John Du Cane

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Hi All!

Here is the current issue of my weekly “Sunday Share,” a list of what I have been engaging with, excited by or otherwise found intriguing.

What I’m reading —
Almost Alchemy: Make Any Business of Any Size Produce More With Fewer and Less by Dan Kennedy
A couple of months ago my long-time number one marketing mentor Dan Kennedy announced that he was about to die. Just a few days left before he would succumb in the hospice to a host of apparently insurmountable issues. Dan wrote a remarkable good-bye letter that reverberated around a shocked Magnetic Marketing community. The response to Dan’s announcement of his imminent demise was the outpouring of over 700 heartfelt tributes. As Dan lingered on his “deathbed” his wife would read him those tributes.

Well, talk about miracles: Dan not only is still alive but there is cautious optimism that he will fully recover. No one has much doubt that the massive testament of those 700 tributes played a significant role in shooing the Grim Reaper out of town—at least for the time being. Amazing!

Now, what might have been Dan’s first posthumous publication Almost Alchemy debuted a few days ago at number 1 on Amazon’s Marketing bestseller list. I got myself a copy immediately and have found it to be one of the most rewarding business books I have ever read. Do check it out…

What I’m listening to—
Creative Calling: Establish a Daily Practice, Infuse Your World with Meaning, and Succeed in Work and Life by Chase Jarvis
Truth be told, I got off to a rough start with Creative Calling as the first couple of chapters were a little too rah-rah and exhortative for my taste. But then the Jarvis story and his remarkably inspiring, insightful and above all practical advice kicked into high gear and I was sold big time.

I have a way to go yet, but so far my biggest take away has been the urging to present yourself in your full,  bold, unique weirdness when creating — and damn the torpedoes. David Sedaris springs to mind as a perfect example. This is vindicating and reassuring for me as I prepare to publish my expanded The Illustrated Wild Boy, which is replete with stories and images that run often quite contrary to the more austere and restrained presentation of self I have shown to the world as CEO of Dragon Door.

What I am putting into my body —
PQQ-MitoRestore
I’ll try pretty well anything once that’s not some death-dealing so-called antidepressant, a lung-destroying vape or the rank foolishness of drugs like crank. So say hello to my new experiment in vitality enhancement: Pyrroloquinoline Quinone. The product is touted for its enhancement of mitochondrial biogenesis, central nervous system functioning and cognition.

It’s too early for me to say I have noticed a difference yet as I am still on my first bottle but my intuition is telling me that this will be a keeper. If you’ve already tried it yourself I’d be interested in your observations.

Therapeutic device I’m checking out—
Joov red and near infrared light panels
Folk I respect and admire such as Dave Asprey and Ben Greenfield — amongst many other notables — have been advocating the health benefits of the Joov system. However it ain’t cheap,so I was pleased when my local US Cryotherapy facility recently installed Joov panels.

I will get back to you in a later Sunday Share on my long-range experience with Joov but I have so far noticed enhanced sleep and recovery. Claims are being made for joint health, improved skin, sexual performance, mental clarity and relaxation. Sounds good to me!

Thoughts, comments, wishes, suggestions? Hit me up by email at johnrducane@gmail.com

It’s free. No spam. Unsubscribe whenever you want.

Hi All!

Here is the current issue of my weekly “Sunday Share,” a list of what I have been engaging with, excited by or otherwise found intriguing.

What I’m reading —
Bad Reputation, The Unauthorized Biography of Joan Jett by Dave Thompson
I like wildness in both myself and others. Right now I am embarking on a journey to collaborate with musical artists I admire that display a particularly rich palette of that wildness. On a primal level that speaks to our ancient wiring, these wild artists remind us of the glory that resides in the untrammeled expression of our resplendent animality. Such an artist is Joan Jett. Dave Thompson does a great job uncovering both the public and private currents of this fascinating and inspiring woman.

What I’m Watching —
Chasing Trane: The John Coltrane Documentary
There was a period when I was about fifteen that I would listen over and over and over again in a state of rapture to John Coltrane Plays the Blues. To hell with the Rolling Stones, THIS was what spoke to the deeper reaches of my soul — to a place of almost painful bliss. I am not sure that any other musician has affected me quite so deeply since.

This documentary is a sterling tribute to one of the great musicians of all time. And I had no idea of the reverence with others regarded him — most especially for the depth of his spirituality, be it other great Jazz artists or a gentleman like President Clinton. Santana goes so far in his reverence to say that he still plays Coltrane first thing when he arrives in a hotel room to cleanse the vibes.

Humans are the most dysfunctional of all creatures on the planet, however they can also frequently amaze for the breadth and depth of their accomplishments. Here’s a film to help you meditate on that more divine part of our beings.

As Cornel West comments in the film: “Coltrane was like a thermostat shaping the future of music, rather than being a thermometer merely reflecting the current state of music.”

What I am putting into my body —
Calm Magnesium
I take magnesium every night now to help me sleep better and to encourage faster recovery after my day of more less intense exercise. It flat out works. Although two things I have to watch out for: I like to read in bed and if I don’t watch out too much magnesium will zonk me straight out. The other thing I’ve noticed is that first thing in the morning my espresso consumption is at the “crave and slam” level. Haven’t quite figured out the why but it has something to do with homeostasis and my inclination to be a little jacked to greet the day.

Here’s a credible article discussing the ten major benefits of magnesium: https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/10-proven-magnesium-benefits

Quote I am taking to heart —
“The object of your life is to make your vocation your vacation.”—Mark Twain

Thoughts, comments, wishes, suggestions? Hit me up by email at johnrducane@gmail.com

It’s free. No spam. Unsubscribe whenever you want.

Hi All!

Here is the current issue of my weekly “Sunday Share,” a list of what I have been engaging with, excited by or otherwise found intriguing.

What I’m reading —
The Body: A Guide for Occupants by Bill Bryson I rued the day when Bill Bryson stopped writing his series of hilarious travel books. But then he started to author one extraordinary investigation after another, none of which have ever disappointed.

Displaying an immense, yet gentle scholarship, Bryson has an uncanny ability to make ANYTHING become compelling if not downright fascinating. I constantly marvel at his organizational skill, his acumen, his often brilliant word-play and his subtle humor.

The biggest problem I face with Bryson is a problem I face with most of my all-time favorite writers: I stay up way too late at night because it’s too damn good to put down. Oh, and the second problem is that the book eventually ends. And that is painful.

I’ve just started The Body, so I am not about to fake a review of it for you, other than to urge you to do yourself — and that body of yours — a favor and buy it.

What I’m Watching —
Bad Reputation I originally watched this documentary about Joan Jett on a recent trip to China and loved it. Inspirational and very well put together. Having rewritten Debbie Harry’s memoir Face It — and loving that experience — I became interested in the possibility of doing some kind of a memoir with Joan also. Following up on this, I was invited to visit with Joan and Kenny Laguna when they were in town recently for a gig. So I watched Bad Reputation a second time and I am glad I did. The story of how Joan has triumphed against the vicious misogyny directed at her for daring to brandish and play the quintessentially phallic electric guitar is kinda mind-boggling to behold.

What I am putting into my body —
Black Cumin Oil The more I read or listen to wise health advice, the clearer it becomes that reducing chronic inflammation in the body is a non-negotiable, if you are ever going to be truly vital and as resilient as you can be. These days, there a ton of suggested supplements clamoring for us to join their anti-inflammation bandwagon. What to jump on, who to trust, what to take? The problem is partly that it’s very hard to assess their efficacy — particularly when you’re already downing a handful of other supplements.

For me it comes down at least initially to a combination of intuition and trust. Black Cumin Seed Oil has become a hot new product recently but in this case it has a potent history dating back many centuries. So I am taking this oil in capsules at night and sometimes adding it to my coffee in the morning.

Here is a benefit breakdown from a brand I like:

• POWERFUL ANTI-INFLAMMATORY ACTION: With two potent phytochemical compounds, Nigellone and Thymoquinone, this supplement offers essential anti-inflammatory benefits and can be used to treat various chronic diseases that cause or feed from inflammation in the body.
• FORTIFY YOUR PHYSICAL & MENTAL HEALTH: This black seed oil supplement comes in a 1oz or 4oz glass bottle and just 1-2 teaspoons daily will help you accelerate weight loss, strengthen your hair and will even help you get a good night’s sleep on those restless nights. Plus, its cardiovascular, digestive, respiratory and immune system benefits are known even from ancient Arabic cultures.
• Apart from orally, it can also be used topically by rubbing it into your skin to increase vitality and even sexual function.

Quote I am taking to heart —

“I don’t play Jazz; I play John Coltrane.”—John Coltrane

Thoughts, comments, wishes, suggestions? Hit me up by email at johnrducane@gmail.com

It’s free. No spam. Unsubscribe whenever you want.

Hi All!

Here is the current issue of my weekly “Sunday Share,” a list of what I have been engaging with, excited by or otherwise found intriguing.

What I’m reading —
Significant Objects Austin Kleon turned me on to this extraordinary book which demonstrates in no uncertain terms how a well-told story can help turn the most humdrum bauble into a prized keepsake that will have eBayites forking over insane wads of cash to possess. I mean how about buying a plastic banana for 25 cents and selling it on eBay for $75? Done and dusted!

Or how about buying a simple white tile with a black numeral 4 on it and selling it on eBay for $88? Yup! Done! All by just attaching a well-told story that often has almost nothing really to do with the object being sold. The “profession” that probably best gets the power of story in this manner goes by the moniker of “politician,” right?

The 100 writers who contributed to this experiment are mostly brilliant, but it doesn’t take away from the astonishing example after example of how a well-told story can utterly transform our appreciation of pretty well anything. Want to buy my pet rock, anybody?

What I’m basking in the success of —
Face It by Debbie Harry Debbie’s memoir which I helped write is finally out. The design and artwork is out-of-this-world and the writing, eh, is pretty damn coolJ So, here’s a flagrant pitch for you get Face It then let me know what you thought of it. I am so darn proud of it… Here’s what the official Amazon reviewer has to say about it:

An Amazon Best Book of October 2019: With many of the legendary punk rockers of the 1970s – the Ramones, Richard Hell, the Clash, et al. — what you saw was what you got; they wore their anger, disaffection, and alienation on their ratty sleeves. Not so much with Debbie Harry. The founder and singer for Blondie was striking and aloof, a persona more akin to Lana Turner than Lydia Lunch. The band’s music, a bit more polished and inquisitive than many of their peers’, encouraged the enigma. And it made Harry a bona fide star. So does her autobiography pull back the veils? Kind of. Face It has more than enough detail to satisfy any fan, from her New Jersey childhood, her early days in New York, and the rise and fall and rise of her iconic band, presented in a forthright, almost laconic style not unlike her controlled performance in the “Heart of Glass” video. On the other hand, there’s also an impressionistic element to her presentation — one chapter entitled “Close Calls” is a litany of near-death experiences, from birth to car crashes, told outside of the context of the rest of the book. Taken together, the multiple personalities of Face It gives readers the experience they want: All the dirt without sacrificing the art. Total punk. –Jon Foro, Amazon Book Review

What I am putting into my body —
Grassfed Beef Organs, from Ancestral supplements  In most countries outside of the US, organ meats are revered as the nutritional powerhouses they indeed are. As a kid growing up in Africa and England liver and kidneys in particular were staples — and God did my mom prepare some heavenly kidney dishes! I have to admit that the hyper-boiled leathery liver served to me in my British boarding school was an atrocity bordering on outright child abuse. But fortunately, superior, civilized preparations elsewhere saved the liver-day for me. Heart, spleen, pancreas? Well not so much darling… However I’ve never had the extreme squeamishness about organ meats that my American friends customarily exhibit.

Recently, the brilliant book Go Wild reminded me of what we are missing out on by not including a variety of organ meats in our diet, so I’ve been helping my health along by at least popping some capsules on a regular basis. Need some convincing? Here’s some info for you to consider from Ancestral’s product page:

• GRASS FED LIVER (600MG) provides nature’s most nutrient dense superfood. Liver is the only meaningful source of natural vitamin A (rich in heme iron and B12). Supports optimal liver health and energy demands.
• GRASS FED HEART (600MG) is the richest source of naturally occurring coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10). Supports optimal heart health, regulates blood pressure and is a nutritional powerhouse for mitochondria.
• GRASS FED KIDNEY (600MG) is a potent bio-available source of naturally occurring selenium and B12. Supports strong kidney health, aids in detoxification pathways and the antioxidant defense system, bolsters immunity.
• GRASS FED PANCREAS (600MG) provides nature’s all natural source of enzymes. Supports a strong functioning pancreas, supports blood sugar signaling and contributes an abundance of key enzymes for optimal digestion, health and wellness. We are not what we eat… we are what we digest.
• GRASS FED SPLEEN (600MG) is nature’s most concentrated source of heme iron. Supports a strong immune response and aids in the metabolic health of our blood cells… Well known for its ability to build blood.

Thoughts, comments, wishes, suggestions? Hit me up by email at johnrducane@gmail.com

It’s free. No spam. Unsubscribe whenever you want.

Hi All!

Here is the current issue of my weekly “Sunday Share,” a list of what I have been engaging with, excited by or otherwise found intriguing.

What I’m reading —
Keep Going: 10 Ways to Stay Creative in Good Times and Bad by Austin Kleon. After impulse-buying Keep Going in Whole Foods of all places, Austin Kleon rocketed onto my list of all-time, must-read authors. Why? Kleon’s pages are wisdom-saturated, entertaining, inspiring, thought-provoking and immensely practical. After finishing “Keep”, I eagerly jumped on his other two titles and came away equally enlightened and provoked. I expect to re-read all three of his books a number of times. My biggest problem with Kleon reminds me of the old Chinese man admonishing the rickshaw driver: “Slow down young man, I’m in a hurry!”  Yup, I had to force myself to just take bite-sized chunks of Kleon, preferably in the late evening and early morning to properly savor and absorb his advice.

What I’m listening to —
Building A Story Brand by Donald Miller.  The more I listen to Building a Story Brand the more excited and inspired and hopeful I get. And I am also kicking myself hard for NOT having implemented more of this kind of marketing in my various ventures for a long time now. Donald Miller is acting as a huge wake-up call for me to get my act into high gear and communicate in a truly powerful way with those I want to reach. I have the basic chops, in place, I know, but Miller delivers a golden seven-step story-based formula that can work magic for any person seeking to radically transform their business.

What I am putting into my body —
Korean Onion Juice “Oh yum!” I hear you cry as you edge toward the nearest exit. After Mark Sisson extolled the many health benefits of onion juice when describing a visit to a local Korean store, I thought I’d give it a shot. Next thing I knew this massive Korean gift box showed up with 30 packets of a brown liquid lurking inside. I screwed up my courage and downed a glassful. To my happy surprise it had a very mild almost sweet taste and no one has been complaining about how I smell since. What piqued my desire was a list of potential benefits such as increased testosterone, reduced inflammation, lowering of glucose levels, boosted immunity, and improved sleep. For a list of 12 benefits here is an article with some further information: https://www.stylecraze.com/articles/best-benefits-of-onion-juice/

Helpful service I am using —
Dexafit  You get what you measure for, the old adage goes. Certainly, in the world of the body and health and fitness, measuring certain markers can motivate us to maintain, adjust, enhance or otherwise fine-tune our systems. Given the immense complexity and variability of our individual make up, and given the sheer number of forces impacting every aspect of how we function, it can be helpful to go beyond intuition or a scatter-shot approach to our well-being and get some accurate measurements. Then measure again after the right period of time and we have implemented some clear changes in our behavior. Now, our gizmo-crazy culture has many of us almost obsessed with measurement at our every blush and blink. I prefer a less-is-more approach by concentrating on the Big Boys, like bone density, body fat percent and android/gynoid ratios. Check out Dexafit.com for a state-of-the art analysis.

Quote I am taking to heart —
“To pay attention, this is our endless and proper work.” — Mary Oliver

Thoughts, comments, wishes, suggestions? Hit me up by email at johnrducane@gmail.com