let me be your “holy shit effect”
Daniel Coyle writes about something he calls the “Holy Shit Effect” (HSE) in his book The Talent Code. The HSE is that feeling you get when you see somebody who you thought was just like you doing something you’ve always wanted to do. When Curacao native Andruw Jones broke into Major League Baseball and hit back-to-back home runs off Andy Pettite in the opening game of the 1996 World Series, the youth of the tiny island of Curacao were hit with an extreme HSE. Fast forward several years and Curacao teams have made it to the semifinals of the Little League World Series six times in the last eight years, winning the title in 2004 and finishing second in 2005. Compared to the teams that they commonly face in the tournament, the Curacao teams have very little facilities and a limited season of several months on their home island.
A HSE happens when you suddenly realize that the person who has “made it” really isn’t that different from you. My HSE happened to be when I sat down and talked to Everett Bogue several months ago about blogging, minimalism, and making a living doing what you love. Up to that point I always had a certain element of reverence for those bloggers that had “made it.” Leo Babauta has had such incredible success with Zen Habits that he didn’t even seem like a normal guy. Everett Bogue also fit into that category. He seemed somehow special or destined to be a great blogger while I was destined to toil in the shadows.
However, Everett told me that I basically had the same number of subscribers that he had only a few short months ago. Even now, I don’t have THAT many less subscribers than he does. It was at that point that I realized I might be able to do this for a living too. My HSE was complete and I was inspired to become the best blogger I could possibly be.
If you haven’t had an HSE yet, I want to be yours. I hope that doesn’t sound conceited because it’s actually supposed to be the opposite. I am not special. I am not that great of a writer. I didn’t know anything about blogging before October of last year. Yet, somehow, I’ve managed to scrape together almost 1,000 subscribers and several hundred thousand visits over that approximately 8 month period. If I can do it, you can do it.
If you are thinking you want to start a blog about something you’re passionate about, just do it. Right now. Here is a link to the free blogging platform of Blogger or WordPress. Either of these services will get you started with a blog that requires no technical knowledge or expertise. Sign up and start writing. Then, after you’ve written and published one post, leave a comment with the URL of your blog here. I will visit your blog and provide you with direct and personalized feedback. I want you to succeed and I will do everything in my power to help you do so.
Let me be your HSE. Everett, thank you for being mine.
Photo by go_nils
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June 22nd, 2010 at 1:56 pm
Great idea, Sam! When listening to that interview of yours, I shared the same holy shit moment, just couldn't put it to words quite as elegantly at that moment
It's amazing to think that so many of the people who've made it (or making it) are just like us. What differentiate them is that they don't let it bother them. There was something I thought great insight in Everett's updated version of Minimalist Business: in a new chapter, he wrote about how we shouldn't care too much about having a *new* idea.
I think this is a key element of success: a not so new idea with a fresh touch works much better than trying to come up with something completely unique.
June 22nd, 2010 at 6:14 pm
Sam, once again you've said just what I needed to hear on this particular day. Thank you for that!
June 22nd, 2010 at 10:02 pm
Hey buddy, another sweet post as always.
June 23rd, 2010 at 1:42 am
Yo Sam !
You are one of my HSE ! That's why I have decided to “stalk” your blog and observe the way you grow this blog.
I talked to a friend and a mentor a few days ago about being just an inch away to becoming A-list blogger. We have all the resources and the only thing left is to take action consistently. I think at that time we had an HSE too
Btw, I like the level of transparency from you on this blog. Not everyone can accept that they were having a hard time looking for jobs after graduation.
Will come back again Sam !
June 23rd, 2010 at 3:18 am
You've got the right idea. To truly experience success, help someone else achieve it. Generosity is always the best path.
I'm not just starting, but I'm not successful as a blogger either. I will be soon, however.
Gip
June 23rd, 2010 at 3:47 am
Hey Sam. Great way to put it. It's sometimes hard to believe that people you look up to are just like you. It's been fun watching how your blog has grown and I look forward to watching it evolve in the future! Keep up the great work
June 23rd, 2010 at 9:28 pm
HSE , sounds good to me!! Just started my Blog about a month ago and it has been a bit bumpy in the consistency dept. , But I keep getting up and trying again, the way I look at it I may fall off the path (mostly due to my insane clumsiness) but that's ok as long as I learn, “Pot-hole, BAD” and then avoid said potholes in future path following. I am totally taking you up on the check my blog out thing, my blog is http://www.MEwithaG.com Self centered?…Yup, but it is a whole Self-help-myself-blog and if people want to come along for the ride, Awesome!
Thanks for the post and inspiration
-Meg
June 25th, 2010 at 11:02 pm
Meg,
I just got home from vacation and I'll be taking a look at all of the HSE submissions over the next couple days. I'm excited to check yours out!
June 25th, 2010 at 11:03 pm
Thanks man, I really appreciate it
June 25th, 2010 at 11:03 pm
That's the attitude to take. It can be tough sometimes (at least for me) but there are worse ways to spend hours of my time, that's for sure.
June 25th, 2010 at 11:05 pm
Thanks for taking the time to add your voice to the fray, I really appreciate it.
I've never really thought about the level of transparency I bring to the blog, but I suppose you're right. I just try to write the truth and I guess that makes my transparency pretty obvious.
I hope you do come back, I'll be here
June 25th, 2010 at 11:06 pm
Thanks Usman!
June 25th, 2010 at 11:06 pm
As a matter of fact, your comment is exactly what I needed to hear on this day as well
June 25th, 2010 at 11:08 pm
Yes yes yes yes. When I stopped worrying about how I was going to differentiate my blog from Leo's and Everett's and every other established blogger out there and just started writing my blog began to form its own voice. It's all about starting and taking baby step after baby step until suddenly you find yourself able to walk around with the big boys (and girls!)
June 26th, 2010 at 12:12 am
Hi Sam, Will you be my HSE? I've been stalking your blog lately, and I also sent you an email, but was afraid it might be backlogged?
Thanks for your awesomely generous offer!
June 26th, 2010 at 12:53 am
I saw the email and I'm currently fighting my way up the email mountain to where yours is located. My sherpa says we are going to get to it soon!
June 26th, 2010 at 3:05 am
sweet! thanks
June 26th, 2010 at 8:07 am
http://thankuverymuch.tumblr.com/ <–this is my what is evolving to be what I call my “personal” blog.. being that it hasn't really defined itself yet.. but it just occurred to me just now as I began to write this that it already has.
http://livedislife.blogspot.com/ <— this is set up to support some other work I'm getting started (writing a book for locals who wanna get healthy and lose weight) and I'm not sure if it'll stay on this address or not. Usually when I know I've got an idea and things are flowin I can come up w/ a name perfectly (I'm a namer) but the book's name's givin me big trouble (so, i'm not sure how this is gonna pan out.. then again maybe i'll find a name i like) It might just stay a blog with premium access or something idk… the book's also going to tie into another project which deals w/ local food distribution.
Anyhow, i've been goin at it all day and my typo's are growing more numerous. I appreciate your input. Mahalos -Carolyn Blake
June 26th, 2010 at 8:21 am
I recently read a great post about this – “What if it isn't about being unique, but about being of Service” http://su.pr/1D518T – its a very inspiring idea!! It may even be inspiring enough to get me out of my own 'I have nothing new to say' posting hiatus ..
June 26th, 2010 at 1:47 pm
http://www.theaccidentaladvocate.org/ Thank you for this! I would to have you look at my blog. I have also been following Everett for several months and in fact, I found your blog because he tweeted it. My mission is different from yours and Everett's. Although I have been purging a lot of “stuff” lately and stepped off the consumerism train. I would grateful for your feedback. I can be reached through my blog or at lynne@theaccidentaladvocate.org. Thank you again. Have a great weekend!
June 26th, 2010 at 2:54 pm
Hey Sam, I've had my blog for a while (over a year). Still have no where near the subscribers you or Everett do. The point of my blog is to inspire others to go beyond their own perspectives.
To reach, the high life! My blog is called, HiLife2B: http://hilife2b.com/blog
I'd love to hear your thoughts on it.
June 26th, 2010 at 3:00 pm
Hey Sam, I started my blog a little bit ago and would love your feedback.
http://writewords.typepad.com/ Thank you!
June 26th, 2010 at 9:53 pm
Great post man. Like the concept, and since you offered… http://letyourfeetbenaked.wordpress.com/
June 29th, 2010 at 6:18 pm
[...] on the list is faking it. And like Sam Spurlin points out, these are all people who you can use as your holy shit effect to inspire you to keep going with your own world changing [...]
June 30th, 2010 at 4:21 am
Hi Sam! Looking forward to hear your feedback for my http://mnmlist-developer.com/
Thank you for your offer!
Best regards,
Alex
July 3rd, 2010 at 12:31 am
No problem! I'll try to get to your site in the next couple days and send you some thoughts.