Recently I got asked by my friend Tyrone Shum what the key thing is that allows me to live my kind of lifestyle. A lifestyle where I can work from home (or anywhere in the world really) and earn a comfortable six figure income… and most of all, TOTALLY LOVE what I am doing!
Inside today’s video, I talk about a very key concept that has allowed me to get to my current stage in my career. It’s very powerful concept, and I really recommend you try it out for yourself.
It can take quite a while to figure out your own hedgehog concept. But once you have it all figured out, your whole world will change for the better!
Hi there! Gideon Shalwick here.
Recently I got asked by my friend Tyrone Shum: What is the key thing that allows me to live the lifestyle that I live?
Let me just quickly tell you a little bit about my lifestyle. I live in the center of Brisbane in Australia, next to a really beautiful inner city park, fact the biggest inner city subtropical garden in the world. And I work from home; my wife, she helps me.
I’ve got a beautiful little girl. She was born a few weeks ago, three months ago or so. And I just love it. I love what I do. Everyday I wake up and I can’t believe that I’m getting paid for what I’m doing. And I think there is one key concept that has really helped me live the lifestyle that I can live today.
Let me explain it to you. It’s called the hedgehog concept. It’s not really rocket science. But I learned this for the first time from a gentleman called Mike Filsaime. He is a very very successful internet marketer. I interviewed him and he explained this to me.
He read it from Jim Collins who wrote a book, Good To Great. Basically it’s a way to figure out what it is that you’re supposed to be doing with your life and with your business. You can apply to both your life personally, but also to a business life as well.
Basically it’s the intersection of three things‚ three circles. He draws a picture of three circles. The first circle is about what you’re truly passionate about. The things that you have a natural talent, for example.
The second circle is about your skill level. What is it that you become the best at in the world? And the third circle is how you can make money from it. He calls it your profit per X. So where those three circles intersect, where they intersent right in the middle‚ that’s called your hedgehog concept.
It’s actually taken me a number of years to figure out my hedgehog concept and it is not unusual for bigger companies to take two to three years sometimes to fully figure it out. Once you’ve figured it out, it gives you that laser focus for what you should be doing with your life and with your business. And trust me, it helps you rocket ahead like you’ve never seen it before.
Jim Collins also talks about the breakthrough point that you get to. You get to a point in your business career that if you’ve been focusing on your hedgehog concept for long enough, you get to this breakthrough point.
He explains it with the fly wheel concept. Sometimes it’s very difficult to get the fly wheel starting. To start to spin you get to push and push at the beginning. But as you keep on pushing at the same direction, after awhile, the thing starts spinning itself. And that’s the breakthrough point.
I’ve definitely reached the breakthrough point with my business now because I’ve been focusing on my own hedgehog concept so much. And that has helped me tremendously. It’s really quite liberating because now, when I get approached by someone for a new opportunity (because I get approached so many times; almost everyday I get a new request for a new business that people want to start with me), I’m crystal clear on my hedgehog concept.
And because I am crystal clear on it, I can very easily say, “Look, that’s a great opportunity. But it doesn’t fit with my hedgehog concept so I’m going to have to say NO”.
So it’s really easy for me to just say NO to things. Whereas before, I would have to really think carefully and long and hard about any opportunity that came my way. Now it’s just so easy. It helps me to cut out all the stuff that I don’t need to be focusing on and allows me to have this laser focus on my own hedgehog concept which helps me become a lot more successful.
I’m not sure what you may have expected. To think it wasn’t internet that gave me this freedom. It wasn’t online video. It wasn’t joint venture partnerships. Whatever else, it wasn’t outsourcing even. None of those things.
All those things are important but all of that is based on my hedgehog concept. And I don’t think I would have been as successful as I am today without the hedgehog concept. So thanks to Mike Filsaime, who first introduced me to the concept. And of course, Jim Collins who has written an amazing book, Good To Great. Make sure you read it.
Talking about books, I’ve written a book recently as well that I’ve released. You can get it for free on my website. You can go to RapidVideoBlogging.com. It shows you a little bit of what I do to make money online with video blogging in particular. Inside the book, the first chapter, I talk about the hedgehog concept in a lot more detail as well.
Tyrone, thanks for the really good question. I’m glad you asked it and I hope this is helping you and your viewers and your audience also to become more successful, not only with what they’re doing online but with everything else in their life as well.
Thank you for watching and I’ll see you inside my next video.
[..YouTube..] Thank you Gideon for introducing me to this concept will use it definately. Also thanks for the RapidVideoBlogging Book was a great read and I learnt a lot.
[..YouTube..] Looking forward to reading the Rapid Video Blogging book this weekend. I think a whole new world has just been exposed to me LOL
[..YouTube..] Hahaha you finally got off your green screen and your living room! lol
[..YouTube..] Thanks Gideon for the valuable shares from you, as always. Highly appreciated.
[..YouTube..] Wow man, what timing. I was just really focusing on this lately. As I’m building/discovering what the foundation of my next business is I’m making sure it follows these 3 things for me:
1) Has to be CHARGING for me. Gives me energy the more I work.
2) Has to be SCALABLE. It can’t be overcomplicated.
3) Has to be TRENDY. Is my market even going to be around in 10 years?
This Hedgehog you are talking about helps me even more. Thanks!
[..YouTube..] Thank you for the information. That was a great video, and a great shirt.
[..YouTube..] Good To Great has some great advice to offer and seeing you use the Hedgehog concept is refreshing.
One point from the book I’m always trying to apply is getting the right people on the bus and in the right sits (at least in my day job). I’m wondering if you could describe how you’ve gotten the “right” people on the bus to help you out, i.e. internet partners, friends, mentors? I’m sure you’ve applied this principle but maybe have never looked at this way.
[..YouTube..] I agree with the hedgehog concept.
I often wonder, is it possible to become successful with my passion/skill even though I don’t feel I’m a master at it? There is always someone better in the world.
Thanks Gideon for the valuable shares from you, as always. Highly appreciated.
Wow man, what timing. I was just really focusing on this lately. As I’m building/discovering what the foundation of my next business is I’m making sure it follows these 3 things for me:
1) Has to be CHARGING for me. Gives me energy the more I work.
2) Has to be SCALABLE. It can’t be overcomplicated.
3) Has to be TRENDY. Is my market even going to be around in 10 years?
This Hedgehog you are talking about helps me even more. Thanks!
Thank you for the information. That was a great video, and a great shirt.
Good To Great has some great advice to offer and seeing you use the Hedgehog concept is refreshing.
One point from the book I’m always trying to apply is getting the right people on the bus and in the right sits (at least in my day job). I’m wondering if you could describe how you’ve gotten the “right” people on the bus to help you out, i.e. internet partners, friends, mentors? I’m sure you’ve applied this principle but maybe have never looked at this way.
I agree with the hedgehog concept.
I often wonder, is it possible to become successful with my passion/skill even though I don’t feel I’m a master at it? There is always someone better in the world.
[..YouTube..] Thanks Gideon! I love your heart to help others! How would you articulate your own personal Hedgehog concept if someone asked you on an elevator?
Thanks Gideon! I love your heart to help others! How would you articulate your own personal Hedgehog concept if someone asked you on an elevator?
[..YouTube..] @TammyFlores1 Excellent stuff Tammy! Let me know what you think ok?
Gideon
[..YouTube..] @destalks LOL! Yeah finally! Actually, I don’t use green screen much at all anymore. Just too much hassle!
[..YouTube..] @RCSuperPowers Hey Dave – I really recommend you read Good To Great from Jim Collins – it’s one of the most powerful business strategy books I’ve ever read.
Great info in there and I reckon it will help you a lot!
Gideon Shalwick
[..YouTube..] @BetterBboyBody Thanks for the shirt compliment
It’s new!
[..YouTube..] @deliverawaydebt Oh yeah that is super important too! If I remember right, Jim Collins talks about getting the right people on board first, before even talking about the vision of the company – this is a powerful concept!
Thanks for the idea for another new video
Gideon
[..YouTube..] @GreenGorillaVideo Ah great question – I may have to create a separate video about this – cheers for the idea!
Gideon Shalwick
[..YouTube..] @fernandolawl Just because there is someone better at it than you does not mean you can’t do really well at it. For example, does Microsoft have the best software? I think the answer is very clear. But they are pretty successful (Ok, silly example but it proves my point).
Gideon Shalwick
[..YouTube..] hey Gideon, how do you blur the backgrounds in your videos now? Implementing some of your great tips into our b2b videos. Thanks for all your great content.
[..YouTube..] @GILLTechnologies Hey GILL
I use a new camera – the Canon T2i 550D (Rebel) with a nifty fifty lens – that’s what blurs the background and puts the object into focus
It’s not a good camera for longer videos though.
Gideon
Excellent stuff Tammy! Let me know what you think ok?
Gideon
LOL! Yeah finally! Actually, I don’t use green screen much at all anymore. Just too much hassle!
Hey Dave – I really recommend you read Good To Great from Jim Collins – it’s one of the most powerful business strategy books I’ve ever read.
Great info in there and I reckon it will help you a lot!
Gideon Shalwick
Thanks for the shirt compliment
It’s new!
Oh yeah that is super important too! If I remember right, Jim Collins talks about getting the right people on board first, before even talking about the vision of the company – this is a powerful concept!
Thanks for the idea for another new video
Gideon
Ah great question – I may have to create a separate video about this – cheers for the idea!
Gideon Shalwick
Just because there is someone better at it than you does not mean you can’t do really well at it. For example, does Microsoft have the best software? I think the answer is very clear. But they are pretty successful (Ok, silly example but it proves my point).
Gideon Shalwick
hey Gideon, how do you blur the backgrounds in your videos now? Implementing some of your great tips into our b2b videos. Thanks for all your great content.
Hey GILL
I use a new camera – the Canon T2i 550D (Rebel) with a nifty fifty lens – that’s what blurs the background and puts the object into focus
It’s not a good camera for longer videos though.
Gideon
[..YouTube..] Hi Gideon, another great video, you do a fantastic job in making them very watchable and informative at the same time. Love the blurry background also. Looks like the Brisbane Parklands there mate, beautiful spot. Going to get that book and read it now. You are on of my inspirations to succeed in what I want to do now. Thanks for your insights.
Glen
[..YouTube..] @GlenMWilson Hey Glen
You’re very welcome! Glad my videos are helpful to you!
Lots of cool stuff still coming up…
The best is yet to come!
Gideon Shalwick
[..YouTube..] Excellent video Gideon! Thanks for the friend invite. Your videos are very well done. I think I will enjoy your channel. Mark J.
[..YouTube..] @ppbkwriter No problem Mark!
All the best!
Gideon Shalwick
Hey Glen
You’re very welcome! Glad my videos are helpful to you!
Lots of cool stuff still coming up…
The best is yet to come!
Gideon Shalwick
Excellent video Gideon! Thanks for the friend invite. Your videos are very well done. I think I will enjoy your channel. Mark J.
No problem Mark!
All the best!
Gideon Shalwick
Hello Gideon.
I am learning so much from you. I am in week three or four of my blogs existence and I am implementing every thing I can think of. My plugins are the greatest recommended by the pros, my site look great, I am writing good content everyday and started a week or two ago really engaging in commenting on other blogs and today started getting into forums.
Problem is, my stats still suck horribly. I think so far I’ve had 196 visits and 2008 page views. Am I still too impatient? I am also using what I know from the Rapid Video Blogging Report on youtube, but my average views is 15 after 10 videos implementing everyhting I know.
Need patience?
I missed your rapid video blogging program by an hour or so. When is the new window opening. I’m really desperate.
Oh, I also struggle to get a confirmation email for the become a blogger affiliate program.
Sorry for the many questions but I need help. I am on Blog Mastermind at the moment.
Ivin
Alos forgot to mention that I had zero opt-in for my email list as well
Hey Ivin
Three weeks is really not much to be able to say whether your blog is a success or not. It takes effort and time to make this successful, just like with ANY other business you can imagine.
Just the fact that you’ve actually had 196 visits already is a great start! It means people are actually finding your site somehow which is a good sign.
So, to answer your question, yes, I think you are too impatient
I normally give around 3 – 6 months of effort into a new blogging project before I make a decision whether it’s a good choice or not.
For the affiliate program, please send an email to support[at]rapidvideoblogging.com (replace [at] with @).
Don’t give up. Success takes time and effort. Ask ANY successful entrepreneur
Gideon Shalwick
dude you can market but you can’t shoot video… seems a little odd that you teach video though
this video is pretty poor
why
1. ugly bar sticking through your neck
2. bad audio glitch about a third of way through
3. the shots are the wrong sizes, it jump cuts because the shot size is too similar
4. the cutaways aren’t held long enough especially the hedgehog sketch
buy hey everyone thinks you are great (especially the one trying to get link juice) so keep teaching
Hey Tim
Thanks for the feedback! I’ll do my best to improve!
Although… just a small correction – I don’t really teach video. I teach video marketing. Everything I know about video production is self taught.
But as you can see, you don’t need to be a pro video producer to be able to deliver your message and make good money from it.
Thanks again for the feedback – that’s how I learn and improve.
Gideon
as long as the editor you outsource to gets a slap it’ll be ok
I think Tim just visited your blog first time. I must say that Tim you must read reports created by Gideon and I bet you will become his fan like me.
The quality comes at a cost. Does that extra quality improve your results?
When I worked at IBM, customer satisfaction, excellence and respect for the individual were their three foundational principles.
IBM had researchers do their customer satisfaction surveys. If the ratings were better than 7 on a scale of 1 to 10, IBM cut back. The researchers had figured out the cost of getting a rating better than 7 reduced profits.
IBM was not shooting for perfection. They were aiming for effectiveness.
Hi Gideon,
I loved this post and it sent me on a journey through the Internet to learn more about the Hedgehog concept. I appreciate your tipping me off to it! It really helped me to clarify, simply, what I want to accomplish with my online marketing!
Thanks so much for helping me focus!
Heather
[..YouTube..] I just learned of this concept and realized that this was the mistake I was making in my business. I was scattered all over the place trying different things hoping it would work. Now, I see that I need a more focused approach. Thanks so much!
Hi Gideon,
I love the personalization of general ideas and frameworks like you’ve done here.
It would be great if you would explain your specific Hedgehog Concept – that exactly it at the intersection of the three circles for you?
-Chris
Ah good idea Chris!
I will see what I can do…
Gideon
Hi Gideon, Again you are spot on target! Thanks, I love your ‘stuff’ …
Your style and personality are so relaxing and TOTALLY refreshing because there are a lot of “gurus” out there who are just a wee bit too ampted up on caffine! Their message is lost in the hype. Not you my friend… you messages come from your heart into mine. Blessings, Mike
Thanks for this, Gideon! I have a new book on my reading list.
The Hedgehog Concept sounds simple but in reality, it can be quite difficult to figure out what goes into each of our circles. For example, just figuring out what we’re truly passionate about can be a process in itself.
In my case, for instance, it seems on surface that I’m passionate about writing. But upon closer analysis, I realize that it’s not the writing I’m passionate about; it’s getting a response from my readers.
It may be a small distinction but it does make a difference.
Thanks again and have a nice day!
PS: Wonderful pic of your wife and daughter–love it!
Oh in that case you must be somewhat of a star then – because stars absolutely thrive on the feedback they get from people!
And using the internet is actually a really good and easy way of getting that kind of feedback… especially something like YouTube
Gideon
I’ve read about it in your report. without this concept I think it may be very difficult to go forth. Passion and love for what you do is surely the best way to take your life a step forward. Nice that you brought up this once again.
This looks,and sounds very interesting Gideon. I was seriously thinking about concentrating on learning video marketing. Folks just like to connect with moving images, it seems to add more credibility to the business, especially if the owner of the company is in the video. I look forward to reading your report. Congratulations! To you and your wife, on having your baby.
Thank you and God bless.
Thanks for this video, Gideon! I have been working on the very same thing in my business/life, but didn’t know it was called the hedgehog concept. I just called it trying to figure out what the hell is going on!
Thanks Gideon, just one more time I get reminded about this book that I still need to read. It’s on my wishlist.
but why is it called hedgehog? Maybe there is something about this animal in the english language that I don’t know about… ( my native language is French )
all the best
Vincent
Hey Vincent
The “Hedgehog Concept” is taken from the fable of the hedgehog and the fox.
The fox tries many different things to try and catch the hedgehog, and never becomes good at any, while the hedgehog is good at only ONE thing (rolling into a ball and completely protecting itself from the attacks of the fox).
So, it’s the same in life and business – it seems better to be hedgehog, and become really good an one thing, than trying to master many different things.
Gideon
hi, your posts do help a lot.
You give a new view on video marketing.
Hey Gideon,
Baie dankie vie die help (my Afrikaans is not great).
Great advice and it’s great that you have broken free from the 9-5. Your video tips have helped us and I have implemented these on our site. We are almost free on the 9-5 slog and this type of video only inspires me to move forward.
Stay well,
Tim
Dankie Meneer!
Alles van die beste!
Gideon
I wonder how you find a “hedgehog” concept if there is no overlap portion of the 3 circles…
And, as another comment pointed out, in order to make lots of money, it has to be scalable. That’s the main problem with my current business; it’s not scalable. Another problem is that when I quit working the business, the money stops more or less instantly.
I’ve discovered a number of things that I love to do, but NONE of them are portable. If I should want to move (or travel), the money stops until I start up again. So, I’m still searching for something that is independent of geography AND passive.
Ok, the challenge for you then is to find a “new” hedgehog concept where those three things DO overlap.
Have you read my book yet where I explain it in more detail?
Get a free copy here:
http://www.RapidVideoBlogging.com
Gideon
Love the breakthrough concept. Yes it is so true once you find it, you are on your path to success. Most people including me, spent so much time in training they forget to implement before training again. If we do not implement what we know, how can we possibly have a breakthrough or become a Hedgehog. I finally learned discipline of focus.
Thanks for this video.
Aloha Gideon, for your candid outlook in your life and how you made a decision to focus on you in what is working and sticking with it. I’m sure we all have to go thru this process to find the design in our lives in what will work for us. Thanks for sharing! Lanikee.com
Thanks for the tip, Gideon. I read the book some years ago. Very good one with quite some counter-intuitive insights.
I believe, that those concepts are great. The tough thing then is to understand yourself, your audience/customer needs and to get to that intersection as fast as possible.
It wil be hard to do that while staying in the office analyzing. It’s all about trial and error. And that can be uncomfortable a lot of times. But I believe it’s the bulletproof pathway to success.
That is the agile approach: think a bit, implement a bit, test a bit. “Fail fast!” they say.
Thanks for contributing. (Got to get that digital recorder now.)
Martin
Thank you, Gideon, for the push I needed to get off my duff and finish my business plan. I think I’ll be following you around for awhile! Shalom.
Suzi
Gideon – what a beautiful little girl & wife. Thank you so much for doing this work!!! You are helping me find my path through 5 years of studying online stuff and not making much money yet. I’m a great writer / product and video producer. I’ve gotten so lost in the shuffle trying to sort my way though all the things I’m not good at such as adsense, analytics, etc.
Cary Ellis
Thanks for reminding me of the hedgehog concept!!! Excellent / and your current work is so getting me on track! It’s just helping me to realize I can make $ at what I’m really good at.
THANK YOU!
This is another name for Strengths concept. Simple as 1, 2, 3: Find something you like, and you do very well and then find someone to pay you for it. From these three steps the most difficult (for most of us) is number one, can’t tell you guys how many days I spent in the past listening and watching to others saying ”just find your passion”, and I felt like screaming ”HOW?” Sounds so simple, obvious and common sense, and I know that even after so many books and training programs majority of people would not be able to identify their strengths, and it’s not helping that all our lives we relied to others to evaluate us. I’ve come a long way since then, and still searching for more. If anyone needs some help and recommendation on how to look for his passion/strength/genius/element (as different authors call them) let me know and I will help free of charge. I know how maddening it can be and now I teach that to executives/managers for good money. Regards.
Hello Gideon,
I’ve heard of this Hedgehog before. What impressed me is the way you presented it … and gave reference to where it originated. That gives me a lot of trust in you.
I’m focusing on implementing your ideas!
Best,
Anne
Hi Gideon, I use Camtasia 7 to edit my skype video interviews and I am wondering what is the best audio settings that you have found that allows one to remove all the noise and hence get really crisp, clear audio?
thanks in advance
The best solution is to use a really good microphone – I use the Rode Podcaster – which is a broadcast quality microphone.
Gideon
Excellent stuff, the Hedgehog Concept is a good one to try and reach, I don’t think I’ve found my hedgehog concept yet, but I will do, I’m sure of it, especially after reading the Rapid Video Blogging report I think I’m well on my way.
Cheers now!
Gideon,
Gold! Diamonds! Platinum! Your video’s priceless: thank you. The Hedgehog Concept nails so many aspects that it’s difficult to know where to begin, and YES, it DOES take time. For me, I’ve been trying to nail down my passion, my skills, and my profit potential for, wait for it … almost TWO YEARS. And now, over the last four weeks, now it’s all coming together. I’ve spent the last 16 months contributing to the Know-How Exchange on a site called http://marketingprofs.com/ea. Last May, no one had heard of me. Now, I’m a top ten contributor to this site, a site with 365,000 registered users, and now, things are beginning to take off. I’ve answered over 1,500 questions on marketing on this site and I’m now seeing results: I’m now their top contributor on social media; at his invitation, I now send social media links to Tony Robbins, I’ve built up a following of 3,400 people on Facebook and Twitter. I’m branching out but also niching down and learning when to say no, and when to say yes; figuring out what to invest my time in and what to pass on. Being a hedgehog is a really liberating feeling. Hedgehogs rock! Again, thanks so much for your video. —Gary B, The Direct Response Marketing Guy™
Hey Gary
WOW!
So awesome to hear about your success!
Sounds like you’ve truly discovered your own hedgehog!
All the best!
Gideon
Gideon,
I really enjoyed this video. As always, thanks for giving us such great content.
Dave
Gideon,
I’m not being allowed to download the book. It tells me that I’m already known and logged in. When you were doing all this stuff in segments a couple of months ago it was when I was in the hospital having my thyroid removed and having radioactive iodine treatment. I was logging on from my smartphone the best I could (it’s Windows OS). I would love to be able to get ‘printed word’ in my hands, I’m of that generation, so sorry I can’t download it.
I am totally inspired by what you are doing and can’t wait till I can get into it. I’m totally flat broke right now and only have an old Compaq w/XP that someone gave me to work from. My great website, TransitionalTimes.net is not up yet. My Computer takes 10 minutes to change pages. I have a film background, I worked for about 3 years on “Faces” with John Cassavetes. The quintessential “independent, black and white 16mm art film. We had 24 hours of printed footage to cut a film from. ha Won in Toronto, Cannes and 3 Oscar nominations. Can’t wait till I can get a good laptop with camera &etc. Love your ideas and enthusiasm. Thx. Carolyn
P.S. You can get a partial list of my credits by googling carolyn fleming/actor.
Hey Carolyn
If you send an email to support[at]rapidvideoblogging.com we’ll set you up with a copy of my book…
Gideon
Good video and I endorse this point of view-Read Jim Collins back in my corporate days though at the time the hedgehog concept didn’t resonate with me .Guess I thought I was in the right role but didn’t turn out to be my passion in the end nor did I get to use my full range of strengths which in the end made me frustrated and kept me small . I think timing is key for all of it to come together. Now I totally get it-find your purpose ignite your passions and play to your strengths then you don’t feel like you’re working at all but playing. Of course working for yourself and growing each day also makes a difference too. I think being an entrepreneur is the best job in the world!
Thanks. Without giving away any trade secrets – can you describe your Hedgehog for us?
Kathy
Considering it yes… I may include it in a future video…
Gideon
As always, you deliver! Great advice for anyone. Keep this great stuff going.
Sorry Gideon but Lucy stole the video. I stopped listening as soon as I saw her big blue eyes. She is just gorgeous. Now I have to watch it again so I can listen to your news. You are one very lucky man. Enjoy Pam
lol! Yeah she seems to have that effect!
Gideon
Great information,
I totally understand what you are saying about knowing what it is you want to do. If you are unclear, then you could get tossed of coarse very easily.
Good job,
Ryan
What a brilliantly simple concept. I’m going to be sharing this with all my friends. I especially like incorporating the skill level. I see people doing things they are passionate about but they’re not the best and it’s hard for them to make money i.e. it’s a hobby unless you can improve your skill level or make a career out of being imperfect
Gideon,
Thanks for sharing your concept! I hope we all can figure out what our concept is! Thanks again, and p.s. your daughter is a cutie!
thanks Gideons for all the work u put in it for us and we r glad that we found u
))
HI GIDEON
Could you tell us if you use yourself a promptor or not, and if yes which model?
Thank you so much for your help
Alex
Hey Alex
I used to use a teleprompter, but only for sales videos. Nowadays I don’t even use it for that anymore – it just makes me come across to formal!
Gideon
[..YouTube..] @MommyReporter Yup – focus is my key to success! And the Hedgehog Concept helps A LOT with that!
Gideon Shalwick
The Hedgehog Concept ? This is the first time I hear of this and it resonates a lot.
Thanks Giddeon for another great video!
krizia
Hi Giddeon
I wish I could see this but I can’t see youtube here in china. Could you or anyone explain this in text? or is this locally hosted on this site?
I can hardly wait to hear what this is all about.
thanks
Hey ben
There should be a transcript there now…
Gideon
Awesome concept Gideon, I can see how being clear on your “hedgehog” concept can give you focus, clarity and direction with the big picture all the way down to the smaller details.
I’d be a little more curious about the steps taken to figure out my hedgehog concept. With my online world, I often feel I am just all over the place jumping from one thing to another…
I look forward to having that streamlined some day…
Thanks again for your sharing
Dianne
I just learned of this concept and realized that this was the mistake I was making in my business. I was scattered all over the place trying different things hoping it would work. Now, I see that I need a more focused approach. Thanks so much!
Great information and a reminder to ask oneself with each opportunity, does this fit with my larger plan. Is this going to get me where I am going or will it take me off my path? I also like what Alan Cohen (author in the personal development field) says about using joy as your compass. With any choice you need, just ask yourself, will this bring me joy? I think this can be applied to business and knowing which things to pursue and focus on and what to let go of.
Yup – focus is my key to success! And the Hedgehog Concept helps A LOT with that!
Gideon Shalwick
thanks for sharing. briliant idea with simple concept. thanks for e mail me about this post
Interesting that the splog-comments are not cleaned off. I’m guessing that since this is an IM niche, you get a LOT of folks just looking for backlinks.
Maybe they are trying to develop backlinking as their “hedgehog”. I could be accused of the same thing, I suppose, but at least I actually watched the video (thanks for keeping it relatively short).
The term “hedgehog” doesn’t seem to me to be very descriptive of the concept. How did the originator of that Venn diagram come with that term?
I don’t see an “splog” comments?
Are you sure?
I know there are a few that comes through from YouTube, but I always check those…
Gideon
I find it interesting that you don’t see the obvious splog comments. They are the ones that don’t actually refer to anything concrete in the original post. Like the one from “ecard” just a few entries up, or by “sandro” a bit farther back. These are generic comments that are designed to be entered into blog comments by people who probably have not even seen your blog. I would wager that a google search on the text of that comment would give you several hits, all by the same author, scattered all over the place. There is a (free) tool that automates that process that I learned about in the BackLink BattlePlan (http://sn.im/blbp-a). Can be easily abused to spew exactly that sort of comment everywhere.
I went back through the comments, and did google searches on them. Looks like I assumed wrong. I did not find any mass-submitted comments. I did, however, notice that everything in your post gets indexed nearly immediately on google! I’m guessing you have a ping plug-in for that…
So, I was wrong. Should have known, since it’s fairly obvious that you are better at this stuff than I am.
You are one of the very few people whose videos I bother with. In general, I hate videos. 99% of them are fluff pieces that waste a long time to go through a formula spiel and end with a pitch saying that if you want any real information, send money. Guess that takes the place of the really long sales page that people just skip to the bottom of… the video approach makes you sit through the whole presentation first.
There are currently only 3 folks in the IM niche that I bother with watching their videos. You are one, and the other two are Lynn Terry and Shane Melaugh. I actually bought Shane’s product, and so far, I’m quite happy with it. But I am currently concentrating on one thing at a time, because I found that trying to study too many IM strategies was a waste of time and money because it doesn’t allow focus. Your “hedgehog” video indirectly touches on that — and your product(s) are the next in line after I master Shane’s Backlink Battleplan. You have already given me some great ideas (I bought a flip camera on your recommendation), and as much as I dislike most videos, I may end up making some in my niche. I intend to make mine content-rich like yours!
Wow! Thanks so much for coming back and commenting again about your research! It really shows you have a lot of character! I much appreciate it!
And, I think you are doing a really good thing by concentrating on one thing at a time – that’s essentially my recipe for success in everything I do. It gives me LASER focus!
Thanks again for coming back…
Gideon
[..YouTube..] I agree with your hedgehog concept Gideon. I have been working on branding what I do and who I am about for years and by consistantly doing something everyday whether it be on my blog or in a video, it has begun a spinning action that produces leads for me daily. Great video. Thanks for sharing
Hey there Gideon,
Great point you made about the Hedgehog concept. You know I had Collin’s book for years and skimmed over that chapter. I will have to reveiw it and take it to heart.
But one other thing I see, is that you are one focused guy! I think the power of concentration and persistence is the main ingredients to your success. Of course we should have the passion for what we do and in life, but we have to be motivated to take action…and, of course that comes with the passion:)
Oh yeah… spot on! You have unraveled my secret to success!
Napoleon Hill says that failure cannot cope with persistence
If I may, I’d like to add my own bit to it…
“Failure cannot cope with persistence mixed with laser focus on your Hedgehog Concept”.
Gideon
Thanks Gideon, for reassuring me that I am right on track. I consistantly everyday do something to promote what I have to offer and myself. I know that it takes work to do that and I know it will happen because I am seeing things happen today that I have done years ago. Great video. Congratulations to you and your wife for a beautiful little girl.
It looks like an awesome life to live. I think I would be living in the park though.
Josh Bulloc
Kansas City, MO
How can I help?
I read about the concept a while back at a training I participated in and used it in someone elses’ business. Thanks for bringing it up. I’ll use in my own now!!
Wayne
I agree with your hedgehog concept Gideon. I have been working on branding what I do and who I am about for years and by consistantly doing something everyday whether it be on my blog or in a video, it has begun a spinning action that produces leads for me daily. Great video. Thanks for sharing
Thanks for explaining the hedgehog concept, it seems really great so I’ll be working on mine. I’ll also trying out this great tool with my coaching clients.
Kind Regards, Aly
Hi Gideon, Love the video and the message. Could you let me know what equipment you use to shoot and edit your videos. I love the look and feel of them. I’m really impressed with the editing as well.
Thanks
Andy
Hey Andy
Soon I will create a dedicated page on my blog that will reveal all the equipment I use since so many people always ask me about it…
Coming soon!
Gideon
Great video Gideon, I’m currently experiencing the (hedgehog) concept right now in my life. I have been scatter brained for some time now and it is so frustrating. Watching this video gives me some perspective on were I need to focus my talents. Thanks
Never thought of myself as a hedgehog before, but I’m not too old to learn!
Yaah, great and simple concept. I’m going to be sharing this with my friends.
I just have a small problem: my English is not the best and I can not speak in plain English.. Hmm
Many days later I remembered M. Porter, the leading strategy guru and professor at Harvard, said sometimes the best strategy is knowing what NOT to do, and that’s what many of us had to learn by trial and errors. This knowledge doesn’t help much unless we know what to do and unless we are doing it. So let’s get down to business, everyone, and good luck!
Hello, Gideon,
I am following your new posts! I like you periodically share some methodology about how to organize your time and manage your different projects. Thank you.
A piece of question: I would like to build a website like yours, I saw you customize the Thesis Theme, is it a big customization or a little one? I am using NPC theme which is great, but I would like to have a all-in-one website like yours. Can I just purchase a Thesis Theme? Thank you ahead!
James
Hey James
Mine is customized – my designer did it for me. Anyone with a bit of css program should be able to create something similar for you.
Gideon
Gideon, Thanks a lot! Keep posting,please!
Hi Gideon
your videos are always clear, to the point and more importantly usable. My question though isn’t about the content but about the subtitles that you’ve used on this video- how do you do that?
Is there a resource I can access to do that for my videos?
Thanks
Elaine
I too was intrigued by that process. It is a good touch to focus a persons concentration.
Wynn Currie
Gideon,
Very nice post. The man you were speaking of by the name of Mike Same is incorrect. His name is Mike Filsame. Very famous internet person. Just thought I’d let you know.
Hey Windy
Thanks for pointing that out – I forgot to proof read the transcript, which is where the mistake was. But if you watch the video, you will realize that I actually say Mike’s name correctly.
All fixed now!
Gideon
I must admit that you lost me on ‘hedge hog concept’. I’ve downloaded your book and will go through in a bit and try to understand the concept , then try to decide what my hedge hog concept is. At least it is something to concentrate and focus on.
Wynn Currie
Hi Gideon !
Thanks for the free book, the videos, and great advice ! I was wondering whether you might be South African until I saw an Afrikaans reply you left here. I’m South African too, living in Taiwan! I’m really inspired by your success! One question; what camera do you use for your own videos? I like the way the background is out of focus, but can that be done on a flip or compact digital camera?
Take care !
Hi Hans
I used the Canon T2i 550D for this shoot. And also the 50mm 1:18 lens which helps with the fuzzy background…
Gideon
Thank you Gideon. I don’t qualify as running an internet-based business, but the Hedgehog concept is a gift coming at the most perfect time – for everyone. Struggling with “should I do this, is it an opportunity that might open doors, etc etc,” used to take a lot of my time, causing endless pondering and leading to headaches (not to mention spreading myself too thin). Using this concept simplifies everything. It should be introduced to every college student- if not earlier in the education process. I’ve drawn these circles on my wall as a constant reminder of the place where the three circles meet. Thank you for sharing this gift.
What a beautiful daughter you have. You and your wife must be very proud parents. Hope I’m not too late to comment. I first saw you on Annabel Candy’s blog interview. I love the simplicity of the hedgehog concept, however, I thought of Chris Guillebeau’s AONC (Art of Non-Conformity) concept and wanted to add a fourth circle: What can you offer the world that no one else can? I shall blog about this and link to your video at a future date.
Hi Gideon,
Thats a wonderful video that you have out there on the Hedgehog concept. Explained very well. Would love to read your book as well..going to access it online..
Regards,
Meera.
Excellent video Gideon! Wow, now I need to figure out my Hedgehog… I’M ON IT!
LaTonya
[..YouTube..] Been to scattered about, lacking focus. This will inspire a greater focus on my part.
Been to scattered about, lacking focus. This will inspire a greater focus on my part.
Gideon,
I recently went through a very, very difficult decision based around this very concept. A project that I poured my heart and soul into in 2010….
I developed an illness at the end of 2010 that forced me to literally, physically STOP…. couldn’t walk, stand, type, do anything beyond lay in bed… this allowed me lots of thinking time…. and when I got super honest with myself about where I was at with Hedgehog Concept, I realized that I had to make a really tough decision to let go of that project…. very, very hard because it was a labour of love that I had invested 100s and 100s of hours into…
I feel some loss and mourning over it. And at this time I am simply trusting that I have made the right decision; and seeing the example of your life and business certainly gives me hope – thank-you!
Thanks for spreading the word on the Hedgehog Concept…. so important, so profound…
Thanks also for everything you’re doing, Gideon.
Tim
Hello Gideon,
I am a person who has looked at many, many online businesses and people who are giving advice and selling it. I honestly have never even left a comment as I never really wanted to or felt compelled to.
The way you present yourself is amazing. I thank you for your all the info you give in your video blogs. Keep up the great work. I know you will be very successful because you truly want to help people.
Ian
Canmore, Canada
Hi, just wanted to say thanks for sharing the Hedgehog Concept! I find it all too easy to chase lots of different opportunities in life. I need that Hedgehog!
I would like to ask Gideon why you don’t have an affliate link for this video. I tried everywhere hoping to find one so I could buy this book and give you a slice of the profit.
I hope I will one day obtain the charisma and “presence” on the camera like you seem to manage so easily.
Being inspired more and more each day by your content.
Ah good point! I have just added my affiliate link for the book in the description area below the video! Thanks for asking! I also mention the book inside my report with a link to purchase it… get the report at RapidVideoBlogging DOOOOT COOOOM
[..YouTube..] Get the audio from this track at soundnabber doht cohm.
Thanks for the message
The Hedgehog Concept is my #1 business secret. I couldn’t have done it without it. The worst enemy of a great idea is a different great idea.
So Richard! It’s my #1 “secret” as well!
Oops – I meant: “So TRUE Richard”… left out the true hehehe