And the Winners Are ...
I watched each of these videos myself.
It took hours upon hours.
I asked for the opinions of many, weighed them against my own notes, and there you have it.
The judging was hard. Damn hard. There were so many and so many of them were absolutely brilliant.
Not everyone is going to agree with our choices, but keep this in mind: part of what we factored into the three winners was how much "best-seller mojo" the presentations had. Remember, this isn't a competition for best-writing authors - it's a competition for bestselling authors.
Read on ...
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The Winners: Most Life-Changing Moment: Stephen Hopson Stephen's story is not only inspiring, but he demonstrates one of the things that will make becoming a bestselling author easier: a great personal mythology. OK, maybe you're not the first deaf man to get your instrument rating - but I bet you have experiences you can turn into story or mythology about yourself. Note: by "mythology" we don't mean "lies" - one can take on a mythological status without building their platform on myths. Most Views:
Korey King
Korey, if you're trying to freak me out: mission accomplished! But hey, this was all about "most views" pure and simple. Can you figure out how Corey got his video viewed so many times? (comments please) Ironically, the funniest video had a Ron Paul theme as well ... Funniest Moment: James Allen Wherever you stand politically, you're bound to be offended by this somehow - but if my gut meter was any proper gauge it's the one that made me laugh the loudest. This video has "guts" in another way, too: it has the guts to make a statement even if one unpopular by the "collectivist" mainstream. Bestselling authors often become so by making radical statements that go against the grain. Every now and then those radical statements become the mainstream through their influence as well. |
Other Notables:
OK, this isn't' a "runner up" list so please don't determine that yours wasn't worthy if you're not on this list either.
And who the heck am I to judge anyone? Remember that many bestselling manuscripts are turned down time and time again before finally getting picked up by the right publisher.
Becoming a bestseller has less to do with pleasing editors than it does with believing in yourself. Sounds trite, but the wisdom of that keeps proving itself to me time and time again.
"Miss Schaefer" enlisted the help of her class to launch her book. Right on! Start these kids out young in their entrepreneurial learning. Contact our help desk and I'll send a copy of the Simpleology print book to each of the students in the video.
Hey dude - points for dreaming! Now here's the really contest prize: you don't need my personal help to make it as a bestselling author. With the Blueprint, you can make this happen for yourself quite easily.
Maybe one of the strangest video effects I've ever seen.
Well, he knows how to push my buttons - this is exactly the kind of thing that interests me right now ...
Wayne read The Rise of the Author and fictionalized the challenge I put to the world in that document (to come together to create an uncontrollable version of the Internet). Wayne calls it "alternet" which wouldn't be my first choice - since the name is already associated with something else. However, he totally gets it - the new Internet needs to run on uncontrollable devices in a way that is completely unblockable.
An awesome children's book that will take less than two minutes to read. (Whether or not you are a fan of the "law of attraction" stuff, this book would have a positive impact on kids.)
Some Heavy Epiphanies
Videos with 3,000+ Views
Comments
Thank you so much for sponsoring this contest--it was exactly the kick in the butt I needed.
And thank you thank you THANK YOU for (finally) announcing the winners! The waiting was the worst part... :o)
I appreciate the shout out, but my name is Margie REMMERS. Just thought that if a quarter of a million people were going to see me listed here, it would be best if it were correct.
Thanks!
--Margie
whew. was i the only one who didn't get any email updates?
nice suspense builder there mark, it's been a blast to say the least.
although the path taken definitely wasn't received well, it served its purpose and here we are.
deepest apologies to those who were genuinely offended, but it was all in good fun.
there were so many excellent, truly excellent life lessons and thought provoking stories shared through this contest. it's been educational and very inspirational in itself just getting a peek into others' lives, experiences and creative minds.
thank you to all who entered -- your decision to share your stories with the world have positively influenced many many people, including myself. thank you so much.
and mark, you know this, but it is worth saying once more -- you're doing wonderful things. even better, you're inspiring others to do wonderful things. can't thank you enough for this opportunity, and as always i'll be looking forward to what you have in store for humanity next.
but for pete's sake, send me an email or something ;)
all the best,
Korey
Can't thank you enough for inspiring me to write despite my fears. Posting my face on YouTube and having others read my work was certainly out of my comfort zone but much needed. I once heard that no one should die with their song unsung. Thanks!
...as long as they spell your name right.
Margie,
I feel your typo pain, my name got goofed too! And it looks like Korey's too?
Korey,
It wasn't just you, we were all left hanging.
Oh, and good game, it was a fun ride.
MJ and crew,
I add my thanks to those already shared. (Even after the torture of waiting!)
I plan on seeing you all at the top of the charts!
I am happy to say that I am thank so much for your mentoring programme up to now
your sincerely
vipula kariyawasam
Thank You for inspiring
I had a blast in this contest - and the best part is that even though I DIDN'T win, I was STILL promoted to Mark's list - and I've seen a HUGE jump in subscriptions, emails and comments because of it. I'm sure that my video will be viewed even more in the coming days because of the email announcement (FINALLY), and I can expect more of the same good vibrations. Not bad for my first ever video production. Hee Hee.
When I started with Simpleology earlier this year, I thought I'd just be getting my "poop in a group" so to speak. I never thought that I'd be making movies, entering contests, meeting new friends and expanding my universe and business in exponential ways.
It'll be interesting to see who really becomes a best-selling author out of this bunch - then we can all say "I remember when..."
Congrats winners and congrats Mark on another exceptional program. I am boggled by the depths and scope of the best seller blueprint course. JUST ASTOUNDING! Thanks again for such a great time.
-Lisa
Hey Mark!
Thanks for posting the results. Been happily writing away and am on track to complete my book in about a month.
Thanks for the plug (I'm Jim Love - long story). Good luck to all my fellow writers. Looking forward to reading you soon.
~ Deborah :-)
Great for this precise format!
Nice & simple!
Thanks, Mark.
Since you point out that my video entry was able to "push your buttons" it may turn out that this was the "life changing moment" it was intended to be after all. Of course, I would love it if everyone who is reading this post would still go have a look at my "Change the World - Urgent" video (it is not only on YouTube, but also Metacafe and several others) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LCpceHp-XCM
This "contest" may be over, but the one to improve the world, the environment, the fuels we use, the way we work (who needs a DAILY commute?? Yuck!), better share the wealth around the world, spread the benefits of science and education and technology, and just plain stop thinking about life as an "us" versus "them" stuggle, that "contest" is one where we need urgently to make some very significant progress, or our children and their children may not even have a chance to make those kinds of changes.
Keep up the good work, Mark, and all the Simpleology community.
Love,
Stafford "Doc" Williamson