,
Robin