Business For Superheroes

This week, Vicky looks too awful for a video and Joe's eye is threatening to ooze over the entire world. They are too proud to show their faces, which is somewhat ironic when you consider that this episode is all about the second deadly sin of writing a book: pride. Tune in and find out all about the difference between good pride and bad pride, and how bad pride will scupper you and your book. You have been warned. Also, tune in for a word from Executive Producer Noodle Doodle.   Key Takeaways: [3:05] Vicky won in the comedy category for a pole dancing competition!  [8:15] Let’s talk about pride.  [9:55] There are two types of pride, the good kind and the bad kind.  [11:55] How does pride get in the way of telling the truth?  [14:00] It’s exhausting trying to be somebody you’re not.  [18:15] Don’t be afraid to talk about the mistakes you’ve made in the past. It will help other people.  [21:55] Human beings don’t really understand abstracts very well. You need to be clear in what you need/want from others.  [2

Vicky and Joe get all etymological on you and fling three cool words in your direction. Can you use them all in a sentence this week? One of those words is "mudita" – which is something you want to cultivate if you want to write a great book (and live a happier life). This is also the start of another interminable series: the 7 Deadly Sins of Writing a Book. Brace yourselves...   Key Takeaways: [3:30] Joe is still reading The Wheel of Time and he’s feeling guilty he’s still on it.  [7:50] Let’s talk about mudita, the opposite of envy.  [11:25] The first deadly sin of book writing is envy!  [17:25] Envy holds you back and it keeps you bitter. [18:55] How can you look at someone’s work in a positive light?  [21:25] Mudita is your answer! Find joy in other people’s achievements!  [23:15] Remember, envy will kill your creativity and your confidence. It will make you miserable!  [25:55] Vicky is going to be honest. She is not entirely sure how she is going to weave lust and gluttony into this series.  [29:15] Have

This week, Vicky tries and fails to avoid Joe's extreme garlic breath, then explains why snooker is a great antidote to Stephen King. After some discussion of daffodils, they get to the point: Vicky's recent book launch and the lessons learned. And there are plenty of them. Tune in to find out what they did right, what they did wrong, and what they're going to do next time...   Key Takeaways: [2:30] Vicky and Joe are on a mission to watch every single episode of Star Trek.  [6:45] Vicky has just launched her new book! Vicky has never officially launched a book before.  [10:15] Vicky reached out to some of her influential friends to help spread the word about her book launch.  [12:35] The biggest lesson Vicky learned was to start her book launch process a lot earlier!  [14:25] Truth be told, Vicky had a big fear about how well her book launch would be received.  [17:25] What did Joe learn about this book launch?  [20:00] Vicky did not do any paid advertising during this time. However, Joe is helping her with t

In this week's episode, Vicky discovers she's actually married to a robot. Or possibly an android. Either way, she's alarmed and confused, because Joe doesn't ever talk to himself. He has no inner dialogue. Which makes the inside of his head considerably calmer than the inside of hers. This week, the hosts talk about the way we talk to ourselves, the negativity bias, and why we all ought to be a bit more bloody kind to ourselves. And each other.   Key Takeaways: [0:50] Today is book launch day!!! [2:30] Thank you so much for the support and the people who have been sharing on social media and emailing Vicky! [10:00] Vicky talks to herself a lot, and how you talk to yourself determines the quality of your life.  [16:30] It takes five good deeds in a relationship to make up for one bad one.   [18:05] Words shape our reality, which is why it’s so important to talk to yourself correctly.We shape our reality with the words that we use. [22:20] There’s a difference between being arrogant and being proud of yourself

Vicky and Joe fail to do anything special for their 200th podcast episode, except be staggered that they've recorded so many. In this episode, there is a single posh candle, Joe has a bad hair day, and Vicky has just had a photoshoot. They also go through 15 fab reasons to write your book in 2020. Plus an extra bonus reason. Happy listening!   Key Takeaways: [2:30] The big 200!!! Vicky and Joe have a candle to celebrate.  [6:45] Ever thought about writing a book?  [7:15] First reason: To be a better writer. [9:20] It’s hard to write a book and that’s a good thing! [11:05] You have a story to tell and it’s worth telling!  [13:25] The kind of people you want to work with will gravitate towards you.  [17:25] You will become more of an expert in your field.  [18:55] Writing a book makes you memorable!  [20:40] You will discover more about who you are.  [21:20] You will make more money!!! [22:45] If there’s a zombie apocalypse, we’ll be back to relying on books. [25:05] Interested in writing a book? Vicky has a bo

There is a magnificent hat in this episode! Because although Vicky's eye makeup was on point, her hair resembled a mangy badger and had to be hidden. Which makes great radio. It's book review week at Moxie Books, and Vicky and Joe discuss the brilliant Atomic Habits by James Clear. Find out how Vicky manages to get up at 6.30 every morning, despite being a lazy slug who hates getting out of bed – and learn the secret of how to be the person you want to be. (And obviously buy the book.)   Key Takeaways: [5:45] If you want to learn more about how to connect with people, read Amanda Palmer’s book!  [7:00] Atomic Habits is the book of the year for Vicky.  [7:55] Habits are just brain shortcuts.  [10:15] Every action you take is a vote for the type of person you wish to become.  [12:45] Vicky really didn’t want to get out of bed this morning, but she tried to remember the type of person she wanted to be. [13:50] There are four problems with goal setting.  [16:15] Focus on the system that will help you get to your

Vicky and Joe stagger into the Roaring 20s with a festive gin & tonic and Joe's convoluted theory about octopuses and goats. Then Vicky explains her theory of rotting badger business growth, which leads to misery and possibly stinkiness. Want an antidote to all the GROW GROW GROW shrieking we're bombarded by? Listen up and build a business of joy and mirth instead.   Key Takeaways: [2:15] Joe explains why goats are ‘just wrong’ creatures.  [4:55] We are told by everyone that we have to grow all the time or else we’re useless as people.  [9:15] When it comes to your goals, what do you want? What do you really want?  [9:40] What are you willing to endure to get to where you want to be?  [11:10] Think about what you don’t want to do.  [12:15] Keep things as simple as possible for as long as possible.  [15:55] Pro tip: Do not spend tons of money on a website when just starting out.  [19:25] Don’t ignore the old ‘boring’ ways just because there is a new fad out there.  [26:25] Very rarely do people stop and th

Vicky and Joe drink tea and discuss philosophy. Well, kind of. Vicky reveals herself to be a bit of a dick, but is on a self-improvement kick. And Joe's problem with baggy grey sweatpants floats to the surface. In this episode of the 1,000 Authors Show, the intrepid podcasters dive deep into their own brains to figure out why thinking is so hard, how to get better at it, and why it's crucial that we do.   Key Takeaways: [1:25] It’s been a tough few days at the Dingle. The fun adventures of herding sheep.  [5:35] The Atomic Habits book that Vicky is reading is life changing!  [11:05] We’ve evolved to have these giant brains, but it’s really not efficient.  [13:55] Vicky and Joe weren’t really taught in school how to think critically.  [17:10] By the way, nobody is good at multitasking.  [18:45] How does Vicky define ‘thinking’?  [20:10] Unfortunately, throughout our lives, we are taught not to question things.  [22:05] Why is critical thinking so important?  [27:50] What are some of your cognitive biases? Let

Vicky and Joe are almost foiled by technology and then a ghost in the Dingle, before moving swiftly on to today's topic: hard things. (Stop being smutty.) There follows a lurid tale in which Vicky relives a terrifyingly hard moment so vividly her hands turn into some kind of pond creature, and Joe reveals that he actually thought she might die. (Spoiler alert: she didn't.) Why all the talk of hard things? Aha. Well. Because writing a book is hard, and doing hard things is amazing. Listen in and find out why.   Key Takeaways: [3:00] Vicky is really enjoying Diana Ashworth’s writing. It is delightful, engaging, and funny.  [4:25] Why should you write a book?  [8:35] What types of hard things has Joe had to face recently?  [9:55] Vicky explains what Trad Rock Climbing is. You will probably die.  [14:45] Vicky made it to the top of the mountain and cried.  [16:05] You should write a book because it’s hard and it will make you realize you are completely capable!  [19:00] The important things in life are difficult.

Joe is wearing a dressing gown! A very snazzy, smoking-jacket-esque dressing gown, but a dressing gown nonetheless. If you only listen to the audio, you're missing out. Hop over to YouTube and have a gander. Mind you, Vicky is dressed like three of the Spice Girls at once, so... anyway, they're both perfectly dressed to discuss The War Of Art by Steven Pressfield – an excellent book for everyone who's ever struggled with procrastination. Listen in and find out what Vicky and Joe's top takeaways from the book are.   Key Takeaways: [1:20] Joe won gold and silver in the National BJJ competition!  [2:00] Vicky, on the other hand, has scratched her eyeball.  [6:35] Today’s podcast will be a book review of The War of Art by Steven Pressfield.  [8:35] The book is extremely well organized.  [10:00] In Steven’s book, he actually doesn’t have a table of contents.  [12:20] We each have different types of personalities depending on who you are talking to. We have the work persona, the family persona, and the friend/hobby

Margo Aaron is a splendid writer and even more splendid human being, and Vicky managed to persuade her to come and yell on the podcast. Yay! Tune in to find out what working in mental health has to do with marketing, and what's got Margo (and Vicky) enraged, and what they're doing about it. You'll also get a sneak peek into Margo's upcoming book, which is going to be a must-read for business owners and entrepreneurs. Enjoy!   Key Takeaways: [1:45] Margo started her career in mental health and accidentally fell into marketing.  [5:20] The people Margo wanted most to help were those who were struggling with self-doubt.  [8:15] Margo was overwhelmed with work that she wasn’t passionate about doing, but it paid really well. How did she get out of this vicious cycle?  [10:45] Margo hates hustle culture. Never seeing your family and constantly ‘grinding’ isn’t healthy.  [12:35] Margo is writing a book! What’s it about? [16:55] When writing a book, it’s important to trust in the process. You can get worn down or ove

Joe does a very passable impression of a Klingon and Vicky marvels at the fact they've been married for TEN YEARS without any frying pan incidents. This week, they go off on some impressive tangents while explaining why tangents are brilliant and you should be fascinated by everything. Including eavesdropping, Titivillus, philately, Japanese, and Dungeons & Dragons. Tune in to discover how you can never run out of things to write about again.   Key Takeaways: [3:00] Joe recently finished The Fifth Season book.  [4:00] Vicky is currently reading Early Riser by Jasper Fforde.  [6:55] Overnight successes do not exist.  [8:35] Why should you be interested in absolutely everything?  [13:50] Read a lot! It will make you more interesting.  [16:20] Start a collection!  [18:45] Have a weird and nerdy hobby!  [21:00] Don’t be afraid to travel alone.  [22:25] Never stop learning something new! [24:45] Listen to other people’s stories. Talk to people!  [27:35] Vicky loves people watching at airports.  [28:45] Ask you

This week, Vicky is having such a bad hair day that she's wearing a bobble hat – but at least there's less spluttering. She and Joe talk about the books they're currently reading, then dive into why writing an outline isn't as miserable as your teachers made it seem, and how to do it in such a way that writing your book becomes a dream. Or, much easier and quicker, at least. Tune in to find out how you could cut your writing time by a third or more. Key Takeaways: [2:10] Joe is currently reading The Wheel of Time series.  [4:40] Vicky shares how she loves N. K. Jemisin’s work.  [6:25] Do you get stuck before you get started?  [7:00] To help you through this, Vicky will be breaking down how to write a detailed outline for your book.  [9:40] Vicky wishes teachers would have explained the importance of writing an outline, and showed her this technique to make writing anything down a lot easier.  [9:55] First things first. Write a recap of why you’re writing this book in the first place.  [10:30] By the way: Vick

Vicky has the plague and Joe is left to steer the ship in this week's episode of the 1,000 Authors Show. Between bouts of coughing and spluttering, they explain why many would-be authors struggle to get started – and share the three questions that will get you unstuck. Also, they have an exciting new light which highlights the bags under their eyes. Tune in this week for germs, exploding foreheads, eye-bags, and three useful nuggets of information that'll help you write your book.   Key Takeaways: [1:25] Vicky is currently sick. It’s such a waste of time!  [3:15] When should you ask for help to write your book?  [5:50] Ask the right questions to help you get over any sort of blocks you might have about your book. [6:50] Here are three questions that will help put you on the right path.  [7:25] Why do you want to write a book?  [8:50] By the way, Vicky’s book will be officially released on November 19th.  [11:45] What makes you better than your competition?  [13:15] What do you want people to do when they fini

Vicky and Joe are surrounded by spooks and ghouls in this Hallowe'en edition of the 1000 Authors Show. Listen in, if you dare, to the four lurking horrors that will kill your book... unless you slay them first. There's also silly voices and a cautionary tale about why many high-street shops are failing. It's like they want a disaster...   Key Takeaways: [2:35] Vicky shares a retail fail story. Some people can’t be helped!  [7:55] What spooky things are lurking in the dark that will destroy your nicely-crafted book?  [13:15] Don’t skimp on the book finishings! It will make your book look and feel cheap if you do.  [18:00] What should you invest in?  [20:15] Get beta readers to read through your book! [23:15] You need a website for your book! [25:00] The biggest demon of all is the one that lives inside your head.  [30:15] Pre-order Vicky’s latest book!    Mentioned in This Episode: Website Vicky on Medium Preorder Vicky’s new book! Subscribe on iTunes, Stitcher, and Overcast Project Dingle Mr B's Emporium

Look, your pencils could always be sharper, okay? Your hair could be shinier. Your long-jump could be longer. Vicky and Joe talk about your worst trait, and why it's keeping you paralysed. Vicky also gets over-enthusiastic about Brené Brown, who is a wise owl. If you struggle to get your best stuff out there, listen in to this episode, and listen good. Key Takeaways: [1:20] Vicky is in her brand new office!!! [2:50] Vicky is looking to name her office. Do you have a name suggestion for her?  [5:10] Vicky recently had a crap experience with a provider and wants to share how you can avoid making the same mistakes. [9:25] Do you suffer from perfectionism?  [13:00] How can perfectionism make you ill?  [19:20] Are you your mistakes or are you just someone who makes mistakes?  [20:00] Don’t praise children for the end product, praise them for the work they did.  [21:40] Perfectionism keeps you outside of the action.  [25:20] Slowly work your way towards being ‘good enough’ instead of ‘perfect enough’.  [28:00] Vick

Vicky and Joe sip blackberry gin and explain why writer's block is a big fat myth that's stopping you from writing your book (or doing anything else useful). Before you get all huffy, grab yourself a cuppa and listen in, because when you understand why it's a myth, you'll also understand how to get more shit done. Also, they finally blather on about purple.   Key Takeaways: [2:45] Let’s talk about the color purple. It’s a color that doesn’t exist!  [7:25] Similar to the color purple, writer’s block is a lie we tell ourselves.  [8:25] Writer’s block implies that it’s happening because of an external cause, but it’s the opposite. [9:40] Vicky read an interesting article from the New Yorker about writer’s block.  [15:30] Is writer’s block the same as general procrastination?  [17:40] There are fun exercises you can do to get your creative juices flowing, which is much more proactive than sitting around with ‘writer’s block’. [22:15] How does Vicky find the time to do all of this hobby stuff?!  [23:25] The best w

Vicky and Joe talk about the twitching madness of insomnia, and how it's kind of like when you're suffering from chronic Blank Page Of Doomness. This episode contains the 7 – no, 8 – no, wait, NINE – questions you can ask your best customers to help you overcome the Blank Page Of Doom. Plus you'll get some splendid testimonials and maybe make some new friends.   Key Takeaways: [1:55] Let’s talk about strategies that will beat your writer’s block!  [5:25] Don’t try to force it. Sometimes you just need a little more research to beat that blank page. [8:50] Talk to your clients! They are an excellent way to generate inspiration and topics.  [9:45] Vicky has 7 crucial questions you can ask your audience. [12:05] What you think is people’s main objection might not actually be the case. It’s important to ask them!  [13:05] What specific service or feature did your client like the most about working with you?  [13:55] Ask your client the top three benefits they received when working with you!  [17:50] Give your clie

Vicky and Joe get excited about jam, and briefly consider starting a jam podcast. Then they pull themselves together and remember there's work to do. Tune in to find out why they're killing the podcast, what happens next, and how to make sure you keep passion alive in your business.   Key Takeaways: [1:35] Quick Dingle update!! [3:40] Vicky and Joe are not actually killing the podcast just yet.  [6:40] Vicky feels it’s time for a change because after 150+ episodes, she wants to introduce new topics and themes that won’t always be marketing related.  [8:35] The new podcast will be more for authors, but that still doesn’t mean it won’t be relevant for those who aren’t writing a book.  [9:50] By the way, Vicky’s new book is available to pre-order!!  [13:25] Do you know of anyone who is interested in writing a book?  [17:00] If you’re not achieving/ enjoying your goals, ask yourself why and maybe it makes sense to focus on something else.    Mentioned in This Episode: Vicky Fraser Vicky’s Podcast Vicky’s Blog Vic

In this episode, Vicky contemplates wrestling TinySheeps and makes jam. Both of which are in fact linked to this week's topic, which is how to beat the Blank Page Of Doom. Tune in for modernist poetry created on the fly, three fun writing exercises to get you moving if you're stuck – and a random safari into the world of plumbing. Keep listening right to the end for a secret outtake if you'd like to hear Joe completely mangle the English language.   Key Takeaways: [1:60] Vicky doesn’t believe in writer’s block.  [3:15] Quick Project Dingle update!  [5:55] How can you beat writer’s block?  [7:55] THe plotline and the story are two very different things. [9:35] When you look at a simple blank page, you end up being paralyzed. [10:15] How can you just start writing? Vicky has three exercises.  [15:00] Get yourself a timer and begin to write down Vicky’s recommended three words. [17:00] Don’t fix your typos while you write!  [17:45] Vicky loves saving stories so that she can later use them in her daily newsletter