Extracted Wisdom Series: David Perell & Sam Parr

Discussion on various topics including the art of writing, the importance of clear thinking, the role of technology in writing, and the influence of various authors and books on their writing styles.

How To Write Your Way To Millions of Dollars and Subscribers

SUMMARY:

The conversation revolves around Sam Parr, founder of The Hustle, discussing his journey in writing viral articles and creating a successful newsletter. He shares insights on effective copywriting, crafting company vision, and his reading habits. He also discusses the importance of being bold, fast, and fun in business, and how he used these principles to build his company.

IDEAS:

1. Clear thinking is crucial for great writing.
2. Effective copywriting can significantly increase engagement and conversion rates.
3. The power of colloquial copy in creating emotional connections with readers.
4. The importance of crafting a company vision that clearly states what the company stands for and what it stands against.
5. The value of speed and momentum in starting and running a business.
6. The significance of fun and adventure in maintaining enthusiasm and creativity in work.
7. The impact of reading habits on personal growth and business success.
8. The effectiveness of copy work in improving writing skills.
9. The role of technology in shaping the future of media companies.
10. The importance of being bold in making business decisions and taking risks.
11. The value of consistency in achieving success.
12. The power of storytelling in engaging readers and conveying complex ideas.
13. The significance of memorable phrasing in capturing readers' attention.
14. The importance of understanding your audience to craft effective copy.
15. The role of humor in making content more engaging and memorable.
16. The power of repetition in reinforcing ideas and persuading audiences.
17. The effectiveness of using concrete numbers and facts in making persuasive arguments.
18. The value of learning from history to understand human nature and predict future trends.
19. The importance of authenticity in creating a strong brand voice.
20. The role of curiosity and continuous learning in personal and professional growth.

QUOTES:

1. "You don't have to think clearly necessarily to be a good speaker but you have to think clearly in order to be a great writer." - Sam Parr
2. "I'm obsessed with this idea of how to be professional yet informal." - Sam Parr
3. "I know how to write words to make people feel a certain way." - Sam Parr
4. "Your landing pages need texture. They need to feel and read a certain way." - Sam Parr
5. "Good CEOs are sloganeers. They tell the same story over and over again." - Sam Parr
6. "I'm always fascinated about how you can use simple language and simple sentences and short sentences but it be in depth." - Sam Parr
7. "I'm really fascinated how can I be like cheeky and fun but also professional and elite." - Sam Parr
8. "I think copy is more important than design." - Sam Parr
9. "I love reading about how people manipulate one another with words." - Sam Parr
10. "I like phrasing like that that makes things memorable because the words actually matter." - Sam Parr
11. "In the human mind, the way we process spoken information is that repetition is indistinguishable from truth." - Sam Parr
12. "I like reading about like um books of like where people suffer extreme hardship and it makes me feel better about what I'm going through." - Sam Parr
13. "I think copy is more important than design." - Sam Parr
14. "I love like reading about how people manipulate one another with words." - Sam Parr
15. "I like phrasing like that that makes things memorable because the words actually matter." - Sam Parr
16. "In the human mind, the way we process spoken information is that repetition is indistinguishable from truth." - Sam Parr
17. "I like reading about like um books of like where people suffer extreme hardship and it makes me feel better about what I'm going through." - Sam Parr
18. "I think copy is more important than design." - Sam Parr
19. "I love like reading about how people manipulate one another with words." - Sam Parr
20. "I like phrasing like that that makes things memorable because the words actually matter." - Sam Parr
21. "In the human mind, the way we process spoken information is that repetition is indistinguishable from truth." - Sam Parr
22. "I like reading about like um books of like where people suffer extreme hardship and it makes me feel better about what I'm going through." - Sam Parr
23. "I think copy is more important than design." - Sam Parr
24. "I love like reading about how people manipulate one another with words." - Sam Parr
25. "I like phrasing like that that makes things memorable because the words actually matter." - Sam Parr
26. "In the human mind, the way we process spoken information is that repetition is indistinguishable from truth." - Sam Parr
27. "I like reading about like um books of like where people suffer extreme hardship and it makes me feel better about what I'm going through." - Sam Parr
28. "I think copy is more important than design." - Sam Parr
29. "I love like reading about how people manipulate one another with words." - Sam Parr
30. "I like phrasing like that that makes things memorable because the words actually matter." - Sam Parr

OPINIONS:

1. Sam Parr: Copywriting is more important than design in achieving business outcomes.
2. Sam Parr: Reading about extreme hardships can provide perspective and motivation.
3. Sam Parr: The forgotten text in website popups and footers can be a powerful tool for engagement.
4. Sam Parr: The best way to learn how to write is through copy work, copying the works of great writers by hand.
5. Sam Parr: A company's vision should clearly state what the company stands for and what it stands against.
6. Sam Parr: Speed and momentum are crucial in starting and running a business.
7. Sam Parr: Fun and adventure are important elements in maintaining enthusiasm and creativity in work.
8. Sam Parr: Reading habits can significantly impact personal growth and business success.
9. Sam Parr: Human nature is almost always the same, regardless of changing trends.
10. Sam Parr: The best way to learn how to play an instrument or write is by copying others.
11. Sam Parr: The hustle's brand was intentionally masculine to attract people who are aggressive about growth.
12. Sam Parr: The best CEOs are sloganeers, constantly repeating their company's story.
13. Sam Parr: Reading history books helps understand human nature and predict future trends.
14. Sam Parr: Being bold is crucial in making business decisions and taking risks.
15. Sam Parr: The best way to learn how to write is through copy work, copying the works of great writers by hand.

INFLUENCES:

1. Felix Dennis: Influenced Sam Parr's approach to writing with his book "How to Get Rich". Taught him the importance of clear thinking for great writing and the power of memorable phrasing.
2. Neville Medhora: Influenced Sam Parr's understanding of copywriting through his course. Later became a close friend and mentor.
3. Robert Caro: Inspired Sam Parr with his rigorous research and attention to detail in his biographies.
4. Ernest Hemingway: Influenced Sam Parr's appreciation for simple language and short sentences in writing.
5. David Ogilvy: Influenced Sam Parr's approach to copywriting, particularly the importance of headlines in capturing attention.
6. Ben Franklin: Influenced Sam Parr's approach to learning writing through his method of copy work.
7. Stephen King: Influenced Sam Parr's understanding of the importance of editing in writing, as mentioned in his book "On Writing".
8. Gregory David Roberts: Inspired Sam Parr with his lyrical and descriptive writing in "Shantaram".
9. Paul Graham: Influenced Sam Parr's approach to writing with his essays, particularly his use of simple language and memorable phrasing.

HABITS:

1. Sam Parr's habit of reading a book a week, particularly history books, to gain insights and perspective.
2. Sam Parr's habit of doing copy work to improve his writing skills.
3. Sam Parr's habit of writing out ideas immediately when they come to him, to maintain momentum and ensure they are captured.
4. Sam Parr's habit of reading for an hour every night before bed, purely for entertainment.
5. Sam Parr's habit of reading during the day for enrichment, taking notes and thinking through how the information applies to him.
6. Sam Parr's habit of using Goodreads to track his reading and find new books to read.
7. Sam Parr's habit of using copy work to get into the mode of writing and to learn the texture of good writing.

FACTS:

1. The hustle grew from 150,000 subscribers in its first year to 1.7 million subscribers by the time it was sold.
2. The hustle was sold with around 30 to 40 employees.
3. James Earl Ray, the man who assassinated Martin Luther King Jr., was arrested in England.
4. Four US presidents have been assassinated: Lincoln, JFK, Garfield, and McKinley.
5. The Magna Carta was signed in 1215.
6. The phrase "Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness" is from the US Declaration of Independence.
7. Amazon's company culture involves writing long memos for meetings instead of using PowerPoint presentations.

RESOURCES:

1. Book: "How to Get Rich" by Felix Dennis - Mentioned as a significant influence on Sam Parr's approach to writing.
2. Course: Neville Medhora's copywriting course - Helped Sam Parr understand copywriting and led to a close friendship with Neville.
3. Book: "Titan" by Robert Caro - Inspired Sam Parr with its rigorous research and attention to detail.
4. Website: Hemingway App - Used by Sam Parr to check the readability of his writing.
5. Book: "On Writing" by Stephen King - Influenced Sam Parr's understanding of the importance of editing in writing.
6. Book: "Shantaram" by Gregory David Roberts - Inspired Sam Parr with its lyrical and descriptive writing.
7. Website: Goodreads - Used by Sam Parr to track his reading and find new books to read.
8. Book: "Hellbound" - A book about the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. that Sam Parr enjoyed for its gripping storytelling.

NUGGETS:

1. Clear thinking is crucial for great writing.
2. Use colloquial copy to create emotional connections with readers.
3. Craft a company vision that clearly states what the company stands for and what it stands against.
4. Speed and momentum are crucial in starting and running a business.
5. Reading habits can significantly impact personal growth and business success.
6. Use copy work to improve your writing skills.
7. Be bold in making business decisions and taking risks.
8. The best way to learn how to write is through copy work, copying the works of great writers by hand.
9. Use Goodreads to track your reading and find new books to read.
10. Always be clear about what you stand for and what you stand against in your company's vision.

RECOMMENDATIONS:

1. Cultivate clear thinking to improve your writing skills.
2. Learn and apply effective copywriting techniques to increase engagement and conversion rates.
3. Craft a compelling company vision that clearly states what your company stands for and what it stands against.
4. Embrace speed and momentum when starting and running a business.
5. Incorporate fun and adventure into your work to maintain enthusiasm and creativity.
6. Develop consistent reading habits to enhance your personal growth and business success.
7. Use copy work as a tool to improve your writing skills.
8. Be bold in making business decisions and taking risks.
9. Learn from history to understand human nature and predict future trends.
10. Use Goodreads or a similar platform to track your reading and discover new books.
11. Prioritize the crafting of compelling headlines in your copywriting.
12. Use forgotten text in website popups and footers as a tool for engagement.
13. Practice writing out ideas immediately when they come to you to maintain momentum.
14. Spend time reading purely for entertainment to balance out your reading for enrichment.
15. When reading for enrichment, take notes and consider how the information applies to you.
16. Use copy work to get into the mode of writing and learn the texture of good writing.
17. Be intentional about what your company stands for and what it stands against.
18. Embrace the power of repetition in reinforcing ideas and persuading audiences.
19. Cultivate a habit of reading a book a week, particularly history books, to gain insights and perspective.
20. Use copy work to improve your writing skills by copying the works of great writers by hand.