#requires that they become a boring shell of a person as they follow the scripts?

[femmesandhoney]

i think queer identity makes people boring and not the other way around. i come across so many women who are insightful and smart and funny who identify as some flavor of nonbinary or queer and its like once they remember "oh yeah i identify as those things" in the middle of a conversation it comes across as insincere and random and dull to whatever we were previously talking about. like when they're being themselves they're complex individuals, but once they remember they have to push an identify complex on themselves and have to make sure you know they don't feel like a woman 100% of the time or something all their personality suddenly tanks as they try to artificially craft themselves to you.

[ghostmartyr]

Pokémon Black 2 Randomized Nuzlocke Run [Part 3]

With some interesting carnage leading us through it, the second badge has been earned. Better yet, we got a TM for a Special Poison move, so Caspet can now be a little more secure in her help.

Team as of the moment:

Stella (Poliwhirl)

Caspet (Gastly)

Okay then.

New routes please.

Hey me.

I have been invited to Pokestar Studios. It’s like Hollywood. Roxie’s dad ran off there to be a movie star. Roxie’s now running off there to talk him out of it. We’re going to run off there and have a terrible time with movies.

I don’t know why I remember the movie place. I think there was either some achievement or plot barrier there, and I hated the process but perfectionism insisted on trying again and... idk. Hopefully that distaste won’t be part of this run.

Can I please just be allowed to catch a third party member.

Is there any grass here. Please.

Stop dragging me to movies.

Stop dragging me to terrible movies.

Like there’s clearly some Emotions going on with Roxie’s father, but oh my gosh I do not play these games for becoming a movie star. ;-; Free me. ;-;

I have control of myself again, so I don’t know if I actually have to shoot a movie, but I feel like Roxie and her dad might require me to, and in any case, one won’t hurt too badly. I guess.

Wait, was it a medal thing? Is that why I made myself nuts over this?

Movie shot, script followed, yay, leaving.

Ahoy, plot!

Sequel Team Plasma is so very open about wanting to take over the world. How refreshing. They’ve gone from knights to pirates. Most excellent.

Pop Roxie is back to captaining, so it’s time to run off to Castelia and find another darn teammate.

And our first act of being in Castelia is a clown giving us a bicycle. Rocking.

A boat takes us to Liberty Garden. I think this is where Victini is if Victini is activated, but I’m not sure if that will be the case with this version. The important question is... does it also have other grass.

Fuckdamn it doesn’t.

Yay, entering random buildings in Castelia gave me an Exp. Share.

In keeping with me doing stupid things, I go to the Game Freak building and chat up some of the trainers who are not nearly as strong as they are post-game, thank goodness.

I really.

Really.

Would like.

More than two pokemon in my party.

I also finally gave in and talked to the medal guy in the Pokemon Center.

My achievement hunting tendencies are going to be the largest obstacle between me and any progress ever.

-whispers-

I want all of them.

Other conversations gave me an Eviolite, so that goes to Stella. ...Wait, no, Caspet. Uggggggh.

Burgh is missing from his Gym, which is fine, since I don’t think I’m ready for another round. I’m just walking around trying to check off whatever plot stuff I can that will let me catch something else.

Oh hey, I think talking to Iris opens up the sewers! I think that means I can catch something down there! !!!!

Pleeeeeease give me something.

Please, ominous guise of darkness.

Oh no.

Russell’s partnering with us, so. Uh. What’s the rule for this? I have to catch the first thing I see, but as long as I’m in a duo, I won’t be able to throw a ball very easily...

Fuuuuuuck.

Okay. We took out Panpour.

I have the ability to throw a ball, which means.

This is my catch option for the route.

Haaaa. And Russell’s Dewott is using Fury Cutter. Its damage will keep going up. I think I have two tries to catch it.

Yeehaw.

Try one is a bust.

Oh hey that’s neat! The Dewott used Razor Shell on Stella, because Stella has Water Absorb and had taken damage! That’s smarter than I expected from the partner AI.

And that means I can spare a turn or two trying to put Serperior to sleep. Since Stella still has Hypnosis.

Yo, it hit! And Dewott heals me again!

But. I need Serperior to be more damaged. I shouldn’t risk attacking. ...I’ll just keep throwing balls and wait for Dewott to hurt it a little more.

HECK YEAH WHO’S DA MAN.

Hot damn that was stressful.

Now I gotta give this girl a name.

Sylarana, wanna rock?

Also, now having Russell with me is a good thing, because this squad could use some levels.

What are you like, Syl?

She’s Careful and proud of her power.

Yeah, pride looks good on that sprite.

I don’t know what Serperior’s stats are with a neutral nature. That takes some stress off, since I’ll just go with the flow, but I prefer to know what I’m getting into, usually. Either way, Defense is stronger than Attack, and that’s just fine.

Female Nidoran are down here, too.

This is working out well enough. Yay for buddy healing. I almost don’t want it to ever end. It’s so convenient.

I shouldn’t do this forever, though. That would get boring fast.

My starter breathing. Also cool pirate outfits in Pokemon Go.

Mooks dispatched.

Gym Leader located!

Look at Burgh being all artsy with his tour of the sewers.

Huh, and Russell just hands us Strength. Because all our pals are true bros in this gen.

Then a dude with anime hair walks out of the hole in the wall.

YO NEW ROUTE.

‘ello there.

...I am possibly not going to be able to catch you due to lack of poke balls and you being remarkably stubborn.

Hey, there we go!

What to name you... what to name you... A magnificent sea serpent with a rainbow tail...

Nessy!

Without Russell healing us every fight, we can’t stick around. Back out of the sewers we go, to receive happy words from Iris. Well. Sort of happy words. She worries about Russell and tells us to challenge the Gym.

I, being a compliant sort, walk back into the sewers after healing.

Okay I guess it’s a cave. Sylarana out front, Nessy with Exp. Share while I contemplate what the heck this team does against a Bug Gym.

Ooooh, Forretress.

...

Is. is there anywhere I can go that can pave the way to me getting a Fire pokemon?

You know what, I don’t like things that blow themselves up at me. Guh, this is taking forever. I might need to buy a few Repels just so I can explore the cave properly... I believe there’s grass somewhere past the sewers, and if I could have a slightly more diverse team going into the next whatever, I’d like it.

Oh, and before I forget, Nessy!

She is Quirky and mischievous. She and Stella have half their personalities in common. Delightful. Marvel Scale is also a neat ability to have. Not one I can utilize properly because I’m a competitive failure, but still cool.

Neat, there’s Pidgeot down here.

Looks like there’s not much of the cave to explore at this point in the game. Ah well. Back to the sewers.

Hm. Would the desert north of Castelia be open to me yet? That could prove useful. Heck, is anywhere outside of this city open? I just need a little patch of grass somewhere new.

Bridge still being inspected.

A wild Bianca appears!

Dowsing Machine get!

Hello, this is new.

But there’s still spots of desert.

OH MY GOSH LOOK AT IT.

Oh my gosh oh my gosh oh my gosh.

Caught!

Your new name is Itsy, and you are much beloved!

Itsy is Modest and somewhat vain, and ouch that is not a nature I think I like for this little one, but adorableness beats everything, so we’re good.

Butterfree is also in the desert. Oooo Pawniard. Back to the sewers, though. Easier training fodder.

Grass located!

...And if I were a better trainer, I would go back and buy poke balls before exploring, but I have the impulse control of a toddler. Oh, and it’s dark grass vs. light grass...

Decision will be made by rapidly running between the two and seeing what triggers an encounter first.

Dark grass it is!

Aaaaaaaa fuck off.

I love Lapras so much. So so so so so so so so much. But I have two Water pokemon already, as well as an Ice one. I. can’t focus on catching the Lapras. It would be a bad idea.

You have never seen anyone so sad to encounter a Dratini during a Nuzlocke.

The wild Lapras fainted.

Oh fucking hell the Dratini knows Dragon Rage and both my pokemon are under 40 HP. Caspet’s turn on healing Caspet, Sylarana’s turn on getting her out of there.

Okay. Confused and slept.

Now I just. catch it. With four poke balls and two great balls left.

...Three poke balls, and guess who woke up.

Great ball. C’mon great ball.

..One great ball left.

Also if Dratini hurts itself in confusion one more time it is dead.

FORTUNE SMILES ON THE CRIMINALLY STUPID.

Now let’s run everyone back through the sewers and--

Did. did I really hit the no nickname option.

Ffs.

Okay, run back through the sewers, hit the Pokemon Center, and then name the critter. The Name Rater’s somewhere in the city, I think.

Heh. The guy in the alleyway still gives us Flash.

Congratulations, Puff! You are now eligible for activity!

Puff is Quiet and alert to sounds. An adorable addition to our squad. He’s going to be temporarily up front thanks to Dragon Rage. The Game Freak fights are once a day, and it’s been a day, so!

I believe in you, Puff!

Dragon Rage is so op this early. Dreamor agrees. But Puff’s ours, so that makes it okay.

Hm. I have six now. They could keep each other out of trouble.

There are so many areas in these sewers I can’t get to. Or maybe I can, it just involves more maze work than I’m expecting. ...Yeah, it’s looking like that side. Hey, a nurse guy! Yay for less walking up to the Pokemon Center.

Oh, and Poison... might be super effective against Bug? I think the whatsit thing he has is Bug/Grass, so that isn’t actually much of a confirmation. Eh, I’ll find out soon enough.

I’ve found a room full of Zweilous. That’s a safe grinding area, right? Itsy’s got Ice and everything. Vullaby and Dwebble are also here.

Heeeeeey, Caspet’s evolving!

And wants to learn another physical Ghost move.

Bye Lick.

Okay, Gym it is.

...Wow Burgh. Really went full Art on the place, huh? Did trainers complain that you were forcing them to walk through honey before letting them fight you?

Puff’s up first. I don’t have much type advantage here, so it’s just going to be hitting things until they break.

Burgh.

Hey Burgh.

This Gym is creepy.

The cocoons just suck you in and zoom you up. Only think Willy Wonka style.

Mooks have level 20s, so this should be a little uncomfortable for a few of the younger members, but Caspet, Stella, and Sylarana should be fine. For now, Puff’s still in front and Dragon Raging all the things.

And we’re going to the Pokemon Center after every fight, but hey. Baby steps in all things. Puff is on one of the slower exp tracks, so every little bit helps.

...Burgh. Buddy.

You want to talk?

This Gym feels like a cry for help.

In true shounen protagonist style, I will settle your troubled emotions through battle! Even if none of the dialogue will admit to how concerning the aesthetics of your chosen arena are!

Everything is hitting critical hits.

...Oh wait, I’m supposed to narrate these fights, aren’t I?

Uh. Swadloon down, Dwebble down, Leavanny left, Leavanny’s level 24. Caspet’s out to deal with it after Puff handled Swadloon and Nessy handled Dwebble.

Caspet one-shots it like a champ, and on we go.

Burgh, this trinket in no way makes me less concerned for you.

Still, though! Everyone’s alive, and we have a team full of six! Nice work, ladies and Puff. Five more badges to go! Let’s hope they go well!

[anonthenullifier]

The Honeymoon Phase, Part 1

Celestial Bodies Chapter 18 

Summary: An undercover mission gives Wanda and Vision a taste of wedded bliss.

Word Count: 8.7k 

AO3 Link: http://archiveofourown.org/works/8535118/chapters/25979448

Note: Written for a prompt request by @atendrilofscarlet. 

Hope you all enjoy!

The walkway is lined with glistening white sand, pearlescent shells twisted into perfect spirals gleam under the hot sun, placed at even intervals to denote the path to the resort. Not that it is possible for them to get lost, their personal concierge for the trip, Kenneth, forging a clear path as he pushes the luggage trolley filled with suitcases and duffel bags, the top bars weighted down with hanging luggage for suits and dresses. Only two of the bags actually contain clothes, the rest stuffed with surveillance equipment, wiretaps, communicators, and smoke bombs, just in case.

Wanda squeezes his hand tighter, leaning her body into his shoulder as she smiles up at him. “Feet on the ground,” her teeth touch her lip in preparation of the V, but she catches herself just in time, “darling.”

Immediately his freshly polished loafers connect with the stone pathway, the thud of his steps a bit too pronounced for a normal density human, but she doesn’t think anyone else will pick up on the slight difference in sound. “My apologies.”

“So,” Kenneth slows down, walking backwards so he can see them, a beaming smile on his face and an overenthusiastic, golden retriever puppy level of warmth and charm to the casualness of his existence, “how’d you propose?”

His fingers tense, gripping her hand as he begins the explanation, one they rehearsed over and over on the private jet. “It was our second anniversary and we were in Paris, we went to dinner,” the usual polished politeness of his voice seems to have fled, replaced by a nervous edge filled with faltering pauses.

Wanda determines it might be best to take over, cutting in with a dreamy, well-placed sigh and a toss of her wavy blonde hair, “It was so romantic! He rented out the entire Eiffel Tower and there was a string quartet and roses everywhere.” Wanda puffs out her chest and tilts her chin up, attempting to embody the essence of affluence, treating this extravagance as just a touch more exceptional than a usual Thursday. She throws in one more sigh for good measure.

It seems to work, a proud thumbs up from Kenneth and a “Well done, good sir!” They keep going, transitioning to a wooden-planked walkway surrounded by individual huts with thatched roofs hovering above crystalline blue waters flecked with the undulating bodies of fish darting under the surface.

“I, thank you,” which is said to both the concierge for the compliment and to Wanda for taking the lead.

The pathway branches to the left, leading them to one of the huts. Kenneth stops, stepping back and motioning with a gallant bow towards the door, “Mr. and Mrs. Williams, welcome to paradise.”

Each and every move for this first interaction has been expertly planned and rehearsed, scrutinized by not only Natasha but Sam as well (having labeled himself the king of romance). She's not surprised when Vision scoops her up into his arms with a disarmingly handsome smile - even with the pale skin, dull blue eyes, and blonde hair - yet Wanda still finds her heart fluttering and a genuine smile tugging at her cheeks as he carries her bridal style through the doorway. Since this is where their script ends, she decides to improvise, filling the time it takes for their luggage to be placed in the room by wrapping her arms around his neck and pulling his mouth to hers, savoring the impossible to disguise nip of vibranium and the perfect texture of his synthetic lips.

The click of the door latching ends the embrace, Vision pulling back with a relieved smile, his nervousness ebbing slightly at the reprieve from prying eyes. “That went well.”

“It did, though we need to work on the proposal story a bit more.”

He lowers her feet to the ground, hand remaining at the small of her back, “The unnecessary extravagance of the action still confounds me, is that a normal proposal?” The way his voice dips from confusion into worry throws her off, but she assumes it’s simply the remnants of his nervousness given it is his first undercover mission now that Steve and Natasha have approved his disguise.

A scarlet wisp caresses his cheek, encouraging his eyes down towards her hand where she waves the glistening 3 carat diamond ring (on loan from a local jeweler), catching the sunlight just right to send prismatic rays around the room. “This ring dictates extravagance.”

“I-” even through the disguise she can tell the gears in his eyes are working overtime, sorting through whatever confusion he is experiencing, multiple thoughts seemingly at war in his unusually muddled mind, “did not believe that would be the type of ring you desired.” The words come out slower than usual, laced with an odd existential worry, and there is an almost cornered look in his eye as he says it.

Wanda studies the ring, agreeing with his assessment, it is far too showy for her tastes. “Yeah, I’d never want this,” a look of relief washes over his face, “but socialite Ana Williams most certainly wants this ring. Let’s see yours.” Slowly he removes his hand from her back, bringing it up to show her the smooth finish of the ring, flexing his fingers to test out the feel of the metal. “See I never would have pegged you as a yellow gold fan.”

“No?” His eyes bore into hers, a singular focus in his gaze that kickstarts the pooling of heat in her cheeks. The topic of marriage was easy to discuss for the mission but sometimes she feels it slip past the detachment of work and into more personal territory. That she finds is terrifying, especially when he looks at her so intently, as if every word is building the foundation of reality, one wrong syllable and the world crumbles.

“No, you seem more like, um, a white gold or probably vibranium type of person, if I had to guess.” The blush breaks on her face and she has to turn away from his intense and questioning stare, deciding that now is a good time to explore their room. The lofted ceilings create a sense of grandness, wood-paneled walls dotted with one-of-a-kind paintings of local floral, a luxurious couch positioned in the center of the room creating a path that she follows to the floor to ceiling sliding glass doors. There’s not even a sound as the door opens, a resort like this would never let the mundane scratch of a door disrupt the soothing melody of the ocean. “Steve really outdid himself with this room.”

Wanda peeks back inside, curious why he’s not responding, and finds him examining the room, fingers lighting over the surface of each board and painting, a contemplative slant to his mouth as he catalogues the textures of the environment. Her eyes remain on him, since the day he was created she has found herself always drawn to the elegance of his body and the tightly controlled ease he puts into each step, but today there is a hesitation to his gait, legs stiff and, she hates to use the word, robotic as he moves towards the suitcases, beginning to unpack their supplies into piles based on type of equipment. “Vizh, you doing okay? You’re walking funny.”

He glances over his shoulder at her, an embarrassed tightness on his lips as he turns to face her. “I am,” his hands wave to indicate his tan linen suit, “unused to actual clothes. The tailoring seems a bit constricting.”

A twirling of her finger through the air is met with his semi-reluctant compliance, Vision turning his body to give her a complete view of the extremely well tailored suit. “I think I found the problem.” One finger to his chest halts his fashion show, his slightly duller eyes following along as Wanda walks her fingers up the row of iridescent seashell buttons of his crisp white shirt until she reaches the top one. “We’re at the beach, not the synagogue.” Carefully she undoes the top button, thrilled at the way the shirt flutters open but even more enthralled at the fact she can actually unbutton his shirt. Wanda grins at the tiny, almost inaudible gasp from above when she traces the exposed skin of his chest, relishing how he tenses when she continues down his shirt. After the third button she leans in, brushing her lips to his chest, the pale skin dissolving away to exquisite vibranium-laced red. A victorious and mischievous smile curls up her lips as she steps back, waving a finger with a tsk tsk “You need to hold your disguise better than that, Vizh.”

Vision releases a shaky breath as he composes himself, the gears in his eyes fading with the red of his skin as he realigns his molecules. “You are very distracting.”

“Steve doesn’t accept excuses,” she pats his chest before sinking into the insanely fluffy cushions of the couch. “You know I’m going to be touching you a lot more than that on this mission,” she finishes with an exaggeratedly posh “darling.”

A tiny smirk flirts with his lips as he sits next to her. “I am aware but I believe my fortitude will increase when it becomes perilous to lose the disguise.”

Wanda tries hard not to roll her eyes, instead allowing her amused and skeptical, “Let’s hope so” do the work for her.

“How is your hair?”

Since they're mission involves a resort, Natasha deemed the traditional baseball cap not good enough, requiring Wanda to undergo hours of extensive braiding, netting, and weaving, worried a bobby pin wig would be too cumbersome. “Still kind of itchy and I'm not sold on being blonde.”

“You are gorgeous.” Vision kisses her cheek, fingers scrunching gently against her head, offering slight relief. “Would you like to review the mission files before our first activity?”

The mission-approved answer is yes, but the allure of the king-size bed visible through the doorway is much stronger, a shift of her body allowing her to swing her leg over his, positioning herself on his lap with her hands tracing the hidden island of vibranium on his sternum. “We could, or we could practice being newlyweds.”

Indecision sends his forehead into a frenzy of wrinkles, a steady exhale of air greeting her words as his hands curve along her sides. “I believe that would be a detrimental, though quite enjoyable, way to commence the mission.”

“Which means?” Her hands undo two more of the buttons, confirming that she might see if he’s willing to wear real clothes one day a month so she can experience this bliss more often.

He catches her wrists in his hands, pulling her flush against him, his mouth just out of reach. “We should review the files,” the disappointment of his decision deflates her shoulders, head dipping to rest in the crook of his neck.

“Fine.”

“So,” Wanda loops her arms through Vision’s, keeping her voice low while plastering a breezy smile on her face to match what is expected of newlyweds who probably spent the past two hours entangled in sweaty, breathless euphoria instead of pouring over hundreds of pages of cryptic files and grainy pictures. “Do we really think the mastermind is an adults only entertainer?”

Their mission is fairly straightforward, an alarming number of couples are not returning from their honeymoons at the French Polynesian Luxury Resort and Spa, their families, friends, and bosses frantically reporting them missing yet so far not a single person has been found and the resort has been oddly silent on the disappearances. This by itself does not dictate the Avengers’ involvement. What pushes it into the realm of requiring a mind reader and a synthezoid masquerading as a married couple is that two of S.H.I.E.L.D’s best operatives were sent to investigate the issue a month ago and never returned.

A few whispered apologies fall from Vision’s lips as he guides her along a row of people until they settle into their pre-assigned seats. He glances around, ensuring no one is eavesdropping before answering her. “The intel suggests she is high on the list. The first reported disappearance occurred two weeks after she began her residency here.”

“Why didn’t they just fire her?”

Everything about him is off when he’s in the disguise, the shrug of his shoulders seeming less genuine, less endearing when she can’t see the movement of vibranium or the twirl of his irises. “There is little to no proof and the guests rate her quite highly,” yet even with the discomfort of this new face, the essence of him still exists, including his tendency to pause, lips quirking just a touch up when he’s about to make what he considers a humorous remark, “Well other than the ones who are missing.”

Wanda rolls her eyes at him, “I’m sure they find it amusing as well.”

“So,” the twisting of his wrist catches her attention, eyes fixated on the way his thumb brushes the diamond of her ring, “is it normative to have proportionality between the extravagance of the proposal and the size of the ring?”

Disbelief bubbles up, escaping as an exasperated laugh, the topic of appropriate proposals for their characters a long-running theme since the mission was announced. Even Nat joined the debate, sidling up to Wanda in random locations in the compound to run a few ideas past her until they settled on what was best. “I guess that’s fair,” until all the attention of the mission she’d never really put much thought into proposals, well that’s not completely true, she has occasionally allowed her mind to wander to such things, usually on cold afternoons when she’s wrapped up in Vision’s arms, basking in the warmth of his comfort, but nothing concrete. Proportionality is definitely not a concept she's cogitated. Somehow he always offers a perspective just slightly askew of her own that forces her to view things differently. It’s one of the many things she loves about him. “It also depends a lot on the person as well. Like, that would be way too much for me regardless of the ring.”

His analytic “I see,” is so densely layered her fingers itch to just dive into his head to see what’s going on but the dimming overhead lights and rumble of drums announcing the act distract her from further inquiry.

A disembodied voice floats down from the speakers embedded in the ceiling, “Ladies and Gentlemen, it is my honor to present the ever enthralling,” the drums crescendo as the announcer deepens his voice for a purposely elongated and overly enunciated, “Enchantress.”

Applause fill the room as the curtains open, the stage filled with exotic plants, emerald green leaves contrasting against the brilliant reds and yellows of the flowers, but none compare to the dramatic stance of the black-haired woman standing proudly on a gem encrusted flower, the green of her dress a touch darker than the backdrop. “A bit gaudy, don’t you think.”

Vision watches the woman unfurl her arms and spin, lifting several feet into the air and hovering to the ground without any readily apparent apparatus. “Is that not a requirement of showmanship?”

“Still tacky.”

The show is fairly standard, a mix of dancing, singing, and comedic interludes, the Enchantress strutting along the stage and losing clothes as the night continues until she ends up in a green corset, matching sequined thong, and black fishnets threaded with golden circles up the middle of her legs. “I think it’s time for our newlywed portion,” the woman on stage announces, howling cheers from the people around them suggests this is what everyone’s been waiting for. “Please, check below your seats to find out who gets the,” her voice drops an octave, a sultry edge lacing the word, “pleasure of joining me up here.”

Wanda glances around the room, watching a couple stand up with a “Whoop!” and another reluctantly rising from their seats, hands waving in a clear sign of a small argument over whether they should admit to being selected. “There is still one more out there.”

“W--Ana?” A gentle hand to her shoulder conveys a rare fear, one she’s only experienced from him twice before, but it’s wholly understandable, his other hand holding up a leaf-shaped paper exclaiming Congratulations! Head up to the stage now! “I do not recall seeing this in the dossier.”

“Maybe it was a last minute addition?” A reminder that there is still one more invitation out there is broadcast to everyone, the people nearest to them staring expectantly at the leaf in Vision’s hand, a few encouraging Get up theres whispered from behind them. “Let’s go.” Wanda stands, grabbing his hand to pull him up with her and takes the leaf, waving it in pseudo-triumph as they join the other two couples on stage.

A stagehand carries out three chairs and the Enchantress twirls around, instructing them on what comes next, “Our dashing men, please sit down,” all three of them take a seat. “Now ladies, pick a lap, any lap will do.” Vision immediately sends her a desperate, pleading gaze and Wanda sits on his lap, unsurprised when the other couples remain together, but a prickle of unease from the directions forms a portent of what is to come in the show. Their host turns back to the audience with a “Let’s meet our lucky guests, shall we?”

The cheers from the audience fill the room as she sashays to the first couple. Wanda finds herself unable to fully pay attention to anything. Part of her mind is focused on what is being asked of the first couple (Rees and Layla from Wales, married three days ago, what he loves most about her is her tits), another on the erratic pulsing of discomfort from Vision whose arms are tighter than needed around her waist yet impressively his face is neutral with a decently faked smirk of amusement, and finally, perhaps most prominently, Wanda studies the way the Enchantress moves. Each question is technically asked of the pair, but her hand caresses the man’s shoulder, outside of the view of his partner, fingers climbing up through his hair and brushing his forehead. There is something else, a flash of green around her fingers but Wanda can’t parse out exactly what it is before she sees the simpering saunter of their host approaching them. The woman places herself at an angle, one hip behind Vision, her hand falling to his shoulder (which leads to an immediate build up of tension in his muscles). “Last but not least we have?”

The microphone hovers in front of Vision’s mouth, “Simon and Ana Williams, we have been married for a day.”

“Oh, the freshest meat of the bunch.” Catcalls intermix with clapping from the audience, but all Wanda can focus on is the trailing of the woman’s hand along Vision’s shoulders. “You, handsome,” her hand ruffles the hair on the back of his head and Wanda finds a strange, roiling rage fanning into existence in her stomach, “look like you have a brilliant mind, what do you do?”

“I am a roboticist.”

The Enchantress finally removes her hand from his head, turning towards the audience with a playful smile as she fans herself, releasing a suggestive sigh before she comments on his answer, “I can only imagine what he’s wired up for the bedroom, you lucky lady.” Annoyingly her hand descends again onto his shoulder, trailing lazily back and forth, “So Mr. Roboto, what do you love most about your wife?”

“I,” Vision stares into her eyes and suddenly Wanda no longer feels like they're on a stage, but his smile draws her to the compound, to their bed, wrapped up in each other, alone and safe and warm, his hand releasing its grip on her waist to brush a strand of hair from her face, “admire and adore her resilience.”

The moment is broken when someone from the crowd, clearly a regular, or at least semi-regular attendee, impatiently yells, “We don't care! Show them the dance!”

The solitary demand quickly builds into a chant, crescendoing within seconds before the green-clad woman raises her hands in defeat, “Oh if you insist. Ladies?” Wanda eyes the woman suspiciously, not particularly excited by the husk developing in her voice. “It is my solemn duty to add a bit of spice into your life,” a wink is thrown at the audience, the music sliding from the sultry background jazz to the easily recognizable dun-dun-nah-nah-nah of burlesque. The implication makes the hairs along her arm stand on end as Wanda wraps herself protectively around Vision’s neck. The Enchantress pulls a feather boa seemingly from thin air, shimmying it down her arms as she walks back and forth in front of the three couples. “So,who’s willing to step away from your husband for a demonstration that I’m sure you’ll all,” the end of the boa points suggestively at each one of them as she talks, “want to use tonight.”

Vision’s mind screams at her to please stay where she is despite the cacophony of encouraging yells from the crowd and the expectant stares of both the host and the stagehands hiding in the curtains. This might technically be part of the mission, but Wanda finds herself unwilling to budge, briefly wondering if maybe it would have been best to bring Sam since he’d probably be perfectly okay offering himself as a sacrificial lamb right now. But then, like a guardian angel descending from the stifling, bright stage lights of heaven, Rees, from couple number 1, proudly declares “I volunteer as tribute!”

The glass is refreshingly cold in her hand, a little rainbow umbrella sticking up from the bright red daiquiri to denote, if there was any such confusion, that this is a fun drink. Wanda plucks the umbrella, twirling it between her fingers while she studies Vision, his body leaned back into the chair, legs crossed, and elbow resting comfortably on the armrest. It’s odd spending so much time with him looking like this, at having to remind herself it’s not a stranger whenever she catches him in her periphery. The disguise is impressive and since he’s already extraordinarily sexy, it comes as no surprise that his alter ego is as well. Still, she can’t help but imagine how beautifully his crimson skin would compliment the tropical prints all around them and then she chuckles at the image of him in a floral printed button up. Vision doesn’t even flinch at her laugh, eyes not so subtly glued to the bartender as he expertly pours out a martini for a woman at the bar. Wanda twirls the umbrella again, deciding she should probably get his attention before he gives away their stake out.

She leans closer to him, eying the side of his head, never realizing until now just how strange ears are and how wrong they look on him, but she's determined the only way to be okay with the disguise is to find little things she doesn't usually get to experience. Delicately she reaches out and places the umbrella behind his ear, allowing her fingers the luxury to brush through the silken threads of his synthetic hair.

The attempt fails, in fact the rainbow umbrella only serves to highlight the dense seriousness in the air between them, his mind trapped in the vortices of analytic reconnaissance as his eyes track their mark. Attempt two needs to be less subtle, apparently, so she lifts her glass. “A toast!” She waits until her words have reached him, Vision turning towards her, blinking in confusion at the brush of the umbrella against his face. Wanda smirks at his confusion and then repeats herself, tilting her head towards his glass, “A toast.” Finally the words seem to resonate with him, his daiquiri rising to the same level as her glass, a silent inquiry in his apprehensive squint, “to our honeymoon not starting with an uncomfortably long lap dance from a stranger.”

Finally his I’m-on-a-mission face breaks, replaced by a bashful, commiserable smirk at the fresh mortification of what almost happened to him during the show. “Yes, cheers indeed.” Their glasses clink and she can’t help smiling when he actually joins her in enjoying their free beverages, a compensation for their willingness to be part of the show. Vision tilts his head, eyes narrowing while his lips smack approvingly. “That is quite delicious.”

“Not sure why you sound so surprised.”

He shrugs and she’s mesmerized at the way his very real shirt parts slightly wider at the end of the motion. “Based on observations of our teammates and my one experience, the imbibing of alcoholic beverages is typically met with unpleasant shudders.”

It’s adorable to watch him experience new things, a childlike vim overtaking his body. “That’s just because Natasha believes drinks should be 95 percent alcohol and 5 percent mixer.”

The bartender glances over at them, a blender of bright red deliciousness held up with a questioning point. Neither of their drinks are close to being empty but given they’re supposed to be gathering information on the bartender Wanda sends him a thumbs up. “Just to let you know,” she reaches out to squeeze Vision’s knee, Natasha’s undercover bootcamp stressing that they need to always be touching to sell their can’t-keep-our-hands-off-each-other newlywed status, “our mark is heading over.”

His hand falls on hers, a conspiratorial smirk tipping his lips up. “Understood.”

“You are drinking too slowly! Is it not to your standards?”

The question is asked in jest, but the frown on VIsion’s face is utterly serious when he insists, “Not at all, the drinks are quite delicious, we are simply savoring them.”

The bartender brings his hand to Vision’s shoulder and shakes it with a laugh, “Good, let me top you off.” Before they can turn him down, the blender is already over their drinks, expertly filling every groove of emptiness without a single drip on the table.

“Thank you,” Wanda grabs the cup and lifts it to the man.

A nonchalant wave and a shrug is her you’re welcome. “Oh, I was asked to drop this off for you.” He reaches into his back pocket and draws out an emerald envelop with gold filigree around the edges.

Vision takes, turning it over in his hand. “Who is this from?”

“I never know,” which is true, based on Wanda's surface level reading of his mind, “they hand me things and say ‘Fetu, deliver this and deliver that’ as if I'm some unimportant errand boy.” The man frowns, eyes sad, “sorry, work in paradise is still work.” His jubilation returns, an expertly applied mask he puts on for the customers. “Most important piece of information for you,” a suggestive nod is sent towards her hand on Vision’s knee, “you are more than welcome to remove your drinks from this area, we understand the,” a finger taps his nose as if he is in on some secret with them, “needs of our honeymooners.”

This is where they have to sell their cover, which Wanda does gleefully, sliding her hand up along the inside of Vision’s thigh, relishing his slight jump but impressed when he recovers quickly with a knowing wink towards the bartender, “We appreciate the information, now,” Vision stops her hand, lacing his fingers through hers and gently pulling her up to stand with him, “we have other important matters to attend to, my dear.”

“Enjoy paradise, my friends!”

Once they’re out of the bar, they duck into a small, dark alcove in the hallway, Wanda sipping her drink while her eyes follow his fingers as he opens the envelope. “What is it?” Vision doesn’t immediately respond, lips pursed as he reads it again.

“We have been cordially invited to use the VIP pool tomorrow.” He passes the invitation to her and a waft of floral perfume strangles her senses when she flips the card open. There is no name at the bottom, nothing to indicate who invited them or exactly what this means but Wanda’s fairly certain it’s a good thing for their mission. “Shall we proceed to more reconnaissance?”

Wanda shuts the invitation, stepping up close enough for their bodies to touch as she reaches down to slide the paper into his pocket, her hand lingering several seconds longer than necessary to accomplish the task. “I thought we were going to be newlyweds?” It’s not quite disappointment in his eyes, closer to disbelief but with a slight annoyance. “I’m joking, Vizh.” Someone walks past them and Wanda presses her body closer, hoping it discourages anyone from approaching them. “So,” thoughtfully her fingers play with the lapels of his jacket, “I assume we’re following what we practiced? You lead the way but follow my lead?”

“Correct.”

She matches the mischievous grin on his face. “Where to, darling?”

They wind through the resort, doing their best to avoid prying eyes, a purposefully disoriented loping to their steps as they make their way with several whispered warnings of “Drunk does not mean you phase through the floor, darling.” Anytime someone attempts to talk to them, mostly to inquire if they are lost, Wanda pulls a Romanov, capturing Vision’s lips and savoring the remnants of daiquiri on his tongue until the person gets the hint and leaves. Eventually they reach a door with a professionally done sign that informs them it is a restricted area and legal action is guaranteed for trespassers.

Wanda turns the handle, unsurprisingly finding it to be locked. “How do we-” his mouth stifles her question, an arm wrapping around her waist as he shoves her against the door pulling a low, throaty moan from her mouth. He changes the angle of the kiss, lifting her slightly as he slides his leg between her thighs, an action that is mission-wise unnecessary, but in her opinion completely needed, and then the door clicks open. Much to her dismay he pecks her cheek and pulls back, his hand solidifying once it is out of the door.

“This way,” the cocky grin on his face is almost wide enough to show teeth as he mulls over his word choice, hand running lazily along her thigh “my beloved.”

Her eyes narrow, not used to be one-upped, “Tease,” and she steps past him, elbowing him in the ribs for good measure, into a dimly lit room filled with filing cabinets and shelves covered in boxes. A quick assessment of the space identifies two security cameras and a flick of a finger sends scarlet into the wires, short circuiting the security system hopefully for long enough to gather information. “So, what do we want to find?”

Before the question ends, he is already elbow deep in a box, eyes scanning the contents, frowning when he clearly doesn’t find anything of value, and then he moves on. “I have a hypothesis.” Vision continues moving through the boxes, never finishing the thought.

“That would be?”

“Oh,” he stops, embarrassment at his actions manifesting in a shuffle of his feet and a widening of his eyes, “I wish to determine if all of the missing couples were included in the Enchantress’ show.”

This works for her, the bartender, other than passing along an invitation, didn’t seem at all suspicious, something Wanda cannot say is true for the entertainer. “Sounds good.” She moves to the opposite side of the room, flicking through tabbed folders labeled with meaningless names. In the tenth box, however, there is a thick folder labeled Amora Vahiné, she removes it, leaning against the shelf as she flips it open, immediately met with a picture of the Enchantress and her application to work at the resort. “Vizh.”

The absence of any cameras or the risk of being found out means his head pops out of the wall of filing cabinets separating them. “Yes, Wanda?”

“Really? You can’t just walk around it?”

“I could if I wished to be inefficient.”

Wanda rolls her eyes, showing him the picture, “I’m pretty certain we have the right person. Have you found anything?”

“Um,” his head disappears and there is a shuffle of papers and then the thud of feet, his body rounding the corner, five folders in his hands. “Perhaps, these are the five couples that went missing, but I have not been able to examine the contents yet.”

A knock on the door startles them, Vision losing control, phasing several inches through the floor, his disguise flickering briefly. “Who’s in there?” The voice is not happy, a threat evident in the question.

Wanda hugs him close, hands desperately tugging at the back of his shirt until it is free of his pants. “Give me the files.”

“I-”

“Give them to me.” Reluctantly he hands them over and Wanda shoves them in the back of his pants, dropping his shirt and jacket to cover them. “Now let’s be newlyweds.”

Right now is when she is supremely happy Vision convinced Steve and Natasha to send him instead of Sam, a process that included a 45 minute powerpoint presentation given to the team concerning all the reasons Vision, even with his slightly unstable disguise, would be a more beneficial choice. She’s not certain how it worked, Sam was pumped at the idea of a resort mission, but she’s thankful nonetheless, because the way Vision lifts her, hands under her thighs, encouraging her legs to wrap around his waist, and the hunger in his lips against her neck are far more convincing than anything she’d ever be willing to think about doing with Sam. Wanda allows herself to get lost in him, mission be damned, squeezing her legs in time with his kisses, gripping the poles holding the shelves up as he pushes her dress up, fingers toying with the edge of her underwear. Somewhere, far in the back of her head, she knows the door opens, that three more minds enter the room, but the novel sensation of a wedding ring skimming her thighs, a band of metal on his body that she hasn’t grown accustomed to is far too distracting, and the surprising thrill at the idea of this being a lifelong sensation intensifies the passion building within her when he sucks at the hollow of her neck. A confused and uncertain, “Hey!” ruins the moment, Vision turning his head, the rise and fall of his heaving chest against hers deeply satisfying, and she joins him seconds later, staring at three armed guards.

Wanda tries to think of a reply but is saved the mental trouble by a surprisingly convincing slur in Vision’s typically smooth accent. “Oh this is embarrassing.” Briefly he turns to smile at her and it is alarmingly disorienting, “Is this not our room?”

A disgusted and fed up, “Honeymooners” is shared between the guards before they encourage Vision to place her back on the ground and then they are led on a procession of shame through the resort, flanked by the guards, until they are dropped off at their room, the lead guard pointing at the door, voice akin to one used on misbehaving children. “This is your room.”

Wanda waves drunkenly at the guards, closing the door and allowing an impish smile to overtake her lips as she approaches Vision, his back facing her as he lays the stolen folders on the table. “So,” leisurely she slides her hands under his shirt, using the tips of her nails to draw diamonds on his skin, “want to pick up where we left off, hubby?”

The folder in his hand drops to the table, the muscles in his back tensing in what she hopes is desire. “Were you aware,”

“That you’re wearing too many clothes?”

Vision turns around slowly, eyes closing as her hand dips to trace the edge of his pocket, “A subjective question, but not my intended one, no, that if we solve the mission early we are permitted to enjoy the remainder of the reservation in peace?”

This is new information, something this important surely would have been included in the mission briefing. “I think you’re bluffing.”

“Page 197, line 35, footnote 207 in the fine print, I swear.”

Wanda eyes him, glancing curiously over to the fat binder of information for the mission and then back at him. One of the many joys of dating Vision is knowing he is a horrible liar and thus rarely attempts trickery. Currently his eyes, the dull blue brightening a hue the longer she stares at him, brim with honesty and a barely contained lust. All she’d have to do is lean into him and she knows he’d cave. “So if we delay our gratification…”

It’s a gamble on his part, touching her, but the innocent, calm brush of his finger down her neck emphasizes his next point, “Without a mission we would be unhindered in partaking of each other’s company, wherever and whenever we like.”

A bit begrudgingly she concedes to the logic, already planning their obligation free days as she lifts onto the tips of her toes to kiss him. “Let’s dive into these folders, then.”

“What am I looking at, exactly?” Vision had been gone on extra reconnaissance for almost the entire night, creeping into the room with the sunrise, allowing her a whole twenty minutes of whispered good mornings, and achingly tame kisses before informing her they needed to make a stop on the way to their luxury VIP pool party. The hope, foolishly, was that he had planned some romantic breakfast, the brochure on their nightstand lauding the ambience and intimacy of a beachside cabana for two, instead she is standing in another restricted room, though this one is a bit brighter than the last one. There’s a pool in the middle of the room, more of a moat, if she had to be specific, that surrounds a raised platform holding a wide-mouthed pot that is itself housing a plant with long, arcing saw-toothed leaves and a tightly clenched pod in the center.

Vision steps forward, leaning over the water for a closer look. “I am not wholly certain but several of the workers in this section spoke of the upcoming unveiling.”

The moat is impressive, five vibrant and pied tropical fish darting after each other, but the plant itself is, well, a plant. “And you think this is important for the mission?”

A wishy-washy shrug goes along with his, “Perhaps? The files I was able to peruse suggested the flower was transplanted here three days before Amora interviewed for the position. It could be important or a coincidence.” Another shrug and a carefully practiced boyish, nonchalant smile is the perfect weapon to draw her closer, and she assumes, perhaps wrongly, he is aware of how well the smile pairs with his khaki shorts and short sleeved button-up. “I also thought it was peaceful and wished to share it.”

“Minus all the signs warning about trespassing, it is kind of peaceful.”

A surprisingly loud, “There you are!” catches them off guard, Wanda dropping into a defensive stance, hands a faint scarlet and Vision’s shoulders pulled back and ready to use the Mindstone if needed. When the voice is placed with the constantly smiling face of their concierge, they both resume normal, albeit slightly embarrassed stances. Kenneth’s forehead erupts into wrinkles once he glances around at the room, “How’d you get in here?”

Phasing and a bit of sorcery is probably not the best answer. “The door was unlocked,” is offered as a plausible explanation from Vision.

“Huh,” his brief frown is quickly replaced by a beaming smile, finger raised to point at the plant. “She’s a beauty, isn’t she? We keep thinking she’s going to die any day now, it’s the first time anyone’s successfully transplanted one of them off the mountain.” The statement is filled with pride, a touch of awe, and a hint of deep, pulsing love.

Wanda tries to channel Natasha, reading not only the surface level of his words, but identifying the subtextual layers of meaning and potentially pertinent information. So far, however, she’s got nothing. “What type of plant is it?”

The glimmer in his eyes is one she does recognize, the same excitement sends Vision’s irises twirling anytime she asks him to explain what he and Helen are currently working on or to expand on a gibberish scientific comment he’s made. Which seems odd for their concierge concerning a flower. “It is a Tiare Apetahi, a flower that only grows on a plateau on this island. Every attempt to transplant it lower on the mountain or grow it in a lab has failed, well,” he shrugs as if it is not a huge accomplishment, “until now. I’m actually a botanist. But they won’t let me stay at the resort to look after her unless I work for them.”

Vision finally looks away from the plant, “What does it look like?”

“Oh,” the man fumbles in his pocket for his phone, swiping across the screen and then tapping until the smile returns to his face, “like this.” The phone is passed over to them the screen filled with a picture of an asymmetrical white flower, five petals all on one side. “It’s a really famous flower here, has a legend and everything, well,” he waves his head as he reconsiders his statement, “one legend but like 5 versions of it.”

A polite and curious smile forms on Vision’s face. “May we hear your preferred version?”

The man doesn't skip a beat before launching excitedly into the story. “It is a tale of love and loss,” Kenneth clutches his chest dramatically, eyes staring into far-offs lands, “a fisherman married a fair maiden, named Apetahi, and they were happy, blissful, much like you two.” A rare hesitation freezes his smile, but is whisked away quickly as he continues, “But then he strayed from her, lured in by the beauty of a younger woman. When his wife found out she was grief stricken, they argued, yelling so loud it attracted the attention of the entire village. In her sorrow she fled to the plateau, dug a hole in the ground, then cut off her hand and buried it. She died of blood loss and when they finally found her missing body, this flower had bloomed where her hand had been buried. That is why it's five petals form the shape of a hand.”

Vision frowns at the plant, and Wanda agrees with the pulse of painful confusion in his mind, wondering why such legends are always so laden with deceit and loss. “Are there other legends of the island?”

“Of course,” Kenneth steps back from the plant rotating his wrist to check the time, “I can have a book delivered to your hut, but you ought to get going, it’s almost time for your day at the pool.”

Confusion blossoms in Vision’s mind, but Kenneth shoos them along too quickly for Wanda to stop and ask what is bothering him.

They are dropped off at the VIP pool, though only after Kenneth triple checks they have their swimsuits and sunscreen, warning that sunburns are never conducive to newlywed activities. Wanda grips Vision’s hand, a small, tight ball of panic sitting on her chest, not exactly sure what is behind the door. “You’re wearing the right swimsuit?”

A defeated sigh is enough of an answer, but his quiet, “I do not understand why it is necessary, but yes.”

“I just have a feeling it is.”

The door opens and they are greeted by a bare-chested, impressively chiseled man dressed only in thin white pants and sunglasses. “Invitation?” Vision removes the paper from his pocket and hands it over, the man lifting his glasses, turning the paper in order to examine it from every angle, the pool apparently so exclusive they are worried about counterfeit invites. “Welcome.” A deep bow and the broad sweep of his arm ushers them in and Wanda has to keep her jaw from dropping at the shimmering water of the infinity pool, the edge seamlessly meeting the expanse of the ocean beyond, the strategically planted palm trees offering shade over the cushioned lounge chairs around the perimeter. There’s a thatch-roofed gazebo to the left, a chaise lounge with an emerald cushion and golden base housing the unmistakable body of their grinning host, Amora, waving happily at them.

Wanda leads them to a pair of chairs, the protocol for what to do at an exclusive pool unclear, especially since she assumed the other two couples from the show would be attending as well. “What do you think we do?”

He shrugs, adding an uncertain, “Perhaps we wait until she instigates contact?”

“Sounds good.” Swimming was not a common excursion in Sokovia, the winter dragging on longer than it was ever welcome and the brief summer unrelenting enough that even the promise of tepid water was not an overly strong temptation to risk the heat of the three mile walk. Despite this, Wanda is perfectly aware how to act, untying her wrap dress and letting it fall to the ground. “You going to stay like that?” Vision turns towards her and his agape, stuttering mouth is exactly the reaction she hoped for when she snuck the swimsuit into the suitcase. Her approach is slow and deliberate, toying with the buttons on his shirt once she’s close enough, undoing each one as she waits for him to respond in some way. Even after she’s reached the last button and cheerfully stripped it off his arms, he remains standing in awe, or confusion, but she hopes awe. “You liked it so much last time, figured it was a safe choice for our pseudo-honeymoon.” Still speechless, he nods, hands coming to trace the black straps crisscrossing over her chest, following the lines up her shoulders and to her upper back, smiling before dipping his face to catch her lips, stealing the breath from her lungs and making her dizzy.

A polite cough interrupts them and a different shirtless man is standing with two margaritas and sandwiches on a tray. “Compliments of Amora.”

“Oh, yes, thank you.” Vision grips the tray, turning back and forth until he finds a suitable place for it. Cautiously he glances around, assessing the location of the two poolboys. “Do you believe it is safe to discuss updates?”

She joins him in studying their surroundings. It seems there are only three other people here, the one man at the door, their bartender tucked back in a shaded cabana bar, and their host across the pool. “It’ll be safer if you take off your shorts.” It could be the effects of the sun or the red cloth umbrellas overhead or his disguise fading briefly, but she thinks he might blush as he undoes his belt, eyes darting nervously around before he drops the khaki shorts and a ravenous smile spreads across her face at the reappearance of his tiny swim shorts. “Much better.”

A deep, unamused inhale reaffirms his misgivings about the swimsuit, but he doesn’t say anything else, lowering himself onto one of the chairs, shimmying his body from side to side until he is comfortable. “Would you,” the blush is back, joined this time by a sheepish pat to his thigh, “like join me?”

“Of course,” she curls easily along his body, head resting on his chest with her arm draped over his waist. “So, what’d you learn last night?”

One more check of their solitude and he fills her in, hand moving along her arm in long, even strokes. “As we discovered in the files,all five couples were part of her show.” This, to Wanda at least, is enough for her to feel confident in arresting their host, but Vision seems more reluctant, not wishing to mar her career in case they are wrong. “Additionally, it seems all five were invited to her pool the next day.”

“Oh, so we’re her next target then?”

He hesitates, “It is a logical hypothesis.”

“Okay, what else?”

The bartender passes by with an inquisitive and slightly offended look at their untouched margaritas. Once he resumes his position far away, Vision shifts slightly underneath her, cradling her closer so that he is talking quietly into her ear, just in case. “The bartender has solid alibis, as does the director of activities, and all of the custodial staff. The only other new addition just prior to the disappearances,” his breath is hot against her ear and it is almost impossible to pay attention, “was the successful transplant of the Tiare Apetahi.”

“The flower from today, right?”

He nods, the movement nudging her head slightly, “Correct. I am still unsure,” the explanation stops as the guard near the door walks in front of them, long strides taking him to the edge of the pool where he turns and walks back to the door, throwing out a friendly hello on his way back. “If the flower is important but it seems oddly coincidental.”

Wanda takes it all in, agreeing with his uncertainty about what, if any connection exists between the facts. “Just before we left the flower, Kenneth said something and you were confused.”

“Oh yes. There was never any indication-” another intrusion of footsteps echo behind her and Vision's eyes closely follow whoever it is,the edges of his lips drooping slightly. “May we help you?”

It’s the front gate guard, “She wants to see you.” A twitch of his head indicates the thatched gazebo where Amora is now sitting up, a posture of anticipation and what Wanda would label a predatory smile on her face, even though technically she’s too far away to fairly define exact emotions.

Wanda smiles up at the man, “Okay, we’ll head over.”

“Not you, ma’am, just him.” His tone business like, authoritative, but almost edging on apologetic. “You have to swim across.”

Without being able to phase out of the chair, Vision struggles to remove himself from her grip, something that she could help him with but she finds his slightly frustrated escape attempts too entertaining, only relenting and letting him move her arm once he offers a pleasant, “Please?” and a kiss.

He stands at the foot of the chair, the muscles in his back constricting as his fists clench. “Darling?” Vision turns towards her, nerves fading at what she hopes is an easygoing smile on her face, despite her own misgivings. “Remember to play along, it’s for the,” she mouths mission just in case. He nods and she has to ignore the chill crawling up her spine, has to repeat the advice to herself in an attempt to believe it.

The ease of his dive into the pool is beautiful, Rhodes nicknamed him the Swan Prince after the first Avenger pool party, a nickname Vision has graciously allowed them to continue using despite the fact Wanda knows it bothers him.  He is incredibly graceful in the water, lanky arms propelling him effortlessly to the other side.  Even if she is not wholly comfortable with whatever is about to happen, she does have to appreciate the view of Vision getting out of the pool, his tiny, teal swimsuit accentuating her favorite asset quite nicely.

Slowly he approaches the chaise lounge, gesticulating a bit wilder than usual, but it seems, based on the woman’s smile, that she doesn’t notice, or care, about his nervousness. She says something and there is a millisecond pause in Vision’s movements that causes the hair on Wanda’s arms stand to attention, his body language subtly shifting into a defensive stance. A beckoning finger brings him closer to the chaise with a  hesitant step.  He bends lower, the tilt of his head implies he's doing it to hear whatever she is saying, which is when a finely manicured hand falls on his back and Wanda feels her powers churning just below the surface. She has to start a mantra of it’s for the mission, it’s for the mission, it’s for the mission to keep herself from diving into the pool and joining them. Then the woman’s hand travels down his back, a finger teasingly flicking the waistband of his suit and Wanda finds herself talking out loud, “Don’t you dare go lower.”

Unfortunately she dares and Wanda sees red.

To be continued...

[samuelfields]

How to not be shy: 3 steps to end shyness (for good)

Are you the type of person who desperately wants to improve your social life and make new connections, but just can’t seem to break out of your shell?

If you’re familiar with Ramit’s story, then you know he’s been in that exact same place. 

Although he may come across as confident and polished now, it wasn’t too long ago that he used to be fearful of putting himself out there and meeting new people. 

There’s a story he usually tells to illustrate this. 

Ramit was attending a few networking events years ago and didn’t say a word to anyone. He was surrounded by people who were interested in the same things as him, but instead of striking up a conversation, Ramit just stared at his phone the entire time. 

Because he was so shy, he missed out on forming relationships with people who could’ve ended up being great friends. 

That situation motivated him to learn more about why he was shy and what he could do to overcome it. And what he learned changed everything. 

Overcoming shyness has nothing to do with changing yourself as a person. That would be too much work and almost impossible. 

The key to overcoming shyness is to change your behavior. 

That’s exactly what I’ll show you how to do below. 

Step 1: Embrace who you are

Step 2: Change the way you think about shyness

Step 3: Study other people

Step 4: The invisibility cloak

Step 5: Gamify it

Step 6: Fake it ‘til you make it

Step 7: 3 step rejection

End the shy habit for good

Bonus: Want to turn your dream of working from home into a reality? Download my Ultimate Guide to Working from Home to learn how to make working from home work for YOU.

Step 1: Don’t judge your shyness

The first step to overcoming shyness is to not judge yourself for being shy. This isn’t productive and will only serve to put you in a more negative space, making it harder for you to make the necessary changes. 

Instead, I’d advise you to embrace this side of your personality. It could be that you’re just naturally introverted and that’s perfectly fine. Many introverts have made it to the top of just about any industry and it could even help you in certain situations. 

I’d recommended reading the article “Caring for your introvert”. It’s an amazing read that will give you more insight on your introverted nature and how to best care for it. 

After you read that article, you’ll be armed with more information on how you should live in a way that’s congruent with your nature. More self awareness is always a good thing. 

If you happen to be a shy extrovert, you can skip this step and move on to step 2. If you are introverted, read that article to get a better understanding of your nature, and then move on to step 2. 

Step 2: Change the way you think about shyness

Listen, you should absolutely read all the articles and books on overcoming shyness. That will go a long way with helping you adapt to social situations. But at the end of the day, we need to turn these tips into reality for you. 

The only way to do that is for you to change the way you think about shyness. 

A great way to do this is to familiarize yourself with a concept I call invisible scripts. These are the secret narratives in your head that guide your behavior. 

For example, some people I’ve talked to have problems connecting with others because they think of small talk as BS. They want to skip the boring stuff and get to the point. Ironically, thinking of small talk in this way is the reason why they fail at building relationships. 

While you may think of small talk as pointless, others think of it as building a relationship. 

What you may have scripted for yourself is that you want to get straight to the point of the conversation. But what you’ve failed to realize is that small talk is important filler material. 

Think about the process of going to a restaurant. Do you just sit down and get your meal immediately? Of course not. The wait staff greets you, gets you drinks, takes your orders, asks you questions. 

They slow the process down. This is exactly what you must do in conversations and small talk serves that very purpose. 

Step 3: Study other people

Reading tips and hacks on how to overcome shyness has its place, but the most important thing you can do is to study other people. 

Think about the friends you have who have vibrant social lives. They’re well liked for a reason. The next time you’re with them, pretend you’re a scientist and observe how they engage other people. 

What tone are they using ? What does their body language communicate? Are they making strong eye contact?

Gathering these observations and modeling them in your own behaviour is the one thing that will totally transform how you interact with people. This will be an important step in you overcoming your shy tendencies. 

The goal is to be more socially skilled and making these subtle shifts in your behavior will get you to that end goal. 

If the COVID-19 pandemic has you worried about money, check out my free guide on Coronavirus-Proofing your Finances with the CEO approach

Step 4: Overcome shyness with the invisibility cloak

Ramit has said that he discovered this tactic when he was younger. Some of his friends put on a Halloween haunted house which required him to wear a mask. 

The moment his identity was concealed, something interesting happened. 

Ramit started acting crazy. He was running around, scaring people, and doing things that he would never do if it were just me wearing normal clothes. 

Why?

Because he felt safe behind the mask. What he accidentally learned about wearing the mask is that it gave him the safety and security to try things that he otherwise wouldn’t have. Ramit realized that he didn’t have to change who he was, he just had to change how I acted. 

He had to focus on my behavior first, then his attitude would follow. 

This is how the concept of the invisibility cloak was born. This is something you can use to cover up yourself, or the part of you that you don’t want others to see. 

When you put on the cloak, you can mentally decide who you’re going to be today and what your behavior is going to reflect. 

Remember– you’re not changing who you are, you’re just deciding what behavior you want to reflect. 

Take all those barriers, anxieties, and nervousness and just cover it up with that cape. It seems like a weird concept, but it works. 

The reason why it works is because everyone feels those same anxieties and fears when they walk into a room full of people. But some of us choose to behave differently. 

This invisibility cape will help you do just that. 

Step 5: Overcome shyness by turning it into a game

One of the best ways to start changing your behavior and stay motivated throughout the process is to gamify it. 

I’ve come up with a few games for you to play that will help you start being a more social person. 

The 60 second game

The first is called the 60 second game. Within 60 seconds of going into an event, coffee shop, anywhere, you’re going to go up and say hello to someone. 

If you decide later you’re done saying hello and would like to use a different phrase, that’s fine. But the point of this game is to beat your anxiety by taking action before it takes root. 

Overtime, this game will desensitize you from having any type of approach anxiety and you’ll be able to strike up a conversation with anybody in no time. 

The compliments game

The second game is called the compliments game. In this one, you have to go up to three people within 24 hours and give them a compliment. 

“I really like your shirt”, or “you have such a nice smile”. That’s it. Three times in 24 hours. 

Not only will this game give you more to talk about, but it’ll also brighten someone else’s day!

The phone game

If you see someone using a phone or see someone reading a book you can say, “what kind of phone is that? I’ve been thinking about switching for a long time”. Or you can say, “what book are you reading? I’m looking for something good to read”.

Do that 3 times in 24 hours. 

Just like the first game, this will desentize you from having social anxiety. Over time, playing any one of these games (and hopefully all 3) will lead you to becoming that social butterfly that’s been dormant for years. 

Bonus: Having more than one stream of income can help you through tough economic times. Learn how to start earning money on the side with my FREE Ultimate Guide to Making Money

Step 6: Fake it ‘til you make it. 

I want you to think about what type of person you want to be perceived as. 

Do you want to be a really friendly guy who’s got everyone roaring and laughing? Do you want to be the quiet thoughtful person who everyone is listening to intently, but you don’t speak that much? Do you want people to feel really emotionally connected to you?

Whatever you decide, I want you to fake it ‘til you make it. 

You can try using this technique in a really safe and protected space. For me it was always one on one. I would play this game in places where there was no one I knew around, and probably no one I would ever see again. 

Let’s say you want to come across as someone who is really emotionally connected to people. 

Maybe you’d say something like, “what made you choose this job over any other job? I’m so curious to learn about people’s lives”. 

That will open up a different line of discussion than saying, “Hey, listen to this crazy thing that happened to me two days ago”. 

This may seem odd, but I want to show you how much it works. Let’s take a look at someone who started off pretty awkward, but years later not only did their behavior change, but their attitude changed as well. 

Take a look at this video of Jimmy Fallon. When he started off, he was pretty awkward, but over 15 years he became much more comfortable. 

Take a look below. 

Step 7: 3 step rejection

In Ramit’s Gmail account he has a failures tab. He looks at it at the end of every month and if he’s not getting at least 10 failures per month, he knows he’s not trying enough. 

A failure could be him reaching out to someone and trying to get a meeting and they coldly turn him down. It could be anything. But the important thing here is he’s not avoiding failure, he’s actively seeking it because it means he’s trying new things. 

The same is true for me and you. 

We all have these things called self talk. It’s the way you talk to yourself to give meaning to your experiences. You may say things like: 

“There’s no way anyone would laugh at these stories, I’m not a good storyteller”.

“They’re not interested in listening to me. Why would anyone want to?”

We talk about ourselves to ourselves, and overtime we start to define ourselves. 

The 3x rejection rule states you’re not going to allow self talk to happen until you’ve been rejected three times. 

This means you can go up to somebody and say, “Hi, how are you today?” and if they blow you off, that counts as rejection #1. And you keep going until you’ve been rejected 3 times, and slightly change your approach each time. 

This isn’t a failure, it’s a test. 

What you’ll find is that the next approach may go amazingly well, but you would’ve never given it the chance if you took the first rejection to heart. If you happen to get rejected 3 times, engage in as much self talk as you want!

If you start abiding by the three failure rule, you’ll soon find out that the “failures” you built up in your head weren’t really failures at all.  

Ending the shy habit

Being shy is nothing more than a bad habit. If you follow the steps above, you’ll be well on your way to overcoming that bad habit and turning it into a good one. 

If you have more bad habits you want to get rid of, you should check out my free Ultimate Guide to Habits. 

It will inform you on how to finally tackle bad habits for good. Just click the link below to get your free gift!

It’s never too late to start building healthy habits. Download my Ultimate Guide to Habits to get started TODAY.

How to not be shy: 3 steps to end shyness (for good) is a post from: I Will Teach You To Be Rich.

from Finance https://www.iwillteachyoutoberich.com/blog/how-to-not-be-shy/ via http://www.rssmix.com/

[kennethherrerablog]

How to not be shy: 3 steps to end shyness (for good)

Are you the type of person who desperately wants to improve your social life and make new connections, but just can’t seem to break out of your shell?

If you’re familiar with Ramit’s story, then you know he’s been in that exact same place. 

Although he may come across as confident and polished now, it wasn’t too long ago that he used to be fearful of putting himself out there and meeting new people. 

There’s a story he usually tells to illustrate this. 

Ramit was attending a few networking events years ago and didn’t say a word to anyone. He was surrounded by people who were interested in the same things as him, but instead of striking up a conversation, Ramit just stared at his phone the entire time. 

Because he was so shy, he missed out on forming relationships with people who could’ve ended up being great friends. 

That situation motivated him to learn more about why he was shy and what he could do to overcome it. And what he learned changed everything. 

Overcoming shyness has nothing to do with changing yourself as a person. That would be too much work and almost impossible. 

The key to overcoming shyness is to change your behavior. 

That’s exactly what I’ll show you how to do below. 

Step 1: Embrace who you are

Step 2: Change the way you think about shyness

Step 3: Study other people

Step 4: The invisibility cloak

Step 5: Gamify it

Step 6: Fake it ‘til you make it

Step 7: 3 step rejection

End the shy habit for good

Bonus: Want to turn your dream of working from home into a reality? Download my Ultimate Guide to Working from Home to learn how to make working from home work for YOU.

Step 1: Don’t judge your shyness

The first step to overcoming shyness is to not judge yourself for being shy. This isn’t productive and will only serve to put you in a more negative space, making it harder for you to make the necessary changes. 

Instead, I’d advise you to embrace this side of your personality. It could be that you’re just naturally introverted and that’s perfectly fine. Many introverts have made it to the top of just about any industry and it could even help you in certain situations. 

I’d recommended reading the article “Caring for your introvert”. It’s an amazing read that will give you more insight on your introverted nature and how to best care for it. 

After you read that article, you’ll be armed with more information on how you should live in a way that’s congruent with your nature. More self awareness is always a good thing. 

If you happen to be a shy extrovert, you can skip this step and move on to step 2. If you are introverted, read that article to get a better understanding of your nature, and then move on to step 2. 

Step 2: Change the way you think about shyness

Listen, you should absolutely read all the articles and books on overcoming shyness. That will go a long way with helping you adapt to social situations. But at the end of the day, we need to turn these tips into reality for you. 

The only way to do that is for you to change the way you think about shyness. 

A great way to do this is to familiarize yourself with a concept I call invisible scripts. These are the secret narratives in your head that guide your behavior. 

For example, some people I’ve talked to have problems connecting with others because they think of small talk as BS. They want to skip the boring stuff and get to the point. Ironically, thinking of small talk in this way is the reason why they fail at building relationships. 

While you may think of small talk as pointless, others think of it as building a relationship. 

What you may have scripted for yourself is that you want to get straight to the point of the conversation. But what you’ve failed to realize is that small talk is important filler material. 

Think about the process of going to a restaurant. Do you just sit down and get your meal immediately? Of course not. The wait staff greets you, gets you drinks, takes your orders, asks you questions. 

They slow the process down. This is exactly what you must do in conversations and small talk serves that very purpose. 

Step 3: Study other people

Reading tips and hacks on how to overcome shyness has its place, but the most important thing you can do is to study other people. 

Think about the friends you have who have vibrant social lives. They’re well liked for a reason. The next time you’re with them, pretend you’re a scientist and observe how they engage other people. 

What tone are they using ? What does their body language communicate? Are they making strong eye contact?

Gathering these observations and modeling them in your own behaviour is the one thing that will totally transform how you interact with people. This will be an important step in you overcoming your shy tendencies. 

The goal is to be more socially skilled and making these subtle shifts in your behavior will get you to that end goal. 

If the COVID-19 pandemic has you worried about money, check out my free guide on Coronavirus-Proofing your Finances with the CEO approach

Step 4: Overcome shyness with the invisibility cloak

Ramit has said that he discovered this tactic when he was younger. Some of his friends put on a Halloween haunted house which required him to wear a mask. 

The moment his identity was concealed, something interesting happened. 

Ramit started acting crazy. He was running around, scaring people, and doing things that he would never do if it were just me wearing normal clothes. 

Why?

Because he felt safe behind the mask. What he accidentally learned about wearing the mask is that it gave him the safety and security to try things that he otherwise wouldn’t have. Ramit realized that he didn’t have to change who he was, he just had to change how I acted. 

He had to focus on my behavior first, then his attitude would follow. 

This is how the concept of the invisibility cloak was born. This is something you can use to cover up yourself, or the part of you that you don’t want others to see. 

When you put on the cloak, you can mentally decide who you’re going to be today and what your behavior is going to reflect. 

Remember– you’re not changing who you are, you’re just deciding what behavior you want to reflect. 

Take all those barriers, anxieties, and nervousness and just cover it up with that cape. It seems like a weird concept, but it works. 

The reason why it works is because everyone feels those same anxieties and fears when they walk into a room full of people. But some of us choose to behave differently. 

This invisibility cape will help you do just that. 

Step 5: Overcome shyness by turning it into a game

One of the best ways to start changing your behavior and stay motivated throughout the process is to gamify it. 

I’ve come up with a few games for you to play that will help you start being a more social person. 

The 60 second game

The first is called the 60 second game. Within 60 seconds of going into an event, coffee shop, anywhere, you’re going to go up and say hello to someone. 

If you decide later you’re done saying hello and would like to use a different phrase, that’s fine. But the point of this game is to beat your anxiety by taking action before it takes root. 

Overtime, this game will desensitize you from having any type of approach anxiety and you’ll be able to strike up a conversation with anybody in no time. 

The compliments game

The second game is called the compliments game. In this one, you have to go up to three people within 24 hours and give them a compliment. 

“I really like your shirt”, or “you have such a nice smile”. That’s it. Three times in 24 hours. 

Not only will this game give you more to talk about, but it’ll also brighten someone else’s day!

The phone game

If you see someone using a phone or see someone reading a book you can say, “what kind of phone is that? I’ve been thinking about switching for a long time”. Or you can say, “what book are you reading? I’m looking for something good to read”.

Do that 3 times in 24 hours. 

Just like the first game, this will desentize you from having social anxiety. Over time, playing any one of these games (and hopefully all 3) will lead you to becoming that social butterfly that’s been dormant for years. 

Bonus: Having more than one stream of income can help you through tough economic times. Learn how to start earning money on the side with my FREE Ultimate Guide to Making Money

Step 6: Fake it ‘til you make it. 

I want you to think about what type of person you want to be perceived as. 

Do you want to be a really friendly guy who’s got everyone roaring and laughing? Do you want to be the quiet thoughtful person who everyone is listening to intently, but you don’t speak that much? Do you want people to feel really emotionally connected to you?

Whatever you decide, I want you to fake it ‘til you make it. 

You can try using this technique in a really safe and protected space. For me it was always one on one. I would play this game in places where there was no one I knew around, and probably no one I would ever see again. 

Let’s say you want to come across as someone who is really emotionally connected to people. 

Maybe you’d say something like, “what made you choose this job over any other job? I’m so curious to learn about people’s lives”. 

That will open up a different line of discussion than saying, “Hey, listen to this crazy thing that happened to me two days ago”. 

This may seem odd, but I want to show you how much it works. Let’s take a look at someone who started off pretty awkward, but years later not only did their behavior change, but their attitude changed as well. 

Take a look at this video of Jimmy Fallon. When he started off, he was pretty awkward, but over 15 years he became much more comfortable. 

Take a look below. 

Step 7: 3 step rejection

In Ramit’s Gmail account he has a failures tab. He looks at it at the end of every month and if he’s not getting at least 10 failures per month, he knows he’s not trying enough. 

A failure could be him reaching out to someone and trying to get a meeting and they coldly turn him down. It could be anything. But the important thing here is he’s not avoiding failure, he’s actively seeking it because it means he’s trying new things. 

The same is true for me and you. 

We all have these things called self talk. It’s the way you talk to yourself to give meaning to your experiences. You may say things like: 

“There’s no way anyone would laugh at these stories, I’m not a good storyteller”.

“They’re not interested in listening to me. Why would anyone want to?”

We talk about ourselves to ourselves, and overtime we start to define ourselves. 

The 3x rejection rule states you’re not going to allow self talk to happen until you’ve been rejected three times. 

This means you can go up to somebody and say, “Hi, how are you today?” and if they blow you off, that counts as rejection #1. And you keep going until you’ve been rejected 3 times, and slightly change your approach each time. 

This isn’t a failure, it’s a test. 

What you’ll find is that the next approach may go amazingly well, but you would’ve never given it the chance if you took the first rejection to heart. If you happen to get rejected 3 times, engage in as much self talk as you want!

If you start abiding by the three failure rule, you’ll soon find out that the “failures” you built up in your head weren’t really failures at all.  

Ending the shy habit

Being shy is nothing more than a bad habit. If you follow the steps above, you’ll be well on your way to overcoming that bad habit and turning it into a good one. 

If you have more bad habits you want to get rid of, you should check out my free Ultimate Guide to Habits. 

It will inform you on how to finally tackle bad habits for good. Just click the link below to get your free gift!

It’s never too late to start building healthy habits. Download my Ultimate Guide to Habits to get started TODAY.

How to not be shy: 3 steps to end shyness (for good) is a post from: I Will Teach You To Be Rich.

How to not be shy: 3 steps to end shyness (for good) published first on https://justinbetreviews.tumblr.com/

[paulckrueger]

How to not be shy: 3 steps to end shyness (for good)

Are you the type of person who desperately wants to improve your social life and make new connections, but just can’t seem to break out of your shell?

If you’re familiar with Ramit’s story, then you know he’s been in that exact same place. 

Although he may come across as confident and polished now, it wasn’t too long ago that he used to be fearful of putting himself out there and meeting new people. 

There’s a story he usually tells to illustrate this. 

Ramit was attending a few networking events years ago and didn’t say a word to anyone. He was surrounded by people who were interested in the same things as him, but instead of striking up a conversation, Ramit just stared at his phone the entire time. 

Because he was so shy, he missed out on forming relationships with people who could’ve ended up being great friends. 

That situation motivated him to learn more about why he was shy and what he could do to overcome it. And what he learned changed everything. 

Overcoming shyness has nothing to do with changing yourself as a person. That would be too much work and almost impossible. 

The key to overcoming shyness is to change your behavior. 

That’s exactly what I’ll show you how to do below. 

Step 1: Embrace who you are

Step 2: Change the way you think about shyness

Step 3: Study other people

Step 4: The invisibility cloak

Step 5: Gamify it

Step 6: Fake it ‘til you make it

Step 7: 3 step rejection

End the shy habit for good

Bonus: Want to turn your dream of working from home into a reality? Download my Ultimate Guide to Working from Home to learn how to make working from home work for YOU.

Step 1: Don’t judge your shyness

The first step to overcoming shyness is to not judge yourself for being shy. This isn’t productive and will only serve to put you in a more negative space, making it harder for you to make the necessary changes. 

Instead, I’d advise you to embrace this side of your personality. It could be that you’re just naturally introverted and that’s perfectly fine. Many introverts have made it to the top of just about any industry and it could even help you in certain situations. 

I’d recommended reading the article “Caring for your introvert”. It’s an amazing read that will give you more insight on your introverted nature and how to best care for it. 

After you read that article, you’ll be armed with more information on how you should live in a way that’s congruent with your nature. More self awareness is always a good thing. 

If you happen to be a shy extrovert, you can skip this step and move on to step 2. If you are introverted, read that article to get a better understanding of your nature, and then move on to step 2. 

Step 2: Change the way you think about shyness

Listen, you should absolutely read all the articles and books on overcoming shyness. That will go a long way with helping you adapt to social situations. But at the end of the day, we need to turn these tips into reality for you. 

The only way to do that is for you to change the way you think about shyness. 

A great way to do this is to familiarize yourself with a concept I call invisible scripts. These are the secret narratives in your head that guide your behavior. 

For example, some people I’ve talked to have problems connecting with others because they think of small talk as BS. They want to skip the boring stuff and get to the point. Ironically, thinking of small talk in this way is the reason why they fail at building relationships. 

While you may think of small talk as pointless, others think of it as building a relationship. 

What you may have scripted for yourself is that you want to get straight to the point of the conversation. But what you’ve failed to realize is that small talk is important filler material. 

Think about the process of going to a restaurant. Do you just sit down and get your meal immediately? Of course not. The wait staff greets you, gets you drinks, takes your orders, asks you questions. 

They slow the process down. This is exactly what you must do in conversations and small talk serves that very purpose. 

Step 3: Study other people

Reading tips and hacks on how to overcome shyness has its place, but the most important thing you can do is to study other people. 

Think about the friends you have who have vibrant social lives. They’re well liked for a reason. The next time you’re with them, pretend you’re a scientist and observe how they engage other people. 

What tone are they using ? What does their body language communicate? Are they making strong eye contact?

Gathering these observations and modeling them in your own behaviour is the one thing that will totally transform how you interact with people. This will be an important step in you overcoming your shy tendencies. 

The goal is to be more socially skilled and making these subtle shifts in your behavior will get you to that end goal. 

If the COVID-19 pandemic has you worried about money, check out my free guide on Coronavirus-Proofing your Finances with the CEO approach

Step 4: Overcome shyness with the invisibility cloak

Ramit has said that he discovered this tactic when he was younger. Some of his friends put on a Halloween haunted house which required him to wear a mask. 

The moment his identity was concealed, something interesting happened. 

Ramit started acting crazy. He was running around, scaring people, and doing things that he would never do if it were just me wearing normal clothes. 

Why?

Because he felt safe behind the mask. What he accidentally learned about wearing the mask is that it gave him the safety and security to try things that he otherwise wouldn’t have. Ramit realized that he didn’t have to change who he was, he just had to change how I acted. 

He had to focus on my behavior first, then his attitude would follow. 

This is how the concept of the invisibility cloak was born. This is something you can use to cover up yourself, or the part of you that you don’t want others to see. 

When you put on the cloak, you can mentally decide who you’re going to be today and what your behavior is going to reflect. 

Remember– you’re not changing who you are, you’re just deciding what behavior you want to reflect. 

Take all those barriers, anxieties, and nervousness and just cover it up with that cape. It seems like a weird concept, but it works. 

The reason why it works is because everyone feels those same anxieties and fears when they walk into a room full of people. But some of us choose to behave differently. 

This invisibility cape will help you do just that. 

Step 5: Overcome shyness by turning it into a game

One of the best ways to start changing your behavior and stay motivated throughout the process is to gamify it. 

I’ve come up with a few games for you to play that will help you start being a more social person. 

The 60 second game

The first is called the 60 second game. Within 60 seconds of going into an event, coffee shop, anywhere, you’re going to go up and say hello to someone. 

If you decide later you’re done saying hello and would like to use a different phrase, that’s fine. But the point of this game is to beat your anxiety by taking action before it takes root. 

Overtime, this game will desensitize you from having any type of approach anxiety and you’ll be able to strike up a conversation with anybody in no time. 

The compliments game

The second game is called the compliments game. In this one, you have to go up to three people within 24 hours and give them a compliment. 

“I really like your shirt”, or “you have such a nice smile”. That’s it. Three times in 24 hours. 

Not only will this game give you more to talk about, but it’ll also brighten someone else’s day!

The phone game

If you see someone using a phone or see someone reading a book you can say, “what kind of phone is that? I’ve been thinking about switching for a long time”. Or you can say, “what book are you reading? I’m looking for something good to read”.

Do that 3 times in 24 hours. 

Just like the first game, this will desentize you from having social anxiety. Over time, playing any one of these games (and hopefully all 3) will lead you to becoming that social butterfly that’s been dormant for years. 

Bonus: Having more than one stream of income can help you through tough economic times. Learn how to start earning money on the side with my FREE Ultimate Guide to Making Money

Step 6: Fake it ‘til you make it. 

I want you to think about what type of person you want to be perceived as. 

Do you want to be a really friendly guy who’s got everyone roaring and laughing? Do you want to be the quiet thoughtful person who everyone is listening to intently, but you don’t speak that much? Do you want people to feel really emotionally connected to you?

Whatever you decide, I want you to fake it ‘til you make it. 

You can try using this technique in a really safe and protected space. For me it was always one on one. I would play this game in places where there was no one I knew around, and probably no one I would ever see again. 

Let’s say you want to come across as someone who is really emotionally connected to people. 

Maybe you’d say something like, “what made you choose this job over any other job? I’m so curious to learn about people’s lives”. 

That will open up a different line of discussion than saying, “Hey, listen to this crazy thing that happened to me two days ago”. 

This may seem odd, but I want to show you how much it works. Let’s take a look at someone who started off pretty awkward, but years later not only did their behavior change, but their attitude changed as well. 

Take a look at this video of Jimmy Fallon. When he started off, he was pretty awkward, but over 15 years he became much more comfortable. 

Take a look below. 

Step 7: 3 step rejection

In Ramit’s Gmail account he has a failures tab. He looks at it at the end of every month and if he’s not getting at least 10 failures per month, he knows he’s not trying enough. 

A failure could be him reaching out to someone and trying to get a meeting and they coldly turn him down. It could be anything. But the important thing here is he’s not avoiding failure, he’s actively seeking it because it means he’s trying new things. 

The same is true for me and you. 

We all have these things called self talk. It’s the way you talk to yourself to give meaning to your experiences. You may say things like: 

“There’s no way anyone would laugh at these stories, I’m not a good storyteller”.

“They’re not interested in listening to me. Why would anyone want to?”

We talk about ourselves to ourselves, and overtime we start to define ourselves. 

The 3x rejection rule states you’re not going to allow self talk to happen until you’ve been rejected three times. 

This means you can go up to somebody and say, “Hi, how are you today?” and if they blow you off, that counts as rejection #1. And you keep going until you’ve been rejected 3 times, and slightly change your approach each time. 

This isn’t a failure, it’s a test. 

What you’ll find is that the next approach may go amazingly well, but you would’ve never given it the chance if you took the first rejection to heart. If you happen to get rejected 3 times, engage in as much self talk as you want!

If you start abiding by the three failure rule, you’ll soon find out that the “failures” you built up in your head weren’t really failures at all.  

Ending the shy habit

Being shy is nothing more than a bad habit. If you follow the steps above, you’ll be well on your way to overcoming that bad habit and turning it into a good one. 

If you have more bad habits you want to get rid of, you should check out my free Ultimate Guide to Habits. 

It will inform you on how to finally tackle bad habits for good. Just click the link below to get your free gift!

It’s never too late to start building healthy habits. Download my Ultimate Guide to Habits to get started TODAY.

How to not be shy: 3 steps to end shyness (for good) is a post from: I Will Teach You To Be Rich.

from Surety Bond Brokers? Business https://www.iwillteachyoutoberich.com/blog/how-to-not-be-shy/

[andrewdburton]

How to not be shy: 3 steps to end shyness (for good)

Are you the type of person who desperately wants to improve your social life and make new connections, but just can’t seem to break out of your shell?

If you’re familiar with Ramit’s story, then you know he’s been in that exact same place. 

Although he may come across as confident and polished now, it wasn’t too long ago that he used to be fearful of putting himself out there and meeting new people. 

There’s a story he usually tells to illustrate this. 

Ramit was attending a few networking events years ago and didn’t say a word to anyone. He was surrounded by people who were interested in the same things as him, but instead of striking up a conversation, Ramit just stared at his phone the entire time. 

Because he was so shy, he missed out on forming relationships with people who could’ve ended up being great friends. 

That situation motivated him to learn more about why he was shy and what he could do to overcome it. And what he learned changed everything. 

Overcoming shyness has nothing to do with changing yourself as a person. That would be too much work and almost impossible. 

The key to overcoming shyness is to change your behavior. 

That’s exactly what I’ll show you how to do below. 

Step 1: Embrace who you are

Step 2: Change the way you think about shyness

Step 3: Study other people

Step 4: The invisibility cloak

Step 5: Gamify it

Step 6: Fake it ‘til you make it

Step 7: 3 step rejection

End the shy habit for good

Bonus: Want to turn your dream of working from home into a reality? Download my Ultimate Guide to Working from Home to learn how to make working from home work for YOU.

Step 1: Don’t judge your shyness

The first step to overcoming shyness is to not judge yourself for being shy. This isn’t productive and will only serve to put you in a more negative space, making it harder for you to make the necessary changes. 

Instead, I’d advise you to embrace this side of your personality. It could be that you’re just naturally introverted and that’s perfectly fine. Many introverts have made it to the top of just about any industry and it could even help you in certain situations. 

I’d recommended reading the article “Caring for your introvert”. It’s an amazing read that will give you more insight on your introverted nature and how to best care for it. 

After you read that article, you’ll be armed with more information on how you should live in a way that’s congruent with your nature. More self awareness is always a good thing. 

If you happen to be a shy extrovert, you can skip this step and move on to step 2. If you are introverted, read that article to get a better understanding of your nature, and then move on to step 2. 

Step 2: Change the way you think about shyness

Listen, you should absolutely read all the articles and books on overcoming shyness. That will go a long way with helping you adapt to social situations. But at the end of the day, we need to turn these tips into reality for you. 

The only way to do that is for you to change the way you think about shyness. 

A great way to do this is to familiarize yourself with a concept I call invisible scripts. These are the secret narratives in your head that guide your behavior. 

For example, some people I’ve talked to have problems connecting with others because they think of small talk as BS. They want to skip the boring stuff and get to the point. Ironically, thinking of small talk in this way is the reason why they fail at building relationships. 

While you may think of small talk as pointless, others think of it as building a relationship. 

What you may have scripted for yourself is that you want to get straight to the point of the conversation. But what you’ve failed to realize is that small talk is important filler material. 

Think about the process of going to a restaurant. Do you just sit down and get your meal immediately? Of course not. The wait staff greets you, gets you drinks, takes your orders, asks you questions. 

They slow the process down. This is exactly what you must do in conversations and small talk serves that very purpose. 

Step 3: Study other people

Reading tips and hacks on how to overcome shyness has its place, but the most important thing you can do is to study other people. 

Think about the friends you have who have vibrant social lives. They’re well liked for a reason. The next time you’re with them, pretend you’re a scientist and observe how they engage other people. 

What tone are they using ? What does their body language communicate? Are they making strong eye contact?

Gathering these observations and modeling them in your own behaviour is the one thing that will totally transform how you interact with people. This will be an important step in you overcoming your shy tendencies. 

The goal is to be more socially skilled and making these subtle shifts in your behavior will get you to that end goal. 

If the COVID-19 pandemic has you worried about money, check out my free guide on Coronavirus-Proofing your Finances with the CEO approach

Step 4: Overcome shyness with the invisibility cloak

Ramit has said that he discovered this tactic when he was younger. Some of his friends put on a Halloween haunted house which required him to wear a mask. 

The moment his identity was concealed, something interesting happened. 

Ramit started acting crazy. He was running around, scaring people, and doing things that he would never do if it were just me wearing normal clothes. 

Why?

Because he felt safe behind the mask. What he accidentally learned about wearing the mask is that it gave him the safety and security to try things that he otherwise wouldn’t have. Ramit realized that he didn’t have to change who he was, he just had to change how I acted. 

He had to focus on my behavior first, then his attitude would follow. 

This is how the concept of the invisibility cloak was born. This is something you can use to cover up yourself, or the part of you that you don’t want others to see. 

When you put on the cloak, you can mentally decide who you’re going to be today and what your behavior is going to reflect. 

Remember– you’re not changing who you are, you’re just deciding what behavior you want to reflect. 

Take all those barriers, anxieties, and nervousness and just cover it up with that cape. It seems like a weird concept, but it works. 

The reason why it works is because everyone feels those same anxieties and fears when they walk into a room full of people. But some of us choose to behave differently. 

This invisibility cape will help you do just that. 

Step 5: Overcome shyness by turning it into a game

One of the best ways to start changing your behavior and stay motivated throughout the process is to gamify it. 

I’ve come up with a few games for you to play that will help you start being a more social person. 

The 60 second game

The first is called the 60 second game. Within 60 seconds of going into an event, coffee shop, anywhere, you’re going to go up and say hello to someone. 

If you decide later you’re done saying hello and would like to use a different phrase, that’s fine. But the point of this game is to beat your anxiety by taking action before it takes root. 

Overtime, this game will desensitize you from having any type of approach anxiety and you’ll be able to strike up a conversation with anybody in no time. 

The compliments game

The second game is called the compliments game. In this one, you have to go up to three people within 24 hours and give them a compliment. 

“I really like your shirt”, or “you have such a nice smile”. That’s it. Three times in 24 hours. 

Not only will this game give you more to talk about, but it’ll also brighten someone else’s day!

The phone game

If you see someone using a phone or see someone reading a book you can say, “what kind of phone is that? I’ve been thinking about switching for a long time”. Or you can say, “what book are you reading? I’m looking for something good to read”.

Do that 3 times in 24 hours. 

Just like the first game, this will desentize you from having social anxiety. Over time, playing any one of these games (and hopefully all 3) will lead you to becoming that social butterfly that’s been dormant for years. 

Bonus: Having more than one stream of income can help you through tough economic times. Learn how to start earning money on the side with my FREE Ultimate Guide to Making Money

Step 6: Fake it ‘til you make it. 

I want you to think about what type of person you want to be perceived as. 

Do you want to be a really friendly guy who’s got everyone roaring and laughing? Do you want to be the quiet thoughtful person who everyone is listening to intently, but you don’t speak that much? Do you want people to feel really emotionally connected to you?

Whatever you decide, I want you to fake it ‘til you make it. 

You can try using this technique in a really safe and protected space. For me it was always one on one. I would play this game in places where there was no one I knew around, and probably no one I would ever see again. 

Let’s say you want to come across as someone who is really emotionally connected to people. 

Maybe you’d say something like, “what made you choose this job over any other job? I’m so curious to learn about people’s lives”. 

That will open up a different line of discussion than saying, “Hey, listen to this crazy thing that happened to me two days ago”. 

This may seem odd, but I want to show you how much it works. Let’s take a look at someone who started off pretty awkward, but years later not only did their behavior change, but their attitude changed as well. 

Take a look at this video of Jimmy Fallon. When he started off, he was pretty awkward, but over 15 years he became much more comfortable. 

Take a look below. 

Step 7: 3 step rejection

In Ramit’s Gmail account he has a failures tab. He looks at it at the end of every month and if he’s not getting at least 10 failures per month, he knows he’s not trying enough. 

A failure could be him reaching out to someone and trying to get a meeting and they coldly turn him down. It could be anything. But the important thing here is he’s not avoiding failure, he’s actively seeking it because it means he’s trying new things. 

The same is true for me and you. 

We all have these things called self talk. It’s the way you talk to yourself to give meaning to your experiences. You may say things like: 

“There’s no way anyone would laugh at these stories, I’m not a good storyteller”.

“They’re not interested in listening to me. Why would anyone want to?”

We talk about ourselves to ourselves, and overtime we start to define ourselves. 

The 3x rejection rule states you’re not going to allow self talk to happen until you’ve been rejected three times. 

This means you can go up to somebody and say, “Hi, how are you today?” and if they blow you off, that counts as rejection #1. And you keep going until you’ve been rejected 3 times, and slightly change your approach each time. 

This isn’t a failure, it’s a test. 

What you’ll find is that the next approach may go amazingly well, but you would’ve never given it the chance if you took the first rejection to heart. If you happen to get rejected 3 times, engage in as much self talk as you want!

If you start abiding by the three failure rule, you’ll soon find out that the “failures” you built up in your head weren’t really failures at all.  

Ending the shy habit

Being shy is nothing more than a bad habit. If you follow the steps above, you’ll be well on your way to overcoming that bad habit and turning it into a good one. 

If you have more bad habits you want to get rid of, you should check out my free Ultimate Guide to Habits. 

It will inform you on how to finally tackle bad habits for good. Just click the link below to get your free gift!

It’s never too late to start building healthy habits. Download my Ultimate Guide to Habits to get started TODAY.

How to not be shy: 3 steps to end shyness (for good) is a post from: I Will Teach You To Be Rich.

from Finance https://www.iwillteachyoutoberich.com/blog/how-to-not-be-shy/ via http://www.rssmix.com/

[mcjoelcain]

How to not be shy: 3 steps to end shyness (for good)

Are you the type of person who desperately wants to improve your social life and make new connections, but just can’t seem to break out of your shell?

If you’re familiar with Ramit’s story, then you know he’s been in that exact same place. 

Although he may come across as confident and polished now, it wasn’t too long ago that he used to be fearful of putting himself out there and meeting new people. 

There’s a story he usually tells to illustrate this. 

Ramit was attending a few networking events years ago and didn’t say a word to anyone. He was surrounded by people who were interested in the same things as him, but instead of striking up a conversation, Ramit just stared at his phone the entire time. 

Because he was so shy, he missed out on forming relationships with people who could’ve ended up being great friends. 

That situation motivated him to learn more about why he was shy and what he could do to overcome it. And what he learned changed everything. 

Overcoming shyness has nothing to do with changing yourself as a person. That would be too much work and almost impossible. 

The key to overcoming shyness is to change your behavior. 

That’s exactly what I’ll show you how to do below. 

Step 1: Embrace who you are

Step 2: Change the way you think about shyness

Step 3: Study other people

Step 4: The invisibility cloak

Step 5: Gamify it

Step 6: Fake it ‘til you make it

Step 7: 3 step rejection

End the shy habit for good

Bonus: Want to turn your dream of working from home into a reality? Download my Ultimate Guide to Working from Home to learn how to make working from home work for YOU.

Step 1: Don’t judge your shyness

The first step to overcoming shyness is to not judge yourself for being shy. This isn’t productive and will only serve to put you in a more negative space, making it harder for you to make the necessary changes. 

Instead, I’d advise you to embrace this side of your personality. It could be that you’re just naturally introverted and that’s perfectly fine. Many introverts have made it to the top of just about any industry and it could even help you in certain situations. 

I’d recommended reading the article “Caring for your introvert”. It’s an amazing read that will give you more insight on your introverted nature and how to best care for it. 

After you read that article, you’ll be armed with more information on how you should live in a way that’s congruent with your nature. More self awareness is always a good thing. 

If you happen to be a shy extrovert, you can skip this step and move on to step 2. If you are introverted, read that article to get a better understanding of your nature, and then move on to step 2. 

Step 2: Change the way you think about shyness

Listen, you should absolutely read all the articles and books on overcoming shyness. That will go a long way with helping you adapt to social situations. But at the end of the day, we need to turn these tips into reality for you. 

The only way to do that is for you to change the way you think about shyness. 

A great way to do this is to familiarize yourself with a concept I call invisible scripts. These are the secret narratives in your head that guide your behavior. 

For example, some people I’ve talked to have problems connecting with others because they think of small talk as BS. They want to skip the boring stuff and get to the point. Ironically, thinking of small talk in this way is the reason why they fail at building relationships. 

While you may think of small talk as pointless, others think of it as building a relationship. 

What you may have scripted for yourself is that you want to get straight to the point of the conversation. But what you’ve failed to realize is that small talk is important filler material. 

Think about the process of going to a restaurant. Do you just sit down and get your meal immediately? Of course not. The wait staff greets you, gets you drinks, takes your orders, asks you questions. 

They slow the process down. This is exactly what you must do in conversations and small talk serves that very purpose. 

Step 3: Study other people

Reading tips and hacks on how to overcome shyness has its place, but the most important thing you can do is to study other people. 

Think about the friends you have who have vibrant social lives. They’re well liked for a reason. The next time you’re with them, pretend you’re a scientist and observe how they engage other people. 

What tone are they using ? What does their body language communicate? Are they making strong eye contact?

Gathering these observations and modeling them in your own behaviour is the one thing that will totally transform how you interact with people. This will be an important step in you overcoming your shy tendencies. 

The goal is to be more socially skilled and making these subtle shifts in your behavior will get you to that end goal. 

If the COVID-19 pandemic has you worried about money, check out my free guide on Coronavirus-Proofing your Finances with the CEO approach

Step 4: Overcome shyness with the invisibility cloak

Ramit has said that he discovered this tactic when he was younger. Some of his friends put on a Halloween haunted house which required him to wear a mask. 

The moment his identity was concealed, something interesting happened. 

Ramit started acting crazy. He was running around, scaring people, and doing things that he would never do if it were just me wearing normal clothes. 

Why?

Because he felt safe behind the mask. What he accidentally learned about wearing the mask is that it gave him the safety and security to try things that he otherwise wouldn’t have. Ramit realized that he didn’t have to change who he was, he just had to change how I acted. 

He had to focus on my behavior first, then his attitude would follow. 

This is how the concept of the invisibility cloak was born. This is something you can use to cover up yourself, or the part of you that you don’t want others to see. 

When you put on the cloak, you can mentally decide who you’re going to be today and what your behavior is going to reflect. 

Remember– you’re not changing who you are, you’re just deciding what behavior you want to reflect. 

Take all those barriers, anxieties, and nervousness and just cover it up with that cape. It seems like a weird concept, but it works. 

The reason why it works is because everyone feels those same anxieties and fears when they walk into a room full of people. But some of us choose to behave differently. 

This invisibility cape will help you do just that. 

Step 5: Overcome shyness by turning it into a game

One of the best ways to start changing your behavior and stay motivated throughout the process is to gamify it. 

I’ve come up with a few games for you to play that will help you start being a more social person. 

The 60 second game

The first is called the 60 second game. Within 60 seconds of going into an event, coffee shop, anywhere, you’re going to go up and say hello to someone. 

If you decide later you’re done saying hello and would like to use a different phrase, that’s fine. But the point of this game is to beat your anxiety by taking action before it takes root. 

Overtime, this game will desensitize you from having any type of approach anxiety and you’ll be able to strike up a conversation with anybody in no time. 

The compliments game

The second game is called the compliments game. In this one, you have to go up to three people within 24 hours and give them a compliment. 

“I really like your shirt”, or “you have such a nice smile”. That’s it. Three times in 24 hours. 

Not only will this game give you more to talk about, but it’ll also brighten someone else’s day!

The phone game

If you see someone using a phone or see someone reading a book you can say, “what kind of phone is that? I’ve been thinking about switching for a long time”. Or you can say, “what book are you reading? I’m looking for something good to read”.

Do that 3 times in 24 hours. 

Just like the first game, this will desentize you from having social anxiety. Over time, playing any one of these games (and hopefully all 3) will lead you to becoming that social butterfly that’s been dormant for years. 

Bonus: Having more than one stream of income can help you through tough economic times. Learn how to start earning money on the side with my FREE Ultimate Guide to Making Money

Step 6: Fake it ‘til you make it. 

I want you to think about what type of person you want to be perceived as. 

Do you want to be a really friendly guy who’s got everyone roaring and laughing? Do you want to be the quiet thoughtful person who everyone is listening to intently, but you don’t speak that much? Do you want people to feel really emotionally connected to you?

Whatever you decide, I want you to fake it ‘til you make it. 

You can try using this technique in a really safe and protected space. For me it was always one on one. I would play this game in places where there was no one I knew around, and probably no one I would ever see again. 

Let’s say you want to come across as someone who is really emotionally connected to people. 

Maybe you’d say something like, “what made you choose this job over any other job? I’m so curious to learn about people’s lives”. 

That will open up a different line of discussion than saying, “Hey, listen to this crazy thing that happened to me two days ago”. 

This may seem odd, but I want to show you how much it works. Let’s take a look at someone who started off pretty awkward, but years later not only did their behavior change, but their attitude changed as well. 

Take a look at this video of Jimmy Fallon. When he started off, he was pretty awkward, but over 15 years he became much more comfortable. 

Take a look below. 

Step 7: 3 step rejection

In Ramit’s Gmail account he has a failures tab. He looks at it at the end of every month and if he’s not getting at least 10 failures per month, he knows he’s not trying enough. 

A failure could be him reaching out to someone and trying to get a meeting and they coldly turn him down. It could be anything. But the important thing here is he’s not avoiding failure, he’s actively seeking it because it means he’s trying new things. 

The same is true for me and you. 

We all have these things called self talk. It’s the way you talk to yourself to give meaning to your experiences. You may say things like: 

“There’s no way anyone would laugh at these stories, I’m not a good storyteller”.

“They’re not interested in listening to me. Why would anyone want to?”

We talk about ourselves to ourselves, and overtime we start to define ourselves. 

The 3x rejection rule states you’re not going to allow self talk to happen until you’ve been rejected three times. 

This means you can go up to somebody and say, “Hi, how are you today?” and if they blow you off, that counts as rejection #1. And you keep going until you’ve been rejected 3 times, and slightly change your approach each time. 

This isn’t a failure, it’s a test. 

What you’ll find is that the next approach may go amazingly well, but you would’ve never given it the chance if you took the first rejection to heart. If you happen to get rejected 3 times, engage in as much self talk as you want!

If you start abiding by the three failure rule, you’ll soon find out that the “failures” you built up in your head weren’t really failures at all.  

Ending the shy habit

Being shy is nothing more than a bad habit. If you follow the steps above, you’ll be well on your way to overcoming that bad habit and turning it into a good one. 

If you have more bad habits you want to get rid of, you should check out my free Ultimate Guide to Habits. 

It will inform you on how to finally tackle bad habits for good. Just click the link below to get your free gift!

It’s never too late to start building healthy habits. Download my Ultimate Guide to Habits to get started TODAY.

How to not be shy: 3 steps to end shyness (for good) is a post from: I Will Teach You To Be Rich.

from Money https://www.iwillteachyoutoberich.com/blog/how-to-not-be-shy/ via http://www.rssmix.com/

[holytheoristtastemaker]

Web Development is a field that is probably not going anywhere in the next 5-10-15 years. This strong assumption comes with the facts about how quick web is moving, the improvements in hardware people have with them (fast and smart mobile phones), and cloud-based applications which allows to do the heavy lifting in the cloud and use the browser as a bridge to connect powerful backend servers with less capable and powerful frontends. This makes it the best bet to learn web development right now if you're looking to learn something. Not only would it open a plethora of opportunities for you as an individual, but you'll also be able to code and deploy complete projects end-to-end which can be consumed by almost everyone on the planet. Since most people have browsers with them anyway, every person is just a single URL away from your web-app and something you've coded - compare this with a desktop application or a hardware-based product. It's just not that scalable compared to the web. Alright! Now that we've established the fact that the web is the best way to go about right now if you want to learn something, let's see how to learn web development. The web is vast - start small and keep it small You would've seen a huge amount of available JavaScript frameworks and libraries like React, Angular, Vue, Ember, jQuery, XYZ, etc. Some very common questions I get as a YouTuber posting web development content is on the following lines: Should I learn X? Is X better than Y? What is the scope of Z? Always remember 2 things about technology, especially about the web: Your tech stack almost always never matters. If you're good enough with your language/framework, you'll win every time. You never need to learn everything. Never. Be a jack of all, and surely master of one. To summarize this section, you need to think very small when you start, as it is super easy to get carried away with that hot framework in the market or trying to race ahead by dropping old tech and adapting new tech without doing proper research. Start with HTML and CSS I cannot stress this enough. It pains me to see a ton of people asking me questions when they're working on their React projects when the answer lies in some fact which shows how weak their HTML or CSS skills are. JavaScript was only a browser scripting language, and although it's much more now, it doesn't change the fact that on the web it compliments the HTML and CSS parts. With advancements in web standards, there's so much achievable in CSS alone that for a lot of things, JavaScript is not even required. Animations? You got it. Drag-drop? HTML can handle that. Layouts? Checkout the flexbox or grid CSS API! There are so many things you can learn about HTML and CSS! Just don't rush into JavaScript because of the reason that cool kids like Angular are waiting out there for you. Those libraries and frameworks are not going anywhere. Take your time. Going deep or wide? There are 2 approaches when you learn web development - go wide or go deep. Going wide means you start learning many things together. This might work for some people, and this might not work for others. You might overwhelm yourself with tutorials, exercises, videos, blogs, etc. and give up. Going deep means you start learning one thing and try to learn as much as you can about it. This has its own set of pros and cons. You might get bored, give up because you don't see results. So what's the solution? The answer is, surprisingly, doing none. Choose a small tech stack - like HTML/CSS/JavaScript, and go moderately deep into all three. This has a couple of advantages: You don't get bored, all three have relatively different purposes and ways of writing. You can blend all three, and create and see something meaningful quickly without months of effort - which is usually required by all other languages like C/C++. This would keep you motivated to work more Do not choose React, ..or Angular, ..or Vue When people start to work with JavaScript, there's an urge to pick up a library like React, pick up a UI system like Material UI and just go ahead and start building awesome stuff. Unfortunately, it's nothing more than shooting yourself in the face. You can never, ever, create intermediate to advanced projects with these frameworks if you're not done with basics in JavaScript. And applying JavaScript takes some time. Notice I used the word applying, and not learning in the previous sentence. There's a huge difference between learning something and applying something you learned. Create a small but working project with HTML/CSS/JavaScript, and when you do, create one more, and then, create one more. At every step, keep on increasing the complexity of the project, and the expectations too, until your codebase becomes unmanageable. The point you've arrived at now, I would call this the boundary of superior learning. You see, frameworks exist to offload repetitive work from you. They do not exist so that you can don't care at all what's going on under the hood and rely on the fact that it's all magic. The first time you choose a framework like React or Angular for your projects should be when you're confident that you can create that project without React or Angular too. Master of one Now, when you're good with HTML/CSS/JavaScript, it's time to move on to industry standards. The truth is, no matter how good of a JavaScript developer you may be, you would often need to work with modern frameworks like React - and just with your JavaScript knowledge, you cannot immediately master it. It'll take time - to learn and understand the terminology, the concepts, how it works under the hood. It's time to take up a framework and master it. How? You might ask. The answer is simple - it's up to you. Try "Hello World" or maybe a bit more complex project in all frameworks you see out there (mostly Angular, Vue or React) and see which one vibes the most with you. Pick that one and don't look back. Create unlimited projects with it, and aim to do something which you don't already know how to do - this is the best way to push yourself out of your comfort zone and learn new things about a thing you thought you already know. Jack of others It's equally important to keep an eye on other candidates too. It not only involves direct competitors of your "favorite" framework out there but also some worthy web development tools too. You don't have to "master" the tools as such because a lot of times they're just one-time setup with regular maintenance, but it's always nice to keep them on your checklist of skills. This could include several things - unit testing with jest, end-2-end testing with cypress, webpack, babel, parcel, a bit of devops, Linux shell scripting, server deployments, etc. You can always learn the basics of these skills quickly as they've been around for a long time - so they have a lot of help material available with them. Move on Trust me, it's a funny feeling but once you develop many projects and write a lot of code with your favorite stack, you start feeling like anything could be done. At this point, you can take up a job and keep doing it - it's completely fine. Or, you can level up your skills through the roof - move on. Web. is. vast. You're done with HTML/CSS/JavaScript/React/Angular/Vue? Move to servers - learn about server deployment, NGiNX, HAProxy, load balancing, setting up cloud infrastructure, firewalls, autoscaling, etc. Done with that too? Move on to WebAssembly - language for the next iteration of the web. Done with that too? Err, I don't know then, maybe move on to other programming areas, or cooking? Conclusion In today's world, it's so easy to not repeat the mistakes I did while learning web development myself, because all those mistakes are now public for everyone to read! You have so many resources and I've myself been working on one for web developers to learn! Here's my YouTube channel where I teach how to program awesome things and here's the codedamn platform - the actual platform which allows you to become a great developer by blending a bunch of videos, articles, and exercises! Let me know what you think about this article

http://damianfallon.blogspot.com/2020/04/the-right-way-to-learn-front-end-web.html

[archiebwoollard]

6 Examples of the Best B2B Landing Pages (and the Secrets to Steal From Them)

B2B products and services can be difficult to fully capture on a landing page—we know from experience.

Whether it’s defining your conversion goal, ordering your page sections, or writing copy that resonates, it’s not always a walk in the park. Not to mention B2B can involve so many more decision makers you may need to appeal to. Showcasing the value of something like software at scale can be trickier than explaining how your cutting-edge hoverboard might benefit just one person.

But, in our view, building a successful B2B page boils down to a few key things:

Creating an engaging experience that makes prospects acutely aware of the problem you solve

Promoting your offer clearly and simply, and

Cleverly leading visitors through consideration, towards conversion.

Persuasion sounds great in theory, hey, but what does this actually involve?

To help you better understand what makes an effective B2B landing page, we’ve analyzed six Unbounce-built pages doing a great job. Scroll through the examples to see what they do especially well, and how you can take their techniques to the next level.

1. PIM on Cloud

Image courtesy of PIM on Cloud. (Click image to see the full page.)

Best practice to steal: Where appropriate, bring prospects through several stages of the customer journey.

Sales cycles vary per industry, sure, but the process always starts with building interest and (ideally) ends with a purchase decision. Designed properly, some landing pages can take readers through each of these stages as they scroll from top to bottom. We found PIM on Cloud’s long-form landing page does this really well.

This brand builds awareness by offering a description of their service (in the first two page sections), they guide prospects through consideration with a list of features and benefits, and then drive conversions by detailing available plans alongside their calls to action (i.e. “Choose plan” or “Ask for pricing”, respectively).

Though some landing pages are designed to increase conversions at the bottom of the funnel, providing a more holistic journey—like PIM on Cloud does—allows a wider net for prospects to learn more. This page could even be a destination URL for many of PIM’s branded Google Ads because it’s so high-level.

Of course, some visitors will also know exactly what they’re looking for from the start, so PIM on Cloud includes anchor navigation on this page for a choose-your-adventure experience. Thanks to this, more qualified prospects can jump straight to the details most relevant to them. While landing pages shouldn’t have tons of links on them (your main site navigation would be a real no-no, for example), anchor navigation is recommended if you’re trying to cover a lot of info at once. They can make longer pages like this more digestible.

Bonus: PIM on Cloud’s landing page provides readers with an FAQ section and a contact form, further opportunity for prospects to evaluate their decision—and for the brand to collect valuable leads. When you make landing pages that cover a broad offer, be sure to consider whether you might use an FAQ to ease any potential friction, and leave a way people can get in touch with you directly just in case.

2. Resource Guru

Image courtesy of Resource Guru. (Click image to see the full page.)

Best practice to steal: Help prospects visualize a complex idea.

Many B2B products and services solve complex problems. As a result, landing pages need to be designed in such a way that they make it easy for potential customers to understand features and benefits. One way to do this is to incorporate visual elements like videos, images, and even animations—all of which can help drive conversions. According to Eyeview, using a video on your landing page can increase conversions by up to 80%.

Resource Guru’s landing page is effective because it greets viewers with a large play button as soon as they land. Pressing play is intuitive and launches a high-quality explainer video. They let this video do the talking, then quickly request an action from visitors.

Taking it to the next level:

Instead of a simple play button, this landing page could have benefitted from including a video thumbnail featuring people’s faces. Visually compelling thumbnails that align with your video’s content can actually increase play rate.

Additionally, it’s always a good idea to reiterate all the core points from your video script on your landing page in text. This ensures that even in the event you have a low play rate, prospects can still learn about your offer without having to click play. Whether they left their headphones at home that day or prefer text, it’s good to have a backup plan.

3. Blink

Image courtesy of Blink. (Click image to see the full page.)

Best practice to steal: Include the right kind of proof to build trust and credibility.

Blink’s landing page above relies heavily on testimonials and a list of select, high-profile clients, which are presented immediately below their contact form. Also, rather than diving into product features, Blink backs up their expertise by showcasing industry awards.

Taking it to the next level:

Although testimonials, logos, and other social proof are effective, it’s worth noting that Blink misses the opportunity to (immediately) explain what they actually do for customers at the start of this page.

According to Nielsen Norman Group, 57% of visitors’ time spent on a page occurs above the fold (and 74% is spent on the first two screenfuls). If your company’s offerings are at the very bottom, as they are on Blink’s landing page, visitors may click away without context. Overall, make sure your pages get into the details of what you do before explaining why you’re the best at doing it.

4. MediaValet

Image courtesy of MediaValet. (Click image to see full page.)

Best practice to steal: The rule of three works great for layouts and benefit copy.

The rule of three is one of the most successful methods for memorizing content—we’ve seen it used in film, advertising, and beyond—and MediaValet’s landing page is no exception.

The digital asset management company applies the rule of three when presenting their key benefits and testimonials. This clear, concise, and easy-to-consume structure is also key to the landing page’s successful layout: it introduces the product, backs up their claims with stats, and provides an easy way for prospects to request a demo. The easier visitors can consume and retain the content on your landing page, the better equipped they are to make a decision to purchase. They’re also more likely to keep scrolling instead of being overwhelmed by too much info.

Taking it to the next level:

Headline clarity is key, and you only have the first few words of anything to convince people to keep reading. In my opinion, MediaValet could have benefited from using a variation of their sub-headline (“Organize your assets, marketing content and media in one central location with digital asset management.”) as their primary headline to make their product offer that much more obvious.

5. Vivonet Kiosk

Image courtesy of Vivonet Kiosk. (Click image to see full page.)

Best practice to steal: A floating CTA button gives you a greater chance to convert.

A landing page has one goal—to convince visitors to take action. Whatever the intended next step, it’s your job to create a clear, strategically placed call to action that lets visitors know what to do next. Using multiple CTAs can be distracting to your audience, but a consistent CTA that follows visitors throughout their experience? That’s crystal clear.

Vivonet Kiosk uses a floating CTA button that follows visitors as they scroll down the page. No matter where they’re at, the “Talk to Us About Kiosks” button remains in the bottom right-hand corner of their screen.

Want to add a floating CTA button to your next landing page? Check out this workaround from our community on how to do this in Unbounce.

6. Unbounce

Click here to see the full page.

Best practice to steal: Have a conversation with your prospects.

Alright, y’got me. I’m using an Unbounce example here, but I think you’ll agree it’s pretty good. This is a landing page we created to speak about a problem we solve, and drive signups.

In the screenshot you may notice that this page actually breaks one of the rules we established above: it includes the main site navigation. Think of this as a hybrid, as well as a great example of how flexible you can be. Our page is structured with the persuasive force of a landing page (and built using our builder)—but incorporates neatly into the rest of our site, living on our domain and sharing the site’s nav. We do this fairly often when we want to build a web page especially quickly for the site that would otherwise require a ton of dev work.

Since Unbounce markets to marketers, we also wanted to overcome the hardened shell of skepticism that so many of us develop when it comes to other people’s campaigns. So this landing page uses a conversational framework to build trust. It offers a straightforward rundown of both the problem—running ads has become increasingly pricey—and the solution before it ever pitches our platform. And the inclusion of a chatbot invites you to ask questions we don’t cover, keeping the conversation going.

Of course, a landing page with an educational tone risks losing the reader’s attention—the same way a boring teacher might. In addition to a friendlier tone, we use interactive elements, animations, and social proof in the form of quotes from digital marketers. All of these elements keep things lively and provide added detail.

Like the example from PIM on Cloud, we also anticipated less qualified prospects might visit the page, so we include tabs and collapsible page sections that provide more info or answer questions. If a reader happens to hit the page without a strong understanding of what we mean by “landing page,” for instance, they can click to learn the answer, without leaving. Like any good conversationalist, we listen as well as talk.

Feeling inspired? Learn how to design and build a B2B landing page in just seven simple steps.

from RSSMix.com Mix ID 8217493 https://unbounce.com/landing-page-examples/6-examples-of-the-best-b2b-landing-pages/

[racheltgibsau]

6 Examples of the Best B2B Landing Pages (and the Secrets to Steal From Them)

B2B products and services can be difficult to fully capture on a landing page—we know from experience.

Whether it’s defining your conversion goal, ordering your page sections, or writing copy that resonates, it’s not always a walk in the park. Not to mention B2B can involve so many more decision makers you may need to appeal to. Showcasing the value of something like software at scale can be trickier than explaining how your cutting-edge hoverboard might benefit just one person.

But, in our view, building a successful B2B page boils down to a few key things:

Creating an engaging experience that makes prospects acutely aware of the problem you solve

Promoting your offer clearly and simply, and

Cleverly leading visitors through consideration, towards conversion.

Persuasion sounds great in theory, hey, but what does this actually involve?

To help you better understand what makes an effective B2B landing page, we’ve analyzed six Unbounce-built pages doing a great job. Scroll through the examples to see what they do especially well, and how you can take their techniques to the next level.

1. PIM on Cloud

Image courtesy of PIM on Cloud. (Click image to see the full page.)

Best practice to steal: Where appropriate, bring prospects through several stages of the customer journey.

Sales cycles vary per industry, sure, but the process always starts with building interest and (ideally) ends with a purchase decision. Designed properly, some landing pages can take readers through each of these stages as they scroll from top to bottom. We found PIM on Cloud’s long-form landing page does this really well.

This brand builds awareness by offering a description of their service (in the first two page sections), they guide prospects through consideration with a list of features and benefits, and then drive conversions by detailing available plans alongside their calls to action (i.e. “Choose plan” or “Ask for pricing”, respectively).

Though some landing pages are designed to increase conversions at the bottom of the funnel, providing a more holistic journey—like PIM on Cloud does—allows a wider net for prospects to learn more. This page could even be a destination URL for many of PIM’s branded Google Ads because it’s so high-level.

Of course, some visitors will also know exactly what they’re looking for from the start, so PIM on Cloud includes anchor navigation on this page for a choose-your-adventure experience. Thanks to this, more qualified prospects can jump straight to the details most relevant to them. While landing pages shouldn’t have tons of links on them (your main site navigation would be a real no-no, for example), anchor navigation is recommended if you’re trying to cover a lot of info at once. They can make longer pages like this more digestible.

Bonus: PIM on Cloud’s landing page provides readers with an FAQ section and a contact form, further opportunity for prospects to evaluate their decision—and for the brand to collect valuable leads. When you make landing pages that cover a broad offer, be sure to consider whether you might use an FAQ to ease any potential friction, and leave a way people can get in touch with you directly just in case.

2. Resource Guru

Image courtesy of Resource Guru. (Click image to see the full page.)

Best practice to steal: Help prospects visualize a complex idea.

Many B2B products and services solve complex problems. As a result, landing pages need to be designed in such a way that they make it easy for potential customers to understand features and benefits. One way to do this is to incorporate visual elements like videos, images, and even animations—all of which can help drive conversions. According to Eyeview, using a video on your landing page can increase conversions by up to 80%.

Resource Guru’s landing page is effective because it greets viewers with a large play button as soon as they land. Pressing play is intuitive and launches a high-quality explainer video. They let this video do the talking, then quickly request an action from visitors.

Taking it to the next level:

Instead of a simple play button, this landing page could have benefitted from including a video thumbnail featuring people’s faces. Visually compelling thumbnails that align with your video’s content can actually increase play rate.

Additionally, it’s always a good idea to reiterate all the core points from your video script on your landing page in text. This ensures that even in the event you have a low play rate, prospects can still learn about your offer without having to click play. Whether they left their headphones at home that day or prefer text, it’s good to have a backup plan.

3. Blink

Image courtesy of Blink. (Click image to see the full page.)

Best practice to steal: Include the right kind of proof to build trust and credibility.

Blink’s landing page above relies heavily on testimonials and a list of select, high-profile clients, which are presented immediately below their contact form. Also, rather than diving into product features, Blink backs up their expertise by showcasing industry awards.

Taking it to the next level:

Although testimonials, logos, and other social proof are effective, it’s worth noting that Blink misses the opportunity to (immediately) explain what they actually do for customers at the start of this page.

According to Nielsen Norman Group, 57% of visitors’ time spent on a page occurs above the fold (and 74% is spent on the first two screenfuls). If your company’s offerings are at the very bottom, as they are on Blink’s landing page, visitors may click away without context. Overall, make sure your pages get into the details of what you do before explaining why you’re the best at doing it.

4. MediaValet

Image courtesy of MediaValet. (Click image to see full page.)

Best practice to steal: The rule of three works great for layouts and benefit copy.

The rule of three is one of the most successful methods for memorizing content—we’ve seen it used in film, advertising, and beyond—and MediaValet’s landing page is no exception.

The digital asset management company applies the rule of three when presenting their key benefits and testimonials. This clear, concise, and easy-to-consume structure is also key to the landing page’s successful layout: it introduces the product, backs up their claims with stats, and provides an easy way for prospects to request a demo. The easier visitors can consume and retain the content on your landing page, the better equipped they are to make a decision to purchase. They’re also more likely to keep scrolling instead of being overwhelmed by too much info.

Taking it to the next level:

Headline clarity is key, and you only have the first few words of anything to convince people to keep reading. In my opinion, MediaValet could have benefited from using a variation of their sub-headline (“Organize your assets, marketing content and media in one central location with digital asset management.”) as their primary headline to make their product offer that much more obvious.

5. Vivonet Kiosk

Image courtesy of Vivonet Kiosk. (Click image to see full page.)

Best practice to steal: A floating CTA button gives you a greater chance to convert.

A landing page has one goal—to convince visitors to take action. Whatever the intended next step, it’s your job to create a clear, strategically placed call to action that lets visitors know what to do next. Using multiple CTAs can be distracting to your audience, but a consistent CTA that follows visitors throughout their experience? That’s crystal clear.

Vivonet Kiosk uses a floating CTA button that follows visitors as they scroll down the page. No matter where they’re at, the “Talk to Us About Kiosks” button remains in the bottom right-hand corner of their screen.

Want to add a floating CTA button to your next landing page? Check out this workaround from our community on how to do this in Unbounce.

6. Unbounce

Click here to see the full page.

Best practice to steal: Have a conversation with your prospects.

Alright, y’got me. I’m using an Unbounce example here, but I think you’ll agree it’s pretty good. This is a landing page we created to speak about a problem we solve, and drive signups.

In the screenshot you may notice that this page actually breaks one of the rules we established above: it includes the main site navigation. Think of this as a hybrid, as well as a great example of how flexible you can be. Our page is structured with the persuasive force of a landing page (and built using our builder)—but incorporates neatly into the rest of our site, living on our domain and sharing the site’s nav. We do this fairly often when we want to build a web page especially quickly for the site that would otherwise require a ton of dev work.

Since Unbounce markets to marketers, we also wanted to overcome the hardened shell of skepticism that so many of us develop when it comes to other people’s campaigns. So this landing page uses a conversational framework to build trust. It offers a straightforward rundown of both the problem—running ads has become increasingly pricey—and the solution before it ever pitches our platform. And the inclusion of a chatbot invites you to ask questions we don’t cover, keeping the conversation going.

Of course, a landing page with an educational tone risks losing the reader’s attention—the same way a boring teacher might. In addition to a friendlier tone, we use interactive elements, animations, and social proof in the form of quotes from digital marketers. All of these elements keep things lively and provide added detail.

Like the example from PIM on Cloud, we also anticipated less qualified prospects might visit the page, so we include tabs and collapsible page sections that provide more info or answer questions. If a reader happens to hit the page without a strong understanding of what we mean by “landing page,” for instance, they can click to learn the answer, without leaving. Like any good conversationalist, we listen as well as talk.

Feeling inspired? Learn how to design and build a B2B landing page in just seven simple steps.

from RSSMix.com Mix ID 8217493 https://unbounce.com/landing-page-examples/6-examples-of-the-best-b2b-landing-pages/

[maxslogic25]

6 Examples of the Best B2B Landing Pages (and the Secrets to Steal From Them)

B2B products and services can be difficult to fully capture on a landing page—we know from experience.

Whether it’s defining your conversion goal, ordering your page sections, or writing copy that resonates, it’s not always a walk in the park. Not to mention B2B can involve so many more decision makers you may need to appeal to. Showcasing the value of something like software at scale can be trickier than explaining how your cutting-edge hoverboard might benefit just one person.

But, in our view, building a successful B2B page boils down to a few key things:

Creating an engaging experience that makes prospects acutely aware of the problem you solve

Promoting your offer clearly and simply, and

Cleverly leading visitors through consideration, towards conversion.

Persuasion sounds great in theory, hey, but what does this actually involve?

To help you better understand what makes an effective B2B landing page, we’ve analyzed six Unbounce-built pages doing a great job. Scroll through the examples to see what they do especially well, and how you can take their techniques to the next level.

1. PIM on Cloud

Image courtesy of PIM on Cloud. (Click image to see the full page.)

Best practice to steal: Where appropriate, bring prospects through several stages of the customer journey.

Sales cycles vary per industry, sure, but the process always starts with building interest and (ideally) ends with a purchase decision. Designed properly, some landing pages can take readers through each of these stages as they scroll from top to bottom. We found PIM on Cloud’s long-form landing page does this really well.

This brand builds awareness by offering a description of their service (in the first two page sections), they guide prospects through consideration with a list of features and benefits, and then drive conversions by detailing available plans alongside their calls to action (i.e. “Choose plan” or “Ask for pricing”, respectively).

Though some landing pages are designed to increase conversions at the bottom of the funnel, providing a more holistic journey—like PIM on Cloud does—allows a wider net for prospects to learn more. This page could even be a destination URL for many of PIM’s branded Google Ads because it’s so high-level.

Of course, some visitors will also know exactly what they’re looking for from the start, so PIM on Cloud includes anchor navigation on this page for a choose-your-adventure experience. Thanks to this, more qualified prospects can jump straight to the details most relevant to them. While landing pages shouldn’t have tons of links on them (your main site navigation would be a real no-no, for example), anchor navigation is recommended if you’re trying to cover a lot of info at once. They can make longer pages like this more digestible.

Bonus: PIM on Cloud’s landing page provides readers with an FAQ section and a contact form, further opportunity for prospects to evaluate their decision—and for the brand to collect valuable leads. When you make landing pages that cover a broad offer, be sure to consider whether you might use an FAQ to ease any potential friction, and leave a way people can get in touch with you directly just in case.

2. Resource Guru

Image courtesy of Resource Guru. (Click image to see the full page.)

Best practice to steal: Help prospects visualize a complex idea.

Many B2B products and services solve complex problems. As a result, landing pages need to be designed in such a way that they make it easy for potential customers to understand features and benefits. One way to do this is to incorporate visual elements like videos, images, and even animations—all of which can help drive conversions. According to Eyeview, using a video on your landing page can increase conversions by up to 80%.

Resource Guru’s landing page is effective because it greets viewers with a large play button as soon as they land. Pressing play is intuitive and launches a high-quality explainer video. They let this video do the talking, then quickly request an action from visitors.

Taking it to the next level:

Instead of a simple play button, this landing page could have benefitted from including a video thumbnail featuring people’s faces. Visually compelling thumbnails that align with your video’s content can actually increase play rate.

Additionally, it’s always a good idea to reiterate all the core points from your video script on your landing page in text. This ensures that even in the event you have a low play rate, prospects can still learn about your offer without having to click play. Whether they left their headphones at home that day or prefer text, it’s good to have a backup plan.

3. Blink

Image courtesy of Blink. (Click image to see the full page.)

Best practice to steal: Include the right kind of proof to build trust and credibility.

Blink’s landing page above relies heavily on testimonials and a list of select, high-profile clients, which are presented immediately below their contact form. Also, rather than diving into product features, Blink backs up their expertise by showcasing industry awards.

Taking it to the next level:

Although testimonials, logos, and other social proof are effective, it’s worth noting that Blink misses the opportunity to (immediately) explain what they actually do for customers at the start of this page.

According to Nielsen Norman Group, 57% of visitors’ time spent on a page occurs above the fold (and 74% is spent on the first two screenfuls). If your company’s offerings are at the very bottom, as they are on Blink’s landing page, visitors may click away without context. Overall, make sure your pages get into the details of what you do before explaining why you’re the best at doing it.

4. MediaValet

Image courtesy of MediaValet. (Click image to see full page.)

Best practice to steal: The rule of three works great for layouts and benefit copy.

The rule of three is one of the most successful methods for memorizing content—we’ve seen it used in film, advertising, and beyond—and MediaValet’s landing page is no exception.

The digital asset management company applies the rule of three when presenting their key benefits and testimonials. This clear, concise, and easy-to-consume structure is also key to the landing page’s successful layout: it introduces the product, backs up their claims with stats, and provides an easy way for prospects to request a demo. The easier visitors can consume and retain the content on your landing page, the better equipped they are to make a decision to purchase. They’re also more likely to keep scrolling instead of being overwhelmed by too much info.

Taking it to the next level:

Headline clarity is key, and you only have the first few words of anything to convince people to keep reading. In my opinion, MediaValet could have benefited from using a variation of their sub-headline (“Organize your assets, marketing content and media in one central location with digital asset management.”) as their primary headline to make their product offer that much more obvious.

5. Vivonet Kiosk

Image courtesy of Vivonet Kiosk. (Click image to see full page.)

Best practice to steal: A floating CTA button gives you a greater chance to convert.

A landing page has one goal—to convince visitors to take action. Whatever the intended next step, it’s your job to create a clear, strategically placed call to action that lets visitors know what to do next. Using multiple CTAs can be distracting to your audience, but a consistent CTA that follows visitors throughout their experience? That’s crystal clear.

Vivonet Kiosk uses a floating CTA button that follows visitors as they scroll down the page. No matter where they’re at, the “Talk to Us About Kiosks” button remains in the bottom right-hand corner of their screen.

Want to add a floating CTA button to your next landing page? Check out this workaround from our community on how to do this in Unbounce.

6. Unbounce

Click here to see the full page.

Best practice to steal: Have a conversation with your prospects.

Alright, y’got me. I’m using an Unbounce example here, but I think you’ll agree it’s pretty good. This is a landing page we created to speak about a problem we solve, and drive signups.

In the screenshot you may notice that this page actually breaks one of the rules we established above: it includes the main site navigation. Think of this as a hybrid, as well as a great example of how flexible you can be. Our page is structured with the persuasive force of a landing page (and built using our builder)—but incorporates neatly into the rest of our site, living on our domain and sharing the site’s nav. We do this fairly often when we want to build a web page especially quickly for the site that would otherwise require a ton of dev work.

Since Unbounce markets to marketers, we also wanted to overcome the hardened shell of skepticism that so many of us develop when it comes to other people’s campaigns. So this landing page uses a conversational framework to build trust. It offers a straightforward rundown of both the problem—running ads has become increasingly pricey—and the solution before it ever pitches our platform. And the inclusion of a chatbot invites you to ask questions we don’t cover, keeping the conversation going.

Of course, a landing page with an educational tone risks losing the reader’s attention—the same way a boring teacher might. In addition to a friendlier tone, we use interactive elements, animations, and social proof in the form of quotes from digital marketers. All of these elements keep things lively and provide added detail.

Like the example from PIM on Cloud, we also anticipated less qualified prospects might visit the page, so we include tabs and collapsible page sections that provide more info or answer questions. If a reader happens to hit the page without a strong understanding of what we mean by “landing page,” for instance, they can click to learn the answer, without leaving. Like any good conversationalist, we listen as well as talk.

Feeling inspired? Learn how to design and build a B2B landing page in just seven simple steps.

from RSSMix.com Mix ID 8217493 https://unbounce.com/landing-page-examples/6-examples-of-the-best-b2b-landing-pages/

[themastercylinder]

Phil Leakey, the makeup artist who helped put Hammer Films on the macabre movie map by creating monsters for several of the company’s seminal horror films, is not your ordinary, everyday, celebrity interviewee. No, sir, Phil Leakey is full of surprises.

For example, before Leakey gets into any discussion regarding his work in motion pictures, he says up front, “I don’t particularly care for Hammer’s horror films.” (Never mind the fact that he helped establish the company’s reputation for viciousness right from the beginning!) “They leave me absolutely cold. I wouldn’t walk across the street to see one!” He harrumphs loudly in conclusion.

After this renunciation of Hammer, the question naturally arises of how he got started with Hammer in the first place Leakey responds by launching into a detailed and unusual account of his film business beginnings.

“It was strange how I got involved with them or anyone in motion pictures at all,” he comments. “I was working as a clerk in a brokerage office in London, and I was on a two-week holiday when I overheard my father talking about going to a film studio to supervise a boxing match. [Leakey’s father, a doctor, oversaw a number of televised matches.] I wanted to go along too, but he said I’d better check with Joe Grossman first, who was the studio manager. So that afternoon I drove out to the studio and asked the man at the gate, if I could have a word with Mr. Grossman. The gateman thought this was rather amusing; but to his surprise, and mine, Grossman told him to send me on up to his office.

A photograph of Phil Leakey relaxing with colleagues at Bray Studios in Berkshire. From left to right- writer and director Jimmy Sangster, make-up artist Phil Leakey, stills photographer John Jay, Jerry Antiss, and focus puller Harry Oakes.

“When I arrived, a vicious looking secretary stopped me and said, ‘What do you want? What’s your name?’ I told her who I was and she promptly disappeared. A few moments later, Joe’s head popped around the corner of his office door and he said, ‘Hello. Start Monday.’ His head started to disappear back around the corner but I managed to blurt out, ‘Wait a minute! I only wanted to ask” But he cut me off. ‘Haven’t got time to chat,’ he said. ‘I’m very busy. Start Monday. 8:30 a.m.’ I was then ejected from the studio. I thought to myself, ‘Well, I wonder what’s going to happen on Monday?’

“So the next Monday I reported directly to Grossman who said, “What do you want at this time of the day? And how did you get in?’ When I then told him what had transpired just a few days earlier, he looked rather bemused and, after a moment’s thought, said, ‘Right, follow me.’ I did, and soon arrived at the studio’s sound department. Joe said to the head of the sound department, “this is Philip Leakey and he’s starting work with you as of now.’ Joe then disappeared, and a sort of resigned look came over the soundman’s face. I started work, and started from scratch because I knew absolutely nothing about sound or anything else connected with filmmaking!”

An entertaining story to be sure, but there’s just one hitch: Leakey is not known as a soundman he’s a makeup specialist! When reminded of this, he smiles, nods, and happily recites the rest of his tale.

“I did my best in the sound department and slowly I began to learn a few things. In fact, I was actually beginning to enjoy myself when one day the whole lot went up in smoke including the central sound recording room. As a result of that fire, most of us got the sack and certainly a beginner like myself would be the first to go. I picked up my belongings and went to say goodbye to Joe Grossman and he said, ‘Okay, start Monday, 8:30 a.m.” And off I went, wondering what on earth was going to happen next!

“To cut a long story short,” Leakey finally says, “this time I landed in the makeup department.” But Leakey was to discover that, despite Grossman’s good intentions, going to work in the makeup department required more than just an ability to learn new things from scratch.

“It was very obvious the makeup department didn’t want me,” he relates. “I was told to just sit in the corner and watch. So I watched and watched and I got bored out of my mind! Finally a team of American filmmakers arrived, and they brought their own makeup artist who, as it happened, needed an assistant. This perked up the studio makeup people who thought, “Hey this will be a good way to get rid of Leakey!’ And so I was donated to the poor man!

“I can’t remember his name, but I do remember that he was very angry indeed when he found out that I knew next to nothing about the job. Fortunately, after he got over his initial anger, he sort of took me under his wing. By the time he left that studio there were some things I could do better than many of the others.”

Despite strained relationships with some of his co-workers, Leakey remained where he was for another year, until at last he was offered a job at Shepperton Studios, where he distinguished himself doing his first character makeups.

One of the earliest productions to carry the Hammer brand name was The Quatermass Xperiment (1955), known in the U.S. as The Creeping Unknown. It was the first picture which allowed Leakey to explore a wholly new makeup terrain. Its unusual story, about an astronaut who returns from space possessed by alien spores which turn him into a kind of life-absorbing sponge, allowed for some truly creative moments for the first time in Leakey’s career. Hammer cast British character actor Richard Wordsworth in the pivotal role of the astronaut.

“I had some discussions with the producer and director Val, Guest, and we concluded that Richard should not look ugly at least, not to start out with! Instead, he should look sad, ill, and perhaps rather pitiful. After we all agreed on that, the rest was left up to me. The script really wasn’t very specific about how he was to look anyway.

A reference photograph of artificial radiation blisters on Richard Wordsworth’s right hand, created by Phil Leakey (1908-1992) for Hammer Film Productions’ ‘The Quatermass Experiment’ (1955). This photograph is from the Ashton & Leakey Collection. Roy Ashton (1909-1995) and Phil Leakey worked for Hammer Films during the 1950s and 1960s. They were pioneers of special effects make-up – using cosmetics and prosthetics to transform an actor’s appearance. Hammer Film Productions was founded in 1947. Initially, it made low-budget movies based on popular television and radio series, such as Quatermass. In 1957, it released the first colour gothic horror film, ‘The Curse Of Frankenstein’, which was an enormous succes. During the 1950s and 1960s it went on to produce a series of popular gothic horror films for which it has become renowned.

Leakey placed a light above the actor in the makeup chair and then worked on accentuating the shadows cast by his eyebrows, nose, chin and cheekbones. The makeup was a liquid rubber solution mixed with glycerin to give the impression of sweat. Leakey’s job was made easier by Wordsworth’s natural high cheekbones and hollow temples and he also worked closely with cinematographer Walter J. Harvey to ensure the lighting in each shot emphasized Wordsworth’s features. When in the movie Wordsworth smashes a cactus plant with his fist, we later discover that his flesh has absorbed a part of the cactus. Leakey mentions that this, and much of the rest of the makeup, “was invented using simple items corn flakes, rice, cotton wool, rubber and latex. We had no laboratory in the studio at that time, so I had to make everything at my home! The cactus arm was a wraparound piece made from rubber, cast from a plaster mold, which was attached to a lady’s stocking so Richard could slip it on and off easily. Likewise, the hand piece was built onto a cotton glove.” The shriveled corpses of Carroon’s victims, glimpsed from time to time in the film, were also made by Leakey.

“Richard remained in the hands of the makeup department for as long as he maintained humanoid form.” says Leakey, pointing out that once Wordsworth’s character became too inhuman; it was time for the special effects team to take over.

“Hammer had no laboratories or ovens or anything to cook rubber prosthetics with. I had to take them home and do it. I used to ring up my wife and say: don’t cook anything tonight dear, I’ll need the oven to bake a rubber head.”

For X the Unknown (1956), Hammer’s next venture into the realm of sci-fi/horror. Leakey was called upon to create a hand which caved in on itself as “X”, the title monster, sucked out the body’s life force. “For that effect I built a sponge rubber hand, and into the hand was set thin plastic tubes with perforations along their length,” explains Leakey. “These tubes entered the forearm through the wrist to each finger, and all the ends were attached to a specially adapted pump, at the director’s signal, a special chemical mixture was pumped into the flaccid hand piece, which immediately began to swell up and discolor. It was quite a good effect.” Hammer then took the effects footage and reversed it to achieve a deflating effect on screen.

Philip Leakey created an interesting Special Effects Make-up as the radiation giving off by the creatures in the mud affects a person. We see their thumb swell up and then their flesh starts to melt off.

Leakey registers a little surprise when asked about Hammer’s follow up to The Quatermass Experiment, known in the U.S. as Enemy from Space (1957) but entitled simply Quatermass II in its homeland. It takes some prodding, and mention of Quatermass II’s story line involving extraterrestrial creatures growing in huge domes at an oil refinery, before he allows, “That’s right; I did apply a substance to Tom Chatto, to make him appear burned in his death scene. He came out of one of the domes. As I recall, that was filmed at the Shell Refining Plant. I used a mixture of industrial soap and oil for “The food that burns.”

Hammer hit upon the idea of making an entirely new version of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein. The company envisioned a fairly elaborate production that would be the first color Frankenstein film. Leakey recalls the time period:

“I do hate horror films, especially of the type that Hammer and other people like them made. And to make matters worse, Hammer suddenly decided they wanted to go into production on this picture in a matter of weeks but nobody had any good ideas yet about what to do with it in terms of story, character and makeup! I even asked around the studio myself to see if anyone had any good ideas and no one did. Not a single person! What would the Creature look like? Obviously, that’s a major concern whenever you’re making a Frankenstein film and yet, all anyone at Hammer really knew was that there was a strict order not to copy the Hollywood version, because lack Pierce’s makeup had been copyrighted!

Restricted by the legal necessity to construct a Monster totally unlike Boris Karloff’s 1931 copyrighted incarnation, Hammer, turned to make-up designer Phil Leakey. Very much a pioneer in his field, Leakey created the make-up department at Bray Studios and was the first person to receive an on-screen credit for special make-up effects. He opted for a more biological, organic approach to the assignment. Early tests – of which there are many – included an animalistic design, akin to the beasts from H.G. Wells the Island of Doctor Moreau. Eventually, after several rejected notions, Leakey was forced to improvise the makeup at the eleventh hour, the very evening before Lee was first needed on set. “They tried me out in a variety of unbelievable and, in some cases, totally irrelevant make-ups and tests,” Christopher Lee recently recalled. “One made me look a bit like the Elephant Man – very unpleasant to look at and very unconvincing. The other was more like some sort of werewolf with the nose tilted up at the end to make you look slightly pig-like.”

“Finally, largely due to Christopher’s input, we decided that, as the Creature was being constructed from bits and pieces of other humans, which was how his face should look: made up of bits and pieces, all stitched together.

Working straight on the actor’s face, Leakey built up a collage using wax, rubber and cotton wool, once memorably described as looking “like a road accident.” The make-up itself took two-and-a-half to three hours to apply. The pressure of time meant that Leakey was never able to make prosthetic mask-pieces of the face, as he recently recounted: “I think it was Christopher Lee who said ‘Let’s do a mock-up in clay to see what it looks like.’ I used mortician’s wax and started shoving it all over his face, adding a patchwork of various stitch-marks. It was really a trial to see if I could make it out of plastic and put it on fairly quickly.” Much to Lee’s chagrin, the Creature’s face remained every bit as uncomfortable to remove as it was to put on in the first place.

“In the final analysis I don’t think my work on The Curse of Frankenstein suffered from the restrictions imposed upon it by the copyright considerations as much as it did from our lack of experimental time.”We really needed months or at least weeks to experiment with different materials and try different approaches,” Leakey feels. “But we just didn’t have that amount of time, and as a result I was not very happy with the end product. I would have liked a much neater stitching job, made from a mold. However, it just wasn’t to be; we were stuck with rubber and wax, which I thought looked crude, though other people have told me that’s what such an operation might have looked like.

Those who have seen it consistently agree that Hammer’s film production of The Abominable Snowman (1957) is far and away the best film of its type. Although he has never seen the finished picture, Leakey admits that there was more than the usual amount of thought put into the creation of the picture, especially during pre-production phases.

“When the time came for us to make it,” recalls Leakey, “I had another get together with Val Guest, Tony Hinds, art director Ted Marshall, and myself. It was generally agreed that the Yeti should be of a more sympathetic nature than the people who were hunting it, with the exception of Peter Cushing, who was playing a far more sympathetic part than his companions.

“Ted Marshall and I made a few drawings, and one day Tony Hinds, while looking at them, remarked, ‘You know, that looks a little bit tike Peter!’ Everyone had a look at it and they all agreed that the creature’s face did have an inkling of Peter in it, and everyone thought it was a good idea to carry the resemblance over, as a sort of sympathetic link in the film. To tell you the truth, I never could see this ‘resemblance’ which everyone else seemed to see!” Leakey chuckles. “But since they did, that was the way we went ahead and made it.”

Though never as budget-conscious as American International had been during the 1950’s, it is true that the British company cut corners whenever they thought it was within the realm of possibility. And so on The Abominable Snowman, they refused to hire anyone to help Leakey with the makeup chores.

“Hammer was rather reluctant in letting me have an assistant to help out on that picture,” he remembers. “As a matter of fact, I had to enlist the aid of the wardrobe department to get the snow creature completed on time! It was the wardrobe department that ended up supplying the creature’s outfit. They took a lot of furs and sewed them together to fit the actor and that was our Yeti!”

Probably the best known motion picture on which Phil Leakey worked, and also Hammer’s most famous film, is Horror of Dracula (1958). “Compared to Curse of Frankenstein, Dracula was far easier to work on,” Leakey remarks. “Christopher Lee’s height, face, and hair were half the battle! By the time the wardrobe department had fitted him with the right clothes, plus a little fiddling with his hair and a set of appropriate choppers, we had ourselves a vampire!

The filming of Dracula’s destruction included a shot in which Dracula appears to peel away his decaying skin. This was accomplished by putting a layer of red makeup on Lee’s face, and then covering his entire face with a thin coating of mortician’s wax, which was then made up to conform to his normal skin tone. When he raked his fingers across the wax, it revealed the “raw” marks underneath.

“I do believe, although I can’t be certain, that I was the first to use the bloodshot eyes. It was my brother who, like my father, was a doctor, who put me in touch with an optician who specialized in doing false eye jobs. He fitted Christopher with these contact pieces of my design. Christopher hated them. He would not keep them in for a second longer than the shot made necessary. If he had left them in, the discomfort would have been much less as opposed to continually taking them out and putting them in again.”

Leakey left the Hammer fold shortly after the Dracula film was completed to accept offers from other production companies whose films were more to his liking. He had become frustrated with the direction in which Hammer was heading as the new specialists in horror and violence.

“I wanted to leave Hammer to get on with other kinds of pictures,” he says. “Although I liked all the producers at Hammer, and the crew and casts who played a part in the making of those films they were some of the best people I ever knew in the industry still, 1 just really hated those kinds of films! And frankly, I doubt if Anthony Hinds [a main Hammer producer and screen author] liked them much either!

“I enjoyed working on pictures like Far From the Madding Crowd (1967), Only Two Can Play (1962) with Peter Sellers, The Belstone Fox (1973). Like everyone else in this business. I’ve worked in more average good, average bad, bloody bad and indifferent films than I have worthwhile films! But that’s the public for you. Shooting, stabbing, punching, sex and violence of all kinds, laced with screeching automobile crashes it’s what makes all the money! “That’s why I got out; I retired. Occasionally I’ll make up some of the neighborhood kids for one of their parties. But I gave away all of my makeup equipment to the daughter of an old wartime friend, and it’s all in Australia somewhere right now. I never thought any of these things would be of interest to anyone for more than a few months anyway that’s why I threw away all my notes, sketches, and stills years ago.

Phil Leakey Filmography The Revenge of Frankenstein (1958) Horror of Dracula (1958) The Abominable Snowman (1957) Enemy from Space (1957) The Curse of Frankenstein (1957) X the Unknown (1956) The Quatermass Xperiment (1955)

Greasepaint and Gore The DVD

2 Feature length documentaries on 1 DVD

Two superbly detailed documentaries about the masters of special effects make-up: ‘Greasepaint & Gore: The Hammer Monsters of Phil Leakey‘ – 80 minutes

‘Greasepaint & Gore: The Hammer Monsters of Roy Ashton‘ – 72 minutes.

References

Fangoria Issue 50 1986 Randy Palmer

Hammer Horror Issue 1 March 1995

Philip Leakey – Reluctant Monster Maker Phil Leakey, the makeup artist who helped put Hammer Films on the macabre movie map by creating monsters for several of the company's seminal horror films, is not your ordinary, everyday, celebrity interviewee.

[samuelfields]

How to not be shy: 3 steps to end shyness (for good)

Are you the type of person who desperately wants to improve your social life and make new connections, but just can’t seem to break out of your shell?

If you’re familiar with Ramit’s story, then you know he’s been in that exact same place. 

Although he may come across as confident and polished now, it wasn’t too long ago that he used to be fearful of putting himself out there and meeting new people. 

There’s a story he usually tells to illustrate this. 

Ramit was attending a few networking events years ago and didn’t say a word to anyone. He was surrounded by people who were interested in the same things as him, but instead of striking up a conversation, Ramit just stared at his phone the entire time. 

Because he was so shy, he missed out on forming relationships with people who could’ve ended up being great friends. 

That situation motivated him to learn more about why he was shy and what he could do to overcome it. And what he learned changed everything. 

Overcoming shyness has nothing to do with changing yourself as a person. That would be too much work and almost impossible. 

The key to overcoming shyness is to change your behavior. 

That’s exactly what I’ll show you how to do below. 

Step 1: Embrace who you are

Step 2: Change the way you think about shyness

Step 3: Study other people

Step 4: The invisibility cloak

Step 5: Gamify it

Step 6: Fake it ‘til you make it

Step 7: 3 step rejection

End the shy habit for good

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Step 1: Don’t judge your shyness

The first step to overcoming shyness is to not judge yourself for being shy. This isn’t productive and will only serve to put you in a more negative space, making it harder for you to make the necessary changes. 

Instead, I’d advise you to embrace this side of your personality. It could be that you’re just naturally introverted and that’s perfectly fine. Many introverts have made it to the top of just about any industry and it could even help you in certain situations. 

I’d recommended reading the article “Caring for your introvert”. It’s an amazing read that will give you more insight on your introverted nature and how to best care for it. 

After you read that article, you’ll be armed with more information on how you should live in a way that’s congruent with your nature. More self awareness is always a good thing. 

If you happen to be a shy extrovert, you can skip this step and move on to step 2. If you are introverted, read that article to get a better understanding of your nature, and then move on to step 2. 

Step 2: Change the way you think about shyness

Listen, you should absolutely read all the articles and books on overcoming shyness. That will go a long way with helping you adapt to social situations. But at the end of the day, we need to turn these tips into reality for you. 

The only way to do that is for you to change the way you think about shyness. 

A great way to do this is to familiarize yourself with a concept I call invisible scripts. These are the secret narratives in your head that guide your behavior. 

For example, some people I’ve talked to have problems connecting with others because they think of small talk as BS. They want to skip the boring stuff and get to the point. Ironically, thinking of small talk in this way is the reason why they fail at building relationships. 

While you may think of small talk as pointless, others think of it as building a relationship. 

What you may have scripted for yourself is that you want to get straight to the point of the conversation. But what you’ve failed to realize is that small talk is important filler material. 

Think about the process of going to a restaurant. Do you just sit down and get your meal immediately? Of course not. The wait staff greets you, gets you drinks, takes your orders, asks you questions. 

They slow the process down. This is exactly what you must do in conversations and small talk serves that very purpose. 

Step 3: Study other people

Reading tips and hacks on how to overcome shyness has its place, but the most important thing you can do is to study other people. 

Think about the friends you have who have vibrant social lives. They’re well liked for a reason. The next time you’re with them, pretend you’re a scientist and observe how they engage other people. 

What tone are they using ? What does their body language communicate? Are they making strong eye contact?

Gathering these observations and modeling them in your own behaviour is the one thing that will totally transform how you interact with people. This will be an important step in you overcoming your shy tendencies. 

The goal is to be more socially skilled and making these subtle shifts in your behavior will get you to that end goal. 

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Step 4: Overcome shyness with the invisibility cloak

Ramit has said that he discovered this tactic when he was younger. Some of his friends put on a Halloween haunted house which required him to wear a mask. 

The moment his identity was concealed, something interesting happened. 

Ramit started acting crazy. He was running around, scaring people, and doing things that he would never do if it were just me wearing normal clothes. 

Why?

Because he felt safe behind the mask. What he accidentally learned about wearing the mask is that it gave him the safety and security to try things that he otherwise wouldn’t have. Ramit realized that he didn’t have to change who he was, he just had to change how I acted. 

He had to focus on my behavior first, then his attitude would follow. 

This is how the concept of the invisibility cloak was born. This is something you can use to cover up yourself, or the part of you that you don’t want others to see. 

When you put on the cloak, you can mentally decide who you’re going to be today and what your behavior is going to reflect. 

Remember– you’re not changing who you are, you’re just deciding what behavior you want to reflect. 

Take all those barriers, anxieties, and nervousness and just cover it up with that cape. It seems like a weird concept, but it works. 

The reason why it works is because everyone feels those same anxieties and fears when they walk into a room full of people. But some of us choose to behave differently. 

This invisibility cape will help you do just that. 

Step 5: Overcome shyness by turning it into a game

One of the best ways to start changing your behavior and stay motivated throughout the process is to gamify it. 

I’ve come up with a few games for you to play that will help you start being a more social person. 

The 60 second game

The first is called the 60 second game. Within 60 seconds of going into an event, coffee shop, anywhere, you’re going to go up and say hello to someone. 

If you decide later you’re done saying hello and would like to use a different phrase, that’s fine. But the point of this game is to beat your anxiety by taking action before it takes root. 

Overtime, this game will desensitize you from having any type of approach anxiety and you’ll be able to strike up a conversation with anybody in no time. 

The compliments game

The second game is called the compliments game. In this one, you have to go up to three people within 24 hours and give them a compliment. 

“I really like your shirt”, or “you have such a nice smile”. That’s it. Three times in 24 hours. 

Not only will this game give you more to talk about, but it’ll also brighten someone else’s day!

The phone game

If you see someone using a phone or see someone reading a book you can say, “what kind of phone is that? I’ve been thinking about switching for a long time”. Or you can say, “what book are you reading? I’m looking for something good to read”.

Do that 3 times in 24 hours. 

Just like the first game, this will desentize you from having social anxiety. Over time, playing any one of these games (and hopefully all 3) will lead you to becoming that social butterfly that’s been dormant for years. 

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Step 6: Fake it ‘til you make it. 

I want you to think about what type of person you want to be perceived as. 

Do you want to be a really friendly guy who’s got everyone roaring and laughing? Do you want to be the quiet thoughtful person who everyone is listening to intently, but you don’t speak that much? Do you want people to feel really emotionally connected to you?

Whatever you decide, I want you to fake it ‘til you make it. 

You can try using this technique in a really safe and protected space. For me it was always one on one. I would play this game in places where there was no one I knew around, and probably no one I would ever see again. 

Let’s say you want to come across as someone who is really emotionally connected to people. 

Maybe you’d say something like, “what made you choose this job over any other job? I’m so curious to learn about people’s lives”. 

That will open up a different line of discussion than saying, “Hey, listen to this crazy thing that happened to me two days ago”. 

This may seem odd, but I want to show you how much it works. Let’s take a look at someone who started off pretty awkward, but years later not only did their behavior change, but their attitude changed as well. 

Take a look at this video of Jimmy Fallon. When he started off, he was pretty awkward, but over 15 years he became much more comfortable. 

Take a look below. 

Step 7: 3 step rejection

In Ramit’s Gmail account he has a failures tab. He looks at it at the end of every month and if he’s not getting at least 10 failures per month, he knows he’s not trying enough. 

A failure could be him reaching out to someone and trying to get a meeting and they coldly turn him down. It could be anything. But the important thing here is he’s not avoiding failure, he’s actively seeking it because it means he’s trying new things. 

The same is true for me and you. 

We all have these things called self talk. It’s the way you talk to yourself to give meaning to your experiences. You may say things like: 

“There’s no way anyone would laugh at these stories, I’m not a good storyteller”.

“They’re not interested in listening to me. Why would anyone want to?”

We talk about ourselves to ourselves, and overtime we start to define ourselves. 

The 3x rejection rule states you’re not going to allow self talk to happen until you’ve been rejected three times. 

This means you can go up to somebody and say, “Hi, how are you today?” and if they blow you off, that counts as rejection #1. And you keep going until you’ve been rejected 3 times, and slightly change your approach each time. 

This isn’t a failure, it’s a test. 

What you’ll find is that the next approach may go amazingly well, but you would’ve never given it the chance if you took the first rejection to heart. If you happen to get rejected 3 times, engage in as much self talk as you want!

If you start abiding by the three failure rule, you’ll soon find out that the “failures” you built up in your head weren’t really failures at all.  

Ending the shy habit

Being shy is nothing more than a bad habit. If you follow the steps above, you’ll be well on your way to overcoming that bad habit and turning it into a good one. 

If you have more bad habits you want to get rid of, you should check out my free Ultimate Guide to Habits. 

It will inform you on how to finally tackle bad habits for good. Just click the link below to get your free gift!

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How to not be shy: 3 steps to end shyness (for good) is a post from: I Will Teach You To Be Rich.

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