Levi

The Lost Soldier, a short story

He sat in a muddy ditch with rain pelting down from above. Open wounds covered his body. His pants were torn. Lifeless bodies scattered around him. The sky was a scary black & blue, and fog covered the field. The boy sat there shivering, no bullets, wet clothes, and little food.

He knew base was a kilometre North, but which way was that? His compass was smashed, small pieces of glass still remained in his pocket. He quickly peered over the edge but could barely see. He ducked back down. The boy desperately tried to get the compass to work. He tried holding it out; nothing. He shook it; nothing. He tried fiddling with the dial, but his hands were numb. “Fuck!” He was stuck, lost, and they were watching.

He had to make a run for it, in any direction. It was the only way. He lay down, closed his eyes, took a deep breath in, and prayed. After about a minute he sat up. Tears were running down his filthy cheeks. He shakily put on his blood covered helmet and chucked his lifeless compass into a puddle. He could see the dark outline of bare-boned trees about a hundred or two metres away. He decided that he would run there. He had seconds before the Germans would start firing. If he was lucky, their snipers would miss because of the fog.

It was time. He had to try.

He hurled himself out of the ditch and sprinted. They started shooting straight away. He felt bullet after bullet skim his body. It seemed like he was running forever, but he was almost there. A few more strides . . .

Bang.

Non-Fiction Book Review – ‘Sell Like Crazy’

“Sell Like Crazy” by Sabri Suby is a guide to digital marketing that applies to all business models, focusing on strategies that you can implement immediately. Suby, is the founder of King Kong, the #1 Digital Marketing Agency in Australia, and teaches marketing on social media to hundreds of thousands of people across the globe. ‘Sell Like Crazy’ shares information and strategies based on lessons Sabri  has learnt operating his businesses.

‘Sell Like Crazy’ revolves around a simple but often overlooked principle: success in business is not about having the best product but about having the best marketing. Suby explains his marketing principles through eight different phases that cover everything from identifying your target market to creating irresistible offers, driving traffic, and converting that traffic into paying customers. The framework is explicit and suited for both beginners and experienced marketers. Suby states openly that he tries to avoid the often-misleading promises of “overnight success” and “secret holy marketing strategies” that are proclaimed by many modern-day gurus.

One of the standout topics of “Sell Like Crazy” to me, is its focus on the psychology of selling. Suby reiterates the importance of understanding consumer behaviour, by putting yourself in their shoes. The book includes specific techniques, like using social proof and scarcity, that tap into human psychology and encourage conversions. Readers will find a variety of examples and case studies that illustrate how these tactics can be applied effectively across different industries.

Sabri Suby’s strategies that are taught in ‘Sell Like Crazy’ have proven effective time and time again. ‘Sell Like Crazy’ is ideal for entrepreneurs, marketers, business owners looking to scale their businesses, as well as anyone who wants to know more about marketing. Suby writes in a straight-forward understandable manner that can be interpreted easily by anyone, regardless of their skill set.

Author Bio

Levi Zelunzuk is a 15-year-old Australian boy with Jewish heritage, residing in the Southern Highlands, Moss Vale. Levi participates in a range of physical activities, including soccer, swimming and the gym. Levi builds, runs and scales ecommerce companies in a vast range of industries, and aims to be pursue entrepreneurship/business after school. Levi grew up on the Northern Beaches, and has always had a strong connection with nature, whether that be land or marine life. Levi has travelled to over 10 countries and visited Nepal in October for a Service-Learning Trip with his year.