How to Ask for What You Want: The Skill Mark V Hansen Used to Sell 500M Books (after 144 rejections)
Mark Victor Hansen got rejected 144 times before Chicken Soup for the Soul became one of the bestselling book series in history. In this episode, Howie Chan sits down with the legendary author, publisher, and co-creator of the Chicken Soup for the Soul franchise to unpack the psychology behind persistence, goal-setting, destiny, and influence.
Hansen breaks down why most people never figure out what they actually want, and shares the mental technique he and Jack Canfield used to program their subconscious mind while they slept, the same process that produced the Chicken Soup for the Soul title itself. He explains why storytelling is the real engine behind influence and sales, and walks through the traps that kill most first-time authors before they ever finish a book.
You'll learn why writing down your goals every day changes how your brain processes opportunity, how to identify a niche worth owning, and how the biggest rejections often turn into the biggest wins.
Chapters:
00:00:00 Ask Yourself, Ask Others, Ask God: Finding Your Destiny
00:02:13 Program Your Subconscious Before You Sleep
00:09:44 Storytelling: The Core of All Influence
00:20:02 Four Paths to Publishing
00:22:39 The Traps That Kill Most Books
00:24:31 Own Your Niche: How to Choose What to Write First
00:29:44 Top Tips to Write Your Book
00:32:50 Writing Emotion Into a Nonfiction Business Book
00:36:30 Turning Problems Into Fortunes
00:41:54 Marketing Your Book: Lessons from Podcasting's Biggest Names
00:52:32 Final Advice on Purpose and Legacy
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The Influence Anyone Podcast
The #1 podcast on applied influence psychology. Each episode, Howie Chan, a veteran brand and behavior strategist sits down with world experts and practitioners to uncover the hidden psychology that helps you influence yourself (mastering your mindset, habits, and decisions) and get buy-in from others (your team, clients, and audiences.) Together, we turn science into playbooks you can apply to lead, persuade, and create extraordinary success.
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