The Weekly Rip 4.20.25 [influence]
We explore influence and why it doesn't always have to be a bad thing.
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The Weekly Rip
Your Stacking Slabs Sunday Update
April 20, 2025
This week, we’re talking about influence and how to make sure it doesn’t hijack your collecting.
I can’t count how many times I’ve been scrolling Instagram, listening to a podcast, or having a conversation with another collector when a new lane suddenly opens up in my mind.
A player I never collected.
A set I never looked twice at.
An era I wasn’t even watching sports during.
All of a sudden, I’m thinking, “What if?”
That’s influence. And it’s powerful.
But here’s the thing. Influence isn’t the enemy.
In fact, a lot of the best moves I’ve made in my collection were the result of being inspired by someone else’s passion.
The real problem is making emotional decisions without a system in place.
It’s easy to get swept up.
A card hits your feed with a "just listed" tag.
The auction ends in 20 minutes.
A trusted collector is hyping a player that’s heating up.
You feel that mix of excitement and urgency.
And before you know it, you’ve made a move you didn’t think all the way through.
I’ve been there. More times than I’d like to admit.
That’s why I’ve built a three-part filter that I run every potential new pickup through:
1. Do I already have a connection to it?
This one is non-negotiable.
If I don’t already have some emotional, nostalgic, or personal tie to the card, player, or set, I pass.
No connection means no purchase.
2. Am I curious enough to learn more?
Influence should open a door, not shove you through it.
If I’m not genuinely excited to dig deeper, watch games, or learn about the product, then I’m likely chasing someone else’s excitement, not my own.
3. Am I willing to sacrifice something else to get it?
This is all about trade-offs.
If I’m not ready to move a piece out of my collection to make room, whether financially or mentally, then I know it’s not time to pivot.
If it checks all three boxes, then it’s not just influence. It’s alignment.
This week’s flagship episode of Stacking Slabs is all about unpacking this idea.
I break down Robert Cialdini’s seven principles of influence and explain how they show up in the hobby.
We talk social proof, FOMO, scarcity, commitment, and all the invisible nudges that shape our collecting decisions.
Whether you’ve made a great pickup after being inspired or felt that sting of regret after chasing something that wasn’t really you, this one is for you.
Because at the end of the day, we’re all being influenced.
The question is, what are we doing with it?
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Take care,
Brett