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• Episode 195: Derek Thompson - What Makes Something A Hit? (Hit Makers) Subscribe on iTunes  or Stitcher Radio The Learning Leader Show "Think of speechwriting like a music composer.  Use repetition and choruses." In This Episode, You Will Learn: What makes something a hit? Is there a formula?  No, there is not a formula... People think there is and that's[...]

Episode 195: Derek Thompson – What Makes Something A Hit? (Hit Makers)

Subscribe on iTunes  or Stitcher Radio

The Learning Leader Show

“Think of speechwriting like a music composer.  Use repetition and choruses.”

In This Episode, You Will Learn:

• What makes something a hit?
  • Is there a formula?  No, there is not a formula… People think there is and that’s a mistake
  • Bottom line: “Distribution beats content” — “This is an unsentimental book”
• There is power in distribution
• How did Simon Sinek’s TED Talk go viral?
  • It was shared by people with millions of followers on multiple platforms like Reddit
• Think: Who is my audience? Broadcast your content to the right audience
• Why do we always watch Dumber and Dumber and Shawshank Redemption?
  • There is nostalgia in art
  • We are always trying to recover existential love
• How did Bumble spread?
  • Injected into mainstream consciousness through celebrity — Start with one very attractive sorority and continue to repeat
• How did Facebook spread?
  • Piggy backed off of other networks (Harvard)
• How Jon Favreau and President Barack Obama write speeches:
  • They think like musicians
    • Using choruses and repetition
• The best speeches connect with people where they are — “The power of repetition in song is remarkable”
• How has Derek made his book a best-seller?
  • Familiarity and repartition followed by surprise
    • Familiar surprises throughout
    • Great distribution

“We don’t like pure originality that much.  We like familiarity.” 

Continue Learning:

• Follow Derek on Twitter: @DKThomp
• Read: Hit Makers: The Science of Popularity in an Age of Distraction
• Connect with me on LinkedIn
• Join our Facebook Group: The Learning Leader Community
• To Follow Me on Twitter: @RyanHawk12

You may also like these episodes:

Episode 078: Kat Cole – From Hooters Waitress To President of Cinnabon

Episode 071: Nate Boyer – Green Beret, Texas Football, The NFL

Episode 179: How To Sustain Excellence – The Best Answers From 178 Questions

Episode 107: Simon Sinek – Leadership: It Starts With Why

Did you enjoy the podcast?

If you enjoyed hearing Derek Thompson on the show, please don’t hesitate to send me a note on Twitter or email me.

Episode edited by the great J Scott Donnell

The Learning Leader Show is supported by FreshBooks: FreshBooks is offering a 30 day, unrestricted free trial to my listeners. To claim it, just go to FreshBooks.com/Learning and enter LEARNING LEADER in the “How Did You Hear About Us?” section.