Many Christians are culturally programmed to feel guilty about wealth, but is poverty God's plan for us? No! Today I propose that God wants you to prosper in all things that are good, including business (and I have the verses to prove it). We are engaged in a spiritual battle ​Poverty is spiritual warfare Read I Thessalonian's chapter 4, beginning with verse 9 "Brotherly Love" is a core concept of our faith Relationships based on love and unity create an environment where poverty dissipates We can overcome the chains of poverty and help free others as well Live with integrity and win trust These principles apply whether you're a Christian or not Video And Transcript https://www.rayedwards.com/648 How You Can Help Subscribe to the show in Apple Podcasts or on Spotify, and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will definitely mention you on this show. Questions or comments? Connect with Ray on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram Visit Ray's community on Facebook – This is a friendly group of writers, entrepreneurs, and coaches who share ideas and helpful advice.

Uh oh...January 1 has come and gone. Is it too late to make plans for a better New Year? Of course not. ​ ​Regardless of how far along Earth may be in its journey around the sun, you are free to implement these 7 P's that will make for a more prosperous future. ​Prepare - physically, mentally, emotionally for the things you know are coming up in your life and in your business. You know what needs to be prepared, just do it. ​Propose - The more offers you make, the more money you make ​Promote - Your customer never knows as much about your products as you do - Promote what you're selling more often ​Prove - Have your clients be your preponderance of proof ​Promise - Promise the results you KNOW you can deliver ​Produce - Produce the results you promise ​Preeminence - Be so good at what you do that you become a category of one Video and Transcript https://www.rayedwards.com/647 How You Can Help Subscribe to the show in Apple Podcasts or on Spotify, and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will definitely mention you on this show. Questions or comments? Connect with Ray on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram Visit Ray's community on Facebook – This is a friendly group of writers, entrepreneurs, and coaches who share ideas and helpful advice.

This week I'm giving you a simple, 5-step process to help make 2024 the best year your business has ever had. Of course, I said "simple"...not easy. The toughest pill for most business owners to swallow is this: You probably need to stop doing 20-50% of what you're doing right now. In other words, take a look at 2023 and figure out what things gave you the least ROI. What things took the most of your resources and returned anything less than "worth it". That's the prep work...Listen to get my 5-step plan. Key Insights ​Stop doing the things that don't produce a good return on your time and efforts ​Plan Your Year ​Plan your time off (commit!)   ​Plan for the things you can't control (holidays, etc.) ​Plan your content schedule ​Plan your promotional schedule ​Setup accountability and guidance for you as the leader (e.g. a coach or mentor) Links   The Copywriting Academy Live 2024 - As a listener of my podcast, you have earned a free invitation to experience my flagship training, live, with no investment other than your time and attention. The Copywriting Academy Live happens January 3-6, 2024. If that date has not yet passed, I strongly advise you check this out. Video and Transcript https://www.rayedwards.com/646 How You Can Help Subscribe to the show in Apple Podcasts or on Spotify, and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will definitely mention you on this show. Questions or comments? Connect with Ray on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram Visit Ray's community on Facebook – This is a friendly group of writers, entrepreneurs, and coaches who share ideas and helpful advice.

In this week's episode, I'm talking about a single, magic word that has the power to reduce your stress and give you more time to do the things that matter to you. What is this "Magic Word" ? "No" People seem to have no issue asking for our time, our attention, our money, etc. But for some reason, we often feel bad about saying no. It makes us feel like we're not doing our part, or being negative, or a bad person. "No" is just a response. It's neither good nor bad, but learning to use it can have a huge impact on your life. Key Insights ​Saying "no" doesn't mean you're a negative person with a negative attitude...it's just a response ​No need to make up excuses. This is a complete sentence: "No." ​Using the word "because" in your response can lead to less pushback ​Saying No to things you don't want to do gives you more time to say yes to the things you do want to do Video And Transcript https://www.rayedwards.com/645 Links ​The Copywriting Academy Live:  Kick off 2024 with radical change and massive progress. Join me for The Copywriting Academy Live virtual event, January 3-5. We'll get your copy finished and ready-for-launch, plus you'll master some incredible tools that will make you more productive than ever before. How You Can Help Subscribe to the show in Apple Podcasts or on Spotify, and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will definitely mention you on this show. Questions or comments? Connect with Ray on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram Visit Ray's community on Facebook – This is a friendly group of writers, entrepreneurs, and coaches who share ideas and helpful advice.

It's almost that time of year... Time to declare big changes for 2024! And then abandon those declarations in a few short weeks.  I'm not trying to be negative, but the reality is: It's hard to make significant changes in ourselves. Only 3% of people stick to their big resolutions. But why? That's what we'll take a look at in this week's episode. Change is possible...and it can be much easier than you think. Key Insights   ​ Change happens when the pain of not changing is greater than the difficulty of making the change. ​The fear of not changing is often overshadowed by immediate gratification, making it difficult for people to prioritize long-term consequences over short-term pleasure. ​To change, you need to make the future pain of not changing more real than the current pleasure. ​People don't change unless they associate significant pain with not changing and take ownership of their ability to change. ​Some people can learn to love pain through conscious choice and association with pleasure. ​Choose activities that you enjoy to make change easier. ​Enjoy the process of pushing yourself to achieve your goals, not just the end result. 5 Steps For Real Change Decide what it is you want to do Get clear on why it's important to you Figure out how you're going to get to the outcome Associate massive pleasure to the process of getting there Associate massive pain to not doing the process Links The Copywriting Academy Live - Kick off 2024 with radical change and massive progress. Join me for The Copywriting Academy Live virtual event, January 3-5. We'll get your copy finished and ready-for-launch, plus you'll master some incredible tools that will make you more productive than ever before. Video And Transcript https://www.rayedwards.com/644 How You Can Help Subscribe to the show in Apple Podcasts or on Spotify, and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will definitely mention you on this show. Questions or comments? Connect with Ray on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram Visit Ray's community on Facebook – This is a friendly group of writers, entrepreneurs, and coaches who share ideas and helpful advice.

The P.A.S.T.O.R. Framework® is the formula I use to craft every piece of sales copy I write. It is also the most "borrowed" piece of knowledge that I've ever taught. I've seen it shared in countless blog posts, videos, and forums around the net (often without proper attribution, but that's okay...I guess). The thing is, to really use this formula effectively, you need to learn a little more than just what each letter of the acronym stands for. This week, I'm diving deeper into each step of the process with a P.A.S.T.O.R. "mini" Masterclass. Listen carefully, put these concepts to work, and you WILL sell more of your stuff. Key Insights ​A review of the PASTOR Framework® ​Diving Deeper ... Talk to your "Right-Fit" client ​KNOW Your Person as well as possible, then talk to THEM, not to a group - Describe THEIR problem ​Describe the Pain as they perceive it ​What's going to happen if the problem (the Pain) goes unsolved? ​Show them what's possible when the problem is solved ​Tell them the story of Why they should listen to ​Describe your experience...tell the story of how you discovered the solution ​Show the transformation that happened for you (AND share the stories of others when you have them) ​Paint the picture of possibility - What would their life look like once your product has solved their problem ​Always focus on the benefits - Even if the offer ​Reframe the objections as questions...and answer them ​What are the reasons they should act Right NOW? ​Explain the cost of waiting ​Don't forget to actually ASK for the Sale    Video and Transcript https://www.rayedwards.com/643   Links ​AI Marketing Academy Live - “Master the Power of AI to Multiply Your Income, Influence, and Impact … In 3 Short Days.”   If you're looking at this prior to 1/3/24, you still have a chance to sign up.     How You Can Help   Subscribe to the show in Apple Podcasts or on Spotify, and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will definitely mention you on this show. Questions or comments? Connect with Ray on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram Visit Ray's community on Facebook – This is a friendly group of writers, entrepreneurs, and coaches who share ideas and helpful advice.

I have previously claimed that Writer's Block does not exist. That was true for me at least...until recently. What happened? How could my seemingly endless well of ideas and words suddenly run dry?  This week I'm sharing the cause, and the cure. Key Insights ​Expressing my gratitude for you in this season of thanks ​Suddenly self-conscious ​Age is NOT a handicap in this arena. There is value in your wisdom ​Accept who you are and embrace your imperfections ​Be a source of positivity online and in the world ​Your influence and impact will live longer than you​ Links How To Write Copy That Sells - Get your FREE copy of my bestselling book (just pay shipping) YouTube and Transcript https://www.rayedwards.com/642 How You Can Help Subscribe to the show in Apple Podcasts or on Spotify, and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will definitely mention you on this show. Questions or comments? Connect with Ray on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram Visit Ray's community on Facebook – This is a friendly group of writers, entrepreneurs, and coaches who share ideas and helpful advice.

Building your business and your brand requires a particular set of skills. I want to talk about those skills (one in particular), but also issue a reminder about your other brand...the one built by others. Your shadow brand. What is it, and how do you manage it? Key Insights ​ What's the best, must-have skill for creating cash flow and building wealth? ​AI has made it easier to build a business with less human help, but at a certain level you must start hiring people. ​The harder you work, the more money you make... Not True - That philosophy can destroy you ​To achieve true wealth, you must create assets that generate income ​You must learn to communicate strategically and influentially ​Use your writing to build your personal brand - Do not just hand this job over to AI...use AI as a helper, not an author ​How to take control of your Shadow Brand (make it intentional) ​Build a personal brand based on the Real You ​Embrace your Authentic Self - keep your quirks intact to build a personal brand that people connect with and recognize ​Copywriting is the number one skill when it comes to building your brand (Everything is copy) ​A.I. can help make you more productive, but you MUST understand the fundamental principles of good copy in order to use it correctly Links ​How To Write Copy That Sells - Get your free copy of my most popular, bestselling book (just pay shipping) Transcript and Video rayedwards.com/641 How You Can Help Subscribe to the show in Apple Podcasts or on Spotify, and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will definitely mention you on this show. Questions or comments? Connect with Ray on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram Visit Ray's community on Facebook – This is a friendly group of writers, entrepreneurs, and coaches who share ideas and helpful advice.

"People Pleasing" is NOT the way to build a brand. You might build a BIG list that way, but you won't build a QUALITY one. Your list, your followers, your subscribers...They need to know the real you if you want to build a meaningful connection. (You know, the kind that brings in revenue for your business.) Your message must align with your brand. My guest this week is known as "the People Displeaser" (a.k.a. Nick Pollard), and he has done exactly that. Nick and I will discuss his journey, and how being authentic with his audience has helped him build a list of actively engaged, loyal followers.  Key Insights ​Nick Pollard's recent video on TikTok has over 1.8 million views (and climbing)...but why "that" one? ​Don't worry about the size of your email list, focus on the depth of your relationship with your subscribers. ​Maintaining a high list engagement with a 50% open rate, even without marketing to them, shows the importance of having a targeted and interested audience. ​Nick's engagement with his audience's list is HUGE. That's a result of building a strong connection with his audience which paves the way for successful marketing. ​The key to building engagement with your audience is being honest and authentic from the start. ​Nick had rapid list growth, going from 1,500 to over 11,000 subscribers, thanks to a little bit of luck, and a viral video. ​The content that performs the best is when the creator is being authentic. ​Nick believes that high engagement on social media comes from sharing only what truly matters and resonates with the audience, rather than bombarding them with irrelevant content. (Don't force it!) Video and Transcript https://www.rayedwards.com/640 Links NickPollard.com - How to Stop Being a People-Pleaser, Quit Lying to Yourself About How Miserable You Are, And Finally Build a Life of Freedom Where You Don’t Come In Last Place. ​CopyCrew.net - Unlimited Copywriting for online business. Fast, effective, and 100% Guaranteed. A copywriting subscription to grow your business. How You Can Help Subscribe to the show in Apple Podcasts or on Spotify, and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will definitely mention you on this show. Questions or comments? Connect with Ray on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram Visit Ray's community on Facebook – This is a friendly group of writers, entrepreneurs, and coaches who share ideas and helpful advice.

Check out this incredible conversation I had with my fellow word-nerd, Molly Rouse-DiCioccio. Molly has an amazing insight as to (as she puts it) "why people do stuff". Once you understand the psychology of your audience, the right words become obvious. And, of course, if you're a copywriter that can "connect", you can charge appropriately (6-figures in the case of the project we discussed), and are free to work from wherever. ​Molly's fascination with human behavior and psychology drives her passion for marketing and helping people with marketing psychology, influence, persuasion, and mental triggers ​​The importance of copywriting skills (and where to learn them) ​How Molly ​used the PASTOR formula to write a proposal that secured a $120,000 deal ​Language is powerful!  Mastering it is important not just in copywriting, but also in ALL communication​ ​ "It's better not to speak at all unless what you're going to say expresses compassion, inspiration, or mutual benefit." ​Mind your mental state: Don't write when you're angry​ ​AI is a powerful tool to give you a start, but human understanding of how words are perceived and the psychological impact is still crucial.   Links ​WhyPeopleDoStuff.com What makes people listen to you? To trust you? Buy from you? Contact you? What makes YOU stand out more than anyone else? - Check out Molly's site to answer those questions. ​Start Your Own Writing Business - Check out some free training, and a special offer from Ray.   Watch the Video and get the Transcript https://www.rayedwards.com/638   How You Can Help Subscribe to the show in Apple Podcasts or on Spotify, and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will definitely mention you on this show. Questions or comments?Connect with Ray on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram Visit Ray's community on Facebook – This is a friendly group of writers, entrepreneurs, and coaches who share ideas and helpful advice.

Amanda Foust is a shining example of someone who turned their passion into a profitable business. Her love of writing inspired her to learn a skill that she's used to build TWO successful businesses — Copywriting. She'll explain how important copywriting has been in BOTH of her businesses (including the one that has nothing to do with writing). Because, as she puts it, "I just don't know how you sell otherwise." Key Insights ​Thank God for teachers ​Understanding the importance of framing and presentation in copywriting is crucial for success ​Focus on finding "the whos" (the right people) to help, rather than getting caught up in the details. ​Amanda became a certified, high-performance coach after being inspired by receiving coaching in college. ​Give us some numbers...Amanda talks about the growth of her company, Homegrown, going from part-time work to achieving six-figure earnings and retiring their husband within five years ​Knowing how to write good copy (or partnering with someone who can) is crucial for success​ ​AI-generated copy still needs human help to be more than mediocre ​Coaches help people navigate imposter syndrome, loneliness, and lack of clarity by focusing on time management, productivity, and finding meaning in their work ​Creating a community for learning is more effective than just offering a course ​AI For Copywriters can help improve your marketing and learn to use AI as a tool to amplifiy your own voice, not replace it Links   Wake Up To Your Life - Want to learn more about Amanda's coaching and other services? Check out her brand new site Video and Transcript https://www.rayedwards.com/637 How You Can Help Subscribe to the show in Apple Podcasts or on Spotify, and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will definitely mention you on this show. Questions or comments? Connect with Ray on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram Visit Ray's community on Facebook – This is a friendly group of writers, entrepreneurs, and coaches who share ideas and helpful advice.

Many entrepreneurs start their journey out of necessity. An unforeseen set of circumstances gives them the push, and then it's sink or swim. My guest this week was facing some major family and financial challenges. She fought through the fear and built a successful, 6-figure business in less than a year...That's a story worth paying attention to. Listen and learn from my conversation with Anita Anello. Key Insights Anita's career success and achievements left her feeling unfulfilled, questioning if there was more to life than just titles, money, and accolades, emphasizing the need for a deeper sense of purpose and fulfillment. ​​Be impeccable with your word and build a reputation of reliability and trustworthiness. ​Everything Is Copy - Anita discovered the importance of copywriting through the idea that "everything that we say and do​ is all copy." ​Build your business around the deep desires in your heart and be rewarded with freedom.​ ​Anita's passion lies in helping other successful women of faith who have reached a pinnacle in their careers and have a God-sized idea inside of them, guiding them towards fulfilling their potential. ​Creating a movement of women who champion each other, meet each other where they're at, and have no tolerance for complainers or those who don't take responsibility for their lives. ​Anita and her husband were able to pay off over $40,000 of debt in just a four-month period, demonstrating their commitment to financial stability. ​Anita's journey of finding work-life balance and being present for her kids while still making money and pursuing her interests is inspiring. ​"Being a person of Integrity is one of my core values...whatever you say you're going to do, that's it because all I have are my words." ​Anita's list of necessities for her family's survival and thriving included not just financial aspects, but also time, health, and other non-monetary factors. ​Overcoming challenges and declaring one's accomplishments can empower individuals to walk confidently in their journey, leaving a ripple effect for generations to come. Links TheRippleAffect.net - The place to connect with Anita Anello, and "Turn Your Corporate Skills into a Consulting Business You Love" Video and Transcript rayedwards.com/636 How You Can Help Subscribe to the show in Apple Podcasts or on Spotify, and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will definitely mention you on this show. Questions or comments? Connect with Ray on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram Visit Ray's community on Facebook – This is a friendly group of writers, entrepreneurs, and coaches who share ideas and helpful advice.

Ever have that dream of waking up and finding that your most recent video got hundreds of thousands of views while you were sleeping? I have. I have yet to experience this personally, but that's exactly what happened to my guest, Matt Wolfe. In this conversation with Matt, we'll talk about his sudden boom (9 years after launching his channel) - What caused it? How have things changed? What opportunities has it made possible? Matt is a passionate student of A.I. and it shows in his videos. We'll discuss the importance of creating the content you're passionate about, what role A.I. (and humans) play in the future of content creation, and why Matt thinks the human brain is not yet obsolete. [00:00] Matt and I discuss his popularity increase after chat GPT became public, his journey of creating videos, gaining traction, and finding success with AI-related content. ​Overnight success? Hardly. Matt started his YouTube channel in 2009, focusing on WordPress and teaching people how to build websites ​Matt discovered that his videos about AI gained more popularity than his marketing content, leading him to shift his channel's focus. One of his A.I videos has now hit 1.2 million views. ​[04:36] Matt shares his 14-year journey to success and how he is monetizing his business. ​​Matt created his website, futuretools.io, to organize and access useful tools he discovered. This site now serves as an A.I. resource for thousands of visitors each day. ​Lots of copycat sites have emerged since Matt's launch of futuretools.io, but that doesn't bother him. He originally built this site as a resource for himself and not as a business model. ​Matt sees himself as an enthusiastic user of AI technology rather than pretending to be an expert. He believes (and I agree) that has played an important role in his success. ​Matt's revenue streams include: affiliate links, featured listings, sponsorships, a weekly newsletter, a YouTube channel, and a podcast. ​[12:35]  Will A.I. take over content creation? Matt believes that real people creating content on YouTube will always win because the audience connects with a genuine creator. ​[19:46] Creating authentic and passionate content that resonates with you is more valuable than focusing on data-driven strategies, spammy content, or trying to please the algorithm or audience. ​Be real...Let your personality shine through in your content. Focus on creating content that excites and interests you. ​[22:56]  Use AI as a tool to enhance content creation ​Feedly is an AI-powered RSS feed reader that allows users to find and filter articles and news on specific topics. ​[27:54]  What about AI's  potential to create fake content and undermine the credibility of video and photographic evidence What does Matt think about AI replacing jobs? ​[33:19]  Do we still need people? Of course. But not for everything... AI will potentially replace manual labor jobs, but humans will adapt and find new ways to add value. ​[36:47]  Where to find Matt...and when do we get the new podcast? Links ​futuretools.io : Matt's site that "Collects & Organizes All The Best AI Tools So YOU Too Can Become Superhuman!" ​Matt's YouTube Channel : Definitely worth subbing and binging How You Can Help Subscribe to the show in Apple Podcasts or on Spotify, and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will definitely mention you on this show. Questions or comments? Connect with Ray on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram Visit Ray's community on Facebook – This is a friendly group of writers, entrepreneurs, and coaches who share ideas and helpful advice. Get The Transcript and Video https://www.rayedwards.com/635  

I can think of no more valuable skill than the one that conveys the importance, uniqueness, value, and necessity of everything else you have to offer - Copywriting. Feel free to try and convince me otherwise...but guess what skill you'll need to do that? Copywriting is fundamental to any business because it's how you communicate who you are and why people need you. Any transaction begins with communication, and the quality of that communication dictates everything that comes after. This week's episode is about recognizing that EVERYTHING is copy - Not just sales pages and ads. Social media posts, emails, videos, podcasts...even conversations are copy. Use the techniques and triggers that have been used for millennia to improve ALL of your interactions. You'll also learn how you and I can be "study buddies", working through Jeff Walker's Product Launch Formula together. I've bought PLF every year since 2005 because it works, and it gets better every iteration.  We'll soon be launching the updated, AI version of Copywriting Academy using PLF blueprints. Listen to find out how you can get a behind-the-scenes look at our launch, step by step. Key Insights   ​The one high-value skill to rule them all: Copywriting ​AI does NOT eliminate the need for human copywriters ​​Everything is copy - not just sales pages and ads ​Jeff Walker's Product Launch Formula changed everything in 2005 ​Get free access to the PLF Masterclass Here ​Emails require stellar copywriting skills to get opens and responses ​Social Media Posts are copy - Treat them as such. Be intentional! ​Your website builds trust and drives conversions, and...it's copy. ​In-Person interactions can be "Conversational Copy" ​Get PLF using my link, and we'll go through it together Soon, we'll be launching the updated, AI version of Copywriting Academy. Get behind-the-scenes access to my own, PLF-Powered launch, step by step. A "vlogumentary" that shows you how my team and I put PLF to work. Links ​Product Launch Formula Masterclass - Your once-a-year shot at getting thousands of dollars in practical, actionable, launch education. Learn the key elements of Product Launch Formula directly from its creator, Jeff Walker. These videos come down this week, so DON'T Wait! Video Of This Episode (Youtube) https://youtu.be/UIiLyWApXGE   How You Can Help Subscribe to the show in Apple Podcasts or on Spotify, and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will definitely mention you on this show. Questions or comments? Connect with Ray on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram Visit Ray's community on Facebook – This is a friendly group of writers, entrepreneurs, and coaches who share ideas and helpful advice.

This week we review the fundamental differences between marketing and selling, and how to properly execute both. Plus, I introduce you to two of my students, Jason and Melanie Crane. We'll talk about their entrepreneurial journey as a husband and wife team, they're challenges, and how you can achieve success without sacrificing your marriage. I'll also tell you how you can learn the same fundamental sales system that we use for each and every product and service we sell (Product Launch Formula), absolutely free of charge. Key Insights ​Marketing and Selling are NOT the same thing ​Marketing is where you connect with your audience and let them buy in to your worldview, philosophies, and ideas - Marketing is preparing your audience to buy from you. ​The offer is critical. Get it right, or nothing else works. It must be made irresistible to the audience. ​Building a list through lead magnets and email marketing allows for sequential communication and increased chances of making a successful sales offer. ​Building a relationship with customers and being perceived as a helper, rather than someone trying to sell, can amplify your business and foster connections. ​Sacrificing personal relationships for the sake of success can lead to negative consequences and the breakdown of marriages. ​Creating or joining a Mastermind group can provide a supportive and motivating environment for personal and professional growth. ​Being part of a supportive community can be transformational in achieving your goals and overcoming challenges. ​Making the process of improving a marriage fun (even integrating dance in Jason and Melanie's case) can help engage both partners and create a positive experience. Links   ​Free PLF Masterclass - Get the fundamentals of Product Launch Formula, taught by its creator, Jeff Walker. This is my sales system. It's what my company uses every time we launch a new product or service. If you want to sell online, this is the way. These free Masterclass videos are only available for a few days, so get them while you can ​BAM Prosperity - Visit Jason and Melanie's site to learn more about how to build a business without sacrificing your personal relationships How You Can Help Subscribe to the show in Apple Podcasts or on Spotify, and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will definitely mention you on this show. Questions or comments? Connect with Ray on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram Visit Ray's community on Facebook – This is a friendly group of writers, entrepreneurs, and coaches who share ideas and helpful advice.

A lot of people are asking this question when it comes to "Content Marketing": How much is too much? At what point do you saturate your readers, listeners and viewers with so much knowledge that they are no longer interested in buying what you're selling? In this week's episode, I'll give you a solid answer to that question...free of charge. Key Insights ​Giving away valuable content for free in content marketing can help build trust with potential customers and lead to future sales. ​The success of a marketing strategy can be measured not just by immediate revenue, but also by its ability to position your brand in the marketplace and generate long-term results. ​People often don't do what they know because they either don't know how to do it, don't like doing it, or find it too overwhelming. That presents an opportunity for content marketers to provide guidance and support in the form of courses, coaching, and other revenue-generating services. 7 steps do doing this right ​Step 1 - Know your audience and the problem they want to solve ​Step 2 - Give the FULL Answer ​Step 3 - Teach your whole process ​Step 4 - Illustrate the value - Show what your process is worth when you put it to work ​Step 5 - Ask your audience, "Why aren't you doing this?" ​Step 6 - Offer to do it with them. ​Step 7 - Repeat ​Providing valuable knowledge and illustrating the value of your process can help build trust and demonstrate the worth of your content. ​In my latest book, Read This Or Die, I share how I used my skills as a marketer and copywriter to write a sales campaign that helped me overcome the symptoms of Parkinson's disease and change my life. ​Marketing is about changing mindsets and sharing your beliefs, values, and worldview, not selling products or services. ​Next week, we'll talk about the selling process Links ​Read This Or Die: Persuading Yourself To A Better Life There's still time to be part of my upcoming bookclub and workshop - and get your free video mini-course when you purchase the book (click the link for details) Video and Show Notes https://www.rayedwards.com/632 How You Can Help Subscribe to the show in Apple Podcasts or on Spotify, and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will definitely mention you on this show. Questions or comments? Connect with Ray on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram Visit Ray's community on Facebook – This is a friendly group of writers, entrepreneurs, and coaches who share ideas and helpful advice.

My weekly podcast has been my #1 source for new clients since the beginning of my business. Why? Because it has helped me to build a connection with the right people. Listeners get a dose of my knowledge and personality and then decide whether they should move on, or stay for more. Those who aren't a fit for my style get naturally filtered out. So, the podcast doesn't just get me more clients - It gets me better clients...My right-fit clients. This week, we're talking about the golden opportunity you have that didn't exist when I was getting started: YouTube.  I've got 7 compelling reasons why you should start your YouTube channel, NOW. Key Insights ​Putting your own podcast on YouTube is a great way to build a loyal following and attract high-paying clients, as it allows you to create an emotional bond and forge connections with your audience. ​YouTube is the number one podcasting platform and has invested heavily in video podcasts, making it the ideal platform for connecting with clients and customers. ​New viewers can discover your show organically, so don't miss out on the opportunity to build an audience by consistently creating content. ​Having a YouTube video podcast can provide opportunities for lateral marketing and niche audience targeting. ​A YouTube video podcast allows you to reach new clients in different genres. ​YouTube is now offering a complete ecosystem with ad-free videos, music, and podcasts, giving creators the opportunity to attract new viewers and listeners and potentially earn ad revenue. ​Get a complete Video Podcasting for Copywriters course at https://www.rayedwards.com/vidpod Links Video Podcasting for Copywriters - This is the top-of-market course lead by the great Diana Gladney Video and Transcript https://www.rayedwards.com/631 How You Can Help Subscribe to the show in Apple Podcasts or on Spotify, and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will definitely mention you on this show. Questions or comments? Connect with Ray on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram Visit Ray's community on Facebook – This is a friendly group of writers, entrepreneurs, and coaches who share ideas and helpful advice.

In this economic reality, you must bring your A-Game when it comes to marketing. No more outdated websites...No more ignoring your "Shadow Brand", or your reputation on social media. You must strive to be Iconic in your market. This week, we're talking about how my son and I are marketing the local coffee shop we co-own together, Revel 77.   Key Insights ​​ The importance of stepping up your marketing game in the current economic reality and moving away from ugly marketing strategies. ​Ugly websites no longer sell, as the competition now includes big players like Disney and AI technology, but this also means more opportunities for those who can create high-quality content. ​Your website is not enough to attract customers, you need to provide a valuable experience and build trust before asking for a purchase. ​Your online reputation, or "Shadow brand," is crucial for attracting customers, so it's important to provide the information they need to make a favorable decision about your business. ​Revel 77 Coffee in Spokane, WA enjoys having control over their coffee product by roasting it themselves, allowing them to tailor it to their customers' preferences. ​Build a sophisticated website and marketing hub to capture traffic and cater to the specific audience of your coffee shop, ensuring customer satisfaction and differentiation from competitors like Starbucks. ​You must think about sales copy, photography, video, writing, and your brand, but the good news is you can watch us do it with our own business. ​Revel 77 Coffee in Spokane, WA roasts their own beans, and if you want to order their delicious Morning Muse roast, click the link in the description. Links ​Revel 77 Coffee - Get the meticulously crafted flavor profile of your choice delivered to your door - Roasted in-house by our resident coffee genius, Sean Edwards. Video And Transcript https://rayedwards.com/630 How You Can Help Subscribe to the show in Apple Podcasts or on Spotify, and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will definitely mention you on this show. Questions or comments? Connect with Ray on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram Visit Ray's community on Facebook – This is a friendly group of writers, entrepreneurs, and coaches who share ideas and helpful advice.

This week, I'm laying some groundwork for an upcoming series about building your own 1-person business. A 1-person business isn't new territory for me - I ran a successful one for many years before I started building my team... BUT - The tools that are available now (specifically the AI-Powered ones) have made doing this on-your-own incredibly easy. You can now build your business by yourself, without neglecting every other aspect of your life...And it's AMAZING. Let's talk about what's possible... And why YOU CAN (and SHOULD) do it NOW.  Key Insights ​Building a one-person business that allows you to work only with people you want to work with, and on your own schedule, is not just a dream, it can be a reality. ​The internet is "The Great Leveler", removing all barriers and providing equal opportunities for success. ​Optimists generally have better lives, with more money, freedom, happiness, and better relationships, while pessimists have a more realistic vision but often end up less happy, wealthy, and with lesser relationships. ​The internet removes gatekeepers and allows anyone, regardless of age, to create a million-dollar business. ​The internet has leveled the playing field, allowing anyone to start a business and connect with potential customers, regardless of their social status or background. ​ Understanding that you are the brand allows you to be your authentic self and stand out in a way that is unduplicable. ​ There is an audience out of the 8 billion people on this planet that can only resonate with your unique perspective and personality, so be authentic and comfortable in being yourself. ​ Don't worry about the market being saturated, there is still room for you to start your 1-person business. Links ​Read This Or Die: Persuading Yourself To A Better Life - Click to find out how you can get a free gift when you order my new book: A 6-part mini-course where I personally walk you through the life-changing process outlined in the book. ​ClarityScribe - The most powerful AI-Powered copywriting tool on the planet. Try it for free (no credit card required) How You Can Help Subscribe to the show in Apple Podcasts or on Spotify, and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will definitely mention you on this show. Questions or comments? Connect with Ray on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram Visit Ray's community on Facebook – This is a friendly group of writers, entrepreneurs, and coaches who share ideas and helpful advice.

In this episode of The Ray Edwards Show, we ponder on the balance between niching down and maintaining personal authenticity in a brand. While specialized services and products offer a greater focus, personal charisma gives your brand its unique charm. But which one should prevail? Let’s find out. Key Points ​Defining your personal brand does not mean you have to stick to one specific niche. ​While services should be hyper-focused on a niche, personalities should be diverse. ​Ambition and products being pushed by vendors often cause the overwhelm and confusion in branding. ​Everybody has their unique thing to sell, but none of them should dictate your brand’s direction. ​To succeed, your business and personality need to resonate with each other authentically. ​Implement a strategy, set goals, and use the necessary tools for effective branding. ​Also, consider having a guide and companions to help you along the way, but remember that it will take time. ​Always keep being true to yourself and share your true passions with your audience. Links ​[Austin Kleon - Show Your Work] ​[Mike Kim - You Are The Brand] ​[Work With Ray] Video And Transcript https://www.rayedwards.com/628 How You Can Help Subscribe to the show in Apple Podcasts or on Spotify, and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will definitely mention you on this show. Questions or comments? Connect with Ray on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram Visit Ray's community on Facebook – This is a friendly group of writers, entrepreneurs, and coaches who share ideas and helpful advice.

This week is another Q&A with Ray episode where I offer my answers to these questions:   How do I get more people to open my emails? ​Can I use copywriting on social media without seeming sleazy? ​Are old-school sales pages dead? Those are some great questions, to which I believe I have some helpful answers. If you would like to win a free, signed copy of my new book, Read This Or Die: Persuading Yourself to a Better Life, check out the link below to get the code I mention in the podcast. I'll be doing more prizes in future episodes, so make sure you're subscribed to my YouTube channel for an even better chance to win. [00:00] Intro - More Q&A [00:22] Question 1: How do I get more people to open my emails? [03:25] Question 2: Can I use copywriting on social media to make sales (without seeming sleazy)? [05:37] Question 3:   Are old-school sales pages dead? [07:51] Win a free, signed copy of Read This Or Die: Persuading Yourself to a Better Life Links Read This Or Die - Learn more about my new book, Read This Or Die: Persuading Yourself to a Better Life Get the Video and Transcript https://rayedwards.com/627 How You Can Help Subscribe to the show in Apple Podcasts or on Spotify, and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will definitely mention you on this show. Questions or comments? Connect with Ray on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram Visit Ray's community on Facebook – This is a friendly group of writers, entrepreneurs, and coaches who share ideas and helpful advice.

In case you're not familiar with Lee Cockerell, here's a quick snippet from his bio: Lee Cockerell is the former Executive Vice President of Operations for the Walt Disney World® Resort. “As the Senior Operating Executive for ten years Lee led a team of 40,000 Cast Members and was responsible for the operations of 20 resort hotels, 4 theme parks, 2 water parks, a shopping & entertainment village and the ESPN sports and recreation complex in addition to the ancillary operations which supported the number one vacation destination in the world.” When it comes to team-building and leadership techniques, Lee has one of the best resumés on the planet. A few weeks ago, I received a note from Lee saying that he had read my new book, Read This Or Die, and enjoyed it so much that he purchased multiple copies to send to friends and family. To receive a note like that from someone I respect and admire was both humbling, and inspiring.  Lee also extended me the honor of being a guest on his Creating Disney Magic podcast (linked below), which is where this week's audio comes from. [00:00] Intro/explanation [00:14] Welcome back to the show [00:45] How Read This Or Die impacted Lee [02:39] The missing chapter [04:11] It's about the reader's challenges...not Ray's [05:44] Changing your input/output [06:55] Your wife's review (The Cranial-Rectral Extraction Method) [10:04] No need to wait for disaster [12:42] A lesson in brain science [13:48] A trip to Galaxy's Edge [15:25] More about "The letter" Links Creating Disney Magic Podcast - Lee Cockerell shares his wisdom and experience from his time as the Executive Vice President of Operations for Walt Disney World. Along with host Jody Maberry, Lee discusses how you can apply lessons in leadership, management, and customer service to create magic in your organization. LeeCockerell.com - The best place to get in touch with Lee. Learn more about his training, speaking, and mastermind group. How You Can Help Subscribe to the show in Apple Podcasts or on Spotify, and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will definitely mention you on this show. Questions or comments? Connect with Ray on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram Visit Ray's community on Facebook – This is a friendly group of writers, entrepreneurs, and coaches who share ideas and helpful advice.

In this Episode of the Ray Edwards Show, I'm going to show you exactly how I'm using AI every week in my workflow. How I am using AI in my business to make more money with less work, and produce better copy (meaning copy that converts better). And how you can do the same thing. This episode is specifically made for business owners who want to write copy for their own business. Even if your business is a copywriting business – there is plenty of opportunity for all of us. These are the days of limitless opportunity. But you certainly don't have to be a copywriter-for-hire to use this same workflow. This will work for any online business, including personal brands, authors, speakers, coaches, and course creators. [00:00] My workflow for creating this podcast (and who this will work for) [03:13] Step 1 - Research the topic most on the minds of my viewers/listeners [04:17] Step 2 - Put my research into a working document [04:35] Step 3 - Write my "Human Generated" outline of the episode [05:10] Step 4 - Run my text through ClarityScribe [06:31] Step 5 - Read the A.I. generated text out loud (seriously...do this) [07:56] Step 6 - Record the video version for YouTube [10:03] Step 7 - Polish up the video (See link below for TimeBolt) [11:47] Step 8 - Run the audio through ClarityScribe's Podcast module [12:18] Step 9 - Put the video through Opus Video AI (link below) [12:55] Step 10 - Load Podcast post on YouTube, the blog, and socials [13:27] Step 11 - Launch The Video Links ClairtyScribe - The ultimate copywriting A.I. not only generates copy for my podcast, but also parses the finished audio to create show notes, a verbatim transcript, social posts, and emails.  TimeBolt - This is what I use to "clean up" my videos. Removing any dead spaces, bad takes, and various stumbles. (affiliate link) VidIQ - I use this software to analyze my channel and get the insights necessary to keep my content focused, and relevant to what my audience expects. (affiliate link) Opus Clip - This incredible software will analyze your long form videos and create sharable highlights.  Jeff Walker - The inventor of the "Product Launch Formula" coaching program. You can find many of these principles and techniques in his book, called Launch! My Content Creation Checklist - A summary of the process described in this episode in pdf format How You Can Help Subscribe to the show in Apple Podcasts or on Spotify, and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will definitely mention you on this show. Questions or comments? Connect with Ray on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram Visit Ray's community on Facebook – This is a friendly group of writers, entrepreneurs, and coaches who share ideas and helpful advice. Get The Transcript and Video https://www.rayedwards.com/625

I was recently interviewed for the Marketer of the Day Podcast, hosted by Robert Plank. In this episode, we dig into some core marketing principles that I use and teach, and discuss how they relate to the system covered in my new book, Read This Or Die. 00:00 Intro 00:43 Nerves 01:48 Ray's Unique Selling Position 03:15 What's something unique that you've written copy for? 04:58 Where do people fall short in the copywriting process? 07:23 The importance of storytelling 09:38 "Well, you've got it...Now what?" (The pain of Parkinson's Disease) 12:03 The missing chapter 12:40 DBS 13:51 Any surprises? 16:17 Are you exploiting this? 17:54 Copywriting's role in the life-changing process 20:37 Have I missed anything? 24:00 Where do they go? 24:26 On that quote... Links Read This Or Die - Click to order your copy of Read This Or Die, and claim your free, 6-video mini-course that I created to accompany the book. Marketer of the Day with Robert Plank - Get Daily Insights from the Top Internet Marketers & Entrepreneurs Around the World. Thank you to Robert for granting me permission to use this week's audio. How You Can Help Subscribe to the show in Apple Podcasts or on Spotify, and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will definitely mention you on this show. Questions or comments? Connect with Ray on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram Visit Ray's community on Facebook – This is a friendly group of writers, entrepreneurs, and coaches who share ideas and helpful advice. Get The Transcript https://www.rayedwards.com/624

This week, my friend and coauthor of Read This Or Die, Jeff Goins, joins me on the show for an in-depth conversation about the book, the collaboration, and the writing process. [00:00] Intro - A Face For Radio [03:50] Getting familiar with your own book [07:15] Where is your Vulnerability-Meter? [10:59] Describe our working relationship? [12:08] Am I your first? [14:56] What do you want the reader to get from this book? [15:43] Wakeup call from my wife... [17:00] How real change happens [19:34] The sales letter of the same name [24:49] Did you trust the process? [28:08] The 3 Rays [31:43] Why the denial? [37:40] Facing the hard truth [39:18] The ideal outcome for the reader   Links Click Here to order your copy of Read This Or Die: Persuading Yourself to a Better Life   Get The Transcript and Video https://www.rayedwards.com/623   How You Can Help Subscribe to the show in Apple Podcasts or on Spotify, and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will definitely mention you on this show. Questions or comments? Connect with Ray on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram Visit Ray's community on Facebook – This is a friendly group of writers, entrepreneurs, and coaches who share ideas and helpful advice.

I was recently interviewed on The Cliff Ravenscraft Show about my new book, Read This or Die. Since this book is, by necessity, so deeply personal, this interview was equally personal and somewhat challenging to get through. However, I felt that it encapsulated the message of the book so well, I asked for Cliff's permission to use the audio on my own show. My sincere thanks to Cliff Ravenscraft (a.k.a. The Mindset Answer Man) for making this episode possible. If you're not familiar with Cliff's work, I recommend you take a look at the links below. Links Read This Or Die: Persuading Yourself To A Better Life - The book releases on May 23, 2023. If you're reading this before that date, you can still claim a valuable free gift for pre-ordering your copy.  Cliff Ravenscraft - This is the main site for the Mindset Answer Man, Cliff Ravenscraft. I am a huge fan of Cliff's work, his outlook on life, and his passion for helping others. You'll find Cliff's notes (hah!) on this episode at this link. How You Can Help Subscribe to the show in Apple Podcasts or on Spotify, and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will definitely mention you on this show. Questions or comments? Connect with Ray on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram Visit Ray's community on Facebook – This is a friendly group of writers, entrepreneurs, and coaches who share ideas and helpful advice. Get The Transcript https://www.rayedwards.com/622

This episode is definitely "off the cuff", but does have a clear inspiration. I've been listening to more intimate, less polished podcasts and started kicking around the idea of doing a secondary, more intimate, less polished podcast of my own. I hope to gauge my audience's interest in such a thing based on feedback from this episode...then proceed as planned regardless of the results. Have a comment to share about this idea? See the contact info near the bottom of this post. Links Train With Cliff Podcast - This is one of the inspirations I mentioned in the episode - definitely worth checking out. How You Can Help Subscribe to the show in Apple Podcasts or on Spotify, and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will definitely mention you on this show. Questions or comments?Connect with Ray on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram Visit Ray's community on Facebook – This is a friendly group of writers, entrepreneurs, and coaches who share ideas and helpful advice.

This week, I have a potentially unpopular answer to a very popular question: How do I upgrade my clients? The serial-refunders, the constant complainers, the manipulators...and of course, people who are downright rude to you and your team. How do you avoid them? Even more to the point: How do you get the kind of clients you actually want? [00:00] How do I upgrade my clients? [00:46] You're not going to like this answer, but... [01:48] My $5,000 problem [03:08] What your company avatar should look like [04:13] It starts at the top (with you and me) How You Can Help? Subscribe to the show in Apple Podcasts or on Spotify, and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will definitely mention you on this show. Questions or comments? Connect with Ray on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram Visit Ray's community on Facebook – This is a friendly group of writers, entrepreneurs, and coaches who share ideas and helpful advice. Get The Transcript And Video https://www.rayedwards.com/620

How much "Authenticity" is too much? How much of your personal life should you share with your clients or followers? The answer depends on what kind of clients you want to attract, and that's what I'm talking about in this week's episode. [00:00] How much is too much? [00:23] Are you business deals transactional? [00:50] Or are they relational? [01:47] A real dilema [02:48] Here's the difference [03:40] My advice: Charge more, Work less [04:14] You set a higher price, AND... [05:17] I'm rebuilding my business to be E.P.I.C. [06:21] The truth about scalability [07:19] How to build an E.P.I.C. business of your own [08:36] I'm seriously considering this Links Interested in building your own Easy, Profitable, Interesting, and Carefree (EPIC) business? Send an email to ray@rayedwards.com with the subject "Epic Business" and let's chat. How You Can Help Subscribe to the show in Apple Podcasts or on Spotify, and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will definitely mention you on this show. Questions or comments? Connect with Ray on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram Visit Ray's community on Facebook – This is a friendly group of writers, entrepreneurs, and coaches who share ideas and helpful advice. Transcript and Video https://rayedwards.com/619

A friend of mine recently gave me a not-so-subtle reminder that I am blessed to have a schedule full of things that I have chosen to do. She did this on the heels of me explaining to her how busy I was... "I have to spend 3 days in a studio recording my audio book, I've got to prepare for two upcoming workshops, I have to fly to Orlando for a mastermind meeting," and so on. She reminded me that I was complaining about things that many people are praying for. I am blessed to have a publisher who believes in my new book and has allowed me to record in my own voice. I am blessed to have people willing to travel to Spokane to learn from me. I am blessed to be part of a Mastermind group that allows me to learn from people I admire. Same schedule...Different perspective. That's what this week's episode is all about. [00:00] I'm quitting... [01:02] What's wrong with saying I'm busy? [01:37] Be impeccable with your word [02:40] My wakeup call [03:46] Complaining about blessings [06:29] My energy, my fault [07:08] Read This Or Die Links Copywriting As A Million Dollar Business Workshop - There's still a chance to join me for one of these upcoming, life-changing, empire-building workshops. Click the link for details and availability. Read This Or Die - Find my new book wherever books are sold, or even better, click the link and get a free video course that goes along with it.    How You Can Help Subscribe to the show in Apple Podcasts or on Spotify, and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will definitely mention you on this show. Questions or comments? Connect with Ray on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram Visit Ray's community on Facebook – This is a friendly group of writers, entrepreneurs, and coaches who share ideas and helpful advice.   Get The Transcript And Video https://www.rayedwards.com/618

You might be thinking, "Why the 180, Ray? Haven't you been pitching A.I. as an incredible new tool? Aren't you marketing your own copywriting A.I.?" I still believe A.I. is an incredible tool - And yes, I'm very pleased with my company's A.I. software - BUT, as I said when I first started in this business, you must be more than just a copywriter. That was true then, but now...it's absolutely critical. If you're counting on copywriting alone, you're not only eligible for a quick replacement, you're also doing a disservice to your clients (the ones you'll likely be losing soon). [01:01] “The amount of money we receive will always be in a direct ratio to the demand for what we do, our ability to do it, and the difficulty in replacing us.” - Earl Nightingale [01:45] It's already happening...as predicted [02:10] Our Copywriting A.I. (ClarityScribe) [02:37] You MUST be more than a copywriter to compete with other copywriters [04:07] Understanding the context [05:17] To be competent you must study (the right people) [05:49] Understanding the history of this business [06:53] My point: Understand the whole process [08:21] Find a "working" mentor Links Copywriting as a Million Dollar Business - Join me live in Spokane for this life-changing workshop - In person (this month) and virtual (next month) options available while they last. Lex Fridman Podcast - "Conversations about the nature of intelligence, consciousness, love, and power." ClarityScribe - The A.I. software my company has developed specifically for copywriting. Bob Bly - Brilliant copywriter! Digital Course Academy - If your goal is to create a digital course, here's where to start. Membership Experience - Want to create a membership experience that makes people stick around month after month? Stu can teach you how.   How You Can Help Subscribe to the show in Apple Podcasts or on Spotify, and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will definitely mention you on this show. Questions or comments? Connect with Ray on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram Visit Ray's community on Facebook – This is a friendly group of writers, entrepreneurs, and coaches who share ideas and helpful advice. Get The Transcript https://www.rayedwards.com/617

I'm humbly and blatantly asking for your help in promoting my new book, Read This or Die. This week's podcast explains why I'm so passionate about the book, how it helped save my life, and why I believe it will help others who are searching for answers to seemingly insurmountable problems. [00:00] What is my new book? [01:51] Am I cured? [02:41] What's in it for the reader? [03:11] Preorder and get the course [03:44] More than a million views [04:33] Why I'm asking for help [05:17] My Podcast A-List Links Read This Or Die - Click to preorder your copy of my new book today and get a free 6-part video mini-course to help walk you through the process that saved my life. How You Can Help Subscribe to the show in Apple Podcasts or on Spotify, and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will definitely mention you on this show. Questions or comments? Connect with Ray on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram Visit Ray's community on Facebook – This is a friendly group of writers, entrepreneurs, and coaches who share ideas and helpful advice. Get The Transcript https://rayedwards.com/616

My Parkinson's symptoms are not something I can hide. I can't keep them under control just because I'm in public, or on a Zoom meeting, or on a stage...They are something I share with everyone I meet, whether I want to or not. But my diagnosis was the genesis of other struggles. The kind that can be hidden. Struggles we feel we must endure alone; perhaps because we've convinced ourselves that no one else will care, or understand...or because we're ashamed, or sometimes because we don't really even understand our own problems. For me, I came to the realization that my symptoms (the ones the world could see) were not the true cause of my fear and uncertainty for my future. My biggest struggles were internal. Once I understood that, I knew I could make real, lasting change. I knew I could improve my life in spite of my doctors telling me that it would only get worse. My affliction may be incurable, but the way I think is certainly not. That is something I can change...Something that can be cured. But how? That's what this week's episode is all about.   Links Read This or Die: Persuading Yourself to a Better Life - Preorder your copy today and receive a free, 6 video mini-course.   How You Can Help Subscribe to the show in Apple Podcasts or on Spotify, and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will definitely mention you on this show. Questions or comments? Connect with Ray on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram Visit Ray's community on Facebook – This is a friendly group of writers, entrepreneurs, and coaches who share ideas and helpful advice.   Get The Transcript https://rayedwards.com/615

Most people are stuck in "The Loop" because somehow they think they’re going to get a different result in their life by doing the same thing they’ve been doing, only doing it harder and faster. The Loop gives no rewards for effort. No matter how hard you work at it, you always end up back at the same place. You only break out of The Loop by making intensely different decisions. By taking a completely different path. That's the message of this week's podcast Getting out of The Loop requires you to step outside of your comfort zone. This is almost always uncomfortable, and all growth comes outside your comfort zone. The comfort zone is where dreams go to die. Receiving a diagnosis of Parkinson's Disease initially threw me into a dark, scary loop. Breaking out of that loop required effort and some new tactics (which I documented in my upcoming book, Read This or Die), but in the end, I broke free from it.  To be able to experience it in the future, you must be able to imagine it now. This is true anytime you’re trying to create a new reality for your future. Whether it be a new career or new business, or a new relationship, or living in a new city, or a different home… If you want something radically different in your future, you have to do something radically different in your present. And that can be scary. I can promise the first steps will probably not be easy. But you don’t need “easy”. You just need “worth it”. What big, scary, uncomfortable decision have even thinking about lately? If it keeps coming to mind, it is likely the one decision you need to make in order to change your life. The one decision you need to create that new life you really want. Most of us are quite skilled at thinking about the scary decisions, and coming up with all the things that might go wrong. I suggest a different experiment this time around… I encourage you ask yourself, “What if this went incredibly right?” What would that make possible? Links Read This or Die - Pre-order Ray's new book, "Read This Or Die" and get a free video mini-course, valued at $197   How You Can Help Subscribe to the show in Apple Podcasts or on Spotify, and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will definitely mention you on this show. Questions or comments? Connect with Ray on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram Visit Ray's community on Facebook – This is a friendly group of writers, entrepreneurs, and coaches who share ideas and helpful advice. Get The Transcript https://rayedwards.com/614

The latest earnings statistics still show an obvious gender bias in Corporate America, but why do we so often see this same phenomenon in the entrepreneurial space? How can women, running their own businesses and setting their own rates, be getting paid less than their male counterparts? That's one of the big questions I had for this week's guest, Dawn Apuan. She is a successful entrepreneur who does amazing work, and charges accordingly. Tune in as we explore the costly practice of undervaluing one's self - and how women are seemingly more susceptible to it.    Links DawnApuan.com Dawn on Instagram   How You Can Help Subscribe to the show in Apple Podcasts or on Spotify, and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will definitely mention you on this show. Questions or comments? Connect with Ray on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram Visit Ray's community on Facebook – This is a friendly group of writers, entrepreneurs, and coaches who share ideas and helpful advice.   Get The Transcript And Video https://rayedwards.com/613

For those who have wondered, this post will explain what I work on and how I function as a “million-dollar writer.” It is my hope this will stimulate you into taking the required steps to earn significantly more income than you do now. After I spell out how I manage to create a million dollars in revenue, I'll give you a simple 3-step roadmap to increase your own income. (By the way, even though I am describing the life of a writer, virtually all of what I'm about to share will work for any freelancer or business owner.) Links My Copywriting As A Million Dollar Business April Workshop - Want to work on building your business together, live and in person? There are a few seats remaining for my upcoming workshop this April. These seats will sell out - Click Here For Details and Availability.  Read This or Die - Click to preorder my soon-to-be-released book, Read This or Die.   Notes From This Episode This subject seems slightly impolite to write about. Like many, I was taught from my earliest years that it is impolite to talk about politics, religion, or money. I routinely violate all three of these directives, however, so this is not new territory for me. Let’s begin… I am not writing to boost my own ego. I am writing to answer a very frequently-asked question: “How does a writer make a million dollars?” This is a great question, because the industry income average for freelance writers is just under $5,000 per year. When someone asks me how, as a writer, I make a million dollars, they may not actually express it, but what they really want to know is: “How does a guy who writes ad copy, who has never published a book I've even heard of… how does that guy make a million dollars?” And of course, ultimately, the real question burning in their heart is: “Could I do that? Or even half that?” That’s what people really want to know and that’s what I want to share with you. Before I get to the tactical stuff like: • How do you get paid?• What are your rates? • How do you get clients? It’s imperative that I share 3 Prosperity Principles for Writers. PROSPERITY PRINCIPLE #1: YOU MUST DISCOVER YOURSELF Many writers and other creatives have a not-so-secret fantasy. They labor intensely for years on a masterpiece, hoping that an influential publisher or literary agent will “discover” them, and they'll be catapulted to fame and fortune. That's a nice fantasy, but with one problem: it doesn't happen that way. It never does, or at least almost never. Okay, rarely it happens. But you're more likely to be struck by lightning on the same day you win the Powerball, than you are to be “discovered” in this way. You must discover yourself! You must identify what makes you different, what “special sauce” you add to this common craft (writing) that makes you a distinctly differently voice on a common subject. In what way are you a player with a unique, unduplicable advantage? We spend 3 full days answering this question definitively in our Dreamstorm Workshops, using our Core Thesis Process; obviously, if you don't already know the answer to this question, you'll need to spend some time on it, PROSPERITY PRINCIPLE #2: YOU MUST PROMOTE YOURSELF To succeed, dear Reader, you must realize you are not actually in the “writing business.” You are in the business of You, Incorporated. It is your unique personality, and the fascinating persona you share with the world, that shapes how that world sees you. Done right, this can make you an irresistible character to whom people are attracted as their chosen and trusted authority. Done wrong, this can break the ties between you and your readers. Specifically, instead of promoting and advertising your highly-developed craftsmanship as a writer, you must be in the business of promoting you. You cannot rely on word-of-mouth, or critical acclaim, or impersonal ad campaigns. You must conscientiously promote yourself, and intentionally craft the way customers perceive you. If you have interest in knowing HOW it is I do all this, and want to see the detailed steps I take, let me know your interest in the comment section. Enough interest expressed will generate a new post on this “Implementation” phase. But for now, on to… PROSPERITY PRINCIPLE #3: YOU MUST GET OVER YOURSELF You might be disappointed to learn that your dream of being a purely creative being whose hands are never “sullied” by crass commercialism or “manipulative” marketing are mere fantasy. This may be hard to swallow, but you need to get over yourself in this regard. So, let me get the disappointing stuff out of the way right upfront: 1. This approach may require a readjustment of what you think of as “craft.” The kind of writing I do is very specific: direct response copy. This is copy meant to result in a sale. It’s copy that moves the reader to buy. Personally, I find the craft of writing sales copy to be endlessly fascinating and fun. While you may not choose to write sales copy (arguably the most lucrative kind of writing available to the average writer), you may also have to spend a little less time writing poems about the secret lives of elves. 2. My approach is not an “instant income” strategy. This whole system of “writing as a business” has taken me a few years to figure out and build up. I am able to pass on some hard-won lessons (like those in this post), which I believe may considerably shorten your learning curve. You can go faster than I did. But it’s still not instant. And I'm constantly learning new things. You and I are very much works in progress. 3. There is more than one way to achieve a million-dollar income as a writer. For instance, there is a writer (whose name you would not recognize) who writes 3-4 books a year and gets paid $300,000 – $400,000 for each book. He's a ghostwriter. You’d be shocked to learn how many New York Times best-selling books with famous names on the covers were actually written by this one ghostwriter. Another writer I know raked in a million dollars last year writing content, white papers, and annual reports for big corporations. As I said, my way is not the only way. But it is worth noting that though the kinds of writing differ, the basic ideas I share here apply to every wealthy writer I know. 4. In my experience, a million-dollar writing business means you're selling more than “just” writing. You will probably find it necessary to offer products and services that are not strictly writing (but which you would not be able to sell without your foundational work as a writer). It's the rare writer who can merely write and cash checks (our ghostwriter friend notwithstanding). I'll dive more deeply into this in the next section. 5. This whole endeavor requires me to use a four-letter word that will shock and offend some people. But I feel the use of this word is required to communicate the force of my argument. The four-letter word is: w-o-r-k. Work! Ya gotta put in the effort! This is a glimpse “behind the curtain,” and you may or may not like what you see. Then again you may find it encouraging to know there is a proven path to prosperity as a writer, and you don't need a fat contract from a big publisher to pull this off. You can simply decide, and then go do it. “The miracle of the seed and the soil is not available by affirmation; it is only available by labor … the greatest form of maturity is at harvest time. That is when we must learn to reap without complaint if the amounts are small and to reap without apology if the amounts are big … you must either get good at sowing in the spring or begging in the fall. The soil says: don't bring me your need, bring me your seed.” — Jim Rohn HOW I GET PAID The first thing to know is I “fudged” a little on my income – it wasn’t really $1 million last year. The actual number is closer to $1.2 million. The second thing to know is I didn’t get to keep most of it. Where did it go? A lot of places: • The IRS and the State of Washington got their portions, of course. • Then there are payroll taxes, Social Security, etc. • Employee salaries. • Affiliate commissions. • Vendors and independent contractors. • Other business expenses. • There are the medical expenses related to my little neurological disorder. • Plus we finished paying off all consumer debt, which at its height topped $400,000.(I’m actually embarrassed by this. I learned a lot through the mistakes which landed me in so much debt – perhaps I’ll share more about that journey in a future post.) So, you can forget asking me for a loan. I didn’t sock a million into the bank. But I’m not complaining – the Edwards household did, and still does, quite well. With all that out of the way… here’s where the money actually comes from. How I get paid. Product Sales Product sales are far-and-away our biggest source of revenue. These include high-ticket items ($1,000 and up) sold mostly via PLF-style launches, advertising, purchased solo email campaigns, and organic website traffic. “Day with Ray” Consulting This is where I meet with a single client (or their team). I require this meeting before Private Client Copy Engagement. The “Day With Ray” costs $15,000 if you come to me in Spokane, WA, or $20,000 plus private air charter if I come to you. What do we do in such a meeting? It depends on the client (everyone is different, so there is no template for this). I grill the client for the first hour or so, and generally this will lead to a discovery of the 1-3 most powerful “levers” we can pull in their business to increase revenue and profits, while providing the business owner with less stress and more peace of mind. Private Client Copy Engagement After a long period of protesting that I was no longer writing for clients, I am finally giving in to market demand. I am accepting a very few assignments wherein I personally run the copy project and write the copy. This is prohibitively expensive for the client, and if you have to ask, you can't afford it. Also, I require that all Private Clients pass a rigorous application process, and agree to my admittedly unreasonable demands (100% compliance with my advice, 100% commitment to running my copy as written, 100% commitment to testing and tracking, payment of a percentage of gross sales to be made quarterly, and acceptance of my total lack of availability for “chummy chats,” psychological counseling, and babysitting sessions). I charge a minimum of $150,000 payable up front. Maximum four clients per year, booked well in advance. Royalties These are payments on gross sales of Private Client projects. They also include royalties on co-created projects and revenue share deals. This is becoming a more significant percentage of my company revenue. Please do not contact us looking for me to do your marketing for free and offering me a percentage. I only do these deals when I know the person well, know the company and market well, and when it is my idea. Group Coaching Group coaching has been lacking in my portfolio of services until recently. Experiments thus far show it to be fun and profitable, as well as extraordinarily valuable to participants. These are online groups of up to 20 people at a time, who receive coaching and feedback from me once per week for a finite period (usually 6-12 weeks). Workshops I host a few small group workshops that focus on a single theme or outcome each year. Participants pay a premium fee ($5,000 – $10,000) and must qualify through application. These consist typically of three intense and productive days that can significantly alter the course of the client's business and life for the better. Private Masterminds Small group Mastermind Alliances involve a strict application process, membership requirements, and required compliance to meeting attendance and participation. Affiliate Commissions We generate commissions through the recommendation of products and services we ourselves use. This accounts for about 7% of our company revenue each year, but nearly 18% of our annual profit. Why is it so profitable? All we do is promote the product. We don’t actually do any work, creation, or customer support. REIC Membership This is our newest offering. Members receive a printed newsletter each month with my best (and freshest) thinking, a monthly video training, a live Q&A once per month, and more. We are launching this in September 2017. Those methods fairly well sum up how I earn my income. HOW I GET CLIENTS My marketing system is not immediately obvious to most. It is complex, carefully thought out, and rigorously tested. I am constantly experimenting. Every “thing” we do is designed to point to all the other “things” we do. Client Attraction vs. Client Pursuit Client attraction is foundational. Long ago I decided I did not wish to “chase” business, but prefer instead to let business chase me. So, I have carefully designed a ubiquitous system for attracting a steady flow of possible clients and customers from many different streams. This adds up to a large flow of potential business at various levels of engagement and investment, all swimming (upstream if necessary) to me. Some of the “pools” from which I attract business include: • Podcasting. This is one of the most intimate mediums available. Podcast listeners have me literally “in their head” for an hour per week (or more, if they binge-listen… and many do just that from our library of nearly 300 episodes). This is a curiously powerful medium. Numerous customers have listened to 1-3 episodes and proceeded directly to a $5,000 – $10,000 purchase. • YouTube channel. This is a new, experimental marketing tool for me. I have been enjoying playing around with the possibilities, and have now settled on a strategy going forward. Look for a slight shift in focus on my YouTube channel in the coming weeks. The goal, as with all third-party media, is to move people off third-party properties like YouTube (and Facebook, and Twitter, etc.) and onto my email list. • Social media. While many claim direct money making power through social media, my approach is to use it to attract and build a bond and relationship with my tribe, and then move them from social media to the media I own, i.e., my email list. • Printed newsletter. Already mentioned once, this is not only a product but also a marketing tool. Since the largest primary segment of my audience is made up of writers (meaning, presumably, they’re also readers), having a print newsletter is vitally important. Print media carries more impact than electronic media. This is not something I'm guessing at. According to this Millward Brown study, brain scans demonstrated the same message presented to the human subject printed on paper lights up more areas of the brain than the electronic equivalent. More areas of the brain lighting up equals more engagement. • Speaking. This is a way that I accomplish a number of objectives: for instance, I like to travel. I want to travel to exotic places. So, I have a speaking engagement next month in Hong Kong, primarily because I've never been there. This will also afford me the opportunity, as do all speaking engagements, to establish personal contact with a new group of people, perhaps add them to my mailing list, and maybe generate a few clients along the way. Speaking automatically grants you a certain amount of gravitas and authority. As far as generating clients, this is an indirect benefit of speaking. I do not hock or pitch my services from the stage. I do, however, strategically communicate that I am available to be hired by the right people, and that I have products available for people who are not ready to hire me. Perhaps I'll write more about this at a later time. • Books. Both physical and Kindle versions of my books are available. I currently have three books that are relevant to my business as a copywriter and marketer, and by the end of next year I plan to have no less than 10. The current books are How to Write Copy That Sells, Moneywords, and Just Get Started. These books generate a certain kind of prospect or client. They are engineered to do so, and also provide valuable content. And, as with speaking, having a book in hand conveys on the author a certain amount of authority and credibility which cannot be gained in any other way. • Guest posts/appearances. From time to time I guest-post on the blogs of other people. I also appear on other people's podcasts as a guest interview. Once upon a time, I did this indiscriminately and would post or appear anywhere asked. The demands on my time have become so overwhelming I now have to choose more carefully. Each decision whether to appear on a podcast or write a guest post is a tactical decision designed to support my overall business strategy. For more on my thinking about this, see this book with my friend Tom Schwab, Podcast Guest Profits. That, in a nutshell, is how I get new clients. I admit it is condensed and leaves out a lot of details. The subject deserves a book of its own. The above will get you started and will have to do until I write that book. HOW I RUN MY WRITING BUSINESS This is not an exhaustive description of methodologies and practices for running a business, but a brief overview of some key principles that I believe help keep my business lean and growing. Minimal staff. Once upon a time, I wanted no staff at all. This came after having been responsible for hundreds of people in my corporate position in radio broadcasting. But I finally realized I was limiting my growth by not hiring employees for my personal writing business. So now we have a few full-time employees and a number of independent contractors. We try to keep the staff as minimal as possible, but no smaller than needed. I have seen more than one friend destroy their own business by over-hiring. I'm determined not to make this mistake. Remote workers. Rather than limit my pool of prospective employees to people who live in my hometown, we simply look for the best people for the job. This means we have hired staff from all over the place. In the US, we have workers on our team in Tennessee, Colorado, California, and elsewhere. For more on how to orchestrate a remote workforce (because there are some unique challenges), I highly recommend the book Remote: Office Not Required, by Jason Fried. Employees vs. Contractors. I am not offering legal, accounting, or other professional advice. You should seek the services of a qualified professional to answer those questions. I can tell you that in my experience there is a difference between an employee and contractor in terms of mental attitude and dedication to the job. This is not to say that contractors don’t have a place. In my work as a freelance copywriter, I am, after all, an independent contractor. However, the person who is a full-time employee in your company can devote 100% of their working efforts to you. You must see that makes a difference. I'm not saying one is better than the other; I'm saying there's a place for both. Client Selection. Anytime I'm going to be personally interacting with clients, such as on a copywriting or marketing project, I use a selection process. The prospective client will have to convince me that I want them as a client. This may sound arrogant, but it is not meant to be so. It actually serves all parties concerned. If I do not have good chemistry with the client, if our working styles do not match, or if we have mismatched expectations, that is a recipe for discord and upset. Contentious, negative, or sketchy people do not make the list. And if they do somehow sneak in, once we discover these fatal flaws, they are invited to go elsewhere. Immediately. PRIORITIZING PRODUCTIVITY I place priority on stewarding my most valuable non-renewable resource – time – as if it is treasure. Because it is treasure. Thus productivity gets priority. My Morning Success Ritual. This is vital to my most productive days. While I don't manage to get this all in every day, I'm getting better at it. My goal between is to achieve 95%+ compliance with this ritual every day. The days when I follow this MSR, starting the minute my feet hit the floor out of bed, are invariably my best days (most productive, most joyous, most satisfying). Probably because the most important things were done first – like prayer, reading, meditating, journaling, exercise, etc. And they are done when I'm still in the “NDZ”: No Distraction Zone (meaning no email, no voicemail, no phone calls, etc.) Writing. The first thing I must do each day after my MSR is complete (and after I have showered, driven to the office, etc.) is WRITING. I am primarily a writer. You can always tell who the writers are – they’re the ones who are writing. This is my #1 Revenue Producing Activity (RPA). At this point my phone is off, I have still not checked email, not checked voicemail, etc. Still in the NDZ. I write for a large block of time at the beginning of the day — often 4 hours. NOTHING gets to interrupt the writing — including (especially) the clients for whom I may be writing. Fortress of Solitude. This is the most important and perhaps the most controversial piece of advice I can give you. You must construct for yourself a “fortress of solitude”. While I do not pretend to be Superman, I do take inspiration from the Man of Steel's secret hideaway. The Fortress of Solitude is the place Superman goes to be in absolute solitude. A place of silent contemplation. This is the place he goes to think, to learn, to plan, to rejuvenate. Some of the ways in which I've done this are: I never answer incoming business calls. They’re always screened, dealt with, and if I really need to speak with the person a call is set for Call Day. I have only one day per month that I make phone appointments (Call Day). I make all phone appointments on that day. If that date cannot work for a person seeking a phone conversation with me, my assistant will schedule them for the next month. I schedule all my interviews on one day per month, grouped together so that I can take care of this task all in a single day. My daily schedule is relatively free from appointments. This creates large blocks of time for me to do what I do best, and what is most important for generating revenue in my business: writing, creating content, and recording (either audio or video). For more details on why I resort to these extreme measures, please see No B.S. Time Management for Entrepreneurs, by Dan Kennedy. Rest. In order to deliver the very best work to my clients and partners, and to still leave room in my schedule for rejuvenation (sleep, family time, time with God, and time to just plain relax)… I have to guard my time vigorously. And I have to be on guard against what Dan Kennedy calls “Time Vampires”. They will suck the life out of you. I Don’t Check Email, and I Only Get One Email Each Day. My auto-check feature in Apple Mail is turned OFF. I only get email when I press the “Check Mail” button. I check it once per day, Monday thru Thursday. Usually around 4 pm Pacific. All my email is screened by my assistant, who compiles the relatively few messages I must read or respond to. She sends those to me in a single email at the end of each day. This is one of my policies that tends to be unpopular with those who are “urgency addicts”, and who want me to have a constant email discussion about all manner of things with them. I refuse to sacrifice my highest valued commodity (time) for the sake of what usually amounts to trivia. I suggest you adopt the same policy. I Avoid Meetings Like the Plague They Are. Any meeting that lasts longer than 15 minutes is probably too long. Not always, but most of the time. Any project that requires multiple meetings each week is probably in trouble. Long meetings = inefficiency at best, and postponement of the inevitable at worst. (As a sidebar: frequent short meetings are just a disguised way of having long meetings. HEAR ME: if you have “meeting-itis”, either you just want an excuse to talk about work instead of doing it, or something is wrong with the project … something another meeting won't solve). Phone Meetings / Conversations. Same as in person meetings, only worse. Conversations and phone meetings should be 15 minutes or less and have a predetermined purpose and ending time. These all take place on aforementioned Call Day. Instant Messenger. Any Flavor. (I’m looking at you, Slack). Just say no. The only time I use it is when I have SCHEDULED events on Skype or Zoom (usually interviews). I am NEVER “just available” to be interrupted. (If I was, that would mean that I was either doing something unimportant or that I was doing NOTHING. If I'm doing something unimportant… WHY? And if I'm doing NOTHING, it's a PLANNED nothing and it's important that this not be interrupted!). I HATE TEXT MESSAGES. The end. Office Hours. Yes, I have an office outside my home. I lease currently. I'm considering buying an office building. I keep regular business hours most of the time: Mon – Thurs, 8 am – 5 pm Pacific. By the way, my office phone is answered by a LIVE HUMAN (not some stupid voicemail torture device) Monday – Saturday, 8 am – 6 pm Pacific time. Why do I have the phone covered even when I am out of the office? Because other members of my team keep different hours… and because emergencies DO happen, and I like to be available if a TRUE emergency arises. My phone team knows how to reach me in those cases. WHY THE EMPHASIS ON NOT BEING INTERRUPTED? Interruptions cost you dearly. As a writer, I know that allowing myself to be interrupted by a client or vendor (“Hey Ray – got a minute to talk about the new logo?”) can seem harmless… but it isn't. That interruption costs me (a) the state of “flow” I was in while working, maybe impossible to recover, (b) the time of the interruption itself, and (c) the time it takes me to get back into the “zone” with what I was working on… minimum 20 minutes, maybe longer. I can't afford to let that happen. My clients and customers can't afford for me to let that happen. I once had a client who loved to call me at 11 pm at night and talk for two hours. I tried to tell him I worked set hours and was available at those times, but he didn't seem to understand. When our first project was finished, I fired him. His dysfunction did not automatically become my problem. Be warned – people will WASTE your time if you let them. Will you let them? Be polite, be loving… but don't be a victim. In the end, if you guard your time, you are being most respectful of other people. Think about it: if you allow yourself to be interrupted, or your time wasted when you should have been doing something else… who suffers? Your clients. Your customers. Your family (“Sorry honey, I have to stay late because I wasted 2 hours today listening to the web team make excuses…”). You're not serving anyone by being a poor steward of your time. WHAT TO DO NEXT Here’s the 3-step plan I promised you to help increase your own income. It’s quite simple: 1. Choose just one of the practices I listed above – the one that excites you the most. 2. Put that practice to work in your own business, and use it until it begins to produce results. 3. Now pick a new practice, add it to your daily/weekly/monthly routine, and repeat the process. (Don’t stop doing the new “thing” you started in Step 1. Keep doing all the activities, and as you add them one by one, you will likely see a corresponding surge in income. I am not promising you any income results, just sharing what has worked for me. Your mileage may vary.) If this post has struck a chord with you, please let me know in the comments, and ask any specific questions you have. I’ll endeavor to answer as transparently as possible. Finally, if you did find this post useful, I pray that you put it into action. So, here's my question for you: What ideas from this post will you implement and what results do you hope to see?   How You Can Help Subscribe to the show in Apple Podcasts or on Spotify, and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will definitely mention you on this show. Questions or comments? Connect with Ray on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram Visit Ray's community on Facebook – This is a friendly group of writers, entrepreneurs, and coaches who share ideas and helpful advice.   Get the Transcript and Video https://rayedwards.com/612

Kevin Rogers spent years on the road doing stand-up comedy. Now he makes his living as a direct-response copywriter. I had a chat with Kevin about his journey from playing comedy clubs with the likes of Chris Rock and Billy Gardell, to writing launch promotions for high-dollar clients. There are many parallels between comedy and copy. Tune in as I explore them with someone who's been successful at both. 

Is it necessary to drop a bunch of cash on social media ads in order to get targeted names on your list? Absolutely not. Buying ads isn't as complicated as some would lead you to believe. In fact, I may even offer some guidance on how to do it the right way in a future episode, but I think it's wise to start with the resources you already have at your disposal; specifically, your website.  This week, I want to clearly define the purpose of your website, the purpose of your list, AND how those things work together to aid in the purpose of your business - making sales. [00:20] Grow your list with your existing traffic [00:42] Rule #1: The purpose of your website is to grow your email list [01:55] Example 1: My site [03:02] Example 2: Ben Settle [03:28] Example 3: Tim Ferris [04:08] Rule #2: The purpose of your list is to sell stuff to the people on the list [04:57] Rule #3: The best way to make sales is to email the people on your list...every day [05:36] What about Spam complaints? [06:10] What do you say in your emails? [06:31] The Story Formula (Hook, Story, Lesson)   Links BenSettle.com - Want to up your email game? Pay attention to this man. Tim Ferriss - I've been a fan for many years. This is another great example of a site that's focused on getting you opted in.   How You Can Help Subscribe to the show in Apple Podcasts or on Spotify, and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will definitely mention you on this show. Questions or comments? Connect with Ray on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram Visit Ray's community on Facebook – This is a friendly group of writers, entrepreneurs, and coaches who share ideas and helpful advice.   Get The Transcript https://rayedwards.com/610

Megan Hyatt Miller is coauthor of the book, Mind Your Mindset, which she wrote with her father, Michael Hyatt. She is also the President and CEO of Full Focus.  Megan is a perfect example of balancing business success with a successful personal life. It's seemingly a rare story - But, does it have to be? Listen to find out how to retrain your narrator, overcome the fears that are holding you back, and maintain a healthy margin between your business and personal life. [00:00] Intro - Who is Megan Hyatt Miller? [00:56] What was the genesis book [02:52] The fear that could have ruined everything [06:02] The stories we tell ourselves [09:21] The science of mindset [11:53] Training your narrator [13:42] Give me a real example [18:32] It's not all business [20:46] You can't solve a problem you don't think you have [24:09] Maybe you can have it all [26:40] The self-coaching tool [29:27] What's the goal with this book? [30:30] Where to get it LINKS Mind Your Mindset - Click to get your copy of Mind Your Mindset: The Science That Shows Success Starts With Your Thinking. This affiliate link includes 3 incredible bonuses for my listeners and viewers: Mind Your Mindset audiobook ($26.99 value) ​Self-Coacher Desk Tool ($9.99 value) — 50% off with promo code. ​Mind Your Mindset Reading Guide ($19 value) How You Can Help Subscribe to the show in Apple Podcasts or on Spotify, and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will definitely mention you on this show. Questions or comments? Connect with Ray on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram Visit Ray's community on Facebook – This is a friendly group of writers, entrepreneurs, and coaches who share ideas and helpful advice. Get The Transcript https://rayedwards.com/609

I've got 7 questions that every entrepreneur, every content creator, every personal brand, every business that does business on the internet, must be able to answer in order to succeed.  And I'm no exception. I want you to understand how things have changed, and how my company has responded to meet those changes head on (and why YOU should, too). I felt this information was urgent enough to warrant a special, bonus episode for this week. [00:00] Intro (this may be a mistake) [01:27] Work [01:34] 7 Questions every entrepreneur must answer [01:51] Question 1: Are you prepared for ...? [03:00] Question 2: Do you have a systematic (repeatable) approach for marketing? [03:25] Question 3: Is your business a leach? [03:39] Question 4: Are you already using A.I. in your business? [03:53] Question 5: Are you creating 50-100 pieces of content each day? [04:11] Question 6: Is your Shadow Brand killing your business online? [04:37] Question 7: Is your marketing dynamically controlled by A.I.? [05:11] What qualifies me to give you this advice? [07:15] Here's what I've learned over decades of doing this [09:54] I blame Gary V. [12:33] The abundance mindset [13:33] Over a million views [14:39] But...I've tried that [16:54] The problem *most* people have [18:56] Your competition just got better [21:17] This is not a trend... [24:47] 20:1 [27:30] What else we're doing [30:20] Elysium Writer [35:09] If there's ONE thing to improve in your business, it's this...  Watch This Episode on Youtube https://youtu.be/H-HkZxEv4tU   Links Click Funnels - This is the system we have used to build multiple, 7-figure sales funnels. (affiliate link which does not affect the price you pay) ElysiumWriter.ai - Members of our coaching program have early access to this powerful A.I. which has been designed with my own, proprietary framework to deliver incredible copy that converts.  How You Can Help Subscribe to the show in Apple Podcasts or on Spotify, and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will definitely mention you on this show. Questions or comments? Connect with Ray on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram Visit Ray's community on Facebook – This is a friendly group of writers, entrepreneurs, and coaches who share ideas and helpful advice.

"If I only knew then what I know now." Who hasn't had that thought? Since time travel is not yet an option, this week we'll examine something more practical:  What would your future self be asking you now? In this episode, I have 5 questions that can help you become the future self you want to be. [00:00] Intro [00:17] If you could go back in time to talk to your younger self, what would you say? [02:04] Discipline is Destiny (Ryan Holiday) [02:53] If we know what to do, why don't we change? [03:57] Change can happen in an instant [06:02] Read This or Die [06:53] Question 1: What is your average day like? [12:17] Question 2: Who do you spend the most time with? [16:42] Question 3: What is your fuel? [20:38] Question 4: What do you think about the most? [23:00] Question 5: What is the story of your life?   Links Read This or Die - Ray Edwards (Available for Pre-Order now!) Discipline is Destiny - Ryan Holiday Mind Your Mindset - Michael Hyatt and Megan Hyatt Miller   How You Can Help Subscribe to the show in Apple Podcasts or on Spotify, and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will definitely mention you on this show.  Questions or Comments? Connect with Ray on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram Visit Ray's community on Facebook – This is a friendly group of writers, entrepreneurs, and coaches who share ideas and helpful advice.   Transcript and Video https://rayedwards.com/607

Learn how to overcome "The Resistance" - The things that are slowing your productivity, raising your anxiety, and ruining your carefully crafted work plan. Three simple, life-changing steps are waiting for you in this week's episode. [00:00] - What do I mean by "the resistance" (friction)[01:52] - Eliminate Self-Created Resistance [06:37] - Permission Based Resistance [11:16] - Externally Produced Resistance   Links TextExpander - If you have to type it more than once, templatize it The War of Art - by Steven Pressfield. I highly recommend you read this book (at least) once.   How You Can Help Subscribe to the show in iTunes and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will definitely mention you on this show. We are also on Stitcher.com, so if you prefer Stitcher, please subscribe there. Connect with Ray on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram Visit Ray's community on Facebook – This is a friendly group of writers, entrepreneurs, and coaches who share ideas and helpful advice.   Get The Transcript https://rayedwards.com/606

Is it possible to intentionally become the person you wish to be? The best version of yourself you can imagine? It's not only possible, it's how it's done...with intention, and commitment. This week, we'll talk about what it takes to become "the possible you". • [00:18] Abandoning resolutions • [00:51] Set impossible goals • [02:10] But, I don't know how to do that • [03:01] What you've been doing doesn't work • [04:25] You have to believe you deserve it • [05:54] Construct your new identity • [07:31] What is your identity? • [11:31] Operating as your future self • [13:50] Expect (and see) miracles • [16:40] About my DBS • [18:30] Mastermind meetings • [20:11] No amount of money will ... • [21:15] Some tasks to help you succeed Links - Be Your Future Self Now: The Science of Intentional Transformation Dr. Benjamin Hardy and Hay House - Mind Your Mindset Michael Hyatt and Megan Hyatt Miller - Dr. Joe Dispenza - The Gap and The Gain: The High Achievers' Guide to Happiness, Confidence, and Success Dan Sullivan and Dr. Benjamin Hardy   How You Can Help Subscribe to the show in iTunes and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will definitely mention you on this show. We are also on Stitcher.com, so if you prefer Stitcher, please subscribe there. Connect with Ray on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram Visit Ray's community on Facebook – This is a friendly group of writers, entrepreneurs, and coaches who share ideas and helpful advice.   Get The Transcript https://rayedwards.com/605

Have you ever tried to make a significant change in your life? Something that requires effort and commitment? Have you ever failed to achieve that change? Most of us would answer yes to that question (the honest people), but what if I told you there is a real reason why this happens? A universal truth that applies to any major change in your life, be it fitness, finance, productivity, etc. The fact is, you can't just "Dabble in Discipline", you must Move in Mastery. I'll explain exactly what I mean by that in this week's episode. • [00:12] We usually know what to do, but don't do what we know • [00:43] Dabbling in discipline • [02:12] How you do anything, is how you... • [03:25] So, what can you do about it? (Hustle mode) • [04:52] Productivity Porn • [05:14] The 80/20 Rule • [09:06] In summary... • [09:33] How to Move The Needle this weekend Links The Sales Page In A Weekend Challenge - This starts within hours of the release of this podcast, so if you're fortunate enough to be here early, get signed up now! You'll learn how to use the latest A.I. to generate the foundation of a good sales page, then how to go from good to GREAT - Get a high-performing, professional grade, money-making sales page completed this weekend! How You Can Help Subscribe to the show in iTunes and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will definitely mention you on this show. We are also on Stitcher.com, so if you prefer Stitcher, please subscribe there. Connect with Ray on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram Visit Ray's community on Facebook – This is a friendly group of writers, entrepreneurs, and coaches who share ideas and helpful advice. Get The Transcript https://rayedwards.com/604

Some say that YouTube is unfriendly territory for newcomers, but have you really missed the boat? Is it too late to build an income-generating channel? My guest this week, Sean Cannell, says "saturation is a myth". YouTube still rewards great content for those who have the right recipe...and he's got the facts, figures, and cases studies to back it up. Listen to this inspiring interview with someone who has over 1,000,000 subscribers, 100,000,000 video views, coauthored the book YouTube Secrets, and who has coached numerous clients in building their own, successful YouTube channels. [00:00] Who is Sean Cannell? [01:12] The dangers of comparison [04:30] YouTube Secrets [05:21] Psychology and Community [11:15] How did you grow your company? [20:00] Let's hear the vanity numbers [22:30] Is YouTube still the place to start? [31:35] It takes courage! Where do you get that? [41:45] How do we deal with negative people in our lives? [51:05] Saturation is a myth - Supply and Demand is real [57:58] How to find Sean  LINKS Think Media on YouTube - Start here for incredible free content to get things going Video Ranking Academy - Ready to level up? Join Sean Cannell's Video Ranking Academy. Use this private link to get the best price. YouTube Secrets- Get the brand new 2nd edition of this Must-Read book for any aspiring YouTuber. How You Can Help Subscribe to the show in iTunes and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will definitely mention you on this show. We are also on Stitcher.com, so if you prefer Stitcher, please subscribe there. Connect with Ray on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram Visit Ray's community on Facebook – This is a friendly group of writers, entrepreneurs, and coaches who share ideas and helpful advice. Get The Transcript https://rayedwards.com/603

Every year people make resolutions or set goals for the coming year. Most will abandon all these aspirations before the month of January is over. Why does this happen? Because their “resolutions” and “goals” were nothing but WISHES. And wishing doesn’t make it so. What makes things happen? DECISIONS and COMMITMENTS. In this episode, I'll give you 5 Decisions That Can MULTIPLY your RESULTS 10X This Year. [00:00] Intro- The problem with resolutions with goals [00:50] 1. DECIDE to learn from and value the past. Past especially the “FAILURES”. If you don’t have any failures from last year, you probably didn’t try anything very ambitious. And if you do have failures, don’t let that get you down. Because having failures means you have data from which you can learn. [01:17] 2. DECIDE to change your Emotional “Thermostat”. Raise your emotional standards. This ONE SINGLE DECISION can change your life. When you raise the vibration of energy you carry, you increase The amount of charisma and influence you possess, the respect you command, and the results you produce. [01:58] 3. DECIDE WHO you want to be in the future, and measure progress ruthlessly. To go where you’ve never been, you have to so things you’ve never done. To break the habit of being “just me” and seeking to be extraordinary. [02:30] 4. DECIDE to get Focused, Remove BLOCKS, and experience BOTH kinds of FLOW: ”Deep Flow” and “Recovery Flow” [05:39] 5. DECIDE to CLARIFY your values, your purpose, mission, vision, and goals so that all is in alignment , all can be Systemized, and all can be optimized. The Molders of Meaning and Life are the WORDS we use, and the STORIES we tell with these words - CHANGE YOUR WORDS, CHANGE YOUR WORLD. Links My Exclusive 3-Day Live Event - Are you tired of setting goals that you never seem to achieve? Are you ready to take your business to the next level, but not sure how to get there? Then join us for our exclusive three-day workshop in Spokane, Washington, where you'll learn how to design your destiny using our proven and tested method for clarifying, committing to, and constructing a plan for getting 10 times the results this year.   How You Can Help Subscribe to the show in iTunes and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will definitely mention you on this show. We are also on Stitcher.com, so if you prefer Stitcher, please subscribe there. Connect with Ray on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram Visit Ray's community on Facebook – This is a friendly group of writers, entrepreneurs, and coaches who share ideas and helpful advice.   Get The Transcript https://rayedwards.com/602

This week's episode was recorded Christmas morning, 2022. I wanted to have a comfortable, intimate setting to relay some positive thoughts and exercises for the new year, so I chose to record at my kitchen table. My premise is this: We can't be happy all the time, that's a delusion and an unrealistic expectation...BUT, we can have much less time being unhappy than we currently do - by a long shot. There are ways you can manage your emotions and get some control over what makes you joyful. As we head into 2023, I have an excellent journaling exercise that will help you do just that. [00:17] Intro - Planning my best year ever [00:58] Brain surgery update [01:18] Perception of problems [02:27] Being a rational optimist [03:14] Happiness from within [04:07] Realistic expectations [04:50] Be mindful of your thoughts [05:15] Your emotional "home base" [07:04] Get free of emotional addiction [07:32] The power of gratitude [08:37] Emotions are signals [10:32] Writing exercise [11:26] My Crisis of Confidence   Links Your Best Year Ever - Michael Hyatt   How You Can Help Subscribe to the show in iTunes and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will definitely mention you on this show. We are also on Stitcher.com, so if you prefer Stitcher, please subscribe there. Connect with Ray on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram Visit Ray's community on Facebook – This is a friendly group of writers, entrepreneurs, and coaches who share ideas and helpful advice.   Get The Transcript https://rayedwards.com/601

OpenAI's ChatGPT software is producing such impressive, original copy, it has many copywriters concerned for their future.  I understand the concern, but that doesn't change the fact that it's here, and it's getting better every day. Earlier this week I taught a class on how copywriters can use this new technology to increase their productivity to levels never before possible...To easily add 10k a month to their bottom line by serving more clients.  This class was seen by some as promoting the very tool that is out to get them. They were not happy with me.  I hope they eventually (quickly) realize that this tech is here to stay, and it can be an incredible tool for writers. Either use it to better your business, or let it roll over you. This week's audio was taken directly from that class. It's a live demonstration of the power of ChatGTP. In it, I give copywriters 10 ways to use this tech to generate more revenue (easily 10k a month) for their business. Enjoy. [00:00] Intro - The Controversial Class [01:07] The Death of Copywriting, or The Start of the Gold Rush [02:58] Realtime demonstration [07:44] A.I. can be your ally [18:21] 10 ways to make 10k [18:28] #1 Write Faster [19:18] #2 Start an Agency [19:40] #3 Write Sales Pages [19:54] #4 Ghostwrite Books [20:39] #5 Write Email Copy [21:03] #6 Write and Publish on Medium or Substack [21:15] #7 Improve Websites [21:52] #8 Create Youtube and Podcast scripts [22:05] #9 Write SEO Copy [22:27] #10 Write a Newsletter Links ChatGPT - Get your free account and start using this tool. Ray's Holiday Bundle -Get access to my Copy Academy Coaching Program for a record low price. This price includes access to my new A.I. training course for copywriters, as well as beta access to my upcoming A.I. copywriting app, and VIP tickets to our live event in Nashville next year (Summer 2023) How You Can Help Subscribe to the show in iTunes and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will definitely mention you on this show. We are also on Stitcher.com, so if you prefer Stitcher, please subscribe there. Connect with Ray on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram Visit Ray's community on Facebook – This is a friendly group of writers, entrepreneurs, and coaches who share ideas and helpful advice.   Get The Transcript https://www.rayedwards.com/600

The entrepreneurial journey is full of highs and lows…and yes, I acknowledge that the same could be said of any job - BUT, it’s somehow different when you’re running the show. There is potential for higher highs, lower lows, and you're ultimately responsible for all of them. In this episode (taken from The Cliff Ravenscraft Show) Cliff and I discuss how to deal with this reality from the perspective of a business owner...How to achieve equanimity and maintain a positive attitude at least 99% of the time (nobody is perfect).   [00:18] Intro - Special episode with Cliff Ravenscraft [01:40] The messiness of the entrepreneurial journey - Avoiding burnout [05:59] A conversation with Cliff and Ray [09:22] Focusing on the right things [11:44] Entrepreneurial Isolation [12:42] Read this, or die [19:45] Have you ever felt your business wasn’t giving you the freedom you were looking for? [22:22] Where does joy come from [24:26] Cliff’s word of the day: Equanimity [33:08] Man’s search for meaning [36:00] Your mental “home base” [45:38] Handling the highs and lows [52:13] The cat comes out of the bag, live, online [55:52] The value of a coach [57:24] Cliff wraps it up   Links CliffRavenscraft.com - Cliff's home base Free The Dream Course - Cliff's flagship course that gives you the techniques, tools and strategies that will allow you to Live the Life of Your Dreams… TrainWithCliff.com - Find Cliff's commentary on Viktor Frankl's book, Man's Search for Meaning, here. Man's Search For Meaning - Viktor Frankl's must-read masterpiece Order My New Book On Amazon - Read This or Die!: Persuading Yourself to a Better Life   How You Can Help Subscribe to the show in iTunes and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will definitely mention you on this show. We are also on Stitcher.com, so if you prefer Stitcher, please subscribe there. Connect with Ray on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram Visit Ray's community on Facebook – This is a friendly group of writers, entrepreneurs, and coaches who share ideas and helpful advice.   Get The Transcript https://rayedwards.com/599

Having to constantly chase down new leads is an exhausting and stressful way to keep revenue flowing. Wouldn't it be better to have new clients seek you out? To attract new business instead of chasing after it?  There are several ways to make this happen without a huge (or even a small) advertising budget.  This week's episode features a segment from 2013 entitled "How to Attract Business". It's been almost a decade since I first suggested these tactics and they're all still valid. In fact, I still use each and every one. Thanks to CDRC Bryan Switalski for suggesting that we revisit these powerful tactics. [00:19] Intro - Where this week's episode comes from [01:23] Your desperation stinks [03:16] Here's "the secret" [03:54] Step 1 - Create massive value [06:36] Step 2 - Positioning and Authority [09:50] Step 3 - The Hub and Spoke system [11:06] Step 4 - Traffic, lead, and conversion system [12:38] Step 5 - Create a Path [13:57] Recap and implementation ideas Links RayEdwards.com - While you're here, take a moment to check out the resources I've made available to you, and get signed up for my daily newsletter which is filled with "WEIRD COPYWRITING TIPS, TOOLS, And TACTICS That Will Bring You More Traffic, Conversions, And Sales..." How You Can Help Subscribe to the show in iTunes and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will definitely mention you on this show. We are also on Stitcher.com, so if you prefer Stitcher, please subscribe there. Connect with Ray on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram Visit Ray's community on Facebook – This is a friendly group of writers, entrepreneurs, and coaches who share ideas and helpful advice. Get The Transcript https://rayedwards.com/598  

This week, I invite you to tune out the continual stream of fear mongering and "doom and gloom" stories, and consider this: By every measurable statistic, life on Earth is better now than it ever has been. Yes, we still have problems that need solving... No, we're not perfect...but we're better than ever. This week, I'm giving you 5 reasons why now is the best time to be alive. [00:22] My premise: Things are better, and can get better still. [04:35] Why pessimists are fools, and optimists have a better life [06:40]Reason 1: Things are better than ever [07:25]Reason 2: The internet [09:47]Reason 3: Anybody can do anything [12:40]Reason 4: We can change our peer group [15:15]Reason 5: You can no longer escape your past [16:55] So...What do we do now?  [18:42] The most profitable way to do business [20:24] Grow in the structure of good mental health [22:49] The 20:1 ratio (give 20x's more than you ask) [24:42] Use your modern brain [27:24] Have an intentional mindset Links Factfulness: 10 Reasons Why We're Wrong About The World by Hans Rosling Watch One of Hans Rosling's Ted Talks on YouTube   How You Can Help Subscribe to the show in iTunes and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will definitely mention you on this show. We are also on Stitcher.com, so if you prefer Stitcher, please subscribe there. Connect with Ray on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram Visit Ray's community on Facebook – This is a friendly group of writers, entrepreneurs, and coaches who share ideas and helpful advice. Get The Transcript https://rayedwards.com/597

This week, I'm covering 10 rules for living a richer life, whether you're a writer or not. A rich life is not limited to (but can certainly include) money. My goal is a "richer life" - as in, a more satisfying experience on this planet. These are thoughts which I have adopted as beliefs. They have served me well, and will continue to do so as I strive to be better at following them. Try them for yourself, and I am certain you will see positive changes and ultimately, a richer life. [00:00] Intro - The rich writer's life? [01:13] Rule #1: Know what you believe, and why [02:05] Rule #2: Keep promises to yourself, and then to others [02:36] Rule #3: Respect the value of time [03:05] Rule #4: Feel your feelings...but don't wallow in them [04:07] Rule #5: Speak only when your words improve upon silence [04:18] The Daily Ray email newsletter [05:08] Rule #6: Don't worry [05:34] Rule #7: Motion precedes motivation [06:22] Rule #8: Laugh at yourself...but not all the time [06:35] Rule #9: Live deep [07:22] Rule #10: Get your satisfaction from the process [09:01] Everyone should write [10:10] Resolutions? Why wait... [11:00] My personal guide [13:28] My personal creed [14:26] Get personal coaching every month Links ThisIsMarketingSchool.com - Each month, get coached by me, and my team of certified coaches. We'll pull back the curtain so you can see what's going on behind the scenes in my business, as well as some of our wold-class clients. We share the best practices, templates, funnels, and marketing methods that have brought us more than $500,000,000 in sales. We don't just hand them over...we show you how to put them to work for your business. Watch This Episode On YouTube How You Can Help Subscribe to the show in iTunes and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will definitely mention you on this show. We are also on Stitcher.com, so if you prefer Stitcher, please subscribe there. Connect with Ray on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram Visit Ray's community on Facebook – This is a friendly group of writers, entrepreneurs, and coaches who share ideas and helpful advice.   Get The Transcript https://rayedwards.com/596

What do you do when your copy isn't converting the way you think it should? Trust me, the best copywriters in the world write the occasional dud...You put it out there, and it just falls flat. There are 5 common reasons your copy isn't converting, and on this week's episode, I'll explain how you can fix them all.   [00:52] Reason 1: Failure to understand the "P" in the P.A.S.T.O.R. Framework [02:01] Reason 2: Not doing enough research [02:46] Reason 3: Not dealing with competing solutions  [03:49] Reason 4: Your not getting the offer right [04:45] Reason 5: Not enough editing, revising and rewriting your copy RayEdwards.com  - We're making major updates to my main site. It not only looks great, but there are some valuable FREE resources waiting for you here. And, you are one step away from accessing the ONLY personal coaching that gives you the help you need to sharpen your copy skills and your grow your business. Get Coached EVERY MONTH By Me and My Certified Coaches. We will show you what to do in your market, for your product or services … to make more money and increase your profits. Here Is What You Get When You Enroll In the Copy Academy Coaching Membership RIGHT NOW! Individual Private Copy Coaching Every Month ​Monthly Group Mindset Coaching ​Monthly Group Copy Critiques ​Monthly Group Q&A Calls ​Monthly Marketing Templates with Video Tutorials ​ My Signature Copywriting Training Courses: Copywriting Academy & Sales Copy System ​Full Access to My Digital Vault and Archives (Value over $21,000!) ​Access to Our VERY ACTIVE Private Circle Community ​ BONUS: Two Free Tickets To Our Next Live Event in 2023 (Dates and Location TBD) How You Can Help Subscribe to the show in iTunes and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will definitely mention you on this show. We are also on Stitcher.com, so if you prefer Stitcher, please subscribe there. Connect with Ray on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram Visit Ray's community on Facebook – This is a friendly group of writers, entrepreneurs, and coaches who share ideas and helpful advice.   Get The Transcript https://rayedwards.com/595

Now is not the time to hide in a bunker...waiting for the impending economic doom we hear about every day. What you should be doing is turning your knowledge and skills into a business built around your own personal brand. That's what we're talking about in this week's episode.  [00:00] Intro - Turning your knowledge, wisdom, and experience into a business [01:27] There's a storm coming...Batten down the hatches? [02:29] Being a personal brand [03:55] How we're transitioning at Ray Edwards International, Inc. [07:55] But if I build a personal brand, I can't scale, right? [08:46] 3 Reasons to build a personal brand [08:57] Reason 1: It's the fastest way to create income [10:31] Reason 2: You can build a citadel to protect your clients [11:20] Reason 3: Customer-funded acquisition of market share [14:09] Whats a brand? [15:50] Closing with a quote   Links https://rayedwards.com/ - Check out the brand new rayedwards.com. There are plenty of valuable resources, free for the taking.   How You Can Help Subscribe to the show in iTunes and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will definitely mention you on this show. We are also on Stitcher.com, so if you prefer Stitcher, please subscribe there. Connect with Ray on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram Visit Ray's community on Facebook – This is a friendly group of writers, entrepreneurs, and coaches who share ideas and helpful advice.   Get The Transcript https://rayedwards.com/594

A couple of weeks ago, we did an episode devoted to the copywriting purists in the audience...A copywriting Q&A. That episode generated a lot of positive feedback, so this week, we're doing another round of questions submitted by some of our listeners. If you are (or want to be) a copywriter, I think you'll find some worthwhile knowledge inside. If you have a question, leave a comment below. I'm not sure when the next Q&A episode will be, but it largely depends on the quality and quantity of questions we receive...so don't be shy! I read every comment here and on the socials. [00:50] Question 1: How do I deal with "scope creep" when working for local clients? [06:50] Questions 2: How do I know what to charge to do some "minor touchups" on someone's copy? [11:20] Question 3: What's your favorite ad campaign of all time? Links https://youtu.be/ua5VfCVsDYo Tony Robbins Vintage Infomercial https://youtu.be/L8nt94LCyqY The Most Interesting Man In The World The Man In The Hathaway Shirt - A highly successful campaign by the legendary David Ogilvy which perhaps inspired The Most Interesting Man In The World campaign. How You Can Help Subscribe to the show in iTunes and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will definitely mention you on this show. We are also on Stitcher.com, so if you prefer Stitcher, please subscribe there. Connect with Ray on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram Visit Ray's community on Facebook – This is a friendly group of writers, entrepreneurs, and coaches who share ideas and helpful advice. Get The Transcript https://rayedwards.com/593

It was such a pleasure to welcome my son, Sean, back to the show. When the pandemic hit, it quickly became apparent that Sean would need to devote more time to our bricks and mortar coffee shop that we purchased together in 2017. In this weeks episode, I want Sean to explain what it was like to keep the business afloat amidst the shutdowns and restricted operations we faced here in the state of Washington. We both learned some valuable, life and mindset-altering lessons and I think some of those are universally beneficial to any business owner/leader. [00:00] Who is this Sean guy? [03:44] When the ship hit the sand [06:38] Restricted operations [07:51] A completely different point of view [09:02] What's the motivation? [12:07] Dealing with the politics and human nature [15:25] Differences for online vs. bricks and mortar businesses [20:47] What's changed at Revel? [27:45] As marketers, we ignore our customers... [29:05] These tactics work in the "real world", too [31:49] Spiritual transformation [32:41] The success bottleneck is here [34:01] Who's in control [38:46] Lessons from Desmond [43:46] If it doesn't work here... [45:21] Back to business Links A Rare (soon to be impossible) Opportunity To Work Directly With Ray Edwards - Click here to book a One-On-One with Ray How You Can Help Subscribe to the show in iTunes and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will definitely mention you on this show. We are also on Stitcher.com, so if you prefer Stitcher, please subscribe there. Connect with Ray on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram Visit Ray's community on Facebook – This is a friendly group of writers, entrepreneurs, and coaches who share ideas and helpful advice. Get The Transcript https://rayedwards.com/592

Are you making progress toward being the person you wish you were? Most of us have more than one area of our lives we would like to improve, and most of us even know what we need to do to get there (or at least, get closer). So what's the hold up? You're about to find out. This week, I want to talk about our greatest addiction. It's not drugs, food, or anything of the sort, but it's real, and it is probably the source of your stagnation. The good news? It's fixable. Click below to listen. [00:00] Here's what's going on [01:00] The quote that spawned this episode (@mindset.therapy) [02:01] Just hear me out (Even if you think you've already heard this) [03:14] Yeah, but are you DOING it? [04:33] Okay, Okay... I'll listen... But what is "It"? [04:45] Our greatest addiction [06:43] How does this relate to your business? [07:01] The truth about dopamine [13:00] Why are we addicted? [14:51] What is an emotion? [19:04] It's a breakable habit [20:57] Depression and Anxiety [23:18] Think about it until you can feel it [23:39] Have a plan [24:51] Ready? Links @mindset.therapy - Check out their instagram A Rare (soon to be impossible) Opportunity To Work Directly With Ray Edwards - Click here to book a One-On-One with Ray How You Can Help Subscribe to the show in iTunes and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will definitely mention you on this show. We are also on Stitcher.com, so if you prefer Stitcher, please subscribe there. Connect with Ray on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram Visit Ray's community on Facebook – This is a friendly group of writers, entrepreneurs, and coaches who share ideas and helpful advice. Get The Transcript https://rayedwards.com/591

This week, I'm getting back to the core of what I teach by answering questions submitted by copywriters. I encourage you to leave any questions of your own (or corrections/additions to the answers I gave) in the comments on this page. [00:00] Intro [00:56] Question 1 - Should I be worried about A.I. taking my clients? [05:01] Question 2 - Do I need to use contracts? [07:30] Question 3 - Did I write this, or did I steal this? [10:40] Question 4 - What's the best formula for a subject line? Links Click Here for Your Final Opportunity to Work Directly With Ray Edwards to Build Your Million Dollar Freedom Business Get My 100 Best Subject Lines (In the show notes for this episode) Copyscape - Online plagiarism checker How You Can Help Subscribe to the show in iTunes and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will definitely mention you on this show. We are also on Stitcher.com, so if you prefer Stitcher, please subscribe there. Connect with Ray on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram Visit Ray's community on Facebook – This is a friendly group of writers, entrepreneurs, and coaches who share ideas and helpful advice. Get The Transcript https://rayedwards.com/590

The term "quiet quitting" predates the pandemic by more than a decade, but has become commonplace since 2020. So, what is it? Quiet Quitting is when you decide to the absolute bare minimum of what is required to keep getting a paycheck...No more aspirations of "moving up the ladder", just "acting your wage", as they say. When the pandemic forced so much of the workforce to work from home, outside of the constant supervision of the traditional workplace, it became a lot easier to quietly quit. This week, I want to talk about where your life-impacting decisions (like quiet quitting) come from, and which part of your brain is calling the shots. Links Click Here for Your Final Opportunity to Work Directly With Ray Edwards to Build Your Million Dollar Freedom Business How You Can Help Subscribe to the show in iTunes and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will definitely mention you on this show. We are also on Stitcher.com, so if you prefer Stitcher, please subscribe there. Connect with Ray on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram Visit Ray's community on Facebook – This is a friendly group of writers, entrepreneurs, and coaches who share ideas and helpful advice. Get The Transcript https://rayedwards.com/589

That is the question that keeps coming up: “Is Ray retiring?” It’s my own fault. It’s because I said (in yesterday's email) that “this is your last chance to work with me personally.” For 98% of those reading this email that remains true, but I am absolutely not “retiring“. And I AM NOT shrinking the goals for my company. Quite the contrary, we have significantly increased our goals. My reasons for continued growth, and scaling up, are very different than they were three years ago, however. Listen to this week's episode to get the whole story, where you will discover… Why my team and I attended FunnelHacking Live (hint - it was only partly to receive our “2 Comma Club” Award - and even that not for the reasons you might suspect.) How you can get a copy of the exact Funnel through which we processed nearly $1.8 million in sales to earn that award. We will even help you customize it for your own business, if you qualify. Why today's economy makes it possible for you to achieve business growth in 12 months which took me 12 years. The two surprising “universal truths“ about all businesses (no matter what business you are in, or think you’re in). These two truths should change the way you approach everything about marketing your business. And the 5 Areas of Strategic Focus you must master … if you want to not only survive, but actually thrive in the coming economic meltdown. All this (and more) in today's podcast.   Links Work With Ray Edwards to Build Your Million Dollar Freedom Business Video A video version of this week's episode is available by Clicking Here How You Can Help Subscribe to the show in iTunes and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will definitely mention you on this show. We are also on Stitcher.com, so if you prefer Stitcher, please subscribe there. Connect with Ray on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram Visit Ray's community on Facebook – This is a friendly group of writers, entrepreneurs, and coaches who share ideas and helpful advice. Get The Transcript https://rayedwards.com/588

This week's entire episode is devoted to an incredible tool for copywriters (although, I'm quite certain it was not built exclusively for us) - Notion. Notion is one of those things I was "sort of" familiar with... I knew it was some sort of workspace management system, but I had no idea how much it could be tailored to copywriting and content creation until I got a look at how Cliff Ravenscraft was using it. I'm not easily impressed these days, and I certainly don't feel the need to learn a new app just because it's popular. This app, however, is worth some effort. I invited Cliff to share with us how he's using Notion to quickly create and manage incredible content that serves his listeners and clients. [00:00] Intro [01:17] A thousand hours so far [01:52] Not bad for an amateur [04:03] The value of journaling (they're not for posterity) [05:11] Don't trust your biological brain [06:41] How do you use Notion? [10:14] This sounds like a lot of work [11:33] Where do I tap? [12:11] How did you go from a Google Doc to Notion? [17:31] Let's see it work [22:32] Notion as a CRM [24:50] Ultimate email follow up [29:11] Copywriters: Pay attention [30:10] Client homework [33:35] Imagine the level of service you can provide [34:16] The learning curve... [36:40] Notion for speakers [39:46] Applying knowledge (not just collecting it) [41:03] A final demo (keeping things private) [42:37] You are a media empire [43:25] Okay, one final show off Links https://www.cliffravenscraft.com/ - Visit Cliff's site https://www.cliffravenscraft.com/podcast - Cliff's podcasts https://notion.so - Here's where to get started with Notion https://tinywow.com/ - Convert PDF's to JPG's (and much more) https://otter.ai - Transcription service How You Can Help Subscribe to the show in iTunes and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will definitely mention you on this show. We are also on Stitcher.com, so if you prefer Stitcher, please subscribe there. Connect with Ray on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram Visit Ray's community on Facebook – This is a friendly group of writers, entrepreneurs, and coaches who share ideas and helpful advice. Get The Transcript https://rayedwards.com/587

If you're not familiar with Jennifer Allwood, let me introduce her with this quote from her site, JenniferAllwood.com : I teach Christian women how to build a business online using social media, top-notch strategy and a proven framework all while keeping their faith and family top priority https://jenniferallwood.com I've admired Jennifer's work for some time now, so when I was asked to be a guest speaker in her private mastermind group, I was honored. For those who ask for episodes that are "all about copy", this fits the bill. Jennifer and her group asked some great questions and I think you'll find value in my answers. If you'd like to know more about Jennifer Allwood and her new program, Better Way, check out the Links section below.   [00:12] Intro [01:01] What is copywriting? [02:05] How did you get into this business? [04:00] Everything is copy [05:30] The P.A.S.T.O.R. Framework [17:19] Are women more prone to... [18:55] A heart-lead seller [20:20] Teach them long division...then sell them a calculator [23:04] How is it working for you? [23:23] The power of One-to-One selling [26:04] How does PASTOR work with social media? [30:04] Copy for Facebook...vs Copy for Instagram [30:30] Can I be an exceptional communicator...but a bad seller? [32:10] What should marketers not do [33:50] This is what you meant to say [35:35] Bio Copy [38:10] Writer's Bl*ck (we don't use that term) [41:25] Accidental copy [42:11] It's perfect enough! [43:09] Any trends? [46:51] When and how do I hire a copywriter? [49:34] Tell me about certification [52:48] Offering Risk Free Guarantees Links Which Revenue Stream Is Right For you? - This is Jennifer Allwood's quick and easy quiz to help you determine which of the 8 kinds of revenue streams she teaches will work best for you. How You Can Help Subscribe to the show in iTunes and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will definitely mention you on this show. We are also on Stitcher.com, so if you prefer Stitcher, please subscribe there. Connect with Ray on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram Visit Ray's community on Facebook – This is a friendly group of writers, entrepreneurs, and coaches who share ideas and helpful advice. Get The Transcript https://rayedwards.com/586

That is an intentionally provocative title, but I assure you it's not clickbait. Give me a quick 7 minutes and I'll explain why I believe the answer to that title question is an emphatic, "Yes!" A Note About This Episode: The audio from this week's podcast comes from a recently released YouTube video of the same title. If you prefer video, you'll find it here. [00:12] Intro ... Are you serious? [00:53] Do you own a business...or a job? [01:49] What's a true marketing system? [02:21] The simple fix [03:19] Discipline = Freedom [03:45] We all have challenges [04:31] One of these can change everything [05:24] Doctor's advice [05:35] The priorities have shifted...the goals have changed [06:27] A great next move Links Certified Direct Response Copywriter - Learn how and why to become a CDRC, AND Join me and my crew of Certified Writers in a sea of your perfect clients next month at Funnel Hacking Live. ClickFunnels - This is our primary revenue-driving machine. I highly recommend you check it out. How You Can Help Subscribe to the show in iTunes and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will definitely mention you on this show. We are also on Stitcher.com, so if you prefer Stitcher, please subscribe there. Connect with Ray on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram Visit Ray's community on Facebook – This is a friendly group of writers, entrepreneurs, and coaches who share ideas and helpful advice. Get The Transcript https://rayedwards.com/585

Listen to this week’s podcast to learn how Click Funnels (and the upcoming Funnel Hacking Live) actually saved me from brain surgery. My neurologist was telling me it was time to give in and have the brain surgery  … but my heart was telling me a different story. To go to the event, I had to say NO to brain surgery - and to do that, I had to actually get better.   [00:00] Intro - Is it true? [08:34] How does this relate to you? [10:14] Are you stuck in the loop? [12:11] Here's an example [12:41] You must be able to imagine it now [14:15] You probably have the answer already [14:42] Murphy's Law is a crock of $#!* [15:14] Ray's Law - think about it this way [15:28] A note about CDRC and FHL Links Certified Direct Response Copywriter - Learn how and why to become a CDRC, AND Join me and my crew of Certified Writers in a sea of your perfect clients next month at Funnel Hacking Live. ClickFunnels - This is our primary revenue-driving machine. I highly recommend you check it out. How You Can Help Subscribe to the show in iTunes and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will definitely mention you on this show. We are also on Stitcher.com, so if you prefer Stitcher, please subscribe there. Connect with Ray on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram Visit Ray's community on Facebook – This is a friendly group of writers, entrepreneurs, and coaches who share ideas and helpful advice. Get The Transcript https://rayedwards.com/584

Let's start this week's encouraging podcast with some discouraging facts from our friends at the Bureau of Labor Statistics: 22% of business startups fail in the first year 50% of new businesses fail within the first five years 97% of online businesses fail within the first five years Did you catch that last one? Ouch! I've been doing business online for nearly two decades. Is it just luck that I've beaten the nearly insurmountable odds? I don't think so. This week, I want to share 7 Power Beliefs for business owners that I believe are your ticket to the 3% club of successful, sustainable businesses. [00:00] Intro [03:57] There is a payback for doubling down on small habits that change your future [05:23] Scale your business by doing the unscalable (while you can) [06:56] It is important to invest in assets, attention, and people [09:58] There is less competition and more opportunity than ever before [12:41] There is free land right now and you should grab as much of it as you can [15:15] If you're creating and building during a recession, you're 2-5 years ahead of everybody else [15:42] Start now, with whatever you have Links Certified Direct Response Copywriter - Learn how and why to become a CDRC, AND Join me and my crew of Certified Writers in a sea of your perfect clients next month at Funnel Hacking Live. How You Can Help Subscribe to the show in iTunes and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will definitely mention you on this show. We are also on Stitcher.com, so if you prefer Stitcher, please subscribe there. Connect with Ray on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram Visit Ray's community on Facebook – This is a friendly group of writers, entrepreneurs, and coaches who share ideas and helpful advice. Get The Transcript https://rayedwards.com/583

If you're a new copywriter, or perhaps find yourself in a slump, your immediate question is likely: How do I get clients, now? This week, I'm sharing some methods that have consistently worked for me and I'm certain can work for you as well. Bonus - These client-getting methods are not exclusive to copywriting! [smart_track_player url="https://traffic.libsyn.com/secure/rayedwards/REP582.mp3" artist="Ray Edwards", title="Get Clients Now" background="default"] [00:00] Intro [00:48] Method Number 1 : The Open Agenda Method [04:40] Method Number 2: The Life Light Method [07:37] Method Number 3: The Zero Resistance, Client Creation Process [09:06] Contact [09:30] Converse [10:27] Connection [11:10] Contribute [12:35] Confront & Coach [17:38] Collaborate [18:12] Commitment [19:38] The secret weapon of getting clients now [22:00] Funnel Hacking Live Links Certified Direct Response Copywriter - Learn how and why to become a CDRC, AND Join me and my crew of Certified Writers in a sea of your perfect clients next month at Funnel Hacking Live. How You Can Help Subscribe to the show in iTunes and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will definitely mention you on this show. We are also on Stitcher.com, so if you prefer Stitcher, please subscribe there. Connect with Ray on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram Visit Ray's community on Facebook – This is a friendly group of writers, entrepreneurs, and coaches who share ideas and helpful advice. Get The Transcript Click here for this week's transcript

When I say, "change your words, change your world", it isn't just for the sake of marketing - it's a fact. This week's episode is about the importance of language. From the way we express ourselves in person and online, to our most private internal dialogue, the words we choose are critical. They truly shape our view of reality. Quick note: Much of this content was inspired by an interview with Robin Arzón I heard on Rich Roll's podcast (linked below). I highly recommend you add it to your must-listen-to list. [00:00] Intro - Linguistic Alchemy / Dirt into wealth [02:48] See the world through a different set of eyes [03:11] Letting the world see my reality [05:02] If we can't trust each other... [05:28] What stops us from telling the truth? [06:13] Success is not hard - Here's the formula [07:25] My policy: Radical Honesty [07:54] Plateaus are launchpads (things I learned from Robin Arzon) [09:48] Turn your doubts into defiance [10:36] Turn your fear into fury [12:11] Own your voice - be fully you Links Rich Roll's Podcast - A very inspiring interview with Robin Arzon The Copy Academy - We put six figures on the books last month. Visit The Copy Academy to see exactly what we did. Not many people out there willing to share the real numbers, so take advantage while you can! How You Can Help Subscribe to the show in iTunes and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will definitely mention you on this show. We are also on Stitcher.com, so if you prefer Stitcher, please subscribe there. Connect with Ray on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram Visit Ray's community on Facebook – This is a friendly group of writers, entrepreneurs, and coaches who share ideas and helpful advice. Get The Transcript https://rayedwards.com/581

No matter how bad things get, there are almost always things you can do to improve yourself and your situation. This week, I'm giving you 14, easy to understand rules that will help you do exactly that. Disclaimer: "Easy to understand" doesn't always mean easy to follow, but my belief is that if you make the effort, you will be rewarded. If you attempt some or all of these rules, I would love to hear about your results. How has your life changed? I will read and respond to every comment, so please share.   [00:00] Intro - Let's define success [02:19] 14 Rules for Success in Tough Times [02:26] Commit to mastery of the most important skill: clear persuasive Communication (with self, then others) [04:25] Let your word be your bond [05:29] Don’t take anything personally [07:25] Don’t assume anything [10:27] Always do your best [11:14] Be skeptical, but listen and stay curious. Ask specific questions [14:13] Ask yourself daily “Is this who I really want to be?” [15:25] Eliminate small discomforts before they become too large to eliminate [16:10] Spend the most possible time with people who hold you to a higher standard [21:36] Ruthlessly avoid Time Vampires (and Emotional Vampires) [24:54] Remember you have EXACTLY what you’re willing to TOLERATE [26:55] Be certain that profound change CAN happen in an instant [28:12] Keep in mind the obstacle is not IN the way, the obstacle IS the way [29:39] Remember you are one decision away from changing your entire life [31:16] How to master rule number 1 Links The Copy Academy - We put six figures on the books last month. Visit The Copy Academy to see exactly what we did. Not many people out there willing to share the real numbers, so take advantage while you can! The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz How You Can Help Subscribe to the show in iTunes and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will definitely mention you on this show. We are also on Stitcher.com, so if you prefer Stitcher, please subscribe there. Connect with Ray on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram Visit Ray's community on Facebook – This is a friendly group of writers, entrepreneurs, and coaches who share ideas and helpful advice. Get The Transcript https://rayedwards.com/580

This week's podcast comes from a meeting I hosted recently entitled, "Ask Ray Anything". The original intent of this meeting was to answer questions related to my Accelerated Certification Program, but I made the last-minute decision to make it a complete free-for-all...A true, "Ask Ray Anything" meeting. The end result: A lot of great Q&A that I felt would benefit more people if I shared it here. [00:00] Intro / What is the purpose of this meeting? [02:58] Why the world NEEDS you right now [03:42] Lesson 1: Communicate Value [04:28] but...what about the recession [04:59] How I had one of my best times during one of the worst times [07:47] What to do right now [09:22] Yes, buying luxury items does help others [09:52] Want to give more? Earn more. [10:33] Prosperity with purpose [10:54] The ideal business [12:58] What is a CDRC and why should you be one? [17:26] Joe's CDRC experience [18:14] Why go to Funnel Hacking Live? [20:44] Q&A - How do you get affiliates to promote your stuff? [28:23] Q&A - P.A.S.T.O.R. formula for blogging [30:21] Q&A - What you SHOULD be asking me [37:23] Q&A - How do you amplify pain when you're selling a luxury item? [41:00] Q&A - Do pastors make good copywriters? [43:30] Q&A - How much is it? Links Become a Ray Edwards Certified Direct Response Copywriter - Apply now at https://rayedwards.com/sidehustle How You Can Help Subscribe to the show in iTunes and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will definitely mention you on this show. We are also on Stitcher.com, so if you prefer Stitcher, please subscribe there. Connect with Ray on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram Visit Ray's community on Facebook – This is a friendly group of writers, entrepreneurs, and coaches who share ideas and helpful advice. Get The Transcript https://rayedwards.com/579

If you're an entrepreneur, I'd be shocked if you didn't own at least two books on the subject of time management. I'd be even more shocked if you own a time management book that I haven't read. I've been fascinated with this particular subject since my high school days. That's quite a few years ago (decades in fact), so it seemed unlikely that anyone could completely change the way I manage my time at this stage of the game. Then along came Richie Norton, and his book, Anti-Time Management, did exactly that. It's a brilliant new perspective on a topic that is nearly as old as the sundial. In this week's episode, I talk with Richie about how to "Reclaim Your Time and Revolutionize Your Results with The Power of Time Tipping".   Links https://richienorton.com/   How You Can Help Subscribe to the show in iTunes and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will definitely mention you on this show. We are also on Stitcher.com, so if you prefer Stitcher, please subscribe there. Connect with Ray on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram Visit Ray's community on Facebook – This is a friendly group of writers, entrepreneurs, and coaches who share ideas and helpful advice. Get The Transcript https://rayedwards.com/578

This week, I wanted to tackle a huge question: "Is this the end?" Spoiler Alert: No. It isn't. We're dealing with unpleasant realities at this time. Tune into the news, and you hear things like: Recession Inflation High Interest Rates the Labor Market the Great Resignation Bear Market Supply Chain Shortages War in Europe It's important to realize that the news media is in the business of selling fear. I don't mean to vilify the media...Fear is what we buy the most of, so that's mostly what they sell. But, how bad are things, really? Let's take a few minutes to break down where we are, how we got here, and what's next.  [00:00] Intro / Declaring your independence [02:05] It's not that bad [02:54] The news sells fear (As they say, "If it bleeds, it leads.") [03:50] What really happened [05:50] The housing market (according to Dave Ramsey) [07:09] For those under 35... [08:20] Tips on beating inflation [08:47] Get a side-hustle - Tax advantages for owning a business (legal, moral, ethical ones) [09:21] Copywriting - the BEST side-hustle [10:30] Can I train others to do what I've done? (case study: Dawn Apuan) [18:30] You can do this on your own (it just takes longer) [19:23] We're taking applications now - visit https://rayedwards.com/sidehustle Links Become a Ray Edwards Certified Direct Response Copywriter - Apply now at https://rayedwards.com/sidehustle What Dave Ramsey says about the Housing Market (VIDEO) How You Can Help Subscribe to the show in iTunes and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will definitely mention you on this show. We are also on Stitcher.com, so if you prefer Stitcher, please subscribe there. Connect with Ray on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram Visit Ray's community on Facebook – This is a friendly group of writers, entrepreneurs, and coaches who share ideas and helpful advice. Get The Transcript https://rayedwards.com/577

This week's episode is not a puffed-up pep talk (although there maybe some motivational side effects). When I say THIS is the time to become an entrepreneur, I mean it...And I have 7 great reasons that back it up.   [00:00] Intro / Why now? [01:00] Let's define "entrepreneur" (Ryan Moran) [02:05] No retreat! [02:19] Seven reasons why... [02:22] Now is the time to re-form the habits that shape your future. (Think if you had saved $500 a month 20 years ago). Right habits are NECESSARY for SURVIVAL ... but don’t live in SURVIVAL MODE! “Act to survive, form habits to thrive.” [03:13] Build your business to scale, and begin to lay the foundation now with un-scalable actions. (You are more “Scalable” than you think!) [05:52] Invest in assets, attention and people - all are on sale. “Invest in acquisition of attention today, be wealthy tomorrow.” [08:27] There is less competition, because people behave like sheep; when they fear, they huddle. “When the tide goes out, we instantly see who was skinny-dipping.” [10:44] There is a land-grab available, and it won’t last. “Those who make the widest and deepest deposits of their best ideas and value will win the long game.” [14:10] During recession, if you are creating & building, you are 2-5 years ahead of everyone else. “Rational optimism is the ultimate advantage, and it is both attractive and contagious.” [15:17] Start now, where are you are, with what you have. It is impossible to drive a car that is parked in the garage. Links Ultimate Independence Day Bundle - I've given you 7 reasons why now is the time to become a millionaire entrepreneur - Now I'm offering you the tools.. My entire digital vault of tools are available right now for $197. This package is valued at over $21,000 (I've detailed all of that here) - The only caveat: This goes away forever at 11:59 p.m., July 4th. capitalism.com - Ryan Moran Unique Ability - Dan Sullivan The Big Leap - Gay Hendricks How You Can Help Subscribe to the show in iTunes and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will definitely mention you on this show. We are also on Stitcher.com, so if you prefer Stitcher, please subscribe there. Connect with Ray on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram Visit Ray's community on Facebook – This is a friendly group of writers, entrepreneurs, and coaches who share ideas and helpful advice.

Not only can you start a business that actually prospers during recession, but you can do so for less than a $100 investment. In this week's episode, I'll explain what that business is, why recession actually increases demand for it, plus a few pitfalls to avoid and some shortcuts to take.   [00:00] Show open - What is it? [01:49] Here's 3 reasons why a copywritng business is perfect for a recession [02:18] Businesses are your customers (They NEED you!) [03:46] Operating cost is virtually nothing [04:33] "Geo-arbitrage" [06:49] Linguistic Alchemy [07:50] How I started in this biz [08:09] I can write, but...now what? [10:02] Getting steady work [11:12] The "foolproof plan"...that doesn't work. [12:25] Seminars, and why you need them [13:34] Certified by yours truly [15:23] The first brick wall most new copywriters hit [16:00] Why new copywriters feel they have no credibility in the marketplace Links Become a Ray Edwards Certified Direct Response Copywriter - Click to apply and schedule a one-on-one meeting. This meeting is not a sales call! This is an opportunity to evaluate each other and see if this is a good fit. I do not sell my credibility, you must earn it - And that starts with us discussing your goals, expectations and level of commitment. How You Can Help Subscribe to the show in iTunes and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will definitely mention you on this show. We are also on Stitcher.com, so if you prefer Stitcher, please subscribe there. Connect with Ray on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram Visit Ray's community on Facebook – This is a friendly group of writers, entrepreneurs, and coaches who share ideas and helpful advice.

How should entrepreneurs view economic recession? Is it "brace for impact", or "full speed ahead"? I've lived through enough periods of recession to know this: Any entrepreneur can USE the recession to proposer. You just need to keep these 10 principles in mind…   [00:19] What's happening? [02:23] Always be making offers [02:47] Always give a reason why for immediate action [03:07] Always be clear and directive in what you write [03:40] Always track and measure with ruthless accuracy [04:10] Always use zero cost brand building via social media [04:45] Always use strong sales copy [05:24] The fortune is in the follow up [06:14] Always make your ads look like mail order [06:50] Results decide [07:16] Use pigheaded discipline, delegation, automation, and elimination to develop marketing habits How You Can Help Subscribe to the show in iTunes and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will definitely mention you on this show. We are also on Stitcher.com, so if you prefer Stitcher, please subscribe there. Connect with Ray on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram Visit Ray's community on Facebook – This is a friendly group of writers, entrepreneurs, and coaches who share ideas and helpful advice.

My guest this week is Tim Schurrer, author of The Secret Society of Success. First of all, I must admit that when I saw that title, I was a little leery...Secret society? Really, Tim? Then, I read the book. In case it isn't made obvious by the fact that he's my guest this week, this book has an incredible message and it deserves a spot in your library (and in your brain).   [00:00] Intro - Who is Tim Schurrer [03:41] What's the book about? [06:05] Defining success [07:39] "...nobody there has your back. " [09:02] Success is in the assist [09:55] How do we find the balance? [11:22] The Tim Cook example [13:12] We get to choose how to show up [14:23] One life at a time [17:24] Missed the goal...now what? [19:08] Reader feedback [20:35] Writing a bestseller... [22:46] Are you content doing the work? [24:08] A great model for moving forward [24:53] Perfect timing Links Get a copy of Tim's book, The Secret Society of Success Want a sneak preview? Get the first two chapters for free at http://secretsocietyfree.com/ How You Can Help Subscribe to the show in iTunes and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will definitely mention you on this show. We are also on Stitcher.com, so if you prefer Stitcher, please subscribe there. Connect with Ray on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram Visit Ray's community on Facebook – This is a friendly group of writers, entrepreneurs, and coaches who share ideas and helpful advice.

I'd like to preface this by acknowledging that America is not officially in a recession, and that things may not get as bad as some of the typical sources of gloom and doom would have us believe. There are, however, some facts that can't be denied. As we continue to recover from the costs of the pandemic and the threat of war still looms over us, things will no doubt get worse in some sectors. The fear that the fearmongers are spreading is not completely unfounded. This week, I'd like to remind you of some facts to counter those fearmongers. Not just a motivational speech, but some valid observations from someone who has lived through unpleasant economic times before...me. [00:00] Intro - The fear [00:54] Past recessions [02:34] What now? [03:46] Your most valuable asset is... [04:26] Being me... [06:52] Culture and clarity [07:55] Your community [08:52] Courage How You Can Help Subscribe to the show in iTunes and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will definitely mention you on this show. We are also on Stitcher.com, so if you prefer Stitcher, please subscribe there. Connect with Ray on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram Visit Ray's community on Facebook – This is a friendly group of writers, entrepreneurs, and coaches who share ideas and helpful advice.

If you have a goal of building a successful online business, I know of no better way to quickly build a reputable, memorable, brand, than by writing a book. This isn't some tidbit I picked up somewhere - I've experienced this personally. My book, How to Write Copy That Sells, has sold about 30,000 copies since it was released in 2016. That's certainly not enough book sales for me to retire on, but the amount of business that book has generated for my company has resulted in millions of dollars in revenue. This week, I'm giving you 5 good reasons why you MUST write a book. [00:00] Intro - Who is Ray Edwards? [01:30] Five good reasons to write a book [01:44] Reason 1 - To be an Authority [02:07] Reason 2 - A useful, bestselling book is the Ultimate sales letter for your company [02:30] Reason 3 - Your bestselling book should become the hub of your digital business [02:51] Reason 4 - Free publicity (and a whole lot more) [03:01] Reason 5 - Your bestselling book is the key to getting speaking gigs (on podcasts, stages, etc.) [03:23] The fast track to building your personal brand [03:44] You don't get rich selling your book... [04:09] What kind of book? [05:43] How do you write a useful, bestselling book? [07:20] The best of both worlds [08:00] What does it take to have a bestseller? [08:40] What a book proposal really is, and how I got one [09:33] Who is Jeff Goins? [09:57] How I got my book deal (with a $150k advance) / Bestseller Bootcamp Links ProsperousWriter.com - Learn more about the upcoming Bestseller Bootcamp - Jeff Goins and I are going to walk you through the process of creating your book proposal (a.k.a., a business plan for your book), provide you with the exact proposal that we submitted to get my 150k book deal, and give you all the templates and tools necessary to do this for your own book. In fact, we'll be working on your proposal, live, in class. How You Can Help Subscribe to the show in iTunes and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will definitely mention you on this show. We are also on Stitcher.com, so if you prefer Stitcher, please subscribe there. Connect with Ray on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram Visit Ray's community on Facebook – This is a friendly group of writers, entrepreneurs, and coaches who share ideas and helpful advice.

Last week I shared the story of how I recently received a $150,000 advance from a publisher for an upcoming book. Furthermore, I suggested that you can do the same...If you have the right idea and follow the right process. That episode raised a lot of interest (and a bit of skepticism). How can this be possible? There's a simple reason why this is possible for you: Publishers want to make money. Someone is at work right now sorting through various manuscripts and proposals looking for the next "big thing". Ideally, they get an idea so profound, that it goes beyond just a book. Perhaps it's big enough for a series of books, or training programs, or a Netflix miniseries...An idea that generates cash for their company. Reality check: Most of the content people submit to publishers aren't the next "big thing"...They're not a thing at all. They're crap. Either the idea simply isn't worth sharing, or perhaps it was simply not presented well. This week, Jeff Goins and I continue our conversation; diving deeper into the process of going from "big idea" to bestseller. [00:00] Intro and...why Fresh Complaint? [02:03] How do you come up with an interesting idea? [03:21] Start with your argument [03:57] Writing a book is a democracy [06:04] The Big Idea Formula [06:28] The subtle art of... [07:20] The title follows the idea [10:29] The headline is the LAST thing you write [12:00] Opening the kimono [13:15] Writing is a democracy...Not a committee [14:33] How does an idea succeed? [15:29] The War of Art [17:04] Be provocative [18:51] Books generate more than just sales [20:52] Books are still relevant [22:09] A timeline of our upcoming book (so far) [23:38] About the process [26:34] Don't just start writing...have a plan [27:11] Bestseller Bootcamp (https://prosperouswriter.com) Links ProsperousWriter.com - Walk through the exact process Jeff used to get this deal done FreshComplaint.com - Jeff's boutique agency that turns big ideas into bestsellers How You Can Help Subscribe to the show in iTunes and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will definitely mention you on this show. We are also on Stitcher.com, so if you prefer Stitcher, please subscribe there. Connect with Ray on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram Visit Ray's community on Facebook – This is a friendly group of writers, entrepreneurs, and coaches who share ideas and helpful advice. Get The Transcript Coming soon...

Is it possible to get $150,000 check for a book that has yet to be written? Absolutely. I know this because that's exactly what I experienced thanks to my friend, and this week's guest, Jeff Goins. Jeff and I discuss the process of going from idea, to proposal, to publishing deal. NOTE: For a more in-depth discussion, check out our other conversation HERE. [00:00] Intro: How it all started [01:09] Coming up... [01:53] How to get 150k for a proposal [03:54] Jeff's "reinvention" [05:55] "Every good marketer struggles with honesty." [11:00] Removing the masks [15:49] The characters we play [18:30] What is a bestseller? [20:10] Does "bestseller" still matter? [25:46] After the splash... [30:07] What the current system rewards [33:27] How to you get Both? The big splash and longevity... [38:38] What it takes to sell [39:55] A note to the listener [40:27] What's next for Jeff? Links ProsperousWriter.com - Walk through the exact process Jeff used to get this deal done FreshComplaint.com - Jeff's boutique agency that turns big ideas into bestsellers How You Can Help Subscribe to the show in iTunes and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will definitely mention you on this show. We are also on Stitcher.com, so if you prefer Stitcher, please subscribe there. Connect with Ray on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram Visit Ray's community on Facebook – This is a friendly group of writers, entrepreneurs, and coaches who share ideas and helpful advice.

In today's world, there is no shortage of fuel for negative thinking, and none of us are immune to it. The good news is that you can minimize your negative thinking by making a conscious decision to control the one thing you should always be in control of: your attitude. The message of this week's episode is not "think good things and good things will magically happen." The message is about finding opportunities in bad situations. "What does this make possible?", as my friend and mentor, Michael Hyatt, would ask. Sometimes there are business opportunities...finding new ways to serve others. Sometimes, there are opportunities to change the circumstances for the better. Whatever the case, stewing in your own misery is never a solution. Even worse, that attitude tends to spread to those around you (more surplus fuel for negative thinking). Listen to this week's episode and then do some self-analysis. What are the things that fuel your negativity? What do they make possible? What are some positive ways you can affect them? It's not always the easiest path to take, but it's always the better one. [00:00] Be a positive thinker...not a fantasy optimist [01:25] Noticing the negative [03:55] Be unreasonable [05:43] Your beliefs dictate your actions [08:04] Rational Optimism [11:20] Your excuses are valid [12:49] Your attitude is 100% your fault How You Can Help Subscribe to the show in iTunes and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will definitely mention you on this show. We are also on Stitcher.com, so if you prefer Stitcher, please subscribe there. Connect with Ray on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram Visit Ray's community on Facebook – This is a friendly group of writers, entrepreneurs, and coaches who share ideas and helpful advice.

Last week I promised to share with you, 9 income streams for copywriters. In the interest of overdelivering, this week I present to you...11 income streams for copywriters. Not all of these may be in your wheelhouse, but I'm fairly certain you'll get some new ideas from my list. The point I'm trying to make with this episode is this - Building multiple sources of revenue is a smart play for any entrepreneur. Tune in to find out how to do it. [00:00] Why do you need this? [01:38] Income Stream 1 - Books [03:31] Income Stream 2 - Workshops [05:21] Income Stream 3 - Product Sales [07:13] Income Stream 4 - Private Masterminds [08:35] Income Stream 5 - Affiliate Commissions [09:56] Income Stream 6 - Private Client Copy Engagements [11:09] Income Stream 7 - A "Day With You" Consulting [12:48] Income Stream 8 - Recurring Membership [13:43] Income Stream 9 - Group Coaching [15:24] Income Stream 10 - Newsletters (printed) [16:50] Income Stream 11 - Royalties Subscribe to the show in iTunes and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will definitely mention you on this show. We are also on Stitcher.com, so if you prefer Stitcher, please subscribe there. Connect with Ray on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram Visit Ray's community on Facebook – This is a friendly group of writers, entrepreneurs, and coaches who share ideas and helpful advice.

Oh sure, the copywriting guy thinks that copywriting is the best side hustle ever...What a surprise, right? I understand if you think I'm biased (perhaps I am), but I'm bringing 7 solid reasons to back this claim up. In this week's episode, I'll tell you why copywriting is the best side hustle, ever! [00:00] Lots of great ideas [01:19] Copywriting is the core [02:27] 3 examples of companies that "get it" [05:08] 7 Reasons Why [05:18] Reason 1: Freelance your way to freedom [06:10] Reason 2: Build a 6-figure income with no capital [06:44] Reason 3: You deserve the freedom [07:14] Reason 4: Work whenever/wherever [08:05] Reason 5: Never work for a jerk again [08:36] Reason 6: Stop worrying about money [09:16] Reason 7: All you need is copywriting skill and the internet

Perhaps you are someone who would be described as successful by the people who know you. If that success is in business, maybe your world is filled with luxury accommodations, gourmet meals, and exotic vacations. If you're a successful parent, perhaps one of your children is now attending Stanford and you have another that's heading off to Harvard next fall. Whatever the extent of your achievements happen to be, there is likely at least one area of your life that seems to trip you up...One thing that you simply can't muster the motivation necessary for success. This week, I want to tell you why you continually fail at that thing...and how to finally fix it. [00:21] Problem areas [00:52] My own issues [02:08] The reason we fail [05:20] What's the common thread? [06:03] Here's the answer [07:52] You CAN take control (try this exercise) [11:31] Your mental state   How You Can Help Subscribe to the show in iTunes and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will definitely mention you on this show. We are also on Stitcher.com, so if you prefer Stitcher, please subscribe there. Connect with Ray on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram Visit Ray's community on Facebook – This is a friendly group of writers, entrepreneurs, and coaches who share ideas and helpful advice.

This week's episode is definitely a departure from my regular content, but it's an important message that I wanted to share. I know that most of us are ready to move on and quit discussing Covid-19, but there is a problem: Many people who were infected are still experiencing symptoms like lethargy, sleeplessness, lingering coughs, rashes and other unpleasantries which they don't even realize are part of the Covid-19 aftermath. My guest this week is Dr. Gus Vickery, M.D. Dr. Gus been my trusted physician for many years and has some pretty remarkable observations to share which could be lifechanging for some. IMPORTANT: Nothing you hear in this podcast, or the content you read on this page should be considered medical advice. Dr. Gus is an M.D., but he's not your M.D. You may have other physiological issues which make these treatments ineffective, or perhaps even harmful. If you're interested in employing some of the treatments he suggests, please consult your physician first.   Links Dr. Gus Vickery's website For links to the theraputics mentioned in this episode, visit https://rayedwards.com/564 How You Can Help Subscribe to the show in iTunes and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will definitely mention you on this show. We are also on Stitcher.com, so if you prefer Stitcher, please subscribe there. Connect with Ray on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram Visit Ray's community on Facebook – This is a friendly group of writers, entrepreneurs, and coaches who share ideas and helpful advice.

If you've listened to me for very long, you know that I believe your thoughts, as in the the things you think about from day-to-day, determine pretty much everything in your life: Your relationships with family and friends, your business success, even your relationship with God. Is it possible to control the things you think about? Can you actually change your "natural response" to situations? My guest this week, Jody Moore, says yes, you can. Jody Moore is a Life Coach, the host of the Better Than Happy podcast, and the author of the book of the same name, "Better Than Happy". You can learn more about both her book and podcast at https://jodymoore.com. Tune in to the conversation and learn how being more intentional with your thoughts can change every aspect of your life for the better. How You Can Help Subscribe to the show in iTunes and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will definitely mention you on this show. We are also on Stitcher.com, so if you prefer Stitcher, please subscribe there. Connect with Ray on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram Visit Ray's community on Facebook – This is a friendly group of writers, entrepreneurs, and coaches who share ideas and helpful advice.

Last week, I claimed it's possible to change everything, break free, and live. This week, I'm welcoming someone who exemplifies that message - My friend, Anna Powers. Anna invested a great deal of time and money to earn her law degree, then decided to shift from that rather prestigious professional identity to that of a copywriter. In this episode, Anna and I discuss her reasons behind that career move, and the tactics she used to make it happen.   Links SaraAnnaPowers.com Anna Powers on Instagram Anna Powers on Facebook How You Can Help Subscribe to the show in iTunes and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will definitely mention you on this show. We are also on Stitcher.com, so if you prefer Stitcher, please subscribe there. Connect with Ray on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram Visit Ray's community on Facebook – This is a friendly group of writers, entrepreneurs, and coaches who share ideas and helpful advice.

It seems that millions of people were previously too busy to notice that they weren't satisfied with their life...Specifically, the way they make their living. Now that the pandemic has forced so many of us to pause and reflect, what do we do if we're lacking a sense of fulfillment? What if we know we're not doing the thing we were meant to do? Is it too late to change? I believe that it's still possible for you to live the life you were put here to live, and this week, I want to show you how.   [00:00] Intro - The Great Reset [01:23] We are officially The Creator Economy [01:43] Brandon Sanderson [03:23] Seclusion and reflection - How they changed lives [04:43] Mike Kim [05:21] Joel Comm [06:07] Mike Stelzner [06:35] Three gates [07:15] The Gate of Dreams [09:21] The Gate of Decisions [11:46] The Gate of Disciplines [14:37] Life cycles [19:02] Working together Links Mike Kim's book You Are The Brand The Functional Futurist, Joel Comm The latest from Social Media Examiner's Mike Stelzner How You Can Help Subscribe to the show in iTunes and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will definitely mention you on this show. We are also on Stitcher.com, so if you prefer Stitcher, please subscribe there. Connect with Ray on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram Visit Ray's community on Facebook – This is a friendly group of writers, entrepreneurs, and coaches who share ideas and helpful advice.

The pandemic has forced tens of thousands of small businesses to close their doors. Now, in the midst of our recovery, another term from the history books threatens to manifest itself in the present day - world war. I pray we find a more productive way to solve the world's problems. Outside of prayer, I have no influence over what is to come; however, I believe that in the aftermath of whatever occurs, the economic recovery will largely be in the hands of you and me...The entrepreneurs. I have a message for my fellow entrepreneurs: Now is not the time to quit. It's time for us to step up. This week, I'm sharing some ideas and recommending a few books that support that theory. [00:00] Intro - What's going on and what should we do? [01:47] Don't quit now [02:36] Book recommendation 1: Entrepreneurs Will Save The World by Michael Hyatt [03:48] Book recommendation 2: Permission to Prosper by Ray Edwards [07:06] Book recommendation 3: The Vision Driven Leader by Michael Hyatt [08:03] Book recommendation 4: How Do You Kill 11 Million People by Andy Andrews [08:41] A harmless man is not a good man [09:33] Book recommendation 5: How to Write Copy That Sells by Ray Edwards Links Entrepreneurs Will Save The World by Michael Hyatt Permission to Prosper by Ray Edwards The Vision Driven Leader by Michael Hyatt How Do You Kill 11 Million People by Andy Andrews How You Can Help Subscribe to the show in iTunes and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will definitely mention you on this show. We are also on Stitcher.com, so if you prefer Stitcher, please subscribe there. Connect with Ray on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram Visit Ray's community on Facebook – This is a friendly group of writers, entrepreneurs, and coaches who share ideas and helpful advice.

Before we start discussing the 3 keys, we'd better take a moment to define success. According to the great Earl Nightingale, success is the progressive realization of a worthy goal or ideal. That definition deserves some analysis. "Progressive realization" tells me that, according to Earl, success is a process. I don't have to wait until I finally realize my worthy goal or ideal before I'm successful; I'm successful if I'm progressing toward it. In other words, it's not only the destination that counts, but the journey as well. This week, I'm breaking down 3 keys to the progressive realization of your worthy goal. Your One Big Why Let's assume you've decided on a worthy goal. Before you start building your roadmap, you need to ask yourself a question: "Why am I doing this?" [03:38] You Don't Need to Get it Perfect...You Just Need to Get it Started Not starting until you get it perfect? What an excellent procrastination tool. There are more how-to videos and articles available to you than you could consume in multiple lifetimes. You can even get a feeling of accomplishment for learning something, even if you never implement what you've learned...you just move on to the next how-to. You can stay on this treadmill for life...never moving from where you started. [10:45] You Need Results Last week's podcast was devoted entirely to this concept - If you have a belief, there should be evidence of it in your life...some quantifiable results (even if they're not the results you expected). [13:36]   Links 5daysalespage.com -Learn my sales page framework, live and absolutely free of charge. This is the same framework that has generated over $400 million in sales for all kinds of products and services. If you believe an internet revenue stream would improve your life, here's your chance to act on that belief and get some results. Click here to sign up. Brooke Castillo - Brooke Castillo's Life Coach School Think Media - Want to improve your video content? Subscribe to this channel Diana Gladney - Highly recommended resource for video production and instruction. How You Can Help Subscribe to the show in iTunes and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will definitely mention you on this show. We are also on Stitcher.com, so if you prefer Stitcher, please subscribe there. Connect with Ray on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram Visit Ray's community on Facebook – This is a friendly group of writers, entrepreneurs, and coaches who share ideas and helpful advice.

Beliefs produce results. If you truly believe something, there will be evidence of that belief somewhere in your life. Evidence of your beliefs comes in the form of results. If you believe that doing x, y and z will get you a thing that you desire, there will be results in your life that demonstrate you have acted on that belief. Often, those results won't be the desired outcome, but they still show that you took action. So what happens when you believe you can change your life for the better, but self doubt keeps you from taking action? That's what this week's episode is all about. [01:21] Here's why I don't believe you [02:49] The product of beliefs [04:45] The point of this episode... [05:09] How do I believe? [08:29] There are two kinds of students... [11:02] You must understand this Links 5daysalespage.com - Learn my salespage framework, live and absolutely free of charge. This is the same framework that has generated over $400 million in sales for all kinds of products and services. If you believe an internet revenue stream would improve your life, here's your chance to act on that belief and get some results. Click here to sign up. How You Can Help Subscribe to the show in iTunes and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will definitely mention you on this show. We are also on Stitcher.com, so if you prefer Stitcher, please subscribe there. Connect with Ray on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram Visit Ray's community on Facebook – This is a friendly group of writers, entrepreneurs, and coaches who share ideas and helpful advice.

Where do your best ideas come from? If you answered, "your brain", you're only sort of correct. Truthfully, our best ideas come from other ideas. We compile bits of information from books, videos, articles, blogs, conversations, etc., and through the convergence of those ideas, new ideas are formed. This week's premise: You can build a system to intentionally create and utilize this convergence of ideas. In other words, you can make it happen...in fact, the idea for this week's content was generated by my own system. A quick note before you dive in: Last weeks episode generated more questions than any podcast I've done in recent history. Many people had never considered the concept of systematically generating ideas, but it absolutely works. These questions inspired me to demo my own system in an upcoming free workshop. I want to show you how this system works for me, how I built it, AND how you can build your own. It's spread out over 3 days, so the time commitment is manageable and the results will blow your mind. Again, this is a completely free workshop. Click here to sign up [00:47] Systems thinking [03:09] Don't just be an information consumer [04:07] My content generation system [05:05] The software I use (Notion) [06:12] The way we get creative ideas [07:05] Start by deciding to do it [08:16] I'll show you how I built my system Links Salescopysystem.com - Learn my system - I'll show you how it works, how I built it and how you can build your own in my free, 3-day workshop coming soon. Click here to sign up. Check out the new book from Tony Robbins here - Life Force: How New Breakthroughs in Precision Medicine Can Transform the Quality of Your Life & Those You Love Notion software for Windows and Mac How You Can Help Subscribe to the show in iTunes and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will definitely mention you on this show. We are also on Stitcher.com, so if you prefer Stitcher, please subscribe there. Connect with Ray on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram Visit Ray's community on Facebook – This is a friendly group of writers, entrepreneurs, and coaches who share ideas and helpful advice.

See if this sounds like anyone you know… You need to generate some cash, so you come up with an idea. You set up your funnel, and your checkout...You calculate your possible conversions...Then you remember you need to write that pesky sales copy, so you slap it together. As you roll out, you realize you also needed thank you copy, follow up copy, stick copy, next offers, etc., and you tell yourself "Next time, I'll get it right." This happens because you lack a system. A system is, according to the Oxford dictionary, “a set of principles or procedures according to which something is done; an organized framework or method”. Most entrepreneurs don’t have that. Neither do most copywriters. A system will bring you less stress, more sales, more profit, and set you up for the next sale. A copywriting and marketing system can be the first step in turning your promotion into a business. What Should Be In Your Sales Copy System? Right-fit client profiles Copy “chunks” proven to work A complete PASTOR filter brief Pre-promo content (blog, podcast, YouTube, social) "Inception” copy Interview scripts (for interviews on other media) Swiss Army knife Emotional Trigger checklist Sublist recruitment copy (opt-ins) Sublist indoctrination copy (opt-in emails) Email sequence framework Pre-launch alert copy Pre-launch content & copy Sales page copy Follow unto sales page for open cart copy Cart close copy Post sales followup Refund prevention copy Nurturing copy Remember, the more you can "templatize" and chunk down, the better. As I have often said, I don’t like to start a project until I’m already 80% done. System Checklist Review Proof Set up an A/B test on headlines and leads Test all breakage points After action review How You Can Help Subscribe to the show in iTunes and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will definitely mention you on this show. We are also on Stitcher.com, so if you prefer Stitcher, please subscribe there. Connect with Ray on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram Visit Ray's community on Facebook – This is a friendly group of writers, entrepreneurs, and coaches who share ideas and helpful advice.

Having a "million dollar idea" may not have quite the punch it had in decades passed, but that million dollar milestone is alive and well. I mean, seven figures is a champagne-worthy occasion for most of us (the kind with a real cork), but realistically, how many of us can actually get there? What does it take to make a million bucks? That's what I'm talking about in this week's episode. Here's the nutshell version: Decide what you want your life to be, structure your business around THAT (doing it in reverse, building your life around your job, will likely yield unwanted results.) Once you have a clear vision, select a mentor that can get you there. For the record, yes, I am one such mentor, but there are many. Choose someone whose style resonates with your vision...but choose someone. Could I have made it without a mentor? Maybe...But I know I my revenue would be nowhere near what it is today had I skimped on that part of the equation. Mentors provide speed, accuracy and safety. A good one will lead you down the path that they themselves have already blazed...Avoiding costly pitfalls along the way. [02:07] There are great opportunities right now...what do you do about it? [04:02] Who do you listen to? [05:15] The Great Reawakening [09:05] What makes a copywriter stand out [13:00] Your first client [14:08] I know it's possible [15:40] Where to start [16:07] Who are you, and why are you here? [16:43] Who do you serve best? [18:05] Building your platform [19:26] Measuring your platform [21:17] The invisible list [23:03] Making contact [24:11] Deepening the relationship [26:29] Starting price [31:46] About the Academy [36:23] The customers your want [37:35] Number one homework assignment [38:39] What does your business do? [38:51] Choose a model [39:42] Get a mentor Links https://app.mediakits.com/rayedwards - This site is a great tool to get an overview of your platform. You can check out mine at the link provided, and then create your own. How You Can Help Subscribe to the show in iTunes and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will definitely mention you on this show. We are also on Stitcher.com, so if you prefer Stitcher, please subscribe there. Connect with Ray on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram Visit Ray's community on Facebook – This is a friendly group of writers, entrepreneurs, and coaches who share ideas and helpful advice.

I can't think of a time in my life where I have experienced significant growth, without significant effort. That's true for pretty much all of us. We all know that our growth (as humans, spouses, entrepreneurs, etc.) comes from doing the hard things, yet we so often focus on trivial things...tasks that we can check off of our to-do list to feel some sense of accomplishment, but in reality we're just procrastinating the important stuff. This week, I'm challenging you to look at everything you do for your company, and ask yourself if YOU are the right person for the job. How do you know you're not the right person? Simple...If someone else can do it, you're not the right person. Entrepreneurs should be focused on the things that ONLY they can do. More than likely, those are the things that would grow your business the most - the hard things. Tune in and I'll break down exactly how I'm putting this philosophy to use in my own company.   [00:24] Choose the hard path [02:06] How we should be thinking [02:57] Optimistic lies [04:06] My commitment [04:57] A big question for entrepreneurs [06:01] Identify the weak points [06:46] Get it off of your plate [07:10] Tools of procrastination [07:58] Why do I do this? [08:48] What should you not be doing? [10:01] You're NOT to-do list [10:55] Your "Do-Dates" [11:55] One last thing... [15:02] Give me your feedback Links https://www.yearzero.io/ - August Bradley https://michaelhyatt.com/ - Michael Hyatt https://acuff.me/ - Jon Acuff How You Can Help Subscribe to the show in iTunes and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will definitely mention you on this show. We are also on Stitcher.com, so if you prefer Stitcher, please subscribe there. Connect with Ray on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram Visit Ray's community on Facebook – This is a friendly group of writers, entrepreneurs, and coaches who share ideas and helpful advice.

Yes, I'm a professional copywriter, and yes, I think there are great reasons NOT to hire a professional copywriter...At least, not at first. This week, I'm giving you 5 reasons why you should NOT hire a copywriter. 5 Reasons Why Every Business Owner Should Write Their Own Sales Copy [00:42] Unless you can competently write your own copy, you cannot confidently hire a good copywriter. This is because you will not know how to distinguish between good copy and bad copy. If you don't know how to write copy to begin with, every time you hire a copywriter, you'll be gambling large sums of money, hoping you get a good result, and never knowing why you did or did not. [01:18] Writing good sales copy requires you to know your buyers. You MUST develop deep, empathic knowledge about your customers, their problems, their desires, and their pain. There's no better way to do this than studying the people who buy from you. That is required to write good sales copy. [02:02] Writing good sales copy also requires you to develop deep, accurate knowledge about your product. You must know its strengths and shortcomings with your customers, and how to articulate your product's features and benefits in a way that causes people to want to buy. If you do a good job of writing the copy, you will end up improving the product in the process. [02:56] Nobody will care as much about the copy as you do. Because you are the risk-taking entrepreneur who's putting your neck out for this product, and for these people (your customers). There is no bigger stakeholder in the success of this enterprise than you. Therefore, no one will bring more sense of responsibility to deliver the best copy possible than you yourself. [04:03] Nobody else will spend as much time, write as many revisions, tweak the copy as often , or as carefully, as yourself. You need to get in there and write the copy. And then rewrite the copy. And then test the copy. And then work to beat your control. Once you've gone through this process with one big product and project, you may be ready to turn this over to a copywriter. Do not be in a hurry to do so. Of course, as I previously stated, I am a professional copywriter...Obviously, I feel there are times when hiring a copywriter is exactly the right thing to do. For instance, when: You cannot get satisfactory conversion rates yourself. You can no longer improve your conversion rates. You are objectively just not good enough to write it yourself anymore. You simply don't have time to do it yourself anymore because you're too successful. They can beat your control. In other words, they can write copy that converts better than your own winning copy. How You Can Help Subscribe to the show in iTunes and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will definitely mention you on this show. We are also on Stitcher.com, so if you prefer Stitcher, please subscribe there. Connect with Ray on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram Visit Ray's community on Facebook – This is a friendly group of writers, entrepreneurs, and coaches who share ideas and helpful advice.

How can a single page of writing change your entire life? That's what I'm proposing to you as the truth. Consider that IF my proposition is true, and you place this single page on your website, and you position it correctly, it can indeed change your financial destiny. There is a formula for constructing these pages, it is not difficult to learn, and once learned and implemented it can be used to bring money to you almost at will. And while money is not the answer to every problem, it is the only answer to some problems. Often, solving those few “money only” problems frees up your resources to solve the many others. Christ taught us, “You cannot serve both God and money". There is no prohibition against serving God, while having money serve you. This episode is a rapid-fire guide on how you can use one of these magical webpages to become more of the master of your money and have it serve you. It all starts with attracting the money you need to solve the problems only money can solve in your life. 8 Questions You Should Answer In Every Sales Page You Create [08:54] Who are you, and why should I trust you? What do you have that can help me with my problem,? Do you understand my problem in the pain it causes me? How does your problem solution help me? What makes your solution different than everyone else’s, and why should I buy it? How can you assure me this will work? What happens if it doesn’t? How much is your product, and is the speed and effectiveness of your solution with enough to justify my paying your price? How do I get started, how do I pay you, and what happens then? Is that all there is to it? Nope...not even close, BUT that alone can greatly increase your page's effectiveness. If you have a page that isn't converting well, see if the copy clearly answers each of those questions. If not, you might have just found a quick fix. Want the in-depth, masterclass guide to creating a high performance sales page? I have a 5 Day Sales Page challenge starting in one week (1/17). Visit 5DaySalesPage.com to get this deal for a one-time payment of only $97Just to be clear, that price isn’t just for the knowhow, it’s for FINISHING a ready-to-deploy sales page, live in our group. See the class schedule (and a few awesome bonuses I’m throwing in) by going to 5DaySalesPage.com. Links http://5DaySalesPage.com - Visit this site to join the 5 Day Sales Page Challenge for a one time payment of only $97. By the end of this challenge, you'll not only have the skills to create the ultimate sales page for your product, you'll have your page completed! Click the link for all the information (Hurry! The challenge starts in one week and we cannot accept late entries.) How You Can Help Subscribe to the show in iTunes and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will definitely mention you on this show. We are also on Stitcher.com, so if you prefer Stitcher, please subscribe there. Connect with Ray on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram Visit Ray's community on Facebook – This is a friendly group of writers, entrepreneurs, and coaches who share ideas and helpful advice.

Can you attract money? I firmly believe that you can! And this belief doesn't stem from the "believe in it and it will come true" philosophy. This goes beyond wishful thinking and enters into one of my favorite topics: Mindset. We all know at least one person who seems to attract disasters...someone who always has some bad news to catch you up on. I don't think this is because they were "born under a bad sign", or other such nonsense - I think they attract disasters because they are looking for them. If you seek the negative in everything, that's likely what you'll find. Adjusting your mindset changes the way you view the world, and it changes the way the world views you. Your overall attitude about life will determine how people interact with you. This week, I want to talk about how you can change your mindset to attract wealth. [00:35] The law of wealth attraction [02:21] It's not about making money [03:19] Here's why...(The Protestant Work Ethic) [04:15] Who works a billion times harder than you? [04:47] The best economic system....ever [06:10] The Effort-Income Link [08:36] If you're new... [09:07] Attracting wealth and money [10:22] Impartation and Activation for 2022 [14:33] It is a new economy [17:23] The money magnet [24:00] Two quick stories to wrap up How You Can Help Subscribe to the show in iTunes and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will definitely mention you on this show. We are also on Stitcher.com, so if you prefer Stitcher, please subscribe there. Connect with Ray on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram Visit Ray's community on Facebook – This is a friendly group of writers, entrepreneurs, and coaches who share ideas and helpful advice.

With only a few days left in 2021, I wanted to bring you a powerful message that's short, easy to digest, and could be extremely helpful with whatever problems you face in 2022. Of course, I don't know what those problems will be (for either of us), but I do know the way in which you view them, and ultimately deal with them, will affect your personal growth. This week, I want to challenge you to think of the problems you encounter as puzzles. Instead of having an anger fueled meltdown, or a tearful self pity party, analyze the problem as though it were a puzzle - then, make a plan and deal with it in an intentional way. Will this make the problem an unexpected joy? No. That will likely not be the case, but it can result in positive growth in all aspects of your life...spiritually, emotionally, and even financially. How You Can Help Subscribe to the show in iTunes and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will definitely mention you on this show. We are also on Stitcher.com, so if you prefer Stitcher, please subscribe there. Connect with Ray on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram Visit Ray's community on Facebook – This is a friendly group of writers, entrepreneurs, and coaches who share ideas and helpful advice.

"OK Boomer..." - A popular comment on the internet meant to insult someone by implying the entire Boomer generation just "doesn't get it." I won't spend a lot of time breaking down the irony of how some of the modern generation, characterized as tolerant and accepting, can paint an entire group of people with the same broad brush (a crime which they often accuse Boomers of), but rather focus on the facts and figures...Boomers, and Gen-X'ers are raking in millions by marketing their knowledge online. This week's episode is meant to be a kick in the pants to you Boomers and Gen-X'ers out there who haven't figured this out yet...People will pay for what you know. But that's not even the best part. Not only do they value your knowledge and experience (perhaps more so than your current employer), but it's never been easier to deliver it to them. The tools have been simplified, the costs have been minimized and the only thing standing between you and your own work-from-anywhere life is your commitment...and perhaps a little guidance. Before you jump in, here are some more encouraging facts and figures: I don't have a huge youtube audience. I have a little more than 9,000 subscribers as I write this. That's probably more than your local high school gym can handle, but in the Youtube world, it's not an impressive figure. BUT - that audience generated 6 figures in revenue for my company this year. I'll explain how in this week's episode. [00:20] That's easy for you to say [01:09] It seems we've forgotten [02:39] An audience of interested people [04:17] Don't monetize your audience [05:50] Build your audience [06:23] How many do you need? [07:01] How do you start from nothing? [07:32] Accelerating the process [08:32] An example [10:02] The ultimate secret research tool [10:25] 1,000 true fans [11:51] Unique...is usually bad [12:38] Another BIG reason to start now [13:14] That's easy for you to say [14:00] How it really works [14:57] 2 challenges that made things tougher [16:10] What I always look for [18:42] You can do this How You Can Help Subscribe to the show in iTunes and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will definitely mention you on this show. We are also on Stitcher.com, so if you prefer Stitcher, please subscribe there. Connect with Ray on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram Visit Ray's community on Facebook – This is a friendly group of writers, entrepreneurs, and coaches who share ideas and helpful advice.

For years, I've touted Direct Response Sales Copy as the most lucrative niche a freelance writer can master to have a very high profit, virtually no overhead business. That is still true, but, when it comes to those who are writing copy to promote their own products, services and ideas, there is something much more powerful... Content. This week's episode discusses the power of Content Marketing. Tying every piece of your content into a worldview that is always in integrity with your company's vision. When your audience understands and appreciates your vision, your sales copy doesn't need to be nearly as "salesy" because people know what to expect from your brand. They're already sold - you just need to deliver the message. Take Apple for instance. They have spent decades carefully crafting their brand, but not just through ads. Every decision is carefully made staying consistent with their reputation. From the packaging, to the product colors, their customers know what to expect, so much so that thousands of them don't even need to see a sales page or television commercial...they just need the release date of the latest product and they're in. That's powerful. How You Can Help Subscribe to the show in iTunes and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will definitely mention you on this show. We are also on Stitcher.com, so if you prefer Stitcher, please subscribe there. Connect with Ray on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram Visit Ray's community on Facebook – This is a friendly group of writers, entrepreneurs, and coaches who share ideas and helpful advice.

This is an exciting week! On Thursday, 12/9/21, 5 p.m. Eastern, I'm offering a free Copywriter's Strategy class that will teach you everything you need to know to get a high profit, low overhead, writing business up and running for the new year. This week's episode gives you an overview of the deep dive we'll be taking on Thursday's class. The topics I want to cover are better presented in a live, interactive format, so I encourage you to attend if you're reading this before the event. I want you to have a complete understanding of every aspect of how to get started, how to scale and how to have your own writing business and your dream, work-from-anywhere, lifestyle. I'm teaching it all AND answering your questions, LIVE this Thursday. Get signed up for the class By Clicking Here. Links COPYWRITER'S STRATEGY CLASS - This is my upcoming Free Masterclass that takes place live on 12/9. I'll teach you how to build your own, profitable writing business - with my help, or on your own...I'll cover all the bases. Don't miss this! Click the link to register How You Can Help Subscribe to the show in iTunes and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will definitely mention you on this show. We are also on Stitcher.com, so if you prefer Stitcher, please subscribe there. Connect with Ray on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram Visit Ray's community on Facebook – This is a friendly group of writers, entrepreneurs, and coaches who share ideas and helpful advice.

This is an exciting week! On Thursday, 12/9/21, 5 p.m. Eastern, I'm offering a free Copywriter's Strategy class that will teach you everything you need to know to get a high profit, low overhead, writing business up and running for the new year. This week's episode gives you an overview of the deep dive we'll be taking on Thursday's class. The topics I want to cover are better presented in a live, interactive format, so I encourage you to attend if you're reading this before the event. I want you to have a complete understanding of every aspect of how to get started, how to scale and how to have your own writing business and your dream, work-from-anywhere, lifestyle. I'm teaching it all AND answering your questions, LIVE this Thursday. Get signed up for the class By Clicking Here. Links COPYWRITER'S STRATEGY CLASS - This is my upcoming Free Masterclass that takes place live on 12/9. I'll teach you how to build your own, profitable writing business - with my help, or on your own...I'll cover all the bases. Don't miss this! Click the link to register How You Can Help Subscribe to the show in iTunes and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will definitely mention you on this show. We are also on Stitcher.com, so if you prefer Stitcher, please subscribe there. Connect with Ray on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram Visit Ray's community on Facebook – This is a friendly group of writers, entrepreneurs, and coaches who share ideas and helpful advice.

This week's episode is about America's next big crisis and how to prepare for it. I'm not an economist, but I do study many experts and most of them are saying that America is headed for a crisis...a perfect economic storm brought on by lack of retirement savings and an aging population whose ability to work is diminishing. "But Ray...aren't you usually the positive thinking, 'look on the bright side' kind of guy? What's with this fear talk?" I AM a positive thinker...But I am not one who ignores reality. I don't think it takes an expert to know that millions of people exhausting their savings, borrowing against their home equity and exiting the market place is going to cause hardship in the not so distant future. BUT - There IS a bright side - One of the brightest I've ever seen! I'll share it with you in this week's episode. [00:51] The next problem we should be prepared for [01:28] Part One: The coming American Economic Crisis [02:43] The 3 forces fueling the crisis [05:55] My 5 Part Action Plan to prepare [06:01] Eliminate debt [06:34] Minimize taxes and expenses [08:00] Diversify your income streams [09:08] Define your MVP (Minimum Viable Prosperity) [10:23] Maximize your ability to produce income [11:34] Taking advantage of new opportunities [13:05] Why start a business now? [14:21] Here's how you do it [15:22] Who are the most successful creators? [16:48] Mastering the greatest business skill [17:35] But...I'm not a salesperson [19:36] Earn while you learn [22:17] How to make it work [22:52] Get started right away   Links Permission to Prosper - Ray Edwards COPYWRITER'S STRATEGY CLASS - This is my upcoming Free Masterclass that takes place live on 12/9. I'll teach you how to build your own, profitable writing business - with my help, or on your own...I'll cover all the bases. Don't miss this! Click the link to register How You Can Help Subscribe to the show in iTunes and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will definitely mention you on this show. We are also on Stitcher.com, so if you prefer Stitcher, please subscribe there. Connect with Ray on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram Visit Ray's community on Facebook – This is a friendly group of writers, entrepreneurs, and coaches who share ideas and helpful advice.

This week, there is much to discuss. Here in the US, Americans are getting set for Thanksgiving and the retail holiday that follows, Black Friday. For the first time, my company is participating in Black Friday. Tune in and I'll give you the reasons why we are (and why you should be, too...even if you are exclusively online). But that's just the tip of the proverbial iceberg. I also want to make a very clear point: You are a writer...Even if you don't think you are. I'll teach ways to improve your persuasive writing by organizing bits of knowledge into blocks of information you can use to create original, compelling content. And of course, I'll discuss the title of this week's episode: The Creator Economy. [00:17] You are a writer [03:26] The numbers matter [05:28] What is marketing? [07:10] What is Black Friday [09:19] Using the calendar to join the conversation [11:47] Why you should have a Black Friday deal [14:16] But I don't have a retail store... [16:29] Paying attention to what's happening in the culture [17:35] Reaping the rewards from your ideas [20:05] Your backup brain [20:47] The magic notebook [24:44] Great sales copy is assembled...not written [28:36] Organizing your blocks in a meaningful way [31:32] Product Launches [34:25] Putting it to work for you [35:44] The Creator Economy [38:01] Capitalism in it's purist form [39:26] The transparency era [41:57] What's the point?   Links How To Take Smart Notes - Sönke Ahrens Building A Second Brain - Tiago Forte` Our First Black Friday Deal - Get an incredible course (previously $500) to help you start your own, profitable writing business for only $7, through the end of Cyber Monday How You Can Help Subscribe to the show in iTunes and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will definitely mention you on this show. We are also on Stitcher.com, so if you prefer Stitcher, please subscribe there. Connect with Ray on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram Visit Ray's community on Facebook – This is a friendly group of writers, entrepreneurs, and coaches who share ideas and helpful advice.

We're nearing the end of 2021, but we still have almost 7 weeks left. That's 13% of the year still to come. Way too much time to start coasting to the finish line. The last few weeks of the year, most people will disregard their goals and dismiss the rest of the year as though it's the last day of school. Not me. Yes, I will take time off from work and be with my family, but I’m also going to do things that lead me closer to my goals, not farther away from them. Look, you can author a new story for yourself starting today. You can start living your best life, today. Or you can do what everybody else is going to do and defer your goals to some future date that will probably never get here. It’s up to you. This week, I'll tell you the 7 domains of life you should always be working to improve, regardless of the date. 7 Domains of Life You Should Improve [07:52] Faith [08:51] Fitness [10:11] Family [10:48] Finances [12:28] Friends [12:38] Fun [12:59 Fulfillment How You Can Help Subscribe to the show in iTunes and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will definitely mention you on this show. We are also on Stitcher.com, so if you prefer Stitcher, please subscribe there. Connect with Ray on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram Visit Ray's community on Facebook – This is a friendly group of writers, entrepreneurs, and coaches who share ideas and helpful advice.

Over the years, I have trained many professional copywriters, but the actual writing is only part of what I teach. In order for a student to be successful as a writer (or any entrepreneurial venture), they need to know how to launch, run and grow their business. This leads to me getting asked various forms of this question numerous times each week: "Should I start my business now, or wait until things are a little better?" Here's the short answer - Do it now! In this week's episode, I'll back that answer up with 5 great reasons to get started A.S.A.P. - Whether you're talking about launching a business, publishing a book, starting a podcast...whatever it is, NOW is the time. DISCLAIMER: Before you jump in, let me tell you what has this on my mind in the first place. I've been attending Jeff Walker's latest masterclass. These are free sessions and YES, I do attend! I send notifications to my tribe about them because they're amazingly beneficial, free content. In fact, giving away content that is *actually beneficial* is one of the key principles of Jeff's program. It has been the main roadmap for my own business since I first bought it in 2005. The reasons I list in this podcast are things that I believe are 100% accurate. They DO NOT require you to purchase anything - I would never release an "infomercial" for my product or someone else's unless I flat out stated that up front. IF you are interested in following this roadmap that has generated over a BILLION dollars in revenue, then I encourage you to use my affiliate link. Yes, I get a small commission (at no extra cost to you), BUT more importantly, I will be working through the program with you if you purchase with this link. Each year, I pay the small maintenance fee to get the latest version of PLF. I have done this since 2005. I don't do it because Jeff and I are buddies (he's doing just fine financially and doesn't need donations from friends). I buy it because I use it to make money - Every single year! So this year, I'm inviting any members of my tribe (if you're reading this, that's you) to go through the program with me. After doing this every year for 16 years now, I'm more than qualified to help guide you across the finish line. Okay...now that I've fulfilled my Full Transparency Guarantee, let's get on with the show! Five reasons to launch now [05:07] Reason 1: The world has shifted to online. [06:07] Reason 2: The technology has never been easier [07:00] Reason 3: You don't need a following [11:22] Reason 4: There are plenty of examples to model [13:50] Reason 5: Access to help, support and community Links Jeff Walker's Product Launch Formula - Ready to launch? This is the latest and greatest version of PLF - The roadmap that I use in my own business. **Remember, purchasing with this link does not increase the price, but it does allow you to go through the program with me and other members of my tribe. I can't wait to help walk you through it. If you're a go-getter who just needs a path...this is THE one. How You Can Help Subscribe to the show in iTunes and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will definitely mention you on this show. We are also on Stitcher.com, so if you prefer Stitcher, please subscribe there. Connect with Ray on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram Visit Ray's community on Facebook – This is a friendly group of writers, entrepreneurs, and coaches who share ideas and helpful advice.

This week, I'm introducing you to someone who is helping to change lives - in particular, the lives of Christian entrepreneurs around the globe. David Lee Martin is not only a student of mine, but he has become a great friend and respected colleague. In our conversation, David and I discuss his early beginnings as a spiritually hungry adolescent, to his ministry, to his life as an entrepreneur. David has many lessons to share (enough to create his own successful academy) and I think you will find great inspiration in his story, both as a Kingdom Entrepreneur and as a Christian in today's world. [00:51] Who is David Lee Martin? [02:10] Encountering the Holy Spirit while on an acid trip [03:23] Learning the tech to deliver the word [04:38] Realizing the possibilities [06:35] The big mistake many authors make [07:33] More on that...trip you took [15:29] One of but a few things (steeping into your purpose) [20:32] The Christian Creative Academy [24:41] The experience for students [29:32] Who is this for? [33:39] Closing advice...don't overcomplicate things Links https://christiancreative.academy - This Christian based academy teaches its members how to express the message God has given them and deliver it to others. https://davidleemartin.com - David's blog and podcast https://faithfulcreativebook.com - "Discover How Christian Authors, Artists, and Entrepreneurs Are Breaking the Mold & Making a Difference" How You Can Help Subscribe to the show in iTunes and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will definitely mention you on this show. We are also on Stitcher.com, so if you prefer Stitcher, please subscribe there. Connect with Ray on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram Visit Ray's community on Facebook – This is a friendly group of writers, entrepreneurs, and coaches who share ideas and helpful advice.

For this week's episode, I wanted to get back-to-basics and give you the nuts and bolts explanation of who I am and my philosophy of writing persuasive, direct-response copy. I had done this already for someone else's podcast back in 2018 as a guest host. That someone was the great Jeff Goins, and he gave me permission to use that audio for this week's episode. I have a ton of respect for Jeff and the work he puts out, so if you're not familiar with him, I recommend you check out his blog, best-selling books and podcast. You'll find the links below. If you're a regular listener of my podcast, this week's content will seem familiar, but I encourage you to jump in for a succinct review of the copywriting process; specifically, the P.A.S.T.O.R. framework. This universal framework (to sell products, services, or even ideas) gives you a starting point for every piece of copy you'll ever write. [01:55] Get to know Ray [02:56] Ray's career in broadcast radio [04:19] What is Direct Response Copy? [06:45] The value of good copy [07:29] What is copywriting and why does it matter? [08:26] Everything is copy [09:38] The P.A.S.T.O.R. Framework [10:24] P - Person, problem, pain [12:47] A - Amplify the pain, give asperations [14:30] S - Story, struggle, solution [15:07] T - Transformation and testimony [16:18] O - Offer [17:30] R - Request a response Links https://trainwithray.com - If you're serious about becoming a stellar, in-demand copywriter, check out this page https://goinswriter.com/hey - This is Jeff Goins's new podcast called Hey Creator which I highly recommend. While you're there, make sure you check out his blog and his best-selling books. This is the kind of stuff your entrepreneurial brain needs! How You Can Help Subscribe to the show in iTunes and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will definitely mention you on this show. We are also on Stitcher.com, so if you prefer Stitcher, please subscribe there. Connect with Ray on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram Visit Ray's community on Facebook – This is a friendly group of writers, entrepreneurs, and coaches who share ideas and helpful advice.

We're a couple of weeks into 4th quarter 2010 (October-December), but it's not too late to make more money in this last quarter than you've made so far this year. No matter what your business, this week's podcast lays out a simple plan for you to CRUSH your goals for the year, rake in the revenue, and pile up profits. How great would it be to start 2022 with that amazing momentum? [00:45] Getting prepared for your 4th Quarter Miracle [01:12] Put the past in the past [02:39] Define your objective [03:14] Calendar your plan [03:38] Ray's Unpopular Ruthless Rules of Revenue [04:09] How to make a great offer? (Alex Hormozi's book) [05:06] High profit offers [06:05] The O.P.E.N. Scale [09:00] Frictionless Path To Paradise [09:40] Two elements you need to add to your offer: Urgency and Scarcity [11:00] The more offers you make, the more sales you make [12:32] Operation Money Magnet [14:28] Action Plan (Commit to the challenge, create a Money Magnet offer, market your offer EVERY DAY on EVERY MEDIUM) [16:07] Read the mind of your marketplace...with your calendar [20:31] Crafting your copy (same offer...different clothes) [20:57] Join my free copywriting community on Facebook   Links From This Week's Episode $100M Offers: How To Make Offers So Good People Feel Stupid Saying No by Alex Hormozi How You Can Help Subscribe to the show in iTunes and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will definitely mention you on this show. We are also on Stitcher.com, so if you prefer Stitcher, please subscribe there. Connect with Ray on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram Visit Ray's community on Facebook – This is a friendly group of writers, entrepreneurs, and coaches who share ideas and helpful advice.

This may blow a few minds, but I, Ray Edwards, direct response copywriting evangelist and educator, am telling you that Copywriting, alone...Is not enough. Today's sophisticated, high-paying client demands that you have more to offer. This week, I'll tell you what other skills you must possess to thrive, AND give you an actionable checklist that will simplify the process of getting you (and keeping you) in high-demand. [1:49] - The dirty little secret of the copywriting world (The title says it all.) [5:40] - The Race to the Bottom - If you win, you lose...big time. [8:17] - Becoming the brand of You (Mike Kim's book will make this abundantly clear - Link below) [9:54] - Two fears you must overcome - Here's what happens when you finally get in the spotlight [13:28] - Why you need an exit plan - Keep the end game in mind. [16:32] - Coaching programs - In my humble (but accurate) opinion, these are the best ways to learn [17:45] - Action guide checklist - A few questions to get you started. Links From This Week's Episode Last Week's Episode (538) - If you missed last week's episode, How to Create Products Out Of Thin Air (With a 99% Profit Margin), I suggest you check it out. It's the first of this 3-part series. You Are The Brand This is the new book from Mike Kim I mentioned in the show. This should required reading for those wishing to create a brand built on their personality, ideas and reputation. I highly recommend it. How You Can Help Subscribe to the show in iTunes and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will definitely mention you on this show. We are also on Stitcher.com, so if you prefer Stitcher, please subscribe there. Connect with Ray on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram Visit Ray's community on Facebook – This is a friendly group of writers, entrepreneurs, and coaches who share ideas and helpful advice.

This week, I want to talk about writing as a business. Not just copywriting, but writing in general. From fiction, to how-to e-books, to blogging (yes, blogging is NOT dead - proof below), etc. There are so many myths and misconceptions about this topic, that many people don't realize: Yes, they can make a living as a writer. It's not even that difficult to do. Two bold claims...Can I back them up? Can I show you realistic ways this can be done? Tune into this week's exciting episode to find out! (spoiler alert: Yes. I can.) Feature Presentation My title may seem like clickbait (Products out of thin air? 99% profit margin?) - Until you realize that I'm talking about writing...putting words on "paper". Your writing is a product and that is exactly how you should treat it. From conception to creation, you should have your ideal customer in mind...Who is this for? Who will this help? In fact, I recommend using the same formula you use when you're writing sales copy - My P.A.S.T.O.R. framework. Let's say you decide that you're going to write a how-to book on some topic that you're passionate about. I suggest the first thing you do is write the sales page for it. Write it as if your unwritten book were finished and ready to hit the shelves. Why would you write a sales page for a product that doesn't exist? Because it outlines the reasons that it should exist. As you use the P.A.S.T.O.R framework to craft your copy, you are essentially giving yourself the list of promises that this book must fulfill. You will write a better book because of this.   Links From This Week's Episode Maria Popova's Brainpickings - Think the days of making good money as a blogger are over? Not so. Maria Popova has incredible content and she is supported by her readers. rayedwards.com - Head here to download my 6-Step Master Persuasion checklist that I mentioned in the show. How You Can Help Subscribe to the show in iTunes and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will definitely mention you on this show. We are also on Stitcher.com, so if you prefer Stitcher, please subscribe there. Connect with Ray on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram

Odds are, you don't have Parkinson's Disease, and if you don't, is there a benefit to listening to this week's episode? Absolutely! The truth is, we're all dealing with something - Either something big, bold and in-your face (chronic pain, degenerative diseases, injuries, etc.), or the subtle, waiting patiently in the background, definitively terminal condition that we all have in common - Life. Whatever your situation is, I believe these ten directives will help you live a better life. Click below to listen and I'll break down all ten. [4:31] Be a Rational Optimist - I don't believe the best will always happen, but I do work to make the best of whatever does. [6:24] Consciously choose a philosophy of life and live in a state of non-contradiction [8:17] Take 100% Responsibility for everything in your life. You're not in control of everything that happens in your life, but you are in control of how you respond to everything that happens in your life…100%. [9:46] Be well, even when you're not. [13:26] Pursue growth and contribution. If we don't feel that we're growing as a person, we begin to feel that we're dying. [15:34] Trade your expectations for appreciation. [19:54] Build daily rituals to control your focus, your physiology and your neurobiology. [24:11] Do your best to stay awake - Stay out of the hypnotic trance that society puts us in. [25:11] Live from your future to your present. Many people are living from their past which severely limits the possibilities of their future. [27:20] Ask better questions. For a transcript of this episode, visit https://rayedwards.com/537 How You Can Help Subscribe to the show in iTunes and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will definitely mention you on this show. We are also on Stitcher.com, so if you prefer Stitcher, please subscribe there. Connect with Ray on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram Visit Ray's community on Facebook – This is a friendly group of writers, entrepreneurs and coaches who share ideas and helpful advice.

A surprising call from an old friend got me thinking … It seems almost everyone I know is being faced with big decisions. Maybe you, too, are thinking through one of these "big decisions". Decisions about whether to keep the job you have … Or decision about whether to accept the new job you've been offered… Maybe you're thinking about starting your own business… Or you might even be considering whether to move to a different city (or country) … If you are making any kind of decision, it's a good time to make all the decisions. About every part of your life. Don't let this freak you out. It's actually a good thing. It's a way to unleash lightning bolts of positive energy in your life.

Look, let's be real.    These last couple of years have been very difficult for most of us.    Think of all the crazy stuff that has happened.   There's a really good chance you did not see all of that coming.   I surely did not.   In today's podcast, I get gut-level real.   Many of my clients and friends in the world of business really did have their “best year ever” in 2020, and things are looking even better for them as we round out 2021.   It seems for many people I know the last couple of years actually bro have been charmed. No wonder they are so happy. Everything went their way.    It was not so for me.   Behind the scenes, my life was turned upside down. And there were some very dark moments moments that are hard to talk about. But I feel it's important that we do talk about them. Otherwise I'm not being honest with you.   This is important, especially if you’re a leader of any kind.    When you stop being honest, you stop being a leader.   We are about to start the fourth quarter of this year. These are 12 precious weeks that you and I can use as an excuse to turn our lives and our business is completely around. Or to turn them up to an all new level of enjoyment contribution and reward.   If you would like to run on the track with me, so we can spread together and make more progress in the next 12 weeks than most people will make in the next 12 years, invite you to join us for our live workshop which is happening Tuesday, September 14, 2021.   In this workshop I'm giving you everything you need to do this 12 week sprint. I'm not holding something back, I don't have any "secrets" you need to pay for, this is 100% free, it's going to be a powerful training, we got a killer workbook created for you but you must sign up to get it so right now go to https://rayedwards.com/million 

If you want to be a leader, you need to develop a reading habit.  “Leaders are readers,” says Jeff Brown, my guest on today’s podcast. Jeff is the host of The Read To Lead Podcast, and the author of a new book called, not surprisingly, Read To Lead. In Jeff’s book, you will learn Why you need to read like your career depends on it. The eight research-backed reasons reading will help you build your career. How to absorb a book into your bloodstream. Tips on creating a lifetime reading habit. In our conversation, Jeff and I dig deep into: Why books still matter, and why you should develop an intentional reading habit. Why you should read physical books and not only audio or summaries. Why you should read books with views that oppose your own. Why reading contributes to higher income and more success. How to remember what you read. The startling simple math formula that will help you decide what to read next. How reading makes life more fulfilling, How you can find time to read - even if your life is “crazy busy”. How to read faster - almost instantly. (You can read a 200-page book in 2 hours). Do audiobooks “count” as reading? The “secret” service both Jeff and I use to organize and export our notes from Kindle. What we’re both reading now, and why. Links From This Episode Jeff's Podcast https://readtoleadpodcast.com/ Jeff's Book https://readtoleadbook.com/ About Jeff https://readtoleadpodcast.com/about/

How much of your thinking is by design? I don't mean that in the spiritual sense, but rather, by your design. How much of your thinking is intentional? How much of it is YOUR thinking? Is it possible that most of your life is being dictated by random bits and pieces of knowledge, unintentional habits, misconceptions, and various other noise that you no longer even choose to think? And if so…Can you fix it? This topic isn't new to the podcast. In fact, there are several episodes where I have asserted that most of us are thinking thoughts that don't serve us…Thoughts we never intended to put on "Auto Pilot". I've also claimed that those repetitive thoughts can be removed and replaced with thoughts that do serve you. But is any of that true? I mean, Dammit Jim…I'm a copywriter, not a neuropsychologist. Lucky for us, my guest this week is a neuropsychologist. Dr. Shannon Irvine holds a PH.D. in neuropsychology (the study of the relationship between behavior, emotion, and cognition), and is also a renowned business advisor with a passion for guiding entrepreneurs. When she says she can help you train your brain for success, it's not just a motivational pep talk - She's a bonafide expert in the science behind it. Tune in to learn: How to Recognize "destructive programming" - The unintentional, negative thoughts are running a portion of your life. Why to Record those thoughts - As in, physically write them down. This isn't a meaningless exercise. Dr. Irvine explains the science behind this critical step. A great way to Refute those thoughts How to Replace them with positive truths Links from this episode https://drshannonirvine.com/ - Dr. Irvine's official site. Be sure to check out her Epic Success Podcast.  

At some point in life, I think most people find that they are essentially living the same day, over and over. Going to the same job, talking to the same people, thinking mostly the same thoughts, feeling mostly the same emotions...Everything is just mediocre repetition; neither advancing nor improving. They have brief notions of making changes, but ultimately go back to their routine. This week's episode details my personal journey through that scenario...And the diagnosis that snapped me out of it. Here's what we cover in this episode: Is the way you are setting your goals keeping you from reaching them? Is your attitude standing in the way of you being able to overcome your problems?  Be intentional about your goals. It is worth the effort to get the result.  Are you in the Matrix? Will you choose the blue pill or the red pill. Wake up to reality or stay in the illusion? Are you doing the same thing every day over and over again. Do you need to break this cycle? I signed up for Michael Hyatt’s Best Year Ever Program and this program was different, and it helped me make some decisions to change my life.  After starting it, I made 1 million dollars in my business, lost 67 pounds, paid off our debt. It woke me up and forced me to complete the past. Looking back at your past gives you the ability to learn, be aware and analyze what has happened and what I will do differently in the future. Quote of the Day: “You don’t need easy, You just need worth it” — Jim Rohn

This week we're showcasing one of our highest reviewed episodes in the history of the show...And for good reason - It breaks down the process of starting a successful copywriting business into 3 simple steps. Yep...You're (still) only 3 steps away from your work-from-anywhere, get paid to be creative, no-business-attire-required (or even pants for that matter) dream job. Here's what we cover in this episode: The definition of a “direct response copywriter” and who their best kind of clients are. Yes, every business needs good copy to sell their products. But that doesn’t mean you should try to work for just any random company… unless they use this specific style of marketing. That is, if you want to have good clients who don’t stiff you or undercut your every move. Why the kind of writing business I’m discussing today is the most profitable kind of writing business you can get into. Unless you’re the next J. K. Rowling or Stephen King, this is by far the most lucrative type of writing business on the planet – if you know how to leverage your copywriting skills. How to apply the required F.O.C.U.S. you’ll need to learn the craft of copywriting from a master teacher. If you follow this “one, and only one” method of learning, you’ll get to your goal much faster than the average rookie copywriter.   Why you need to become intimately familiar with the great original masters of copywriting. Without this knowledge, you’ll build your copywriting house on a foundation of sand, and you know what happened to the foolish man when the rains came tumbling down. How to get into the minds of the most winning copywriters of all time and internalize their methods for success. This practice is tedious and time-consuming. So much so that most copywriters never make it a habit, to their cost. If you make this a part of your routine, especially early on, you will have a massive advantage over the competition. What you should focus on before doing all the “normal” business setup practices. Focusing on these other business setup practices is an excuse that feeds your procrastination bug. If you want to sharpen up your skill, gain a positive reputation, and get to the money faster than most copywriters, you need to do this first. Why you need a copywriting mentor. How your mentor can open doors for you and get you on the fast track to notoriety, profitability, and a pipeline filled with the best kinds of clients. The only way to distinguish yourself in the marketplace and stand out from all the other so-called direct response copywriters. There are so many people who call themselves copywriters, but they don’t have the experience to back up their claims. When you follow this path to distinguishing yourself, you’ll truly stand out in a noisy world. How to build the single most powerful type of brand possible. Hint: you already have all the tools you need. You don’t have to take any courses or read any books. The answers are inside of you right now waiting to come out and build you a brand so powerful, you can use it to sell very expensive programs. The website platform I would use today if I was starting out. There are many options, but this one, which is not the industry standard, is the quickest, easiest, and most beneficial for beginners. How to use the 3 pillars of personal branding to grow your audience using social media and your website. This is how the game is played. This is marketing. Whether you’re against social media or not, this is what you have to do if you want to succeed. The best way to gain authority and establish expertise. It removes resistance and provides your customers with results in advance. How to get inside your customer’s mind on a regular basis and help them get to know you intimately. Starting this kind of marketing channel doesn’t have to be complicated. You can start today by pulling out your iPhone and hitting a couple buttons. But the potential for reach and influence is huge! Resources: Links mentioned on today’s show: Join my Copywriting Certification program to be mentored and certified by me by going to RayEdwards.com/cdrc. Check out Michael Hyatt’s amazing book, Platform: Get Noticed in a Noisy World by clicking here. Get your podcast started with the amazing RodeCaster Pro by clicking here. Get your Audio Technica ATR 2100 microphone by clicking here. A Few Essential Copywriting Books by the Original Masters: Breakthrough Advertising, Eugene Schwartz (BreakthroughAdvertisingBook.com) How to Write a Good Advertisement, Victor Schwab Scientific Advertising & My Life in Advertising, Claude Hopkins Robert Collier Letter Book, Robert Collier Tested Advertising Methods, John Caples Confessions of an Advertising Man, David Ogilvy Sponsor This episode of the Ray Edwards Show is made possible in part by The All-New Ray Edwards Enhanced Certified Direct Response Copywriter Program, where I help anyone who wants to make big money from their writing without getting a publisher or having a bestseller, and even if nobody knows who you are. Get my proven methods, systems, and even my endorsement – go to RayEdwards.com/CDRC2021

During today’s episode it is my goal to answer all your questions about starting your own writing business, especially in today’s new economy. Sometimes it seems like it’s a new economy every other day or so, but really there’s nothing to be frightened of. There is nothing new under the sun, after all-this has all happened before, and it will all happen again.  Spiritual Foundations The Lord is my light and my salvation- so why should I be afraid? The Lord is my fortress, protecting me from danger, so why should I tremble? When evil people come to devour me, when my enemies and foes attack me, they will stumble and fall. Though a mighty army surrounds me, my heart will not be afraid. Even if I am attacked, I will remain confident. Psalm 27:1-3 (NIV) Tip Of The Week I am a big proponent of dictating instead of typing, mainly because I can’t type very well. But I can speak pretty fast. I was frustrated with my iPad pro’s Magic Keyboard because it would not allow me to dictate. There’s no button for it. Tapping the little globe keyboard icon does not help, because as far as I can tell, you’re not supposed to use software keyboards in conjunction with this actual hardware keyboard. I found the secret. Simply tap the Control key twice in succession and up pops your dictation window. You’re welcome. Feature Presentation Last week, we published a podcast making a strong claim that the very best business to start (especially if you need money now) is a freelance writing business. Chief among those reasons being that almost anyone can do this, and you can start it for basically no money (assuming you have a laptop or some other device that allows you to connect to the Internet). While that episode clearly spelled out why starting a freelance writing business is such a strong choice, I really did not get into how to do it. In an email follow-up, I asked if you had any questions about starting your own writing business. I expected to get a few questions…and did you ever exceed my expectations. Seems there are lots of questions about this idea of “writing as a business”. So in this week’s podcast episode, you get answers. When you listen you will find out: What if I don’t like the idea of writing sales copy? Does writing direct response copy mean I have to write spammy Internet junk mail? How long does it take to become good enough at direct response Copywriting to be able to charge for it? How much you can really expect to get paid as a competent beginner in this kind of business? Is it really possible to start this kind of business for free? How do you start charging for Copywriting if you’ve never been paid to do it in the past? How do I find clients as a Copywriter, when it seems the market is already saturated with Copywriters everywhere I look? What if you have a chronic illness which might make it difficult to commit to deadlines? If I am willing to invest in books or training, what do you recommend? So grab your success journal and pen (or your iPad if you prefer), and get ready to take some notes. There’s plenty of meat in this one! It is possible to take your love of writing, and turn that into a lucrative full-time income – or even a full-fledged business of your own. Sponsor This episode of the Ray Edwards Show is made possible in part by The All-New Ray Edwards Enhanced Certified Direct Response Copywriter Program, where I help anyone who wants to make big money from their writing without getting a publisher or having a bestseller, and even if nobody knows who you are. Get my proven methods, systems, and even my endorsement – go to RayEdwards.com/CDRC2021

As we continue our recording studio makeover at Ray Edwards, International, I've been going through some past episodes, looking for those that stood out…episodes worth a second listen. The one I found for this week seemed oddly prophetic. It was released about a year before the pandemic began and actually seems even more appropriate in 2021. Don't take my word for it…listen, and hear for yourself. Feature Presentation: “The Single Best Business to Start (If You Need Money Now)” While thinking about this idea of the “ideal business”, I ran across an article by John Forde at AWAI. I will link to the article in the show notes. (https://www.awai.com/2009/05/is-copywriting-the-worlds-best-business/) Forde argued in that article that he has a set of objective criteria for what makes “The Ideal Business” … and these reasons actually go back to an article written in the 1970's by financial guru Richard Russell. Russell was the writer and publisher of “The Dow Theory Letters”, starting in 1958. Russell died in 2015. But as of the date of his passing, the Dow Theory Letters was the longest-running service continuously written by one person in the business. So no, he wasn’t writing about copywriting as we know it. And yet – he was a master of the craft. Anyway, with credit to John Forde and Richard Russell, here are the essential qualities of “the ideal business” for anyone to start. 1. “Sells the World.” 2. Enjoys Inelastic Demand” 3. “Cannot Be Easily Copied” 4. “Has Low Labor and Overhead Costs” 5. “Takes in Cash Billings” 6. “Is Free of All Kinds of Regulation” 7. “Is Portable” 8. “Satisfies Intellectual Needs” 9. “Leaves You With Free Time” 10. “Is Not Limited By Personal Output” I have two more “reasons why” to add to the list… (these are my own additions.) 11. “Easily Profits Whether Markets Are Up or Down”. 12. “Is a Minimalist Business”. Sponsor This episode of the Ray Edwards Show is made possible in part by The All-New Ray Edwards Enhanced Certified Direct Response Copywriter Program, where I help anyone who wants to make big money from their writing without getting a publisher or having a bestseller, and even if nobody knows who you are. Get my proven methods, systems, and even my endorsement – go to RayEdwards.com/CDRC2021   How You Can Help Subscribe to the show in iTunes and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will definitely mention you on this show. We are also on Stitcher.com, so if you prefer Stitcher, please subscribe there. Connect with Ray on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram Visit Ray's community on Facebook – This is a friendly group of writers, entrepreneurs, and coaches who share ideas and helpful advice.

This week, we decided to use some studio down-time to revisit our most downloaded, most commented episode, and strip it down to the meat and potatoes. The original episode, which you can find in its entirety here, focused on the importance of the order in which entrepreneurs should do things to successfully create a personal-brand based business. Three years later, the out-of-sequentialism problem still exists and the solutions in this episode are still valid. Even if you heard the original, this condensed, straight-to-the-point version can help you stay on track as you start or grow your business. Feature Presentation The premise for today’s podcast: Every person listening to this show can and should build a prosperous personal-brand business by following 5 proven phases.   If you get these phases out of order you will have problems. If you are frustrated with lack of traction in building your personal brand online, chances are you’re out of sequence.   If you want to start a platform-based, personal-brand business by taking your knowledge, your wisdom, your expertise, and your gifts and you can share them with people (the world) via the power of the Internet. You can establish your global reach for $50-$100 by creating a radio show (podcast), TV show (YouTube channel) and other various ways of having people communicate with you (social media). Many businesses have done just that. Casey Neistat  started out with a video camera and making movies and had no audience, no following, and built a seven million follower YouTube channel. Part of his company was purchased by CNN for $25 million last year. Peter McKinnon, a photographer, cinematographer, and videographer who lives in Canada has built a million subscriber YouTube channel.   It’s not just YouTube channels, there are people in all social media markets like Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest. You know the names of the people who rule these marketplaces, but you may not know the people in the niches that are getting wealthy serving a small, few thousand people in their particular niche. “The internet and the ability to build a personal brand online is the great equalizer of all entrepreneurs.”  Ray Edwards 5 Phases of a Prosperous Business Determine the meaning of life and the meaning of your business. Define your mission, your vision, your goals, and your tasks. Clarify your message. (Who you help, why they need you, what you do that helps) Create marketing materials. (Marketing that is clear, repeatable, and sticky.) Collect money.  (Give value first.) How You Can Help Subscribe to the show in iTunes and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will definitely mention you on this show. We are also on Stitcher.com, so if you prefer Stitcher, please subscribe there. Connect with Ray on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram Visit Ray's community on Facebook - This is a friendly group of writers, entrepreneurs, and coaches who share ideas and helpful advice.

You already are a personal brand, and as my friend Mike Kim says, you might as well be a better one. Personal branding isn't just for celebrities, public speakers, or internet gurus…It's for YOU!  This week's episode will help you make big strides in your own personal brand, thanks to Mike's expert advice. Feature Presentation Throughout my years of consulting and training, I have encountered a common sentiment among many would-be content creators - "How can I succeed when so many others are already doing what I want to do?" I get it...Most likely, you've already been inspired by content creators in your field of expertise. Perhaps you are even a devoted, multi-platform-following fan of some of them. Why would anyone choose your content over theirs? It's a one-word answer: You. Your personal-brand is where your power lies...It's not simply a battle of Your Content vs. Their Content - It's a Battle of the Brands. The fact is, even though someone else may have more resources than you (more time, more money, more support staff, better equipment), your personality, your style, YOUR BRAND, can serve as an equalizer. It's the unduplicatable part of your content, and Mike Kim has the knowledge to raise your branding game to a new level. Listen to the episode (or read the transcript linked below) Then, grab Mike Kim's book here. Links From This Episode You Are The Brand - The 8-Step Blueprint to Showcase Your Unique Expertise & Build a Highly Profitable, Personally Fulfilling Business. No matter where you buy your copy of Mike Kim's book, You Are The Brand, make sure you go to this official site to claim many awesome bonuses. Norm McDonald's Moth Joke - I mentioned it, so I felt the need to throw this in. How You Can Help Subscribe to the show in iTunes and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will definitely mention you on this show. We are also on Stitcher.com, so if you prefer Stitcher, please subscribe there. Connect with Ray on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram Visit Ray's community on Facebook - This is a friendly group of writers, entrepreneurs, and coaches who share ideas and helpful advice.

So many of us still have life "on pause" as a result of the last 18 months. Regardless of where you are or what restrictions you're still facing, it's time to press play...It's time to move forward. This week, I'm giving you 5 reasons to show you why Now is your time. Spiritual Foundations "The wicked flee though no one pursues,     but the righteous are as bold as a lion. - Proverbs 28:1, NIV Perhaps you're more familiar with the secular version, "Fortune favors the bold". In this economy, NOW is the time to be bold as a lion. Feature Presentation 5 reason why now is your time: This is the Digital Revolution - The one we've been talking about for a few decades now is essentially just starting for millions of people who were rocketed into an online lifestyle due to the effects of the pandemic. We don't know the official numbers, but the amount of people buying, meeting and learning online has increased by at least TEN TIMES. This is the Wild West Economy, all over again (Fortunes will be made NOW) Chaos Rewards Optimism - Things are chaotic right now, but chaos rewards optimism and reflects whatever you expect of it. It's a new Inflection Point. Worldwide - More millionaires are being made now than ever in the history of the world economy. Exponential Growth is Just Around The Corner - Incredible advances in internet infrastructure and other technologies are priming the economy for giant leaps. Links From This Episode Be Your Own Copywriter - This live, cohort-based, interactive learning experience is the most effective way to get the power of persuasive copywriting. This isn't a series of pre-recorded lectures - This is a virtual classroom environment where you get results - in class! Every piece of copy you need to launch your product, service, membership, course or offer will be completed by the end of this program. You'll learn how and when to deploy each piece, AND have your copy reviewed by expert copywriters and your cohorts. The doors close soon, so don't wait - click here to reserve your seat. How You Can Help Subscribe to the show in iTunes and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will definitely mention you on this show. We are also on Stitcher.com, so if you prefer Stitcher, please subscribe there. Connect with Ray on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram Visit Ray's community on Facebook - This is a friendly group of writers, entrepreneurs and coaches who share ideas and helpful advice.

This week, I'm asking you to do some self-reflection (check yourself, before you wreck yourself.) I'm offering you 5 "Failure Factors" that can paralyze entrepreneurs if left unchecked. The good news is this: Even if you see some, or all of these factors in yourself, there is a simple solution. That's what I'm giving you in this week's episode. Spiritual Foundations "In the morning, Lord, you hear my voice;     in the morning I lay my requests before you     and wait expectantly." - Psalm 5:3, NIV How is it possible to stay spiritually centered in a world prone to chaos? This verse from Psalm gives us a pretty good recipe: Start your morning by speaking God - Then LISTEN for His voice throughout the rest of the day. Tip Of The Week Here's an app that fixes a recurring, expensive problem for many of us: Forgetting to cancel things we're not using. You may even see the charge pop up and think, "Oh yeah, I need to cancel that.", but the subscription rolls on for a few months until you actually do it. Truebill takes care of this in a simple, almost magical way. It keeps track of all your subscriptions and allows you to cancel unwanted ones with a single click. Amazing! Feature Presentation This week, I'm breaking down 5 factors that can be dream-killing kryptonite for entrepreneurs: Drifting (You MUST NOT drift. You need an intentional destination) Complaining (If you're complaining about things that are not in your control, stop it. If you're complaining about things you can control, stop it...and fix the thing that you're complaining about.) "Victiming" (It might give you some quick pain relief, but this fixes nothing) Comparison vs. Creation (Don't worry about who's doing it better, keep creating! The more you create, the better you will get) Procrastinate vs. Publish (You're not perfect. You're content will not be perfect. Don't let striving for perfection lead you to producing nothing.) Links From This Episode Write an Email Series That Sells - My free workshop that happens on July 8, 2021. This is a live, cohort-based workshop that will teach you how to create must-open subject lines and how to sell using stories. If you want a sample of how effective this style of learning is, just sign up and show up...no investment required. Truebill - No more forgotten free-trials or hidden subscriptions. Track them all and cancel with a click. How You Can Help Subscribe to the show in iTunes and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will definitely mention you on this show. We are also on Stitcher.com, so if you prefer Stitcher, please subscribe there. Connect with Ray on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram Visit Ray's community on Facebook - This is a friendly group of writers, entrepreneurs and coaches who share ideas and helpful advice.

In this week's episode I want to talk about what I believe to be the future of online education - Cohort Based Learning. This isn't a new concept, but it IS revolutionary. After all, a revolution is simply a return to the beginning. Cohort-Based learning fills in the missing pieces that we sacrifice when we're not in a physical classroom: The interaction, the community, the time constraints, the accountability...those are all invaluable educational tools that are stripped away with traditional digital courses. This Cohort-Based format is why, after over a decade of teaching, I had my first 100% successful completion rate. Not completion as in "people showed up and listened to me lecture them"...Completion as in, they showed up and DID THE WORK they came to learn how to do. Whether you're the teacher or the student, this is the format that will get you the results you're looking for. I'll break down all the why's in this week's episode. Spiritual Foundations "A slack hand causes poverty, but the hand of the diligent makes rich." - Proverbs 10:4, EIV Is this God's warning to us that unless we toil our life away we will have nothing? No. This is God's reminder to work diligently - Do the right work, at the right time, in the right way. Tip Of The Week My tip this week is to get your Inbox organized with the help of Sanebox. Sanebox uses advanced AI to organize your email, keeping only the right stuff in your inbox. I know the email client or website you use probably has filters and rules to organize your email, but you likely don't use them and even if you do...Sanebox does it better. Click here to learn how. Feature Presentation This episode was inspired by two things: A course I recently taught, and an amazing article by Wes Kao. Before I get started, let me say that I don't think traditional, prerecorded digital courses are going away. This is still an on-demand world and there will be those who prefer the self-paced, self-study route...especially if it's a subject that they're kind of interested in. However, for most serious students who have made the commitment to learn AND implement the material, I believe the cohort model is supreme. Okay, enough disclaiming...back to my two reasons for choosing this topic. The 100% Success Rate in the title isn't click-bait. It is a fact, and it was a first for me...literally. This was the first time that EVERY student not only learned the material, but also put it to use and produced a quality product that they were satisfied with. Don't get me wrong, I'm accustomed to seeing some success, but not this level...not everyone. Imagine if you owned a gym and on January 2nd, you got that huge wave of new customers who were determined to get in shape. Only, instead of quitting in a matter of weeks (or days), they all put in the work and actually achieved their goals. Buying a digital course is like joining a gym...it's the easy part. Doing the work is a different story. The results achieved in that class made me rethink my entire system of educating. People don't want a gym membership...they want the transformation. The cohort environment forced them to interact, to write, to revise, to be engaged - To do the work. If you're a course creator, you need to become intimately familiar with this format. This is what most of your students will be looking for. If you deliver can deliver what they want, your course completion rate, customer satisfaction rate, reviews, testimonials and revenue will be dramatically amplified. I want to acknowledge the author of the article I quoted extensively in this week's podcast, Wes Kao. I highly recommend you take a few minutes and read it in its entirety. Links From This Episode Write an Email Series That Sells - My free workshop that happens on July 8, 2021. This is a live, cohort-based workshop that will teach you how to create must-open subject lines and how to sell using stories. If you want a sample of how effective this style of learning is, just sign up and show up...no investment required. Sanebox - The most advanced Inbox organizer I've ever used. In Online Ed, Content Is No Longer King—Cohorts Are - Future - Brilliant article by Wes Kao - a MUST READ for anyone who creates digital courses. Be Your Own Copywriter - This is my new Cohort-Based course that will not only teach you how to write engaging copy that transforms your readers, viewers, members and followers into customers - BUT also helps you get the work done, in class - with support from me, my team of coaches, and your fellow cohorts. When you finish this live course, you will have every piece of copy you need to launch or re-launch your product, written, reviewed and ready for launch. How You Can Help Subscribe to the show in iTunes and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will definitely mention you on this show. We are also on Stitcher.com, so if you prefer Stitcher, please subscribe there. Connect with Ray on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram Visit Ray's community on Facebook - This is a friendly group of writers, entrepreneurs and coaches who share ideas and helpful advice.

Tik Tok may have started as a platform built for teens and tweens to post dancing videos and the like, but that is NOT what it is today. These days, it's a viable platform for marketing yourself and your business. But wait...there are plenty of those, why would you need another? Because, unlike most of the other big players, Tik Tok does not require you have a huge following before giving you exposure to their users. It's a viral-video machine and if you know how to put the right ingredients in, you can see growth at a speed that no other platform offers. My guest this week is a Tik Tok pro named Bryan Switalski. Bryan knows the viral-video recipe and he's got some great tips on how you can get started, TODAY. Spiritual Foundations Looking for some free business advice? Why not check in with the number-one business consultant I'm aware of...God! I know that some feel the need to keep those world's separate and that God has bigger fish to fry than helping you with business problems (or your football team's victory), but...I have evidence to the contrary. "If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you." - James 1:5, NIV There is a great example of God's desire to partner with human beings to accomplish his purposes, and we'll dive into that in this week's episode. Tip Of The Week My tip this week is for an app called Boosted. This app is for those who want to create slick-looking videos for social media, without being a pro (or without paying a pro). You can quickly crank out impressive video that is formatted appropriately for whatever platform you choose. They also have a huge stock library of free videos. If you find one that fits your brand, you can actually have a video that uses pro-grade footage and impressive graphics in a matter of minutes. Definitely worth a look! Feature Presentation Tik Tok is huge with its millions of users. It's also hugely misunderstood by many entrepreneurs who have dismissed it as a place for kids to hang out. The platform was definitely focused on and built by the young, but much has changed. Millions of adults (your customers) are spending an incredible amount of time on Tik Tok, AND (this is where it gets really good for you) - YOU can have a video that gets thousands, even MILLIONS, of views, WITHOUT being a celebrity, or having a huge following. Bryan Switalksi is a StoryBrand Certified Guide & Business Coach who will share a (very recent) story of how one of his clients "blew up" overnight by posting the right kind of video. This is a highly motivating, take-action episode that will eliminate some of the myths associated with Tik Tok. If you've ever thought "I wish I would've gotten on _________ earlier.", then here's a chance at redemption. Links From This Episode Boosted - Generate professional looking videos, sized appropriately for all the major platforms, with just a few clicks. Bryan Switalski - Learn more about Bryan and his services at https://www.leverageclarity.com Bryan's Free Tik Tok Guide - This is a GREAT RESOURCE to get started with Tik Tok and Bryan is providing it for free. Be Your Own Copywriter - This is my new Cohort-Based course that will not only teach you how to write engaging copy that transforms your readers, viewers, members and followers into customers - BUT also helps you get the work done, in class - with support from me, my team of coaches, and your fellow cohorts. When you finish this live course, you will have every piece of copy you need to launch or re-launch your product, written, reviewed and ready for launch. How You Can Help Subscribe to the show in iTunes and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will definitely mention you on this show. We are also on Stitcher.com, so if you prefer Stitcher, please subscribe there. Connect with Ray on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram Visit Ray's community on Facebook - This is a friendly group of writers, entrepreneurs and coaches who share ideas and helpful advice.

I’ve got a couple of big, epiphany inducing, points to share in this week’s episode, and I can’t wait for you to jump in. The first is a personal revelation that I’ve had that will be impactful for anyone who makes or takes a digital course: Cohort-Based Learning. If you sell (or plan to sell) a course, there’s something you need to know: It won’t work for everyone...because not everyone works. It can be frustrating to share your best content (content that was life-changing for you) with someone who does nothing with it. You’re giving them the power to achieve their goals, but they choose not to use it. While there is no universal cure for that scenario, I will say that the recent cohort-based courses I have taught have been my most productive...ever. In fact, in the course we just finished, EVERY STUDENT completed the course with their work finished, reviewed and ready to roll. They were ALL satisfied because they had something valuable to show for their efforts (and their investment). It seems counter to the on-demand world that we live in, but Live Content and Collaboration are HUGE learning tools that I intend to put to use as much as possible in my business.  We’ll dive into that a little in this podcast, but I intend to do an entire episode devoted to this system (and HOW to do it), coming soon. The second big takeaway this week comes from my friend, Jonathan Milligan, and has the honor of being this week’s Feature Presentation. Spiritual Foundations This week, I want to discuss the perils of prosperity. I do not subscribe to the Prosperity Gospel, which roughly means that if you’re a good Christian, Jesus will reward you with a Rolex watch or other such material things. Hogwash.  However, this does not mean that I find the pursuit of wealth to be evil or immoral. If your aim of building wealth is so that you can lord it over other people, I believe there is something spiritually unhealthy about that, but money itself is not evil. “...the distortions of something good must not cause us to think that the thing itself is evil.” - Wayne Grudem Money itself is a good thing and gives us many opportunities to glorify God.  My challenge to you is this: Over the next week or two, find ways to use your money to glorify God...without just giving it away (at least not yet). Think about that and then put it into practice. I'd love to hear what you came up with, so feel free to comment below. Tip Of The Week My tip this week is for an app, and… sorry, Android users, this one is IOS only.  If you’ve ever needed to remove the background from a photo for use in online content and had minimal success with complicated apps, like Photoshop, you must try Pixel Cut. This app can magically accomplish the task I just described and rather than me telling you how impressed I am, I think it’s best you just see it in action. Check it out at https://pixelcut.app. Feature Presentation Jonathan Milligan's latest book, Your Message Matters, is an important read for anyone who has the Why would anyone want to learn from me? mentality that’s keeping them from getting started.  This is the biggest sticking point I’ve witnessed in wannabe entrepreneurs. Before they even get to the other popular show stopping excuses - The “but I don’t have” list… (But I don’t have a website… But I don’t have an email list… But I don’t have any followers… etc.) They first struggle with, “Why me? Why would anyone want to learn what I know, and why would they choose to learn from me?" If you’re in that position, please understand that I’m not trying to minimize your feelings. I had the same doubts initially, but guess what… I was wrong. And, so are you. In this week’s feature presentation, Jonathan and I discuss some of the big points from the book, like, “How to rise above the noise and get paid for what you know.” Links From This Episode Get Jonathan Milligan's book, Your Message Matters, here (U.S. residents can get a free copy at that link) Be Your Own Copywriter - This is my new Cohort-Based course that will not only teach you how to write engaging copy that transforms your readers, viewers, members and followers into customers - BUT also helps you get the work done, in class - with support from me, my team of coaches, and your fellow cohorts. When you finish this live course, you will have every piece of copy you need to launch or re-launch your product, written, reviewed and ready for launch. How You Can Help Subscribe to the show in iTunes and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will definitely mention you on this show. We are also on Stitcher.com, so if you prefer Stitcher, please subscribe there. Connect with Ray on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram Visit Ray's community on Facebook - This is a friendly group of writers, entrepreneurs and coaches who share ideas and helpful advice.

Successful entrepreneurs are typically go-getters, but too much go-getting can cost you everything you're supposed to be working for. This week, I'm giving you 5 reasons why taking time off can not only help you realize your dreams, but also give you the time to enjoy them. Spiritual Foundations The plans of the diligent lead surely to abundance, but everyone who is hasty comes only to poverty. Proverbs 21:5 (ESV) In this week's Spiritual Foundations, I'll be breaking down this verse from Proverbs. Specifically, what it means to be hasty. Tip Of The Week This week's tip: Go shopping for Apps (that you've already paid for). Think about the apps that you've purchased that haven't made it through your various phone migrations. There's a good chance some of those apps have evolved over the years and may be even more useful than when you originally purchased them. Android or IOS, it doesn't matter. Check your purchased history wherever you get your apps and do some "shopping". Feature Presentation Here are 5 reasons you need to take more off. If you want to dive deeper into each one, click above to listen to this week's episode, or check out the transcript below. 1. Being diligent is not necessarily about hustle. 2. Busy does not equal productive. 3. Productivity is single measure - not a recipe. 4. Sprints are unsustainable. 5. Music only works because of the space between the notes - called RESTS. How You Can Help Subscribe to the show in iTunes and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will definitely mention you on this show. We are also on Stitcher.com, so if you prefer Stitcher, please subscribe there. Connect with Ray on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram Visit Ray's community on Facebook - This is a friendly group of writers, entrepreneurs and coaches who share ideas and helpful advice.

My guest this week has a solution to a problem that most of us are probably guilty of: We read a book and acquire some great knowledge, but never put it to use. I can't give you an exact total of self-improvement and business related books I've read, but I'm certain it's a three digit number. Yet, there is so much I've learned that never made it to common practice in my life. Bryan Kelly's system aims to help you unpack, digest and implement the knowledge from books using what he calls the WIT framework: Writing Imagery Talking [smart_track_player url="http://traffic.libsyn.com/rayedwards/REP520.mp3" artist="Ray Edwards", title="Interview With Bryan Kelly" background="default"] Links https://getstrokeofgenius.com/ - Join the waiting list here. https://www.linkedin.com/in/bryankellynow - Bryan Kelly's LinkedIn profile. How You Can Help Subscribe to the show in iTunes and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will definitely mention you on this show. We are also on Stitcher.com, so if you prefer Stitcher, please subscribe there. Connect with Ray on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram Visit Ray's community on Facebook - This is a friendly group of writers, entrepreneurs and coaches who share ideas and helpful advice.

  One of the most important keys to writing copy that sells is being able to write copy quickly. Frequently the faster writer will get the jobs slow writers miss out on. And many times opportunities in the market place exist only for a short window - to take advantage of those you must be able to write copy quickly. Today we will share five copy hacks you can use to boost your speed up to 5000 words per day.   Spiritual Foundations Do not wear yourself out to get rich; do not trust your own cleverness. Cast but a glance at riches, and they are gone, for they will surely sprout wings and fly off to the sky like an eagle. Proverbs 23:4-5 Tip Of The Week Scan old photos, sharpen, enhance, colorize, tag, share, and more with Photomyne.com Most of us who are old enough to remember the Regan administration have old photos that we've yet to digitize. We say we'll get to it...but we don't. I'm certainly guilty of that, but it's mainly because I haven't liked my choices. Either do it myself...one photo at a time on a flatbed scanner, OR trust a stranger to do it for me. Photomyne.com has made this process a lot faster and easier. It's definitely worth a look for those of us who still have photo albums full of floral wall paper, huge sideburns and plaid bell-bottoms. Feature Presentation Any writer can boost their output to 2X or 3X whatever they’re writing currently. Some will be able to go as high as 5,000 words per day. Here are five hacks that can help you get there… Pre-writing and outlines Dictate don’t type. Use time block scheduling Write first, edit later Set goals and track word count.   How You Can Help Subscribe to the show in iTunes and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will definitely mention you on this show. We are also on Stitcher.com, so if you prefer Stitcher, please subscribe there. Connect with Ray on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram Visit Ray's community on Facebook - This is a friendly group of writers, entrepreneurs and coaches who share ideas and helpful advice.

I'm a big believer in systemizing tasks for repeatable results, BUT…can you systemize creative processes? Absolutely! In fact, I have a method that will help you generate consistent, strategic content that WILL get you noticed AND boost your bottom line. That's what I'm breaking down in this week's episode.     Spiritual Foundations Where there are no oxen, the manger is clean, but abundant crops come by the strength of the ox. Proverbs 14:4 Many entrepreneurs struggle with decisions regarding investing; whether the investment be in employees, equipment, services, etc. You may ask yourself, “Is it worth this extra hassle?” This verse from Proverbs reminds us that in order to have abundance, we need the strength of the ox, which, of course, comes with its share of poop. Tip Of The Week Disclaimer: I'm not a doctor. This tip is not intended to be taken as medical, or psychological advice. If you need that sort of help, seek a professional. Now that I have that out of the way, here's a tip to help you with anxiety and depression: For one week, try these five steps: Turn off all notifications (phone, tablet…anything that winks, blinks, buzzes, etc.) Check e-mail and messages only ONCE per day Remove social media apps from your phone and other devices Only use social media for advertising and promotion (Use it for output, not input) Avoid all newscasts and reporting (If it's a big deal, you'll hear about it) Odds are you won't try this digital detox, but IF you do, I truly believe it will make a world of difference in your outlook, productivity and overall happiness. If you try it, please share your result. Feature Presentation When we look at the way businesses use social media, there are a few noticeable trends: The Post And Pray Method – A.K.A. Random Acts of Marketing. Unfortunately, a lot of businesses live in this zone. There's no real strategy here. You're basically throwing out posts, tweets, videos, etc. and hoping you get some positive attention (which usually doesn't happen). The Post And Pay Method – Again, not a real strategy, but simply throwing money at various social media platforms in the hopes something will bloom. Essentially, this is the same as the first method, but you burn cash in the process. The Post And Profit Method – This is what you should be aiming for AND it's what I'm breaking down in this week's episode. Tune in to the episode (or check out the transcript below) and I'll share this process AND explain why it works. The key is delivering consistent, microcontent (entertaining and easily consumed) to your audience. I've laid out everything you need to know right here. Check out that link and you'll also find out how you can get help from me and my team in generating AN ENTIRE YEAR'S worth of content for your business – I'm talking about INTENTIONAL content. The kind of content that grows your business, engages with your audience and gives you Brand Presence (not just Brand Awareness).   How You Can Help Subscribe to the show in iTunes and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will definitely mention you on this show. We are also on Stitcher.com, so if you prefer Stitcher, please subscribe there. Connect with Ray on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram Visit Ray's community on Facebook – This is a friendly group of writers, entrepreneurs and coaches who share ideas and helpful advice.

Am I worried about copywriters being replaced by AI robots? The answer is no...at least not if you don’t want to be replaced. In this episode, we'll get into how any copywriter can benefit from A.I. copy, and avoid being replaced by a robot. Spiritual Foundations And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others. II Corinthians 9:8 NLT God always provides what we need (not necessarily what we want). Sometimes he sends a check just in time, and sometimes he sends creativity to find the right solution to our challenges. Tip Of The Week This week's tip is about an app I recently discovered. Here's a summary of their app description: Record videos with confidence. Script, shoot, style, and caption like a pro. BigVu gives you a teleprompter on your phone. You can keep your eyes on the camera while reading your script with ease as it scrolls up the screen. Cut videos in a snap by just selecting the words where you want to start and end. BigVu caption maker automatically transcribes your video into a storyboard with subtitles perfectly in sync with your narration. Spice up your presentation by highlighting keywords on your subtitles with bright colors, or adding image or video overlays. Brand your video with your logo & titling. Style your video with your brand logo, lower 3rd titling, commercial free music backgrounds, and a biz card animated outro with your business contact details. You'll find BigVu right here: https://bigvu.tv/ Feature Presentation Are copywriters being replaced by AI? Should you be worried about this? Yes, if you are robotically cranking out copy. “If you can be replaced by a robot, you will be.” We have to up-level our game! Any copywriter can benefit from AI copy, and avoid being replaced by a robot. Here are 5 keys to making that true for you… KEY 1-  Move beyond templates and “mad-lib copy”. AI is ALREADY doing that - often better than you. You’ve got to bring that spark of creativity and write BREAKTHROUGH copy. KEY 2 - Practice your CRAFT. Make time to write - not just hack together swipe files. You must enjoy the process. The AI phenomena will wash out those for whom this is “just a job”. KEY 3 -  Use AI yourself to crank out transactional copy and “vomit drafts” - and use the time saved to try creative approaches your weren’t able to get to before. KEY 4 - Be a testing fanatic. Use Google’s built-in testing features, or Optimizely, or similar products to get serious about testing: post titles, video and podcasts titles, email subject lines, YouTube video titles, copy, description and thumbnails. Optimize for BOTH SEO  and conversion. KEY 5 - Renew your passion for copy - or move on. This is, in the best case, art. In the less than best case - it's hacking. How You Can Help Subscribe to the show in iTunes and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will definitely mention you on this show. We are also on Stitcher.com, so if you prefer Stitcher, please subscribe there. Connect with Ray on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram Visit Ray's community on Facebook - This is a friendly group of writers, entrepreneurs and coaches who share ideas and helpful advice.

My guest this week is best-selling author and all-around superstar, Jon Acuff. I've been following Jon for a long time now, and his new book, Soundtracks, is one I can recommend without hesitation. In fact, I've read it twice, and as you'll hear in our conversation, it's already had an impact in my life. He has managed to beautifully pinpoint and simplify the process to change the way you think…or, more accurately, to take control of the recurring thoughts that influence your life, whether you realize it or not...Your soundtrack. Links From This Episode Soundtracks - Get your copy of Jon's book Jon Acuff's official website Jon's Podcast - If you want to hear a sample of Jon's new book, Soundtracks, check out Episode 12 How You Can Help Subscribe to the show in iTunes and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will definitely mention you on this show. We are also on Stitcher.com, so if you prefer Stitcher, please subscribe there. Connect with Ray on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram Visit Ray's community on Facebook - This is a friendly group of writers, entrepreneurs and coaches who share ideas and helpful advice.

If you run a service based business, a troublesome client is almost inevitable. For instance, a client may demand a refund even when you have delivered exactly what you promised. And if they paid with a credit card, they don't necessarily need your permission to take that money back. On this week's podcast, you'll meet entrepreneur, Allie Bjerk, and there is a lot to be learned from her story. Allie explains why and how she made the transition from a service-based business to a knowledge-based business. And, how she was able to quickly generate enough revenue to cover a $6,000 chargeback from a problem client. Links From This Episode Allie Bjerk - As the creator of one of the fastest-growing marketing programs available today, Allie has taught hundreds of entrepreneurs how to scale their businesses quickly and limitlessly in the most streamlined and wildly successful marketing strategies to date in her program Tiny Offer™? Lab. How You Can Help Subscribe to the show in iTunes and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will definitely mention you on this show. We are also on Stitcher.com, so if you prefer Stitcher, please subscribe there. Connect with Ray on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram Visit Ray's community on Facebook - This is a friendly group of writers, entrepreneurs and coaches who share ideas and helpful advice.

Not so long ago, I found my To-Do list had exceeded 100 items. None of the items were unimportant; they all needed to be completed and the sheer number of tasks was intimidating.  This week, I'm giving you precise instructions on how to work your way through an Overwhelming number of tasks. Links From This Episode Getting Things Done - This book by David Allen is an incredible resource for learning task management and, well...getting things done. Highly recommended reading. How You Can Help Subscribe to the show in iTunes and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will definitely mention you on this show. We are also on Stitcher.com, so if you prefer Stitcher, please subscribe there. Connect with Ray on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram Visit Ray's community on Facebook - This is a friendly group of writers, entrepreneurs and coaches who share ideas and helpful advice.

There are would-be entrepreneurs all over the world struggling with this question...I mean, would it be smart to sit this out for a while? This episode gives you a quick and direct answer to that question. How You Can Help Subscribe to the show in iTunes and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will definitely mention you on this show. We are also on Stitcher.com, so if you prefer Stitcher, please subscribe there. Connect with Ray on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram Visit Ray's community on Facebook - This is a friendly group of writers, entrepreneurs and coaches who share ideas and helpful advice.

"If anybody is going to change this, it has to be me. No one is coming to save me." That's a quote from my guest this week, Dawn Apuan, and it turned out to be a powerful (and profitable) epiphany for her. Dawn never saw herself as the entrepreneurial type until her family had the rug yanked from beneath their feet. Not so long ago, she and her husband both lost their jobs...they had a new baby to take care of AND were forced to move to a new city for LESS money. Somewhere amidst all the chaos, Dawn decided to take control. She didn't want to put her baby in a childcare facility while she spent her days working for low pay. You'll get the full story of her rapid climb to a six figure copywriting business in the podcast, but here's a spoiler: She made the right choice. Links From This Week's Episode Dawn Apuan: https://dawnapuan.com TCA Live: https://trainwithray.com - Get your ticket for The Copywriting Academy Live 2021 (April 7-9) How You Can Help Subscribe to the show in iTunes and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will definitely mention you on this show. We are also on Stitcher.com, so if you prefer Stitcher, please subscribe there. Connect with Ray on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram Visit Ray's community on Facebook - This is a friendly group of writers, entrepreneurs and coaches who share ideas and helpful advice.

This week's episode contains a bit of a rant, but I think it's a rant most of us should hear. There's a sea of negativity in this world, and at the center of that sea is a giant vortex with an ever-expanding mouth, trying to pull you under…to suck you down the drain. I know that sounds like a negative outlook, but here's the thing…You shouldn't be part of that sea in the first place! Every human I know (and I know me better than the rest of them) is guilty of falling into these traps…stressing about the parts of the world they don't have the power to change while real opportunities for growth and prosperity are right in front of them. Let's have a serious talks about how to eliminate this; how to acknowledge the fact that we can't solve every problem (for me, Parkinson's Disease comes to mind.) Life is about solving the problems you can and not getting paralyzed by the ones you can't. This pandemic has taken much from many, BUT it has created new opportunities that have never existed before…it's created needs to be filled. Why not focus on those needs and HELP people? You will prosper greatly and improve the world. Links From This Week's Episode https://trainwithray.com – Get your ticket for The Copywriting Academy Live 2021 How You Can Help Subscribe to the show in iTunes and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will definitely mention you on this show. We are also on Stitcher.com, so if you prefer Stitcher, please subscribe there. Connect with Ray on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram Visit Ray's community on Facebook – This is a friendly group of writers, entrepreneurs and coaches who share ideas and helpful advice.

The title of this week's episode is the title of John Lee Dumas's new book which I strongly suggest you add to your library. John is the host of the award-winning podcast, Entrepreneurs On Fire, and has interviewed more than 3,000 successful entrepreneurs. This book is the result of JLD sorting through all of that wisdom and boiling it down to 17 common steps that each of these entrepreneurs have taken on their path to success. It is rare that I read a business book that I feel will still be relevant and valuable for decades, but that's exactly what I believe about John Lee Dumas's book, The Common Path to Uncommon Success. Links From This Week's Episode https://uncommonsuccessbook.com – Get your copy of JLD's new book here. https://www.eofire.com/ – John's podcast, Entrepreneurs on Fire https://trainwithray.com – Get your ticket for The Copywriting Academy Live 2021 How You Can Help Connect with Ray on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram Visit Ray's community on Facebook – This is a friendly group of writers, entrepreneurs and coaches who share ideas and helpful advice.

This week's episode content was actually borrowed from my YouTube video of the same name. Even if you've already seen the video, these are some great, money-making ideas that deserve a review. Feature Presentation So you want to be a writer for hire, but those high-paying gigs you hear about seem a bit out of your reach. Keep in mind that, just like any worthwhile career, you gotta start somewhere. Here are seven ways you can get started making money as a copywriter that ARE within your reach: Creating Content for Others Affiliate Marketing Social Media Marketing Copy Copy Editing and Proofreading Ghostwriting Podcast Show Notes YouTube Descriptions Tune in to the episode to get the full explanation of these often overlooked rapid-revenue generators. Links From This Week's Episode https://trainwithray.com - Here's your invitation to join me for The Copywriting Academy Live, April 7th-9th. This intense, 3-Day workshop will teach you how to write the words that sell WITHOUT the sleaze. You can get the world's premiere Copywriting training for 1/10th the cost of the in-person event - AND you'll get the same knowledge. Click the link for details. https://youtube.com/rayedwards – If you're not subscribed to my YouTube Channel, click the link and fix that. Be sure to enable notifications so you never miss a video!

If you're considering writing a book, you need to check out this week's podcast. Chandler Bolt, CEO of Self-Publishing School, is THE Authority when it comes to self-publishing and he's my special guest this week. By the way, “self-publishing” doesn't have the same minor league connotation it did a few years ago. There are many situations when it's simply the smarter choice.  Chandler and I discuss how to be an authority by being an author and how your new book can have a major impact on your business. Bio: Chandler Bolt is an investor, advisor, the CEO of Self-Publishing School & SelfPublishing.com, and the author of 6 bestselling books including his most recent book titled “Published.“. Self Publishing School is an INC 5000 company the last 3 years in a row as one of the 5,000 fastest-growing private companies in the US. Chandler is also the host of the 7 Figure Principles Podcast and the Self Publishing School Podcast. Through his books, podcasts, YouTube channels, and Self-Publishing School, he’s helped thousands of people write a book that grows their income, impact, and business. He’s currently spending his time scaling Self Publishing School, a company he’s built from 0 to $20M+ in 5.5 years. In 2020, Self Publishing School hit #1,944 on the INC 5000 as one of the 5,000 fastest growing private companies in America.

There are so many ways to make your marketing complex. Funnels, upsells, cross-sells, JVs, multivariate testing, challenges, tiny offers with a value ladder of upsells… Sometimes the best way to sell a horse is with an ad that says “Horse for sale”. But that kind of clarity only comes when you know your perfect client. Your “right fit client”. And you must know their language. The POSITIVE and NEGATIVE “triggers”. It’s like your RFC has a codebook …. And you need to know that codebook inside-out.         Spiritual Foundations How To Be Blessed Blessed is the man Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, Nor stands in the path of sinners, Nor sits in the seat of the scornful; But his delight is in the law of the Lord, And in His law he meditates day and night. He shall be like a tree Planted by the rivers of water, That brings forth its fruit in its season, Whose leaf also shall not wither; And whatever he does shall prosper. Psalm 1:1-3 (NKJV) Tip of the Week This week's tip is simple: Get on Clubhouse! I know there have been a few come-and-go platforms in the social media world, but this one looks like it's here to stay – already over 100 million users! What's different about Clubhouse? It's “Social Audio”. This is a place where you can host, or participate in, discussions on a particular topic. Live, audio only discussions – A great place to teach, learn and network with your people. Visit JoinClubhouse.com for more information on how to get started. Feature Presentation This week's episode is a good one to listen to multiple times because there is a lot to unpack: Who is your “Right Fit Client” – AND – Have you learned their language? That second point is the one that seems to get screwed up the most. Your RFC has certain triggers that they respond to – both positive and negative. It's like they have their own codebook…a language that they recognize and respond to. Once you decipher that code, writing copy that makes them react becomes almost trivial. In next month's Copywriting Academy Live, we'll focus on how to build this Messaging Codebook for your Right Fit Client – AND – how to keep building it, block by block. When we're done, you'll have your first, high-performance Sales Page, and you'll have the ability to easily generate subsequent offers using your Messaging Codebook. You'll know what to say and how to say it. TCA Live is only a few weeks away. Get signed up now so I can get your materials in the mail (Yeah…materials – This is a workshop, not a seminar. Be ready to be productive and profitable!) How You Can Help Subscribe to the show in iTunes and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will definitely mention you on this show. We are also on Stitcher.com, so if you prefer Stitcher, please subscribe there. Connect with Ray on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram Visit Ray's community on Facebook – This is a friendly group of writers, entrepreneurs and coaches who share ideas and helpful advice.

This week's episode is a conversation I had with the great Lee Cockerell, former VP of Walt Disney World and a master of creating that Disney Magic. Lee is one of our favorite people to learn from. I say "our", because my company invested in The Cockerell Academy which has benefitted our entire team. Lee teaches entrepreneurs and business leaders that you don't have to be Disney-Sized to make magic. Excellence, like so many other things, is a state of mind and learning that it is within reach will motivate you to be better. Learn more about The Cockerell Academy by clicking here. How You Can Help Subscribe to the show in iTunes and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will definitely mention you on this show. We are also on Stitcher.com, so if you prefer Stitcher, please subscribe there. Connect with Ray on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram Visit Ray's community on Facebook - This is a friendly group of writers, entrepreneurs and coaches who share ideas and helpful advice.

My book is now officially available for purchase. For now, you can get it the Kindle or Nook version for only .99¢ Even though this book is one of my biggest accomplishments and, I believe, will enrich the lives of those who read it, I still felt weird doing a monologue podcast about my own writing. Instead, I got permission to borrow some audio from my friend Dan Miller's podcast. Dan recently interviewed me about the book and definitely did not softball me any sales copy disguised as questions. He really dug into the "why" behind this book and that's what made me want to share it here.

ATTENTION: We interrupt these show notes to bring you this important announcement: You have a chance to train with me for free starting this Friday! This Friday, February 12th, we're starting the Get Clients Fast 5 Day Challenge. Five days of free, live training to get clients, fast! This IS 100% FREE OF CHARGE. Live training will be about one hour per day. This will be fun, interactive and ultimately profitable if you follow the steps. Click here to join the challenge and I'll see you live starting this Friday! And now...back to the show How can you reframe an overwhelming list of "have to's" into an exciting list of "get to's"? That's what we're talking about in this week's episode. Spiritual Foundations  Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. 7 Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7 (NLT) In the past I would often wonder what to pray about. Well, it's clearly stated in the verses above: everything. I think these are the things we worry about and stress over even though they are beyond our control. If you can reach the point of release where you can let go of the things which you can do nothing about, I think you will find yourself much less stressed. Let God do the things that only God can do. Tip of the Week My tip this week is for my new book Permission to Prosper. It doesn't get officially released until February 16th, 2021, but you can preorder it by clicking here. Also, if you'd be kind enough to preorder, I'll make sure you get a free copy of the audiobook as soon as it's released! Feature Presentation So how does one transform stress and anxiety into peace and increase? This is another example of "change your words, change your world". It's about looking at "have to's" as "get to's". I recommend starting out by writing down your list of have-to's. The example from the podcast was, "I have to increase revenue for my company." That sounds stressful...it sounds heavy. Perhaps overwhelming. It's a have-to that I and probably every other business owner has had on their list at some point. Truthfully, I've had to deal with that one quite a few times in my career and one day it hit me: We have incredible resources now that we didn't have when I first addressed this "have to". Not so long ago, I didn't have social media platforms to potentially reach millions of new customers for free. This revelation changed my outlook on things. You and I have ever-increasing opportunities to grow our revenue...we don't just "have to", we "get to". Now, it's important to notice the "revelation" part of this story. I didn't simply pick a new word and *poof* everything changed. I had an epiphany that made "get to" a more accurate way of describing the process. You need to ask yourself what you need to do to make that true for you. I promise you this is a better, more rewarding, exciting and less stressful way of tackling your list.   How To Help Subscribe to the show in iTunes and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will definitely mention you on this show. We are also on Stitcher.com, so if you prefer Stitcher, please subscribe there. Connect with Ray on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram Visit Ray's community on Facebook - This is a friendly group of writers, entrepreneurs and coaches who share ideas and helpful advice.

You want to write copy that converts, but how can you do that? Remember this: Before conversion comes connection. You need to connect with your audience before you start pitching them. In this week's episode, I'm giving you three ways to do exactly that. Spiritual Foundations  Do Not Boast About Tomorrow. “… we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.” Romans 8:28 (NKJV) Many verses of the Bible seem a little vague (hence all the various denominations of Christianity), but this one is crystal clear. As a believer, I find comfort in this verse during the bad times. If I don't see the good in what is happening in my life, I simply need to remember that the story isn't over. In other words, in the end, I will see the good. Tip of the Week My tip this week is for a free app called Threads that is available for both IOS and Android. This is the tool to use when you want to add close captioning to your Instagram stories (which, for the record, I do on a daily basis right here). Why closed captioning? Because not everyone scrolls through Instagram Stories with the volume up and having the text on the screen entices them to either turn it up or read it. How do I know this to be true? Because my engagement has increased since I began using it. If you're posting videos on IG, I highly recommend you get this app. Feature Presentation 3 Ways To Write Copy That Connects I don't just write copy, I teach others to write copy and often my students and I review some of their material that flopped. In almost every case, the basic problem is the same: They failed to connect with the reader on a personal level. Their words were...just words. First connect. Then convert. Here are three ways to get it right: 1. Pay attention to what your market is talking about. Whomever your intended audience is, do your homework and get to know them. Try to learn not only the relevant joys, pains and everything in between, but also learn their specific language well enough to echo it back to them in your copy. 2. Help them feel understood, appreciated, justified , safe and vindicated. Okay, there is a lot going on in that sentence, but it isn't complicated. It goes back to remembering whom you're talking to. For instance, I've never been in combat, but I've written some powerful copy for our combat veteran heroes. How could I do that if I've never experienced the battlefield? I took the time to listen to their stories...to make an emotional connection, to empathize as much as possible. 3. Be interesting especially when you’re talking about boring things (be different by not being the same) It would be great if every story we had to tell were filled with action heroes, narrow escapes and surprise endings, but that ain't so. You have to find a way to make the story interesting even if the subject isn't. There was a time when no one would have considered making a funny car insurance commercial. What's funny about car wrecks? Nothing. But, put a caveman in a suit and tie and now you've got my attention.   How To Help Subscribe to the show in iTunes and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will definitely mention you on this show. We are also on Stitcher.com, so if you prefer Stitcher, please subscribe there. Connect with Ray on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram Visit Ray's community on Facebook - This is a friendly group of writers, entrepreneurs and coaches who share ideas and helpful advice.

Can you imagine opening the lid to your toilet, only to discover a snake? What would you do? Here’s what my wife did…OK relax. My wife did not find a snake in the toilet. But this little exercise reveals the subject of today’s podcast…Using story-based emails and subject lines to capture your reader's attention. There is more noise than ever before in the marketplace, and therefore there’s more competition to get emails opened and read. You’ve got to have something really powerful to hook people's attention. Nothing beats a great story. We’ll  explain how to use story-based subject lines and email copy in this episode. Spiritual Foundations  Do Not Boast About Tomorrow. “Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit”; whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away. Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that.”    James 4:13-15 I don't think this means that we shouldn't set goals, but I think it does mean we need to have the humility to admit we cannot predict the future...that sometimes, God simply has a different plan. Feature Presentation Story Based Email Copy That Gets the Click One of the cardinal rules of writing is the importance of learning to “show and not tell”. So instead of saying “he had searched the room from top to bottom”, you might say instead, “He systematically begin taking things out of the top of the closet and throwing them on the floor. Boxes, shoes, sweaters...then he moved to pulling clothes from the hangers and throwing them on the floor. He proceeded to empty the drawers of the dresser, his face growing more and more puzzled the longer he searched." Notice how the second version conveys a lot more drama and emotion. That’s what stories can do for any copy, and especially for email. Don’t say “this is very interesting” – you make it very interesting by telling a story about it. Three subject line examples: sent the email TEMPLATE by mistake – and our open rates went crazy… when she opened the email, she screamed… She found a snake in the toilet! (and THEN…) Each of these subject lines paints a very different scenario. Each of them begged you to fill in the blanks in your imagination about what happens next. And that’s exactly what you want to occur whenever you send an email. You want the subject line to induce so much curiosity, the recipient has to read the email to find out what happens next. But keep in mind, then you have to deliver. You have to give them something that satisfies the set up in the subject line. It’s the best of all possible worlds when you tell me a true story that beautifully illustrates the point you’re trying to make in the email copy. Because the next thing you’re going to do is ask the reader to click through to get… “The rest of the story”…And to maintain your credibility you have to be telling the truth. Take that headline about sending the email template, for example. True story. One of our best testing email open rates for a case when we sent an email with the subject line: “insert subject line here”.We even got tons of replies to that email. Not something you should do on purpose, and probably would not have worked as well the second time because it was an honest mistake. But that’s just a point. It was true, and it contained an element of story. Start telling the story in the subject line, continue it in the body of the email, and have the reader click through to get the rest of the story on your landing page (or in your podcast, for instance)… Are there “new rules” for copywriting? Undoubtedly. We are living in a different time now. We’re going to be spending some time going into these new rules during our Copywriting Academy Live event which takes place April 8th and 9th. This is a totally live, but virtual workshop. We’re going to spend these two days writing your copy together. You should register now, while the price is still just $197 per ticket – because at the end of this week (January 31) the price goes up. Get all the details by going to https://rayedwards.com/tcalive. How To Help Subscribe to the show in iTunes and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will definitely mention you on this show. We are also on Stitcher.com, so if you prefer Stitcher, please subscribe there. Connect with Ray on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram Visit Ray's community on Facebook - This is a friendly group of writers, entrepreneurs and coaches who share ideas and helpful advice.

I think of Entrepreneurs as Kingdom Builders - and I don’t think of kingdoms in some domineering, benevolent tyranny sense - but in the sense of the “King’s Domain”. Who is the King? For me the King is our Creator. The Kingdom of God that I know is one of peace and mutual benefit. That describes a good way to live, and it describes a good way to do business. But hang on - This episode isn't about the spiritual Kingdom. It's about the earthly Kingdom I would choose for my business to emulate - The Magic Kingdom in Walt Disney World. I have some incredible, almost surreal memories from there (surreal because there is no other place like it on Earth). So how does such a mega-company provide such an inimitable, fanciful atmosphere full of employees (cast members) who seem genuinely enthused to be part of the experience? Lets find out, shall we? Today we talk with the former vice president of Disney's Magic Kingdom, 26-year Disney veteran, Dan Cockerel. He has some fascinating insights about the culture of YOUR kingdom. Feature Presentation 10 X growth is what we discussed last week... and it cannot be additive, it must be multiplicative. Instead of going into specific tactics and techniques, I think it's important to first focus on the primary driver of everything we do in our company, which boils down to our culture. And I know no one more qualified to talk about “kingdom cultures” in the realm of business than Dan Cockerel. Dan was, for a very long time, in charge of the Magic Kingdom at Disney. His book is called "How's the Culture in Your Kingdom?”. Dan took some time off the ski slopes in Breckenridge to chat with me about company culture - how important it is, and how to create “magic” at any size company. I stress "any size" because most of us don't have the resources that Disney has at their four-fingered white gloved fingertips. Dan's brilliant advice - Don't spend time getting your people motivated - hire motivated people and treat them like gold. Links From This Episode Dan's Book - "How's the Culture in Your Kingdom" Event that can drastically change your life for the better: The Copywriting Academy Live

This really could've been entitled, “what I have learned after doing 500 episodes of this podcast.” But that seemed like a boring title. Then I realized that around episode one marked the year my business made just over $100,000. After 500 episodes – a little over 9 years or so – our company revenue is somewhere between 1 million to 1.5 million per year. That's roughly 10X. And now we're looking at how to 10X again. We can't do it by working harder – we have to do something completely different.   I will share a few thoughts on that as we go, but there is definitely one Master Skill that is key to every step of your business growth. That Master Skill: Copywriting. Unless you're totally new to this podcast, you probably know that writing great copy is my passion. In fact, I wrote this book which is an excellent place to start if you intend to master this skill. Most of the copy I write is aimed at business growth…pretty much all of it in fact. But how do words make your business grow? If copywriting is the weapon, what is target? Back in the 90's, I discovered a book that taught me many valuable (literally life changing) concepts. It taught me there are 3 ways (and only 3 ways) to grow your business: 1. Get more customers. 2. Get each customer to spend more with each purchase. 3. Get customers to buy more often. You can learn more about this book and the brilliance of Jay Abraham in this video. Succeeding at any of those three goals will grow your business, but if you succeed at all of them, even just a little (think 10% each), you're talking exponential business growth. The key to doing all this is being able to write the appropriate copy for each stage. That’s why we’re having the Copywriting Academy Virtual LIVE Video Workshop, April 8-9. (Tickets are just $197 for a very limited time – price increase January 31.) If you attend this workshop, you will not only gain some powerful, proven, business growing skills, BUT you will also get your copy finished, polished and ready for deployment. All the details on this are right here.  

This one is for the entrepreneurs who are weary, tired, longing for things to get “back to normal”… who possibly are coming out go the holidays not rested and revived, but even more discouraged. Now, don’t get me wrong. This is not what EVERYONE is feeling. SOME people are energized, excited, and on FIRE! SOME saw their revenues climb instead of fall in 2020 …. SOME saw their profitability SOAR …While others would label 2020 as “difficult” at best, or a “total disaster” on the other end of the scale. Regardless of where you call on this scale, and what your “business problems” might be, you’ll find some encouragement here. SPIRITUAL FOUNDATIONS First - a caution. Don’t kill yourself making a killing. You’re not in competition with ANYONE. You’re not “behind”. Grace Over Grind, my friends, in the words of Shae Bynes. Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly. Matthew 11:28-30 TIP OF THE WEEK I’ve got a couple of tips for you this week - First, check out Jennifer Allwood’s podcast last week, Episode 199, called “Friend, You Are Not Behind”. Second, check out the “30 Days of Hope Challenge” with my friend Andy Mason. YOU’RE NOT BEHIND! You can still join this source daily encouragement by clicking here. Third, would you like a shoutout on this podcast, and for us to pray over your business? Just write us a review and give us a star rating on Apple Podcasts - go to RayEdwardsPodcast.com and be sure you let us know you did this so we can mention you. After you’ve posted your review, you can just email us at support@rayedwards.com. Here are a couple of our most recent reviews     OUR FEATURE PRESENTATION It is possible, by making this one decision, to transform every business problem into profit - even if the problem is YOU! The key decision: DECIDE to use cognitive reframing to produce positive results from almost any situation. How you think about the “problem” is usually the actual PROBLEM you are NOW facing. 3 ways to transform problems into profit Transformation 1: Wisdom profit. You learned a lesson, got smarter, got wiser. That’s valuable. Transformation 2: Character profit. You built character - perseverance, patience, faith. Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.  James 1:2-5 Transformation 3: Ask Transformative questions to reframe how you see the problem. 1. What can I learn from this? 2. What’s great about this problem? 3. What is not perfect yet? 4. What am I willing to do to make it the way I want it? 5. What am I willing not to do to make it the way I want it? 6. What does this make possible? 7. How can I enjoy the process? Links From This Week's Episode Jennifer Allwood Episode 199: Friend, You Aren't Behind - Jennifer Allwood 30 Day Hope Challenge - Heaven in Business Recalibrate your year with clarity and confidence. Leave us an honest review on I-Tunes here. Don't forget to email us at support@rayedwards.com and let us know you left your review so we can give you a shoutout on the show!    

What a great guest to help ring in the new year- Mark Timm! This guy has created more than a dozen successful businesses and I'm sure there's more to come. Just reading his story is a great motivator for those planning to enter the entrepreneurial ranks in 2021. Of course, Mark credits much of his success to the mentors who shaped him, one of whom is Kevin Harrington of Shark Tank fame and coauthor of Mark's book, Mentor to Millions: Secrets of Success in Business, Relationships, and Beyond

This week's episode is a little different from the usual format. It was recorded with a live audience on Facebook. I've missed the instant interaction I get from a live broadcast, so I intend to do these live broadcasts every Friday morning at 7 a.m. Pacific. To be clear, these live broadcasts will not be replacing the podcast; they will be separate shows. I chose to showcase the Facebook broadcast this week for two reasons: First and foremost, it's useful content that I think will benefit you. To officially invite you to join me live Friday mornings at 7 a.m. Pacific The podcast content is a streamlined version of the live broadcast, but if you want to watch it as it happened, check out the comments and add your own - you can do so by clicking here. Feature Presentation Here's what we're diving into in this episode: 3 Unpopular Rules for Optimizing Your Life: Don't take on other people's problems There is no simple answer to complex questions Don't trade short term pleasure for long term pain Questions about the show? You can text me anytime at 509-245-2670

2020? My best year ever? Yes! And I've got the proof in this week's episode.       Spiritual Foundations I have learned how to be content with whatever I have. I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength. Philippians [4:11]-13 Most people, whether they are followers of Jesus or not, have heard at least a portion of these verses typically in a triumph over adversity context. It was of course written by the apostle Paul (kind of the Rambo of the apostles) and is an excellent verse to keep in mind as you process the events of this year. Tip of the Week My tip this week is that you do a Psycho-Spiritual  Inventory and analyze what you want going in your brain. It's human nature to want to ingest information and there is certainly no shortage of that these days. I'm challenging you to actually inventory what you are ingesting and draw some sort of conclusion as to whether it is helping or hindering your development as a person. We've all heard the saying, “You are what you eat”, but I'm suggesting “You are what you think.” is much more accurate. Feature Presentation Do I really have 12 reasons why 2020 is my best year ever? No…I actually have more, but I picked my top 12 to share with you in this week's episode. I've developed the deepest connection I have ever had with God. I have experienced the deepest connection and growth I have ever had in my marriage. I am convinced that I am already as prosperous as I could have ever dreamed, and there’s no way for me to become more or less prosperous. I grew in my ability to adapt to unexpected events outside my control. I honed the power of unshakeable faith & extraordinary effort. I discovered the power of growing through constraints. As a team, we removed every system, practice, habit, and person that was causing friction and slowing our manifestation of our purpose and vision. I became a true student/beginner/learner again and began a “long-game” learning practice. We created a true marketing SYSTEM that works even when I don’t. We found our team’s core strengths, their “Zone of Genius” and aligned those with each person’s work, so everyone is working on what ONLY that person can do best. We created a vision and a plan to DOUBLE our growth in 2021. I learned that I am capable of enduring much higher levels of discomfort than I ever thought possible – and to actually ENJOY THE PROCESS! Those are all true statements. Could I come up with some reasons as to why 2020 is the worst year of my life? Probably…but why would I do that? How would it serve me? I choose to feel gratitude rather than despair – AND I can do so while still remaining true to myself. Doing so makes me better in literally every aspect of my life. Links From this weeks Episode 6 Figure Small Group Intensive (December 17th-19th) Questions about the show? You can text me anytime at 509-245-2670

Do you still think LinkedIn In is just a job posting site? These days, it's much, much more - and John Nemo explains how to put it to good use for your business in this week's episode. Spiritual Foundations Jesus never promised that life would be easy. On the contrary, Jesus said that we would have trials. Sometimes, we may wonder if God is truly concerned about our situation. It may feel as though he’s not listening, or even that He is not going to help us. Not matter how bad it gets, whether we go through health scares, or huge losses, or business problems… God is with us. Joshua 5:13-14 says, “Now when Joshua was near Jericho, he looked up and saw a man standing in front of him with a drawn sword in his hand. Joshua went up to him and asked, “Are you for us or for our enemies?” “Neither,” he replied, “but as commander of the army of the Lord I have now come."(NIV) Joshua was about to take the city of Jericho. The manna had stopped. Being very human, Joshua asked the angel of the Lord whose side he was on. “Are you for us?” The answer: neither.  The angel was there to do the will of the Lord. Think...He is not on “sides” of human arguments, industries, businesses, nations or even sport teams. God is working to accomplish His will in the lives of everyone. In your situation, pray about what is God’s will for your life and understand that God does not have anything against you. The enemy would love for you to believe that God is angry with you and therefore has abandoned you; especially when you see others prosper or the wicked blessed. No, whether you see it or not, the Bible says that the “Father is always at His work” (John 5:17, NIV). God is working for your good. His will for you IS your highest good. Even when you can’t necessarily see it - yet. “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” Romans 8:28 Tip of the Week This week's tip is a concept that I use to make sure that I complete the important stuff every day: The power of 3. Each Sunday, decide your Big 3 for the week, the 3 things that MUST get done this week. Then, at the end of each day, give yourself the Big 3 for TOMORROW. In Donald Miller’s words, “pass yourself a baton”. Feature Presentation So many people have yet to shake off LinkedIn's reputation of a resume` website. These days, it can be a powerful tool from getting clients. My friend John Nemo literally wrote the book on using LinkedIn to generate revenue. It's called LinkedIn Riches and you can get it for free right here. John gave me a live demonstration of The Nemo Method and, as many genius things are, it's dead simple! You can get the in-depth version in John's book, but the nutshell version is this: You find someone that you feel could benefit from your services and introduce yourself - Not bulk email...not a link to a lead page... Just a simple formula for an introduction and a pitch straight to their inbox. LinkedIn has not only made it easy to get in someone's inbox, but they've also provided powerful tools to really make a personal connection - like dropping a quick video introduction in their inbox. As I said, the book will take you on the deep dive, so be sure and grab it - AND John's other resources for online marketing can be found right here. Links From this weeks Episode John Nemo's LinkedIn Riches! (Get your free copy there) 6 Figure Small Group Intensive (December 17th-19th) Questions about the show? You can text me anytime at 509-245-2670  

Emotions are habits and that's great news, because habits can be changed. Before I go any further let me clarify...Obviously, not all emotions are habits. Some emotions are genuine responses to your present, personal situation, but those are not what I'm talking about today. I'm talking about the emotional defaults - the mood you naturally gravitate to. For instance, we all know someone who seems to be grumpy most of the time. It might fluctuate a little, but "grumpy" seems to be their default state regardless of the circumstances. On the other end of the spectrum, we all know someone who seems to be perpetually happy...sometimes annoyingly so. So is that just how it is? Some people are generally angry and there's nothing they can do about it? I'm proposing that people can in fact change their general disposition by acknowledging the underlying emotions and dealing with them. People who are generally angry will look for reasons to be angry. And with the endless supply of 2020 news, they don't have to look very hard. If you tend to live in this zone of frustration and anger, you should make an effort to focus on different things. Try to avoid the things that irritate you the most and focus on things that inspire you or bring you joy. I'm not suggesting you bury your head in the sand and ignore the world around you, but rather to recognize the things that are negatively influencing your mood and try not to dwell on them. This is not meant to be an easy, quick-fix. Longterm, deeply engrained habits are never a quick fix. They take work to change, but they are changeable. The main point is this: Don't just decide that you "identify as angry" and that's your fate. Treat this like any other lifestyle change. Stop fueling your mind with things that aren't healthy for you. Make a conscious decision to change your mental habits in the same way you would for physical habits. (Less cupcakes, more carrots... Less news, more music) Once you succeed, you might find that those perpetually happy people aren't so annoying after all. Links From this weeks Episode 6 Figure Small Group Intensive (December 17th-19th) Questions about the show? You can text me anytime at 509-245-2670

What's worse than having a job you hate? Having a job you don't like. In other words, having a job that is in no way fulfilling, but you tolerate it because you need the paycheck. Is there a better option? Oh yes! My friend and best-selling author, Dan Miller, has the solution in this week's episode. Spiritual Foundations Whatever work we're doing, there is a perspective that will make it better, richer and more meaningful (even if it's not what we want to be doing). The scripture that taught me this comes from the Apostle Paul in the book of Colossians:  Whatever you do, do it from the heart, as something done for the Lord and not for people, knowing that you will receive the reward of an inheritance from the Lord. Colossians 3:23-24 CSB Tip of the Week My tip this week is for what could be our final 6 Figure Small Group Intensive, December 17th - 19th. It's not too late to lay the groundwork for your 6 Figure Business before the end of the year. These groups are limited to 8 entrepreneurs because of the intense focus and personalized attention required to build your highly customized action plan. The goal: 6 Figure Business, in six months or less! If you're ready to work with me to build your new business, or adapt your existing business to make it more profitable, click here to get started. Our Feature Presentation My guest this week is my friend and New York Times best selling author, Dan Miller. His book 48 Days to the Work You Love is celebrating its 20th anniversary and should be required reading for anyone who feels like they have missed their calling in life. As Dave Ramsey put it, “Few categories of our lives define us and grow us spiritually, emotionally, relationally, and as people. Our work is one of those defining areas. Sadly, a ‘j-o-b’ is what most people settle for. But as Dan Miller so powerfully points out in 48 Days to the Work You Love, a calling lights up your life.” The wisdom Dan shares in the interview goes beyond occupation. We discuss Dan's perspective on life during the pandemic, the challenges and opportunities it has brought and how he still plans ahead to navigates these uncharted waters (or as every third commercial I hear says, "uncertain times"). Links From this weeks Episode Dan's Book - 48 Days to the Work You Love: Preparing for the New Normal 6 Figure Small Group Intensive (December 17th-19th)

I don't typically release my podcast on Sunday, but this is no typical podcast. This week my special guest is Chris Ducker, author of Rise of the Youpreneur and Virtual Freedom. When I first started my entrepreneurial journey, I was a bit leery of personal branding...Would I be better off with the Acme Copywriting Academy, or is it better to stick my name on everything? I believe in almost every case it's best to be your brand and I credit Chris Ducker with teaching me many of the tactics I've used to build mine. So...Why the Sunday Release? Like so many others, Chris's annual live event, The Youpreneur Summit, was cancelled due to the pandemic. As Chris puts it in the podcast, he wanted to do something to bring people together and teach his "Build, Market, Monetize" process - which he'll be doing online, for free, starting tomorrow (Monday, 11/16/20). I take no joy in Chris's (or anyone else's) event being canceled, but this does make things a bit more accessible for those of us in the US as the live event takes place in London. Adding some of Chris's wisdom to your arsenal is a smart move and since he's offering this 3 day bootcamp for free, I suggest you jump on it. Links From This Week's Episode Profitable Personal Brand Bootcamp - Build Your Audience. Monetize Your Expertise. Become Future-Proof. Click the link to save your seat. November 16-18, 2020 7pm GMT (London) | 11am PST (Los Angeles) | 2pm EST (New York) Questions about the show? You can text me anytime at 509-245-2670

If you’re staring down the holidays, have a stack of bills, and the balance in your savings and investments accounts keeps getting lower...And if you’re wondering how long the COVID lockdowns will last, and there’s way too much month at the end of the money...This episode is for you! If you’re able to write decent copy -  even if you’re not a professional copywriter for hire... I have 7 income streams you can tap into right away... Spiritual Foundations The Whole Armor of God I got a timely reminder about one of our great rest resources - my friend Ben Greenfield posted this today... “One of my favorite incredibly powerful Bible passages, Ephesians 6:10–18, lists seven distinct pieces of spiritual armor. Armor that can equip you to be strong in the Lord and His mighty power. When I’m spiritually struggling, know that I’m entering into a situation in which I will encounter significant temptations, or am about to embark on travel away from my family and Christian support network, I often imagine adorning myself with each of these seven pieces of armor.” A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places. Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm. Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness. For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared.  In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil. Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere. Ephesians 6:10-18 Tip of the Week Register for our upcoming massive free training (12/1/2020, 12 p.m. EST): How to Apprentice With Me to Become a Six Figure Writer How to Quickly Cut Your Teeth in the MOST Lucrative form of Writing So You Can Start Making Money Almost Immediately! With a few basics, many of our students have started bringing in money within 1 week, some did it in just a few HOURS! How to Attract the Perfect Clients Who Send You Regular Work You Can Complete In Less Than One Hour a Day The one thing you need to pick and stick with to get a hoard of the best clients chasing you down, practically begging you to take their projects (and their money). How to Multiply Your Income Dramatically In a Simple Way Almost EVERY "Guru" Overlooks or Ignores You'll have so much work you'll either have to put people on a months-long waiting list or start saying "NO" to even the most interested clients because you'll be TOO busy. PLUS - One Person WILL WIN $1,000 CASH During This Workshop! Click here to save your seat at the live workshop, December 1st at Noon EST   7 Income Streams For Copywriters Can you write copy? Then check out these 7 income streams most copywriters overlook... 1. Content writing: It's not all sales copy…people need blog posts, articles, scripts for their videos, etc. 2. Affiliate marketing: This one seems a little obvious, but it's often overlooked. If you have products you use and enjoy, why not share those with your list and your social media followers? They won't pay any extra and you could end up with a nice stream of revenue. 3. Social media marketing: There are many marketers out there who need help with their social media content. (not just their ad campaigns…their content) 4. Copy editing and proofreading: Even the best writers can be blind to their own mistakes. Many pay good money for an extra pair of eyes. 5. Ghost wiring: I have students who make their living almost exclusively ghost writing for others. 6. Podcast show notes: You may find some of your favorite podcasts don't have posts to support their episodes. Apparently you find value in show notes (because…here you are) so why not write up some samples and send them to the creator offering to do them for past and future episodes? 7. YouTube video descriptions: Similar to number 6, only this is for video. There are tens of thousands of videos (conservative estimate) that could benefit from a well written description. A channel that is producing high quality videos may gladly pay for some help with the text. Links From This Week's Episode Ben Greenfield Fitness The Big Money Writer Workshop Questions about the show? You can text me anytime at 509-245-2670

You didn’t see it coming. And 2020 maybe put you on your nose. This is the part where you turn the tragedy into triumph, the trials into treasure, and move from victim to victorious! Spiritual Foundations Your Misery Is Not Meaningless So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal. 2 Corinthians 4:16-18 English Standard Version Normally this is where I would pontificate on the verses above, but this week I will give that honor to John Piper. This is an excerpt from his sermon on this subject with a link to the entire sermon following.   Not only is all your affliction momentary, not only is all your affliction light in comparison to eternity and the glory there. But all of it is totally meaningful. Every millisecond of your pain, from the fallen nature or fallen man, every millisecond of your misery in the path of obedience is producing a peculiar glory you will get because of that.I don’t care if it was cancer or criticism. I don’t care if it was slander or sickness. It wasn’t meaningless. It’s doing something! It’s not meaningless. Of course you can’t see what it’s doing. Don’t look to what is seen.When your mom dies, when your kid dies, when you’ve got cancer at 40, when a car careens into the sidewalk and takes her out, don’t say, “That’s meaningless!” It’s not. It’s working for you an eternal weight of glory.Therefore, therefore, do not lose heart. But take these truths and day by day focus on them. Preach them to yourself every morning. Get alone with God and preach his word into your mind until your heart sings with confidence that you are new and cared for. John Piper - Full sermon text here Tip of the Week My tip this week is for an app I recently started using called Thinkup.me. This is the number one app for affirmations and motivations and it's available for both iPhone and Android. What stops you from achieving goals or becoming who you want to be?Build your self-improvement program to develop the motivation and the positive mindset you need to succeed, using positive affirmations in the most effective way. 7 Steps to Transform a Tragic 2020 Into a Terrific 2021 1. Process 2020: Wins, Losses, Learning 2. Release and Redeem the Emotions 3. Prioritize 4. Energize 5. What do you want to Eliminate, Delegate, Automate 6. Set Goals, Actions 7. Schedule habits, routines, reviews, assessments Links From This Week's Episode The Six Figure Small Group Intensive - Ready to join Ray and 7 other entrepreneurs on a mission to build a 6 figure business in 6 months or less? Click the link to schedule a one-on-one chat with Ray. Seating is extremely limited for these events! November 12-14: 3 seats remaining December 17-19: 4 seats remaining A Song for the Suffering (with John Piper) Thinkup.me - An app for iPhone and Android that allows you to create your own affirmations and motivational messages. Questions about the show? You can text me anytime at 509-245-2670

Something a little different for this week's podcast… It's been months since I've done a live stream and the timing felt right for this one. For those who want the raw, visual live stream, you can watch it here.  Whichever medium you choose, I would love to hear your feedback. You can leave a comment here. If this message was helpful to you and you feel it may be helpful to others, I encourage you to share it. Spiritual Foundations “Now the LORD had said to Abram: “Get out of your country, From your family And from your father’s house, To a land that I will show you. Genesis 12:1 Truthfully, this week's podcast could fall completely under the Spiritual Foundations heading, but even if you and I believe in differently, perhaps you will still receive the hope within the message. Questions about the show? You can text me anytime at 509-245-2670

"Revenue is vanity, profit is sanity, but cash is life." As a business owner, nothing could be more true...According to the US Department of Labor and Statistics, the number one reason 95% of businesses close their doors is quite simply running out of money. In this week's podcast, I'll give you seven ways to create steady cash flow. Spiritual Foundations “Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Will he not first sit down and estimate the cost to see if he has enough money to complete it? For if he lays the foundation and is not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule him, saying, ‘This fellow began to build and was not able to finish.’ Luke 14:28-30  If a business leader wants to get new clients, or sees a possibility of financial “boom times”, there’s the temptation to promise more, offer more, deliver more,  overcommit,  over SPEND, etc. Then if things don’t go exactly as planned, paying the price becomes a bigger drain on resources, staff time and more. Maybe more than you can handle. Many a business has gone under because of this very phenomena. Jesus’s wisdom works for every part of life, so the question is - The next time you have a big business decision to make, or even a small one… will you hope that you escape paying the price, or will you follow Jesus and count the cost? Entrepreneurial Spotlight This week, we're inviting you to cast the spotlight on an entrepreneur with an innovative idea or inspiring story (and yes...it can be you). We see and hear daily reminders of businesses that have failed in this economy. All of us need to remember that millions of entrepreneurs around the globe are thriving in spite of the challenges brought by this pandemic. Help us spread the good word! Send your Entrepreneurial Spotlight suggestion to support@rayedwards.com and we may feature them in a future episode. Tip of the Week My tip of the week is a very timely and powerful book by my friend, Michael Hyatt. Michael is a New York Times and Wall Street Journal bestselling author and his latest book, Entrepreneurs Will Save the World, definitely deserves a spot in your library. Not only is this a small investment ($17.99), but it comes with $164 in bonuses: Audio book version of Entrepreneurs Will Save the World ($24.99 value) The complete "Mindset Advantage" video series ($99 value) Employee to Entrepreneur Handbook: How to Have an Entrepreneurial Mindset in Your 9-5 ($29.99 value) 8 Traits Printables - Keep the 8 traits of the entrepreneurial mindset visible on your office wall or desktop ($9.99 value) The book is officially shipping as of today (10/19/20) and you can order it here: https://entrepreneurswillsavetheworld.com/ 7 Ways Copywriting Creates Consistent Cashflow Copywriting is more than sales letters. These are 7 ways that your copy can keep the cash flowing: 1. Increase New Customer Count 2. Increase Dollars Per Transaction 3. Increase Frequency of Transaction 4. Increase Lifetime of Client 5. Increase Referrals 6. Increase Leverage (ability to innovate and scale) 7. Increase Resiliency We covered some specific examples in the podcast, but if you really want to delve deeper into these, I suggest you pick up a free copy of my book, How To Write Copy That Sells, by clicking here. Links From This Week's Episode Michael Hyatt's new book can be found here: https://entrepreneurswillsavetheworld.com/ Ray's book, How to Write Copy That Sells is available for free by visiting https://rayedwards.com/FreeBook How You Can Help Subscribe to the show in Apple Podcasts and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will definitely mention you in this show. We are also on Stitcher and Google, so if you're Team Android, feel free to find us there. Questions about the show? You can text me anytime at 509-245-2670

How do you get what you want? The simple, two-word answer: Expect it. That is, of course, the boiled-down version...we'll get into the specifics in this week's episode.   Spiritual Foundations “If you think about it, people wake up in the morning, they begin to think about their problems, those problems are circuits, memories in the brain. Each one of those memories are connected to people and things at certain times and places and if the brain is a record of the past, the moment they start their day they’re already thinking in the past." Dr. Joe Dispenza How did you end up being who you are? In my opinion, you, me and the rest of us are the sum of our habits. Dr. Joe Dispenza gave a great talk about this back in 2018 and you'll find the video linked below. It's a great reminder that our habits control us...so we'd better control them. Tip of the Week My tip of the week is an I-Phone app (sorry Android folks...if there is a good equivalent, leave us a comment) called Scan Plus. Yep, I know...you have a scanning app or two already. This one is great because it not only converts your scan to a pdf, but also uses OCR to digitize the text and make it searchable. Great for submitting official documents and general archiving, check out Scan Plus in the App Store. How To Get What You Want As I previously stated, to get what you want, expect it...now here comes the fine print: That may literally require changing who you are - changing the habits that dictate so much of what you do. It may not always be easy, but it's my belief that any pattern can be changed if you know the 7 mastery steps: Understand and Appreciate Their World You must figure out the driving force behind your habits. Create a Base and Get Leverage The P.A.S.T.O.R. framework doesn't just apply to advertising copy...The same process that motivates a consumer to buy can motivate yourself to change. Destroy Any Negative Patterns Whatever the problem you're trying to correct in your life is, you'll need to find the associated negative patterns that contribute to it, and interrupt them. This one can be tough. It may require a change of environment, or often...changing the people you associate with. Define the Problem in Solvable Terms Acknowledging a negative habit is a great start, but it's just the beginning. You must define the problem in such a way that you can formulate a plan to alter or eradicate it. Create an Empowering Alternative Okay, you've audited your habits and marked a few counterproductive ones for deletion...You've applied the P.A.S.T.O.R. framework to motivate change...You've intentionally disrupted your negative patterns and devised a solution...NOW WHAT? Now you do the work! You replace your old, detrimental habits with intentional, productive new ones. Condition The New Alternative No matter how good the plan, it likely will not come naturally (if it did...you wouldn't be doing this exercise). You repeat this until it becomes the new norm...the new habit. Connect to a Higher Purpose Regardless of whatever spiritual beliefs you hold (or don't hold), connecting to a purpose that is bigger than yourself will be hugely beneficial. Maybe that higher purpose is being a better Christian, or maybe it's serving your community, feeding the homeless or volunteering for an organization that helps clothe underprivileged children. I suggest creating a new environment and peer group that will support your plans for change. Having people counting on you AND appreciating your efforts is an incredible motivator.   Links From This Week's Episode All links referenced in this episode are available at https://rayedwards.com/487   Questions about the show? You can text me anytime at 509-245-2670

Ready to start your online business? On this week's episode we'll talk about the 3 things you need to get dialed in first. I'll also be introducing my brand new cohost. Spiritual Foundations “Sometimes we need a geography to usher our soul into spaciousness." John Eldridge   John Eldridge is the author of a successful Christian book entitled Wild At Heart. The book speaks to the importance of getting out of the artificial world we've created and into the spaciousness of nature...camping, adventuring, journeying, etc. I think many of us these days feel a bit cramped, especially with our current circumstances so I recommend you note only read the book, but also take the advice. Tip of the Week This week's tip is to read John Eldridge's latest book, Get Your Life Back: Everyday Practices for a World Gone Mad In Get Your Life Back, New York Times bestselling author John Eldredge provides a practical, simple, and refreshing guide to taking your life back. By practicing a few wonder­fully simple practices—or what John calls “graces”—you can begin to recover your soul, disentangle from the tragedies of this broken world, and discover the restorative power of beauty. Ask yourself:                 Are you happy most of the time? Do you feel deeply loved?                                            Are you excited about your future? How often do you feel lighthearted? After reading this book you will… Learn how to insert the One Minute Pause into your day. Begin practicing “benevolent detachment” and truly let it all go. Offer kindness toward yourself in the choices you make. Drink in the simple beauty available to you every day. Take realistic steps to unplug from technology overload. These simple practices and others are ready for the taking. You don’t need to abandon your life to get it back. Begin restoring your life here and now. Your soul will thank you for it. Starting an Online Business Today Online businesses are just as diverse as their brick and mortar counterparts, but regardless of whatever the business idea is that you're contemplating, there are three things that you must get in order to succeed while avoiding stress and overwhelm. Intention Know what you want, why do you want it, and have a plan for getting it. Focus Identify the key essential activities that will get you there. Schedule those - and obsessively ignore everything else. Turning out the noise in this season particularly is very important. Margin Give yourself extra time for rest, recreation, reflection, and if possible to be in nature. This is key to avoiding stress, overwhelm and eventual burnout. Links From This Week's Episode 6 Figure Small Group Intensive - This is an extremely exclusive event (only 8 people) for those who are serious about creating a 6 Figure Business in 6 Months or Less. If that sounds like you, click here to see if seating is available. This three day, travel-free event happens 11/5-11/7. Entrepreneur Spotlight - I'm shining a light on Pat Flynn this week because of the consistent, valuable content he has been sharing on his Youtube channel during the pandemic. Kris has been taking advantage of shelter-in-place time by practicing guitar and if you share that interest, he recommends you check out Active Melody's Youtube channel. This channel is a great example of Value First Marketing. Brian provides useful lessons every week for free with the option to expand on those with a premium membership. John Eldredge's latest book, Get Your Life Back: Everyday Practices for a World Gone Mad. Eric Pickersgill photography - This is the photographer whose name escaped me during the podcast. Eric has done some great photos depicting the loneliness we can experience even when we're surrounded by other people. He does this by removing the smartphones, tablets and various technology leaving his subjects staring with empty expressions at empty hands. The "Water Bird Whistle" - Just for the sake of completeness and for those who were curious, here is the bird whistle (actually called a Warbler) Kris was referring to. How You Can Help Subscribe to the show in Apple Podcasts and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will definitely mention you in this show. We are also on Stitcher and Google, so if you're Team Android, feel free to find us there. Questions about the show? You can text me anytime at 509-245-2670

How do we move forward in the “next normal” as 2020 is about to be the past? What does thriving look like in ANY economy? That’s what we’re talking about with John Meese in today’s episode. Spiritual Foundations "Our people must learn to devote themselves to doing what is good, in order to provide for urgent needs and not live unproductive lives." (Titus 3:14 NIV) I think this verse applies to us especially in these times. As entrepreneurs and business owners, what we're doing is not just about making money. Don't get me wrong, it definitely is about making money and that's fine, but it is also about providing for urgent needs. Be encouraged! You are needed because you provide for the urgent needs of others...You are not living an unproductive life.   Tip of the Week My tip this week is very simple, but the effect on your life will be profound! Batch your tasks. Put like tasks together. A great example of this is email. I used to check my email several times throughout the day which was most definitely a distraction. I now do this one time per day. It may take 30 or 45 minutes, but I respond to what is necessary and move on. This also works with content creation. For instance, I often record multiple podcasts in succession. I'm already setup to record...already "in the zone", so it makes sense to knock out more than one. Once I get a few weeks out of the way, it leaves some days on my calendar wide open, giving me the chance to create, or to recreate. Remember recreation is re-creation. You're recreating yourself - your inner-child, your inner-joy, your spark that makes life feel good. You can't be running sprint all the time. Batch your tasks and leave some space for this recreation...enjoy the margin in your life.   An Interview with John Meese John Meese is on a journey that would inspire any entrepreneur. I met him several years ago when he was still working his first job out of college, making about 30k a year. At the time, John had a new wife, new baby and was looking for a way to be an even better provider for his family. He became a student of Michael Hyatt's Platform University as well as my Copywriting Academy...two things that helped him make his first 10,000 dollars online in one week selling his first digital course. Apparently John made quite an impression on Michael Hyatt and was ultimately given the position of Brand Director and Dean of Platform University. Even while playing such a huge role in Michael Hyatt's organization, John still found time to continue building his own brand and launched a successful software company, Notable Themes, which produces some high quality themes for Wordpress (such the one I use on RayEdwards.com) Of course the path of an entrepreneur is not without obstacles. One of John's most recent ventures, a shared workspace for his fellow entrepreneurs in Columbia, Tennessee was shut down just 58 days after a successful grand opening due to Covid 19. The story of how John dealt with that situation is worth the listen to this week's episode. John didn't just lay down and let the pandemic dictate his business's fate. He actually managed to take advantage of the situation. He started contacting other well known entrepreneurs asking them if they would share their experience dealing with the pandemic. Of course, with all the lockdown free time, he got lots of yeses. Check out the fruits of those efforts (some great podcasts) available right here. You'll find info on John's upcoming book, Survive and Thrive - How to Build a Profitable Business in Any Economy (Including This One), at the same spot. How You Can Help Subscribe to the show in Apple Podcasts and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will definitely mention you in this show. We are also on Stitcher and Google, so if you're Team Android, feel free to find us there. Questions about the show? You can text me anytime at 509-245-2670

Eric Upton is one of my students with a success story that makes me smile. In this conversation, Eric talks about how we crossed paths, about where his career has gone since that time, and what he feels is in store for the future. A true example of how it's possible to reinvent your work, your life, and even your world. Spiritual Foundations “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” (Jeremiah 29:11-13 NIV) Eric describes the first major step of his journey like this, "Phoenix was not a place that we'd ever thought about going to, or moving to, or living in, but the more we prayed about it and looked into it, the more it became clear to us that [Phoenix] was where God was leading us..." This exemplifies the verses above and is a good reminder to try to recognize God's plan ("plans to prosper you and not to harm you"). And yes, sometimes it may not be obvious. Sometimes you'll need to put in the work ("Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.") Tip of the Week This week's tip is an addendum to last week's tip: Be intentional with Social Media. Social Media plays two roles in the life of an entrepreneur. At any given time it can be either: The driving force behind building your brand (creation) An endless waste of time (consumption) Now, I know that consumption can be part of a productive business strategy (e.g. reading what your audience or potential audience is saying about your business or industry. Gauging response to your latest campaign. Keeping an eye on your competition.); however, you know what I'm talking about when I say "endless waste of time" - The infinite scroll to see what catches your eye...not that finding out how your "friend" that you haven't seen since high school is coming along with the shed he's building isn't fun, but it's probably not going to advance your agenda. This is why you must be intentional with social media. I recommend you schedule separate times of day for consumption and creation. Decide when you will use social media as one of the most powerful (often free) tools in history and separate that from the time when you're just getting a thumb workout...clicking like on the latest Doug the Pug content. An Interview with Eric Upton Ever asked yourself something like, "Isn't it too late for me to start doing this thing since I've spent so many years doing that thing?" I'm sure your internal dialogue is more eloquent, but you get the idea. Even when transitioning into a career that you know will make you happier, you'll probably spend some time doing some soul searching (praying, talking to family and friends, etc.) before you make the move. And then, after all of that self-reflection, conversations with those closest to you, prayers and everything else you've done to affirm your decision...it's still scary. That's not a certainty for everyone, but for most of us, fear and anxiety are simply a normal part of this process. The key is how we respond to that fear. As Eric put it in our conversation, "Operate in spite of fear...move toward boldness even with the fear that's attached to it."

3 Pivots That Provide Prosperity What does it mean to pivot? The term “pivot” has become a buzzword referring to a significant business change -- ranging from mild to dramatic. A pivot is usually intended to help a business recover from a tough period, or survive after experiencing new competition or other factors that make the original business model unsustainable. Today I give you “3 Pivots That Propel Prosperity”   Spiritual Foundations “Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.” (1 Peter 4:10 New International Version) That's a powerful message even if you're not a religious or spiritual person. Look at the practicality in that statement: "Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others..." If we don't serve others in business, we will not succeed. Maybe you can find some short term success by exploiting others, but to succeed long term - your business must serve others. Tip of the Week My tip this week is simple and you may find it bizarre, but here goes: Delete social media apps from your phone I know that may sound crazy to some, but I had a good reason to do this. I've been keeping an eye on my screen time lately and in doing so discovered that I was spending an alarming amount of time scrolling through Instagram, Facebook and a few other platforms. Don't get me wrong. I'm still active on social media, I just don't want it to be the default way that I spend my time when I could be doing other things (like being with the people I'm with). For the record, I kept Instagram installed because that service is designed specifically for mobile, but I only allow myself to scroll at specific times. I'm only a couple of weeks into the experiment, but so far it has been great for me. My mind is quieter, I'm less "worked up" about things that aren't my business and life is much better. 3 Pivots That Provide Prosperity The pivots I'm talking about today are "Mindset Pivots" which can help bring you prosperity in any business. You need to pivot: From Dabblery to Mastery From Sprint to Marathon From Resolution to Repetition From Dabblery to Mastery Okay, "Dabblery" is a word I'm pretty sure I made up, but I'll bet you can guess what it means. If you've been dabbling in social media promotions, dabbling with Youtube videos, dabbling with Facebook ads...or whatever else you're "dabbling" in - you need to stop dabbling and go for Mastery of a particular thing. When you dabble in something, you're not putting all of your effort into that thing. You're not giving it concentrated focus - and on some level, you may be doing this to give yourself an out if it doesn't work for you. "Oh, I was just dabbling with that..I didn't expect much." Instead of "dabblery", pursue mastery - it will serve you better. From Sprint to Marathon In today's business world, many people are in constant "sprint mode". They're sprinting from one project to the next...from one product to the next...from one platform to the next. 2020's economic oddities have caused a lot of sprinting as we try to figure out how to keep the wheels turning in the midst of all of the changes. I've done my fair share of sprinting this year, but I have committed to move back into the marathon mentality...to run the race with thoughtful preparation. From Resolution to Repetition As entrepreneurs, we make resolutions all the time (not just in January). "That didn't work, I'll never make that mistake again", and yet, next month we make the same mistake. I propose you stop making broad scope, grandiose resolutions and instead, start focusing on a few core habits that you can repeat day after day. Something like making a good, short post on social media every day isn't very exciting, sexy or particularly fun, but if you do it every day, it pays big dividends. Lose the resolutions and pick a few things to practice in repetition. Remember, putting in the reps gets you the muscles.

I get the opportunity to speak with dozens of entrepreneurs and small business owners every week. They share their victories with me ... and also their troubles.   They're looking for solutions. Without question, the biggest problem I hear about these days is the virus.   No, I'm not talking about COVID. I'm talking about the "mind virus”.   The mind virus seems to be spreading like wildfire. It's a virus that can completely take your business - or even your life.   The number one symptom of the “mind virus”?  Fear.   And fear can be sneaky - it often comes disguised as anger, self-righteousness, and it's most destructive form - paranoia.   Conspiracy “theories”.   “Us versus them" thinking.   At a time when the world needs us to step up and lead, we need to remember to lead with compassion. We need to remember that what the world needs now is love.   Fear kills the rational, thinking mind, and puts our thinking brain at the mercy of our so-called "lizard brain”. The lizard brain is not thinking, It is in “fight or flight” mode all the time.   The lizard brain is not what we need to be using now. It doesn’t serve us at a time like this. There's a reason satan is depicted in the Bible as reptile.   "Fear is the mind killer." - Frank Herbert   What is the antidote to fear? Rational thought. In fact, in today's podcast episode I have concocted a five-part immunization against fear.   And while this recipe may not make you 100% immune to fear, it will make you highly resistant. And even if you do catch a slight case of “the fears”, this five part recipe what have you back on your feet in no time.   Want the recipe? Just listen to “The 5 Attitudes of Extraordinary Entrepreneurs” right now.   Spiritual Foundations   “Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.” - Matthew 11:28-30,The Message   Tip Of The Week   And here’s a tip...   Upgrade your webcam setup with your DSLR and Ecamm Live Tutorials     The 5 Attitudes of Extraordinary Entrepreneurs   1. The Attitude of Growth vs Static 2. The Attitude of Positive vs Negative 3. The Attitude of Progress vs Perfection 4. The Attitude of Grace vs Grind 5. The Attitude of FOR vs TO   QUESTION: What do you think? Which of the 5 Attitudes challenges you most? Give me your feedback at rayedwards.com/482

There are so many legal requirements for starting an online business–is it even worth the effort? That’s what one of my students asked me last week. So I decided to get an attorney to answer. But not just any attorney–you’re gonna love this guy! To help you turn these ideas into action, click here to download this week’s free “key ideas” Worksheet. Today you’re going to learn… Why businesses need to get their agreements in writing. Why businesses need to have a strategy for their “legal stuff.” The mistakes businesses make that can sink their brands. The legal mistakes business make with social media. Show Sponsor: Are you curious to know how I created a million-dollar writing business without being famous or having a New York Times bestseller? Would you be interested in knowing how YOU can duplicate what I did–only faster and while avoiding all the mistakes I made? I’ve learned a few things about running a profitable writing business and I want to share them with you. That’s why I’m hosting a FREE masterclass: “The 3 Simple Secrets Of Building A Profitable Copywriting Business.” Register for free at RayEdwards.com/3secrets Ray’s Tip of the Week: (2:25) This week I want to tell you about a new tool I’ve been using to create my own sparkling water instead of buying TONS of sparkling bottled water. Tune in to find out my favorite new “drink maker” tool. Spiritual Foundations: (3:55) Do you pray for your business? Is that a selfish practice? I can’t find any evidence of this in the Bible. But God does talk about worry.  Tune in to discover… What the Apostle Peter had to say about worry. He made it clear what God will do with all our worries–if we let Him. The magic that often happens when we choose to pray despite our worries. Even though God already knows how we feel, He doesn’t want us to be shy and He often rewards us with this blessing while we’re in the act of praying. How to build your faith and in God and how to apply His power in your business. You can get started with a simple daily task that works well in tandem with your daily prayers. Feature Presentation: Bobby Klinck is not your typical lawyer. Sure, he went to Harvard Law School. But he’s not a stuffy curmudgeon. He’s a fully-fledged online entrepreneur who understands our kinds of businesses. Better still, he tells funny stories, makes fun of lawyers, tells “dad jokes,” uses pop-culture references, and even sneaks in the occasional poop emoji. It’s not that he doesn’t think the “legal stuff” if serious. He just figures that having fun with it all makes it less daunting for entrepreneurs. And he’s right! Tune in to discover… (8:35) Why Bobby is “trying to give up” his regular law practice like a bad habit. How he got his law practice started almost by mistake and why he’s now moving 100% into the online space. (10:40) How Bobby learned to network without networking. The surprising answer he gave to his life-coach that really pushed him to become a full online entrepreneur. (13:25) How failing in his first online course launch got him hooked on online marketing. Now he’s an addict, even though he lost thousands in wasted Facebook ads on that launch and the only customer who bought refunded on day 29 of the 30-day refund period. (18:30) Why taking a little time at the start of your business to get the “legal stuff” set up correctly can save you massive headaches down the road. Even though lawyers are often a pain to work with, they do play an important role in helping you stay out of trouble. (19:35) Why relying on a faceless attorney service like Legal Zoom is a big mistake. But only relying on your friendly neighborhood attorney isn’t enough either. You’ve gotta find a specialist who knows how your style of business really works. (22:40) Should you be a sole proprietorship, an LLC, an S-corp, a C-corp? Why getting this right from the start saves you all kinds of time and money. (24:30) Which type of business you should have if you have hired help, like a virtual assistant or a social media manager. If you don’t have this type of business set up, you’re not fully protected. (29:40) Why so many people think getting into online business is as simple as turning your computer into an ATM. There’s a whole lot more to it, and getting your business entity set up correctly is a better investment than buying all those online courses. (31:05) How many rookie entrepreneurs put the cart before the horse. Why trying to harvest the grain before planting the seeds doesn’t work. (33:15) The 3 policies every online entrepreneur should have on their website to protect themselves. It’s the boring lawyer stuff, but without it, you’re putting yourself at risk. (See this week’s worksheet). (39:50) The 3 practices every online entrepreneur should get in the habit of doing, no matter what. Lawyers thrive on uncertainty and these practices keep you covered. (48:00) How Bobby has moved from “no-name” lawyer to super-successful online entrepreneur. In just the past year his income has more than doubled and there’s no end in sight to his growth. Resources: Links mentioned on today’s show: Check out Bobby’s free training at YourOnlineGenius.com/academy. Check out Bobby’s GDPR Kit at YourOnlineGenius.com/GDPR. Check out Bobby’s fantastic legal templates at YourOnlineGenius.com/forms. I’d love to hear from you. Tell me your biggest takeaway from today’s show on Twitter @rayedwards, on Instagram @rayedwards, and on Facebook too. Today’s show was produced by Kris Edwards with show notes and worksheets by Doug Pew and Juan Lopez. Until we meet again may you prosper in all things: health. wealth, and wisdom. Now go live your most prosperous life.

This week I welcome my friend and former student Mike Kim to the show. He’s an amazing marketing strategist, consultant, and copywriter. His podcast, “Brand You podcast” is the #1 podcast on personal branding according to Apple.  Mike worked for years as the CMO of a big-time company before building his personal brand. One of his current marketing clients is none other than John Maxwell. We’ve prepared a FREE worksheet for this week’s show to help you apply Mike’s suggestions and get started with your own personal brand. You can download it at RayEdwards.com/388. Feature Presentation: Tune in to our off-the-cuff conversation to discover… (1:32) How my well-intentioned yet dismal “flop” of a marketing contest helped get Mike on my radar. If it hadn’t been for that failure, we might never have met. (3:32) The secret to avoiding super awkward icebreaker conversations with your favorite guru or expert. It’s the best way to get to know them before you actually meet in real life. (4:30) Mike’s “introvert” secret to leveraging and mining relationships. This unique superpower of his is one of the biggest reasons for his remarkable success. (6:45) Which artistic career Mike and I both dreamed about when we were kids. Mike even got the attention and some helpful tips from one of the most famous practitioners of this art form. (10:02) The “Spider-Man” relationship strategy Mike’s been cultivating since childhood. How it’s helped him turn online business acquaintances into best friends. (14:35) How falling asleep during church turned into a full-time songwriting career in his early 20s. The nagging question that took Mike from adolescence to a music ministry, and eventually to a career in marketing. (20:06) How being worn out from life on the road led Mike to become one of the top experts in personal branding in 4 short years. It all started with a simple habit which became the hinge to opening doors all over the industry. (23:05) The huge difference in how people in their 20s and people and 40s define a “personal brand.” Why Mike started to separate and re-categorize “influencers” vs “thought leaders.” (27:10) Who should build a personality brand and who should be an influencer. Mike describes what he calls “the Holy Trinity of content” and how using them as the 3 legs of the platform stool is the best way to give substance to your brand. (32:45) Why focusing on looking for and finding common ground with people is one of the best ways to build your personality brand. This works for all types of businesses, even the ones that seem boring or ordinary like the neighborhood furniture store. (36:55) The Wikipedia test Mike uses when consulting hyper-polished, veneered, corporate marketing teams to help them realize why personality brands are so powerful. I bet this test works on you too. It worked on me! (38:30) How the stocker in all of us contradicts our fear of posting something personal social media because it might be “off brand.” Mike calls us all out and shows the paradoxical principle of branding we need to learn from our actual online behavior. (41:34) The easiest way to help people make the decision whether or not to follow you online. It takes courage, but it’s by far the best way to build your personal brand and a loyal tribe of hungry fans and followers. (43:40) Mike’s best up-to-date advice about how to get started with your personal brand. There’s one crucial practice you must adopt. It’s the biggest hurdle for most people. But it provides an easy way to overcome the challenge and get started today. (48:05) The 11th commandment, coined by Mike, that got him started with the discipline of building his personal brand. But it’s not a “quick” fix. It’s a year-by-year process he’s been using since 2014 to get where he is now.   Resources: To learn more about Mike and follow what he’s doing, visit MikeKim.com. To download the FREE worksheet for this week's podcast, go to RayEdwards.com/388.

This week I’m talking with the amazing Chris Hogan about his new book, “Everyday Millionaires.” Click here to download or listen to this episode now. Ray's Tip Of The Week Are you interested in making money every month automatically? Sound too far fetched? Introducing the Recurring Revolution! We’re working hard to implement a system just like this in our coffee shops. To get training from the BEST expert in this field I know of, don’t miss the FREE “Tribe Workshop” training going on right now It’s only open one time every year, and you’re about to miss it! To learn more, listen to the podcast and then go to >>> RayEdwards.com/tribe Spiritual Foundations: I see posts on social media asking that the 10 Commandments be re-posted in our courthouses and schools. I think we should consider a different scriptural passage to post in these important places. It’s one of the most powerful teachings ever. Listen in to find out which scripture it is and why I think it would make the world a better place. Feature Presentation: I welcome #1 bestseller, speaker, teacher, and co-worker to Dave Ramsey, Chris Hogan. In our conversation, you’ll discover… (2:40) The secret to his incredible success in life and business. It started with his grade school teachers and coaches and continues into his work today. (3:20) Why Chris feels it’s so important to help as many people as he can. Unlike many “big name” influencers, he gives credit where credit is due and leads with one of my favorite attributes. In his opinion, any successful person who ignores this attribute is totally delusional. (4:20) The one thing many people consider a weakness that could be the most important element in your personal development if you’ll let it. It gives you a foundation and frame of reference you can’t get in any other way. (6:01) What self-awareness, even if you’re incredibly successful, can do to keep you grounded and moving forward in the face of challenge. It’s the main reason I belong to a mastermind where I am the least successful member of the group. (7:05) How Chris went from humble circumstances growing up with a single mom in Kentucky, to where he is now. His new book teaches how the American Dream is not dead and how it’s alive to anyone who’s willing to grab onto it and do the work. (9:02) Chris’s definition of a “millionaire.” Hint: it’s not what you think. But, you can use Chris’s free tool on his website to see how close you are to being an every-day millionaire. (11:10) Why so many wealthy people have amazing stories of overcoming HUGE obstacles in their lives. And Chris doesn’t think it’s a coincidence. Rather, it’s a key variable in the success equation. (12:45) 4 things all people who conquer big challenges have in common. Why almost everyone who faces the same challenges without these 4 things almost always crack under the pressure. (16:05) The biggest myth Chris busts in his new book. It explains why most people are dead wrong about where the majority of American’s wealth comes from. (18:28) What Chris’s book will do for you that no other book can. One of the several unique tools he provides is a list of attributes the 10,000 millionaires he and his team studied have in common. (21:45) The one thing Chris want you to know above all others. Whether you come from poverty or riches, success or failure, you can put his advice to the test and have amazing results! Resources: If you want to follow all the amazing things Chris is doing, go to www.ChrisHogan360.com. And you can find his book on Amazon.com. Subscribe to the show through Apple Podcasts and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will mention you on this show. Get The Transcript Right-Click and “Save As” to Get the PDF Transcript.

Are you interested in having guaranteed money in the bank every month? Then this week’s podcast is for you! I’m talking with my friend Stu McLaren, the founder of TribeWorkshop.com. Stu has become famous by helping entrepreneurs build low stress, high-profit businesses using recurring revenue. How does that sound? How would it feel to start every month with money in the bank and never wonder where your next client is going to come from? Click here to download or listen to this episode now. Feature Presentation: In our discussion about what Stu calls the “recurring revolution,” you’ll discover… (0:55) The under-the-radar “subscription economy” movement being used by big companies, like Amazon, Apple, and Netflix. And it’s not just internet companies, even Walmart and Burger King are doing this. (2:15) The multi-hundred-billion dollar industry that when coupled with the subscription consumer stores is making a perfect storm for everyday businesses. Any type of business can benefit from this perfect storm if they see the line in the sand and have the courage to forge ahead in this new and exciting way of doing business. (3:25) The simple secret to why people stay in a membership or subscription service. As long as you’re doing this one thing, they’ll stay for years and years. (5:20) How a massage therapist went from constantly worrying about her sporadic income to being totally confident in her stable recurring-revenue business. All it took was 17 members at her initial launch to give her the peace of mind she craved. (7:10) The simple genius of how a shopping mall fast-food chain turned their uncertain cashflow model into solid, predictable, member-pleasing profits. The customers are thrilled to get more for less and the owner knows exactly how much money is coming in before the month even gets started. Everybody wins! (9:45) Why memberships and subscription services are the future of business as we know it. Every business owner needs to think about implementing a membership element because people are more primed and trusting of these models than ever before. (12:20) Why the glut of free information on the internet is making it harder for people to succeed in online learning. It sounds counterintuitive, but this is the reason why now is the perfect time to start a membership site. (14:30) How recurring revenue helps business owners create better products. Rather than being one more “me-too” product, when you create a membership site, you’ll have more time to make your product stand out ahead of all the rest in your category. (17:05) The incredible story of how one of Stu’s students turned an “eyelash” business into a $30,000 per month revenue stream. If something as simple as eyelashes can make that kind of money, what can it do for you? (20:00) How running a membership is not about the money, but what the money can allow you and your family do that fulfills you in a way you’ve never been fulfilled before. Whether it’s fixing your health or adopting a child, recurring revenue truly brings freedom in a way most other business models can never achieve. (22:35)  A counter-intuitive way to launch your membership quickly and in a way that will set you up for success in the long term. It goes against the grain of most content creators, but it’s one of the most important keys to membership site success. (25:00) How a coffee shop (like, maybe Revel77), or other brick and mortar operation,  can implement a membership model successfully. Stu rattles off several excellent ideas that really got our wheels and apply not only to coffee shops, but to car washes, breweries, and other local businesses that want to build loyalty. We’re gonna do this! (31:35) The “founding member script” one of Stu’s students used to quick-launch her fertility membership site to her list of 326 people. It made $5,024 in the first 24 hours. And over the past year, it’s exploded! (34:05) How simple it is to set up the technology for your membership site. It’s never been easier than today to do this with many different kinds of solutions. And Stu gives a key insight into why the technology should never hold you back. (40:42) The difference between front-end and back-end membership site positioning and how much you can charge for each of these. It depends on the kind of market you’re in and the degree of transformation you can offer. (43:20) How to decide if you have an idea that will work as a membership site. It’s one of the 3 parts of Stu’s free Tribe Workshop that gives you clarity and an actual score regarding the quality of your idea and whether or not you’re set up to succeed in a recurring revenue business. The workshop starts on April 25, 2019! (47:10) How a 1st and 2nd-grade teacher turned her “teachers aid” membership into a million dollar a year business. Her story proves you don’t have to be a rocket scientist to make this work. (48:50) The most important business asset in any niche or industry and why Stu goes all in to maximize its power. He believes in it so much that he started a 2nd podcast all about this one thing. (53:15) Why making money is one of the best ways to make an impact in the world. Find out what Stu and his wife do with their money to make a huge difference in the lives of thousands of underprivileged children. Resources: Join Stu for his FREE Tribe Workshop starting April 25, 2019! Go to RayEdwards.com/Tribe to sign up. Subscribe to the show through Apple Podcasts and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will mention you on this show. Get The Transcript Right-Click and “Save As” to Get the PDF Transcript.

What happened to Tiffany? What happened to Adriane? What happened to Sean? Where are they? Don’t worry, they’ll be back soon. We’ve all been traveling so much that we couldn’t find a time to get together in the studio. So we’ve batched a couple of fantastic interviews with 3 world class copywriters and marketers to replace the fun, freewheeling episodes until we can get back in the studio together again. In the next week or so we’ll release our official announcement of a second podcast. That’s right, there will be two Ray Edwards podcasts. One will be all about copywriting and marketing. The hardcore business stuff many of you crave. The other will be the fun, freewheeling conversations about life and all sorts of other entertaining things. Stay tuned for that official announcement coming very soon. Click here to download or listen to this episode now. Spiritual Foundations: Today on “Spiritual Foundations” I want to tell you the story of a good Christian woman who’s struggling to run her business. I’ll tell you about… (2:35) How a simple verse in 1st Chronicles, chapter 4 sparked a huge debate and why I think this verse is key to every Christian’s business success. There’s hard evidence in this verse that demonstrates how God actually does answer these kinds of prayers. Ray's Tip Of The Week I want to tell you about one of my favorite apps. It helps you… (4:35) Quickly and easily unclutter your electronic devices of duplicate photos and files. To top it all off, it’s very inexpensive. Check it out at … https://macpaw.com/gemini Episode Sponsor: Are you stuck in a humiliating, soul-sucking job? I’ve had the privilege of helping a small group of remarkable people transition from a job they hate to a fulfilling and financially rewarding career. For example… Dr. Douglas Pew, a composer and conductor whose music was performed at the Kennedy Center. He’s well on his way to becoming an A-list copywriter. Mike Kim, the branding expert who turned the company he worked for completely around, made it prosperous, then started his own company, a hit podcast, and now runs marketing for John Maxwell’s team. Sara Anna Powers, who left her six-figure job as an attorney and started her own freelance writing practice. She runs her own live boot camps and high-end coaching programs and is set up for her first million dollar year! There’s one thing these 3 real writers have in common. They are all graduates of my Certified Copywriter Program. If you’re reading to trade your boring 9 to 5 straightjacket job for a life you love, this could be the new beginning you've been hoping for. 3 good reasons to become a Ray Edwards Certified Copywriter. Establish your credibility. It’s hard to stand out in today’s market as a copywriter. Borrow my credibility and my reputation when you’re certified by me. I put my name under yours. Get more leads. The toughest part of this business is getting leads. We get lots and can’t handle them all. Would you like to get high quality leads from us? Multiply your income instead of growing your copywriting business incrementally. Why not grow exponentially? Don’t just add your income, multiply it. Go to RayTraining.com to learn more. Feature Presentation: Mike Stelzner is the founder of Social Media Examiner, Social Media Marketing World, the Social Media Marketing Podcast, and the Social Media Marketing Society. And he’s one of my best friends. In my conversation with Mike, you’ll discover… (7:50) What Mike studied in college and grad school that set him up perfectly as a podcaster, video presenter, and copywriter. He never planned to do what he’s doing now, but looking back, his college years set the stage perfectly for his current career. (8:25) How his definition of the word “translation” got him started as a copywriter. Without this full-time position at a hundred-million-dollar high tech company while still in college, he may never have figured out how to write great copy. (10:15) Why FedEx hired Mike to write an old-school marketing piece when they started their international transit from China. This piece of marketing was so valuable it even convinced Apple Computers to start using the new FedEx overnight service for electronics. (12:40) The literally “larger than life” client Mike and I both worked for on separate occasions. Hear the story of how these copywriting opportunities came from our mutual friend Amy Porterfield who worked for this famous motivational speaker at the time. (14:40) How Mike made the transition from being THE “white papers” copywriter in many people’s minds to starting what is now the most important social media marketing company in the world. Leaving behind a list of 20,000 subscribers was a big risk, but it paid off handsomely. (16:20) The clever “build a movement” strategy Mike used to grow an initial following of 10,000 people before ever releasing a single product for sale. And when they did start selling products 6 months later, it led them to earn over $2,000,000 in their first year. (19:30) Why now, more than ever, people need to understand how to persuade with the written word. Why social media marketing increases the need for good copywriting and how Mike uses it every day in his business. (24:25) The importance of creating free content that’s so valuable people would happily pay for it. This one strategy has made all the difference in Mike’s business and now brings in, on average, 1,000 new subscribers per day. (27:00) The single reason people trust Mike’s company and faithfully buy from them. It’s a counterintuitive strategy that most companies are too afraid to deploy. (31:15) The #1 mistake most social media marketers make when it comes to writing their copy. It’s incredibly easy to fix, but most social media marketers don’t realize how much this mistake hurts their integrity and don’t take the time to fix it. (32:35) Why “burying the lead” in Mike’s emails works wonders despite being a cardinal sin of copywriting. It’s a clever tactic that gets more of his reader’s eyes on more of his content regularly. (34:45) How to write for skimmers so they still get the important parts of the message in your emails or social posts. With just a few simple formatting tweaks, almost any piece of copy becomes easier to understand for the skimmers (which is most people). (37:05) Two free tools any copywriter can use to make great looking graphics. Including graphics in your copy is something many copywriters don’t think about, to their cost. (40:02) How to get started learning social media marketing the right way. The easy to use, weekly “tune-in-now” way to get started today. (44:45) How to play the long game in internet business and how doing so pays enormous dividends down the road. Most people think it’s too much work, but this particular long game is amazingly fruitful. (47:10) The secret equation Mike developed to create explosive growth in his business. He calls it the “elevation principle” and it’s so easy, anyone can use it at any stage of their business journey. (51:35) The “good enough” error so many marketers make. Are you making this mistake? How long are you willing to put up with that? Resources: RayTraining.com https://macpaw.com/gemini Social Media Examiner, https://www.socialmediaexaminer.com/ Social Media Marketing World, https://www.socialmediaexaminer.com/smmworld/ Social Media Marketing Society, https://www.socialmediaexaminer.com/society/ Launch, by Michael Stelzner, http://www.socialmediaexaminer.com/launch/ Subscribe to the show through Apple Podcasts and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will mention you on this show. Get The Transcript Right-Click and “Save As” to Get the PDF Transcript.

Over the past few weeks, we’ve had a “shake-up” on the show. We had several weeks in a row of freewheeling discussion with two of my assistants, Tiffany and Adrian, and my son, Sean. To please the long-time listeners, some of whom aren’t thrilled with this new style of episode, we’ve decided to launch a second podcast. That way, if you want to tune into the freewheeling silly stuff, you can do that. And if you want to hear the more serious business and copywriting stuff, you can do that too. Stay tuned over the next few weeks to learn more about the new podcast. Click here to download or listen to this episode now. Spiritual Foundations: Today on Spiritual Foundations I discuss… (1:55) Is it wrong to pray for your business? Many Christians I know think it’s greedy and selfish to ask God for material gain. Here’s what Peter has to say about it. (2:40) Why prayers about our worry and our prosperity change us. This change of perspective helps us see how God can communicate to us his plans for our prosperity in business. (3:10) A powerful method for building your faith and seeing more answers to your prayers. This works. I’m absolutely sure of it! Ray's Tip Of The Week This week I want to tell you about Cardflow Plus. (3:30) It’s an iPad app that’s helping me storyboard my videos. I like doing this on paper, but when that’s not an option, this app is saving the day. (3:55) It’s like a stack of virtual 3×5 index cards you can use for speeches or book outlines. It’s very versatile and easy to use. Check it out at http://www.qrayon.com/home/cardflow/. Episode Sponsor: Are you stuck in a humiliating, soul-sucking job? I’ve had the privilege of helping a small group of remarkable people transition from a job they hate to a fulfilling and financially rewarding career. For example… Dr. Douglas Pew, a composer and conductor whose music was performed at the Kennedy Center. He’s well on his way to becoming an A-list copywriter. Mike Kim, the branding expert who turned the company he worked for completely around, made it prosperous, then started his own company, a hit podcast, and now runs marketing for John Maxwell’s team. Sara Anna Powers, who left her six-figure job as an attorney and started her own freelance writing practice. She runs her own live boot camps and high-end coaching programs and is set up for her first million dollar year! There’s one thing these 3 real writers have in common. They are all graduates of my Certified Copywriter Program. If you’re reading to trade your boring 9 to 5 straightjacket job for a life you love, this could be the new beginning you've been hoping for. 3 good reasons to become a Ray Edwards Certified Copywriter. Establish your credibility. It’s hard to stand out in today’s market as a copywriter. Borrow my credibility and my reputation when you’re certified by me. I put my name under yours. Get more leads. The toughest part of this business is getting leads. We get lots and can’t handle them all. Would you like to get high quality leads from us? Multiply your income instead of growing your copywriting business incrementally. Why not grow exponentially? Don’t just add your income, multiply it. Go to RayTraining.com to learn more. Well, we’re offering a new service through my agency, Inklings, LLC. RayEdwards.com/CopyFix. Feature Presentation: In my conversation with world-class copywriter Kevin Rogers, you’ll discover… (5:50) How my guest went from a dead-broke stand-up comedian to a world-class copywriter. The simple joke formula he used to make the transition. (6:50) Why Kevin dropped out of high school and what he did instead. How being away from school helped him buckle down and study what he really loved. (8:45) Why stand-up comics posses a magic few others can grasp. It’s an outrageous phenomenon that causes a stranger to entertain a crowd of people with nothing but a microphone and some words. (10:46) Why vomiting before every performance, even in his 70s, meant Henry Fonda still had his head in the game. Without this one thing, you can get complacent and lose your edge. (11:40) The twisty-turny journey that took Kevin from comedy to copywriting guru-hood. How his amazing mentors helped him bridge the gap and reach the top of the field. (13:15) How stalking his favorite copywriter turned into a master-apprentice relationship. It helped him discover his unique copywriting identity and create a memorable platform. (19:05) The simple teachings in one of Dan Kennedy’s book that crystallized Kevin’s marketing learning. You can read piles of marketing books and never quite be sure you’re getting it right until you learn these simple truths. (20:45) How “not being desperate” does more for getting a sale than almost everything else. The manner of delivery is crucial and more important than almost any other marketing tactic. (23:15) Why the copywriting industry is filled with some of the most humane, caring, helpful people. It has to do with where we all came from at the start of our careers. (25:25) The secret reason why giving away your best stuff brings you fantastic rewards at least nine times out of ten. It’s the kind of behind-closed-doors strategy that makes us some of the most blessed freelancers in the world. (27:10) Why copywriters know more about abundance than the abundance guys do. A real-life example of a big-name personal development expert who secretly hates his customers and why copywriters are not really in competition with each other. (28:25) How a copywriting legend gave Kevin a chance to shine and helped him overcome imposter syndrome. It took an incognito trip to Chicago, a clipboard, and a little white lie to make it happen, but it happened. (35:45) The copywriter community Kevin built and where he now gives his full-time attention. It’s a gated, paid community where he shares all his greatest teachings, coaching, and encouraging to up-and-coming copywriters. (39:45) How Kevin’s community brings together the good copywriters who need better clients and business owners who need good copywriters. It’s a safe, win-win place where business marriages happen all the time. (44:50) The biggest challenge Kevin sees new copywriters struggling with and how to overcome them. It’s the one thing that makes great copywriters good at writing yet full of fear. (46:15) Why it’s crucial for copywriters to have swagger and humility at the same time. The unique working environment requires these two seemingly opposite traits and what copywriters can do to make sure they keep them in balance without being eaten alive by either. (48:10) The biggest challenge Kevin sees business owners struggling with when looking for a good copywriter. Disaster happens without this crucial understanding, in spite of good intentions. (50:10) Why thinking of copywriters as expensive “wordsmiths” is the single most deadly idea a business owner can have with regard to hiring a copywriter. It has to do with a profound, tweetable truth Kevin shared Resources RayTraining.com http://www.qrayon.com/home/cardflow/ Subscribe to the show through Apple Podcasts and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will mention you on this show. Get The Transcript Right-Click and “Save As” to Get the PDF Transcript.

Today it’s just my special guest and me. But never fear, Tiffany, Sean, and Adriane will be back very soon. For the next few weeks, I’ll be sharing some interviews I did with great copywriters. I asked them to share their philosophies about how to write copy that sells. This week I’m interviewing David Garfinkel, the world’s greatest copywriting coach. But first… Click here to download or listen to this episode now. Spiritual Foundations: I want to encourage you to remember some important things as the week begins. In this week’s Spiritual Foundations, I talk about… (1:30) The one attribute most likely to help you approach every activity with excitement and enthusiasm. When you choose to approach each day in this way, you’ll remember that there’s a reason for everything that happens in your life. (2:30) The sometimes “hard-to-swallow” encouragement Paul gave to the Thessalonians. This one’s tough because sometimes we can’t see how it could possibly be God’s will for us. (3:15) Why I occasionally want to ask God, “why didn’t you do something about this?” It’s a question that helps me to remember what NOT to do in my everyday behavior. Hint: It’s one of those Proverbs that actually has a lot to do with being a copywriter. (3:45) What I learned from the owner of a Virtual Assistant business about my regular choice of words. It’s a small hinge that opens a big door of possibility. (4:40) What none of us can do if we expect good things to come in our lives. It’s not easy, but I want to encourage you to really give this a try. Ray's Tip Of The Week Today I want to feature one of my favorite new gadgets. I’ll tell you… (5:18) What never to go without on an airplane. Not only does this gadget make the flying experience more bearable, it even effects how tired I am at the end of the flight. (6:05) What always helps me leave the plane feeling refreshed and energized. I have a new enthusiasm for one of these things. The other is something I’ve been doing consistently for years that never fails to give me a boost. Episode Sponsor: (6:46) I have a question for you. Does your copy keep you up at night? Do you have a sales letter that’s not making sales for you and you wish you could fix it, but you don’t know how? Have you questioned, “Am I any good at copywriting? Is my copywriter any good at copywriting? What do I do about this, Ray?” Well, we’re offering a new service through my agency, Inklings, LLC. RayEdwards.com/CopyFix. I used to review copy for people on screen, doing a line-by-line edit of the copy. I showed them how to fix it so they could improve their conversions. And when I did this, I charged $10,000. But right now you can get the same service for just $2,500. We’ll go through your sales letter top to bottom, stem to stern, sentence by sentence, paragraph by paragraph. We’ll show you the opportunities for improvement, the things that need to go, the things you need to add. And our goal is to improve your conversions, not incrementally, but exponentially–by a multiple. I can’t guarantee that of course, but what I can guarantee is we will make your copy better than it's ever been before. The problem is, there's only a limited number of spaces for this kind of service because it's very time consuming and individualized. So go to RayEdwards.com/CopyFix before the slots fill up and enroll in the “Copywriting Fix Program.” Feature Presentation: My guest today is David Garfinkel. He’s one of the most respected copywriters and copywriting coaches in the world. He’s worked with businesses in over 100 different industries including well-known companies like IBM, United Airlines, Pacific Bell, Time Life Books, and MCI. We talk about… (10:55) The dream job David left to become a freelance copywriter. His friends and family thought he was crazy, but even though he was super successful, the better he did in his regular job the more unhappy he became. (11:55) The ad for an unorthodox newsletter that changed everything for him. He read it 20 times and still couldn’t wrap his head around it. But somehow he knew it was the path to his future career and happiness. (13:20) How one of his first sales letters went on to make over $40,000,000 for his client. Even though it was less than 1,000 words, this ad ran for 8 years unchanged. If only he’d been paid more than $300 to write it, or at least, signed a royalty deal. (16:50) The secret almost all newbie copywriters, and even some advanced copywriters can’t get through their thick skulls. This one thing can make the difference in almost any copywriter’s career if they only surrender to it. (17:30) The outlandish practice used by novelist Stephen King and screenwriter Aaron Sorkin that can turn almost any copywriter into a copy magician. It’s not pretty or sexy. And the reason almost nobody uses it is because it’s so painfully tedious. (20:50) A perspective-shifting and completely fresh definition of “the 1%” and how it applies to copywriting. It describes the giant chasm between the 99%-ers and the 100%-ers. (22:24) The stupid-simple key to extraordinary results. How these 5 little words change everything.   (23:52) What Tony Robbins learned from coaching a top cosmetic surgeon and how it applies to the difference between being excellent and becoming outstanding in your chosen field. It’s one of those 2mm changes that turn regular people into masters of their craft. (27:35) Why David dropped out of a prestigious Ph.D. program. The idiotic academic mindset that tipped the scale and helped him see how advanced formal education was harming his career as a copywriter. (29:01) The tragedy David’s mother experienced and how it fuels his drive to pursue lifelong growth and learning. Everyone has fears when it comes to their eventual death. But what David saw his mother go through caused him to up his game as a way of staving off any potential hereditary effects of his mother’s condition. (31:48) The famous author David worked with and what he learned about life and productivity from this marketing master. The take-home lesson we all need to remember about not missing opportunities to meet people who’ve influenced us before it’s too late. (37:00) Why David doesn’t take many clients anymore and what he does instead. After many years or working in the industry, his new focus makes him feel more fulfilled and able to give greater value than any other practice he’s used before. (52:32) Who David spends most of his time working with today. It’s a select group of like-minded people, many of whom have gone on to have remarkable success in their copywriting careers. (54:05) The “inner game” of copywriting and the demons that come along with it. Why mindset is more important than tactical writing skills to most copywriters and how David helps them develop this part of their identity. If you’re a working copywriter and you want to get in touch with David Garfinkel for some coaching, you can reach him at GarfinkelCoaching.com. Resources RayEdwards.com/CopyFix Subscribe to the show through Apple Podcasts and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will mention you on this show. Get The Transcript Right-Click and “Save As” to Get the PDF Transcript.

NOTE: The title of today's episode is the work of Ben Settle, who promptly smacked my wrist for grabbing one of his old subject lines – and rightfully so. Ben is a friend – but we don't steal from our enemies. We certainly don't steal from our friends! So sorry, el Benbo. The slight was not intentional, but that don't make it right. We changed the name of the episode to reflect Ben's ownership of the term, and we also changed the graphic for the post. Finally, I emailed out subscribers explaining this to them. We do credit Ben in the episode itself – that was always there. And now… on with the show! The week we were recording this we were heading to San Diego for one of the best conferences in the online marketing industry, Social Media Marketing World. Sean and were all excited for another reason. The city of San Diego now has Lime Scooters which make enjoying a downtown area so much more fun! We start this week’s episode talking about… (1:09) Why Tiffany thinks Sean needs a date and how she plans to make this happen. (3:15) Why Social Media Marketing World is such a great conference and how it helps you avoid the crooks and scumbags of internet marketing. (9:13) Why Jesus encouraged his followers to be like snakes, even though snakes are usually compared to Satan. We also discuss… (13:40) The three reasons why most companies have what Ben Settle (at BenSettle.com) calls “phantom pooping prospects” and what you can do to help these customers feel calm and confident when it’s time to buy. (18:42) Sean’s journey in applying Seth Godin’s most exciting recent teaching… “People like us do things like this” …  to the Revel77 Coffee Shop. (45:10) My answers to more of Tiffany’s embarrassing questions about things like sacrificing your organs, deciding whether to travel to the past or the future if time travel was a real possibility and why you might consider avoiding the shower for a month. Click here to download or listen to this episode now. Ray’s Tip of the Week: (7:41) This new duo of apps is helping our team be more consistent and classy with our Instagram Stories. (8:10) Why the free templates for this app kind of suck and what to get instead. Spiritual Foundations: (9:25) The New Testament verse that urges you to be like a snake and how it can save your business. (11:59) Why the common idea that Jesus was always meek and gentle is completely wrong and why the Lamb of God suggested we take a leaf out of the Serpent's playbook. Feature Presentation: (13:40) Why many of your company’s prospects are like dogs sniffing around for the perfect place to poop. They circle, they look like their going to do the deed, and then they move on to another spot asking themselves, “is this the perfect spot for me?” (15:22) What business owners need to learn about their “phantom pooping prospects.” This lesson can help even the most constipated buyers feel safe and comfortable enough to make a smooth move into your business. (15:40) The three mistakes most businesses make with their “phantom pooping prospects.” Each of these mistakes is easy to fix. All it takes is a little empathy. (18:42) The live “consulting call” that shows you how to apply master-marketer Seth Godin’s revolutionary teachings to your brick and mortar business. As Sean takes the conversation into an extended tangent about the running of Revel77 Coffee Shop, you’ll discover the high-level psychological reasons for making certain judgment calls in your business and how they can either help or hinder your marketing success. (30:20) Why simple questions like “who is your perfect customer” and “what’s the real problem you’re solving” can fix even the most complicated decisions in your company culture. Even the challenges of creating a unique atmosphere and being different than others in your market all come down to these basic questions. (37:55) Why something as simple as “punch cards” in your store can spoil your company’s image and put you out of business. Even the dilemma caused by giving your customers what they want and seeking uniqueness in your market teaches you something important about your phantom pooping prospects, what kind of dogs they are, and how best to serve them. Tiffany asks embarrassing questions: (45:10) What was one of the most difficult things you’ve had to overcome, apart from the physical challenges you have with Parkinson's disease? How a submarine commander played by Matthew McConaughey can help everyone overcome the scariest unknowns in life. (47:27) Would you rather sell one of your possessions or one of your organs? And if it’s an organ, which one? (48:40) Would you rather give up bathing for a month? Or the internet? (49:26) Would you rather have hands that kept growing as you got older or feet that kept growing as you got older? (50:15) Would you rather be transmitted permanently 500 years into the future or 500 years into the past? EPISODE SPONSOR: This episode of the Ray Edwards podcast is being brought to you by the Ray Edwards Certified Copywriter Training. This is your opportunity to become a professional copywriter. Or if you already are one, to expand your reach and credibility by becoming certified by one of the most sought after most acclaimed copywriters in the online direct response marketing field. And it feels a little weird to say this, but that would be me, Ray Edwards. I would love to work with you and help you get certified as a copywriter that we can recommend and put our endorsement and stamp on and say, “this is a person you could hire to write copy.” If you want more information about the certified copywriter program, simply go to RayEdwards.com/training. FREE BOOK: This episode of the Ray Edwards podcast is brought to you by, the book, How To Write Copy That Sells: The Step-by-Step System for More Sales, to More Customers, More Often. This is the definitive summation of my best knowledge and ideas about writing copy that sells without sounding or feeling salesy or pushy. Right now you can get a copy of my book absolutely free. All we ask is that you help out with the shipping, $7 anywhere in the world. Right now, while it’s on your mind, go to RayEdwards.com/freebook to request your copy today. I know it will help you sell more of whatever it is you sell. That’s RayEdwards.com/freebook. Resources www.RayEdwards.com/freebook www.rayedwards.com/training Subscribe to the show through Apple Podcasts and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will mention you on this show. Get The Transcript Right-Click and “Save As” to Get the PDF Transcript.

This week we’re taking off the gloves! My son Sean and I–along with Tiffany and Adrianne–get down and dirty in a heated discussion about Capitalism and Socialism. It all started with a controversial Facebook post I wrote about why I’m a proud Capitalist Pig… oink, oink! We’re also going to talk about… An online tool that allows you to “exponentialize” your social media content. You can create content one time and have it show up in many different social media platforms, “automagically.” The time I fell into the dangerous trap of judgment. Why and when you should or should not judge others and what the consequences of doing so can be if you’re as careless or insensitive as I was. Why Sean and I believe Socialism is “evil.” How a government based on Socialist financial ideas is holding a gun to the head of every business owner. How to put out the fire of a heated political debate. Hint: all it takes is a quick Q & A about hoverboards, 10-inch bellybuttons, and tastebuds in your butt… You’ll see… Click here to download or listen to this episode now. Spiritual Foundations This week I share what I learned from a painful “foot-in-my-mouth” situation. The worst part was, my words were directed at a friend was dying from cancer… I ate a heap of humble pie as a result… (1:45) With weeks to live, my friend told me how much the ministry of a famous TV pastor meant to him. Hear how insensitive I was and what it taught me about being quick to pass harsh judgment. (2:35) Patiently allowing me to explain why I thought this TV minister was theologically wrong, my friend gently helped me see what a fool I was being. I had let my judgment of the minister cloud my mind and make me blind to the more important, more truly ‘Christian’ lesson my friend taught me. Ray’s Tip of the Week: (3:52) This is the coolest service I’ve seen in a long time. Are you a content creator like me? If so, you won't want to miss this ‘tip of the week’ … it will change your life! (4:05) Use this tool to repurpose to content across the internet. For example, do you host a podcast? This tool converts your episodes into several shorter, engaging videos. It posts them to all the major platforms “automagically.” Imagine the amount of time this will save you and your team! Feature Presentation: We had all kinds of fun and got pretty riled about the ideas and ripple effects of Socialisms and it’s pervasiveness in our culture. (5:30) Hear the word-for-word “rant” I posted on Facebook about being a Capitalist Pig. Get a load of some of the outrageous 184 responses I got. I won’t use the 4-letter words, but you’ll get the gist. (6:46) Why one of my friends suggested I run for President in 2020. Ha! Fat chance! But… just in case… #RayEdwards2020. (8:01) Sean shares 2 socialist “horror” stories from the family coffee shop, Revel77. The real threat to their business and how he’s not going to put up with it anymore. (10:00) Why remaining silent when evil ideas are spread is almost as bad as spreading them yourself. How this discussion prompted a zinger of a comment from one of my friends… “Don’t expose people to the truth. They’re very fragile.” (11:40) What people started assuming about my beliefs based on the few things I said. This drives me bananas! (11:59) Tiffany’s thoughts about the ridiculousness of a $15/hour minimum wage. What is says about the people who get this kind of pay with little to no education and how it’s harming society. (12:42) Adrian shares her thoughts about minimum wage and how hard she had to work early in her career to get that kind of money. Why it’s not fair to pay someone the same amount when they have little to no training. (13:59) The benefits of being paid on merit. Why do people think that somehow it’s my fault if the Walmart Greeter doesn’t make enough to support him or herself? (15:27) The most undemocratic thing a country can do. The only two ways governments get money to fix social ills. (16:18) Why we’re all in a constant state of “dilution.” How the government dilutes the value of the dollar with either of its methods of increasing the amount of cash available in the economy. (17:50) The twisted insult that made me wonder whether this “friend” is really much of a “friend” after all. Even his attempt at softening the blow drove the dagger deeper. (18:34) How Socrates described the recourse of losers. The truth hurts pretty bad, after all. (19:00) Why welfare checks and giving people a basic living wage violates human nature. The basic differences between animals and humans prove Capitalist ideas as the most rewarding way for people to adapt and survive. (21:29) The secret to a long and prosperous life. How ignoring this truth has created a nation of sick people who don’t know how to live life and thrive on Cheeto dust and Netflix binges instead. (22:20 ) Why charity has to be completely voluntary or else it becomes a form of slavery. How most forms of taxation are little more than “charity at gunpoint.” (23:46) How governments use the threat of violence to prove safety nets and welfare for people who refuse to take care of themselves. Why entrepreneurs, not politicians, are the real job creators. (25:22) Why Capitalist Pigs are responsible for all the great things we have in society today. Why governments think can they control and over-regulate businesses and how it destroys the potential for economic growth. (26:19) Why considering holding someone at gunpoint is the best way to determine how you should vote for a new law or policy. This litmus test quickly clarifies your moral feelings on any given policy change. (29:18) Why the government's socialistic practices make it so expensive to run a business. Why this made us seriously consider closing the coffee shop and giving up on this style of business. (31:28) How important it is that we not let dangerous soul-killing ideas spread uncontested. Why keeping your head down and your mouth shut can be as harmful as causing the injustice in the first place. (32:17) Two toxic doctrines of demons so prevalent in our society. Why the only hope for humanity is to ruthlessly abandon these ideas. Tiffany’s “Would You Rather” Q&A Session: (33:35) Would we rather live in a world where huge friendly gummy bears walk around or where hoverboards exist? (35:15) Would we rather live the rest of our lives with Cheeto dust on our fingers or have taste buds in our butts? (35:31) Would we rather have accordions for legs or have 10-inch long belly buttons? (36:42) What were the high points and the low points of our week? One included working on Sunday and the other involved an accidental double dose of medication. (38:45) What were the best parts of our recent trip to Nashville? We picked between live music, shopping, and Tiffany being like a grandma and going to be early. (40:58) Adrian's simple cure for pink eye and how to use a type of baby soap to clear it up in a jiffy. EPISODE SPONSOR: This episode of the Ray Edwards podcast is being brought to you by the Ray Edwards Certified Copywriter Training. This is your opportunity to become a professional copywriter. Or if you already are one, to expand your reach and credibility by becoming certified by one of the most sought after most acclaimed copywriters in the online direct response marketing field. And it feels a little weird to say this, but that would be me, Ray Edwards. I would love to work with you and help you get certified as a copywriter that we can recommend and put our endorsement and stamp on and say, “this is a person you could hire to write copy.” If you want more information about the certified copywriter program, simply go to RayEdwards.com/Training. FREE BOOK: Right now you can get a copy of my book “How To Write Copy That Sells” absolutely free. All we ask is that you pay the $7 shipping. Visit www.RayEdwards.com/freebook to request your copy today. Resources www.RayEdwards.com/freebook www.rayedwards.com/training Subscribe to the show through Apple Podcasts and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will mention you on this show. Get The Transcript Right-Click and “Save As” to Get the PDF Transcript.

On today’s episode, I am interviewing Dr. Gus Vickery, a doctor in North Carolina and the author of the book, “Authentic Health.” As a part of his practice, he goes deep down in his patient’s history and blood work to find an individualized plan for them so they can live their healthiest life and possibly reverse their diseases. And he did this for me.  Listen on to hear my test results and what he suggests. Click here to download or listen to this episode now. 4:14 Dr. Vickery talks about how he came to know me. 6:08 Why Dr. Vickery wrote “Authentic Health.” 6:50 The diseases that we think are normative, may be curable. 8:30 The major pillar of the book- Finding your meaning or calling, to make it easier to correct your behavior. 9:40 How we can change our bad habits. 11:38 Is big Pharma evil? 12:40 Overall, Pharmaceutical companies are just selling products to a marketplace to help people with their diseases.  15:45 Doctors do not have time to give the education a patient needs to become truly healthy. 17:00 Food companies design processed foods to be addictive, and they do give you poor health. 19:58 Freeing yourself go diseases does not mean you will lose all the weight you need to. 20:50 Some diseases that we treat with medications are reversible. 22:44 Having an individualized health plan is the best way for all humans to achieve optimal health. 25:18 There are the foundational principles for all people that will make them healthy, but because of the .3% difference in our DNA and our different histories, we must do some different things that every other human. 27:00 Most people are reading articles and just guessing what they should be doing to be healthy, but that may not be best for them.  29:00 Everyone should have this kind of in-depth testing at some point in their lives. 31:00 Dr. Vickery goes through my specific results and shares what he is suggesting for me and my health. Resources Purchase the Authentic Health book HERE You can find Dr. Vickery's site here: www.drgusvickery.com/ray Subscribe to the show through Apple Podcasts and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will mention you on this show. Get The Transcript Right-Click and “Save As” to Get the PDF Transcript.

Today on the show, we talk about how to get clients now and the 3 pillars of building a copywriting business. We also do Q&A with Ray where my assistant, Tiffany, asks me some questions that you may or may not want to know the answers to. Click here to download or listen to this episode now. Spiritual Foundations 8:00- There is a passage in James that says you are not supposed to be  boasting about tomorrow. Does this mean we shouldn’t have goals?   9:05- Choose goals that are challenging and stretch you, but are realistic. 10:34- You should talk about what you are planning to do, God willing. Is this correct? 12:30: You do not know what tomorrow holds. 16:17: James was addressing a specific group to the people at the time.  That doesn’t mean that it doesn’t apply now. 17:50: Send your thoughts about this on an MP3 file to support@rayedwards.com Tip Of The Week Just Press Record You just press a big red button to talk and then you just hit “transcribe”. You can also share the file and transcript with other people. https://www.openplanetsoftware.com/just-press-record/ Feature Presentation “How to Get Clients Now” 3 Pillars of Starting A Copywriting Business Do the most lucrative form of writing- Direct response sales copy. Get good at writing copy- Study and get feedback from someone who knows what they are doing. Get Clients. So how to you do this? Be so good they can’t ignore you. Alienate the right people. Figure out who your perfect client is, and talk to them Tell Client success stories. If you don’t have any- Get some! WORK! Go to seminars and workshops for the area you specialize in.   And now, Tiffany leads us where angels fear to tread My bad habit- Oreo McFlurries. What is in my bag? My camera- Canon M50. My story of how I decided I wanted to write. My earliest Happy memory- pooping. I would rather not restart my life, I would rather continue my life. Sponsor This episode of the Ray Edwards Show is made possible in part by The All-New Ray Edwards Endorsed Service Provider & Certified Copywriter Program, where I help anyone who wants to make big money from their writing without getting a publisher or having a bestseller, and even if nobody knows who you are. Get my proven methods, systems, and even my endorsement – go to www.edwardscertified.com Subscribe to the show through Apple Podcasts and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will mention you on this show. Get The Transcript Right-Click and “Save As” to Get the PDF Transcript.

Just a sampling of comments on our last few podcasts… “You have ruined your podcast.” “I thought you were a Christian.” “You’re a complete f-ing a-hole.” And to be fair: “Best podcast you have ever done.” “This was a GREAT episode!” “Ray, I have always liked your show, but I love it now that you have Tiffany and Sean with you!” In today’s podcast, I’ll answer the questions about what’s going on with our show, what you can expect in future episodes, and why we’re making all the changes.   Click here to download or listen to this episode now.   2:19: Sean clarifies what he meant in last weeks podcast 4:05: The initial error in society was that girls and guys were told they needed to look like whatever super model was the standard. 13:15: You have to take responsibility for your own actions and reactions in life. 21:00: Altruism says that you are your best human when you are compassionate and empathetic. 24:00: Compassion and empathy really helps turn people into victims. 25:53: There is a difference between being victimized, and being a victim. 36:00: You are not in control of what happens to you, but you are in control of what comes from you when that happens. 37:00: Sean tells us all about the tattoo he will be getting in the near future. Q&A With Ray : send your questions to tiffany@rayedwards.com. Subscribe to the show through Apple Podcasts and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will mention you on this show. Get The Transcript Right-Click and “Save As” to Get the PDF Transcript.

Today on the podcast we are talking about TV preachers, how people feed their delusions and the meaning of beauty. Also, we have some fun questions that my assistant, Tiffany, asks in our new Q&A section. Click here to download or listen to this episode now. 0:50- TV Preachers are still a billion-dollar industry. Why is this?  4:20- Sean’s interesting take on how all of us have delusions.  6:25- “People will do anything for those who encourage their dreams, justify their failures, allay their fears, confirm their suspicions, and help them throw rocks at their enemies.” -Blair Warren 8:25- You don’t know what you don’t know. You may not know that you have been deceived. 11:45- The deception of the fitness industry. 12:52- Beauty and the world’s definition of beauty. 14:40-There is an error that says all women should look like a supermodel.  19:11- Can you decide to change your mind to shift your attitude to then change your weight and fitness level? 21:00- High and unachievable standards women are expected to achieve in our society.  24:16- Do people make excuses to be unhealthy? 26:30- Every human has a value to the work, society, and God that goes beyond how you look, and it cannot be taken from you.  27:27- Are you choosing to walk in the fullness of your beauty? 33:39- We want our delusion affirmed. What delusions are you claiming? Q&A With Ray : send your questions to tiffany@rayedwards.com. Subscribe to the show through Apple Podcasts and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will mention you on this show. Get The Transcript Right-Click and “Save As” to Get the PDF Transcript.

Let’s say I discovered a secret language pattern than could force people to buy whatever I’m selling. Would you wan to know this tactic? Would you use it? What if people bought stuff they couldn’t afford for no other reason tan your tricky marketing tactics? Would that make you evil … or them gullible? All this and more in a rough-cut podcast recoding in an empty boardroom after a day full go meetings… Click here to download or listen to this episode now. [01:00] How the beauty & fashion industry destroys girls. [02:00] Meet our producer, Kris Edwards. [02:51] How having an 11-year old daughter changes one’s perspective. [03:48] Our producer’s real job [04:29] How to use Instagram in a totally unhealthy way. [05:01] The use of addiction to make marketing sell more product. [06:11] The creative use of zombies as a presenting tool. [07:11] How we use Facebook. Or don’t use Facebook. [10:55] Ray explains how the pharmaceutical companies may be hijacking your heath care by brainwashing (and paying off) your doctor. [12:01] What is our responsibility when evil marketing its used against us. [16:27] Am I, Ray Edwards, teaching people to use evil tactics to sell bad stuff to people? [17:45] Is there a moral iterative to sell hard and use persuasion tactics? [19:04] What role does the consumer play in making the evil possible. [20:01] The question that Sean will not answer. [20:38] What CEOs will never do. [22:11] Is CONTENT marketing evil? [25:57] How TV preachers manipulate defenseless people. [29:02] The Televangelist who was o his marketing game. [34:25] Marketers who teach us how to market with Evil Intent. Plus, Tiffany grills Kris and Sean about what kind of brother and dad, Ray was… [36:08] Bad things the Edwards brothers did to one another. [37:43] Kris tells the story of how Ray got locked in the library as a young kid. [39:12] Sean talks about what kind of Dad Ray was… and the big battle over discipline method between Ray and Lynn. Subscribe to the show through Apple Podcasts and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will mention you on this show. Get The Transcript Right-Click and “Save As” to Get the PDF Transcript.

Today’s podcast is completely different than anything I have done in the past. Today, you get to listen in as my Executive Assistant, Tiffany Laughter-Twining, and my Personal Assistant, Adriane Allred – interview me. They’re asking me all the toughest, most personal questions come from you, O Constant Listener. I somehow suspect they slipped in a question or two of their own as well. Expect to be entertained and surprised. Click here to download or listen to this episode now. In this shockingly open conversation, you’ll hear… [01:26] Where does Ray do his grocery shopping, and how much is his grocery budget? [01:53] Is it true Ray has a cook? [02:43] What’s going on with Ray – he dresses differently, wears a lot of black, is getting tattoos … is Ray having a midlife crisis? [03:02] What is this thing Ray calls his “awakening” – and what part does Parkinson’s Disease play in it? [05:01] How much was Ray paid to speak in Hong Kong – and why did he agree to do it? [06:25] How is it possible Ray seems younger than he did 3 years ago? [06:40] How far will Ray continue pushing boundaries – and what boundaries will he push next? [07:01] What miraculous truth has Ray discovered about aging, youth, energy and life? [08:16] Why was Ray anti-social from a young age, and how has he only recently begun to change all that? [10:22] What role has Cards Against Humanity played in his social awakening? [11:45] What does Ray think about all the “”heat” he’s gotten from fellow Christians about his tattoo? [12:27] Why does Ray have a problem with the term “Christian”? Does he even still follow Jesus? [15:03] What is the place Ray calls “Hogwarts for Christians”? [16:01] Whose cult is right? [17:04] Why did Ray choose the owl for the design of his tattoo? [18:04] The most embarrassing thing that’s happened Ray in the last year – and his surprising response to the question. [20:03] The most favorite of all Ray’s Uber rides. [22:01] The Uber ride that changed one person’s life. [23:02] The one question Tiffany thought Ray would not answer – has he ever done drugs, and if so, which drugs. [25:50] What are Ray’s “guilty pleasure” TV shows and movies. [27:45] What does Ray watch when he’s alone in a hotel room? (It’s not what you think)… [29:01] In what areas is Ray experiencing personal growth? [33:03] What boundaries which Ray is consciously pushing? [34:02] What things did Ray once shy away from speaking plainly about in public – but now he’s not careful or guarded about what he says.’ [36:11] Why Ray confounds Evangelicals, churchy people, and yet loves and values them all. [37:26] Ways in which Ray is pushing physical boundaries – and why? [38:30] Assumptions people make about Ray he would like to correct, [39:03] Ray briefly considers becoming a criminal mastermind… [40:03] Ray’s real view about profanity. [41:06] How often is Ray recognized while traveling and how does he feel about it. [42:15] Ray plays 3 rounds of “Would You Rather?” [45:23] Why Ray wants to spy on the Pope. [46:23] What would Ray change in his life – and how does he feel about his life right now, as it is? Subscribe to the show through Apple Podcasts and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will mention you on this show. Get The Transcript Right-Click and “Save As” to Get the PDF Transcript.

Today we are talking about marketing and specifically how we are marketing in our businesses and the meaning of life. Click here to download or listen to this episode now. This Episode is Sponsered by How To Write Copy That Sells You can get my book by just paying for shipping. Get it here: Rayedwards.com/freebook SPIRITUAL FOUNDATIONS Is Jesus against materialism? I share my thoughts on this subject and why a statement an author made recently about this made me angry.    Do you make assumptions about other people and the status of their soul? Let's be kind and accepting of each other. TIP OF THE WEEK The Panasonic GH5 is still the best camera you can find and use for your videos. It is about $1500. You can find it here: https://shop.panasonic.com/cameras-and-camcorders/cameras/lumix-interchangeable-lens-ilc-cameras/DC-GH5KBODY.html FEATURE PRESENTATION “Marketing And The Meaning Of Life” When we bought the coffee shop, we had to invest a lot of time and money. Through that, we have tried a lot of ways to market the shop to make a profit. Today, Sean and I discuss our marketing efforts, what we have learned and why this investment is so worth it for us.  Jay Abraham said the best way to make more money in your business is: Get more customers Get those customers to spend more money Increase the frequency of those transactions from those customers. Resources Rayedwards.com/freebook Subscribe to the show through Apple Podcasts and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will mention you on this show. Get The Transcript Right-Click and “Save As” to Get the PDF Transcript.

What’s the highest leverage skill you can learn in business? What if there was a skill you could learn that would allow you to: Create a new product or company from thin air? Create cash windfalls on command Convince others of your belief or cause Decide your income and make it real Become location independent Save a company or start a new one Attract and grow a tribe Launch or relaunch a product Get a raise or promotion Start a movement Lower marketing costs AND increase revenue & profits Spread your ideas globally There is one skill that can do all this and more – and we’re going to unpack it today. Click here to download or listen to this episode now. Here are the books I recommend you read if you want to reinvent your life and the way you think about it. SPONSOR #1 – How To Write Copy That Sells You can get my book by just paying for shipping. Get it here: Rayedwards.com/freebook SPIRITUAL FOUNDATIONS How to Love Your Neighbor Well In Matthew 22:36-40  Jesus says you must love your neighbor as yourself: 36 “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?” 37 Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and great commandment.39 And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.” Do something to love yourself well and you will begin to love your neighbors well, too. TIP OF THE WEEK Doorframe Triggers- This is an idea I learned from Jordan Harbinger. It's a bit of a mindset hack. Put a reminder above the doorframe you walk through the most of the thing you wanted to be reminded of daily. FEATURE PRESENTATION “One Skill to Rule Them All” The one skill you need in life is Copywriting. Nora Ephron said that “Everything is copy“, and that is very true. Get my book – rayedwards.com/freebook Study the greats – Eugene Schwartz, Claude Hopkins, Robert Collier, John Caples, David Ogilvy, Jay Abraham, John Carlton, Clayton Makepeace Take a course Attend a workshop Apprentice or get certified The path of mastery. How to prosper while you practice. (Freelancing) Ask about our certification at support@rayedwards.com Or here : www.edwardscertified.com Get The Transcript Rayedwards.com/freebook www.edwardscertified.com Eugene Schwartz letters: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/20125529559269017/ https://www.pinterest.com/pin/338684834461940176/ https://www.pinterest.com/pin/590534569859910599/ Subscribe to the show through Apple Podcasts and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will mention you on this show. Get The Transcript Right-Click and “Save As” to Get the PDF Transcript.

This is episode 371 of The Ray Edwards Show. I get asked frequently, how I became who I am and why I believe what I believe. I read and form opinions from what I read, and I am very good at finding brilliant minds. So I am sharing some of my favorite books from some of the most brilliant minds with you. Listen on to hear my recommendations.  Click here to download or listen to this episode now. Here are the books I recommend you read if you want to reinvent your life and the way you think about it. Books on Philosophy: Ayn Rand: Fountainhead Ayn Rand: Atlas Shrugged Leonard Peikoff: Objectivism: The philosophy of Ayn Rand Jordan Peterson: 12 Rules For Like Andy Andrews:  How Do You Kill 11 Million People Eric Hoffer: The True Believer Robert Cialdini: Influence Science and Practice Luke Rhinehart: The Book of Est Dale Carnegie: How To Win Friends and Influence People Wallace Wattles: The Science of Getting Rich Wallace Wattles: The Science of Being Well Wallace Wattles: The Science of Being Great Wallace Wattles: The Science of Success Viktor Frankl: Man’s Search For Meaning Books on Money and Finance: Dave Ramsey: Financial Peace Dave Ramsey: Total Money Makeover Rabbi Daniel Lapin: Thou Shall Prosper- Ten Commandments for Making Money Tony Robbins: Unshakeable Napoleon Hill: Think and Grow Rich  Books on Business: Tim Ferriss: The 4-Hour Workweek Cal Newport: Deep Work Hans Rosling: Factfulness Marketing: Seth Godin: This is Marketing Donald Miller: Building a StoryBrand Rick Warren: Purpose Driven Church Jay Abraham: Getting Everything You Can Out of All You’ve Got Perry Marshall: 80/20 Sales and Marketing Jeff Walker: Launch Michael Hyatt: Platform Health and Wellness: Chris Crowley and Henry Lodge: Younger Next Year William Davis: Undoctored  Daniel Amen: The Brain Warrior’s Way David Perlmutter MD:  Brain Maker Profound Knowledge Books: Tim Ferriss:  Tools of Titans Tim Ferriss:  Tribe of Mentors Subscribe to the show through Apple Podcasts and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will mention you on this show. Get The Transcript Right-Click and “Save As” to Get the PDF Transcript.

This week I am talking to the 10-minute workday creator, Ben Settle. We discuss trolls, social media, and what is coming out in the future. Click here to download or listen to this episode now. Here are the highlights from today’s episode: •    Ben plans his year out 2 or 3 years ahead.          •    How Ben manages to have a ten-minute workday. Really. •    Ben has a product that he launched, and gets paid for every year- and yet he did virtually no work on it. •    Ben publishes a newsletter about email marketing – but he never posts it online – and for an excellent reason.  •    The interesting way Ben wrote his two books on “The Persuasion Secrets of Super-Villains”. •    Why Ben loves trolls. He actually uses troll comments to grow his business, and from them,  has written a book named “Copy Trolls.”  •    Ben quit all social media and deleted all of his accounts. After doing this, his productivity has gone through the roof.  Peace to you and peace to your house. Subscribe to the show through Apple Podcasts and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will mention you on this show. Get The Transcript Right-Click and “Save As” to Get the PDF Transcript.

Welcome to the Ray Edwards show and 2019! For the first podcast of the year, I am talking to Amy Porterfield. We tackle life coaches, how to overcome your emotions, how to accept B+ work and why, and how Amy is making significant changes in her business, and you can, too.  Click here to download or listen to this episode now. Here are the highlights from today’s show: •    It is okay to feel emotions, in fact, it is good. But you can not let your feelings overcome you and determine your actions. •    Brook Castillo teaches that it is okay to do B+ work and that you do not always have to have a  perfect A+ output, despite what you were raised to believe. If doing the A+ job robs you of time with your family or any other joy, it is okay to settle for your B+ work. Your customers will never even notice the difference. •    Change your thoughts to change your actions. It just takes little tweaks and commitment. If you hate working out, do it in the morning and get it done so you can do the things you need to in your day. •    In your business, you need to put yourself out there and not worry about what everyone will think. Just believe in your capabilities and do the work. •    Mindset is just as important in your business as the strategy and is often far more challenging to overcome.  Amy has retired her old programs and has created an entirely new training for her students.  Amy is teaching how you can create and sell your course online, and that everyone can do it.  Everyone has something they can teach and make a business out of it. Join Amy’s webinar and Masterclass. You will be happy you did. www.rayedwards.com/DCA Transcript Amy’s Webinar: www.rayedwards.com/DCA Brook Castillo: https://thelifecoachschool.com/ Subscribe to the show through Apple Podcasts and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will mention you on this show. Get The Transcript Right-Click and “Save As” to Get the PDF Transcript.

Today I am talking to the Mindset answer man, Cliff Ravenscraft. Cliff tells us how to make our resolutions stick. Click here to download or listen to this episode now. Right now everybody is thinking about their New Year’s resolutions.  A New Year’s resolution is just a goal or set of goals that you set at the beginning of the new year. If setting resolutions doesn't work, can you make your goals work?   Cliff says to follow this 4-step plan to achieve your goals: Believe it’s possible. Write it down. Tells others about it. Work the plan as it become available to you. Do you have a belief system problem?  A belief is a thought that we feel certain is true. Want, need or should -will get you in a place where you will set a goal and see a result from it, but not long term.  Cliff teaches the T-E-A-R formula.  T- Thoughts  E- Emotions A- Actions R- Result You can change your beliefs, even if you have believed something is true from childhood. Never give up on your goals. Subscribe to the show through Apple Podcasts and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will mention you on this show. Get The Transcript Right-Click and “Save As” to Get the PDF Transcript. Resources Mindsetanswerman.com/freesession

We don't get to decide when things happen in our lives, like obstacles. We do get to choose what we do with those obstacles and what we make out of them. Perhaps these obstacles are the path to what you really want. Click here to download or listen to this episode now. In 1996, for the first and only time in my entire life – I was fired from a job. I had been recruited by Citadel Broadcasting to move to Salt Lake City and do the morning show. I moved my little family from Knoxville TN to Utah. We fell in love with Utah and her people.  And then, three months after I started, I was fired. All I could think, as I looked at my wife’s tear-stained face, was, “What have I done?” Book – The Obstacle is the Way by Ryan Holiday The Obstacle is not IN your way. – the obstacle IS the way. 5 Ways The Obstacle AS the Way Changes You Takes you from a catastrophe thinker to a possibility thinker. Removes mental blocks to creative solutions. Encourages faith in the future to arise. Elevates your mood and decreases cortisol levels. Allows you access to your best internal resources – and most importantly your internal resourcefulness. Questions to Ask When You Encounter What May LOOK Like An Obstacle If I believed the obstacle was actually the path to what I seek, how would I behave? What would I be thinking? What would I be doing? What does this make possible? What does this mean? What might be the long-range benefits of this? What can I learn from this? How can I use this? Subscribe to the show through Apple Podcasts and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will mention you on this show. Get The Transcript Right-Click and “Save As” to Get the PDF Transcript.

Think about the things in your life that you consider problems.  What if these thing could actually be used to propel you forward in life and business? What if you could use the things that seem to be working against you and make them work for you instead? Click here to download or listen to this episode now. Is the way you are setting your goals keeping you from reaching them? Is your attitude standing in the way of you being able to overcome your problems?  Be intentional about your goals. It is worth the effort to get the result.  Are you in the Matrix? Will you choose the blue pill or the red pill. Wake up to reality or stay in the illusion? Are you doing the same thing every day over and over again. Do you need to break this cycle? I signed up for Michael Hyatt’s Best Year Ever Program and this program was different, and it helped me make some decisions to change my life.  After starting it, I made 1 million dollars in my business, lost 67 pounds, paid off our debt. It woke me up and forced me to complete the past. Looking back at your past gives you the ability to learn, be aware and analyze what has happened and what I will do differently in the future. Quote of the Day: “You don’t need easy, You just need worth it” — Jim Rohn Resources BYE link http://bestyearever.me/a18497/2019video2 Right-Click and “Save As” to Get the PDF Transcript. Subscribe to the show through Apple Podcasts and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will mention you on this show. Get The Transcript

Today I am talking to Dr. Douglas Pew of Symphonic Copywriting. Dr. Pew is one of my copywriting students. His story of the transition from a university professor to a successful copywriter is genuinely inspiring. Click here to download or listen to this episode now. Dr. Douglas Pew www.SymphonicCoypwriting.com  Hi, I'm Dr. Douglas Pew, the Symphonic Copywriter. I'm a former university professor of music turned Copywriter and Marketing Strategist. I help business owners like you compose compelling copy for your Product Launches, Sales Letters and Email Autoresponders. My experience composing powerfully emotional music for renowned opera houses, symphony orchestra and choirs taught me how to help you sing your customer's tune.  “Dr. Douglas Pew is a prodigy who has seamlessly channeled his musical gifts into orchestrating copy that is powerful, persuasive prose that will bring you profits. And what's more, it will be copy you can be proud of. My advice: hire him while you still can, because he's going to be booked solid before you know it.”  – Ray Edwards Are You Struggling With Your Copy? I Can Help You… Rescue your customers from discordant problems with harmonious solutions using the M.A.E.S.T.O. Copywriting Framework Craft stimulating sales letters with Beethoven's Secret Sales Strategy. Construct your full-scale Product Launch using Jeff Walker's Masterpiece Method for Turning Marketing into Musical Theater. Compose emails your customers can't wait to read and buy from with The Fab-Four's Sgt. Pepper Email Formula. What Is Symphonic Copywriting? Remember Senior Prom in High School? You're dressed to the nines and rented a limo to pick up your date. Your tuxedo and bow tie are strangling you half to death, but you catch a glimpse of your slick self in the rear-view mirror. “Dang… I'm lookin' good!”  And wow, your girl looks amazing in her sky-blue prom dress. Her eyes are sparkling like sapphires and she gives you ‘the look'! Mama mia!  As you escort your beautiful date (man… how did I get so lucky?) into the dance, the band starts to play… “ Aaahhh! THAT'S OUR SONG!” She says. Perfect timing! How did the band know?!  “May I have this dance?” You say with a little bow. All the excitement, all the emotion, all the fire of young love burns inside you both as you grab hands and head out to the dance floor. You were in the right place at the right time and the band played your tune. You HAD to dance! You were primed and ready. THAT'S Symphonic Copywriting! I can help you compose your marketing messages so they resonate with your customer's like a tuning fork on steroids. You'll be singing their tune!  Click the link below and let's get warmed up and ready to sing!  www.SymphonicCopywriting.com Resources www.symphoniccopywriting.com/book Subscribe to the show through Apple Podcasts and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will mention you on this show. Get The Transcript Right-Click and “Save As” to Get the PDF Transcript.

Yes, I’m quitting. I’m quitting all the things that make me stressed, unhappy — anything that makes me or others miserable. Click here to download or listen to this episode now. Spiritual Foundations Jesus talked about serving God and serving riches, but he did not condemn money. Read what he said in Matthew 6:24. Feature Presentation Here’s a list of some things I’m quitting: Worry Anxiety Doubt Depression Jealousy Anger Addiction Compulsion Manipulation Comparison Competition Deception Fear Violence Revenge Punishment The 3 most important things I am quitting: 1. Caring what other people think of me. 2. Expecting other people, places, or things to be responsible for my happiness. 3. Putting off my happiness until “someday when”. There is no someday. There is no when. There is only now. A few thoughts about quitting… I say “I am quitting” and not “I quit” because I recognize it’s a process, not an event. Do I still expect to experience these feelings or behaviors (“behavior” the doing part of feeling)? Yes, I will no doubt still experience them. But I am “quitting” my identification with these things. Let me explain what I mean by “identification”… I am not surprised when I feel anxiety, anger, or fear. However, I no longer identify with these things. I don’t say, “I am angry” – that is inaccurate. It is more accurate to say, “I feel the emotion of anger”. What is the difference? The world. When I realize that I am NOT my feelings, I become impervious to them. They cannot pierce my flesh, nor can they lacerate my heart. I may experience a moment of fear, but it cannot attach to me – it passes through me and I disregard it. Including the fear of death. It has been said that a man who knows how to live, has no place for death to enter. You might understandably ask if I don’t care what other people think, then why am I even writing this? Why am I pressing the “publish” button? For myself. I am my audience. I write what I want to read. Because doing so seems fun, and possibly helpful (mostly to me, but if you benefit, that’s cool too). So now you know THAT I’m quitting, and you know WHAT I’m quitting. How about you? Subscribe to the show through Apple Podcasts and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will mention you on this show. Get The Transcript Right-Click and “Save As” to Get the PDF Transcript.

Today I’m sharing 3 Things I Learned from Jeff Walker at LaunchCon. I just returned from a week in Orlando where we held our ESP Certified Copywriter Workshop. (Link: www.rayedwards.com/espcc) Shortly thereafter, we attended LaunchCon with Jeff Walker. Click here to download or listen to this episode now. Spiritual Foundations Today’s Spiritual Foundation is about having faith and trusting God.  How worried or stressed are you?   How often do you have to remind yourself to trust God about these things? Do you let go of your worries and release them all to Him? Are you actually letting them go? In Mathew 21:22, Jesus said, “And whatever things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive.” In Mark 11:24 He says, “Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.” So just let go, and let God Tip of The Week My tip of the week is the Canon 6D. It is an incredible camera. It has a full frame, super high resolution and gives you a much better picture.  It is a great camera, but it is too heavy if you are carrying it around for the entire day, so what do I suggest?  Even have a vlog, you don’t need a giant camera. You can still have excellent video and picture with a tiny camera like the Canon M50.  This is a great camera, and your arm and neck will thank you for carrying this around instead. Feature Presentation 3 Things I Learned from Jeff Walker: We might want to explore being kinder to ourselves. What you believe about your capability is true.  There is no time BUT the present. If you want to make a change, you have to do it now. If you are thinking about making a change, do it right now. In fact, do this exercise.  Write down 5 things that you want. How many of those things are things that you already have? Now, write down 5 things that you want that you already have. Remember what Jesus said? “Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.” To change: Stop wanting and do it now. Resources Cann 6D Mark II. https://www.usa.canon.com/internet/portal/us/home/products/details/cameras/eos-dslr-and-mirrorless-cameras/dslr/eos-6d-mark-ii 24-70mm Lens https://www.usa.canon.com/internet/portal/us/home/products/details/lenses/ef/standard-zoom/ef-24-70mm-f-2-8l-ii-usm Canon M50   https://www.usa.canon.com/internet/portal/us/home/products/details/cameras/eos-dslr-and-mirrorless-cameras/mirrorless/eos-m50-ef-m-15-45mm-is-stm-kit www.rayedwards.com/rayday Subscribe to the show through Apple Podcasts and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will mention you on this show. Get The Transcript Right-Click and “Save As” to Get the PDF Transcript.

This week I am talking to Lee Cockerell. He is the former executive vice president of operations for the Walt Disney World resort. As the Senior Operating Executive for 10 years, Lee led a team of 40,000 cast members. He was responsible for the operations of 20 resort hotels, 4 theme parks, 2 water parks, a shopping and entertainment village, the ESPN sports and recreation complex, in addition to the ancillary operations which supported the number one vacation destination in the world. That is just a portion of his list of accomplishments and the things Lee Cockerell has been able to do. Now Lee is helping other folks learn to create Disney magic. He’s doing public speaking, and he’s written four books. Some of the reasons Lee has been so successful is that he is so disciplined and very organized. Lee shares that by hiring better with more clarity, they train better, and have a better culture. He boils that down to “hire right, train them right, and treat them right” and the people will do a good job for you. He teaches others how to “hire slow and fire fast” so companies are more successful. Combined with his principles of time management, Lee imparts wisdom for organization and dealing with the world. For more from Lee, go to www.leecockerell.com or check out one of his books.   Click here to download or listen to this episode now. Subscribe to the show through Apple Podcasts and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will mention you on this show. Get The Transcript Right-Click and “Save As” to Get the PDF Transcript.

What if I told you that one thing can change everything? In fact, the only thing that changes everything is one thing.  Find out how to make use of this one thing now.  Click here to download or listen to this episode now. Spiritual Foundations Some people who are super religious about foul language, and through I think there is a better way to express yourself than using profanity, there are a few passages in the Bible that I feel are misrepresented using profanity.  Ephesians 4: 29 says  “Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers.” The dictionary says that “corrupt” means having or showing a willingness to act dishonestly for personal or financial gain.  This sounds like it is talking about the morals of the person, not using foul language. Edification means it is something that would be improving you and building up of the soul. So this to me means that you are not to let anything that encourages people to be immoral or that demeans people, controls people, or steals their money. Tell them things that lifts them up and fills them. Say things that impart grace to people. Jesus said “They will know that you are my disciples, by your love for one another” This is something to think about. Tip Of The Week This is one of my new favorite apps, and it costs you nothing. Google Tasks integrates with G-mail, Google Drive and your Google Calendar so everything is in one place. It is sleek and easy to use. Feature Presentation “The One Thing That Changes Everything” Can one thing really revolutionize your life, double your income or simplify your life? Even though I had so many distractions that could have derailed my year, the one thing kept me on track and get to this place where I have had my best year yet.   There is always 1 thing that we want, and when we can identify it, everything else will change. You just need to decide it.   You need to decide to not make too many decisions.  Gary Keller’s book, “The One Thing”, tells you how to find that one thing you need to do to change your life or business. Read his book and decide what is the one thing and focus on it. Finding out what the one thing for you can be difficult. It is different for everyone and can take years of trial and error.  Here is what you do. Sit quietly and close your eyes and breathe deep and relax.  Take all the stress, guilt, pain you exhale out and leave it there. Just be in the moment where you are and ask “what is the one thing I am meant to be doing right now”.Pay attention to what you hear. The thing that comes into your head is the thing you should do.  It is going to be totally different than what you have been doing your whole life. You may need to change what you are doing now and start doing the thing that you feel most drawn to, even if it means changing your entire life. I know it is scary and can be so difficult because it involves other people, but you do need to do this. You will not be happy and have great success until you do. Subscribe to the show through Apple Podcasts and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will mention you on this show. Get The Transcript Right-Click and “Save As” to Get the PDF Transcript.

What If I told you that you could get all the financial and list building benefits from doing a launch in just one hour? Well, you can. My guest, Pete Vargas, will tell you how. Click here to download or listen to this episode now. Spiritual Foundations A lot of people think that if you run a business, in order to do good, you need to give your money away…but that is not what the Bible says. Proverbs 11:26- The people curse him who holds back grain, but a blessing is on the head of him who sells it. Tip Of The Week This is one of my new favorite apps, and it costs you nothing. Google Tasks integrates with G-mail, Google Drive and your Google Calendar so everything is in one place. It is sleek and easy to use. Feature Presentation “The One Hour Launch” Stu Mclaren told me I needed to get my Permission to Prosper message out, and Pete Vargas was the one who could help me do. Pete was influenced by speakers on stage when he was young, and he wanted to be able to influence people for the good, too, and so he developed “The One Hour Launch”. This is the best way to get your message in front of more people and give them your message all at once, instead of waiting for them to spend a year finishing your course, or podcast, etc… You have a captivated audience for an entire 60 minutes, and they are far more impacted by what you are saying while you are on a stage. Your message is important and was put there for a reason, so get out there and share it. Even if you do not want to be a speaker that is on stage all the time, that is okay. You just need to do it a few times a year, and you will still be building your business and getting your message out. Pete will help you outline your signature talk and show you how to use online and offline stages. Check out more here: www.rayedwards.com/AYR Resources www.rayedwards.com/AYR Subscribe to the show through Apple Podcasts and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will mention you on this show. Get The Transcript Right-Click and “Save As” to Get the PDF Transcript.

Today on the show… Why Every Business Is a Writing Business. Even Apple has to use copy to make things sell- so do you, so do I. Click here to download or listen to this episode now. Spiritual Foundations 2 Corinthians 5:16 New King James Version (NKJV) “16 Even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him thus no longer. 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.” What is Paul saying? If anyone is in Christ, you are a new creation. This is a BIG deal. Everything was created by God and God has reconciled to us through Jesus the Messiah and God has given us the gift of the ministry of reconciliation. Tip Of The Week Kraig Adams digital minimalism Kraig Adams is a Digital storyteller on Youtube. Watch this video. www.youtube.com/watch?v=yXuZE_bXnus Feature Presentation “Why Every Business Is A Writing Business” 5 Reasons Why Every Business Is a Writing Business All business is founded on the principle of communicating that we have a solution to a problem that they think they have. There are more and less effective methods of communication. Writing is the doing part of thinking and thinking without writing is fantasizing. In an over-communicated world, your communication must be more precise, powerful and persuasive than ever before. Because of the noise, you must be able to communicate your value with simplicity, sincerity, and sizzle. Zig Zigler said the process of selling it simply the transference of enthusiasm. When you believe in something, you can sell it easier. Sponsor This episode of the Ray Edwards Show is made possible in part by The All-New Ray Edwards Endorsed Service Provider & Certified Copywriter Program, where I help anyone who wants to make big money from their writing without getting a publisher or having a bestseller, and even if nobody knows who you are. Get my proven methods, systems, and even my endorsement – go to www.edwardscertified.com Resources www.hbo.com/documentaries/everything-is-copy  -Everything is Copy- Nora Ephron Subscribe to the show through Apple Podcasts and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will mention you on this show. Get The Transcript Right-Click and “Save As” to Get the PDF Transcript.

Mistakes come in many forms. Some are humorous like the furniture store that unwittingly offered, “Free: one night stand, when you purchase a bed!” Or the church marquee that read, “Don’t let worries kill you, let the church help.”  But other blunders, often the ones we commit ourselves, are anything but funny. Click here to download or listen to this episode now. Perhaps you can identify with some of these: Missing an appointment with a client Sending someone the wrong product Showing up late for an important meeting Calling someone by the wrong name Sending out an email with typos in it Confidently stating something publicly, only to discover later you were wrong Drawing a complete blank when meeting someone who insists they know you Failing to make a payment on time to an affiliate or contractor Finding out that you’ve offended someone And sometimes much more serious blunders occur with significant consequences. For instance, in the Clinton—Lewinsky scandal in the 90s, then-President Bill Clinton committed a huge moral blunder in his sexual encounters with Monica Lewinsky. If those weren’t bad enough, what really upset the public was his blatant lies and twisting of the truth under oath. The more he lied, the greater the scandal became. Consequently, he lost all respect, integrity, and trust with the American people, resulting in his impeachment. Spiritual Foundations Tony Robbins says that It's not a mistake if you learn from it. What does the Bible say about making mistakes? “For a righteous man may fall seven times and rise again, but the wicked shall fall by calamity.” Proverbs 24: 16 “Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.” Philippians 3:12 “I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. All of us, then, who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you.  Only let us live up to what we have already attained.” –Philippians 3:14-16 “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.”- Isaiah 43: 18-19 Feature Presentation “How to Recover From Big Mistakes Gracefully” While this is an extreme example of a blunder, there’s a lesson there for all of us. Committing a blunder and responding poorly can have catastrophic consequences. Blunder Causes and Prevention Blunders occur for many reasons, but here are some of the common problems or oversights that lead to blunders: Cutting corners Rushing Inattention to detail Preoccupation with other things Stress Dishonesty Lack of a moral compass or failure to follow it Failure to put safeguards in place Failure to adhere to established safeguards Having too much on one’s plate Poor oversight or management of others Insufficient training Partnerships with those who don’t share your values Murphy’s Law As you read through that list of causes, notice that all are avoidable but the last one. But with diligence, honesty, integrity, attention to detail, demonstrating genuine care for others, having good systems and processes in place and following them we can usually avoid most blunders. Obviously, we want to do all we can to avoid mistakes and blunders from occurring in the first place. But whether we’ve taken the proper precautions or not, what do we do when a blunder occurs? 5 Steps for Recovering from a Blunder Gracefully Assess the damage. Determine the extent of the damage. How many people does it affect? How serious is the damage? What will be its impact on your business? How will it influence the way people see you? Seek the counsel of others on this matter, so you don’t underestimate the potential damage. Own up to it. Often, your immediate response to an exposed blunder is to defend yourself, make excuses, or blame someone else. These responses come naturally, especially if the blunder was unintentional. But none of those responses will help you recover. Instead, own the mistake. Take full responsibility for it, even if it was committed by someone else in your organization. Owning up to it demonstrates integrity and honesty. You may even earn a higher level of respect and trust by doing so. Admitting fault also helps you and your constituents move on from there. Make it right. This may be as simple as offering a sincere apology. But other times, you may need to offer a refund or something for free as an expression of goodwill. If in doubt, ask the person(s), “What can we do to make this right for you?” Look for the hidden gem. Quite often, if you make a mistake but seek to make amends graciously, you’ll find an unexpected blessing. Your gracious response to a blunder can demonstrate to others the depth of your commitment to them, the soundness of your integrity, or the extent of your care and concern. Look for that hidden jewel and capitalize on it. Put safeguards in place. If you’re unsure of how the blunder occurred, research it and discover what went wrong. Then, put systems and processes in place to prevent its recurrence. Mistakes and blunders happen to the best of us. To the extent possible, we want to avoid them. But when they do occur, seek to make them right and do so with all integrity. In this way, you can recover from a blunder gracefully and both you and your tribe will be glad you did. Sponsor This episode of the Ray Edwards Show is made possible in part by The All-New Ray Edwards Endorsed Service Provider & Certified Copywriter Program, where I help anyone who wants to make big money from their writing without getting a publisher or having a bestseller, and even if nobody knows who you are. Get my proven methods, systems, and even my endorsement – go to RayEdwards.com/ESPC   Subscribe to the show through Apple Podcasts and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will mention you on this show. Get The Transcript Right-Click and “Save As” to Get the PDF Transcript.

I’ve been thinking about what I would recommend as the best business to start today. Click here to download or listen to this episode now. Spiritual Foundations Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit”— yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.” James 4:13-15 English Standard Version (ESV) Feature Presentation: “The Single Best Business to Start (If You Need Money Now)” While thinking about this idea of the “ideal business”, I ran across an article by John Forde at AWAI. I will link to the article in the show notes. (https://www.awai.com/2009/05/is-copywriting-the-worlds-best-business/) Forde argued in that article that he has a set of objective criteria for what makes “The Ideal Business” … and these reasons actually go back to an article written in the 1970's by financial guru Richard Russell. Russell was the writer and publisher of “The Dow Theory Letters”, starting in 1958. Russell died in 2015. But as of the date of his passing, the Dow Theory Letters was the longest-running service continuously written by one person in the business. So no, he wasn’t writing about copywriting as we know it. And yet – he was a master of the craft. Anyway, with credit to John Forde and Richard Russell, here are the essential qualities of “the ideal business” for anyone to start. 1. “Sells the World.” 2. Enjoys Inelastic Demand” 3. “Cannot Be Easily Copied” 4. “Has Low Labor and Overhead Costs” 5. “Takes in Cash Billings” 6. “Is Free of All Kinds of Regulation” 7. “Is Portable” 8. “Satisfies Intellectual Needs” 9. “Leaves You With Free Time” 10. “Is Not Limited By Personal Output” I have two more “reasons why” to add to the list… (these are my own additions.) 11. “Easily Profits Whether Markets Are Up or Down”. 12. “Is a Minimalist Business”. What do you think? Do you agree or disagree? Shout out at raydwards.com/357 or on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram, where I am “rayedwards” Sponsor This episode of the Ray Edwards Show is made possible in part by The All-New Ray Edwards Endorsed Service Provider & Certified Copywriter Program, where I help anyone who wants to make big money from their writing without getting a publisher or having a bestseller, and even if nobody knows who you are. Get my proven methods, systems, and even my endorsement – go to RayEdwards.com/ESPC Resources awai.com Is Copywriting the World’s Best Business? John Forde takes a look at Richard Russell’s list of criteria for what makes an “ideal business” and analyzes how it shakes out from a copywriting perspective. Subscribe to the show through Apple Podcasts and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will mention you on this show. Get The Transcript Right-Click and “Save As” to Get the PDF Transcript.

Today on the show… The lazy way to riches – okay, so the title is designed to provoke you. “If work feels bad, you’re doing it wrong.” Click here to download or listen to this episode now. Spiritual Foundations Colossians 3:23-24 New International Version (NIV) 23 Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, 24 since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. Sponsor This episode of the Ray Edwards Show is made possible in part by The Prosperous Business Academy, where we take the ideas in this show and turn them into a practical application that can change every part of your life: Faith, Fitness, Family, Finance, Fun, Friends, and Fulfillment. Come join me in The Prosperous Business Academy – go to RayEdwards.com/join Feature Presentation: “The Lazy Way To Riches” 5 Reasons Why Doing Your LIfe’s WORK Might Feel Like You’re Being Lazy 1. Your life’s work is work you’re naturally drawn to. 2. Your life’s work comes easy for you, while it seems difficult to others 3. Your life’s work seems like play, not toil 4. Your life’s work is what you can’t stop thinking about when you're supposed to be “vacationing” 5. Your life’s work is what most satisfies you If you like the show, subscribe in Apple Podcasts or your favorite Podcast directory… leave us an honest rating & review… and share with your friends. Until next time, May the Lord bless you and keep you, may He make his face shine on you, and may you enjoy long life and prosperity. Peace to you and to your house. Subscribe to the show through Apple Podcasts and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will mention you on this show. Get The Transcript Right-Click and “Save As” to Get the PDF Transcript.

Today on the show… We all have a code of conduct. Do you know what yours is? Click here to download or listen to this episode now. Spiritual Foundations Then, as soon as they had come to land, they saw a fire of coals there, and fish laid on it, and bread… Jesus said to them, “Come and eat breakfast.” John 21:9, 12 Jesus shows us that God is our loving heavenly Father who cares about the big and small things in our lives! Feature Presentation: “What Is Your Personal Code Of Conduct” 1. I act in a manner that is cheerful, polite, courteous, and which honors God. 2. I take 100% ownership of my emotional state and my response to life. 3. I follow my current morning and evening success rituals consistently. 4. I progress daily toward the achievement of worthy goals. 5. I engage in physical exercise one hour per day. 6. I eat food, not too much, mostly plants; no ## sugar or flour. 7. I don’t drink alcohol or use other intoxicants to excess or to numb my feelings. If you like the show, subscribe in Apple Podcasts or your favorite Podcast directory… leave us an honest rating & review… and share with your friends. Until next time, May the Lord bless you and keep you, may He make his face shine on you, and may you enjoy long life and prosperity. Peace to you and to your house. Subscribe to the show through Apple Podcasts and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will mention you on this show. Get The Transcript Right-Click and “Save As” to Get the PDF Transcript.

Today on the show… Do you have a plan for Depression? I promise it has a plan for you Click here to download or listen to this episode now. Spiritual Foundations Whoever has no rule over his own spirit Is like a city broken down, without walls. Proverbs 25:28 Feature Presentation “The Ultimate Plan To Defeat Depression“ Hello, depressed Ray. This is the true you writing to remind you what you are feeling is a LIE and you must NOT accept it.  Some things to do: * Immediately tell Lynn and Sean I’m having a “False Identity Attack” and have them pray for me * Take communion * Exercise HARD * Worship MUSIC LOUD * Speak Gods truth out loud WITH FEELING * Activate my prayer network Read This Out Loud **Creed of the Unbeatable Man** When the world would beat me down, when the adversary comes against me, when the darkness seems overwhelming… when the mantle of mediocrity settles on my shoulders and seeks to weigh me down, when the grey and rainy skies won’t relent… when the arrows pierce my armor, the bloodshed seems like a tide, and the odds seem overwhelmingly stacked against me… in these times I will remember: There is One who is unbeatable, his name is Jesus, and I am a co-heir to his legacy. Before the world was, he existed and in fact, made the world for his purposes. I know that in this world I will have trouble, but I take courage because he has overcome the world. He is never surprised, discouraged, alarmed, or afraid. He sits at the right hand of his Father, God Almighty, and as Jesus is in heaven, so am I in this world. In him I am free. His Spirit, the same Spirit that raised him from the dead… that healed the sick, cleansed the lepers, caused demons to flee, and set right everything that has ever gone wrong or ever will… that same Spirit lives in me. The Spirit of God leads me into all truth, sets me free, and reminds me that through Jesus I am 100% righteous and worthy to receive God’s love. I am a saint and not a sinner, I am the light of the world, the city on a hill, the salt of the earth… redeemed, restored, renewed, raised to life… victorious, powerful, rich, healed, saved, delivered… growing in wisdom and favor with men and with God… an heir to the promises of Abraham and his descendants… a son and a friend of God… Through the finished work of the cross, I am protected, favored, loved, and approved… weighed and found worthy. I am beyond the reach of sickness, death, judgment, and condemnation. I may have trouble, but trouble never has me. I am unpunishable, unashamed, and unafraid. I am unbeatable. And so are you. Have you kept the “gates” up, or are you like a city with its walls broken down? If you’ve gotten off the path (no condemnation, just illuminate and recalibrate), remember… Ray’s 9-Step Anti-Depression Recipe 1. Prayer daily, as a conversation with God. 2. Practice the awareness of God’s Presence 3. Journaling daily (I use Day One, and a template of questions that I answer each day. I store the template as a TextExpander snippet) 4. Read 5 Psalms and 1 chapter of Proverbs daily (in addition to normal Bible reading/study) 5.  Vigorous Exercise 6 days per week (while listening to powerful, positive UPBEAT worship music – ie, no “I’ve written an ode to my problems” type songs) 6. Daily declarations (speaking out loud the promises of the word, see the book above 7. Keto Diet to regulate blood sugar and neurochemistry 8.  Supplementation (especially Vitamin D and B-Complex) 9.  Tracking mood daily (use MoodTracker App) If you have more than 3 days in a row, or 3 days out of a week, like this, it’s time to bring in more help (Pastor, Emotion Code RTF, Sozo, Psych, etc).   Subscribe to the show through Apple Podcasts and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will mention you on this show. Get The Transcript Right-Click and “Save As” to Get the PDF Transcript.

Today on the show… Lessons learned from one of the most influential people in my life – Jeff Walker. Click here to download or listen to this episode now. Spiritual Foundations The purposes of a person’s heart are deep waters, but one who has insight draws them out. Proverbs 20:5 Feature Presentation “7 Lessons Learned From Jeff Walker“ 1. The value of launching instead of STARTING. 2. The value of publishing. “Anyone today could be a publisher in five minutes or less and when you’re a publisher — you’re in business. ” 3. The value of knowing your clients. “Only sell what the market wants.” 4. The value of focus. “Your most scarce resource is your focus.” 5. The value of generosity. “First give; then receive.” 6. The value of investing. “Always invest in yourself.” 7. The value of believing the best. If you want to learn the best way to LAUNCH  business instead of STARTING a business.. go to rayedwards.com/plf If you like the show, subscribe in Apple Podcasts or your favorite Podcast directory… leave us an honest rating & review… and share with your friends. And here’s this week’s “Quote Worth Note” “The asset you must protect at all costs is your confidence .” —  Jeff Walker Until next time, May the Lord bless you and keep you, may He make his face shine on you, and may you enjoy long life and prosperity. Peace to you and to your house. Resources Mentioned In This Episode rayedwards.com/plf Subscribe to the show through Apple Podcasts and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will mention you on this show. Get The Transcript Right-Click and “Save As” to Get the PDF Transcript.

In this episode, Sean and I talk about the mechanical television, Tesla, beaming electricity through the air and how important education is, and why you should pay for it. Click here to download or listen to this episode now. Resources http://rayedwards.com/copymillion http://www.edwardscertified.com Subscribe to the show through Apple Podcasts and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will mention you on this show. Get The Transcript Right-click and “Save As” to Get the PDF Transcript.

Starting in my online business, I tried to take the cheap way out at every turn. That was a mistake. A costly one. “Experience is not the best teacher. Other people’s experience is the best teacher.” – Andy Andrews from The Noticer “The most expensive training is trial and error, arrogant independence, and foolish frugality.” – Ray Edwards You can live your best possible life by following the 5 Intentional Performance Principles in this episode. “If you think education is expensive try ignorance.” – Robert Orben If You Think Education Is Expensive, Try Ignorance Click here to download or listen to this episode now. Spiritual Foundations “Intelligent people are always ready to learn. Their ears are open for knowledge.” Proverbs 18:15 Are you always ready to learn? If not try to prepare your mind to always be ready to learn. You can learn something from every situation. Tip of the Week Late to the party on this one, but I am glad I found it. Kayak.com gets you the best price on flights. The app is ready to use.  Kayak.com Feature Presentation: “Avoid The Most Expensive Training and Invest In This Instead” The 5 Intentional Performance Principles 1. Intentional Learning- on purpose and by design 2. Intentional Association “You are the average of the five people you spend the most time with.” -Jim Rohn 3. Intentional Feedback “That which is measured improves incrementally; that which is measured and reported publicly improves exponentially.” 4. Intentional Discomfort “The level of your success will be in direct proportion to the level of uncertainty (discomfort) you can comfortably tolerate.” – Tony Robbins 5. Intentional Leadership Resources http://rayedwards.com/copymillion http://www.edwardscertified.com Kayak.com   Subscribe to the show through Apple Podcasts and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will mention you on this show. Get The Transcript Right-Click and “Save As” to Get the PDF Transcript.

Belief is a powerful force in the human life. What drives you to do what you do? And what causes you to do the things you don't do? Placebo effect / Nocebo effect Click here to download or listen to this episode now. Spiritual Foundations Matthew 6:34 (NIV) Therefore, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own… Tip of the Week CutStory for Instagram- You can take any video you have and it turns them into 15-second clips for your Instagram Story. Feature Presentation: “The Power Of Belief” Our beliefs are, in large part, not chosen by us consciously. Quote from Ayn Rand: As a human being, you have no choice about the fact that you need a philosophy. Your only choice is whether you define your philosophy by a conscious, rational, disciplined process of thought and scrupulously logical deliberation – or let your subconscious accumulate a junk heap of unwarranted conclusions, false generalizations, undefined contradictions, undigested slogans, unidentified wishes, doubts and fears, thrown together by chance, but integrated by your subconscious into a kind of mongrel philosophy and fused into a single, solid weight: self-doubt, like a ball and chain in the place where your mind's wings should have grown. How do we form beliefs? * Sensory data * what is it? * what does it mean? * what should I do? Beliefs help form * values * rules * behavior * quality of life 1. My value is in my ability to produce. (My value is in my ability to initiate production.) 2. I have to be the best if I want to lead. (Leadership is bringing out the best in others.) 3. I can’t help people who have more success than me. (I want ALL the people I help to have MORE success than me.) 4. I want no employees because employees equal problems. (Employees help me multiply wealth – for me, themselves, and our clients. Everybody wins) 5. Some people have special gifts no one else can have. (“What one man can do, another man can do.“) 6. The purpose of wealth is to help others. (The purpose of wealth is to show God’s glory – and the”glory of God is a man fully alive”.) 7. Life is hard, and then you die. (In this world we will have trouble – but Jesus has overcome the world.. so we should be encouraged.) Start noticing your beliefs. Start questing them. And if they don’t serve you, start changing them! To Change any Belief Undermine the supports Build support for the new belief Use the Pain/Pleasure balance Condition the new belief   Subscribe to the show through Apple Podcasts and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will mention you on this show. Get The Transcript Right-Click and “Save As” to Get the PDF Transcript.  

Any person can Turn Tragedy Into Treasure, Despair Into Delight, and Fear Into Power by Using the 7-Step Reality Remapping Technique. Click here to download or listen to this episode now. Polish-American scientist and philosopher  remarked that “the map is not the territory.” The 7-Step Reality Re-Mapping Technique 1. What is this and what does it mean? 2. What advantages does this provide? How can I use it? 3. What is the typical Disempowering Map of this? 4. How can I construct an Empowering Map? (beliefs, evidence, 5. Is it possible to turn Tragedy Into Treasure, Despair Into Delight, and Fear Into Power? How might I do that? 6. Am I willing to let go of tragedy, despair, and fear – and exchange them for triumph, delight, and power? 7. When am I willing to do that? Announcements “Copywriting As a Million Dollar Business” Workshop, August 29-31  (ONE SEAT LEFT) Click Here to Apply For The One Remaining Seat Subscribe to the show through Apple Podcasts and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will mention you on this show. Get The Transcript Right-Click and “Save As” to Get the PDF Transcript.

Does it sound crazy to pay $30,000 -to hang out with my friend? Why would I do that? Why expensive Masterminds, workshops, and training programs?  Click here to download or listen to this episode now. Tip of the Week: The LUMAfusion video editing app for your iPad is amazing.  4K video, multi-track, multiple audio tracks, multi-camera view, and transitions- you can create a finished video on your iPad. / (https://luma-touch.com/lumafusion-for-ios/) Spiritual Foundations: Proverbs 18:13 (NIV) To answer before listening – that is folly and shame. We have 2 ears and 1 mouth for a reason. Listen fully without thinking about what you are going to say next, while the other person is talking. Learn to truly listen and understand. Feature Presentation 1. Intrinsic Value: The actual market value of the training. 2. Appreciation Value: when we highly esteem something, it APPRECIATES in value. 3. Proximity: proximity is power. Personal connection. Observe habits, beliefs, patterns, language, focus, physiology, rituals, routines, and recipes. 4. People: to meet the people the leader attracts – new friends/peers who help me up-level my standards 5. Immersion: no distraction focus on ONE THING WARNINGS Don’t expect magical endowments Everything worthwhile requires WORK The training is as valuable to you as you are committed to it. Resources “Copywriting As a Million Dollar Business Workshop” rayedwards.com/copymillion LumaTouch LumaFusion Announcements CAMDB, August 29-31, rayedwards.com/copymillion/ Subscribe to the show through Apple Podcasts and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will mention you on this show. Get The Transcript Right-Click and “Save As” to Get the PDF Transcript.

I get this question, in some form or other, at least 3 times a week. It’s usually someone 50 or older, writing to me about why they can’t start a business online. It’s almost like they want me to sanction their excuses, “Am I too old?” “Is it too late?” “Isn’t this a young person’s game?” The answer to all these questions is… Click here to download or listen to this episode now. Tip of the Week: Old media is dying. Instagram & IGTV is the future of  Spiritual Foundations: Proverbs 12:1 (NIV) Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but whoever hates correction is stupid. Learn not to resent discipline and learn to love knowledge. Listen to this interview with Matt Crump as he talks about hope and identity in Christ. Feature Presentation “5 Reasons You're Not Too Old“ 5 Reasons You’re Not Too Old 1. You have knowledge. (facts, information, and skills acquired by a person through experience or education; the theoretical or practical understanding of a subject.) 2. You have experience. (practical contact with and observation of facts or events. ..the knowledge or skill acquired by experience over a period of time, especially that gained in a particular profession by someone at work.) 3. You have wisdom. (the quality of having experience, knowledge, and good judgment; the quality of being wise. the soundness of an action or decision with regard to the application of experience, knowledge, and good judgment) 4. You have resources. (a stock or supply of money, materials, staff, and other assets that can be drawn on by a person or organization in order to function effectively. … money/connections/time) 5. You have the advantage. (a condition or circumstance that puts one in a favorable or superior position.) ACTION STEPS 1. Stop using your age as an excuse. 2. Live on 25-year timelines (100 quarters) – Dan Sullivan 3. Learn modern media instead of criticizing it! Resources godsgotthis.love ernietheattorney.net Announcements CAMDB, August 29-31, rayedwards.com/copymillion/ Subscribe to the show through Apple Podcasts and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will mention you on this show. Get The Transcript Right-Click and “Save As” to Get the PDF Transcript.

Is it possible that by thinking a different way, you could experience life in a totally different way? Can you take control of your thoughts and eradicate depression and create joy?  Today as I interview Cliff Ravenscraft, we discuss living the life of your dreams, what conferences to attend this year, and why you should stop working for God's approval. Click here to download or listen to this episode now. Tip of the Week: Fix Your Podcast Audio The conference you must attend this fall is the Free the Dream Conference.  This is put on by Cliff Ravenscraft and is being held September 7-9 in Franklin, Tenessee. I will be speaking at it. If you want to change your life for the better, live the life of your dreams and break free from what is holding you back, You need to be at this event! Go to www.freethedream.live and get your tickets now. Spiritual Foundations: Be Decisive There is nothing we can do to get into heaven. We all try to align ourselves with our creator, so we can live in his kingdom by doing things on this earth, and we do not need to do that anymore!  All we need to do is have faith in Jesus Christ. That is the only thing we need to do to enter the kingdom. In the old covenant with God, we had to have ceremonious sacrifices in order to be cleaned in the eyes of God. When Jesus came, He removed the need for that system. The work was all done by Jesus Christ, and now we no longer have to do it. So now we are just supposed to enjoy God's approval. You are perfect just the way you are. You do not need to be something different. Just be who you are. Feature Presentation “Change Your Thinking And Change Your Life“ After being the Podcast Answer-Man, for so long, Cliff Ravenscraft decided to push that all away, and completely do something totally different. Why? Because he knew he was made to encourage, educate and inspire people and he wanted to help people live their best life. If you have hope, you have influence. Are you living the life that you are created to live? Find a mentor to motivate you and hold you accountable for your actions and your outcome. You have to shift your identity and what you are saying to yourself. Even though there are other people that teach what you may do, only you can do it and reach the people who would identify with you. Cliff suggests reading the ‘Big Leap” by Gay Hendricks. It teaches you to work within your zone of genius, where you can make the greatest impact. What will it take to get to do the things you love to do 80% of your day. What do you have to do to make that possible? Your language and what you tell yourself is so important. You have to make a decision to do what you want to do with no other possibilities or wavering. Free the dream is for people who have a dream inside of them that says I wonder what life could be like if I do _____. It is for anyone who is on the fence and doesn't know what their dream is, and also for those who had the dream, left their day job, and are struggling to succeed because they feel sleazy trying to sell their product. Free the dream will help to ignite you and your dream and set it into motion. Go to Cliff's event! Resources Mentioned In This Episode www.cliffravenscraft.com/p/free-the-dream Subscribe to the show through Apple Podcasts and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will mention you on this show. Get The Transcript Right-Click and “Save As” to Get the PDF Transcript.

Are you tired of feeling sick, broke or like you are a failure? Today we go through the 12 principles of Think and Grow Rich, how to focus on your one thing, talk about being decisive people like the Disciples, and how to to get the best audio quality in your podcast. Click here to download or listen to this episode now. Tip of the Week: Fix Your Podcast Audio If your podcast quietly is less than perfect, hire someone to edit it for you. Get rid of distractions and background noise in your audio.  Make your podcast more user-friendly. Danny Ozment, from Emerald City Productions, tells us how important the sound quality of your podcast is. Not only does it help your listeners create a relationship with you, it increases their ability to understand and listen while on the go. Don’t just hire anybody to help edit your podcast, but hire someone who really knows what they are doing. Spiritual Foundations: Be Decisive Be a decisive human being. When we are decisive, it demonstrates our faith. We know Who we are, WHOSE we are, and WHAT we stand for. It is easy to make decisions based on our morals and beliefs if we are decisive. Look at the Disciples, Jesus said “Come, follow me” and they did. They didn’t have to pray about it or ask someone if they should- they just did. Feature Presentation “The One Thing That Causes You To Fail- Or Succeed“ What is your one thing?  Napoleon Hill decided to take on the book Think And Grow Rich in a matter of 60-seconds, and he took 20 years to finish it.  Do you think that he was happy that he persevered and finished that project? It became his grand obsession for him, and I can relate. When I took Michael Hyatt’s “Best Year Ever” challenge in 2015, it became my grand obsession. I made having my best year ever, and my best life ever my destiny. If you think your destination is about what is set out for you., you are wrong. Your destiny is where you end up based on the past you decide to take. So, what have you decided your destiny is? I always suggest people sit down and write out their perfect day to help achieve their destiny.  I want you to sit down and write out every detail of what your perfect day would be. Every detail from the start of your day until your head hits the pillow at night.  It should be at least 3 or 4 pages long.  Were you bold enough? Is it really your perfect day? Now, you don't need some complicated plan or scheme to accomplish this “perfect day/perfect living”. You just need to focus on your 1 thing- your unique wisdom and knowledge only you have that you can share with others. As John Lee Dumas says- FOCUS. F-Follow O- One C- Course U- Until S- Success And Follow the 12-Principles of Think And Grow Rich Know what you are after Have Self-confidence Use the power of habit force Take Initiative and leadership Have imagination Have enthusiasm Have self-control Go the extra mile Have an attractive personality- Be you! Have accurate thinking FOCUS Co-operate with others So really, the ONE THING that causes you to fail or succeed is how you pursue your ONE THING. Resources Mentioned In This Episode Think and Grow Rich- By Napoleon Hill Romans 8:28 Emerald City Productions – https://emeraldcitypro.com Danny Ozment – https://dannyozment.com Podcast Launch Formula – https://dannyozment.com/podcast-launch-formula Subscribe to the show through Apple Podcasts and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will mention you on this show. Get The Transcript Right-Click and “Save As” to Get the PDF Transcript.

How to compress decades of progress into months … and get INSTANT MOMENTUM. This is the key to rapid business success. Click here to download or listen to this episode now. Tip of the Week Subscribe to and Comment on my YouTube Channel as we go for 5,000 subs …. and you can win prizes for commenting within the first hour of a new video being published. Check out YouTube.com/RayEdwards, subscribe, and hit the BELL icon.   Feature Presentation “Instant Momentum: How to Accelerate Your Success Now“ 5 Reasons Why You Need a Mentor 1. Accelerated Success. 2. Connections and Open Doors. 3. Impartation of Wisdom and Authority. 4. Maximize Opportunities. 5. Avoid Dangers. Resources Mentioned In This Episode Ray's YouTube Channel Subscribe to the show through Apple Podcasts and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will mention you on this show. Get The Transcript Right-Click and “Save As” to Get the PDF Transcript

In this episode, I interview John Morgan-Bush. We discuss his book, War on Fear, and his life as a George W. Bush Impersonator. John explains the difference between living with daily debilitating fear, and practical fears, such as the awareness of danger. He also helps us understand how we can overcome our fears by choosing to believe in truth. Click here to download or listen to this episode now. Resources http://www.waronfearbook.com www.georgebushimpersonator.com Subscribe to the show through Apple Podcasts and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will mention you on this show. Get The Transcript Right-Click and “Save As” to Get the PDF Transcript

I love to read. Books have been my primary source of education. Today I share 10 Books that changed my life. Also in this episode… if God is all powerful and all loving, why do bad things happen to good people? … what may be the perfect vlogging camera… and, of course, 10 books that changed my life. Click here to download or listen to this episode now. Tip of the Week: Canon M50 mirrorless camera. 1. Compact and lightweight. 2. Excellent image quality. 3. Quick and accurate autofocus. 4. Easy-to-use interface. 5. Flip-out screen. By the way, get a Rhode Video Micro, and the 11-22 EF-M lens. Spiritual Foundations: Why Does God Allow Bad Things Happen to Good People? Feature Presentation ” The 10 Books That Changed My Life“ 1. The Bible, by God 2. Atlas Shrugged and The Fountainhead, by Ayn Rand 3. Awaken the Giant Within, by Tony Robbins 4. The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, by Steven Covey 5. The Alchemist, by Paolo Coehlo 6. The Lord of the Rings, by J.R.R. Tolkien 7. The 4 Hour Workweek, by Timothy Ferriss 8. The Obstacle Is the Way, by Ryan Holiday 9. On Writing, by Stephen King 10. Destined to Reign, by Joseph Prince   Subscribe to the show through Apple Podcasts and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will mention you on this show. Get The Transcript Right-Click and “Save As” to Get the PDF Transcript.

Have you experienced a tragic loss? A devastating blow? A tough break? Have you had a setback? Even a minor inconvenience? When I was diagnosed with Parkinson’s in 2011, it seemed like a devastating blow and a tragic loss. Today I want to share how you can beat Parkinson’s – or any other problem you may be facing. Click here to download or listen to this episode now. Tip of the Week: 5 Steps to Get (and STAY) Motivated Define what you MUST do. Define the COST of NOT doing it and the REWARD for accomplishing the objective. Set a deadline, milestones, consequences, and rewards. Isolate the next action step toward the achievement and do it. Record, Report, and Renew. Spiritual Foundations: Charity TowardNone? Am I suggesting we eradicate charity and replace it with commerce? Since “no one gets out alive,” how does that impact your response to challenges? Was Jesus a pessimist?  How to process his statement, “In this world you will have trouble.” Feature Presentation “7 Principles- How to Beat Parkinson's (Or Anything)“ Principle of verbal cognitive framing: Speak what you want to experience. Principle of possibility thinking: What does this make possible? Principle of continuous feedback loops: What can you learn from this? Principle of utilization: How can you use this? Principle of results modeling: Who else has beaten or overcome this before me? Principle of commitment and consistency: Who is depending on my victory? Principle of experimentation: Try. Test. Repeat until victory. Resources Mentioned In This Episode John 16:33, the Bible Subscribe to the show through Apple Podcasts and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will mention you on this show. Get The Transcript Right-Click and “Save As” to Get the PDF Transcript.

If you want to build a purpose-driven, personality-based online business, blogging should be the cornerstone of your business. And I can think of no one better than Leslie Samuel to discuss this topic. Click here to download or listen to this episode now. Tip of the Week: 3Ways to Be More Productive Instantly Start using Block Time. Block similar tasks. Batching similar activities and blocking time will make you more productive. Set yourself up for success. Disconnect from the internet and make yourself distraction-free. Buy experience. Experience is the best teacher. Doesn’t it make more sense to benefit from the mistakes other people have experienced? Masterminds, online courses, and training programs give you the lessons learned by the experiences of others (without having to endure the difficulty of the experience). Spiritual Foundations: The Gift of No Condemnation Romans 8 explains the Gift of No Condemnation, “There is now no condemnation to those who are in Christ.” You should have no guilt. You shouldn’t beat yourself up for your mistakes. Yes, make amends if you have hurt someone, but feeling guilty should be over. It is FINISHED. He paid the debt for all your sin…past…present…future. Some worry that living with no condemnation will cause you to go and sin more. No, this is not true. If you truly understand this, the Spirit will help you to actually sin less. Although it seems counterintuitive, stop with the self–loathing and condemnation and realize you’re loaded with peace, love and joy. Stop self–condemnation and celebrate your righteousness and receive what Jesus has to give you. Feature Presentation “Why You Should Become a Blogger and How to Do It“ How stumbling onto a website, “Make Some Money on the Internet” changed my life –Why blogging about a subject you know and love can propel your life in a new direction When I earned $70 online in one day I knew my future would be different – How blogging landed me my dream job as a university professor (even though I didn’t have a PhD) How to make the monumental crossroads decision: should you leave your side business or your job? The wise counsel of my wife and how it has influenced our family, our finances, and our future How to turn your blog into a business – Why great content alone is not enough to build your blog–based business If you are solving a problem, then you have the foundation for a business – How I sold a study guide and advertisements on my site to monetize my blog The Top 3 Most Common Mistakes People Make with Blogging Business mistake – The problem is they build a huge audience and yet they don’t have anything to sell. Ask yourself, “What problem am I solving?” Many bloggers don’t look at how to transform their blog into a business. A blog isn’t a business, it’s a platform. If you want to make money you have to sell something of value. When there is a button to show you how to buy, you have a business. Content mistake – The content they create has no plan. The content should attract the right people and lead them in the direction of what you have to sell. This may be common knowledge, but it’s not common practice. I created a course called Blogging Business Foundations to help you learn to attract the right person with the right problem to your business. Marketing mistake – They don’t have a strategic way to promote their content. They falsely believe, “If I build it they will come.” How are you marketing it? Are you promoting without a specific plan? Pay attention to how others who are successful are marketing their blog and learn from their example. How false information leads to failure – If you have no list, no experience, and you don’t work you’ll fail – Why 80–90% of businesses fail and how to avoid this pitfall. If you’re looking for a magic money bullet this is not for you – How to build a business that allows you to travel, spend more time with your family and make more money than your job. How blogging gives you the freedom to create the life you want and to determine the future you desire – What if you had the financial freedom to spend time with your family and to create only work you love. What if you could make more money in one month than you usually make in a year – Imagine freedom to support your family both financially and by being present in their lives. God’s timing is best – How building my blog-based business gave me freedom to be with my mom in her last days. Resources Mentioned In This Episode Leslie Samuel’s blog: www.becomeablogger.com The 5 Second Rule by Mel Robbins. “You know what you should be doing. Count backward from five and then just jump. Go do that thing. Take that leap of faith. What could possibly happen if it works out?” Leslie Samuel comments on Mel Robbins’ book. Subscribe to the show through Apple Podcasts and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will mention you on this show. Get The Transcript Right-Click and “Save As” to Get the PDF Transcript.

Your belief determines your destiny. What you believe about anything determines what you receive, whether it's your life, your business, your personal performance or your identity. In this episode we're going to unpack why what you believe about yourself is more important than you may have ever suspected. It's not magic, it's just the logical progression of a thought process. We'll uncover this and more during a conversation I'm going to have with my good friend, Cliff Ravenscraft.   Click here to download or listen to this episode now. Tip of the Week This week I’m giving you three tips for the price of one. What a deal! If you are an entrepreneur and you're trying to grow your business, or you're a manager in an existing business, there are three big steps to take that will move you along much quicker than just trial and error. If you are an entrepreneur and you're trying to grow your business, or you're a manager in an existing business, there are three big steps to take that will move you along much quicker than just trial and error. Know your big reason why. There's a saying that goes something like this, “Once you have a big enough WHY, you  can  overcome  any HOW  that  needs to be  overcome  to  reach  your  objective.”  Knowing your reason why will help you push through the difficult hows that come up. Accelerate your business growth,  define your beliefs,  your values, and your rules.  This is something most people never bother to do. You must be clear on what your beliefs are about everything in your life, what your values are around the major sections of your life and your business, and what your rules are, to know that you're being consistent or in integrity with your beliefs and values. Choose your peers carefully. The people you spend the most intentional time with. The people you allow to influence your behavior,  opinions,  thoughts, and feelings.  You need to choose these people very carefully. They need to be people who are on the same path as you are. Maybe not the same business, but the same attitude toward business. The same approach to life.  An optimistic,  hopeful, centered approach to business and life. If the people you're surrounding yourself with most right now are not like that,  it becomes doubly important that you find a mastermind group that you can be part of, that will support you in your personal and business growth going forward. One such mastermind you might consider is our new paid mastermind.  There should still be openings available when this is published.  Maybe there won't be,  but you can find out by going to  rayedwards.com/empire.  If there are still openings,  then you'll be able to apply there. If not, you'll be able to join the waitlist. Those are your three steps to accelerate your business growth. Number one, know your big why.  Number two, define your beliefs,  values, and rules.  Number three, choose your peers carefully. Spiritual Foundations This week,  we're going to unpack your spiritual Christian baggage.  What do  I mean by Christian baggage?  Well, it grows from a metaphor that my friend,  Frank Viola, shared with me. He calls it the Christian backpack, I call it Christian baggage. It goes something like this,  when you become a  Christian,  when you accept  Jesus as your Lord and Savior, you're told beforehand that it's by grace that you're saved. It's not anything you can earn or deserve, it's given to you as a gift. It's a free gift. All you have to do is accept it. You  think  to  yourself,  “That  sounds  like  a  great  deal,  I'm  going  to  take  that  deal.” Then once you're “in the club”, the people in the Church begin to tell you what you need to be doing and not doing. They hand you a backpack or a piece of luggage, and they begin loading it up with bowling balls…sixteen-pound bowling balls. Those bowling balls come with innocent names like: Small Groups Serving in the Children’s Ministry Missions Tithing Ushering Be here every time the doors open Act like a Christian Don’t Swear Don’t watch TV Here’s what your political views should be And the list goes on and on. How does it feel to carry around all those bowling balls? There's no end to the bowling balls that we could add to your baggage, but what this does,  is it chokes off the real fruit of the spirit that you receive when you accept Jesus,  and the holy spirit enters into you.  When that happens,  you're filled with grace, and you're no longer under the requirements of the law. There are no rules for you to follow. Because when you really receive and appreciate the grace that you've been given,  your behavior begins to flow naturally from that. It's not a requirement, it's a supply of grace and ease that flows through you. If you've been carrying the Christian baggage around, my suggestion is, drop it-just drop it. But the spirit that raised Jesus from the dead manifest himself through you, and you'll begin to see the fruits of that spirit in every part of your life. You won't have to work on your behavior, your behavior will work on you. Feature Presentation “What you Believe is What You Receive“ What you believe is what you receive. It's true. It sounds mystical, but it's not. It's quite logical. We are going to get right into it with my good friend, Cliff Ravenscraft. Here are a few snippets from our conversation: What you believe impacts everything – Just because you know something in your head doesn’t mean it you know it in your heart (19:12) Repetition is the Mother of Skill – How to create lasting change (22:06) Sticking your toe in the water doesn’t work – The secret of breaking free from limitation and taking your life to the next level (26:26) Watch your mouth – How the power of words distorts the truth of how we see ourselves (28:30) The value of pain – How to make instant change easy (36:45) The Fat Man returns – Nothing changes until our identity changes (38:30) The birth of a New Identity – How the power of mentorship unleashed a powerful new beginning (42:56) The mirror might be lying to you – How to embrace The Rubber Band Principle (48:05) The 100-Day Dilemma – The destructive power of a temporary identity (50:07) Draw a line in the sand – How to fall in love with the daily grind (58:09) The most powerful force in human psychology – Why it’s important to understand and apply the joy of consistency (63:18) Free the Dream – How to awaken the dormant greatness inside you (66:27) Resources Mentioned In This Episode Empire Builder Mastermind Cliff Ravenscraft: What You Believe About Who You Are Will Determine Your Outcome Cliff Ravenscraft: Draw The Line in The Sand Tony Robbins: Creating Lasting Change Tony Robbins: Personal Power II Free The Dream Conference Subscribe to the show through Apple Podcasts and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will mention you on this show.   Get The Transcript Right-Click and “Save As” to Get the PDF Transcript.

What does it mean to be more persistent and why is it important? Click here to download or listen to this episode now. Tip of the Week: The ONE PLATFORM To Build Your Business   Looking for a solution to your tech nightmare when it comes to running your online business? Here’s what we use and recommend: Kajabi. It’s recommended more than any other Knowledge Commerce platform. The E-Learning market is soaring! Its projected valuation is $275 billion by 2022. The fastest and easiest way for people to launch their online business is by teaching others through online courses, coaching, and membership sites. You shouldn’t have to: pay for multiple tools to sell your knowledge, encounter tech headaches, or string multiple systems together to get your business off the ground. Kajabi: The Only Platform You Need Create the perfect product with their course builder Set up your own branded online store Get paid easily with a built-in shopping cart Send emails to potential buyers & customers Build fully automated marketing campaigns Kajabi provides digital entrepreneurs an all-in-one platform which enables them to create a life of freedom on their terms, whatever that may look like. Try the free trial and see for yourself…rayedwards.com/kajabi Spiritual Foundations: You Already Have All the Faith You Need Like everything else in the Bible, faith is all about Jesus. He is the author (the maker or creator) of our faith and he is the finisher. He completes it, fills in the gaps, and strengthens the weak places of our faith. Romans 12:2 The faith of Jesus is all the faith you will ever need! None of God’s promises are dependent on your effort or level of faith. You can’t work up enough faith to get the job done. Tap into the faith of Jesus. His faith is perfect – and it’s all the faith you need! Feature Presentation “5 Strategies to Make You More Persistent“ There is always some measure of persistence in any success story. But giving up offers no hope of success. Regardless of the outcome, persisting through tough times and overwhelming odds becomes part of the victory. Here are a few reasons to persist: Persistence gets results. Few things in life worth achieving are gained without persistence. Nearly all successful peoplelook up to have a long, hard trail of failures behind them, through which they persisted. The harder you work, the luckier you get. Persistence sets you apart from everyone else. Anyone can quit. Quitting is the easy way out. Persisting puts you in a whole different class of the elite. Persistence builds character. Giving up takes no effort. Giving up gives one a false sense of relief that ultimately Feels like defeat. Any growth of muscle or character requires resistance training. Persistence always offers some measure of success. Just by hanging in there, you’ve accomplished more than most. But in quitting there is no success. Abraham Lincoln, a man all too familiar with failure said, “If you are resolutely determined to accomplish some thing, the thing is more than half done already. Always bear in mind that your resolution to succeed is more important than any other thing.” But when the bills are piling up and everyone is telling you to hang it up and get a “real job,” it’s hard to persist. How do you maintain persistence in the face of so much apparent failure and resistance? Here are 5 Strategies for Boosting Persistence: Believe in yourself and what you have to offer. Sylvester Stallone was rejected by more than 600 casting agents before developing his Rocky screenplay. His first film took in $117 million (in 1976 dollars) and made him more than $5 million. “Belief is the thermostat that regulates what we accomplish in life. A person is a product of his own thoughts. Believe BIG! Adjust your thermostat forward. Launch your success offensive with honest, sincere belief that you can succeed. Believe big and grow big.” — David J. Schwartz from The Magic of Thinking Big Keep trying new things. Keep trying new things. The Wright Brothers experienced thousands of failed experiments before getting it right. Discover your niche. Experiment. “The way to succeed is to double your failure rate.” — Thomas J. Watson, founder of IBM. Redefine failure. View minor failed experiments as learning experiences. Now you know one more way not to succeed. Instead, view quitting as a failure. As long as you persist, you haven’t failed. When you fall, keep getting up. Expect to fall, trip, and stumble, but keep getting up. And soon you’ll find that your business is not only walking but running like a gazelle. Don’t listen to naysayers. When Mark Victor Hansen and Jack Canfield wrote the Chicken Soup for the Soul series, they were rejected by 140 publishers. Publishers told them the book wouldn’t Sell. But when the two authors finally landed a contract with a publisher willing to take a risk, their books sold over 100 million copies! Don’t listen to naysayers. Instead spend time with those who believe in you, support you, and encourage you. Persistence is a key ingredient for success. So, keep at it. Don’t give up. Persist, because success is right around the corner. Resources Mentioned In This Episode rayedwards.com/kajabi Announcements PERMISSION TO PROSPER 2018 Ready to shake off the lies and limitations that stop you from prospering? God’s desire for you is that you should prosper in all things, and be in good health, just as your soul prospers. At PTP 2018, we’ll clear the path for you to experience full prosperity, not only in the area of finance, but in all 7 major zones of life: Faith, Fitness, Family, Fun, Finance, Friends, and Fulfillment. Join us at this life-changing event, where we will help you: Construct your own prosperity blueprint. Remove the inner conflicts about money, wealth, and possessions. Learn from our world-famous speakers, including Jeff Goins, and many more surprise guests to be announced soon. PTP is your key to unlock the vaults of wealth, wellness, and wisdom that will prosper you and everyone around you. REGISTER Now at the rate of $497 per ticket. VIP seating and red carpet perks are also available, including personal time with Ray. To get the details, and to get your ticket, go to permissiontoprosper.com Subscribe to the show through Apple Podcasts and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will mention you on this show. Get The Transcript Right-Click and “Save As” to Get the PDF Transcript.

Have you ever struggled with missed deadlines, hurried work, increased stress, and lost opportunities because of procrastination? Imagine overcoming procrastination once and for all, so you restore joy for your work, strengthen your relationships, and grow your business. I once was a great procrastinator.  My motto was, “Hey anything worth doing is worth putting off!”  I felt I was “just wired that way.” But over time, I’ve overcome the Procrastination Plague and you can too. You weren’t “just born that way!” Click here to download or listen to this episode now. Tip of the Week: Stop This! Stop saying you “have to”… you don’t “have to” do anything. What if I don’t? If #1 doesn’t cause disaster, why bother? If it still needs to be done have someone else do it. Spiritual Foundations “And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from His glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus.” — Philippians 4:19, NLT When Jesus cried out, “It is finished!” the wall of sin that separated us from God crumbled, and God unleashed a flood of His grace upon us. That grace is still flowing toward us today, supplying whatever we need in this life, daily loading us with benefits! My friend, the essence of God’s grace is SUPPLY. When you are conscious of His supply, instead of the demands of the world, you are under His grace. That’s when you will see His abundant provision for every need and situation. So if you’re having trouble finding a job, beyond trusting God for employment, see the Lord stirring up the dormant giftings and abilities that He has already placed in you. As you hone these gifts, the Word of God declares that your gifts will unlock doors of opportunities in due season and cause you to stand before great men. Don’t just believe you’ll be employed, believe God to also prepare, grow and develop you for a position of influence in your industry! Feature Presentation “The Cure for Procrastination“ Procrastination is NOT a permanent personality trait. If you tend toward procrastinating, you can change. But first, let’s look at some of the pitfalls of procrastination and why this is such a crucial problem. Pitfalls of Procrastination Missed deadlines – Customers, clients, vendors, etc. are counting on us to complete a task or project. But when we put off completing that task or project, we fail to meet its deadline. Hurried or sloppy work – When we postpone a project and then rush to try and complete it, our work tends to be second-rate. We miss details and can’t give the project the attention it deserves. Increased stress – When we put off an assignment until the last minute, we sentence ourselves to a life of stress until that assignment is finished. Under stress like that, our health and relationships tend to suffer. Missed opportunities – Entrepreneur Victor Kiam wrote, “Procrastination is opportunity’s natural assassin.” When we put things off till the “eleventh hour,” we’re unprepared to take on new opportunities that present themselves. We’re stuck, trying like mad to finish the obligations that have been piling up and so these new and exciting opportunities pass us by. Defeated attitude – Eventually, the consequences of procrastination catch up with us and get us down. We feel bad about ourselves for all our missed deadlines, the stress we’ve caused ourselves, and for letting others down. We find it hard to climb out of this hole we’ve dug for ourselves. Damaged reputation – Almost without exception, when there are deadlines involved, other people are counting on us. But when we’re late or produce less-than-quality work time and time again, we get a reputation for being unreliable. And that can kill any business. As you can see, there’s a long, compelling list of the dangers of procrastination. But what causes it? Why do we fall into its trap? A few of the reasons for procrastination might be: Habit Lack of planning Misplaced priorities Distractions Lack of self-discipline Fear of failure Fear of the task itself Unsure of how or where to start on a project All those reasons and more can lead us into the trap of procrastination. So, let’s focus on the cure! The Cure for Procrastination Only take on projects that fit. One of the things that promote procrastination is taking on projects that don’t fit our mission, values, or what we enjoy. Accepting these makes us regret it later and we drag our feet. In the end, nobody’s happy. Get it on the calendar. Put your projects, tasks, appointments and any other crucial dates on a calendar that is easy for you to monitor. This is vital for breaking a procrastination habit. Prioritize tasks. Check your calendar often to determine what’s due when. Figure out which projects take priority and tackle them in their priority order. Make a list daily and weekly of what you need to complete to stay on track. Anticipate and eliminate distractions. This takes self-discipline. We especially must resist the temptation to run after those “shiny things” that present themselves to us and distract us from what’s really important. Follow through with action. Action is the antidote for both procrastination and fear. You’ve taken all the above steps, now follow through. Get help when needed. Sometimes a project ends up being much larger than we anticipated. Or perhaps the project involves an expertise that we’re short on. If so, partner with someone to help you and do this early enough that you’re not dragging them past a deadline as well. Procrastination will ultimately kill our joy for our work, destroy our relationships and undermine our business. If you tend towards procrastination, don’t put off following through with these cures for procrastination! Resources Mentioned In This Episode PERMISSION TO PROSPER 2018 Ready to shake off the lies and limitation that stop you from prospering? God’s desire for you is that you should “prosper in all things, and be in good health, just as your soul prospers.” At PTP 2018 we’ll clear the path for you to experience full prosperity, not only in the area of finance but in all 7 major zones of life: faith, fitness, family, fun, finance, friends, fulfillment. Join us at this life-changing event, where we will help you construct your own prosperity blueprint… remove the inner conflicts about money, wealth, and possessions… and learn from our world-famous speakers, including Jeff Goins, and more surprise guests to be announced soon. PTP is your key to unlock the vaults of wealth, wellness, and wisdom that will prosper you and everyone around you. Register now. VIP seating and red carpet perks are also available, including personal time with Ray. To get the details, and to get your ticket now at the lowest possible price, go to permissiontoprosper.com   Subscribe to the show through Apple Podcasts and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will mention you on this show. Get The Transcript Right-Click and “Save As” to Get the PDF Transcript.

In our fast-paced and entertainment-saturated culture, it’s easy to let book-reading fall by the wayside. In fact, many studies show that after college, the average person only reads 3 more books for the rest of their life! And don’t be tempted to think that the reading of books is old-fashioned and no longer relevant. There is power in the written word. And whether you’re an entrepreneur, business person, or simply someone who wants to continue to grow, reading books is an effective way to continue your personal development.   “You will be the same person in five years as you are today except for the people you meet and the books you read.” — Charlie “Tremendous” Jones Click here to download or listen to this episode now. Tip of the Week Since developing Parkinson’s in 2011, I have been receiving deep-tissue massage therapy as part of my treatment. I started with once a month, then once a week, and these days I get 3 massages a week. Here’s what this has taught me: your body is the frame through which you see the world. If the frame is bent, twisted, or in pain… you will experience the world that way. Get over your hangups, and go get a massage from a reputable massage therapist. Try it at least once per week for a month or more and let me know the difference it makes in your life! Spiritual Foundations Pray Prayers of Proclamation. When you have a need, do you pray or do you plead? Do you begin your prayers with words like, “Please God, please! God, I beg You to have mercy!” Prayers that plead and beg imply that your heavenly Father is not willing to help you. Yet, He is far more gracious and willing to give to you than you are willing to ask, think or imagine. (Ephesians 3:20) He desires above all things that you prosper and be in health, even as your soul prospers. (3 John 1:2) In fact, long before you have a need, God has already met that need. Long before you knew you needed a Savior, He sent His Son to be your Savior. This is your God! He is a good God. So when you beg Him for something, you are actually saying that He is reluctant to give and needs to be persuaded strongly before He will move. Yet, He is not like that. Jesus knew the heart of the Father. When He saw the woman bound with a spirit of infirmity, He did not pray, “Oh Father! She has been suffering for 18 long years! I beseech You, Father, have mercy on her. Please, please heal her!” No, when Jesus saw her, He immediately proclaimed, “Woman, you are loosed from your infirmity!” He spoke this way because He knew the heart of the Father. He knew that the Father wanted her delivered from her crippling condition. At the end of a church service, I don’t stand and pray, “Oh God, please bless Your people. Oh God, do keep them. Oh God, be ever so gracious to them!” Instead, I proclaim, “The Lord bless you. The Lord keep you. The Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious to you!” Beloved, when you pray, proclaim your healing, protection and provision because your Father’s heart overflows with love for you. And when you declare it, He sanctions it. When you declare it, He establishes it! Feature Presentation “9 Reasons You Need a Book-Reading Plan“ Here are 9 reasons you need a book-reading plan: Reading helps keep you current. Books can help keep you current on business trends and strategies. You can either spend thousands of dollars flying around the country going to seminars and masterminds or spend a few dollars on a book! Consider reading Michael Hyatt’s book, Your Best Year Ever – A 5-Step Plan for Achieving Your Most Important Goals. Provides material for your own writing and podcasting. Reading books offers you fresh information, strategies for presenting that information, and great stories to share with your readers. Read Chris Ducker’s book, The Rise of the Youpreneur. Reading books exercises your brain. Joseph Addison wrote, “Reading is to the mind what exercise is to the body.” Believe me, in this competitive environment, you don’t want a “flabby” brain!  I challenge you to read a book like, Miracles by Eric Metaxas. I guarantee that book will give your brain a workout.   Expands your worldview. Let’s face it. Most of us live and work within a fairly small bubble of relationships. Our market is defined by what and who we know. Reading can broaden our perspective. Consider reading, Blue Ocean Strategy: How to Create Uncontested Market Space and Make the Competition Irrelevant by W Chan Kim. Stimulates new ideas. Frequently, I’ll be reading a book and the content I’m reading launches me into a totally new idea. Reading does that! If you need some fresh ideas and new thinking for your business, read a book. Try reading, The 4-Hour Work Week by Tim Ferriss. Increases your vocabulary and conversational skills. Whether you realize it or not, when you’re reading, your mind assimilates new words and phrases. These new modes of expression become part of your vocabulary and find their way into your conversation without your conscious effort. Read Perry Marshall’s book, Evolution 2.0. Makes you a better writer. When you read a book that’s well written, your own writing begins to take on the qualities that you admire in others. Here’s a book that focuses on writing skills, but also features writing at its best: On Writing Well by William Zinsser. Corrects and/or corroborates your thinking. Reading what others think about a topic can either correct our misconceptions or confirm what we’ve held to be true. A best-selling classic that will either challenge or confirm your beliefs is Lee Strobel’s The Case for a Creator. Enriches your life. So far, we’ve been talking primarily about growing our intellect and our business. But reading for pleasure offers many benefits as well. Reading a book before bedtime is a great way to wind down and relax. Recreational reading opens a whole world of history, intrigue, humor, adventure, and fantasy. Reading kicks the borders off your imagination. Patrick Rothfuss’s epic novel, The Name of the Wind, is sure to provide you with an enriching experience. Creating A Reading Plan Commit to read a book a month. Create a list of books that you want to read. Read on an e-device or paper. (Consider the option of highlighting and scribbling notes in the margins of a printed book.) Find a reading buddy. Listen to audiobooks. (The retention rate for listening to a book drops significantly over reading it.) Resources Mentioned In This Episode Permission to Prosper is your key to unlock the vaults of wealth, wellness, and wisdom that will prosper you and everyone around you. Join us at this life-changing event, where we will help you construct your own prosperity blueprint… remove the inner conflicts about money, wealth, and possessions… and learn from our world-famous speakers, including Jeff Goins, and more surprise guests to be announced soon. VIP seating and red carpet perks are also available, including personal time with Ray. To get the details, and to get your ticket now at the lowest possible price, go to permissiontoprosper.com   Subscribe to the show through Apple Podcasts and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will mention you on this show. Get The Transcript Right-Click and “Save As” to Get the PDF Transcript.  

On this week’s podcast, we discuss “To increase your performance, increase expectation.”  Take note as we shine a spotlight on the 7 Lies That Are Destroying Your Life. If you’ve ever said, “there is nothing I can do, or I have mastered that, or I know that already,” be sure to listen and discover the lies that are quietly destroying your life. Click here to download or listen to this episode now. Tip of the Week To increase performance, increase expectation. Discover how mastermind groups, the Habit share app, and coaching programs are all about increasing performance by increasing your expectation and your activity. Spiritual Foundations Jesus never gave the sick a sermon first or examined their inner condition first.  He never asked what sin they might have committed to merit their sickness.  This would have been harsh and would have hurt the sick even more. So, why are we so quick to judge the sick? Jesus said, “Whoever comes to me, I will not reject.”  This is why it is always wrong to think that illness is a “blessing in disguise.” Let us remember this, all who came and those who brought the sick and lame to Jesus had a great deal of faith and hope. The Savior welcomes each one who comes to him. Remember this simple principle: Good things come from God and bad things come from the Devil.  Feature Presentation “7 Lies That Are Destroying Your Life” The first rule of science is you must not be fooled – Uncover why you are the easiest person to fool. Discover why “I know that already, that’s common knowledge” is lie #1 that is destroying your life – Knowing or doing, this is the key difference that impacts everything in your life. The danger of assumptions, automatic rebuttals and refutation – Why camping out in the rebuttal zone gets you nowhere. Bursting the “unique snowflake” myth – How to grasp the reality that plus or minus 5% we are all the same (including our businesses). “What one person can do another person can do.” – How to harness the power of the Anthony Hopkins’ philosophy and grow your business and your life. Why the cemetery is filled with people who had long “someday” lists – How to overcome the illusion, “I have plenty of time,” because it’s stealing the life you want. What if money is not a solution to your spiritual problems – For once and all settle this fundamental question about money. Have you been fooling yourself when it comes to mastery? – In order to move forward it’s essential to distinguish between hearing and doing and growing and dying. Since mastery is a path not a destination, examine your life – If there is no steady state and you are either growing or dying, which are you? How to exploit the power of the stimulus, pause, response cycle and transform your life. Why right thinking will be rewarded, and wrong thinking will be punished. Discover Victor Frankl’s research on victimhood and the power of choice – The one freedom you have that can’t be taken from you. Resources Mentioned In This Episode Mastermind groups, the Habit share app, and coaching programs Man’s Search for Meaning by Victor Frankl   Subscribe to the show through Apple Podcasts and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will mention you on this show. Get The Transcript Right-Click and “Save As” to Get the PDF Transcript.

Have you ever wondered if those AHA! Moments, Big Ideas, Eureka Breakthroughs just happen or if you can set yourself up to experience more of them? What if you could create an environment to generate Brilliant Ideas… On today’s podcast, I share how you can set yourself up for more AHA! moments by adding these 5 activities to your routine. Click here to download or listen to this episode now. Tip of the Week How can you read an extra book a week, with no added time? Read audio books and speed them up – during your workout, while your cooking, as you’re working around the house. As you listen to an audiobook you’re expanding your thinking, fostering creativity, and setting yourself up for more AHA! moments. Spiritual Foundations Why doesn’t God answer every prayer?  Have you considered, what if He does, and sometimes His answer is “no”? But he said, “Ask whatever you will in My name.” What does it mean to ask something in someone’s name? In biblical times, when decrees and commands were given in the name of the ruler they were speaking in “his name.” Feature Presentation “How To Have More Aha Moments“ Imagine the impact of putting more knowledge in your brain with no net time increase and very little effort. How to foster creativity – Understanding why new thoughts and original ideas don’t happen in a vacuum. The magic phrase I use to uncover underlying thoughts and motivations. How Dale Carnegie’s principle about asking questions transformed my interactions. The power of actually listening – Why it’s important to avoid the “me-too switch.” How taking notes is powerful, even if you never read them again – Welcome to the ideahopper.com. Discover the danger of “echo-chambering yourself.” – How confirmation bias is hindering and minimizing your openness to diverse thoughts. How to create more AHA! moments – Read more, listen more, take more notes, intake from wide sources, set aside time for rest. What if you have a new twist on an old idea? – Why taking time to rest is a catalyst for new ideas. Judging, wrestling, and the battling over pro-life and pro-choice – How to talk with someone who has opposing views and learn to understand people with different viewpoints. Your “ghostly second mind” – Discover your library of conclusions and how rest and relaxation link ideas together. Resources Mentioned In This Episode Permission to Prosper is your key to unlock the vaults of wealth, wellness, and wisdom that will prosper you and everyone around you. Join us at this life-changing event, where we will help you construct you own prosperity blueprint… remove the inner conflicts about money, wealth, and possessions… and learn from our world-famous speakers, including Jeff Goins, and more surprise guests to be announced soon. Register now at the early bird rate of just $497 per ticket… prices increase on May 7th – this is the lowest price you will receive on this ticket. VIP seating and red-carpet perks are also available, including personal time with Ray. To get the details, and to get your ticket now at the lowest possible price, go to permissiontoprosper.com. Subscribe to the show through Apple Podcasts and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will mention you on this show. Get The Transcript Right-Click and “Save As” to Get the PDF Transcript.

Success comes with surprises — the ones we don’t like, we call problems. Doesn’t the Bible say to be content with what you have? A tip on how to say “No” to someone who won’t take “no” for an answer. Click here to download or listen to this episode now. Tip of the Week How to say “No” to someone who won’t take “No” for an answer Don’t give them an opening. Don’t allow a loophole. Email templates for saying “No” #1 The Definitive NO Name, Thanks so much for your interest in having me (WHATEVER THEY ARE ASKING), Unfortunately, due to my existing commitments, my answer is “No.” Just to prevent any confusion, this answer is “No,” and is not “maybe later” or “check back.” There is no need to check back. The answer will not change. Thank you again for asking. Best of luck in finding (WHATEVER THEY ARE ASKING). Ray Edwards # 2 The Next Level NO Name, I apologize for not being clear. The answer is “No,” and the answer will not change. Anything else you feel you MUST communicate should be directed to my attorney: ATTORNEY’S CONTACT INFO. This email marks the end of our communication. I will not respond to any future emails or other contact, nor will my team. Not only will we not respond, your messages will be blocked; we will not read them. I’m sorry the situation came to this. I wish you well. Ray Edwards Spiritual Foundations Doesn’t the Bible say to be content with what you have? We’re Christian Mythbusters. Philippians 4:11-13 NLT (New Living Translation) The Apostle Paul explained, “Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned how to be content with whatever I have. I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. For I can do everything through Christ who gives me strength.” You can be content while building wealth, Paul is not saying, “Don’t aspire to having goals or to do things.” He’s saying don’t let your circumstances dictate your mindset. Feature Presentation “The Dark Side of Success“ The Dark Side of Success: 5 Challenges We Didn’t Expect Your success changes relationships. Success is a magnifying lens for your personality. You can become obsessed, which is not healthy. You can find your identity wrapped up in your success. Higher revenues can equal lower pay. Why it’s harder to make $100,000 than $1 million dollars — How to be courageous and prepare for those in your life who will say, “You owe it to me.” 11:00 Unwinding the concept of no regrets in Heaven — Why will our tears need to be wiped away? What tears? Why tears? 12:45 If you’re unhappy when you’re poor, will you be unhappy when you are rich? — How the volume of who you are is magnified by success and money. 15:18 Obsession — Why it’s crucial to distinguish whether you’re pursuing or preoccupied with success. 17:00 Uncover identity issues based on bank balances and status — How to discover if you are only living for the approval of others. 18:44 Solving a puzzle leads to a higher-level problem — What you can learn from a good Roman emperor. 21:10 Do you find happiness? — How discovering what you think about obstacles, puzzles, and problems helps you create happiness. 23:01 Resources Mentioned In This Episode Email templates for saying “No” Philippians 4:11-13 NLT Shake off lies and limitations related to prosperity, construct your own Prosperity Blueprint when you join us at our new conference this summer, check it out at PermissiontoProsper.com. Subscribe to the show through Apple Podcasts and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will mention you on this show. Get The Transcript Right-Click and “Save As” to Get the PDF Transcript.

We’ve just come off two years where we crossed the one million mark in revenue. We’re working on year number three and it looks like a pretty sure bet we’re going to do it again. I’ve had a lot of questions and we’ve hosted a couple of workshops where we actually show people how we’ve done it. Today we pull back the curtain and share a behind-the-business discussion to reveal the secrets to: How we got to our first million-dollar year. How we could have done it sooner. Things we would do differently. Click here to download or listen to this episode now. Tip of the Week 3 ways to grow your list faster. Create a lead magnet that no one else is offering. Go and find three successful people in your arena, download and study their lead magnets. Make yours better by asking questions like: What did they leave out? What did they include that is unnecessary? How can you improve the formatting? Have a contest. The interest and commitment level is going to be lower than your normal opt-in, but remember they are on your site to begin with, because they’re interested in your topic. Do some list swapping. No, not a product launch where you get your JV partners to mail for you and you pay them. I’m simply suggesting, “If you promote my newsletter to your readers, I’ll promote yours to my readers.”  You both gain. Spiritual Foundations Scripture without commentary, Psalm 1:1 “Blessed is the man who walks not in the council of the ungodly, nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law he meditates day and night. He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth fruit in it’s season. Whose leaf also shall not wither, and whatever he does shall prosper.” Feature Presentation “How We Had Our First Million Dollar Year” When you find a sense of urgency you can increase your level of seriousness by a factor of 100 — How to stop screwing around and start acting like you don’t have all the time in the world so you propel your business toward your first million-dollar year.  7:34 Why embracing the Roger Bannister principle breaks barriers, rewrites history, and gets you to your goals faster than you ever imagined possible.  8:18 If you think it’s harder to become a millionaire or a billionaire than ever before, then you are sadly mistaken — Examine the big bucket of sloppy lies behind excuses like:  “It’s a bad economy. Nobody gets ahead. Nobody will give you a chance. The rich get richer, the poor get poorer.” 9:54 Why my vow after leaving corporate America held me back for years — How investing heavily in a team empowers you to reach your goals. 10:51 The power of a JV launch — Examine how to generate considerable income and grow your list quickly by joining forces in a JV launch.  12:10 If you have a singular focus on the million-dollar mark you’re likely to hit that number.  12:56 How skill, talent, and reading the marketplace correctly are essential in helping you hit your goals.  13:16 Why pricing correctly, knowing what your customer wants and needs and getting your copy correct creates a huge competitive advantage.  13:23 Why embracing the Covey concept is essential to growth — How to overcome the dull-axe dilemma.  13:32 What I’d do differently — How to increase margins so you keep more of the money. 14:10 What I learned about watching expenses, creating accountability, and not building a business based solely on the one pillar income of a JV Launch.  14:48 How JV launches help you escape velocity and break free from earth’s gravity of needing more money and more customers.  15:50 It’s common knowledge but uncommon practice — Why establishing multiple streams of revenue is wise and shooting the Saturn V rocket over and over is massively inefficient. 16:00 Out of the spirit of play comes creativity, and out of creativity comes creation…money, money, money — What if working less and playing more actually fosters business growth. 17:51 Consider the influence of “intentional distractions.” — Imagine the impact on your business and your life if you could spend a month in another culture, meeting people with other beliefs, and different approaches to life and business. 18:36 Examine what essentialism means in your business — How new ideas, new directions, new things to do may be keeping you distracted from what’s essential in your business. 19:16 Have you hit the million dollar mark in your business? What lessons have you learned? Share your answers on social media or in the comment section of our blog.   Resources Mentioned In This Episode Psalm 1 Subscribe to the show through Apple Podcasts and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will mention you on this show. Get The Transcript Right-Click and “Save As” to Get the PDF Transcript.

If your self-worth comes from your bank account, you’re going to be a nervous wreck the rest of your life. You’d better find a different foundation to stake your life on. Today we discuss 15 slavery-inducing, life-murdering lies about money that you’ve probably been told. We also share 15 Liberating Truths About Money. “The truth will set you free but at first it will probably piss you off.” — Joe Kloss Click here to download or listen to this episode now. Tip of the Week 3 Lead Magnets You Can Create in about One Hour Checklist: Describe steps, or a process, what you always include or exclude…a great example is the checklist for a minimalist traveler: What to Include in Your One Travel Bag Resources list: Tools, books, websites you use that will help others Templates: A done-for-you, simple, fill-in-the-blank resource you use in your business that others will find helpful Improve the lead magnet by hiring a designer. Do your research, but a designer on a site like Fiverr.com is a good, inexpensive option to improve your lead magnet. Spiritual Foundations   Why did Jesus come to the world? According to the Bible, He came to the world to reveal the Father, to be a witness of the Father. As followers of Christ, what is our witness? We too represent God for others. Our witness of Him to people is how we love others. When we honor, love, and respect others with our words and actions we are accurately reflecting how God sees them. By loving people, we are exposing the potential He put within them to be great, significant, and powerful people. John 13:34-35,  “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are My disciples, if you love one another.” So you’ve taken the discipleship classes and attended the cell groups, yet the assignment according to Christ is to LOVE one another. Feature Presentation “15 Liberating Truths About Money”   Ever engage in “Wishcraft?” — How your beliefs either free you or enslave you and why “wishing it” doesn’t make it come true. 9:16   Money is the root of all evil — How one misquoted, misunderstood principle has redefined value and what is fundamentally good with money. 10:00   It takes money to make money — What if money is the product of creativity and you can create money out of nothing.   Uncover this unique distinction of the USA — How America was the first government designed to help people make money.  11:10   Money is “dirty,” it’s called “filthy lucre,” and people are “filthy rich,” — How our biases about money are revealed in our word choices.   Why many believe the height of virtue is being poor — Discover how money doesn’t make you poor and poverty doesn’t make you holy. 12:54   Discover how pride and snobbery are not limited to one social class — How hostility related to money may be quite different from what you expected. 13:00   Rich people don’t get into Heaven — Why you need to read and understand the entire story of the Rich Young Ruler (before you give away all your possessions).  14:12   Who gives us all good things to enjoy? — If money is a necessary evil and the best things in life are free, why does God bless us?  17:24   Why it’s essential to examine your insecurity of who you are and how you see money (and your relationship to it).  18:38   Discover whether formal education is a requirement for making money — How lack of education is an unfounded excuse for living in poverty.  19:26   How to understand the nature of money and how to free yourself from the “burden” of money.   20:36   What looks like hard work to one person looks like fun to another — Uncover the truth related to the “hard work” of making money.  21:20   Why uncovering your premises and challenging your thinking about money and wealth is essential.  22:39 Resources Mentioned In This Episode The Twelve Steps to Happiness: A Practical Handbook for … Quoteinvestigator.com Fiverr.com Subscribe to the show through Apple Podcasts and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will mention you on this show. Get The Transcript Right-Click and “Save As” to Get the PDF Transcript.  

In today’s episode we discuss whether it’s more virtuous to give your products away for free, or to charge for your work. If a corporation is making 25% profit or more, eyebrows go up and there may be pressure to “give back.” Have you ever wondered about that language? It’s as if this implies they “took it” from someone. Even someone as successful as Michael Hyatt, has wondered, “Is it more virtuous to give my products away?” This NY Times bestselling author, former CEO of Thomas Nelson, and blogger with over 1 Million readers per month gave his content away during his first three years of blogging. When he started selling his first ebooks, he struggled with thoughts that he was “selling out.” But after much consideration, he concluded that it’s essential to charge for your work. Today I share 8 Reasons Why Charging for Your Work Is More Virtuous than Doing it for Free. Click here to download or listen to this episode now. Tip of the Week This Week’s Tip of the Week is a Christmas gift I finally started using called Tile.  When you use Tile, you’ll never lose anything again. Place the Tile app on your phone and put the Tile in your car, on your keys, or with anything you might misplace, and you can track the exact location of the tile, so you’ll never have to search for a missing item again. Spiritual Foundations John 10:14, 27. Jesus said, “I am the good shepherd;  I know my sheep and my sheep know me. My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.” In the past, I was troubled when Christians would say,”God told me….” Since starting on my spiritual  journey, I have examined the stories in the Bible and nowhere does it say that these things (like God speaking) would stop happening. Jesus said, “My sheep hear my voice.” Does God still speak today? I want to encourage you to read the Bible for yourself, not through the lense of your pastor or your denomination, but through an objective lense. Join us today as we discuss open visions, the audible voice of God, casting pearls before swine, hallucinations, and Parkinson’s disease. You have to hear this wide-ranging discussion for yourself. I believe God does speak and we his children can hear his voice. Feature Presentation “Why Selling Your Product Is More Virtuous Than Giving It Away For Free”   How to successfully struggle with feelings of selling out — Why it’s essential to ask for value when you give value.   If man’s primary purpose is to produce value, then why do we find it difficult to refine and reshape resources (and make a profit)?   Why uncovering your thoughts about expectations, value, and entitlement is essential for self-awareness.   People’s needs over people’s rights, or people’s rights over people’s needs — How examining your beliefs on this is critical to your worldview.   Why the more we pay for it, the more we value it — Understanding the impact of contextual value.   The power of social signals — How one famous real estate broker and teacher quadrupled his income by making one simple purchase.   Uncovering the problem when something feels “off” — Why leaders need integris lives and how our subconscious is always searching for contradictions.   Why it's important to uncover whether money is more than a simple commodity or a trade medium.   Why Jesus talked so much about money — What you can learn from the parable of the three servants and their money.   Your self-worth and the greatest commandment — If you love your neighbor as yourself you’ll realize this virtue.   What world view are you teaching? How expecting to be paid or not expecting to be paid impacts the world.   Are you a world-changer? How Apple changed the world (no, it wasn’t by giving it all away).   What we can learn from the one character in the Bible who condemned people for not giving to the poor.   How to become as rich as possible — Why capitalism and the creation of value have changed the world and why you should be part of it. Resources Mentioned In This Episode Tile app Michael Hyatt Subscribe to the show through Apple Podcasts and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will mention you on this show. Get The Transcript Right-Click and “Save As” to Get the PDF Transcript.

No, it’s not like I had a bag with $200 Million Dollars and left it at the bus depot.  But today, I’m going to share with you what turned out to be the 3 Primary Lessons I Learned From Losing $200 Million Dollars. How to face your reality in relation to money. Uncover the well-kept secret all wealthy people know (and poor people don’t). Discover the one key factor that’s proven to determine destiny. Should we love the Giver rather than the Gift? Click here to download or listen to this episode now. Tip of the Week No gadget…no gizmo…just a fact that blew me away. The fantasy football market generates 70 billion dollars a year.  Think about this astounding fact and send us three profound marketing truths embedded and implied in this statement. We will send a prize to the first astute marketer who emails us three profound marketing truths based on the fantasy football league market.   (No, it’s not a Ferrari.) Send to support@rayedwards.com Spiritual Foundations “Love the Giver and not the gift” — How your philosophy and your faith are influenced by your view of the Gift and the Giver. Altruism, vending machines, and prostitution, so what’s that got to do with my spiritual foundation? Is charity bad? Selfless motivation, self-interest, and altruism — Why what you think about these terms underlies your view of yourself, others, and God. Selfish brute or selfless doormat — Uncovering the two historical ethics options and considering the possibility of others. Why did Jesus make the ultimate sacrifice? — Rethinking it all, was it really the Ultimate Sacrifice? Ayn Rand, “The question is not should you give the homeless man some money, but do you have the right to exist if you don’t?” Feature Presentation “3 Things I Learned From Losing $200 Million“ How social security, deep debt, 100 extra lbs., and a timer ticking on my health finally jolted me to take action.  18:00 “It stops here!” — Why putting an end to toleration is the first step toward transformation.  20:22 NO, it doesn’t matter what you make — How this one shift in thinking will transform your life now (and impact your future).  21:45 Why keeping up appearances keeps you poor — How to embrace becoming wealthy and finally realize that income is fantasy.  22:40 The one deal you should NEVER make — Why it seems so tempting, yet save yourself the headache because it’s always a disaster. 23:38 How your three brains impact your thinking in ways you never realized — Why knowing it in your “head” is not enough.  24:24 The difference between the poor and the wealthy — Why one key principle separates the haves and the have-nots.  26:15 If your house is re-possessable then you need to realize you’re poor — How to shift your view and put every dollar to work for you. 26:48 The desire formula — Why understanding the root word “sire” helps you uncover the unexpected origin of your pure desires.  29:10 Your desires are imprinted on you as possibilities by your Creator — Why some people think because you desire it that is enough (really, how’s that working for you?). 31:00 How Christians embrace superstitions and mystical ways by evading reality — Why you can believe in the power of prayer (even if you’re rational you can still believe in miracles.). 32:18 Uncovering why destiny is not magical (even though most people mistakenly believe this …especially Christians). 33:00 Discover the “good works prepared for you before you were born” — Why most will not fulfill their potential. 35:58 The one thing that determines your destiny — The famous D word we all avoid yet it strongly impacts everything in your life. 35:36 Are you guilty of sitting on the couch waiting for God to make things happen?” — Why God gets a bad rap and how to change your thinking about God. 37:00 Resources Mentioned In This Episode Ayn Rand Francis Bacon Support@rayedwards.com   Subscribe to the show through Apple Podcasts and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will mention you on this show. Get The Transcript Right-Click and “Save As” to Get the PDF Transcript.

Today I want to enter into an interesting discussion Ken MacArthur started on Facebook https://www.facbook.com/marketingtactics. Ken states, “Serious question, I’ve always been a skeptic. I have no problem under-promising and over-delivering, but I’ve always been hesitant to make a ‘Big Promise.’ Given the current state of the world I live in, I’m more inclined to think things like ‘most people will fail, most of the time when they start something new.’ That’s why babies don’t walk on the first try. Making a ‘big promise’ is part of the sales conversation equation. Some of my mentors find it essential and don’t believe you can close high-ticket sales without one. Obviously, showing value and creating trust impact your sales. The skeptic in me always hesitates to promise anything. Do you ever wrestle with this kind of question?” Today, I unpack  Ken MacArthur’s crucial question all entrepreneurs and marketers must answer, “Should I make a ‘Big Promise’?” Click here to download or listen to this episode now. Tip of the Week This week’s tip of the week is The Ridge, a wallet that is minimalist without being limited, so you can carry less and always have what you need. It’s RFD protected, so you’re identity will not be stolen. Check out the EDC Movement, it’s about getting the most out of what you carry (efficiency, utility, and worth). Even if the wallet doesn’t interest you… be sure to check out their website. Spiritual Foundations The Spiritual Foundation is from the Sermon on the Mount and follows the theme of today’s podcast, “Are Big, Bold Promises Biblical?” Uncover what the Bible says in Matthew 5:33-37: “You have also heard that our ancestors were told, ‘You must not break your vows; you must carry out the vows you make to the Lord.’ But I say, do not make any vows! Do not say, ‘By heaven!’ because heaven is God’s throne. And do not say, ‘By the earth!’ because the earth is his footstool. And do not say, ‘By Jerusalem!’ for Jerusalem is the city of the great King. Do not even say, ‘By my head!’ for you can’t turn one hair white or black. Just say a simple, ‘Yes, I will,’ or ‘No, I won’t.’ Anything beyond this is from the evil one.” Deliver on your promise. If it’s a Big, Bold Promise, good, keep it.   Feature Presentation “Why You MUST Make Big, Bold Promises“   5 Reasons to consider making bold promises in your marketing — How to overcome your own skepticism when making the offer and the promise. 13:25   How you’re robbing others (although you’re unlikely doing this intentionally) — Seriously, did you ever consider it’s not all about you? 14:20   Why uncovering how you’re intentionally robbing yourself is crucial to living your most magnificent life.  17:00   Throwing your gift on the ground — What really happens when you refuse to step into your most magnificent life. 19:00   Discover the one thing that penetrates the cloud of confusion — Successful marketers understand this better than anyone.  20:10   How to overcome the mass mumbling of mediocrity — Sparking this causes some people to retreat into their comfort zone. 21:30   Uncover the powerful force you must dismantle in order to grow your business — Overlooking this crucial influence is guaranteed to doom your sales. 23:00   The world is made a better place by those who get their “Hopes UP!” 23:30   Why this simple yet neglected principle, espoused by Donald Miller, is key to all successful marketing — Change this one element in your marketing and reap the financial rewards …all the way to the bank.  24:24   How setting Big, Bold promises tricks you into higher performance. 24:53 Resources Mentioned In This Episode   The Ridge wallet EDC Movement The Bible Subscribe to the show through Apple Podcasts and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will mention you on this show. Get The Transcript Right-Click and “Save As” to Get the PDF Transcript.

Time is an interesting resource unlike any other.  Any two people have differing financial resources, and differing skills and talents.  We have different opportunities, different circumstances, and a different network of friends and acquaintances.  But we all have the same number of hours in a day, week, month or year. When it comes to time, we’re all on level ground.  No one has extra hours stashed away in a savings account for a rainy day.  None of us has the ability to turn the clock back, stop it, or even slow it down.  Our daily allotment of time is a 24-hour-period, or is it? Today we talk about how we can actually multiply our time.  Learn how to optimize your time today by applying the 4Ps: Planning, Persistence, Patience, and People. Click here to download or listen to this episode now.   Spiritual Foundations It’s a curious thing. We love to quote Isaiah 54:17, “No weapon formed against you shall prosper.” But chances are, you know some Christians who are constantly faced with overwhelming challenges, defeat, tragedy, and sickness. What is happening here? You see that the promise comes with a condition, “In righteousness you shall be established.” So it is when we are established in righteousness that we will be far from oppression, terror, tragedy, and not a single weapon formed against us will prosper. How can we possibly be righteous? It turns out, you already have righteousness. When you receive Jesus as your Savior, you are also given the gift of righteousness, which empowers you to reign in life (Romans 5:17). You are established in His righteousness. I believe God wanted us to know that we are righteous by the blood of Jesus, by his perfect work on the cross, so there’s nothing we can do that will add to it or take away from it. When you feel,”attacked,” afraid, worried, and anxious, remind yourself of who you are in Christ. When you remind yourself of these things, notice how the worry, anxiety, and depression begin to fall away, “you shall not fear, terror shall not come near you.” One more thing. Belief takes effort.  It’s an action, not a floating generality. As you continue believing and confessing, (speaking out loud) your righteousness in Christ, you’ll get an ever-increasing revelation that will give you the assurance of God’s miraculous provision, his blessing, his divine protection and sovereign grace over your life. Tip of the Week The AllTrails App is my tip of the week. With over 50,000 trail maps, it’s the largest collection of detailed, hand-curated trail maps. AllTrails will help you hit the trail with confidence anytime, anywhere. Two additional features you’ll appreciate: 1.  Driving directions; 2. Saving your favorite trails for future adventures. Feature Presentation “How to Finally Master Your Time“ Why time is an interesting resource — Finances, skills, and talents vary, but we all have one thing in common. We’re all on level ground — Why no one has an advantage in this key area of life. Dream of stashing away extra time in an account for a rainy day? — What if you could turn back the clock, stop it, or even slow it down. Why breaking down time into two categories gives you unlimited power (you never knew you had). Personal time is finite and leads to your frustration — Discovering the secret productivity principle guaranteed to multiply your capacity for creating the life you desire. The 4 Ps of time optimization — How to expand your productivity by understanding a few secret principles. How planning is both a discipline and an art — Start planning and stop allowing time to fritter away. The art of planning — How to regain “lost time” by re-organizing your tasks. Harness the principles of training, experiences, processes, and technological aids to help you plan what’s important in life. Why embracing time management as an art form helps you avoid frustration by anticipating the anomalies and building in extra time. The one weapon you have to help you overcome laziness, procrastination, and setbacks —  Why persistence is a key to optimizing time and carrying out your plan. How to apply persistence in a variety of ways — Push through or wait for an epiphany?… the question all creatives ask. Why being flexible and creative with “when” and “how” is a powerful discipline for increasing time optimization. The unexpected, unusual way to optimize your time — How persistence and patience go hand in hand. Uncover how persistence without patience works against you in time (and in relationships). Discover how to avoid coming off as an uncaring jerk — Persistence alone blinds you to shortcomings and the inevitability of setbacks. How to gain a more realistic view of the uncertainties of life — Why coming to grips with this one fact will give you peace and productivity. Why roadblocks and setbacks viewed through the lense of patience gives you insight into new possibilities — Learn how to stop writing off possibilities in your life. Uncover the one and only way to multiply your time — Why delegating tasks to others optimizes your time and produces better results. Stretching time — The secrets to increasing your capacity and producing your best work. How creating a team gives you an unfair advantage — The whole is greater than the sum of its parts. Why you can’t afford NOT to hire someone to help you — Do the math and you’ll easily convince yourself. How to save money, create better outcomes, and enjoy your life. Discover why it is costing you money to do it all by yourself — Calculate your hourly rate and find someone who will complete your tasks at a fraction of your personal hourly rate. Resources Mentioned In This Episode AllTrails.com AllTrails app Isaiah 54:17 Romans 5:17 Subscribe to the show through Apple Podcasts and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will mention you on this show. Get The Transcript Right-Click and “Save As” to Get the PDF Transcript.  

Today I want to cover some new directions for the company and how we’re going to be helping you in new and improved ways.   Don’t worry, we’ll continue to focus on:    Copywriting and marketing Building an online business Strengthening your spiritual life I don’t believe it’s possible to separate the two things, business and spirituality. Because you only have one life, spirituality and prosperity are both part of the same life.   The premise for today’s podcast: Every person listening to this show can and should build a prosperous personal-brand business by following 5 proven phases.   If you get these phases out of order you will have problems. If you are frustrated with lack of traction in building your personal brand online, chances are you’re out of sequence.     If you want to start a platform-based, personal-brand business by taking your knowledge, your wisdom, your expertise, and your giftings and you can share them with people (the world) via the power of the Internet. You can establish your global reach for $50-$100 by creating a radio show (podcast), TV show (YouTube channel) and other various ways of having people communicate with you (social media).  (7:11) Many businesses have done just that. Casey Neistat  started out with a video camera and making movies and had no audience, no following, and built a seven million follower YouTube channel. Part of his company was purchased by CNN for $25 million last year.  (8:00) Peter McKinnon, a photographer, cinematographer, and videographer who lives in Canada has built a million subscriber YouTube channel.   It’s not just YouTube channels, there are people in all social media markets like Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest. You know the names of the people who rule these marketplaces, but you may not know the people in the niches that are getting wealthy serving a small, few thousand people in their particular niche. (9:00)   “The internet and the ability to build a personal brand online is the great equalizer of all entrepreneurs.”  Ray Edwards 5 Phases of a Prosperous Business Determine the meaning of life and the meaning of your business. Define your mission, your vision, your goals, and your tasks. Clarify your message. (Who you help, why they need you, what you do that helps) Create marketing materials. (Marketing that is clear, repeatable, and sticky.) Collect money.  (Give value first.) Click here to download or listen to this episode now. Tip of the Week It’s common knowledge but it’s not common practice, “Carry a pen and a notebook with you at all times.” The reasons for your pen and notebook: Be ready when inspiration strikes. You can always count on a pen and paper (unlike the internet or electricity). A pen and paper don’t make unexpected interruptions or distractions (no software updates, wait time, or computer bug). Capturing your thoughts and your best ideas is invaluable.   If you’re a writer, this is required. “ Writers are the ones with the pens and the notebooks.” (4:40) Spiritual Foundations The Dream… Should you pursue your dreams?  God is the giver of dreams. He places the talents and gifts within you. He spurs you on to have the motivation to go out and give those gifts to the world. Commerce, the marketplace, and capitalism are all God’s ideas.  (2:37) Proverbs 18:16, “A man’s gifts make room for him and brings him before great men.” “The world needs your message.” — Ray Edwards God gave you your gift, not for you but for others.   Your gift makes room for you and it brings you before great men and women.   In God’s kingdom, it is always fair but it’s not always equal.    According to your gifting will be the opportunity. (4:14) It’s up to you whether you’re going to seize your gift and take advantage of it or not. God intended your gift for your benefit and others. I think you should grab hold of it and make the most of it. Feature Presentation “The 5 Phases of a Prosperous Business” How to create your own media empire – Why overcoming the learning curve will give you the freedom to create your own business (with your own distribution channel). (10:10) Why it’s better for your customers if you keep more of the money – How avoiding big corporations and committees allows you to create exactly what your customers want.  (11:00) Revel 77’s new branding advantage – How to leverage your personal brand and beat your competition.  (12:34) Discover why you’re not getting traction or creating the income you want – How Armand Morin’s sequentialism principle is mysteriously impacting your business.  (13:40) Fire-ready-aim – How stopping and giving a bit of thought at the beginning (although it’s counterintuitive) helps entrepreneurial types increase their success rates.  (15:40) Why are you here? What are you supposed to do? How uncovering these core beliefs is the essential first step in creating your business.  (20:25) Why sharing your gift with the world for the purpose of reward is being like Jesus – How to define your mission (its unique to you).  (25:31) Uncover the clues to your mission – How what you love to do, what you love to see, and the people you love to be around are the keys to your vision.  (27:55) My objective is to end poverty.  My vision of how to make that happen is to teach entrepreneurs and empower them to grow their prosperity and create more wealth. (28:20) Writing down your goals and setting numeric goals (even the Bible kept records of numbers) – How one-year goals related to your tribe is a great place to start.  (30:15) Mission+Vision+Discipline = Destiny  (31:50) It’s never too late to change your destiny.  (32:30) Why messaging is phase 3 of successfully building a personal brand business – How phase 1 and phase 2 are crucial to your messaging (phase 3).  (33:50) Ready to leave your corporate life?  How to create your personal brand by harnessing the power of the internet through global distribution of your wisdom, experience, and gifts.  (36:23) “Does this sound like you?” – How to instantly connect with your customer even if you have no formal training in writing sales copy, launching products, or selling to people. (38:00) How learning to write sales copy refines your business and helps you build it bigger with more success, easier, and faster.  (39:24) Money is phase five of your personal brand business – How to “Begin with the end in mind.” Not, “Begin with the end in your pocket.”  (42:14) Put the fuel in first, stoke the flames, and then you get the heat – How profits follow work and why money is phase five of building a personal brand business. (42:50) Solving a problem for free first is powerful – How using a sales letter or a sales video to create a value exchange is the fifth phase in building your business.  (44:18) Resources Mentioned In This Episode Proverbs 18:16 Casey Neistat Peter McKinnon Revel 77 Armand Morin Subscribe to the show through Apple Podcasts and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will mention you on this show. Get The Transcript Right-Click and “Save As” to Get the PDF Transcript.

Chris Ducker’s book Virtual Freedom is a best seller, he has employed over 450 full-time employees, and he has built multi seven-figure businesses. Chris is frequently featured in INC., Entrepreneur, Success, and Huffington Post. He’s the founder of youpreneur.com (a term he coined in 2014). Youpreneur.com is an entrepreneurial mastermind community that helps experts become the go-to leader in their market. “Whether there’s a transaction involved immediately, or whether it’s further down the line, they’re doing business with me because of the relationship they have with me first.” By serving youpreneurs, Chris transcends the old rules of business and helps people build a sustainable business based on their experience, interests, wisdom, personality, and personal brand. Today Chris shares his insights on personal branding and we discuss his recently released book, The Rise of the Youpreneur. Click here to download or listen to this episode now. Tip of the Week My tip of the week is simply, buy Chris Ducker’s book The Rise of the Youpreneur.  Along with his book he has included hundreds of dollars of bonus material that you'll want to check out.  Michael Hyatt said, “I’ve done pretty well as a personal brand. If I’d had this book I could have done it twice as fast.” Check it out at a bookstore near you. Spiritual Foundations Today’s spiritual foundation is based on Proverbs 11:26 from the ancient book of wisdom. “The people will curse him who withholds grain during a famine, but blessings will be on the head of him who sells it.”  So, I encourage you to think about that. God blesses the man for selling grain during a famine. Feature Presentation “The Rise Of The Youpreneur, An Interview With Chris Ducker” In reality, as soon as you start coasting, you start dying – Why it’s critical to face the fact you’re either growing or you’re dying. (1:12) Want to be the definitive guide in your industry? – How to shorten your path to success by reading The Rise of the Youpreneur. (5:39) “People do business with me personally way before they do business with any of my companies or businesses.” Chris Ducker (6:00) Burnout – How it led me to recreate my business with virtual employees and write the book Virtual Freedom. (7:02) People do business with me because of the relationship they have with me first –  How to build, market, and monetize your personal brand. (7:38) Regardless of your niche, there is enough noise out there – What the world needs is YOU, they need someone like you to show them the way. (8:38) Your goal as a personal brand – Why becoming someone’s favorite is crucial to your success in a personal branding business. (9:22) There are people who will only respond to your voice on this subject – Why realizing you’ve been called to serve will help you build a future-proof business. (9:58) When you build the business of YOU there are no real competitors, regardless of the industry or market – How being YOU is the unique factor for your profits and success. (10:31) How you are 100% in control of your future – Overcoming being tied to or enslaved by your personal brand business. (11:12) Build a business based on you – How to create a business that’s not reliant only on you. (11:20) Michael Hyatt is the personal brand entrepreneur personified – Why creating a legacy that will live on past your time on earth is possible as a personal brand. (12:02) The most unexpected, amazing Zig Ziglar impersonation – Why I still consume some Zig every month. (12:50) Build a business based on you, your messaging, your philosophy, the impact you want to make on the world and the people you want to serve. (14:00) How to create a smart personal brand without it being totally build on you. (14:15) Why listening to the feedback from your audience and community is key – How filling the gaps helps you serve your community. (14:47) Why I saw the need to create The Youpreneur Roadmap – How to build, market and monetize a personal brand. (15:15) The genius of giving your community what they need rather than what you want to give them – How to serve by “on-ramping” your customer wherever he may be at the time. (18:00) How to help your person-to-person businesses thrive – Why sharing behind the scenes with Instagram, Snapchat, Twitter (any social media) helps you connect with your community. (19:00) The Personal Brand Building Manual – How to use this resource to rise up and embrace your calling. (19:41) Why you help people – When you know you've been put on this earth to create this message you realize it’s your calling and it’s your duty.  (20:19) The Youpreneur Summit – How Chris Ducker discovered his life’s work and created a movement that’s calling people to rise up and serve. (20:30) “All the world’s a stage” – How to position yourself as an expert through coaching, speaking, being a podcast guest, and being featured in the press. (22:10) No one can tell your story and get your point across the way you do. (23:10) How you’re spearheading a movement when you take the gifts you’ve been given, and you share them – How to serve others with your expertise, wisdom, and experience.  (23:40) “Let me serve you” or “Look at me” – How your motivation impacts your personal brand business (24:00) Relationships should be treasured not used – How to avoid the spammy, wrong way of pitching yourself (in essence, how to honor relationships).  (24:40)   Resources Mentioned In This Episode The Rise of the Youpreneur by Chris Ducker Youpreneur.com Jim Rohn Home » Jim Rohn Blog How To Help Subscribe to the show through Apple Podcasts and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will mention you on this show. Get The Transcript Right-Click and “Save As” to Get the PDF Transcript.

Outsourcing is so hot right now. I blame Tim Ferriss’ book, The 4 Hour Workweek and Chris Ducker’s book, Virtual Freedom for starting the outsourcing phenomenon. In Tim’s book he tells you why you should do it and Chris tells you how to do it. In fact, Chris Ducker has a new book for entrepreneurs entitled, The Rise of the Youpreneur. This outsourcing topic started during a recent consultation I had with Mike Kim. We discussed the theme of each of my recent years. 2015 was the year my fitness journey began, and I lost 70 lbs. In 2016 I lost an additional 15 lbs. So, four years after my diagnosis, I realized the one proven weapon I had against Parkinson’s disease was exercise and fitness. Drugs and surgery only affect the symptoms of the disease.  Scientific evidence has proven that exercise slows down the progression of Parkinson’s disease and may even reverse the damage already done in the brain. I cannot outsource physical exercise. No one can do the pushups or road work for me. Click here to download or listen to this episode now. Tip of the Week Today’s Tip of the Week is a toy, an iPhone app called the 8mm Movie Camera App. It will spice up your videos and make cool movies for Instagram and Facebook. Don’t overdo it, but use it when you want to create that special 8mm movie feel. Spiritual Foundations I’ve been having lots of conversations lately about grace and Christianity. No, I’m not talking about the judging and protesting brand of Christianity. I’m talking about the grace-offered-by-Jesus-over-2000-years-ago Christianity. Grace is “favor you get without earning it.” It’s possible to earn forgiveness, but it’s not possible to earn grace. When Paul discusses grace in 1 Corinthians 6:12, he states, “All things are lawful for me but not all are helpful.”  When this was written, the Corinthian Church had gone wacko. They were engaging in outrageous sin such as the practice of sleeping with their mother in law and having sex with temple prostitutes. Paul was stating that grace means all things are lawful, but all things are not going to grow you or develop you. Grace is not a license to sin. Although many people believe this concept of grace, they shy away from teaching it out of fear of appearing to give people permission to sin. Feature Presentation “The One Thing You Can't Outsource” Outsource things you’re not good at and don’t like – Why there’s one common denominator running through the one thing we can’t outsource. (11:18) No one can do this for you – Why the power of habits requires self-discipline. (11:28) We always have time for what we prioritize as important – How we make excuses for not doing the things we don’t value. (11:30) You always have time for what’s important – How self-discipline is the key characteristic in each zone of progress. (11:32) Paul struggled with self-discipline – Why the thing I want to do, I don’t do. The thing I hate, I do.  (13:10) You aren’t born with a finite amount of self-discipline – How to increase your capacity for self-discipline with a 3-step plan. (13:43) We are wired for our survival to avoid pain – Why human nature places chasing after pleasure as secondary. (15:40) Why we allow momentary, fleeting pleasure to sidetrack our long-term gain – Learn how anyone can increase capacity for self-discipline. (16:19) How expanding self-discipline is like building a muscle – Why the pain and discomfort of pushing against resistance are part of self-discipline. (18:00) Practice polarity – How the pain/pleasure paradigm undergirds our motivations and actions. (19:32) Why it’s not enough to know Tony Robbins’ pain/pleasure paradigm – Pushing yourself to do something uncomfortable increases your self-discipline muscle. (20:25) Most people are not happy, yet they’re not unhappy enough to do something about it. (20:40) Living in no-man’s land – How no attraction and no repulsion keeps you stuck in the pain zone. (21:02) Do your actions make God want to vomit? Why being like lukewarm water makes God sick. (22:00) Jim Edwards’ principle applies to all areas of life – “Love me or hate me, but there’s no money in the middle.”  (22:39) The power of transformation hinges on changing your view of pain and pleasure. (23:09) The practice of practice – How increasing capacity for self-discipline is rooted in just doing it…the power of habits and situational awareness. (24:15) What we can all learn from Cliff Ravenscraft – How to stick to your commitments and change your life (even if that means running the stairs). (26:08) The practice of perseverance – Why starting with momentum is never enough. (26:58) Why steadfastness is the key to success – How to resume as quickly as possible (and avoid wasting time repenting).  (27:25) The 3 practices to increase your capacity for self-discipline – How you can't outsource polarity, practice, and perseverance. (29:05) Examine your goals – Why you will not persist in goals that aren’t worthy of you. (29:40)   Resources Mentioned In This Episode The 4 Hour Work Week by Tim Ferriss The Rise of the Youpreneur by Chris Drucker Virtual Freedom by Chris Drucker The Power of Leverage by Tony Robbins How To Help Subscribe to the show through Apple Podcasts and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will mention you on this show. Get The Transcript Right-Click and “Save As” to Get the PDF Transcript.

Today we discuss a unique method by which you can guarantee your business will always have a profit (even from day 1). You’ll never miss having a profit because you take your profit first. My guest is Mike Michalowicz. Mike is the successful entrepreneur behind three multimillion dollar companies. He is the author of The Pumpkin Plan, Surge, and The Toilet Paper Entrepreneur, which BusinessWeek deemed “the entrepreneur’s cult classic.” He is a former small business columnist for The Wall Street Journal and a former MSNBC business makeover expert. An advocate for entrepreneurs, Mike says his purpose in life is to eradicate entrepreneurial poverty. Click here to download or listen to this episode now. Tip of the Week I’m a little late to the Instagram party, but my tip of the week is an Instagram tool I find to be a big help, it’s called InShort Video Editor. This app is great for editing videos on your iPhone and turning them into smooth, seamless Instagram stories.  Check out InShort Video Editor in the app store today. Spiritual Foundations An indicator of someone’s character and integrity is how they handle their possessions. Paul stated in Philippians 4, “I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity. In any and all circumstances, I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of abundance and suffering need. I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.” Paul was actually talking about wealth in this circumstance. He was saying, “I've had a lot and I’ve had very little, and I’ve learned to be content in both circumstances. I can handle either situation through Christ who strengthens me.” Powerful advice! (3:00) Feature Presentation “Profit First- An Interview With Mike Michalowicz” Here are some snippets from our conversation: The book Profit First revolutionized my thinking about my business. – How to change your CPA’s thinking about business and pocket profits like never before. (4:00) Profit First is a new approach to cash management. – Discover how an old approach to cash management brought to business for the first time will increase your profits. (5:00) Sales – expenses = profit. – Why this flawed definition has negatively impacted so many businesses. (5:25) Accounting says profits come last. – How to change one simple formula and start making a profit immediately. 83% of small businesses are not profitable. – Uncovering why entrepreneurs get so many things right but continue to make no profit. (5:40) Is there a flaw in the formula? – How the Profit First principle will change your business (and your life). (6:01) Sales – profit = expenses. – What to do every time you make a sale (truth is, practically no one does this). (6:45) Sell, hide, pay. – Why this sequence works every time and guarantees you profits. (No, I’m not advocating illegal activity.) (7:09) The 20/80 rule you’ve never heard. – How logic, emotions, and habits impact your business profits. (7:35) Business says, “The more I grow, the more I spend.” – How to break this popular no profit system. (8:00) Profit First leaves you less money for your expenses. – Why this forces you to make harder choices that lead to the appropriate decisions. (8:52) Reverse engineer profits. – Discovering the secret for overcoming negative inertia and creating the habit of making a profit. (9:02) Tony Robbins, “The definition of an entrepreneur is someone who knows how to make enough money to cover their mistakes.”  (9:10) The mindset of just making more money. – What entrepreneurs do when they’re not profitable and why it’s such a bad idea. (9:29) Too much month at the end of the money. – Why continuing with a flawed money management system is insane.  (9:37) How Profit First forces you to define the path to profitability. – Why revealing outcome-based thinking is powerful. (10:30) If you can’t pay your bills you never could afford your bills. – How we fall into the trap of stealing (and think it’s OK). (10:54) How to run your business in a disciplined and appropriate fashion. – Why Profit First is required reading for every entrepreneur. (11:06) Is Parkinson’s Law impacting your profits? – What naturally happens when your resources increase, and how to break this unprofitable habit.  (11:36) Resources Mentioned In This Episode Philippians 4 InShot app The Pumpkin Plan Profit First The Toilet Paper Entrepreneur Mike Michalowicz.com Mikemotorbike.com At Mike’s site you’ll have access to free chapter downloads, his Wall Street Journal articles, blogs, and podcasts. How To Help Subscribe to the show through Apple Podcasts and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will mention you on this show. Get The Transcript Right-Click and “Save As” to Get the PDF Transcript.

Out of a hundred people who hear this, one of you will do this and you’re the one who will succeed. I have a question that I would seriously like you to think about. Are you important? Are you? This is a vital question and it speaks to something we call self-image. It’s popular to believe that your self-image, having a good self-image, a strong self-image, a positive image of yourself is wrong. It’s popular to say that. This is the first line of attack of the enemy, trying to deceive your mind by convincing you that you’re not important. Click here to download or listen to this episode now. Spiritual Foundations Spiritual Foundations The Book of Mark, chapter 12, “Then, one of the scribes came and having heard them reasoning together, perceiving that he had answered them well, asked Jesus, “Which is the first commandment of all?” Jesus answered him, 1. “The first of all the commandments is, ‘Hear O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one and you shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ This is the first commandment.” 2. “The second is this, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” According to Jesus, if you want to love your neighbor, what do you have to do first? • If we adopt the mindset, “I’m a worm and everyone else is awesome,” and then, we're told to love our neighbor as ourselves, we must first love ourselves. Not in the sense, “Oh, I guess I'm okay.” God is not contradictory. • If you worship God as the all-sufficient Creator and Father, then, you're doing no service to the Artist by condemning His art. Now, think about this: you’re doing no service to yourself by calling something beautiful (you), ugly. • “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” and then, he said, “There is no other commandment greater than these.” That's strong language. No other commandment, not even your favorite one, whatever that might be. Are you important? In Romans 12:3, Paul says to the church of Rome, “Because of the privilege and authority God has given me, I give each of you this warning: Don't think you are better than you really are. Be honest in your evaluation of yourselves, measuring yourselves by the faith God has given us.” Now, this verse is often quoted to communicate, “Think poorly of yourself.” But it says, “Don't think you are better than you really are. Be honest in your evaluation of yourselves, measuring yourselves by the faith God has given us.”  He's saying, “Take an honest assessment of yourself and think that.” Just before that verse, Jesus gives you a plan of self-improvement. Paul says, “Don't copy the behavior and customs of this world (the system of thinking that is present in the world today), but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God's will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.” His will for you is for you to be good and pleasing and perfect, a plan for self-improvement. Tip of the Week I’m about ready to abandon Evernote. Evernote, of course, is a note-taking application. Here’s the thing that’s been bugging me lately. Evernote has its own proprietary way of storing your stuff. You’re locked in and I think of it as a “roach motel.” Your documents go in, but they never come out. I think I’m going to replace it with a new note-taking application called Bear, B-E-A-R. Here’s the reason why: • It uses plain text files to store all your documents. • It uses markup to do any formatting, so it exports to any other application. • There’s no translation problem getting into virtually any other application. • They have a special function to help you export all your notes out of Evernote into Bear. • You can preserve your tags. • You can get your notes into plain text files so they’re portable. So, no matter what happens in the future, you future-proof your documents. Feature Presentation “Are You Important?” The three reasons to get your self-image healthy and robust: 1. We limit ourselves by the imagery we hold of what we're capable of doing. 2. Our self-image is self-constructed, made of our words, the pictures we hold in our mind and our actions or our physical environment. 3. You grow your life by growing your self-image, not just making it better but making it bigger. Our self-image is self-constructed. Dr. Denis Waitley says, “Relentless repetitive self-talk is what changes our self-image.” What are you saying to yourself all the time? The most powerful force in the human psyche is people's need for their words and actions to remain consistent with how we define ourselves. If we have this belief that we suck and that we're bad, then, we will work very hard to make that consistent in our lives. Our brains want consistency. It all starts with how we see ourselves. Our self-image is self-constructed made of our words, pictures and actions, our physical environment, and our beliefs, which lead to our values, which lead to our rules, which lead to our actions, which lead us to our destiny. Destiny is a big word that people think is grandiose, all it means is destination, where you're headed. What do you do with all this super philosophical stuff? You should get out a journal and write this stuff down. A friend of ours, Dave Lakhani, says, “Writing is the doing part of thinking.” If you don't write it down and just think it, you haven't really done the work. There's something about transferring it from your brain through your hands to the paper that solidifies and crystallizes your thinking and gives you a level of understanding and commitment to the ideas that you wouldn't have otherwise. JOURNAL the answer to these questions: 1. If you had a bigger vision for your life, what would it look like now? Nobody else is going to read this, so go nuts. 2. Construct the person you want to become. Now, I'm going to offend some of my friends who teach goal setting, but don’t worry about specific outcomes. Concern yourself with who you want to become and the values that underpin that image. 3. Grow your self-image intentionally. Write out your plan for how you're going to grow your self-image intentionally. Perhaps there are things that you want to do, you want to achieve, instead of just thinking about them. This is where people get all screwed up. They think, “Well, I want to travel the world and visit every continent.” They start immediately thinking about, how do I do that? When what they really should be thinking about is, who do I have to become in order to make that happen? Because if you don't become the person who can achieve that thing, you will never achieve it. Questions to ask yourself: 1. Is this desire something that sustains my life? 2. Am I trying to win the approval of someone in my life? 3. Am I trying to prove to the world around me that I am successful? Well, when you're on your deathbed, are you really going to care whether people thought you were successful? What other people think of you is none of your business. No, it doesn't matter. It's what you want in life, not what you think other people want you to want in life. “Learn to value yourself, which means fight for your happiness,” Ayn Rand Resources Mentioned In This Episode Bear note-writing app How To Help Subscribe to the show through Apple Podcasts and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will mention you on this show. Get The Transcript Right-Click and “Save As” to Get the PDF Transcript.

I have a proposal for you in today's episode: You have in your life what you tolerate. What you tolerate is what you receive in life. I already know there are a lot of people who are coming up with examples to prove me wrong. There are people saying, “Well I have a genetic disorder that I had no control over. I could not have stopped it. I did not want this.” No, but the way you deal with it, the way you process it, and the way that you experience it is up to you. That's not genetic. That's not something you can blame on your ancestors. That's all you, my friend. If I sound fired up, I am. I'm not angry but I am advocating for a different view on your behalf. That is, that if you're unhappy in your life, if you're dissatisfied with any part of your life, the thing you most need to do is stop tolerating that! That's what today's episode is about. Click here to download or listen to this episode now. Spiritual Foundations For Spiritual Foundations, I'm just going to grab a little segment from the Book of Revelation. There's a lot of controversy over this book. There's a part of the Book of Revelation where Jesus is writing letters to seven churches. Most scholars and early church fathers believe the churches were real churches in the area. But they also represent the church as a whole, over time. There's one letter in particular where Jesus writes to one church and says to them, “You are lukewarm. I wish that you were either hot or cold but you're lukewarm and I want to spit you out of my mouth.”  Revelation 3:16 If you translated this more viscerally from the original language, it would say, “You're like lukewarm water. You're not hot or cold, you make me want to vomit.” What does that have to do with today's topic? Everything, because what I think Jesus was saying to this church is, “You guys tolerate everything. You don't get upset on either end of the spectrum. You're not like total libertines just doing whatever you want. You're not crazy legalists who are looking for the smallest, tiniest, little sin you can condemn in people. You're just in the middle. You're not committed to anything. You tolerate everything, you make me want to puke.” Now if Jesus felt that about His church, isn't that a lens through which we might look at our life? I'm not suggesting that you should look at your life and feel bad about yourself, but maybe it's time to question what you tolerate. Tip of the Week My tip of the week is another geeky, techno tip. It's a piece of gear that I'm using these days. We're shooting some video for a big product launch that we're doing soon. I was going to hire a video crew and I just decided, “You know what? I enjoy this stuff so much. I'm just going to do it myself.” You’ve heard us talk about it before in the show, it is the Panasonic GH5. It's like having a million-dollar studio in your camera bag (yet you only paid a couple of thousand dollars for it). It has the capability of shooting 4K video at 60 frames per second. There are very few consumer level cameras able to do that. That means you get this fantastic resolution with crisp, sharp pictures and video. Even more exciting to me, I've just discovered that I'm able to shoot 180 frames per second slow-motion video, which means it is crystal clear and buttery smooth. This camera is really a technological marvel. For some baffling reason, with the GH5S, Panasonic degraded the in-camera stabilization, which is one of the greatest advantages of the GH5 other than the 4K and the super slo-mo. My opinion is: don't get the GH5S, get the GH5. Feature Presentation: “The Devastation Of Toleration” Here are some snippets from the podcast: Zero-in on the Real Question – How to respond when you’re dealt a bad situation.  9:08 Called according to God’s purposes –  Discovering the hidden truth about how all things work together… I said all things. 9:20 Create a new model for your life – Shifting your viewpoint on THIS transforms your view of life (yes, it really is that powerful)! 10:25 You get what you tolerate in life – How feeling like you'll puke can be the catalyst for creating your best life. 11:15 When is enough, enough? –  How to face the fact there are things in your life that you don’t like… but you don’t dislike them enough to change them. 13:00 Make an “intolerables” list – How drawing a line in the sand is the first step toward taking control of your life. 15:20 Sick and tired of not living up to the potential for your life? – How to uncover what you're put here to do (even if you’ve reached the second or third act in your life).  18:55 “Well, what do I do about that?” – Why looking at all your intolerables and asking Tim Ferris’ powerful question (in his book Tribe of Mentors) will change your life. 19:18 What it means to no longer tolerate – How to improve your self-image, feel stronger, more empowered, and more capable. 21:17 Stop constantly criticizing yourself – Why you're not complimenting the Artist when you're criticizing His artwork (if you believe in a Creator …this is transformational).  21:40 Cultivate gratitude – How to have a good day, every day (it's easier than you think). 23:40 What if there's a way out – Why deciding to stop tolerating will cause you to make a change in your life. 25:52 “What would life look like if this were easy?” – How to move forward to eliminate your intolerables by asking this Tim Ferris question. 26:45 In life you get what you tolerate – Imagine your life when you stop tolerating ________.  29:15 Resources Mentioned In This Episode Revelation 3:16, The Bible Panasonic GH5 Tribe of Mentors by Tim Ferris How To Help Subscribe to the show through Apple Podcasts and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will mention you on this show. Get The Transcript Right-Click and “Save As” to Get the PDF Transcript.

Today’s podcast is a lesson in the history of marketing online. I believe there is great value in knowing the history of our industry. Most of you in direct response internet marketing may not know we owe our careers to Ken McCarthy. Time Magazine credits Ken McCarthy with originating the idea of using click-through rates as the key metric of website performance.  In the early 1990s, as the owner of a direct response company, Ken saw the potential of direct marketing on the internet even as software CEOs, internet enthusiasts, and advertising executives all failed to grasp the power of commercializing the internet. In 1994, Ken organized and sponsored the first conference ever held on the commercial applications of the World Wide Web. Marc Andreessen, co-author of Mosaic and co-founder of Netscape was one of the twelve attendees of this world changing conference. Ken’s early internet marketing experiments included email advertising, contributions to development of the banner ad, pay-per-click advertising and internet video. Ken’s success was built on anticipating changes in the internet during the Golden Age of Innovation. A true visionary, he shares his fascinating insider's stories from the early years of the World Wide Web. Click here to download or listen to this episode now. Feature Presentation: “An Interview With Ken McCarthy” Here are some snippets from our conversation: 1994-2011 Systemseminar.com – How learning from cutting-edge direct response pioneers will benefit your business. 42:00 The internet turned content on its head – Understanding the difference between print and the internet and how it shaped the world. 43:00 An early discovery that still impacts direct response marketing today –  How Ken McCarthy realized the unexpected power in giving.  44:00 Give away foundational material for free – How pre-system lessons shaped our industry. 45:00 Split testing – Embracing this one practice changed an early web designer's approach. 46:20 So many System Seminar firsts – Why we owe homage to Ken (the first to use email for marketing, create sequential autoresponders, develop push-button audio, and integrate video advertising on the web). 48:00 Being cutting edge – How anticipating what was coming on the Internet was foundational to Ken's career. 51:00 “You can only work binge for so long.” – Understanding John Reed's insight and why systematizing your business is essential. 53:00 Apple almost closed its doors until Jobs proclaimed it, “The Education Computer” – How to follow Steve Jobs’ one simple action and revolutionize your business. 59:00 One foundational job of every entrepreneur – Why you can’t afford to miss this opportunity (it’s like pouring gas on a fire). 1:01 Ken McCarthy’s success principle – How new opportunities appear when you’re listening, looking, paying attention, talking, and reading. 1:04:25 Being prolific – Why doing lots of stuff leads to success (even though not much happens with 90-95% of what you produce). 1:01:45 The ONE thing writers must do every day – Embracing the Irving Berlin Principle will change your writing and transform your life. 1:02:09 Follow your passion + Have commercial instincts – How to grow your business, avoid a bland life, and optimize the fire within. 1:05:30 Claude Hopkins and David Olgilvy – You’re not born with it…you can develop it. (This one skill separates the successful from the struggling.) 1:06:00 No one has this instinct – Learning how to sell, persuade, and package from the giants in the industry will set you apart.1:06:45 Enjoy the process of learning – How learning from your predecessors and being prolific is key to your success. 1:07:46 Behind the scenes of work and success – Keeping the engine running requires this. 1:08:45 Resources Mentioned In This Episode Systemsseminar.com/lessons Kenmccarthy.com The System Club Jazzonthetube.com System Secrets (Maximum Money in Minimum Time Online): Ken …   Subscribe to the show through Apple Podcasts and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will mention you on this show. Get The Transcript Right-Click and “Save As” to Get the PDF Transcript

Today I talk with the genius, the master, the go-to-guy, the king of all things LinkedIn…John Nemo. As one of the top promoters of Copywriting Academy, John Nemo joined me at my Joint Venture Mastermind at The Coeur d’Alene Resort in Alene, Idaho. No one knows the subject of LinkedIn like John Nemo. John transformed my LinkedIn profile, he's the real deal when it comes to LinkedIn and he's here to teach us all how to cash in on LinkedIn. The 3 core components of his LinkedIn Riches training program: Profile Prospecting Profiting                                       John’s free LinkedIn training is available at rayedwards.com/nemo. Click here to download or listen to this episode now. Spiritual Foundations Proverbs 16:3, “Commit to the LORD whatever you do and your plans will succeed.” It doesn't mean you have to be a believer, but you see your work as holy and sacred and you commit that to God, then I think you'll find, more often than not, you'll: Do better work Perform at a more excellent standard Succeed Something to try, just see what happens. Tip of the Week The tip of the week is the Behmor Connected Customizable brewer, a coffee brewer that simulates the results you get with a specialty coffee pour-over. It simulates the pour-over without having to do the pour-over. You can control it with your iPhone. Feature Presentation: “How To Cash In On LinkedIn” Uncover Why LinkedIn Is the Biggest Underused Secret Weapon in Your Online Marketing Arsenal Here are some snippets from our conversation: Frustrated, not getting anywhere online? – How changing this one common mistake will skyrocket your success.  5:17 The ONE thing almost no one understands – How to go viral on LinkedIn. 6:40 People Pleasing – Why repelling people is a good idea (and being all things to all people kills your business). 9:50 The shocking secret to LinkedIn success – How much personal sharing is too much? 10:33 The surprising tip to leveraging LinkedIn – How to draw people into your story with one simple tweak to your posts. 11:16 LinkedIn’s image problem – How proactive entrepreneurs can use it to your advantage.  13:45 The world’s biggest professional coffee shop – Why most people misunderstand LinkedIn (and how you can cash in from this podcast).  14:52 500 million users in 200 countries – How to tap into LinkedIn and use it as your infinite lead generator. 14:25 99% do this wrong – Why flipping your profile upside down changes everything. 15:10 4 simple questions – How transforming your LinkedIn profile will multiply your lead generation by making it client-facing 15:58 Where all the money is made on LinkedIn – How to find and engage your ideal prospects (it’s easier that you think). 17:35 Scaling up and bypassing the gatekeepers – How to quickly harness the power of LinkedIn. 20:03 Don’t freak them out – Why communicating with prospects in a non-spamy way is the only way to make LinkedIn work for you. 20:45 The world’s biggest professional search engine – How to personalize and automate your engagement on LinkedIn so you can maximize your relationships.  21:23 Courtship & Dating – Why asking for time or money on your first interaction is guaranteed to backfire. 23:14 The Power of the ASK – How stepping back and asking permission builds trust and like-ability (and sets you apart).  24:40 Should you send an ebook? – Why understanding what your prospects value is the key to lead generation.  26:43 You don’t see cat videos – The business mindset of LinkedIn users and how professionals are searching for your content, direction, tips, and advice. 33:00 The Biggest Underused Secret Weapon in your Online Marketing Arsenal – What I really think about the power of LinkedIn and why you must act today. 33:59 Rayedwards.com/nemo – How to get more business and more profit for yourself.  34:15 A Powerful Online success tip – Why LinkedIn helps you scale up faster and more effectively. (It’s all about relationship building.) 35:47 Writing LinkedIn profiles for high profile clients – How to implement the same system used by Ray Edwards, Chris Brogan, and John Lee Dumas. 35:15 Resources Mentioned In This Episode LinkedIn Riches by John Nemo LinkedIn Riches online course by John Nemo Behmor.com Subscribe to the show through Apple Podcasts and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will mention you on this show. Get The Transcript Right-Click and “Save As” to Get the PDF Transcript

We’re talking about prosperity. That’s the word of the year with my company and with me. What does it mean to prosper? We know that it means to do well financially, but it’s so much more than that. It’s your health, your relationships, it’s the ways you are fulfilled in life (such as growing as a person and contributing in a meaningful way to other people). Prosperity is a fullness of life and a fulfilling way of living in every way possible. Click here to download or listen to this episode now. Spiritual Foundations This week, I’m reading from Psalm 1 (the New Living Translation). “Oh, the joys of those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or stand around with sinners, or join in with sinners, or join in with mockers. But they delight in the law of the LORD, meditating on in day and night. They are like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season. Their leaves never wither, and they prosper in all they do.” Tip of the Week One of my goals this year is to read through the Bible again in a year. My tip of the week is the Daily Audio Bible Mobile app. I used the Daily Audio Bible app last year. The new mobile app is a very pleasant and nearly effortless way to read through the Bible in a year. Brian, the guy who does the reading, is an excellent reader, that makes all the difference. He reads different translations throughout the year. The Daily Audio Bible Mobile app is available for android or iOS. Feature Presentation: “The Pathway To Prosperity This Year” As I’ve been writing my book, Permission to Prosper, I’ve been thinking about how one can be more intentionally prosperous. For instance, let’s take Psalm one at face value, and recognize that if we’re in the group that God refers to as the righteous, then we are like trees planted by the river and everything we do prospers. That’s what He wants for us. The world is not perfect, of course, but what He wants for us is for us to prosper in all that we do. How do we do that? I’ve developed a 7 Step Prosperity Practice you can engage in every day as part of your morning routine. This practice will move you in the direction of your goals and dreams. This is an amalgam of wisdom that I’ve learned from other people (great passages of Scripture and books by people like Jim Rohn, Tony Robbins, and Brian Tracy). I practice these seven steps everyday. They are constructed in a way that is meant to mirror the actual needs of your psychological self. If you’re familiar with Tony Robbins’ Six Human Needs psychology, then you know his hypothesis is that we have six psychological needs that are wired into our nervous system. So, the steps I’ve chosen are not arbitrary. 7 Step Prosperity Practice Calibrate Your State      The three components for putting yourself into peak state are: Physical – what you do with your body (get moving and breathing) Mental – what you do with your mind (practice gratitude) Verbal – what you speak out of your mouth (declare truths over your life) Experience Gratitude Close your eyes and let gratitude flood your body and your mind. Match Your Desire with ClarityReview your goals and visualize experiencing the outcome of those goals.  Address Problems as QuestionsTransform the problem in your mind from a problem to a question and ask … What’s great about this problem? What can I learn from this? What’s not perfect yet? What am I willing to do to make it the way I want it? What am I not willing to do to make it the way I want it? What does this make possible? How can I enjoy the process of dealing with this situation? Contribute in Some WayContribute in some way to the joy, peace, and prosperity of another human being. Make a Connection with Other People by Being Present with ThemLook them in the eyes, listen to them, value their presence and be present. Learn Something New Every DayLearn a new word, a Bible verse, a scientific fact or tidbit. Each morning, in my journal I write down the answers to the seven questions based on my 10 Minute Prosperity Practice Journal Template. It only takes me about 10 to 15 minutes to write all of this down, but writing it down is where the value is. As Dave McCullough says, “Writing is the doing part of thinking.” You haven’t done it until you write it down. It’s not real until you write it down. If you want my 10 Minute Prosperity Practice Journal Template, then simply text the word “prosper” to 33444. (You’ll also receive an invitation to join our Facebook community for Permission to Prosper. I’ll be sharing more about the upcoming book. If you join our community, you may get an early glimpse of the book.) Remember the word this year is PROSPERITY. Here are some snippets from our conversation: The relationship between goals and prosperity – Why you are focusing on prosperity whether you have any money goals or not. 1:12 A seismic shift in thinking – Uncovering the catalyst that's guaranteed to change your attitude about goals, intentions and resolutions. 2:11 Getting off your BUT – How thinking life is happening FOR you instead of TO you changes everything. 2:42 Prosperity isn't just about you – Discovering why your prosperity benefits everyone, not just you and your family. 6:12 Make everyday like New Year’s Day – Unlocking your power to decide, “Today is the day everything changes!” 7:10 Prosperity is a choice – How to be intentionally prosperous in the new year. 7:21 The power of our six psychological needs – Discovering how meeting them in a low-class way makes you unhappy. 7:57 The 7 Step Prosperity Practice – Creating this morning routine will move you toward your goals and desires. 8:52 Change your physical state in order to change your mental state – Unlocking how to put yourself at peak state with the “triad.” 10:00 The power of daily declarations – How speaking the truth out loud over your life changes your thought patterns. 11:44 Tools to get you through the tough spots – Overcoming habit patterns that are not getting you what you want. 16:20 The power of cultivating presence – How to instantly feel more connected and more loved. 26:00 Next week’s episode: Business, Money, Prosperity, and the Gospel Resources Mentioned In This Episode The Prosperity Academy rayedwards.com/tpa 10 Minute Prosperity Practice Journal Template (Text the word “prosper” to 33444) The Daily Audio Bible Mobile App Awaken the Giant Within Tony Robbins How To Help Subscribe to the show through Apple Podcasts and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will mention you on this show. Get The Transcript Right-Click and “Save As” to Get the PDF Transcript

This week is a special edition of the podcast. It’s 100% Spiritual Foundations – so, if you’re not into that, you may want to skip this one. During today’s episode… * The one theme found throughout the Bible that applies to your goals, dreams, and desires. * One of the most familiar verses in Scripture (even most atheists know this one!) … and how it has been woefully mis-translated in most English Bibles. When you find out what Jesus actually, said you may be surprised! * What we can learn from the “midnight pest” who was really a “privileged guest”. * The simple, biblical, 3-step process for getting your desires, needs, and goals met! (Really!) * …and so much more! Click here to download or listen to this episode now. How To Help Subscribe to the show through Apple Podcasts and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will mention you on this show. Get The Transcript Right-Click and “Save As” to Get the PDF Transcript

Conventional wisdom tells us that success takes time…sometimes a long time. Well, I think we’ve been lied to, and I can prove it. In this episode I’m going to give you a set of tools that will put you on the pathway to a brand new you in seven short days, but as you’ll find out, I believe that success can happen in an instant. Stay tuned… Click here to download or listen to this episode now. Spiritual Foundations I've been reading my friend Frank Viola's giant new book called There Must Be More, a Titan's Collectible. If it's still available, you should get it. But reading this book triggered a memory for me of something I learned from Frank about the two trees. In the beginning there were two trees, The Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil and the Tree of Life. The Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil is the serpent's promise. He promised, “You will be like God, and you will decide for yourself what is good.” This is what Jesus referred to when He was talking about the “leaven” of the Pharisees. Jesus is the Tree of Life (see John 15) this is the forgotten tree. This is the one we don't talk about. When we choose the forgotten tree, we take the life of God into ourselves. The Pharisees, meanwhile, ate from the first tree, the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil, and so do many or most modern churches. These are the people with the protest signs, with the signs about the groups that they hate, with the signs about how America is being punished for its sins, because they are only conscious of the knowledge of good and evil. Better that we eat from the Tree of Life, Jesus. There's a term that's applied to Christians quite often. People say we are “People of the Book.” We are not. We are not a people of the Book. We are a people of the Person. And the Person is He whose birth we celebrate today, on the day this show is being released, Jesus Christ. He is the Tree of Life. We must begin living under the forgotten tree (the Tree of Life) rather than eating the fruit of the forbidden one. Merry Christmas! Tip of the Week My Tip of the Week is the HabitShare app. This is an amazing free habit-tracking app that I was turned on to by my friend Cliff Ravenscraft, and I was sold on it immediately. This is a cool habit-tracking app because it allows you to share habits that you're trying to form with friends, so you get extra motivation and accountability. It's very simple to use. You can set prompts to help you remember to do your new habits, you can create custom habits that fit your specific goals, and you can make them daily or weekly. If privacy is a concern, you can control which of your habits your friends see and which ones they can't. I love this app and I recommend you check it out. They've got it both for the Apple platform and for Android, so anybody can use it. Feature Presentation: “7 Days To A Brand New You” Any person can change their life and become successful in as little as 7 days by walking through the 7 Doors of Decision and asking the 3 Crucial Questions. Decide WHAT you want Decide WHY you want it Decide if it’s WORTHY of you Decide WHEN you want it Decide with WHOM you want it Decide WHERE you want it Decide HOW you’re going to get it (with a big WHY you can overcome any HOW) Questions to ask: What’s the cost? Is it worth it? Am I willing and able to pay the price Here are some snippets from our conversation: Break the shackles of justification – Why it’s okay to want what you want just because you want it (13:30) The Power of Why – Discovering the oft-overlooked fuel that allows you to accelerate toward your dreams (15:09) Putting goodness on display – How reaching for your fullest potential is the surest way to reach your fullest satisfaction (18:29) Someday isn’t on the calendar – Uncovering why a goal without a deadline is just another unfulfilled dream (20:19) Success alone is not success – Unlocking the key to picking the right partner who will never leave you nor forsake you (21:10) Location, location, location – Success includes the freedom of choosing where to succeed…you possess the power to move at will (24:23) “Why” overcomes “how” – Identifying the reason you would choose to put yourself in the place where preparation and opportunity meet (26:59) The Golden Key in your pocket – How asking the right questions will help you successfully navigate through the Doors of Decision (31:21) Are you delusional or dedicated? – How taking the next logical step is the portal to the success pathway (33:18 Resources Mentioned In This Episode There Must Be More HabitShare Wanting What You Want How To Help Subscribe to the show through Apple Podcasts and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will mention you on this show. Get The Transcript Right-Click and “Save As” to Get the PDF Transcript

Content marketing is a hot industry buzzword right now, and everyone seems to have a theory about what works. I don’t know about you, but I don’t have time for theory, so in this episode I’m going to show what we do in our own content marketing…because it works. The key to successful content marketing is value, because we’re in a current environment where you've got to give value upfront. In fact, our topic in this episode is a term I’ve coined called Value First Content Marketing. Stay tuned, this is going to rock your world. Click here to download or listen to this episode now. Spiritual Foundations In this episode of spiritual foundations, I want to get back to basics. One of the things I’ve learned as a copywriter is that the precise meaning of words is vitally important. Let me share a recent example of this… My wise wife was having a conversation with a person with whom she's acquainted, and they got into the discussion about what it means to be under grace. My wife was explaining, “Well you know our sins are covered, so we don't have to worry about sin anymore. That problem is dealt with.” This person rather inappropriately took affront to that and begin to argue. She countered, “Well, what about James 2:26, it says faith without works is dead. If you don't have works, then you're not saved.” My wife responded with, “Well, I didn't come prepared to have this debate, but I guess I would start with looking up the precise meaning of the word ‘death’ or ‘dead’ in that verse to see what it really means.” I was so proud of her. I looked it up, and it means “inactive.” It reads, “Faith with no works that flow from the faith, is inactive,”…which is a whole different thing. Just remember that Jesus is perfect theology. Knowing that, be very careful about what you’re willing to blindly accept as true. Tip of the Week Our tip of the week is a resource that we're giving you for free. Normally, we talk about other people's products or services or books, but this week we’re giving you a week's worth of what we use to do our own content marketing. You can then use this as a model to structure your own…I’m just asking that you don't take this content and pretend it's yours. This will be a good way for you to look at the source material we use to create stuff and turn it into different pieces of content for your business. You can download this free resource at rayedwards.com/315. Now go forth and prosper! Feature Presentation: “How to Build Your List by Giving Away Your Best Content for Free” There's a lot of talk about content marketing, and there are a lot of content marketing experts and gurus that'll teach you content marketing, but what they do in most cases is neither content, nor is it marketing…it’s a thinly disguised sales pitch. Any business that markets online can and should grow their e-mail list by using the Seven Pillars of Value First Content Marketing. The Seven Pillars There are three forces that have converged to bring us to this point. To attract attention, you’ve got to fight the content wars. Content marketing works for everyone, and everyone should be doing it. Give valuable content as often as possible. You must be present on every significant channel. You must have an investment mindset. Practice the Strategy of Preeminence. Here are some snippets from our conversation: Nobody was born with a list – Why you should ignore theory and model your list-building after a strategy that actually works (19:55) Words matter – Why it’s important for you and your bottom line to know what content marketing is, and more importantly, what it is not (22:25) The proof is in the pudding – Meet David Robertson, who traveled 3,000 miles to give 30,000 reasons why this stuff really works (23:30) The perfect storm of content marketing – Discover the three forces that have brought us to the point where we have to think differently about how we market, and how to use those forces to your advantage (25:01) Open war is upon you – Why the key to victory in the content wars is to offer your unique value (27:35) All means all – Why every business should use Value Based Content Marketing to stay ahead of the game, win market share, and to make more money (32:24) How soon is now – Why you need to accept the uncomfortable truth that the more value first content you release, the faster you grow (33:14) Your presence is required – Why your blog, live video, podcast, and print needs to be present on every significant channel (36:42) Avoid the unsubscribe link – Why you must be willing to sacrifice short-term gain for long-term profit and value (40:30) Inside the mind of Jay Abraham – Why you don't want to be simply the superior marketer…you want to be the superior provider (42:17) Resources Mentioned In This Episode https://rayedwards.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/Weekly-Content-Marketing-Package.pdf Atlas Shrugged The Fountainhead How To Help Subscribe to the show through Apple Podcasts and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will mention you on this show. Get The Transcript https://rayedwards.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/Ray-Edwards-Show-Transcript-315-2.pdf

If you’ve listened to this podcast for any length of time, you’ve undoubtedly heard us extol the virtues of Revel 77, our favorite coffee shop. So, when its existence was in jeopardy we stepped out and bought it. But that begs the question, “Why the heck did we do that?” In this episode we’ll attempt to answer that question, and show you why we’re willing to put our money where our mouth is when it comes to walking out the prosperity principles that we teach. Click here to download or listen to this episode now. Spiritual Foundations Prosperity tends to mean different things to different people, but to simplify this I’ve boiled prosperity down to one acronym (you guys know how much I love these). L.I.F.E. will help you determine whether you’re living a prosperous life. Check it out… Love what you do, and do what you love. Invite God’s presence into every part of your life. Fight evil. Empower good. If you’ll do those things you’re living a prosperous life. Tip of the Week In 1879 Thomas Alva Edison created the first commercially practical incandescent light. I think we can all agree that was a revolutionary moment. Now Philips has created Hue lighting which lets you easily control your light and create the right ambiance for every situation. When you experience a beautiful sunset, you realize that light can change your emotional state. Now imagine having total control over the light and color of your environment, bending it to your will so that it matches your mood…that’s some pretty heady stuff. Combine that versatility with the ease of access that a company like Alexa gives you and, my friends, you are gazing straight into the eyes of progress. Feature Presentation: “7 Reasons Why We Bought A Coffee Shop” When we bought our favorite coffee shop we were inundated with questions about our reasons for doing so. We’re known primarily as internet marketers, so why would we dip our toes into the brick and mortar marketplace? In this episode we reveal our reasons, and show you why we’re willing to put our money where our mouth is when it comes to walking out the prosperity principles that we teach. Here are our 7 reasons: Community Ministry Investment Proof and flexing our muscles Synergy with our existing business Because we wanted to More Income Here are a few snippets from our conversation: Sean’s Rant of the Week – Illuminating the hidden meaning of capitalism (16:45) The story behind the story – What specialty coffee and power outlets had to do with the purchase of Revel 77 (21:20) Assembling the wings on the way down – Why growth can be messy and good at the same time (24:18) Creating the Third Place – How a safe shared space allows a community to find an anchor and flourish (28:15) Becoming the feet of Jesus – How business can help people experience God’s Kingdom through abundance, peace, and joy (30:59) The Shark Tank Factor – How to strategically invest in businesses to increase your income and wealth (35:06) Put your money where your mouth is – What a coffee shop taught us about the validity of our marketing model and forever answer the question. “Will this work for my business?” (38:39) Coffee is magical – How a delicious beverage helps us carry the atmosphere of Heaven to a thirsty world (41:19) Resources Mentioned In This Episode Philips Hue Lighting Alexa Revel 77 How To Help Subscribe to the show through Apple Podcasts and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will mention you on this show. Get The Transcript Right-Click and “Save As” to Get the PDF Transcript.

You can hardly open your email these days without seeing someone promising the super-secret key to insane business growth. I know that the title of this episode seems like over-the-top clickbait, but by the time we’re done you’ll see that it’s no exaggeration. This kind of extraordinary growth is happening right now to my friend Michael Stelzner of Social Media Examiner. We're going to be talking with him this week and let him explain exactly how he has done this and how you can do the same for your business. Click here to download or listen to this episode now. Spiritual Foundations This week’s spiritual foundations should be exciting for you because I'm about to reveal to you a secret superpower you probably did not know you had. If you're a follower of Jesus, you are part of what's called the royal priesthood. It means that you are both a king and a priest under the kingly priesthood of Jesus Christ. In the old covenant, kings and priests were two different groups of people. You could be a king or a priest, but you could not be both at the same time. Today, if we are in Christ, we are both kings and priests. A royal priesthood. That means we have double the supernatural speaking power because of our king-priesthood roles.   How do I know this? Well, if you look in Ecclesiastes chapter eight verse four it says, “Where the word of a king is, there is power.” If you look at Deuteronomy, chapter 21 verse five it says of priests, “By their word, every controversy and every assault shall be settled.” As a believer, if you're in business, you have an edge over other business people. There you go, I said it.   What you say about your business deals will come to pass. You have that power in your speech. If you get falsely accused of something, if people give you bad reviews online or say bad things about you as they inevitably will, you need to know that by your very word, every controversy and every assault will be settled. This doesn't just apply to your business, it also applies the rest of your life. As a king-priest, you can bless your children by speaking words of destiny over them. You have the power to set in motion the supernatural forces that will give them what they need to win the battles of life and live out their destiny.  Instead of agreeing with the devil when he says bad things about you, your life, your business, and your family, you should declare the opposite. You should say, along with me, “I live under supernatural protection. I prosper in all my relationships. God forgives all my iniquities and heals all my diseases.”   You can say, straight from Scripture, “The Lord will make my way prosperous and give me good success.” You've got double the speaking power of any king or priest from the old covenant. Use your double speaking power and bring these blessings to fruition in your own life. Speak what you want to see and go out there and be the royal priest that you are. Tip of the Week I'm going to confess right now that I have never understood cryptocurrency. I hear people talking about Bitcoin and I just nod politely and listen, realizing I have no idea what they're talking about. That is until I had a conversation with my friend Joel Comm who is now the co-host of The Bad Crypto Podcast. This is a great place to start getting answers to questions like: What is cryptocurrency? What is Bitcoin? Does it have a place in your future? I think after listening to a couple of episodes, the answer is, “Yes it does.” I think this is the future of currency, of investing. It can be hard to understand, but these guys make it easy. My advice is to start at episode one and listen to each successive episode to get caught up. Take a listen, you’ll thank me…I promise. Feature Presentation: “Make Your Own YouTube Reality Show & Grow Your Business Like Crazy” This week’s guest is my friend Michael Stelzner. He's the founder of Social Media Examiner, and the author of books like Launch and Writing White Papers. Michael is also the man behind Social Media Marketing World, the industry's largest conference. He's also the host of the Social Media Marketing Podcast, founder of the Social Media Marketing Society, host of the weekly Social Media Marketing Talk Show, and the central character in the YouTube reality show The Journey, an episodic documentary about his own company. Here are a few snippets from our conversation: Take a journey – Michael discusses how an episodic YouTube channel played a significant role in growing his business by 62% (6:13) The Mother of Invention – Michael reveals the story behind “The Journey” and how he went from idea to execution in seven days (7:30) Video killed the radio star – Michael answers the questions, “Why video?” and “Why now?” (9:12) No one resonates with rosy – Why it’s a good idea to reveal your flaws to your audience, even if it makes you uncomfortable (11:13) Authenticity is a contact sport – Michael talks about the dark side of being transparent and how, like a Jedi master, you can make it work for you (14:18) Swim with the sharks without getting eaten – How to draw the line between content marketing and shameless promotion (15:16)  Binge-watching as a business strategy – Michael shares about the power of creating compelling content, and doing it on your own terms (18:34) Getting to know you – Why video creates a highly sought-after connection with you and your business, even if viewers have never met you in person (22:07) The thousand-mile journey begins with the first step – Michael opens up about what it takes to begin your own Journey, whether you have a team or it’s just you against the world (25:45) Follow someone through a minefield – Michael shows you the most common pitfalls of creating your own Journey, and how to avoid them (27:58) Resources Mentioned In This Episode The Prosperity Academy The Bad Crypto Podcast Social Media Examiner Launch: How to Quickly Propel Your Business Beyond the Competition Writing White Papers: How to Capture Readers and Keep Them Engaged Social Media Marketing World Social Media Marketing Podcast Social Media Marketing Society Social Media Marketing Talk Show The Journey Zoom H4n Pro How To Help Subscribe to the show through Apple Podcasts and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will mention you on this show. Get The Transcript Right-Click and “Save As” to Get the PDF Transcript.

All of us want a business that hums along, routinely churning out profits as if on autopilot, but how the heck do you do that? This week I’ve enlisted the help of the undisputed market leader to teach you practical steps to amplify, accelerate, and automate your profits. Amy Porterfield teaches business owners, educators, and entrepreneurs the action steps for building a highly engaged email list, creating online training courses, and using online marketing strategies to sell with ease. She is one of our favorite people and what she has to say will blow your mind. Click here to download or listen to this episode now. Spiritual Foundations Is it possible to use peace as a weapon? I want to read for you a little passage of Scripture you’ve probably heard, even if you’ve never darkened the door of a church in your life. “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for thou art with me.” – Psalm 23:4 Marketplace minister Os Hillman has a website called TGIF…Today God Is First. In one of his devotionals he says, “In battles of the workplace, your peace is actually a weapon. The workplace creates many opportunities to rob us of our peace.” He goes on to list things like cash flow, relationships, conflicts with employees, deadlines, and other things that create stress and disturb our peace. He points out that when Jesus confronted the devil, Jesus didn’t react from his emotions or out of fear because He knew that the devil is a liar. Jesus just refused to be influenced by the lie. His peace overwhelmed the adversary, His authority shattered the lie, and the forces of darkness were sent scurrying away to the corner to hide. Pretty cool insight. I really enjoy a lot of stuff that Os Hillman writes, so be sure to check out his site at TodayGodIsFirst.com. Tip of the Week Everything you touch ends up on your phone…I mean everything. So how do you keep your phone, and the other tech gadgets you use, clean and sanitary? I discovered the answer to this conundrum on a recent trip to the Apple store. I noticed they use a product called WHOOSH! to keep all the high-end products free from fingerprints and Lord knows what else has been on the hands of hundreds of people who visit that store daily. I figured if it’s good enough for Apple, it’s good enough for me. Pick up some WHOOSH! for your devices, because the alternative is just nasty. Feature Presentation: “The One With Amy Porterfield” Amy Porterfield is one of the most interesting women on the internet, maybe even on the planet. She started out her career working for Harley Davidson and ended up working with Tony Robbins. Now through her best-selling marketing courses (List Builder’s Lab, Courses That Convert, Webinars That Convert), a thriving Facebook community, and top-ranked podcast, Amy inspires a grounded, tangible and self-affirming sense of, “Wow! I really can do this,” for over 250,000 online entrepreneurs. She proves that by moving away from “step-by-step” and into “action-by-action,” even the newest online entrepreneurs can bypass feelings of self-doubt and being overwhelmed. Instead, they can generate exciting momentum as they move closer to building a life and business they love. Here are some snippets from our conversation: The Entrepreneurial Incubator – Why surrounding yourself with the kind of people you want to be like is the secret sauce to successfully starting a business (8:29) Burn the Boats – Amy shares the fastest way to turn a side hustle into the life of your dreams (10:31) One dollar can change the world – Amy tells the story of how Ray started writing copy for Tony Robbins, and the unusual strategy he used to write a killer sales letter (13:46) Trading one boss for many bosses – What to do if you wind up hating the business you start, and how to successfully get back on track (15:29) Authenticity will always have an audience – Amy shares the secret to overcoming your client’s biggest fears and writing copy that converts like crazy (17:40) The Power of Belief – If you don’t possess this one thing you’re going to lose the trust of your audience forever (20:32) Connection isn’t a one-time thing – Amy teaches us the extreme value in creating a follow-up sequence that is just a continuation of your webinar or sales process (21:54) You like me, you really like me! – Amy reveals the clandestine way to get inside your customer’s mind and feel like you’re talking to them directly (23:38) Selling after the sale – Why making the sale is just the beginning of your copy journey with your customers (24:25) Should you outsource your voice? – Why you need to become a student of copywriting…even if you plan on hiring a copywriter (26:02) Everything is copy – Why understanding the art and science of copy can improve everything from social media posts to your personal relationships (28:53) Resources Mentioned In This Episode Today God Is First WHOOSH! Listbuilder’s Lab Courses That Covert Webinars That Convert How To Help Subscribe to the show through Apple Podcasts and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will mention you on this show. Get The Transcript Right-Click and “Save As” to Get the PDF Transcript.

Just like you, Marie Forleo started her business with nothing more than a laptop and a dream. Now she commands a socially-conscious digital empire that touches millions of people, and makes millions of dollars. In this episode we’re going to talk with Marie and get some little-known insight into how she created such a remarkable business, a business that has allowed her to design the life she always wanted to live. Click here to download or listen to this episode now. Spiritual Foundations Recently I did a podcast on the truth about Parkinson's. I've received lots of responses, which has been a real blessing because I think it has helped a lot of people. I think there's an opportunity for us to use our circumstances, whether good or bad, to advance the gospel…the Good News. In Philippians 1:12 the Apostle Paul says, “Now, I want you to know brothers that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel.” It would serve us well to remember that Paul was a businessman…he was a tent maker. As far as I can tell, this was not something that he did just because it was an easy way to make money. It required skill, and he did it because he didn't want to rely on the church for his income. He took it seriously. He had an overall ministry objective for his business, and that meant that sometimes he was thrown in prison, he was persecuted, he was beaten. It’s easy to be a shining example of God’s grace when everything is rosy, but when things get tough most people want to give up and quit. When things get stormy and rough we go through periods where maybe we're tempted to say, “I don't even know why I’m doing this, it just seems pointless.” First off, remember that God didn’t cause these things to happen to you. There is an enemy that seeks to steal, kill, and destroy…but a loving Father that wants you to have an abundant life (John 10:10). Your temporary negative circumstances can be used to advance the Kingdom, to bring more of the reality of God to the world around you, to transcend your circumstances and transform them into something that is in your favor and to your advantage. I think our friend Paul serves as a good example of that. Selah. (Think about it.) Tip of the Week It's time for me to convince you to spend money on an app, and I’m playing no favorites this week. The app is called PORTRA and it’s available for both iOS users and Android people. There are a lot of apps out there that will put your photos through an art filter, but I've never seen anything that does as a good job as PORTRA. They really do look like paintings, it’s pretty amazing. I also have a little secret tip for you. If you use a high-resolution photo to do this, you could take that resulting artwork and send it off to fractureme.com. These people will print your photos on glass, which just amplifies the cool factor. You could use PORTRA to make a very unique photo into something that looks like a work of art, and then have it printed on glass and it would be a very groovy gift. Check it out, I think you're going to like it. Feature Presentation: “The One With Marie Forleo” Marie Forleo has an award-winning show called Marie TV, which when it first started up, I thought, “Oh, come on. Really?” And now she's like Oprah on the Internet. She's got a world-class online training program called B-School. She also has a book that's in 16 languages, and an audience in 195 countries. Marie helps people dream big and then back it up with meaningful action to get results, and she's also an extraordinary copywriter. Up until very recently, she wrote every word of copy that you saw come out of her business, which I think is just amazing. So, let's get into it. Here are some snippets from our conversation: Persuade with Purpose – Marie reveals the absolutely vital skill you must learn to authentically communicate with your audience (10:58) Achieving copy consciousness – The surprising way that your everyday world can become a copywriting classroom (12:55) Fail in public – Why allowing your tribe to watch your progression serves as both inspiration and education (14:34) Look spontaneous and brilliant – Marie talks about the importance of taking the time to really understand your audience and craft complete comprehensive answers to their questions (16:23) The fine line of web design – Marie discusses the value of intertwining copy and simple, clean design that causes your audience to become emotionally engaged with your brand (17:25) Sales doesn’t have to be slimy – Why modern marketing, which includes generosity, compassion, and value is the key to overcoming the fear of sales (21:11) The virus that’s killing your business – Why learning the art of writing copy is the single most powerful tool you have to grow a healthy, robust enterprise (24:22) Your voice matters – Should you write your own copy, or should you hire someone to do it for you? Marie tackles this question and provides a unique and wise perspective (26:46) The Steven Spielberg Test – Marie shares a way to check whether your copy is too ambiguous…is your copy so specific and clear that if Steven Spielberg read it he could make a scene from it that comes to life? (31:39) Get out of your head – Marie reminds us that when people buy they make emotional decisions, not logical ones, and that our copy not only needs to make sense, it needs to touch their heart (33:55) Manipulation vs Persuasion – Why the way you craft your offer makes the difference between adding value and taking advantage (35:02) Are you Luke Skywalker or Yoda? – There can only be one hero in a story. The key to writing copy that gets acted upon is to remember that your customer is the hero. They are Luke Skywalker, you are Yoda. (37:08) Resources Mentioned In This Episode PORTRA (iOS) PORTRA (Android) com Marie Forleo’s B-School Marie TV The Copy Cure How To Help Subscribe to the show through Apple Podcasts and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will mention you on this show. Get The Transcript Right-Click and “Save As” to Get the PDF Transcript.

There’s a shift happening in the world of copywriting. People are beginning to recognize the wisdom that can be gleaned from studying the fundamentals of copy directly from the masters themselves. In this episode, we’re going to help you walk that path by introducing you to the most ripped-off copywriter alive. John Carlton is one of the guys who got me started in the world of professional copyrighting. He's got a degree in psychology, understands how the human mind works and how people make buying decisions, and he uses his knowledge of behavioral psychology to sell stuff…which I think is a pretty smart idea. Click here to download or listen to this episode now. Spiritual Foundations I’ve been doing some reading from John Maxwell’s Leadership Bible, and I discovered he has an interesting take on one of my favorite Scriptures… “Go to the ant, you sluggard. Consider her ways and be wise. Which having no captain, overseer or ruler provides her supplies in the summer and gathers her food in the harvest.” Proverbs 6:6-8 Maxwell came up with an acronym that explains what we can learn from the ant. Attitude of Initiative: Ants don't need a boss to tell them how to get started. I like that. Nature of Integrity: Ants work faithfully and need no outside accountability to keep them doing things the right way…because if they don’t they'll die. Thirst for Industry: Ants work hard and will replace their anthill when it gets ruined…they don't give up and go look for ant welfare. Source of Insight: Ants store provisions in the summer because they know there's a lean time coming. Go to the ant and be wise. Tip of the Week Our tip this week comes from the book Rest: Why You Get More Done When You Work Less by Alex Soojung-Kim Pang. This is a topic that a lot of people discuss, but not very many people have studied the psychology behind the idea of rest as this guy does. He says in the front of his book, “For most of us, overwork is the new normal and rest is an afterthought.” In our busy lives, rest is defined as the absence of work, something to do once we’ve finished everything else on our to-do list. Dismissing rest stifles our ability to think creatively and truly recharge. The author works in Silicon Valley and posits that rest is not the opposite of work if they are part of the same cycle. Instead, without one you can't really enjoy and benefit from the other. I'm reading this as part of Michael Hyatt’s monthly reading program LeaderBox. This program gets you reading two books a month, which is pretty awesome! You should sign up for it at LeaderBox.com. Feature Presentation: “John Carlton: The Most Ripped-Off Copywriter Alive” Some people call John Carlton the most ripped-off copywriter alive and that's because there was a period of time when everybody was ripping off his one-legged-golfer headline. He's the guy who wrote the headline: The Amazing Secrets of the One-Legged Golfer, and it was for a course on how to play better golf. The premise is so obvious, if a one-legged golfer shoots a good game of golf, he must be doing something right. Or she, could be a one-legged lady. Well, that became the most swiped headline in history for a long time. The list of well-known marketers who freely reference John Carlton as their primary mentor for writing sales messages is staggering. In fact, I went to a conference with the sole intention of spending $5,000 to buy his swipe files. So, let's get into my interview with John Carlton. Here are some snippets from our conversation: The grooming of a guru – The process that took John Carlton from introvert to a commanding stage presence (11:14) Share your best stuff – Why John Carlton made the decision to give the world a license to steal his stuff (12:34) My greatest joy – Why sharing and hands-on mentoring can become an accelerant for your business (13:50) Birds of a feather – Why copywriters are a rare tribe of scribes, and are the ones who will write history (14:42) The ultimate calling card – Why you should have a book, and the easiest way to get that done quickly (16:33) Is your marketing working? – Why direct-response copy matters and the reason mastering this art form is the fastest path to the cash (21:42) The Father of the Hot Seat – How a random idea in an elevator created a powerful way to solve even the most difficult business problems (27:15) Operation Money-Suck – How a crisis revealed what your number one job should be, and how focusing on this one task can save your business (34:25) Turning failure into success – John Carlton reveals his simple secret to writing highly effective sales copy (44:17) You are who you hang around – John explains the power of the mastermind and why tapping into brilliant minds makes everyone better (48:05) Unleashing the Power Within – What John Carlton learned from Tony Robbins that made him a better marketer (50:05) The Freelance Epiphany – How a stolen book launched John Carlton’s writing career, and what that experience taught him about becoming a successful freelance copywriter (55:20) The Simple Writing System explained – John Carlton takes you behind the curtain and shows you the simplest way to write anything from a paragraph to a 24-page sales letter (61:02) Stalking the desk – How to put yourself in the right frame of mind to do your best work and make your mark in the marketplace (66:06) Moving the sloth – How a controversial visualization technique can lead you to writing copy that causes your prospect to take out their wallet and give you money (69:04) The Two-List Solution – John Carlton shares his hard-won advice about what it takes to become a successful copywriter (77:47) Resources Mentioned In This Episode Rest: Why You Get More Done When You Work Less LeaderBox The Maxwell Leadership Bible Simple Success Secrets No One Told You About The Entrepreneur’s Guide To Getting Your Shit Together John Carlton’s Official Blog Simple Writing System How To Help Subscribe to the show through Apple Podcasts and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will mention you on this show. Get The Transcript Right-Click and “Save As” to Get the PDF Transcript.

Your core beliefs control everything you do, from your attitudes to the actions you take each day. But how did you develop those beliefs? Did you thoughtfully choose them yourself, or were they handed to you over time from potentially unqualified sources? In this episode we continue to discuss the core beliefs we hold here at Ray Edwards International. If you listen closely you may discover the key to developing your own North Star that can be counted on to guide you safely home. Click here to download or listen to this episode now. Spiritual Foundations If I took Jesus out of my business, would it make any difference? This is a little bit of a trick question, because what you are on Sunday you should be every day of the week. It’s not about living a balanced life, it’s about living an integrated life. If what you believe doesn’t make a difference in the way you live every part of your life, then perhaps it’s possible that you don’t really believe it. We take a deeper dive on this subject in this week’s episode, but take warning…it’s not for the faint of heart. Tip of the Week This week I’m going to share a tip that will eliminate the most ubiquitous challenge that video content creators face. No, it has nothing to do with the quality of your video…it’s the quality of your sound. The newest smartphones are great for shooting video, but the microphones that are built into them are lousy. Don’t be fooled, if your audio isn’t great, viewers won’t stick around. That means all your great content and world-changing ideas go right down the drain. Fear not, I have a simple, cost-effective solution for you. Introducing the TASCAM DR-10L, an ultra-compact, incredibly convenient digital recorder/lavalier microphone combo. You can shoot the video and record the audio separately on this device, it uses a microSD card. All you do then is take the sound from the microSD card and put it on top of the video in your video editing software. It sounds like a big deal, but it's not hard to do. In fact, Final Cut Pro makes it super easy because it basically does it for you. Free yourself from the horrors of awful audio, and become the world-class content creator you were born to be! Feature Presentation: “The Entrepreneurial Manifesto” If you’re an entrepreneur, or on your way to becoming one, this week I’m going to cover some important philosophical and positional tenets that you can use as a roadmap to guide your enterprise to true and lasting success. Let’s begin… The fire in which we burn – Why you must guard your time like the absolute treasure it is (13:02) Seek and ye shall find – How to live the life you really want to live and bless those of your choosing without needlessly sacrificing yourself on their behalf (14:14) Tripping the thought wire – The secret to being successful and thriving while also being accountable (15:32) Where did you get that idea? – The real reason why business, wealth, and possessions are inherently moral and good (20:55) Creating value and building wealth – Money and resources can only exchange hands two ways, either voluntarily by trading value for value, or by force. Which do you choose? (23:59) Creating value can save the world – How copywriting saved a pastor and his family from financial ruin (29:34) And the winner is… – Why the Free Market is the only market that actually works (32:09) Are you worthy? – The reason it’s important to be ready to give an answer for what you believe (34:45) Resources Mentioned in This Episode TASCAM DR-10L Final Cut Pro The Virtue of Selfishness Prosperity Academy How To Help Subscribe to the show through Apple Podcasts and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will mention you on this show. Get The Transcript Right-Click and “Save As” to Get the PDF Transcript.

Remember the good old days of email marketing when you could just send email to someone and they would actually look forward to receiving it? While it’s true that email marketing was different in the past, I believe there is a case to be made that we are in The Golden Age of email marketing right now…and you can still be a part of it. My guest this week is someone who knows a lot about how to get the most out of your email marketing. Nathan Barry is the founder of ConvertKit, and he is going to share some simple hacks that will help you become a vital part of the email renaissance. Click here to download or listen to this episode now. Spiritual Foundations When I walk into my office each day, the first thing I see is a pink index card with three words written on it. Those three words are the principles that drive my business daily. Those words are: Presence People Profit Presence has two meanings for me: number one, and the most important, is the presence of God. I want to be aware of God's presence every moment of the day. The second meaning of the word presence is being present with people. This is a big deal to me. The second principle is people. The real foundation of my business is people just like you. No people…no business. But people mean much more to me than that. We all need deep relationships with others and relationships are reciprocal. We need each other. We need people in our lives. The third principle is profit, because if you don't have a profit, you won't have a business for very long. Those are the priorities that I think about every day in the business as I walk in the door. If I stay focused on the presence of God while being present with people and recognizing their importance, the profit will take care of itself. Tip of the Week I ditched my iPad…kind of. I ditched my smaller 9.7” iPad in favor of the larger 12.9” one. From the outside I can understand why people might have a problem with that decision…I mean, does it really make that big a difference? Yes, and here are five reasons why: It's the size of a full sheet of paper. It has a split screen. I can handwrite my notes and draw little illustrations, or do sketch-noting. I can easily annotate PDF’s. I can leave my laptop behind, because there are very few things I can do on my laptop that I can't do on my iPad Pro. While the adage isn’t always true, in this case, bigger is actually better. Feature Presentation: “The Death & Rebirth of Email Marketing” My guest Nathan Barry likes to build audiences and companies. Right now he is focused on building ConvertKit, an email marketing company for professional bloggers. It’s both powerful and easy to use, plus amazing people like Tim Ferriss, Pat Flynn, Chris Guillebeau, as well as 12,000 other great bloggers swear by it. Here are some snippets from our conversation: The riches are in the niches – Why ConvertKit isn’t just a different email service provider, it’s a better one (18:10) One of these things is not like the other – Why trying to be all things to all people is a recipe for business disaster (20:28) Scratch your own itch – How Nathan Barry learned that solving his own problem was the fastest path to the cash (21:05) What’s your startup story – Join Nathan in a no-holds-barred look behind the scenes of what start-up success really looks like (21:22) “Shut it down, or double down” – The wise advice Nathan Barry received from a friend that completely turned his business around (23:10) Mired in the Sea of Sameness – Why it takes more than a just passionate message to get your voice heard in the marketplace (27:34) Stop celebrating complexity – The real reason why consistently providing value still reigns supreme in the marketplace of ideas (29:05) The right tool for the right job – What ConvertKit learned about the mistake of trying to make everyone fit into the same box (30:45) Here’s what to do first – Simple hacks that can take from no list at all, to having an engaged list that you can be proud of (32:51) Dodging the fiery darts of email marketing failure – What tagging and segmentation are, and why they may be the secret weapon your marketing system has been searching for (36:07) The Cowardly Lion approach to marketing – How to easily spot customers who are digitally raising their hands and ready to buy from you (38:06) Focus on what you care about – What you can learn from ConvertKit’s commitment to user experience so you can dominate your segment of the online world (41:17) Resources Mentioned in This Episode ConvertKit GoodNotes 9 Inch iPad Pro Anything You Want: 40 Lessons for a New Kind of Entrepreneur How To Help Subscribe to the show through Apple Podcasts and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will mention you on this show. Get The Transcript Right-Click and “Save As” to Get the PDF Transcript.

What you believe controls how much success you’re willing to allow yourself to experience. Is it possible that by tweaking what you believe you could start to achieve things you once thought impossible? In this episode we're going to begin to examine and share some of our core beliefs, how they influence our business, our personal lives, our behavior, and how we arrived at these beliefs. Click here to download or listen to this episode now. Spiritual Foundations Our Spiritual Foundations segment this week is sure to ruffle a few feathers, but what else is new? In this episode I unveil a new way to think about one of the most quoted passages in the Bible…Matthew 22:15-22. “Then the Pharisees went and plotted how they might entangle Him in His talk. And they sent to Him their disciples with the Herodians, saying, ‘Teacher, we know that You are true, and teach the way of God in truth; nor do You care about anyone, for You do not regard the person of men. Tell us, therefore, what do You think? Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?’ But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, ‘Why do you test Me, you hypocrites? Show Me the tax money.’ So they brought Him a denarius. And He said to them, ‘Whose image and inscription is this?’ They said to Him, ‘Caesar’s.’ And He said to them, ‘Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.’ When they had heard these words, they marveled, and left Him and went their way.” So, was Jesus saying that taxes are cool and He was totally okay with the government? Or is it possible that His answer had a deeper meaning. The answers you seek are inside this week’s episode. Tip of the Week If you’re anything like me, you have dozens of apps on your phone that you never use. They seemed like a good idea at the time, but now they’ve been relegated to the Island of Forgotten Apps. Fear not, I have an elegantly simple solution. Delete all the apps on your phone and only add them back when you need them. I know, it sounds extreme, but think of it as a game. How few apps can you keep on your phone and still feel like a king or queen of the digital playground? I think you’ll be surprised at the answer. Feature Presentation: “7 Beliefs That Create Success” We stand for: Spiritual foundations Virtuous prosperity Rational, virtuous self-interest Reality-based thinking Non-evasiveness Productivity Legacy Here are some snippets from our conversation: Stop living on a flat earth – Why your worldview is dangerously incomplete without a spiritual component (11:16) Is your mental castle made from bricks or straw? – Why what you believe about reality may actually be making your life more difficult (12:24) Be fruitful and multiply – How your built-in power to reason gives you the ability to create things that advance and sustain life (18:25) The Dangerous Dichotomy – How Jesus’ command to love yourself is the key to helping as many people as possible (24:09) You reap what you sow – Why thought without action dooms you to a life mired in the mud of false reality (28:58) If I don’t see it, it doesn’t exist – Why evading reality never helps you in the long run and eventually winds up stealing all your joy (35:39) You are The Genesis Device – How embracing your creative nature is the fastest way to become productive and turn work into worship (40:39) The work you do today impacts tomorrow – Why you should build the world today that future generations can enjoy tomorrow…just like you wish previous generations had done for you (45:26) Resources Mentioned in This Episode The Daily Stoic: 366 Meditations on Wisdom, Perseverance, and the Art of Living How To Help Subscribe to the show through Apple Podcasts and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will mention you on this show. Get The Transcript Right-Click and “Save As” to Get the PDF Transcript.

I just listened to an episode of Amy Porterfield‘s podcast, Online Marketing Made Easy. That episode shook me up (hah hah, the first Parkinson's joke of the episode). After hearing Amy speak so powerfully, I felt an overwhelming sense that I needed to say a few things publicly. Click here to download or listen to this episode now. I'm sharing not because it's important to me (believe me, I'd rather not be talking about this) – but because it's important to you. WARNING: This episode may not be suitable for those uncomfortable with the cold, hard truth.

Stories have a way of sticking with us. The world of marketing is changing around us, and those businesses that don’t invite their customers into a heroic story will soon find themselves forgotten. If you’re tired of your marketing having the same affect as a monkey yelling into a bullhorn, then you’re listening to this podcast at exactly the right time. In this episode my guest Don Miller is going to introduce you to a roadmap that will clarify your message and draw customers to you like a magnet. Click here to download or listen to this episode now. Spiritual Foundations If you’re like most people, you were raised with an understanding of The Golden Rule, “Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.” (Matthew 7:12) Regardless of your belief system, you have to admit that this is a pretty solid idea. But does it apply to governments as well as individuals? In this episode Sean and I have an provocative discussion that is sure to raise the hackles of more than a few people. Tip of the Week We’ve discovered the greatest camera ever made. Pretty bold statement, right? If you’re a content creator who relies on outstanding video (YouTubers I’m looking at you) then this camera is going to change your world. With this camera you can take stunningly sharp videos and crisp photos with one device. The mirrorless frame is lightweight for easy travel, and the 20.3-megapixel technology delivers on clarity. We go into a whole geeky discussion about this inside the episode, but suffice it to say that this camera is a photographic rock star! Feature Presentation: “Building A Storybrand with Donald Miller” Donald Miller is the CEO of StoryBrand and every year helps more than 3,000 business leaders clarify their brand message. His audiences are challenged to lean into their own story, creatively develop and execute the story of their team, and understand the story of their customers so they can serve them with passion. Don’s thoughts on story have deeply influenced leaders and teams for Pantene, Ford/Lincoln, Zaxby’s, Chick-fil-A, Steelcase, Intel, Prime Lending and thousands more. Combined, Don’s books have spent more than a year on the New York Times Bestsellers list. Here are some snippets from our conversation: If you confuse you lose – Why asking your customer to focus on more than one idea is killing your business (17:49) Even a caveman can do it – Why the “Grunt Test” is important and how you can use it to test your marketing in five seconds or less (19:22) Accidentally ignoring the important – How story plays such an important role in our businesses and why it’s so often ignored (22:05) Using resistance as a compass – Why your insecurities and fears can be used as a guide to the life you desire most (24:09) The Storyteller’s Formula – What movies can teach us about making marketing matter (26:15) Clarify to amplify – How the human brain processes story and how you can use that revelation to multiply the results in your business (28:38) Survive and thrive – What you need to know about the human brain, and how that knowledge can cause your message to stand out in the marketplace (30:37) The making of a President – What the results of recent elections can teach us about the power of story when used correctly…and incorrectly (33:55) It’s not what you say, it’s how you say it – How using the proper framework can transform your marketing from sad to successful (36:07) Resources Mentioned in This Episode Made to Stick: Why Some Ideas Survive and Others Die The Greatest Camera Ever Made Building a StoryBrand: Clarify Your Message So Customers Will Listen How To Help Subscribe to the show through Apple Podcasts and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will mention you on this show. Get The Transcript Right-Click and “Save As” to Get the PDF Transcript.

You’ve heard and read me talking about this topic of prosperity for some time now. If you’re still reading, chances are you have at least cautiously accepted the idea that you, too, may prosper. At this point you may even be thinking, “Ray, you’ve sold me on this prosperity idea. But how do I start? What’s next?” The rest of this podcast attempts to answer that question. Let’s get started. Click here to download or listen to this episode now. Spiritual Foundations 4 Principles for Living a Prosperous Life Find your ultimate joy and satisfaction in God. View your business as a means for glorifying Christ. Serve others as a demonstration of your love for them. Continually ask God to bless you. Tip of the Week Free training on powering up your platform! Feature Presentation: “How To Live Long & Prosper” Having established a foundation for prosperity, you now want to build on it by focusing on vision, mission, plans, strategies and goals that apply specifically to your business. Create a Prosperity Pathway There is power in a prosperity pathway. A prosperity pathway helps you: Develop clarity about how to proceed Focus on achievable outcomes Stay on course The steps in creating your prosperity pathway: Vision Mission Plans Strategy Goals Perhaps you’ve heard the acronym SMART Goals. SMART stands for: S – Specific M – Measurable A – Achievable R – Realistic T – Time-based SMART goals are a good place to start. The problem with conventional goal-setting in this fashion is that it’s: All or nothing Pie in the sky Demoralizing Demotivating Without goals we have no idea how we’re doing, or where we’re heading. So, here’s what I suggest and what I do: I set BAM! Goals. BAM is an acronym and stands for: B – Baseline A – Amazing M – Miraculous Resources Mentioned in This Episode Client First Training How To Help Subscribe to the show through Apple Podcasts and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will mention you on this show. Get The Transcript Right-Click and “Save As” to Get the PDF Transcript.

Things can change so quickly in the online world it sometimes feels like a full-time job just trying to keep up. Which platforms are still relevant? What are the emerging trends I need to keep my eye on? In this episode my guest Mark Mason will tackle these questions, clear out the cobwebs of confusion and shine a light on the path forward. Click here to download or listen to this episode now. Spiritual Foundations In the church world today, when people are presented with an opportunity it’s common to hear them say, “I’m going to wait on the Lord till I get a sign from Him that this is the right thing to do.” This drives me nuts because God has given us eyes, ears, and a glorious brain to think with…we should be able to evaluate opportunities using the tools He has given us. So, I found some Scripture to back up my viewpoint, which is what you do when you’re a Christian. Check this out: Proverbs 10:5, “He who gathers in summer is a son who acts wisely, but he who sleeps in harvest is a son who acts shamefully.” Or how about Proverbs 14:23, “In all labor there is profit, but mere talk leads only to poverty.” We serve a God who doesn’t have any problems making decisions. Let’s follow His lead and strike when the opportunity is hot. Tip of the Week The tip this week is one of the coolest apps I’ve seen in a long time. If you ever watched the TV show Fringe you’ll remember how they had those 3D titles that showed the name of the city floating on the screen. It looked really cool. Now with Placer Cam you can create that same effect in your videos just using your phone. Getting perfectly tracked text in your videos has never been as fun, quick or easy. The best part is that there’s no expensive editing software required, do it all on your mobile device! Feature Presentation: “An Interview with Mark Mason” My guest this week is Mark Mason, the host of the brilliant podcast Late Night Internet Marketing. There you can expect to hear practical internet marketing advice you can apply to your own internet business, great interviews with successful and interesting marketers, and tidbits of helpful information delivered in an easy-to-understand format. In this episode I get to pepper Mark with questions we all want answers to, like: Is affiliate marketing still a real thing normal people can do? Why would one approach an internet business as a side hustle, instead of burning the ships? Day Job Secrets: Should You Tell Your Boss About Your Side Gig? Do you think all this vlogging, snapping, Vining, and Instagramming is a sign of rampant narcissim? Why don’t you post a bunch of quote memes to show us how smart you are? How hard is it for the Average Joe to optimize a website? And finally, why a post about depression? Here are some snippets from our conversation: Let there be value – Why leading by example has helped Mark Mason lead the way in helping people build profitable side businesses (8:58) Get Ziggy with it – How to get what you want by helping people get what they want (11:01) Jesus was a smart Dude – Why the Golden Rule has always been the key to longevity and prosperity in business (13:10) Playing with fire can get you burned – The real reason that building a side hustle is the smartest way to transition out of a job (15:22) Stay away from the eject button – Why it’s always better to run to something than run away from something (18:07) Stop waiting for your “calling” – How to enjoy what you’re doing while you’re doing it so your calling can find you (20:34) To tell or not to tell – The questions you need to answer before you decide to tell your boss about your side hustle (23:42) Expect to be discovered – A parable about what to do if your side hustle is discovered (29:35) The value of narcissism – How to spot the fine line between making it all about you and entertaining and enlightening your audience (31:40) An alternate view of depression – How to overcome the things that drain our energy and move your business forward every day (37:29) Resources Mentioned in This Episode Placer Cam Late Night Internet Marketing Zig Ziglar The Ethical Side Hustle How To Help Subscribe to the show through Apple Podcasts and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will mention you on this show. Get The Transcript Right-Click and “Save As” to Get the PDF Transcript.

It's the dark secret of many small business entrepreneurs – most are a couple of bad months away from total bankruptcy. I learned this lesson the hard way after generating hundreds of millions and having nothing to show for it. While I changed that over the last few years, I am still a work in progress. And many small business owners I know are still living check-to-check. The book Profit First changes all that once and for all. Ask yourself. “What would it be like if I could immediately start taking profit from ny business – this month, and every month from now on? What if I could be permanently profitable?” Click here to download or listen to this episode now. Spiritual Foundations Keeping your accounting straight and your business profitable is not just a good idea – it’s biblical. “Be diligent to know the state of your flocks, And attend to your herds; For riches are not forever, Nor does a crown endure to all generations.” – Proverbs 27:23-24 Tip of the Week Try this with me: one book, one month, deep. Profit First, by Mike Michalowicz. Feature Presentation: “Profit First, Broke Never” TESTIMONIALS FOR PROFIT FIRST Darnyelle Jervey: “It feels good to be building a business that serves me. Profit First is helping me to live out my mission in my own business.” Bottom Line: $296,763.20 in profit, 258 percent revenue growth, and more than a million dollars in sales. Carrie Cunnington: “My business finances are organized and clean. I’m profitable (yeah!), disciplined, in control and motivated.” Bottom Line: Debt free and posting quarterly profits. Christian Maxin: “I now need just 60 minutes a week to manage my financial planning.” Bottom line: Christian can see the financial health of his business at a glance: $250,000 in new profit and business growth of 20 percent. Paul Finney: “Once you have cash, opportunities start to appear like never before.” Bottom Line: 500 percent growth in weekly sales; costs cut by 20 percent. Helen and Rob Faulkner: “After 18 years of being in business, we finally feel we’re a success.” Bottom Line: Helen and Rob turned around their business and posted a first-ever profit distribution within four weeks of starting Profit First. Notes and Quotes from Profit First: Money problems occur when one of two things happen: Sales slow down. The problem here is obvious when you operate check-to-check and sales slow down: you won’t have enough to cover expenses. Sales speed up. This problem is not obvious, but it is insidious. As your income climbs, expenses quickly follow. Exchanging the newly leased car for a rust-bucket, laying off employees because we’re overstaffed, saying “No” to our partners—all of this is very hard to do because of the agreements and promises we made. We don’t want to admit we’ve been wrong in how we’ve been growing our business. So rather than reduce our costs in any meaningful way, we scramble to cover ridiculously high expenses. We steal from Peter to pay Paul, hoping for another big payout. Most business owners try to grow their way out of their problems, hinging salvation on the next big sale, customer, or investor, but the result is simply a bigger monster. (And the bigger your company gets, the more anxiety you deal with. A $300,000 cash-eating monster is much easier to manage than a $3,000,000 one. I know; I have survived operating both.) “Profit must be baked into your business. Every day, every transaction, every moment. Profit is not an event. Profit is a habit.” THE FOUR CORE PRINCIPLES OF PROFIT FIRST Old “Profit Last” Formula: Sales – Expenses = Profit New “Profit First” Formula: Sales – Profit = Expenses Here’s how you apply the four principles:   Use Small Plates—When money comes into your main INCOME account, it simply acts as a serving tray for the other accounts. You then periodically disperse all the money from the INCOME account into different accounts in predetermined percentages. Each of these accounts has a different objective: one is for profit, one for owner compensation, another for taxes, and another for operating expenses. Collectively, these are the five foundational accounts (Income, Profit, Owner’s Comp, Tax, and Operating Expenses). Those five accounts are where you should get started, but advanced users will use additional accounts (outlined in Chapter 10). Serve Sequentially—Always, always allocate money based upon the percentages to the accounts first. Never, ever, ever pay bills first. The money moves from the INCOME account to your PROFIT account, OWNER’S COMP, TAX, and OPEX (OPERATING EXPENSES). Then you pay bills only with what is available in the OPEX account. No exceptions. And if there isn’t enough money left for expenses? This does not mean you need to pull from the other accounts. What it does mean is that your business is telling you that you can’t afford those expenses and need to get rid of them. Eliminating unnecessary expenses will bring more health to your business than you can ever imagine. Remove Temptation—Move your PROFIT account and other “tempting” accounts out of arm’s reach. Make it really hard and painful to get to that money, thereby removing the temptation to “borrow” (i.e., steal) from yourself. Use an accountability mechanism to prevent access, except for the right reason. Enforce a Rhythm—Do your allocations and payables twice a month (specifically, on the tenth and twenty-fifth). Don’t pay only when there is money piled up in the account. Get into a rhythm of allocating your income, and paying bills twice a month so that you can see how cash accumulates and where the money really goes. This is controlled, recurring and frequent cash-flow-management, not by-the-seat-of-your-pants cash-management. Resources Mentioned in This Episode Profit First book Profit First podcast Profit First Info Graphic (Ray’s Notes – Coming Soon!) How To Help Subscribe to the show through Apple Podcasts and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will mention you on this show. Get The Transcript Right-Click and “Save As” to Get the PDF Transcript.

We all have fears and beliefs that hold us back, but what we don’t usually have is a proven process that can destroy, once and for all, the limits those fears and beliefs place on us. This week I sit down with my friend Cliff Ravenscraft for an in-depth discussion on this very subject. We’re going to introduce you to tools and strategies that will unleash your potential and allow you to take the big leap from your Zone of Excellence to your Zone of Genius! Click here to download or listen to this episode now. Feature Presentation: “Breaking Through Your Upper Limits: A Conversation with Cliff Ravenscraft” We all have a thermostat in our lives that regulates how we feel with the amount of financial success, relationship success, and also business success that we have in our lives. In a very real sense, that thermostat has put a ceiling on how much greatness you allow in your life. Imagine for a moment that there was no ceiling…what would that make possible in your life? That’s exactly what we’re going to discuss in this episode. But first, as some of you may know, Sean and I recently bought a local artisan coffeehouse here in Spokane, and we thought you might enjoy a little insight as to why we did that. Enjoy! Here are some snippets from our conversation: Part One: The Coffeehouse Chronicles Sad news & an idea – How to spot opportunity in the most common areas of your life (3:22) Coffee and Community – Why a successful business is more than just a business (4:04) The strategic growth plan – How your unique skill set as an online entrepreneur can create new growth opportunities in the brick and mortar world (5:10) No more excuses – Why we believe coffee can open the door for all the brick and mortar businesses that are unsure online strategies will work for them (5:30) “I just don’t want it to close” – Why it’s okay, and even encouraged, to get emotional about business (7:38) King Solomon was right – Why it’s always a good idea to have multiple streams of income (8:37) Keep your eye on the prize – How to make your money go to work for you (8:48) A gathering place for friends – How to create a business model that turns customers into friends (9:06) Part 2: Breaking Through Your Upper Limits What’s the big deal? – How a cryptic message from Cliff changed my life (12:32) Control your temperature – How your inner thermostat dictates how much success you’re allowed to have in your life (14:10) Introverts and the post-vacation blues – How your mindset controls how much joy and excitement you are willing to allow in your life (18:51) The $25,000 check – Why most people refuse to accept random acts of kindness and how to fix that forever (22:55) The Upper Limit Injury – The never before released reason why your unconscious mind is fighting against your success, and what to do about it (25:31) The new high-water mark: How to identify your underlying positive message so you can blow the roof off your potential (27:01) Let’s get real – An intimate look at Ray’s experience with the Upper Limit Challenge, and the “miraculous” victory that came from that (27:33) The unintentional criminal – Why continuing to do something you’re awful at is robbing someone of the blessing of using their gift (31:37) Is this the best use of your time? – Why doing things others can do better is costing you money and draining your most valuable resource (35:04) The Land of Milk and Honey – Why your business should be based on something you do that comes easy to you but is difficult for others (36:59) The Zone of Genius – Why your unique gift is the key to enjoying all the love, financial abundance and creativity that’s rightfully yours (39:50) Watching Television Professionally – What can you do for long stretches of time without getting bored or tired? (45:01) Live long and prosper – What Spock can teach us about living with an abundance mindset (45:29) Working hard or hardly working? – Discovering the work you do that doesn’t feel like work (52:23) The Russian Doll Experiment – The magic of uncovering your unique ability by asking the right questions in the right order (53:03) I’m looking at you – Everyone has a Zone of Genius and it’s your personal mission to discover and share it (55:04) Feel the fear and do it anyway – How to defeat fear and use The Resistance as a compass (57:35) Now hear this! – The important information about the first Ray Edwards Live Meet-Up at Revel 77 (58:57) Resources Mentioned in This Episode Revel 77 Coffee The Big Leap: Conquer Your Hidden Fear and Take Life to the Next Level How To Help Subscribe to the show through Apple Podcasts and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will mention you on this show. Get The Transcript Right-Click and “Save As” to Get the PDF Transcript.

If you ask a room full of people with jobs why they go to work, what do you think their answer would be?  Probably something like, “To pay the bills… because I have to… because I have an addiction to living indoors with plumbing…” If you ask entrepreneurs why they work, what will THEY say? Probably something like, “Because I love my business… I’m doing what I love… I’m on a mission…” But pose the question differently and see what happens. Ask those same entrepreneurs privately, if they won the Powerball and a got a $25M windfall, what are the first 5 things they would do… and one of the top items on that list is ALWAYS “get rid of this business.” In this episode, we’re going to get to the root of this problem and help you live a more authentic life starting right now. Click here to download or listen to this episode now. Spiritual Foundations Recently I’ve been re-reading the classic book Psycho-Cybernetics by Dr. Maxwell Maltz. Dr. Maltz popularized the idea of self-image and its effect on performance. There's a difference between self-esteem and self-image. Your self-esteem is how you appraise your value, your self-image is simply the picture you have of yourself. Who do you think you are? There's an ancient proverb that says, “As a man thinks in his heart, so is he.” Jesus said, “Out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks.” I believe what He was saying is, what you say reveals who you think you are. Jesus said, “Out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks.” I believe what He was saying is, what you say reveals who you think you are. If you consistently find yourself behaving in a way that you don’t want to behave… you must look closely at your “secret identity.” You’ll find that somewhere you hold conflicting views that cannot exist in the same person. You are at war with yourself, and you are at war with reality. The masses lead lives of quiet contradictions. That is the pattern of the ordinary behavior of the world. It’s why the Apostle Paul wrote “Don’t be conformed to the pattern of this world, but be TRANSFORMED by the renewing of your mind…” We renew our minds by thinking different thoughts. How do you do this? Notice the feelings that alert you to internal conflicts. Trace your thought backwards and find the place where you find two conflicting ideas. Resolve the conflict. Establish a new thought that is not in conflict. Reinforce the “trigger” and the “thought pattern.” In this episode, we do a deep dive on all of this…trust me when I say that you don’t want to miss this. Tip of the Week In keeping with the theme of today's episode, How to Reinvent Your Business, Your Income, and Your Life, Jeff Walker opens his store today for you to enroll in his Product Launch Formula (PLF). We're big believers in PLF as an approach, and the tip of the week is about how you can get $20,000 in coaching and training from me and our company for free when you sign up for PLF through the link rayedwards.com/plf. These bonuses are only available for a limited time…until Thursday, September 14, 2017. So, if you want the $20,000 worth of free goodies from us, go to rayedwards.com/plf. While you’re there, be sure to watch all the videos because you would be surprised at how much you can learn from that content, and by observing the PLF launch process. Now go forth and prosper! Feature Presentation: “How To Reinvent Your Business, Your Income and Your Life” Let's pretend you won the New Life lottery…what would be the first things you would do? Most entrepreneurs, if they told the truth, would just get rid of their business. Why? Because they feel trapped by their business and they go to work in their business for the same reason that people go to work at a job, to pay the bills. So, if money were no longer a concern… How would you redesign your life? How would you redesign your income? How would you redesign your business? Here are some ideas and some snippets from our conversation: You are here – Answering this question honestly is the very first place to start when redesigning your life (30:05) Check your B.S. at the door – How redefining your belief system is the fastest way to make a life U-Turn (32:54) Opportunity comes dressed as work – How to give yourself permission to want what you want (34:50) How to eliminate the belief that there is a moral connection between hours worked and income earned.(35:54) The tug at your soul – You are a creative, productive person…and if you aren't creatively productive, your soul begins to die (38:05) Be fruitful and multiply – Why creating value is a Divine calling and simply the smartest thing you could possibly do in business (40:10) Reinvention simplified – How to do a wholesale redesign of your life with a minimum amount of disruption (43:38) The seven-figure solution – Why a product launch is the fastest and most strategic way to reinvent your business (47:53) The clock is ticking – Why setting a deadline for yourself puts you on the fast-track to success (49:24) Resources Mentioned in This Episode Psycho-Cybernetics Get Product Launch Formula + $20,000 in free training from Ray! How To Help Subscribe to the show through Apple Podcasts and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will mention you on this show. Get The Transcript Right-Click and “Save As” to Get the PDF Transcript.

Where did you get your beliefs about money? Chances are they were not consciously chosen, and that they aren’t a well thought-out integrated “philosophy of money.” The most commonly held misconceptions about money are actually dangerous deceptions… contradictory beliefs in a reality that punishes those who try to navigate life based on contradictory tactics. In this episode we’ll bust the 21 most common – and most dangerous – money myths…and we’ll expose the liberating truths that will set you free of your self-imposed limitations.   Click here to download or listen to this episode now. Spiritual Foundations One of the things we love most about our listeners is that you’re a smart group of people. We’re honored that you listen to this show for guidance, but when presented with the truth you’re able to figure things out on your own. In that spirit, this week we’re simply going to present you with a series of quotes from the Bible and let you come to your own conclusions. Let’s begin… “The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.” – John 10:10 “The blessing of the LORD makes rich, and he adds no sorrow with it.” – Proverbs 10:22 “But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” – Matthew 6:30 -33 “For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that you through his poverty might be rich.” – 2 Corinthians 8:9 Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. – Ephesians 3:20-21 Tip of the Week Before I can serve my business, I have to serve you…my audience. I have to produce valuable content that you find interesting and valuable, and that’s exactly what I’m doing on my YouTube channel. There's a ton of great content there and more to come. What would be awesome is if you subscribe to the channel. When you subscribe, you'll see a little bell icon. You want to click on that. That way you'll get a notification when I put out a new video. I welcome you to leave comments there and let me know what other stuff you'd like to hear about or see on that channel. Psst…here’s a little secret, like the secret menu at In-n-Out Burger. We actually offer several tips in this episode, but you have to listen to hear the others. Aren’t we sneaky? Feature Presentation: “21 Money Myths That Keep You Broke…and the 21 Liberating Truths That Will Set You Free” Myth: You can no longer start a business in today's economy. Myth: I don't have a product to sell. Myth: I don't have any experience in anything. Myth: Another breed of people are the only ones who can do big things. Myth: I must be shown how to do things by experts from institutions. Myth: Money isn't important. Myth: You can sell anything online. Myth: A businessman is in the low order of talent and importance in society. Myth: Selling is easy and not that important. Myth: People who just put up the money for an enterprise don't deserve much of a cut of the profit. Myth: Artistic or technical alent is rare and super expensive. Myth: Money must be made slowly. Myth: If you aren't born rich, you'll never be rich. Myth: I will be successful because I'm going to school. working for a big established organization, having talent, and working hard. Myth: People are basically bad, or people are basically good. Myth: Making a profit is sinful. Myth: Entrepreneurs are bad. Myth: I am not smart enough to do anything big because I didn't get good grades in school. Myth: Watch the pennies, and the dollars will take care of themselves. Myth: I must be certified by some recognized authority before I can do big things. Myth: To become rich another must become poor. Here are some snippets from our conversation: Same as it ever was – The truth about why it’s easier than ever to start a business today (19:44) You need a Wesley – What Star Trek can teach you about building a business (22:08) It’s right under your nose – The simplest way to create a product or service that people will happily pay you for (23:52) Get out of your own way – Somewhere someone is looking to pay money for knowledge you take for granted (24:55) All humans can generate wealth – Why your self-limiting beliefs are the only thing standing between you and a fortune (25:44) Climb your own ladder – How to kick the “Education Crutch” to the curb and go with what you know (29:59) Certificates of Appreciation: Why your messed up definition of money will keep you broke forever (31:42) The brick and mortar conundrum – Why digital marketing is the most important arrow in your quiver (34:01) The Matrix Principle – Why the people who designed the current system didn’t have your best interests in mind…and what to do about it (35:55) The salesperson’s vacation – The real reason sales is the highest paid profession in the world and why you should take it seriously (38:51) Risk and Reward – Why the first money in should be the first money out (39:57) You aren’t charging enough – Why the craftsman is worth their weight in gold (40:44) The Gospel of Speed – Why finding a high leverage tactic and putting 100% behind it is the fastest way to create wealth (41:27) Spit out the silver spoon – How to overcome the fallacy of having to be born rich (42:03) They lied to me – How Old World thinking sets you up for failure in the New Economy (45:05) You hold the pen – Why only you get to decide what you write on the blank page of a new day (46:10) Value for value – Why profit is the proof of a service well-performed (49:01) Your vision may be blurry – How to have clarity when determining whether something is good or evil (50:19) You’re good enough, smart enough, and people like you – The danger of allowing academic performance determine your true worth (51:07) You get what you focus on – Why paying attention to the wrong thing can cost you millions (52:34) Stop being so needy – How to stop relying on else’s approval to become successful (53:25) Make infinite pies – The real reason why there is always enough for everyone (54:22) Resources Mentioned in This Episode Panasonic GH5 Smart Passive Income Final Cut Pro Seven Steps to Freedom: How to Escape the American Rat Race The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing Secrets of the Millionaire Mind: Mastering the Inner Game of Wealth Zig Ziglar On Selling The Millionaire Next Door The Two-Word Therapy Session The Fountainhead How To Help Subscribe to the show through Apple Podcasts and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will mention you on this show. Get The Transcript Right-Click and “Save As” to Get the PDF Transcript.

Most people have heard of a mastermind, but they don’t truly understand the power masterminds produce or how to correctly participate in one. Even fewer people know the five reasons you need a mastermind…that and more will be revealed in this week’s episode. Click here to download or listen to this episode now. Spiritual Foundations Peter Drucker is famous for asking these two questions: “What business are you in?”  and, “How's business?” Business is good. I’m not talking about having more customers or how fat your bottom line is…I mean business is morally good. Business is not morally neutral…it is inherently good. If you read through the Gospels, you'll notice that Jesus uses business and wealth as a method for teaching the principles of the Kingdom to His followers more than He uses any other subject. In this episode we’re going to show you what it really means to be about your Father’s business. Tip of the Week Before I can serve my business, I have to serve you…my audience. I have to produce valuable content that you find interesting and valuable, and that’s exactly what I’m doing on my YouTube channel. There's a ton of great content there and more to come. What would be awesome is if you subscribe to the channel. When you subscribe, you'll see a little bell icon. You want to click on that. That way you'll get a notification when I put out a new video. I welcome you to leave comments there and let me know what other stuff you'd like to hear about or see on that channel. I want to give a shout out to my new friend, Nick Nimmin. I watched his stuff for quite some time and decided, “I want to engage this guy to help me grow our channel,” so I did. I brought him in to do a little coaching and consulting, and he's really been helpful. If you are interested in building a YouTube channel, definitely check out Nick's channel. Feature Presentation: “5 Reasons You Need A Mastermind” A little over a week ago, we hosted our affiliate mastermind meeting in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, at the Coeur d'Alene Resort. This was a meeting of our top affiliate partners from our launch of the Copywriting Academy earlier this year and it included: Mike Kim: Branding Strategist Extraordinaire John Nemo: LinkedIn Expert Mark Timm: Leader of Ziglar Family Ernie Svenson: Master of Paperless Productivity Jeff Bullas: The World’s #1 Business Blogger Why am I telling you about our affiliate mastermind? Because it really underlined for me the value of mastermind meetings. Here are the Five Reasons You Need A Mastermind: Clarity Collaboration Critique Caution Confidence Here are some snippets from our conversation: The brilliance of mutual benefit – What a mastermind actually is and how it harnesses the power of the third mind (15:40) Speaking their language – The surprising ancient origins of the mastermind…you’ve never heard this before (16:35) You’re inside the bottle – Why you need others to help you avoid pitfalls caused by your blind spots (18:51) I can see clearly now – How you can ignite the fuel of ambition in your life and business (20:19) Many hands make light work – How working together makes your yoke easy and your burden light (22:16) Brutal compassion – Why vulnerability and the creation of a “safe space” lead to answers you would never find on your own (22:37) Running east in search of a sunset – How a mastermind can save you from the peril of unrealistic optimism and keep your business from running off the tracks (24:55) Your most important asset as an entrepreneur – Why you must protect your confidence at all costs (25:52) Keep it real – Why authenticity is your biggest advantage in the marketplace (27:08) The Impact Factor – Why sharpening your critical thinking skills can be the difference between running a business and making an impact (27:57) Who are you hanging around with? – How to avoid the extreme danger of staying confined to your own universe and thinking you've got it figured out (28:51) The power of generosity – Poor minds compete with one another, rich minds empower each other (30:38) Birds of a feather – If you want to fly like an eagle don't hang out with turkeys (31:16) Become an action figure – Why education without endeavor won’t get you very far (31:30) Resources Mentioned in This Episode Ray Edwards YouTube Channel Nick Nimmin YouTube Video Tips Mike Kim John Nemo Mark Timm Ernie Svenson Jeff Bullas Jody Maberry Matt McWilliams Mark Sieverkropp Coeur d’Alene Resort How To Help Subscribe to the show through Apple Podcasts and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will mention you on this show. Get The Transcript Right-Click and “Save As” to Get the PDF Transcript.

This is a special “Bonus Episode” of the show, which consists exclusively of my interview with author Frank Viola, discussing his new book, There Must Be More. Click here to download or listen to this episode now.  Buy a copy of Frank's book, There Must Be More, by clicking here. How To Help Subscribe to the show through Apple Podcasts and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will mention you on this show. Get The Transcript Right-Click and “Save As” to Get the PDF Transcript.

Have you ever felt guilty about the amount of stuff you have? This is something Christian entrepreneurs deal with all the time. It goes something like this, “If you were a real Christian you would sell your stuff and give the money to the poor.”  This mindset has led to some really messed up thinking like affluenza…the “sickness” of having too much stuff. This week I’m going to introduce my own term…Maximalism…and show you not only why this is a good thing, but why it may be the very thing that saves us from ourselves. Click here to download or listen to this episode now. Spiritual Foundations I recently took a trip to Hong Kong and suffered some awful jet lag in the process. I figured that because I only sleep a few hours a night as it is and because I was there to do God’s work I could just struggle through the time difference and be right as rain. That got me thinking about this whole issue of, “What does God cause, what does He allow, and is there a difference?” One of the verses in the Bible that gets brought up to point out that God does cause bad things to happen to people for His own glory, is the story of the blind man who was blind from birth. The disciples come to Jesus and they say, “Who sinned that this man is blind? Was it him or was it his parents?” That was their belief system in that culture. If you were born with a handicap, it was because of somebody’s sin. You get punished for someone else’s sin…man that is twisted! In this episode I’ll share the answer Jesus gave and reveal to you the proper context so you’ll finally be able to understand what He was really saying. This will set you free. Tip of the Week I just got a drone, the DJI Mavic Pro. Right away I discovered two things about owning a drone. First of all, when you set the thing on the ground and you turn the engines on, the props spin up, and you realize you’re about to send a lot of money hurtling into the sky. That’s a little scary. The second thing I discovered is there are a lot of places you're not allowed to fly your drone. Funny thing is they don’t mention that when you buy it. The FAA, municipalities, state and federal parks, and even private property owners all have something to say about where you can fly your magical new device. It’s all very confusing…or at least it was. Now there’s an app for that. It's called airmap.io and it incorporates all the available information and it marries it together with Google Maps. You pop up a map on your iOS or Android device and it shows you all the different airspaces, and who controls them. By using this app all drone owners, or Droners as they’re called, can now safely and responsibly fly without fear. Feature Presentation: “Is Affluenza A Thing? In Defense of Maximalism” I was recently listening to a Cliff Ravencraft podcast episode entitled, “Do I really need all this stuff?” In this podcast he was discussing an email he received from a listener chiding him for buying all the expensive podcast equipment he uses when, in their opinion, he should have given that money to the poor. Cliff made a very impassioned argument about how that was not true, and I think he is right. It makes me want to spend a little more time on this topic this week because Cliff touched on something that I think is really important to understand. Conventional wisdom says that either you have affluenza, the disease of accumulating too much stuff, or you are a minimalist. This week I would like to present a third option, Maximalism. Here are a few snippets from our conversation: Words mean things – Sean’s latest Rant of the Week (20:32) The living system – Why the correct definition of a concept matters so much and the high calling of trading value for value (23:19) The wealth of selection – Why it doesn’t matter how much stuff you have, but instead it matters about making your stuff meaningful to you (23:43) Think for yourself – You, yes you, get to decide how much is too much and how much is not enough (24:45) You’re asking the wrong question – Why putting an arbitrary limit on how many items you can have is completely ridiculous and shows that you don't understand why you have things (26:07) The intentional decision – How to determine whether you own things, or things own you (26:35) You wasted your money on that – The truth about items you hardly use and how they amplify your creative process (27:29) I just want that – How to turn any purchase into your own personal R&D experiment (29:39) Wanting what you want – How to leave behind a world of justification and scarcity and enter a world of abundance and creativity where you're always free to want what you want (31:09) You have permission to prosper – Discover the massive difference between want and need when it comes to being successful (32:51) The mic drop moment – The shocking truth that Jesus did not make the ultimate sacrifice, and what really happened (36:14) Business is good – Here’s what you’re really doing when you buy stuff (37:07) The way to great wealth – How capitalism made it possible to become wealthy by serving your fellow man (39:55) Know your own mind – Why Maximalism is the key to enjoying wealth while making a difference (41:32) Resources Mentioned in This Episode Podcast Answer Man Do I Really Need All This Stuff? Dennis McIntee DJI Mavic Pro Drone io Wanting What You Want by Dan Sullivan How To Help Subscribe to the show through Apple Podcasts and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will mention you on this show. Get The Transcript Right-Click and “Save As” to Get the PDF Transcript.

This is our time. It’s time for the writers, the scribblers, the storytellers and teachers to take out those manuscripts, those Moleskins full of ideas, and those dreams of making a living as a writer and finally bring them to fruition. If you’ve followed me for very long, you know that I believe that the end result of our creative efforts is to become wealthy…and in this episode I will begin laying down a path to prosperity specifically for writers, or for those whose primary calling involves utilizing the written word. Click here to download or listen to this episode now. Spiritual Foundations There's this bizarre story in the Old Testament where the prophet Elijah pronounced a drought over the land because of the sin of Ahab and the nation of Israel. There was only one problem…Elijah had to live in the same land as Ahab, so he was going to suffer the same consequences. What's my point in telling this story? Well, if you think about it, the provision that Elijah received from God was the only form of wealth that was available to him in that situation and in that time. In this episode I’m going to introduce you to a simple question that could change your life, and put forth the controversial idea that God uses money to confirm direction in our lives. Tip of the Week Our tip of the week is yet another photo tip. One of the things that I have not felt like I had a good handle on was backing up my photos, because really the only backup I had was through iPhoto or iCloud. Enter Google Photos. Google Photos is a photo sharing and storage service developed by Google. It was announced in May 2015 and spun out from Google+, the company's social network. Google Photos gives users free, unlimited storage for photos up to 16 megapixels and videos up to 1080p resolution. It works with your iPhone and it works with Android…you just get the app from the appropriate app store and give it permission to grab your photos. Easy peasy. Feature Presentation: “How To Become Wealthy As An Unknown Writer” I'm giving you the roadmap to becoming a high-income writer, instead struggling as a starving artist. I started this journey a couple of weeks ago by writing a blog post entitled, “How I Work as a Million Dollar Writer” and it has taken on a life of its own. In this episode, I cover the 5 Fundamentals of building a million-dollar Copywriting Business (this one) and some thoughts on how you can ethically copy me. If you are determined to be one of The 12 at our upcoming workshop, you can get all the details on the Copywriting As a Million Dollar Business Workshop when you click here. Resources Mentioned in This Episode Google Photos How I Work as a Million Dollar Writer (blog post) How To Help Subscribe to the show through Apple Podcasts and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will mention you on this show. Get The Transcript Right-Click and “Save As” to Get the PDF Transcript. 

So here's the deal…you have a podcast and now you need listeners. By now you’ve discovered that it takes more than putting your show up on iTunes and expecting subscribers to just come out of the woodwork and become raving fans. One of the easiest ways to get those listeners is to have Apple, Google, Overcast, Stitcher, and other giant media platforms send you listeners for free…listeners who want EXACTLY what you have to offer on your show. This week my guest Daniel J. Lewis is going to show you exactly how to do that very thing. Click here to download or listen to this episode now. Spiritual Foundations Peace Is a Weapon “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” (2 Timothy 1:7) Fear is the enemy of faith. Fear is slavery, the Un-Maker, the Adversary, and the Resistance. Fear wants us to live in bondage to the past (guilt and shame) and even the future (depression and anxiety) – but God wants us to live in the freedom of His love and power in the present. Paul wrote, “For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, ‘Abba, Father.'” (Romans 8:15) To be the person God calls us to be, we must conquer fear. But what weapon can empower us to do that? This is a spiritual battle, and it can only be won with spiritual weapons. Peace is the weapon that defeats fear. Jesus told His followers, “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33) The apostle Paul told the persecuted Christians in Rome, “The God of peace will crush Satan under your feet shortly.” (Romans 16:20) The peace of God is our weapon against fear and Satan. Before going to the cross, Jesus told His disciples, “Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” (John 14:27). Fear is a natural response to adversity. Peace is the supernatural response that God gives us by His grace. Just as Jesus has authority over the wind and waves, He has authority over the storms in our lives. He has authority over our doubts, fears, and shame. “…as He is, so are we in this world.” (1 John 4:17) And Jesus is now “seated … in the heavenly places, far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come.” (Ephesians 1:20-23) Doubts, depression, anxiety, fear, and shame are the weapons of the Great Enemy. Take hold of the peace God has already provided for you today. Tip of the Week I've been doing a lot of photography and post-photographic processing of late. And I just rediscovered something that's been around for a while…Adobe Lightroom for mobile. It allows you to access, edit, organize, and share photos on your iPad, iPhone, or Android device. Changes sync seamlessly, so updates are available from the Adobe Photoshop Lightroom CC desktop app, or from your Lightroom account on the web. Note: Syncing to Lightroom CC on the desktop and the web requires a Lightroom CC trial or a paid Adobe Creative Cloud membership. Feature Presentation: “How To Get Free Podcast Listeners From Apple and Other Media Giants: An interview with Daniel J. Lewis “ As an award-winning podcaster, Daniel J. Lewis helps others share their passions and find success by improving their own podcasts. He creates training resources (SEO for Podcasters) and podcasting tools (My Podcast Reviews) and he does one-on-one consulting and group training. Daniel is a sought-after keynote speaker on podcasting and social media, and he hosts a network of award-nominated shows covering how to podcast, clean comedy, and the #1 unofficial podcast for ABC's hit drama “Once Upon a Time.” He also writes about technology, productivity, and entrepreneurship on his personal blog. Here are some snippets from our conversation: The most intimate medium – How podcasting literally allows you to get inside people’s heads (9:52) How do you know that? – The not-so-secret way to create community with your podcast (10:57) Sandpaper on the ears – If you want to have a successful podcast, never do these things (12:03) The sound of silence – How to interview a podcast guest without irritating them (14:30) The SEO puzzle – How to get the right content in front of the right people at the right time (15:49) The strategy behind SEO – The hidden way to create high quality, consumable content that draws listeners like a magnet (19:01) Search engines are creepy – Why your ranking in the search engines improves by being of greater service to your audience (20:32) I wouldn’t do that if I were you – The lazy person’s guide to bad show notes (21:35) Kissing cousins – Why treating your podcast like a blog can be the key to attracting new subscribers (22:50) It’s all in the name – Why understanding copywriting can make your podcast stand out and lead the field (23:29) Dude, where’s my audience? – How to leverage media giants to attract listeners for free (30:15) Even LeBron James has a coach – Why “airchecks” are a valuable tool for podcasters, and where to go to get one (33:15) Quantum leap podcasting – The fastest way to get your listeners the information they want most (37:30) Resources Mentioned in This Episode Adobe Lightroom for mobile The Ramen Noodle Clean Comedy Podcast The Audacity to Podcast The Once Podcast SEO for Podcasters My Podcast Reviews Podcasters Society Daniel J. Lewis Blog Free SEO Podcast Cheat Sheet How To Help Subscribe to the show through Apple Podcasts and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will mention you on this show. Get The Transcript Right-Click and “Save As” to Get the PDF Transcript.

Live video is a big deal these days, and it seems like everyone is doing it. It’s great for business. If you do it right. But if you’re like many people, you’ve never dipped your toe into the video pool. Maybe it seems too complicated, or you feel like it’s just too late to get started now. This week we clear out the clutter and introduce you to Luria Petrucci from LiveStreamingPros.com. Together, we’re going to fill you with hope, simplify the process, and set you on the right path to confidently making live video an integral part of your marketing. Click here to download or listen to this episode now. Feature Presentation: “Why You Need To Do Live Video” My guest this week is Luria Petrucci from LiveStreamingPros.com. She has helped some of the biggest names in the business like Michael Hyatt and John Lee Dumas create and refine their live video marketing. In this interview, Luria offers practical tips and strategies to help you create more professional live streams, and integrate live video into your overall marketing strategy. Here are some snippets from our conversation: The power of connection: why live video is the single greatest lead generation tool and community builder on the planet (2:20) Are you connect-worthy? The surprising role that vulnerability plays in your live video success (3:25) “I’m good enough, I'm smart enough”: How to use Google to overcome any fear you have about doing live video (4:08) Unleash your evil twin: the little-known secret to getting comfortable on video (7:16) The Alice-in-Wonderland Dilemma: what do to if you feel like you’re too late to the live-video party (8:13) Taming the Adrenaline Monster: use these simple steps to overcome the most common worries about doing live video (9:19) What to do when you don’t know what to do: how to use The Four Levels of Live Streaming to get started the right way (9:51) Put your best face forward: the newbie’s guide to making sure you’re using the right tools (10:28) You are here: the simplest way to get started using live video (13:02) Take the 5-Day Challenge: how get to a customized live video learning experience for FREE (13:52) Practice, practice, practice: how to use the tools available to you to create a “Life Stream” (15:12) Know your why: how to develop a plan to use live video as a means of creating value, establishing expertise, and inviting your audience into the process (15:56) The ageless medium: why it doesn’t matter how old you are in the age of live video (18:05) Resources Mentioned in This Episode Live Streaming Pros Free 5-Day Live Streaming Challenge How To Help Subscribe to the show through Apple Podcasts and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will mention you on this show. Get The Transcript Right-Click and “Save As” to Get the PDF Transcript.  

Does any of the following sound familiar? You set goals but never seem to hit them…you never seem satisfied…you experience up’s and down’s, but always seem to live your life somewhere in the messy middle…you have that “someday I’ll be happy” mentality. If that’s you, here’s what I know about you, you aren’t productive, rich, or happy. You’re familiar with the adage about keeping the same pattern but expecting different results, right? Starting right now it can all be different for you. This week I’m going to explain why you’re having this problem, and I’m going to give you a roadmap to escape the messy middle.   Click here to download or listen to this episode now. Spiritual Foundations Here is a truth I was reminded of the other day, “You are the books you read, the movies you watch, the music you listen to, the people you spend time with, and the conversations in which you choose to engage.” The Bible says something similar in Romans 12:2, “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” This week we’ll show you how to develop new patterns of thought so that your life becomes “on earth as it is in heaven.” Tip of the Week In this episode I encourage you to “zero base” your life. What is that you ask? Our all-knowing friends at Wikipedia describe zero-based budgeting, as an example. Zero-based budgeting is: “a method of budgeting in which all expenses must be justified for each new period.” You start from zero, and every expense needs to justify itself. You can do this with your environment as well. Do the people you hang around with lift you up or drag you down? Does your office or home make you feel productive or drive you crazy? In this episode you’ll get a glimpse behind the scenes as I zero-base my own life. WARNING: This gets a little weird… Feature Presentation: “Why You'll Never Be Productive, Rich & Happy” I’ve got seven reasons why you’ll never be productive, rich, or happy. But don’t worry! I’ve also got some suggestions about how to fix them forever if you choose to do so. Here are the seven reasons you’re shackled to mediocrity… You’re just as productive, rich, and happy right now as you want to be. Most people are thermostats, pre-programmed and unaware of it. Most people suffer from scotoma (partial loss of vision). Most people have no one who will tell them the truth. Most people are unwilling to experience discomfort. Most people have conditioned themselves to “scratch the itch.” Productive, rich, and happy is a matter of being, not doing. I promised I would have solutions for you…here they are: Admit that you’re just as productive, rich, and happy right now as you want to be. Recognize your thermostatic nature. Figure out what your scotoma are, and work to eliminate them. Find people who will tell you the truth. Embrace discomfort as an indication of growth and progress. Recondition yourself to only feel the itch being scratched by achievement, not merely by activity. Figure out who you must become to get where you want to go. Here are some snippets from our conversation: You steer the ship – If you don’t like where you are, remember that you plotted the course to get there (11:40) Pay attention to the pattern – Why the unexpected is so predictable (12:24) Sean’s Rant of the Week – The biological reason you need to stop making excuses and do something with your life (12:54) What you don’t know can hurt you – How your pre-programmed ideas are sabotaging your success (16:10) Do you need glasses? – Your mental blind spot could lead to you getting blindsided (16:34) You can’t handle the truth – Why being “kind” may be the meanest thing you can do to someone (18:04) Comfort is overrated – How to get off the fast track to becoming broke, unhealthy, and stupid (19:06) Thinking does not make it so – Why confusing activity with accomplishment is a one-way ticket to the poorhouse (19:56) The Used Car Principle – It doesn’t matter what the outside looks like if what’s under the hood is broken (23:10) You can’t have both – You can have your excuses, or you can have results (23:55) Take ownership – How to start making the transition from renting your life to owning it (24:11) Escape The Matrix – The more you deny your programming the tighter its grip becomes (25:08) You have two ears for a reason – Why listening to truth-tellers can be a painful, but necessary process (26:48) Resistance is a compass – Why discomfort is often the most accurate map you own (28:56) Nothing succeeds like success – How to break the habit the failure by doing the one thing you don’t want to do (30:50) Resources Mentioned in This Episode The Fountainhead by Ayn Rand   How To Help Subscribe to the show through Apple Podcasts and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will mention you on this show. Get The Transcript Right-Click and “Save As” to Get the PDF Transcript.  

As entrepreneurs, we have one mandate…get as rich as possible. How did you react when you read that? Did it make you feel uncomfortable and even a little squeamish? Money is not a “zero sum game” (meaning in order for me to win you have to lose) – it is quite the opposite. Money is infinite, a representation of the wealth created by entrepreneurs, tradesmen, and investors. So if money is infinite, why don't you have more? That's part of the fabric of my discussion with Perry Marshall on today's show. Perry is one of the most expensive and sought-after business consultants in the world. I think you'll enjoy the conversation. Click here to download or listen to this episode now. Spiritual Foundations The Bible often uses the natural world to teach us lessons about how to live an abundant life. A perfect example of this is found in Proverbs 6: 6-11… Go to the ant, you sluggard! Consider her ways and be wise, Which, having no captain, Overseer or ruler, Provides her supplies in the summer, And gathers her food in the harvest. How long will you slumber, O sluggard? When will you rise from your sleep? A little sleep, a little slumber, A little folding of the hands to sleep— So shall your poverty come on you like a prowler, And your need like an armed man. As entrepreneurs, we’re like the ant. We have no boss to force us to do what’s necessary. Either we do it, or it doesn’t get done. Now go forth and prosper! Tip of the Week Imagine me mentoring you each and every month. What would that make possible for you? We would start with an intensive training about how to get your online marketing system set up and running, no matter what type of business you own. Then, each month, we would do a live video training session where you could ask me any question you like. Each month I would sit down and write you a 12-page memo about what to do, and then I would deliver a proven marketing campaign you could copy and use in your business. We’ll be opening the doors to this new, group coaching/mentoring/training program in the near future. If you would like more information, go immediately to rayedwards.com/reic to get on the VIP notification list. Feature Presentation: “Optimizing for Picnics” Perry Marshall is one of the world’s most expensive and sought-after business consultants. Clients seek him out for his ability to integrate engineering, sales, art, and psychology. He has launched two movements in modern marketing. His Google Adwords books laid the foundation for the $100 billion Pay-Per-Click industry, and techniques he pioneered are still standard best practices. Perry wrote the world’s best-selling book on web advertising, Ultimate Guide to Google Adwords. More recently, he’s turned “80/20” into a verb. His book 80/20 Sales and Marketing is mandatory reading in many growing companies, and his books are course material in several business schools. Here are some snippets from our conversation: The Universal Law of Cause and Effect – How to work less and make more (19:34) The world is skewed – Why this is the best time ever to become a serial entrepreneur (20:47) Everything is connected – Why 20th century thinking will strand you on the Island of Misfit Toys (23:59) Optimized for picnics – What ants can teach us about business (27:53) Upsetting the corporate apple cart – Why Dilbert thinking is so destructive, and what to do about it (29:15) Arranging the deck chairs on the Titanic – How your business myopia is causing missed opportunities for massive growth (32:20) Extreme Inequality – How 80/20 is running your life whether you know it or not (34:15) The frictionless internet – The speed of your business is entirely dependent on the speed of your platform (36:41) The rise of the business state – Why Instagram is more powerful than 100 countries in the world (37:59) The center is the edge – How mastering principles the key to your leap forward (38:58) Better than Bruce Lee – Why specific focus is the key to competing with the masters (40:11) Look for the levers – The secret of turning a little input into a whole lot of output (41:44) How to create an addict – Why Minecraft is fifty-two times more effective a creating addition than alcohol (44:05) The Swiss Connection – Learn why Perry recommends deleting all your social media apps from your phone (45:47) The Tsunami Effect – Why one person’s catastrophe is another person’s opportunity (49:40) The six-year old marketer – What Perry’s daughter taught him about what we really sell (50:35) Polishing turds – Why the standard eight hour work day is a joke (53:05) The Star Principle – How to spot opportunity and how it can make you rich (1:01:19) Islands of profit in a sea of red ink – How to determine which of your customers are costing you money (1:04:13) Resources Mentioned in This Episode The Bible The Science of Success: The Secret to Getting What You Want by Wallace Wattles The Fountainhead by Ayn Rand Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand Psycho-Cybernetics by Maxwell Maltz How To Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie The Magic of Thinking Big by David Schwartz Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill It's Not How Good You Are, It's How Good You Want to Be by Paul Arden Perry Marshall 80/20 Sales and Marketing: The Definitive Guide to Working Less and Making More by Perry Marshall Ultimate Guide to Google Adwords by Perry Marshall StarPrinciple.com The 80/20 Summit   How To Help Subscribe to the show through Apple Podcasts and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will mention you on this show. Get The Transcript Right-Click and “Save As” to Get the PDF Transcript.   “The best way to help the poor is first not to be one of them, and second to become as rich as you possibly can.” – Ray Edwards

Hosting a live event is complex, expensive, risky, and stressful. Yet for some of us, live events seem like a necessity due to our business model. Even if you have decided that hosting a live event, seminar, or workshop is just too big a pain…Even if you have decided you have no interest in pursuing live events as part of your business model… I urge you to reconsider. Why? Because if you pass this up, you could be passing one of the most rewarding, enjoyable, life changing, and profitable business activities available to you. Click here to download or listen to this episode now. Spiritual Foundations We in the entrepreneurial and human potential field are fond of quoting Napoleon Hill and his mastermind alliance principle which states… “The coordination of knowledge and effort between two or more people who work towards a definite purpose in a spirit of harmony…no two minds ever come together without thereby creating a third, invisible intangible force, which may be likened to a third mind.” Sounds kinda spooky, right? There is another book which states something similar, “For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.” – Matthew 18:20 (NKJV) But wait, there’s more. “And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.” – Hebrews 10:24-25 (NKJV) In this episode I’ll weave these concepts together and prove to you that there is power in the proximity created by people gathered in agreement. Tip of the Week Imagine me mentoring you each and every month. What would that make possible for you? We would start with an intensive training about how to get your online marketing system set up and running, no matter what type of business you own. Then, each month, we would do a live video training session where you could ask me any question you like. Each month I would sit down and write you a 12-page memo about what to do, and then I would deliver a proven marketing campaign you could copy and use in your business. We’ll be opening the doors to this new, affordable group coaching/mentoring/training program in the near future. If you would like more information go immediately to rayedwards.com/reic to get on the VIP notification list. Feature Presentation: “10 Reasons Why You Should Host Your Own Live Events“ Despite the fact that live events can be complex, expensive, risky, and stressful…we still came up with ten reasons why you should host your own live events. Here they are: The Honored Prophet Phenomenon Credibility Community Culture Networking Authority Leverage Product Clarity Money And, as always, here are some well thought out snippets from our conversation: Putting more pep in your step – An invitation to enjoy our all-new intro music (11:25) Can you hear me now? – What Jesus can teach you about going from tolerated twit to honored prophet (12:42) Set yourself on fire – Why putting yourself on a platform will draw others to you (16:43) Connected but still lonely – The magic power of developing a vibrant community (17:24) The courage to commit – Discovering the real reason why authenticity will always have an audience (18:16) It’s not just about yogurt – How to consciously create a culture (19:18) Give your audience Champagne – Why getting our attendees sideways was one of the best decisions we ever made (21:55) Connect and Conquer – The simple step to go from event idiot to treasured advisor (22:09) The audacity of authority – Why sticking your neck above the crowd is risky, but worth it (25:38) A lever to move the world – Why the right kind of pressure can be the most effective way to bring out the best in people (27:47) From passion to profit – How to translate great content into multiple streams of income (30:03) It’s a bright sunshiny day – How knowing your desired outcome can guide you from failure to freedom (32:11) The Grand Design Game Plan – Ray’s super secret strategy that leads to live event success (35:43) Oh behave! – Why the way you conduct yourself in the marketplace is your best source of branding (36:44) Resources Mentioned in This Episode VIP Notification for The All-New Ray Edwards Affordable Group Training/Coaching/Mentoring Program Matt Champagne Gail Mercer-Mackay Andy Mason Ernie Svenson Mike Kim Cliff Ravenscraft Jack Ainley How To Help Subscribe to the show through Apple Podcasts and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will mention you on this show. Get The Transcript Right-Click and “Save As” to Get the PDF Transcript. 

Everybody knows that to succeed online you need to build your emails list. Email is still the most effective selling tool online. Videos, webinars, and “the socials” don’t work without email. But building an email list is hard. Unless you know the secrets in today’s podcast episode. We’re going to share exactly how to build and email list fast. Click here to download or listen to this episode now. Spiritual Foundations The first act of business is service to others. Profit is the result of service. As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace.  1 Peter 4:10 (ESV) Tip of the Week Focus at Will concentration app. Focus@will is a new music service based on human neuroscience. It helps you focus, reduce distractions, maintain your productivity and retain information when working, studying, writing and reading. The scientifically tested technology behind focus@will has been shown to alter brain activity toward a state that is more conducive to productivity. Feature Presentation: “How To Build an Email List Fast“ How to Build an Email List Fast Identify your core idea Create your core content Publish Find a problem you can solve Offer a quick fix Continue publishing Go fish where the fish are Snippets  (0:00) The “Independence Day” Question. Why zombies are better than aliens. (2:13) Why profit is the result of service.(4:54) A powerful tool that helps you increase your focus and productivity. (5:23) How you can have 1-million people on your email list, and why you shouldn’t do this. (9:03) The perfect people you want on your email list, and how to make that happen. (10:28) What lawn darts have to do with email lists (making our point). (11:23) The one thing you must never stop doing if you want your email list to grow. (15:10) How to get to 1,000 subscribers by doing nothing. (15:46) Are you sitting on a gold mine? (20:07) Facebook secrets for list building. (22:05) Resources Mentioned in This Episode Focus@Will How To Help Subscribe to the show through Apple Podcasts and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will mention you on this show. Get The Transcript Right-Click and “Save As” to Get the PDF Transcript. 

If you want to build an online business, or if you want to go online to promote your local, real-world business, you face the same challenge. There are a bajillion websites out there, so how do you stand out in a Sea of Sameness? It’s easy to wast time, money, and effort and get nothing in return. There is one ingredient that can change all that. It’s not magic, but it is required. CONTENT. But how do you create enough good content to matter? This week we’re going to show you a simple way to create 10 pieces of content across 5 major platforms in about an hour. Click here to download or listen to this episode now. Spiritual Foundations I love this particular scripture from Deuteronomy 8:18, “You shall remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you power to get wealth, that he may confirm his covenant that he swore to your fathers, as it is this day.” For those of you who get all freaked out when we talk about God getting involved in wealth creation…not only is He for it, He gave you the power to get it. You need confidence and you need to be able to recognize your own power, but also to remember who granted that power to you. Respect the creation, but worship only the Creator. Tip of the Week You know you’ve arrived as a content creator when people just start sending you stuff out of the blue. Now let me clear, I’m not opposed to people sending me their products to try in the hopes that I’ll talk about it on my podcast. If it’s quality stuff and makes my life better, I don’t mind talking about it. That’s exactly what happened recently when I was contacted by Aaron at Arkon Mounts. They have the largest assortment of professional-grade mounts, holders, tripods, and stands for tablets, phones, cameras, GPS, and live streaming. We’ve put a link in the resources section for all the cool stuff I received. If you want to see me unboxing and assembling these items you can check out my recent vlog entitled Do The Hard Things. I know you’re going to be blown away by the quality of these products.  They are all backed by a 2-year standard warranty. Use our affiliate coupon code “RayEdwards” which saves you 20% at arkon.com. Feature Presentation: “How To Create Content Fast“ Creating a large amount of high-quality content in a short period of time is easier than you think. Here is my 9-point system for creating content fast: Have an idea. Make an outline and talk about your ideausing your smartphone Publish the video on Facebook and Youtube. Strip out the audio Publish the audio as a podcast Have the audio transcribed. Edit the transcript into a blog post. Edit the blog post into posts for Facebook, LinkedIn, Google +. Pull at least 3 tweest from the text So in one hour you would have created: One Youtube Video One Podcast One Transcript One Blog Post One Facebook Post One LinkedIn article One Google + post Three Tweets Thats 10 pieces of content, on 5 major platforms in sixty minutes…not to shabby. To find out more about how to do this yourself, and to discover how to use this content to launch multiple streams of income join us inside this week’s episode. In the meantime, here are some snippets from our conversation: The oak begins as an acorn – How to harness one great idea (9:16) Begin with the end in mind – How to use your smartphone to make a point and make a difference (9:56) The Charlie Chaplin Approach – Why silence is more than golden, it’s also very profitable (10:49) There’s an app for that – How to change the world and watch your business grow (11:12) Your digital soapbox – Putting the social in social media (11:48) Rinse and Repeat – How duplication turns into multiplication (13:35) The power of persistence – Discover the key to dominating the digital landscape (14:08) The Lego Method – Why a modular approach is the cornerstone of strategic thinking (14:31) Don’t outsource your voice – Here’s what you should do yourself, and how to find the right people to do everything else (16:03) Sean’s Rant of the Week – The simple cure to keep your soul from dying (17:41) It’s bigger than you – How a single idea can create a global impact (19:26) Little is the new big – Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world (24:05) Resources Mentioned in This Episode Arkon Mounts TW Broadcaster – Dual Phone/Tablet Stand Selfie Ring Light Fold-Up Tablet Stand (Great for Travel) Deluxe 11” Phone Tripod Sonic Shutter Ultrasonic Remote 11” Camera Tripod How To Help Subscribe to the show through Apple Podcasts and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will mention you on this show. Get The Transcript Right-Click and “Save As” to Get the PDF Transcript.

Do you have a list of things that need to get done, but for some reason you never seem to get around to doing them? Sometimes it appears that everyone around you seems like a productivity genius…while you struggle to remember to feed the cat. Fear not intrepid listener, you don’t have to keep staring at that same to-do list as it bullies you and taunts you with feelings of failure. In this episode we’re going to reveal the 5 Reasons You Don’t Get Things Done…and how to kick those reasons to the curb forever. Click here to download or listen to this episode now. Spiritual Foundations This week’s Scripture seems appropriate to our topic. Check out what Jesus had to say in Matthew 25:29, “To those who use well what they are given, even more will be given, and they will have an abundance. But from those who do nothing, even what little they have will be taken away.” Ouch. That doesn’t sound like Gentle Jesus. This Scripture comes from the Parable of the Talents. In this parable boldness is rewarded and timidity is reprimanded. In fact, Jesus actually calls the timid person a “wicked and evil servant.” Double ouch. Have you ever wondered why the most productive servant was richly rewarded while the timid servant had everything taken from him? The answer lies within this episode. Tip of the Week Imagine that you have a bunch of charges on your debit card every month, and some of them are a total mystery to you. Or worse, you haven’t looked at your statement in a while and you realize you’ve been paying a monthly charge for something you stopped using long ago. If these scenarios sound familiar, I have a radical solution for you…just call in and get another debit card. Why would I make such a suggestion? In this week’s episode I’ll tell you the story of what happened to me, and how you can learn from my mistake. Feature Presentation: “5 Reasons You Don't Get Things Done…And How to Change“ There are 5 main reasons you don’t get things done:  You don't know WHAT needs to be done. You don't know HOW to do what needs to be done. You don't know WHY it needs to be done. You don't have the time, energy, or resources you NEED to do what needs to be done. You don't have the COURAGE to do what needs to be done. This week I’m going to give you the tools to change and start your journey to becoming a productivity master. Here are some snippets from our conversation… Sean’s Rant of the Week: Jesus talks about cold, hard cash (4:52) Two strategic errors rolled into one – why what you believe makes all the difference (14:22) Start with, Why? – the one question that lights the pathway forward (16:14) Why are we doing this? – The Story of Bob and the Ultimate Consulting Question (16:44) Rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic – How to stop doing stuff that doesn’t matter (18:01) The next logical step – Rediscovering The Lost Art of Thinking and Task Management (19:35) The Missing Link – How what you don’t know really can hurt you (21:54) Making Socrates proud – The 3 questions you must ask yourself before learning a new skill (23:27) An excuse masquerading as a reason – The one thing you do all the time that needs to stop NOW (25:44) The uncomfortable experiment – You’re not as busy as you think you are (27:15) This may hurt a little – How to follow your own yellow brick road and go from coward to conqueror (31:33) How To Help Subscribe to the show through Apple Podcasts and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will mention you on this show. Get The Transcript Right-Click and “Save As” to Get the PDF Transcript. 

Are you looking for a way to grow your tribe and build a business around your passion? Have you ever considered starting a podcast, but your concerns about the expense, the work, and the commitment it takes to start and maintain a successful podcast make you wonder if it’s worth it? Will this still work, or has podcasting had its day? In this interview, we probe the mind of The Podcast Answer Man, Cliff Ravenscraft. He has helped launch some of the most successful podcasters – including Michael Hyatt, Dan Miller, John Lee Dumas, Amy Porterfield, Pat Flynn… and yes, Ray Edwards. Together we’ll uncover whether podcasting is the right move for you and your business. Click here to download or listen to this episode now. Feature Presentation: “Build a Business Around a Podcast: An Interview with Cliff Ravenscraft“ In this animated conversation, Cliff shares the story of how he came to be The Podcast Answer Man. We also get into why he believes almost anyone can start a podcast around something they love… and build a business from that foundation. Cliff Ravenscraft is first and foremost a podcast producer who has produced more than 30 of his own podcast shows with over 3,600 of his very own podcast episodes devoted to Business, Technology, Entertainment, Family, and Faith. In December 2006, Cliff launched PodcastAnswerMan.com where he has since helped tens of thousands of individuals and organizations successfully launch a podcast through: one-on-one coaching, his Podcasting A to Z online group coaching course, and his digital training tutorials. If you were to look at the top 100 podcasts in the business category of iTunes, more than 50 of these shows were created by clients who worked with Cliff. The man knows what he is talking about.  Here are some snippets from our conversation… Why some people will spend dozens of hours listening to every word you say (and what that means to you). (2:57) Why podcasting is an unparalleled method for exerting influence and building your business. (4:28) How a pursuing you passion can be the foundation of a business – even if your passion is watching TV. (6:45) To get a “lift” from the “Big Boys’, you have to be in the right place at the right time (8:58) How to make the “podcast pivot”, and go from passion to profit (12:54) Your podcast content can give your listeners the power to become the “King or Queen of the Water Cooler” (17:01) How Kim’s Email opened Cliff’s mind, and helped him take his first step into a larger world. (18:28) Bad Christian! How a prophet is not without honor except in his hometown. (20:57) How spiritual manipulation led to a positive change for the Ravenscraft clan (25:56) The day Cliff quit podcasting, and the deep dark hole he got sucked into as a result (27:51) How to know when it’s time to take stand, and the freedom it can lead to. (29:39) How a podcast becomes a business – pay attention to what people are asking you for. (32:57) Do what you love for a living is more than just a bumper sticker – here’s how to make it work. (35:55) Why work is indeed “happy wonderful fun time” – and why garbage collectors are not millionaires. (36:56) A powerful thought experiment that can help you find your “calling” (38:26) The Entrepreneurial Awakening, and how to experience it yourself. (40:45) The very bad, horrible day that wore Cliff down. What his wife said that changed his life. (41:54) The difficult conversation that wasn’t – the moment Cliff “came to life.” (43:20) Here’s what selling really means – and how most people get it wrong (47:22) Don’t despise the day of small beginnings – what Cliff’s first year in business looked like (50:06) Timing + Positioning + Hard Work = Luck – How to set-up your brand for success (51:50) How to become the go-to authority for your listeners – it’s easier than you think! (54:09) How demonstrating your value can put getting new customers on autopilot (56:46) The quick self-test that will let you know if podcasting is right for you (58:31) Resources Mentioned in This Episode The Podcast Answer Man Podcasting A to Z Podcasting Digital Tutorials Ravenscraft.org The Lost Podcast Podcast Answer Man 500th Episode Extravaganza Cliff Ravenscraft’s Free Best of the Best Newsletter How To Help Subscribe to the show through Apple Podcasts and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will mention you on this show. Get The Transcript Right-Click and “Save As” to Get the PDF Transcript. 

True or False: You can’t be a real artist and make money. Most other professions are more reliable and stable than any kind of art. A lower percentage of artists make a stable, livable income than other For art to be pure, the artist should not do it for the money. The only way for an artist to “make it” they must “sell out.” If you answered TRUE to ANY of those statements, you need some de-programming. In this week’s episode Jeff Goins will help set you straight. Click here to download or listen to this episode now. Spiritual Foundations Our word for this episode comes from Ephesians 4:29, “Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers.” We all know what happens if your computer gets a corrupted hard drive. It’s been infected and is no longer capable of properly performing the task it was assigned. The same is true for the words you speak. If they are infected with negative and hurtful attitudes they are no longer capable of performing the task they were given from God. What is that task? Your words were designed to edify, uplift, and encourage those around you…and yourself. Selah. Tip of the Week Our tip of the week, not surprisingly, is connected to our guest Jeff Goins and his new book, “Real Artists Don’t Starve: Timeless Strategies for Thriving in the New Creative Age.” One of the things I love most about this book is that it debunks the myth of the starving artist. As a side note, be sure to listen to the interview before you buy the book because he has a link that will hook you up with a couple hundred dollar’s-worth of free bonuses! Feature Presentation: “Real Artists Don’t Starve: An Interview with Jeff Goins“ In this episode, bestselling author and creativity expert Jeff Goins dismantles the myth that being creative is a hindrance to success by revealing how an artistic temperament is, in fact, a competitive advantage in the marketplace. Here are some highlights from our conversation: Starvation is a choice (5:06) Be like Mike…Michelangelo that is (6:56) The myth of the starving artist (10:18) How to become a thriving artist (10:55) The New Renaissance (12:04) The legacy of Henri Murger (12:15) Why Santa Claus is so powerful (14:08) Stop feeding the beast (16:03) The edge of acceptable (19:04) Are you an artist? (19:38) Mindset, Market, and Money (21:06) What story are you telling yourself? (23:13) The Two-Story Exercise (25:33) Connect your art with an audience (26:30) Believe it until you become it (27:25) Eat your vegetables (29:12) Debunking the idea of luck (30:33) Ernest Hemingway’s version of luck (32:20) Strategy vs Hustle (33:48) Steal your way to success (35:23) Standing on the shoulders of giants (40:20) Practice in public (41:08) Share something today (45:31) George Lucas, Pixar, and profits (48:10) Your responsibility as an artist (54:45) Resources Mentioned in This Episode Jeff Goins Real Artists Don’t Starve: Timeless Strategies for Thriving in the New Creative Age The Icarus Deception: How High Will You Fly? Great by Choice: Uncertainty, Chaos, and Luck–Why Some Thrive Despite Them All How To Help Subscribe to the show through Apple Podcasts and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will mention you on this show. Get The Transcript Right-Click and “Save As” to Get the PDF Transcript.

Here's the problem: you want to build a business, an organization, a church, or a body of work. Something that has long-term significance and impact. Yet it often feels like you’re forced to focus on short-term gains. In this episode, we’ll introduce you to a way of leadership that is simpler, more elegant, less stressful… and more effective. Click here to download or listen to this episode now. Spiritual Foundations This week I want to talk about the promises made to Abraham and how they still belong to believers today. God promised Abraham that he would be blessed to be a blessing. Some people argue that this just applies to “spiritual” blessings, but in this week’s episode I’ll propose to you that we are, in fact, “heirs of the world” – according to “the promise”. Tip of the Week I’ve discovered a new meditation app that is worth checking out, it’s called Headspace. The cool thing about it is that it comes with little cartoon movies that demonstrate the principles of meditation and they are narrated by a guy with a fantastic British accent. They offer a free 10-day trial, so it’s worth giving it a try. Student Success Story Our first student success story focuses on Jen Gordon. She is a talented landing page designer, marketer, and in her words…”a darn good listener.” Jen used her creativity and her copy skills to create Hope Decks, a collection of 60 inspirational Bible verse postcards with custom artwork on every card. If you’re looking for a meaningful gift of encouragement, you can’t go wrong with Hope Decks. Feature Presentation: “Catch and Release Leadership: How to Start a Movement“ Recently a friend of mine asked me about my goal of fostering a movement on one million Kingdom-minded millionaires…he then reminded me of the book The Master Plan of Evangelism. It’s a manual for growing any type of organization. It’s a small, but powerful book, and the basis for today’s episode. Here are some highlights from our discussion… Sean’s Rant of the Week – Special Edition (7:58) How to get your message everywhere (29:15) The selection process (30:50) The value of the inner circle (31:45) Success from apparent failure (33:05) The most successful movement in history (34:03) Hang around time (34:48) The Apprentice (35:09) Transfer your skills (35:43) Watch me (36:08) Radical delegation (37:12) Giving the right answer (38:01) Caked in dust (38:40) Putting it all together (39:45) The stunning power of duplication (43:44) Resources Mentioned in This Episode Headspace Meditation App Jen Gordon Hope Decks The Master Plan of Evangelism by Dr. Robert E. Coleman How To Help Subscribe to the show through Apple Podcasts and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will mention you on this show. Get The Transcript Right-Click and “Save As” to Get the PDF Transcript. 

Too often we go through life bouncing from one random event to the next, always reacting to our circumstances and allowing them to dictate our lives. If you're ever going to take control of your destiny, you have to be able to learn to adjust to circumstances using your own personal grit, determination, and the ability to focus on significance instead of success. Today's guest, Aaron Walker, can help you do just that. Click here to download or listen to this episode now. Spiritual Foundations Proverbs 27:17 tells us that, “As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.” But what does that look like in our day-to-day life? It’s not just about getting another person’s opinion, it’s a process that sometimes generates heat and friction…it’s not always easy or pleasant, but it is always profitable. Tip of the Week I’ve been doing a lot of video lately, and I’ve discovered something really fun and promising for those who don’t want to spend a lot of time learning the intricacies of Adobe Premiere. Adobe Spark makes it easy for everyone to transform their ideas into stunning visual stories. It allows you to create professional quality graphics, web pages, and animated videos for blogs and more…and the best part is no design experience is necessary. Feature Presentation: “The View from the Top with Aaron Walker: Living a Life of Significance“ Aaron Walker is a veteran entrepreneur who has started, bought, and sold twelve successful companies over the past 38 years. He has a strong desire for personal development and meets regularly with such luminaries as Dave Ramsey, Dan Miller, and Ken Abraham. Aaron enjoys a 37-year marriage to his beautiful wife, Robin, and today he invests the majority of his time helping others grow in success and significance as President and Founder of View from The Top, a premier life and business coaching company. Here are some snippets from our conversation: Swami Ray makes a prediction (9:45) Transformed lives matter (10:35) Blindsided by tragedy (12:40) You can’t handle the truth! (13:30) Prioritize your priorities (14:03) Pessimist vs Realist (15:40) Been there, done that (16:20) Get off the mat (17:10) Can’t couldn’t do it… (17:12) The MasterMind Transformation (18:06) The counsel of the multitudes (20:15) Who are your 5 people? (21:18) How to start from zero (21:54) You aren’t owed anything (24:32) The fast track to a changed life (26:57) Take out the garbage (30:41) Telling the truth in love (31:36) Is it okay to be significant? (34:17) Resources Mentioned in This Episode Adobe Spark Thinkific View from the Top Bonuses How To Help Subscribe to the show through iTunes and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will mention you on this show. PLEASE USE THE APPLE PODCAST APP! Get The Transcript Right-Click and “Save As” to Get the PDF Transcript. 

You are the pioneer. The entrepreneur. The explorer. The risk-taker. But you find yourself married to, or in business with, a settler. A homesteader. A risk-avoider. In this episode, our very special guest is going to blow your mind with her insights about how to harmonize these polar opposites, and prove that they are better together than apart. Click here to download or listen to this episode now. Spiritual Foundations Our verse this week is from Psalm 18:22…“He who finds a wife finds what is good and receives favor from the LORD.” That has certainly been the case with me as you’ll discover later in this episode. Tip of the Week Word of Warning: My tip this week won’t work for people who are paranoid about being tracked by their phone. I have fallen in love with an app called Life Cycle. This app automatically tracks your life and presents it to you in a way that lets you see what you’re doing with your time. If you’re looking to make changes about the ways you spend your time, this may just be the app for you. Feature Presentation: “Married To The Business: The Pioneer and the Settler” In this episode I’m having a conversation with a very wise woman…my wife Lynn. She is the most authentic and honest person I know, and she has a totally contagious laugh. Here are some snippets from our conversation: The origin of the Pioneer and the Settler (4:35) Not for women only (5:05) Wagons Ho! (5:28) The shooting gallery (6:01) On a gravy train with biscuit wheels (6:26) An unethical dilemma (7:44) What a freak-out feels like (8:04) Be the conductor of your own train (8:45) Asking the awkward question (9:44) Genesis and the kitchen table (11:18) The recipe for a great husband and father (12:05) Ray gets busted (13:03) The dilemma of letting go (13:29) Clash of the Titans (15:05) The value of a Safe Space (15:28) Doing the brave thing (16:18) Same song…48th verse (17:09) Know the other person’s heart (18:15) How to stay married (19:17) The foundation of faith (21:40) What to say to your younger self (23:05) Don’t sweat the small stuff (24:03) Lynn’s message to the younger Ray (24:24) The sexy snort (25:12) Escaping the performance trap (25:45) Proper care and feeding of Settlers (26:04) Lynn drops a Truth Bomb (26:28) The 3-Sentence Rule (27:48) Mansplaining (29:50) Essential meaningful purpose (30:22) Stay in your lane (31:12) Rapid fire bonus questions (33:36) Has the journey been worth it? (35:13) Resources Mentioned in This Episode Life Cycle Sleep Cycle Brave Communication by Dan Farrelly Bethel School of Supernatural Ministry, Redding, California Stuart Saves His Family How To Help Subscribe to the show through iTunes and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will mention you on this show. PLEASE USE THE APPLE PODCAST APP! Get The Transcript Right-Click and “Save As” to Get the PDF Transcript.

You hear so many people saying you should write a book. Your business may be struggling, and it’s tempting to buy into the idea that writing a book will give your business that boost you need. The credibility and authority a book would give you are huge. Your book can get you interviews, speaking gigs, and sell more of your products, services and programs. But is writing a book the move for you? Click here to download or listen to this episode now. Spiritual Foundations The Bible has some interesting advice for us…“My brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment.” James 3:1 (NKJV) I think that’s another way of saying, “With great power comes great responsibility.” So if you choose to become a teacher, or an author, be prepared to take it seriously and grow some rhinoceros skin because people will take a poke at you. Tip of the Week I’ve noticed that most people grossly underestimate the time it takes to do things. I use Nozbe to help me overcome that challenge. It has helped me become a productivity ninja. It helps me deal with my incoming tasks, prioritize them, manage them within projects and get them done quickly and effectively…and that is a beautiful thing. Feature Presentation: Should I Write a Book? 5 Reasons to Write a Book A good book can build your reputation, authority, and credibility. A good book will be a legacy that lives on after you are gone. A book causes you to test, clarify, and strengthen your thinking. A book can get you interviews, speaking engagements, and sales. While you probably won’t make a fortune by publishing a book, you can make one explaining the book. 5 Reasons Not to Write a Book A bad book can ruin your reputation. A book never goes away – copies will always exist. You will never be happy with it. It’s hard to do. Authors rarely make any money from writing a book. And…you guessed it…some snippets from our conversation: They “wrote the book” on that (13:27) Get out of my head! (14:27) Anger is an energy (16:01) The pathway to the stage (17:15) The hub of your business (18:07) Express yourself! (19:45) The toothpaste is out of the tube (21:27) You can run, but you can’t hide (22:10) Satisfaction NOT guaranteed (22:34) You get out what you put in (23:13) If you write it, they may not buy it (24:31) Tell me about your platform (26:38) Do you have a plan? (27:09) Resources Mentioned in This Episode Nozbe David Allen’s Getting Things Done Michael Hyatt’s Free To Focus Awaken The Giant Within How To Help Subscribe to the show through iTunes and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will mention you on this show. PLEASE USE THE APPLE PODCAST APP! Get The Transcript Right-Click and “Save As” to Get the PDF Transcript.

You have customers but they are cheap, complain a lot, and are a pain to deal with. If they aren’t controlled, corralled, and completely ejected they can eat your time, your cash flow, and your business alive. This week we’re going to show you how to fix that problem and prevent it from ever happening again…so you only deal with cool people that you like. Click here to download or listen to this episode now. Spiritual Foundations Is there a scriptural foundation for only working with good clients who appreciate your work and pay you what you’re worth? I’m so glad you asked. Check this out: “You shall not muzzle an ox while it treads out the grain,” and, “The laborer is worthy of his wages.” 1 Timothy 5:18 (NKJV) In this week’s episode Sean and I give you some additional insight on this verse that I think you’ll find valuable. Tip of the Week This week’s tip is the wonderful and magnificent service known as Amazon Subscribe & Save. You can set up regularly scheduled deliveries and earn savings on everything from diapers to toothpaste to dog treats…literally thousands of everyday products from Amazon and Amazon Marketplace. My ambition in life is to never run another errand again, and this service may just make that possible. Feature Presentation: How Do I Attract Better Customers? A 10-Step Plan That Works I finally got relief from my dire situation when I fired the clients who were the big trouble-makers and got really clear about who I WANTED to work with. You can do this too, by simply following this 10-step plan: Set the Criteria for Being a “Good” Client. Define the qualities of your ideal customer. Be on the lookout for these unicorns. Set the Criteria for Being a “Bad” Client. Define the qualities that make you miserable or stressed with clients. Swear that you will never take another client, nor keep a client, who has ANY of these qualities, Purge the Scourge. Examine your existing client base and get rid of any stinkers. Preach the “Good Client Gospel.” Publish your “Do’s and Don’ts” clearly, frequently and boldly. Develop a “Bad Client Mythology.” Tell client horror stories and make them part of your Company Mythology – so your prospective clients know how you identify “bad apples” – and let them know what happens to bad apples. Develop a keen sense of discernment about people. Every time I have taken on a bad client, I always had a nagging feeling deep inside that I had ignored. Trust your sensors. Make them work for it. If they really want to work with you, make them prove it. Put some hurdles in place. Weed out the clients who ignore, break, or try to circumvent the rules of being accepted as your client. Be Expensive. While his alone can be a good filter, it is not 100% effective. There are some nasty, needy, broken, and/or crazy people who have lots of money. Listen to Your Team. Be completely unreasonable. While it will help you screen out the “problem children,” it will also cause the Good Clients to want you even more. And…you guessed it…some snippets from our conversation: For vegetarians only (9:10) Sean “sparkly” rant (9:35) The Force is strong with this one (12:15) Ray & Sean tackle The Great Unicorn Debate (12:27) Are you willing to take the oath? (13:23) The Bad Client Story (14:03) Make it known throughout the land (15:24) Only gather ripe apples (16:21) Trust your gut, not your wallet (17:13) The Edwin Moses Strategy (18:37) Be a Rolex, not a Timex (19:22) Trust your team (20:42) Take a look in the mirror (21:39) Resources Mentioned in This Episode Amazon Subscribe & Save Squatty Potty How To Help Subscribe to the show through iTunes and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will mention you on this show. PLEASE USE THE APPLE PODCAST APP! Get The Transcript Right-Click and “Save As” to Get the PDF Transcript. 

For many business owners, cash-flow can be a huge problem. Most businesses that fail do so because of this one problem…they run out of money. Cash-flow is the lifeblood of a business, and in this episode we’re going to give you several ways to solve this problem before THEY come and take your stuff. Click here to download or listen to this episode now. Spiritual Foundations Here’s a little encouragement for the week ahead: “And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:19 (NKJV) So ask yourself. “How rich is God?” Your needs will be supplied according to His riches, not yours. I would rather have His standard of measure…how about you? Selah. Tip of the Week This week’s tip comes from our good friend Ernie “The Attorney” Svenson…and it may upset some people in the legal community. If you’re looking for a premium DIY solution for the most common legal situations then you’ll love this app called ShakeLaw. If you're a freelancer, for example, you can generate agreements straight out of this app. There are a bunch of options included with ShakeLaw and I think it’s worth checking out. Feature Presentation: How Do I Solve a Cash-Flow Problem? You can beef up cash-flow with these 7 short-term solutions: Reach out to past and present customers Ask for referrals Personal services Consulting/Coaching Affiliate Sales Get a temporary job Direct selling And…as always…some snippets from our conversation: Sean’s rant of the week (9:40) Why this advice is unpopular (10:45) Reach out and touch someone (11:34) Rusty’s Wisdom (12:15) Ask and ye shall receive (13:44) Ray’s Way of mining for referral gold (14:20) Skills to pay the bills (15:46) What comes easily to you? (16:29) Try selling OPS (17:42) Embrace the Stop-Gap (19:25) What do you really value? (21:45) Sean’s rant of the week – Part 2 (22:13) Resources Mentioned in This Episode Ernie “The Attorney” Svenson ShakeLaw How To Help Subscribe to the show through iTunes and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will mention you on this show. PLEASE USE THE APPLE PODCAST APP! Get The Transcript Right-Click and “Save As” to Get the PDF Transcript. 

Are you getting the results you want from your sales and marketing efforts? Maybe you’ve heard you should use stories to sell, perhaps you’ve even tried it, but how do you consistently make it work? Successfully telling stories is the key to selling your products and services like crazy…and having your customers thank you for it. Click here to download or listen to this episode now. Spiritual Foundations Regardless of where you are on your faith journey, one thing we can all agree on is that the teachings of Jesus have permeated the world’s population over the ages. How did He do that? Check this out… “Jesus used stories when he spoke to the people. In fact, he did not tell them anything without using stories.” Matthew 13:34 (CEV) So it seems to me that storytelling might be a good way to spread your message. Tip Of The Week A couple of weeks ago we had a company meeting about the importance of securing our information. It may seem more labor intensive, but I feel strongly that you should consider activating Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) in your life and business. If you use: iCloud iTunes Dropbox Gmail Google Drive All these services and many others offer the option of Two-Factor Authentication. It may be a bit of a hassle, but it helps keep the bad guys at bay. Isn’t your security worth a little extra effort? Feature Segment: “How Do I Sell Using Stories?” You can sell using stories in the following 7 ways: To develop the KLT (Know, Like, Trust) Factor. To establish the “dopamine flow.” To instill values and beliefs in your customers. To train your customers in proper behavior. To provide examples of how your product changes people and organizations. To prove that your premise or your promise is true and reliable. To condition for the listen. And…as always…some snippets from our conversation: There’s no money in the middle (12:05) Embrace the chocolatey goodness (12:50) The Edwards Apple Nerd-Fest (13:44) The Stephen King Surge (14:53) Call forth your audience! (15:08) Don’t act like that (15:52) The Story of Jack (17:03) Spandau Ballet had it right (19:04) From story to six-figures (19:53) How To Help Subscribe to the show through iTunes and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will mention you on this show. PLEASE USE THE APPLE PODCAST APP! Get The Transcript Right-Click and “Save As” to Get the PDF Transcript.

You have a message, a product, or a service and you want to spread the message far and wide. But despite your best efforts, you don’t seem to be getting any traction. In this episode we’ll show you how to be like your heroes and make money while making an impact. Click here to download or listen to this episode now. Spiritual Foundations I believe there are principles behind scripture that can apply to more than one situation. Now before the scripture police get all up in arms over that statement, I recommend you listen to this section of the show for greater clarity. In Galatians Chapter 6 verse nine, the Apostle Paul teaches us to “not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.” In the context of this episode, I believe the lesson here is that if you’re worried about building a bigger audience and too feel like its too difficult, be encouraged to not grow weary. You’re doing good and in due season you will reap if you don’t lose heart. Selah. Tip Of The Week Michael Hyatt introduced me to this week’s tip, and I immediately knew that I needed one. What is it you ask? It’s the Spine Book Tower. It allows me to house about 70 books in a lot less space than a traditional book shelf, and its an almost magical way to display your written works of art. Feature Segment: “How Do I Get A Bigger Audience?” You can grow your audience simply by writing according to these 5 Steps Narrow Your Focus – the riches are in the niches Find Your Hook – are you my kind of weird? Create Your Manifesto – here we stand Recruit True Believers – can I get an amen? And an email address? Build Your Media Empire – the everywhere effect And…you guessed it…some snippets from our conversation: And now…the end of the story (10:55) The worst place to draw a line (11:30) The Secret of Getting a Bigger Audience (13:19) The myth of self-discipline (14:45) Aim small…miss small (15:39) You talkin to me? (16:45) Embrace your inner misfit (17:20) Scratch that niche (18:35) Nobody wants to hear that…do they? (19:40) The Weirdness Magnet (20:32) This should scare you (22:59) Your most valuable asset (24:48) Ray’s Rant of the Week (26:14) Barbarians at the Gate (27:07) The Secret of the 5-Steps (28:45) Resources Mentioned in This Episode Spine Book Tower You Everywhere Now How To Help Subscribe to the show through iTunes and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will mention you on this show. PLEASE USE THE APPLE PODCAST APP! Get The Transcript Right-Click and “Save As” to Get the PDF Transcript.

Early in my copywriting business I was doing client work for 80-100 hours per week, I was killing myself. Two mentors intervened and got me out of that madness. Almost every business success story I can name has a mentor – or several. Today we’ll talk about why you need a mentor and how to find one. Click here to download or listen to this episode now. Spiritual Foundations Running a business, especially as a spiritually-oriented person presents us with a lot of challenges, and most of those challenges are ones we never expected. There will be days when you want to just quit and give up, but God will always be there to catch you and uphold you. He even says so…”The LORD makes firm the steps of the one who delights in him; though he may stumble, he will not fall, for the LORD upholds him with his hand.” (Psalm 37: 23-24 NIV) Selah. Tip Of The Week The big trend these days is traveling light, but this week I’m going to show my contrarian side. I’ve tried to travel light, and for me it doesn’t work so well. If I travel with a small bag and just a few things, I always seem to wind up buying a bunch of stuff I need at my destination. It kind of defeats the purpose…and it can become expensive really fast. So I’ve embraced the opposite approach to travel. I take a big hard-sided case where I place my delicate gadgets (in smaller hard cases), which yes, I have to check, but it beats the hassle of competing for overhead space with all my fellow passengers. I comfortably board the aircraft and enjoy the journey…and isn’t that what life’s all about? Feature Segment: “Why You Need A Mentor (And How To Find One)” I believe there are five reasons you need a mentor, and here they are: You can’t read the label if you’re inside the bottle. Wisdom protects from pitfalls Wisdom helps yo recognize opportunities A true mentor will call you on your bone-headed moves or attitudes You need someone looking at your situation who is not emotionally invested in the outcome …Plus I’ll show you how to find the right mentor. And…as always…some snippets from our conversation: The superpower to see the unseen (8:58) Ears to hear (9:31) The “Acres of Diamonds” Syndrome(10:24) That’s just stupid (10:43) Can you hear me now? (11:33) Mentorship has nothing to do with age (12:37) Surgeons don’t work on their own family (12:46) How to ask for help (13:58) Be the best student (15:02) Engineer your discovery (16:09) Two heads are better than one (16:43) Low-hanging fruit is delicious (16:52) Embrace the unconventional (17:31) Keep your eyes open (18:35) Mentors don’t need to be alive (19:37) Resources Mentioned in This Episode Acres of Diamonds Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin John Adams Alexander Hamilton Plato: The Complete Works The Basic Works of Aristotle Seneca Six Pack The Meditations of Marcus Aurelius How To Help Subscribe to the show through iTunes and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will mention you on this show. PLEASE USE THE APPLE PODCAST APP! Get The Transcript Right-Click and “Save As” to Get the PDF Transcript. 

If you’ve listened to this show for any length of time, you know that our intro music is a catchy little ditty about changing the world and watching your business grow. This week we’re going to introduce you to the five influences you exert as a business person, and how these influences empower you to change the world. Click here to download or listen to this episode now. Spiritual Foundations This week it’s all about giving you an encouraging word (as it is most weeks). “In the morning, LORD, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait expectantly.” – Psalm 5:3 (NIV) As inspired business leaders, this is how we should begin our day. The result is a more peaceful and productive day, regardless of the challenges we may face. Tip Of The Week This week’s tip comes straight from renowned coffee connoisseur Sean Edwards himself. Enjoy a highbrow coffee experience and drink your coffee from a ceramic mug – not from paper cups. It tastes better and it’s better for you. This is a real thing…your tastebuds will thank you. Feature Segment: “How to Change the World  (And Watch Your Business Grow)” As an entrepreneur, you exert 5 Influences that create world-change, and business growth. You exert Influence in these ares: Your Self Your Team Your Customers Your Community Your Competitors And…you guessed it…some snippets from our conversation: Drop the stone in the pond (10:08) The Butterfly Effect (10:27) Don’t skip this step (11:12) Sean channels his inner Tony Robbins (12:32) How to multiply your time and influence (14:12) Set the bar and receive the love (16:09) The key to virtual influence (17:27) Get fanatical about this one thing (19:33) Take the Ray Challenge (21:28) How To Help Subscribe to the show through iTunes and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will mention you on this show. PLEASE USE THE APPLE PODCAST APP! Get The Transcript Right-Click and “Save As” to Get the PDF Transcript. 

You know you need great copy to sell your stuff, and you’re thinking of hiring a copywriter, but how can you make sure you don’t get ripped off? In this episode we’ll show you how to successfully navigate these waters and arrive safely on the shores of copywriting bliss. Click here to download or listen to this episode now. Spiritual Foundations Are facing challenges in your life right now? I have excellent news for you. No matter what is happening in your life, God is completely on your side! That, my friends, is called the Divine Advantage. In Romans 8:31 God says, “What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?” No matter what life throws at you, take courage because you’re on the winning side! Tip Of The Week If you use a Mac user and you’re a productivity geek I highly recommend you get the most out of your Apple technology by checking out the Mac Power Users Podcast with David Sparks and Katie Floyd. In addition, David Sparks has his own blog called MacSparky.com where he has created free screencasts that show you how to get the most out of your productivity apps. He also has a series of Field Guides you can purchase on a variety of subjects that will make you want to hug your Mac. Prepare to feel the Apple love. Feature Segment: “10 Commandments of Hiring a Copywriter” Maybe you’ve tried to hire a copywriter in the past, but you had a bad experience with The 7 Deadly Copywriter Sins: The copy was just plain bad (too hypey, too weak, or “info-only”) The copy sounded like everyone else (the Sea of Sameness, Mired in the Muck of Mediocrity) Your copywriter took the money and ran Your copywriter never communicated with you…ever. The copy was late. They never asked for your feedback, so the final product was miles off target. They Found You, Fooled You, and Forgot You You’d like to hire a pro, but you can’t afford the fees of an “A-List Copywriter” (Ray’s current minimum is $250,000 up-front, plus a percentage of sales, for a “Private Client Launch Package”.) Yikes! You’re frustrated because it seems like the biggest “X-Factor” in your product launch is the copy, and you are afraid neither you nor your team is good enough to get it right. The 10 Commandments of Hiring a Copywriter i. Scope: Thy copywriter shalt help you determine exactly what type of copy you’ll need, and how much copy you’ll need to bring you the results you seek. ii. Voice: Thy copywriter shalt spend time with you and your material to learn your unique voice, and then infuse that voice into your copy. Your voice is what differentiates you from the crowd. iii. Deadline: Thy copywriter shalt deliver your copy on time…every time. If he doth not, woe unto them, and they shalt be cast into outer darkness. iv. Milestones: Thy copywriter shalt set up mile markers along the way during your project so that you can be consistently confident that your project is receiving the loving care it deserves. v. Communication: Thy copywriter shalt check in with you throughout the process to get your input and make absolutely certain that you’re thrilled with the hand-crafted copy thou receiveth. vi. Revisions: Thy copywriter shalt continue to work with you until thou art thrilled. vii. Proofreading: Thy copywriter shalt have thy copy proofread, and ensure the text is error-fee. viii. Review: Thy copywriter shalt put thy copy under the watchful eye of a mentor or other senior copywriter. ix. Results: Thy copywriter shalt have a track record of results. x. Followup: Thy copywriter shalt NOT just hand off your project and wish you luck. Thy copywriter shalt be there if things go sideways ready to swoop in and save the day! And…you guessed it…here are some snippets from our conversation: Oops I did it again (8:03) The Stepford Copywriter (8:40) Visit your money in Mexico (9:28) Can you hear me now? (9:44) Don’t be tardy for the party (10:50) Have we met? (11:46) Avoid the One Night Stand (12:11) Have map…will travel (13:31) Hire a chameleon (13:55) Better bring a flashlight (14:37) Give your copy a hug (15:15) Artisan copywriting (16:41) The value of sweat equity (17:46) That copy sure is pretty (18:58) Four eyes are better than two (19:57) Win…and win often (20:54) Copywriting Superhero! (21:25) Resources Mentioned In This Episode MacSparky Blog MacSparky Field Guides Mac Power Users Podcast How To Help Subscribe to the show through iTunes and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will mention you on this show. PLEASE USE THE APPLE PODCAST APP! Get The Transcript Right-Click and “Save As” to Get the PDF Transcript.

You asked…we answered. In this episode we’re going to answer seven of the most common questions we get about copywriting. Click here to download or listen to this episode now. Spiritual Foundations “And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” – Philippians 4:19 Another story from our friend Andy Mason of HeavenInBusiness.com: A business owner of a small insurance (brokerage) agency has been sharing with his employees about how good Father God is and how He likes to love, help, and bless people. One of the staff, who has been professing to be an atheist for, comes to the boss and says, “Will you pray for a good quote on this account? We really need a miracle.” The owner says, “You want me to contact Heaven and get a good quote rather than the insurance company?” She says, “Yes.” There was only one insurance company (underwriter) left who hadn't declined or offered unreasonable terms. This was their only hope. Later that day they received an outstanding quote, better than they expected, from this insurance company. The proposal was presented and they wrote the new business. This new account will represent almost 20% of the “atheist'” salesperson's annual target! How about that…God even cares about atheists. Tip Of The Week For a limited time I’m making available my free copywriting course entitled “Ray's Short Course on Copywriting: Selling Without Sleazing” plus a free ebook about the $2 Billion Sales Letter You’ve Never Heard Of. Inside this free course you’ll find the answers on how to sell without feeling sleazy, and I’ll walk you through the most successful sales letter ever written, and show to how to apply it to your product or service. Feature Segment: “The 5 Readers You Either Benefit Or Betray” Here are some of the most common questions we get about copywriting: What is copywriting? What is a sales letter? Why is copy so hypey/cheesy/pushy? Will this work for my business? My business is different. Does long copy actually work? Should I learn copy or just hire a writer? Isn’t copy manipulative? Isn’t that wrong? And…you guessed it…some snippets from our conversation: Do I need a lawyer for this? (9:40) Sean’s rant of the week (10:20) Words that move the world (12:55) How not to gracefully exit a packed room (13:38) The world before the internet (15:16) The Bottle Cap Incident (16:08) The Father of the Sales Page (17:10) Hold the cheese (18:04) The Dark Side of Jedi Mind Tricks (20:13) Trickless Marketing (21:01) You are, but you aren’t (21:28) B2B or B2C…it’s ATS (24:58) Are you boring? (25:24) Do I really need to learn this? (28:14) Aristotle was a great copywriter (30:58) Resources Mentioned In This Episode Heaven in Business “Ray's Short Course on Copywriting: Selling Without Sleazing” How To Help Subscribe to the show through iTunes and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will mention you on this show. PLEASE USE THE APPLE PODCAST APP! Get The Transcript Right-Click and “Save As” to Get the PDF Transcript.

When you write, whether it’s copy, essays, or words of any nature, you’re making a much bigger impact than you think. Almost without fail more people will read what you write than you believe. In a very real sense you’re setting waves into motion. Click here to download or listen to this episode now. Spiritual Foundations I believe we often don't see God's miraculous intervention in our lives because we don't believe he'll do it…and we don't ask. We believe God for little, vague things that don't put our faith to the test. Pray that God will relieve our back pain? No problem. Pray that God will heal a killer disease like cancer? Somehow we think that is harder for God. Yet God says in His word, “Behold, I am the Lord, the God of all flesh. Is there anything too hard for Me?” Just know that whatever you're facing, God has what you need and He's ready, willing, and able to supply you with it. In this episode I’ll share some astounding examples that prove once and for all that nothing is too hard for God. Tip Of The Week For a limited time I’m making available my free copywriting course entitled “Ray's Short Course on Copywriting: Selling Without Sleazing” plus a free ebook about the $2 Billion Sales Letter You’ve Never Heard Of. Inside this free course you’ll find the answers on how to sell without feeling sleazy, and I’ll walk you through the most successful sales letter ever written, and show to how to apply it to your product or service. Feature Segment: “The 5 Readers You Either Benefit Or Betray” The 5 Readers You Either Benefit or Betray When you write something, I think you should take it seriously. You have more readers who are affected in deeper ways than you realize. Here are the readers you either benefit or betray with your words: You Team Family Tribe Competitors Here are some snippets from our conversation: Your first, and most important, reader (11:50) Gymnastic Thinking (12:40) The hobgoblin of little minds (13:50) There is no “I” in T-E-A-M (15:12) The philosophy of existence (15:50) When in doubt, write it out (17:00) Don’t send me an email about this (18:05) The dirty bag of water (18:47) The obscure reference rewards program (19:37) Why things matter (20:25) Be sure to leave this for your family (22:19) The psychology of fandom (23:17) How to think for yourself (23:57) It doesn’t feel good, it feels necessary (25:02) One of us is unnecessary (26:04) Why you want the other side to win (26:32) Sharing is caring (29:14) Creating value out of thin air (30:14) Resources Mentioned In This Episode “Ray's Short Course on Copywriting: Selling Without Sleazing” How To Help Subscribe to the show through iTunes and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will mention you on this show. PLEASE USE THE APPLE PODCAST APP! Get The Transcript Right-Click and “Save As” to Get the PDF Transcript.

You know copywriting is used to sell stuff… but today we’re about to show you how it’s not just for sales pages any more. As a matter of fact, when consciously employed, copywriting becomes the “quantifiable multiplier†for every part of your business and your life. Click here to download or listen to this episode now. Spiritual Foundations What you say has power – huge power. You can wreck your life be repeating things that empower destructive forces in your life. “Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit.†—Proverbs 18:21 Line up your words with the experiences you want to see. Tip Of The Week More books I’ve just finished and highly recommend: Making Sense of God, Timothy Keller Daring Greatly, Brene Brown Tools of Titans, Tim Ferris Feature Segment: “Seven Weird Ways to Use Copy” Copy is not just for sales pages. If you think the ability to craft transformational copy is limited only to sales letters and the like…you’re in for a pleasant surprise. Here are some examples we cover on this episode: About pages Blog posts Podcasts Speeches Converstations Subject lines Social Media Here are some snippets from our conversation: The Secret to Persuasive Copy (10:27) Your favorite radio station (11:05) The formula for successful blog posts (11:44) How you say anything is how you say everything (12:52) Why you should Zig when everyone zags (13:10) How to write a speech in 5 minutes (14:35) Sway, Steer, or Stir-up (15:06) Grab ‘em by the eyeballs (15:38) Copywriting Kumbaya (16:05) Sean’s special bonus use for copywriting (17:34) Resources Mentioned In This Episode Making Sense of God, Timothy Keller Daring Greatly, Brene Brown Tools of Titans, Tim Ferris The P.A.S.T.O.R. Formula Zig Ziglar Free Resource: The Two-Billion Dollar Sales Letter You’ve Probably Never Heard Of How To Help Subscribe to the show through iTunes and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will mention you on this show. PLEASE USE THE APPLE PODCAST APP! Get The Transcript Right-Click and “Save As†to Get the PDF Transcript. 

You may feel like the world is spinning out of control, but regardless of which side of the political spectrum you happen to be on, or who is President, I think we can all agree it’s better to not just survive…but thrive. In today’s episode we will explain how to make your business President-Proof. The skill we will share is like a combination of “shields up†and “engage warp drive†for your business…and your life. So set your phasers to stun, and let’s dive right in… Click here to download or listen to this episode now. Spiritual Foundations Your physical presence has power, case in point…Jesus’ spit healed a blind man. Remember also that Peter’s shadow healed the sick. Your body bears fruit – and it’s not just your children. Indeed, God said, “Blessed shall be the fruit of your body…â€, and also “Blessed shall be the fruit of your body…†— Deuteronomy 28:4 If this is true, shouldn’t we expect everything associated with our bodies to be of the highest quality? This would include things like your health, intelligence, and even your relationship with your spouse. Jesus paid the price—His body was scourged and pierced for you…He got what we deserved, so we could receive what only HE deserves! Tip Of The Week Books I’ve just finished and highly recommend: The Road Back to You by Ian Morgan Crone The Revenge of Analog by David Sax The Sleep Revolution by Ariana Huffington Deep Work by Cal Newport Feature Segment: “How to Make Your Business President-Proof” How to Make Your Business President-Proof Let me be clear, this episode is not any type of political statement, but I believe there is a skill you can learn that makes your business impervious to the whims of external circumstances. This Master Skill can make you the author of your own destiny. What is powerful tool? Copywriting. But in this episode we’re going to take a different view of copy. You’ll see things like… What copywriting isn’t (12:35) Four ways to re-frame your business (12:53) Do you know who you are? (13:23) Embrace your inner Luke Skywalker (14:35) Change your view, change your life (15:38) Ray’s Law of Conservation of Supply and Demand (16:10) Are you selling the right thing? (17:17) It’s just a copy problem (17:35) The benefits of mastering copywriting (18:31) The best type of flood (18:42) The difference between profit and cashflow (20:45) Ride the meteor (21:05) Not everyone likes rollercoasters (21:53) How to write a swimming pool (22:35) Resources Mentioned In This Episode The Road Back to You The Revenge of Analog The Sleep Revolution Deep Work How to Write Copy That Sells: The Step-By-Step System for More Sales, to More Customers, More Often Free Resource: “Ray's Short Course on Copywriting: Sell Without Sleaze†How To Help Subscribe to the show through iTunes and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will mention you on this show. PLEASE USE THE APPLE PODCAST APP! Get The Transcript Right-Click and “Save As†to Get the PDF Transcript. 

How we define success is important, and the way most people define it is flawed at best. I propose anyone can enjoy instant success, and still be engaged in growing, achieving, and serving, but more about that later… Also coming up, how you can get MY new VIP Email Insiders Newsletter…FREE FOREVER! Click here to download or listen to this episode now. Spiritual Foundations I’ve been struggling with REST lately. Too many opportunities. Too much to do. Plus neurological complications. God says, “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” This week I’ll show you how to use rest as a weapon. Tip Of The Week Enhance your daily productivity and effectiveness with your personal Apple Mail assistant. Message Templates – NEW- A brilliant way to save time. MailButler allows you to customize the formatting and text of emails, which include information that you frequently share with different recipients. Tasks – NEW – Mark your emails as to-do items to never forget about important tasks again. Snooze – NEW – By snoozing an email you will temporarily make it disappear out of your Inbox. Tracking – Let you know if the recipient has actually opened your email. Scheduling – Write now – send later…MailButler allows you to schedule an email to be sent at a specific date and time. Thus, you can fulfill lots of tasks beforehand by writing several emails at once and letting MailButler secure their scheduled delivery later. Essential Features – FREE – Cloud Upload, Undo Send, Attachment Reminder, Direct Inbox, Emojis and many more. Feature Segment: “How to Achieve Instant Success” How to Achieve Instant Success How do you achieve Instant Success? Change the way you define success! But should we change it? Is that just a word game? How we define success is important, and the way most people define it is flawed at best. I propose anyone can enjoy instant success, and still be engaged in growing, achieving, and serving…. when you invoke the Four Keys to Instant Success revealed in this episode. If you define success as a destination… you’ll never get there. It’s like that sign in the cafe that always reads “Free Coffee Tomorrow”. As the great Earl Nightingale says, “Success is the progressive realization of a worthy ideal”. If you define success THAT way, you can celebrate the milestones, not just the destination…you can literally be successful right now. Special Announcement Announcing my new VIP Email Insiders Newsletter! All the details are inside this week’s episode, but here are some highlights: IT’S FREE FOREVER! You get a sneak peek at my raw thinking as it happens Before it’s published on the blog. Before it shows up in a product. Before it becomes R&D’d (“Ripped Off and Duplicated “- thanks Dan Kennedy and/or Bill Glazier for the terminology) Sign up now at rayedwards.com/vip Resources Mentioned In This Episode Apple Mail – Mail Butler Ray Edwards New VIP Email Insiders Newsletter How To Help Subscribe to the show through iTunes and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will mention you on this show. PLEASE USE THE APPLE PODCAST APP! Get The Transcript Right-Click and “Save As” to Get the PDF Transcript. 

If you want to build an effective online presence, gain influence with an audience, ask people to join your cause or buy into your ideas…it all starts with a blog. In my opinion, there’s nobody better qualified to teach us than my guest on today’s podcast, Leslie Samuel. Click here to download or listen to this episode now. Spiritual Foundations Do you believe it’s wrong, or at least tacky, to want to get rich? I’m not even talking about getting rich quick…just wanting to get rich in general. Does that bother you at all? Do you feel a little pang of guilt or fear you might be viewed as being a little cheesy? As Dave Ramsey says, “There’s a dignity to wealth creation through honorable business that is unlike anything else on Earth. In this episode I’ll share the real Secret of Wealth Creation…and one of the most important questions you can ask yourself. Tip Of The Week I have people ask me all the time about how I started my podcast, and how they should go about starting one the right way. I always tell them, “Cliff Ravenscraft is your guy.” If you’re serious about starting a podcast, then you need to check out Cliff’s Podcasting A to Z course. This week I have a short talk with my friend Cliff and we go through more details of why Podcasting A to Z is so transformational…but here are some facts that should wet your whistle in the meantime: The course has been going strong since March 2011, with over 600 students getting Cliff as their personal coach for 4 weeks. You’ll know exactly what equipment to get…and why. Have technical questions about how to dial-in your gear? No worries, Cliff has you covered. You’ll clearly define your message and the perfect target market During those four weeks, the students of Podcasting A to Z get Cliff’s full attention…you are the priority. And check this out…Over 600 students have gone through this course, not one single person has ever requested a refund. If you want to start a podcast, or if you have a podcast and you want to improve it and make it an excellent podcast, this is the way to do it. Feature Segment: “How To Become A Blogger” Yes, blogs are still alive. I believe they are still the best way to build a platform, and a business online. I am very excited to introduce you to my friend, Leslie Samuel. Leslie is a former university professor turned full-time blogger. He is also the host of the “Learning with Leslie” podcast where he teaches about blogging, online business, and entrepreneurship. Here are some snippets from our conversation about how to become a blogger: The biology of blogging (12:06) Are you experienced? (14:35) Teach what you know (15:24) It all started when… (17:07) Tiny hinges swing big doors (18:41) Learning as you go (21:19) The Philosophy of Free (22:57) Look below the surface (25:35) It’s harder than it looks (27:44) I thought we talked about this… (29:39) If they can do it, so can you (30:47) The three biggest mistakes bloggers make (34:49) Leaders are readers (36:31) The struggle is real (38:29) The Piano Man (39:28) Words to the Wise (40:30) Resources Mentioned In This Episode Podcasting A to Z Cliff Ravenscraft Learning with Leslie podcast The Greatest Salesman in the World Become a Blogger 2017 Content Calendar Spreadsheet How To Help Subscribe to the show through iTunes and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will mention you on this show. PLEASE USE THE APPLE PODCAST APP! Get The Transcript Right-Click and “Save As” to Get the PDF Transcript.

One of the most frequently asked questions we receive is about what specific apps, websites, sources, courses, and other tools we use to make stuff. In this episode we’ll get geeky with you and dive deep into that exact subject. Click here to download or listen to this episode now. Spiritual Foundations How do you respond when someone asks, “How are you today?” If you’re like most people you respond with something like: “Fine” “Okay” “I’m hangin' in there” This may come as news to you, but you get to decide how you process your day. In this episode I give you some reasons why you should carefully consider the instructions you give your brain, because what you say is often what you experience. Selah. Tip Of The Week If one of your goals this year is to take a trip…enroll in course…get in better shape…or anything else you’re likely to not do when it’s no longer convenient…today’s tip is for you! Most of us struggle to achieve our goals, that’s because there’s a big difference between having a goal and achieving a goal—stickK works by helping people eliminate this gap by using a Commitment Contract. A Commitment Contract is a binding agreement you sign with yourself to ensure that you follow through with your intentions—and it does this by utilizing the psychological power of loss aversion and accountability to drive behavior change. By asking users to sign Commitment Contracts, stickK helps users define their goal, acknowledge what it’ll take to accomplish it, and leverage the power of putting money on the line to turn that goal into a reality. Feature Segment: “The Apps & Tools We Use to Make Stuff “ The Tools and Apps We Use To Make Stuff This episode is a little different since it’s more like a giant resource guide. Everything we use is listed below, and if you want more insight into why we use what we use then join Sean and I on an entertaining romp through the good, and the not so good, items in the Ray Edwards toolbox. Resources Mentioned In This Episode stickK Apple MacBook Pro iPhone 7 Plus iPad Pro Bose Bluetooth Headphones WordPress Get Noticed Theme Bluehost Rightly Designed Slack Evernote Fujitsu ScanSnap Nozbe Todoist Asana Basecamp New Kajabi Thinkific 1Password TextExpander Dropbox Alfred Expandrive Snagit CleanMyMac3 Jumpcut Backblaze SuperDuper Zoom Gotowebinar Workflow Freedom Pages Word Excel Numbers Keynote Screenflow Canva Scrivener Chrome Day One Byword Textwrangler Dragon IMovie Adobe Premiere CC Adobe Photoshop CC Canon 80D DSLR Rode VideoMic Pro Heil PR40 Audio Technica ATR2100 MDX Compressor/Linmiter/Gate Focus Time Overcast Habit List Dragon Anywhere MyFitnessPal Bible Study Kindle How To Help Subscribe to the show through iTunes and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will mention you on this show. PLEASE USE THE APPLE PODCAST APP! Get The Transcript Right-Click and “Save As” to Get the PDF Transcript. Quote Worth Note Seth Godin tells this story in “What To Do When It’s Your Turn (And It’s Always Your Turn”… “Stephen King, one of the most beloved, famous and bestselling authors ever, often goes to writer’s conferences. After he talks for a little bit he says, ‘Any questions?’ Inevitably, someone raises their hand—I’m paraphrasing here—and says, ‘Mr. King, you are one of the most beloved, famous, and bestselling authors ever. What kind of pencil do you use to write your books?’ It’s almost as if knowing what kind of pencil Stephen King uses will help them be more like Stephen King.” It’s not the pencil. It’s not the computer. It’s not the app. Or as they say in music… “It’s not the gear, it’s the ear.”

Most people wish they could end each and every day proud of what they've accomplished. Trouble is, most people simply don’t know HOW to make that happen. Today, my guest on the podcast, John Lee Dumas, has an answer that will help you. Click here to download or listen to this episode now. Feature Segment: “Focus Leads To Mastery” An eye-opening interview with John Lee Dumas. John Lee Dumas is best known as the founder and host of the award-winning podcast Entrepreneur On Fire where he interviews today’s most inspiring entrepreneurs 7-days a week! The podcast was awarded Best Of iTunes because of his commitment to serve entrepreneurs…and with over 1500 episodes to date, he’s shared a LOT of great content from people like: Tony Robbins Seth Godin Gary Vaynerchuk Barbara Corcoran and Tim Ferriss JLD has his brand new project, The Mastery Journal, that launches today (January 23rd) and I sat down with him to get the skinny. Here’s a partial list of some of the things we discussed, and where to find them: The Big Reveal (2:34) Real Money, Real Business (3:20) Doing good while doing well (3:45) The three essential skill sets (4:17) The key to the Creator Code (5:38) Escape O.P.A. (6:40) How to be proud of what you produce (7:25) Ewww, it’s all over me! (8:48) I don’t think that word means what you think it means (9:28) How do you eat a frog? (11:30) Defeat the Weapons of Mass Distraction (14:20) The life-changing qualities of a tomato (16:28) Do more in One Day that you’ve done in a week (18:46) How to crush Parkinson’s Law (19:08) Magic Time (20:03) Winning tomorrow today (21:15) Education brings opportunity (22:38) Here’s what to do next (26:29) Resources Mentioned In This Episode Entrepreneur on Fire Podcast Deep Work: Rules for Focused Success in a Distracted World by Cal Newport Eat That Frog!: 21 Great Ways to Stop Procrastinating and Get More Done in Less Time by Brian Tracy Lynda.com The Mastery Journal How To Help Subscribe to the show through iTunes and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will mention you on this show. PLEASE USE THE APPLE PODCAST APP! Get The Transcript Right-Click and “Save As” to Get the PDF Transcript.  

Have you ever been in a position where you need money, and you need it quickly? Most of us have gone through a season in our lives where we find ourselves in a cash-flow crunch, and we need money fast. To help you avoid making an unwise, knee-jerk decision like borrowing the money, we created this episode to give you some better options. Click here to download or listen to this episode now. Spiritual Foundations This week’s episode is for skeptics and my Christian friends who might be “wavering” in their faith because they don’t think that believers should have any challenges in life. Once we accept Jesus, everything should be hunky-dory, right? Jesus tells us that in life we will have difficulty, but true to His nature, He also gives us hope because He has overcome the world. If you feel like you are struggling with your faith, in this episode I have some resources for you that will help sharpen your focus and help you find your footing again. Tip Of The Week Do you think you might be addicted to your iPhone? There’s an app for that… Moment is an iOS app that automatically tracks how much you use your iPhone and iPad each day. If you’re using your phone too much, you can set daily limits on yourself and be notified when you go over. You can even force yourself off your device when you’re over your limit. Feature Segment: “How To Make Money Fast” Let’s say you’re faced with a cashflow problem. There’s just too much month left at the end of the money. What do you do? Here are some of the things you’ll learn about the Seven Ways to Get Money Fast: The #1 thing you absolutely must NOT do (12:12) The worst-kept secret to getting money quickly (12:40) Stop listening to the lies (13:38) The Viking way to wealth (14:23) The skills to pay the bills (15:10) The person with the most toys loses (16:50) The “Mmm…nevermind” strategy (18:23) Seek and ye just might find (20:40) A hard, but sometimes necessary, question (21:27) Stuff the fluff (23:20) Stop digging (25:26) Fight to be free (25:36) Do the side hustle (25:58) How to get paid what you’re worth (28:25) The secret to a successful business (31:46) Make that money work! (32:05) Resources Mentioned In This Episode Making Sense of God: An Invitation to the Skeptical by Timothy Keller The Moment App Daring Greatly: How the Courage to Be Vulnerable Transforms the Way We Live, Love, Parent, and Lead by Brene Brown The Automatic Millionaire: A Powerful One-Step Plan to Live and Finish Rich by David Bach Value-Based Fees: How to Charge-and Get-What You're Worth by Alan Weiss How To Help Subscribe to the show through iTunes and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will mention you on this show. PLEASE USE THE APPLE PODCAST APP! Get The Transcript Right-Click and “Save As” to Get the PDF Transcript. 

Is it ethical, or even possible, to have a full-time job and also build a business on the side? This is a big deal for a lot of people who want to pursue their own business without throwing their family into financial chaos by quitting their job. If you’ve wondered about how to honorably engage in a side hustle, then this episode is just for you. Click here to download or listen to this episode now. Tip Of The Week This week’s tip comes courtesy of Cliff Ravenscraft. Public speaking is hard, Ummo makes it easier. Whether you are practicing for a presentation or interested in improving your everyday communication, use Ummo to track your “Umm”s and “Uhh”s, pace, word power, clarity, and more. Feature Segment: “The Ethical Side Hustle” My guest this week is Mark Mason from the Late Night Internet Marketing podcast. I’m honored to call Mark my friend, and the more I get to know him, the more I respect him and the vital work he’s doing. Here are some highlights from our interview: Why Sean Edwards is like a human hand grenade (5:45) The value of being a “Yuck Monkey” (6:30) What exactly is Late Night Internet Marketing? (6:50) The core belief of the side hustle (8:10) Do you have to hate your job to have a side hustle? (9:10) The best way to start a side hustle (11:05) The epiphany that changed everything (15:15) Running a side hustle requires some life hacks (17:25) Stay away from the “fluff” (18:01) The Free Content Formula (19:35) How to succeed through the struggle (22:08) Wisely navigating the waters between your day job and your side hustle (25:01) Side hustling with a family (27:11) Finding the time for your side hustle (28:52) The Mother of all Jingles (30:29) Resources Mentioned In This Episode Ummo: Your personalized speech coach Late Night Internet Marketing Podcast with Mark Mason Free Resource: The Three Most Important Things to Know About SEO Sean Edwards Blog How To Help Subscribe to the show through iTunes and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will mention you on this show. PLEASE USE THE APPLE PODCAST APP! Get The Transcript Right-Click and “Save As” to Get the PDF Transcript. 

Selling is a problem for a lot of people because they associate it with being pushy and slimy. What if selling could be a soul-enriching experience where everyone comes out on the winning side? Click here to download or listen to this episode now. Feature Segment: “How To Sell Well” Our guest this week, StoryBrand CEO Nigel Green, reveals the secret of transforming selling from scary to soothing. Here are some of the things you’ll learn in this episode: Never let your studies get in the way of your education (6:12) The Art of Selling Well (6:44) How to create long-term customers (7:49) Ignorance is sometimes bliss (8:24) The difference between marketing and sales (9:01) Why most people don’t succeed at selling (9:25) The power of having a “Noble Selling Purpose” (9:43) Wanting something For people, not From them (10:40) How to properly reframe the most important sales question (10:58) The biggest mistake salespeople make (11:41) Why most sales training doesn’t work (12:34) Here are the questions that really work (13:19) The “Secret Weapon” in selling (14:38) The steps to Selling Well (15:47) What to listen for in a sales conversation (17:03) How to make the needle move right now (19:51) Nigel’s Core Philosophy (21:30) Resources Mentioned In This Episode Free Training: 5 Minute Marketing Makeover How To Help Subscribe to the show through iTunes and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will mention you on this show. Get The Transcript Right-Click and “Save As” to Get the PDF Transcript.

Coming up this week… Finally…The Listener Appreciation Show! Click here to download or listen to this episode now. Feature Segment: “The Listener Appreciation Show” This episode is going to be a little different, it’s all about you! Sean and I will be reading some of the the 252 reviews you’ve left for the podcast in iTunes and commenting on them. This is totally off script, we haven’t previewed these reviews so we are venturing bravely into the unknown! Included in this week’s episode: An off the cuff review of Batman vs Superman: Dawn of Justice (1:40) Adventures in hosting (9:50) SEO is voodoo (15:40) Seedlings of Value (16:45) Beware of scams! (18:15) The 3 Types of Goals (21:40) Richard Branson, Elon Musk, and Mark Zuckerberg living on the moon (22:40) What constitutes a “worthwhile goal”? (23:35) A gun is not an argument (24:24) The three C’s you need to achieve your goals (24:47) The curse of the White Fudge Covered Oreos (29:10) How to successfully “Ride the Elephant” (31:55) Ray channels his inner Peter Griffin (32:40) How To Help Subscribe to the show through iTunes and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will mention you on this show. Get The Transcript Right-Click and “Save As” to Get the PDF Transcript. 

Coming up this week… Why does God allow bad things to happen to good people? A magic photo bag that is bigger on the inside than it is on the outside And a remarkable conversation with Mark Goblowski, creator of the Strength Through the Struggle podcast Click here to download or listen to this episode now. Spiritual Foundations Why does God allow bad things to happen to good people? Here’s the short answer…He doesn’t. In this week’s episode I’ll give you a scripture-based answer to back this up, but here’s all you really need to know: God is good. The devil is bad. ‘Nuff said. Tip Of The Week A magic photo bag that is bigger on the inside than it is on the outside. I have been faced with a travel dilemma for some time now. I live in a smallish city that often requires me to take smaller regional jets with limited overhead bin space to get where I need to go. That’s a problem because I travel with my photo gear, business essentials, and my carry-on bag with my clothes. All that baggage makes me look like a sherpa loaded down to climb some great mountain. This is not a good look for me by the way. Enter the Airport Essentials photo bag, from ThinkTank. It checks all the boxes that I need in a bag, and the best part is that it’s magically bigger on the inside than it is on the outside. Feature Segment: “How To Overcome Everything” A remarkable conversation with Mark Goblowsky, creator of the Strength Through the Struggle podcast. My guest this week is someone who has been through some crazy trials in his life, and the way he has responded has been an inspiration to me. Here are some of the things you’ll learn this week from my friend Mark Goblowsky: The personal tragedy that inspired the Strength Through the Struggle mission [13:52] The power of testimony [15:14] Testimonies are all around us [15:44] The Scriptural basis for testimony [16:15] What to do when it feels like hope is slipping away [16:59] When hope disappears, action goes with it [17:53] The role of martial arts in high-speed problem solving [18:40] The world in-between [20:08] How to answer the question, “Why did this happen to me?” [20:20] Defeating emotional and spiritual challenges [21:58] The overcoming power of love [23:20] Create what you want to consume [24:20] Mark’s top 3 podcast episodes [25:30] The power of perspective [29:55] Transforming the realities of life [32:30] Resources Mentioned In This Episode New Living Translation Bible Great Message from John Piper Airport Essentials photo bag, from ThinkTank Strength Through the Struggle podcast with Mark Goblowsky Free Download: The 7 Lessons Learned by Going Through the Hard Things in Life by Mark Goblowsky How To Help Subscribe to the show through iTunes and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will mention you on this show. Get The Transcript Right-Click and “Save As” to Get the PDF Transcript.

Coming up this week… How to triple your productivity… instantly. If God wants us healed, healthy, and wealthy… then why aren’t we? and then, of course, 7 Lessons Learned at the Gym From My Son” Click here to download or listen to this episode now. Spiritual Foundations If God wants us healed, healthy, and wealthy… then why aren’t we? Not long ago a man emailed me to ask me a tough question. “I was listening to your message. My wife and I are Christians for many years. We both believe that God will and can prosper us. But we have no more money. I have no job. We have debt. My wife has diabetes. We believe in healing, but we have not seen it. We believe in prosperity, but we are broke. We believe in it, but it is not working.” In this episode, I’ll tell you how I answered him… Tip Of The Week How to triple your productivity… instantly. Being productive is more about eliminating resistance (drag) than about getting better at anything. Here are 3 simple practices that, in my experience, will triple your output: Do one thing at a time, for a focused block of time (using a digital timer), to the exclusion of all else. Check email only once per day. Accept no incoming phone calls, and return voicemails only once per day. And here’s the thing: for these practices to work, you can’t do them half-heartedly. You must be a fanatic. You must bring intensity to the game. Try it with full-on emotional intensity for one week and see the difference in your output. If you want to go beyond productivity and become more EFFECTIVE (not just EFFICIENT) in every area of your life, you may want to consider attending the webinar with Michael Hyatt this week at https://rayedwards.com/bye-webinar This week, Michael will be showing you the seven steps you can take to use goal-setting to design the life you really want. This is going to help you have your best year ever in 2017. Feature Segment: “7 Lessons Learned at the Gym From My Son” I’ve been on a personal health quest over the last few months, proactively taking control of what I’m eating and the quality and frequency of the physical exercise I get. The results are clear. I’ve lost over 50 pounds, had to buy a new belt, and had to buy some new clothes. I have a lot more progress to make, but it’s been a very encouraging, if somewhat challenging experience. I’ve tried to take control of my health in the past, and frankly didn’t have a great deal of success, at least not long-term. This time, I decided to try something different: I have enlisted an accountability partner that I absolutely don’t want to disappoint. That accountability partner is my son, Sean Edwards. Sean is a great accountability partner and coach because he is unrelentingly truthful in his assessment of how I’m doing (“Hey dad, when you do those squats you need to go all the way down…”). He has a great sense of humor, and he is a good teacher. This week I share seven lessons I have learned from Sean in our time working out together. Here’s a little preview of what you’ll learn… The single best way to overcome inertia…doing this one this thing is half the battle. The secret to getting more from what you’re already doing. Here’s a hint…intensity matters. The truth about how to work with your physiology instead of against it…this works every single time. What most coaches and trainers don’t want you to know…this one thing will dramatically amplify your results. Plus – I’ll share the sneaky way to achieve things you think are impossible…it’s easier than you think! All this and more awaits you inside this episode! How To Help Subscribe to the show through iTunes and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will mention you on this show. Get The Transcript Right-Click and “Save As” to Get the PDF Transcript.   

Coming up this week… A free training that will give you the seven steps you can take to design the life you want. How to avoid your own personal 40 years in the desert and then, of course, The Most Powerful Life-Change Force In the World Click here to download or listen to this episode now. Spiritual Foundations How To Avoid 40 Years In The Desert. Whether you’re a spiritual person or not, I believe the key to changing your outcome for the year is hidden within a story from the Bible that illustrates the power of our thoughts to influence the course of our lives. Here are some things to think about: God hasn’t promised us the “just enough.” His present-day will for us is not last-minute, enough-for-the-day, wilderness rations … he wants us to receive the abundant gifts of the “land flowing with milk and honey.” God’s original plan for Israel was to take their Promised Land in days, not decades. Even though it took Israel 40 years to be ready, if you have faith, I believe you can move mountains in just 40 days. In this episode I’m going to show you how to do this by using “The 3 Be-Attitudes That Stoke The Fires of Faith.” You can march directly up to the border of the Promised Land, cross over, and receive the blessings of your dreams fulfilled. You can still meet your goals. Just don’t give up. Tip Of The Week How do they do it? You know who I'm talking about… It's the person who, regardless of how much they have going on in their life, always seems in control of it all. Is it some super power? It's not. These people understand something about setting and hitting big goals that most people miss. This week, New York Times bestselling author Michael Hyatt will be showing you the seven steps you can take to use goal-setting to design the life you want. This webinar is going to help you have your best year ever in 2017. https://rayedwards.com/bye-webinar There is no cost to attend. But you do need to register. So click the link above and claim your spot. Michael's free presentations have developed quite a reputation because they of the highest quality, and he usually creates a workbook to enhance your experience. However, just know that they typically max out so make sure you claim your spot early: https://rayedwards.com/bye-webinar Feature Segment: “The Most Powerful Life-Change Force In The World” When I was still in my twenties, I went to Parris Island, South Carolina, to see my brother Mark graduate with his classmates (I’m pretty sure they would all be horrified to know I just called them that) from Marine Corps boot camp. I don’t pretend to know what going through boot camp was like for my brother Mark. He has told me some stories, but I have a feeling this is a secret society you can only fully understand if you have been there yourself. What I do know is this: I saw the transformation boot camp wrought in Mark’s life, and in the lives of all the young men who were part of his graduating class… In this episode, I show you how, like my brother Mark, you can learn to harness “The Power of Emotional Gravity” to achieve any transformation you desire.And it only takes 3 simple steps. Knowing this secret should give you a great deal of hope. If you have not reached the outcomes you want from your life, whether it be in personal or business matters (or both), listening to this episode is the first place to start. How To Help Subscribe to the show through iTunes and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will mention you on this show. Get The Transcript Right-Click and “Save As” to Get the PDF Transcript.

Coming up this week… A free ebook on the 8 strategies successful people are using now to accomplish more next year. Why I believe it’s proper for Christians to set goals…it’s even our “sacred duty.” And then, of course, 5 Good Reasons to Set Goals for 2017 (Even If You Hate Goal-Setting) Click here to download or listen to this episode now. Spiritual Foundations There are those in the family of faith that believe that setting goals is “sinful arrogance”. The argument for this belief comes from the book of James in the New Testament. James, the brother of Jesus, says this… “Come now, you who say, ‘Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit’— yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. Instead you ought to say, ‘If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.’ As it is, you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil. (James 4:13-16) James is echoing the sentiment of this passage from the Old Testament: “Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring.” (Proverbs 27:1) Do these verses teach us that setting goals is sinful arrogance? I don’t think so. In fact, I think it is our duty as Christians to set goals, and I have three strong reasons to support that assertion. We’ll get to those in a moment, but first I want to tackle this idea that Christians should not set goals at all. People who hold this view (that goal-setting is wrong) usually offer as argument the idea that they are “free to be led by the Spirit”. They want to be sure they are “open to God’s will”. There are at least three incorrect pre-suppostions embedded within this position. If this is your belief, you are assuming: Your “feelings” and “promptings” are the one and only infallible way of accessing God’s specific plan and will for any situation. You can only trust those feelings of yours to know when you are “in God’s will”. Hello, scary cult leader. Our emotions are important for relating to God and what He is saying, but they don’t rule over everything else. Sometimes our feelings are just inaccurate. Even Jesus experienced this. In the Garden of Gethsemane the night before His crucifixion, he was emotionally distressed and asked God to spare him from the horrors that lay ahead. But Jesus ultimately conceded, “Not my will but Yours.” Emotionally, he did not want to experience what was to come – but He knew it had to be done, and He did it. The second pre-supposition those opposed to goal-setting make is that Holy Spirit only leads us spontaneously – that He never leads us to make plans. That is simply not supported by scripture. Paul made plans (Romans 1:13). The early Apostles made plans ( Acts 6:1-3). Jesus made plans (Matthew 10:5-15). Finally, those holding the “no goal-setting” view are disregarding the fact that we can also hear the voice of the Holy Spirit though God’s written word. The Bible makes it clear that we can receive fresh revelation from god through his written word ( Matthew 4:4, 2 Timothy 3:15-17). Just like we are supposed to be good stewards of our wealth, we are also supposed to be good stewards of our life. Selah. Tip Of The Week Get Michael Hyatt’s ebook, “Achieve What Matters in 2017”. This is an incredible download. More than 30 thought leaders, influencers, and high achievers all share their top strategies for starting the year off with a bang. You'll recognize many of the names as they include multiple best-selling authors, speakers, and leaders of their respected fields. People like: Tony Robbins John Maxwell Dave Ramsey Marie Forleo Andy Andrews Jeff Walker Amy Porterfield Lysa TerKeurst Andy Stanley Chalene Johnson Lewis Howes and many others… It's all available here. As we get closer to the start of 2017, the timing on this couldn't be any better. The insights were pretty incredible, so make sure you take a look for yourself… Also watch for the Free LifeScore App Wednesday, November 30th, (day after tomorrow, if you’re listening to this on release day)… If life were a game, what would your score be? Even if you aren't competitive, how would you rank each area of your life? Would you give yourself a good score with your health? What about your finances or relationships? What if there was a way you could measure yourself in the areas that matter most–so that you can improve? What if you could get an overall score for your life, take it to the next level, and create the life you want? Well, now you can. If you’re not on our email list, get signed up today so we can notify you when this is released Wednesday, or you can go to https://rayedwards.com/lifescore (that link will not work until Wednesday, November 30th). Feature Segment: “5 Good Reasons to Set Goals for 2017 (Even If You Hate Goal-Setting)” You have goals already – wouldn’t you rather set them consciously? If you fail to plan, you plan to fail. Goals keep you moving forward, even when it’s tough. Having written, measurable goals keeps you accountable. If you want to be your best possible self, you must have a plan to achieve that. Some additional thoughts: To be effective goals must be written, measurable, and regularly measured. There are many systems for setting goals, the one that has worked best for me is Michael Hyatt’s 5 Days to Your Best Year Ever. When Michael opens up BYE, I hope you’ll join me in the journey for 2017. How To Help Subscribe to the show through iTunes and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will mention you on this show. Get The Transcript Right-Click and “Save As” to Get the PDF Transcript.

Coming up this week… Good reasons to get a “checkup from the neck up” and eliminate your “stinkin thinkin”. How to avoid a common, heart breaking loss. It’s a shame so many people suffer this, when it’s so easy to avoid. And … “Why I Won't Promote Your Product” Click here to download or listen to this episode now. Spiritual Foundations The single best way to eliminate your “stinkin thinkin”. We know that we must guard our thoughts, but did you know this is not just a “positive thinking” idea – we find this same advice in the book of Proverbs. Plus in this episode we reveal what it really means to “Fear the Lord”. This may be the most important thing you hear all day! Tip Of The Week I was in the Apple Store getting my 7+, and I overheard this snippet of conversation, “She dropped the phone in the water and just wants her photos.” People… use iCloud to back up your phone! PAY FOR IT. It’s 0.99 cents a month for Pete’s sake! And by the way, check out iCloud Drive…it’s awesome! Feature Segment: “Why I Won't Promote Your Product” Let me start by saying that I like you, and I want you to succeed…but I won’t promote your stuff. That may sound harsh, but in this episode I expose the 7 Problems That Stop Me From Promoting Your Product. But before you despair and give up all hope, I also have 7 Solutions to the 7 Problems. Understanding this information could save you from a lifetime of fractured relationships with potential partners, and instead illuminate a profitable path forward with more friends (and sales) than you can shake a stick at. How To Help Subscribe to the show through iTunes and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will mention you on this show. Get The Transcript Right-Click and “Save As” to Get the PDF Transcript.

You probably know “the money is in the list” – the email list. Notably, your email list. The people to whom you have permission to send marketing emails. Press send. Make money. But how does one get an email list. That's what today's episode is all about. Halloween is behind us, and the Presidential election is on the horizon…which is a great reason to check out my latest YouTube video appropriately titled, Who to Vote For in the Presidential Election. A good reason to spend $5,000. And “How to Get 10,000 Subscribers in 9 Days” (sort of). Click here to download or listen to this episode now. Spiritual Foundations Do you know your spiritual ABC’s? No, it doesn’t mean Always Be Closing. Instead, it’s a way of remembering how to communicate with people in a way that is both meaningful and effective. The Apostle Paul was a master communicator, and in this episode, we’re going to show you how you can use his principles in your business communications – whether you’re speaking to a small staff or a huge stadium. Using Paul’s communication model, you’ll capture people’s attention at a heart-level. They will be ready to receive your message…because people don’t care how much you know, until they know how much you care. Tip Of The Week I promised you a good reason to spend $5,000 and here it is…the new MacBook Pro is out! Why am I so excited about this? Let me count the ways… Touch Bar 2TB SSD Lightning-fast processor Killer graphics A display so amazing it will make you weep And for those of you keeping score, when you add on all the extra goodies… you’re awfully close to $5,000. It’s another good reason to build a profitable online business (as if you needed another reason). Feature Segment: “How to Get 10,000 Subscribers in 9 Days (sort of)” So often, when people tell you how to add large numbers of subscribers to your list, they do so out of theory. We’re actually going to pull back the curtain on a promotion we just conducted, and tell you exactly what we did. I say you can get 10,000 subscribers in 9 days “sort of”. What I mean by “sort of” is  while the promotion lasted 9 days, the preparation time was much longer. The promotion was for our Copywriting Virtual Summit. The summit is a gathering of the greatest minds in copywriting and marketing. Inside this episode, we reveal the details of how we generated those 10,000 subscribers including: The near-magic power of “OPL”. This accelerates list growth like gasoline accelerates a fire. Why a specific kind of mailing means the most. HINT: it’s better to be invited to a party than show up unannounced. How to craft an offer that compels email signups. This is where almost everyone drops the ball. How to make list-growth a self-funding activity. Do this and you won’t need a marketing budget – your marketing pays for itself. We also go the extra mile and reveal what went well, and maybe more importantly, what we could do better next time. This episode is like the Invisible Man… totally transparent! How To Help Subscribe to the show through iTunes and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will mention you on this show. Get The Transcript Right-Click and “Save As” to Get the PDF Transcript.

Email marketing can be a scary proposition. In this episode, we’ll be your personal ghostbusters and turn the trick of email marketing into a treat. Who ya gonna call? Click here to download or listen to this episode now. Spiritual Foundations I’m sure you’ve heard people talk about speaking the life you want into reality, but are you aware that this is totally scriptural? I’ll prove it to you…better yet, I’ll let Steve Backlund from Bethel Church in Redding, CA prove it you. All this information can be found on Steve’s website IgnitingHope.com. Tip of the Week My friend Justin Livingston made an excellent point at a conference I attended recently. Specifically, he was talking about the laziness he sees in how email marketing. The answer? Small efforts that yield big results. Listen in this week as we reveal 3 small changes you can make that can put big profits in your wallet. Feature Presentation The Trick or Treat Email Marketing Guide We’ve been doing a series on product launches and how they work so you have the ability to make a lot of money in a short amount of time. Here’s a short review of what we’ve talked about so far: In Episode 254 we shared 3 Reasons We Love Launches. In Episode 255 we revealed 7 Reasons Why You MUST Master Launch-Focused Copy This week I have not one, but two treats for you that will give you preeminence in your email marketing…not just in product launches, but in every email you send from this point forward. 3 Reasons Why Email is Crucial to Launches The 7 Pillars of Email Profits If you aren’t getting the results from your email marketing that you desire, then this episode may be the most important thing you listen to this year. Interview With Michael Stelzner Michael Stelzner is the founder of Social Media Examiner and Social Media Marketing World…one of the coolest conferences you will ever attend. For example, their networking event in held abroad an aircraft carrier in San Diego Bay. In this thoughtful interview, you’ll learn: How Mike built such a successful event, even though he started with just an idea. What makes people fall in love with a live event. What makes an event is useful and relevant to the marketplace. In a world where many conferences are folding up their tents and shutting down, why this one is growing. How anyone could duplicate what Mike has done (in a different industry or subject matter)…even starting “from scratch”. And listen for some special treats that we’ve scattered throughout the interview! Click here to register for Social Media Marketing World 2017.

Cutting your ad budget while increasing sales sounds totally counterintuitive, right? Au contraire, my intrepid listener. In this episode we’ll not only show you how to do exactly that, but also why you should start doing it right now. Join us on another magic carpet ride as we take your marketing to a whole new world. Click here to download or listen to this episode now. Spiritual Foundations Should Christians Seek Money & Prosperity? We want to be blessed and live the abundant life Jesus promised us – and that He died to purchase for us, but this is not an invitation to “get saved to get money”. God’s not an ATM—enter the right PIN code of faith, prayer, praise, worship, good works, and the ATM spits out your blessing. But blessing and prosperity are more than money. In this episode we’ll introduce to a life filled complete, whole peace, and a simple path to unmerited favor…all you have to do is receive it. Tip Of The Week My Dad used to tell me that “my mouth was writing checks that my butt can’t cash”. We all have a tendency to say “Yes” to more things than we are actually capable of doing. The end result? A calendar that makes your head explode. You have less time than you think because of an insidious time goblin called “Calendar Creep”. What do you do about it? You implement Ray’s 7-Step Calendar First Aid revealed in this episode. Feature Segment: How to Cut Your Ad Budget and Increase Sales The best way to cut your ad budget and increase sales do is with a product launch. As we mentioned last week, we’re so keen on launches due to: – NO capital start up – Self-Angelizing – Cash on demand So let's assume you are sold on doing your own launch…you’re going to need copy! Launches are important, but COPY is the lifeblood of any launch. In this episode we’re going to give you 7 REASONS WHY YOU MUST MASTER LAUNCH-FOCUSED COPY. Just by changing the words, you change the revenue. Need some social proof? Check this out… Justin Livingston just changed the copy in his launch and did over $1 million more than his previous launch…where there was very little copy. Your sales problem is most likely just a COPY problem. Listen in this week as we show you how to solve that problem. How To Help Subscribe to the show through iTunes and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will mention you on this show. We are also on Stitcher.com, so if you prefer Stitcher, please subscribe there. Get The Transcript Right-Click and “Save As” to Get the PDF Transcript. 

Think about your income…how much do you make every month? Now think about your annual income. What if you could earn your ANNUAL income… next month? This is a typical occurrence for the people who use the technique I'm revealing in this week's episode. Click here to download or listen to this episode now. Spiritual Foundations A work ethic is defined as a system for determining your values and morals around the subject of work. While this may seem like a high-minded concept, what we believe about work matters. Keep in mind that work was not part of the curse, but instead was part of creation…remember, Abraham was both rich and righteous. In addition, the Apostle Paul also said that if you don’t work, you don’t eat. So how do we reconcile these things? Be sure to listen in as we reveal how work is not only ethical, but spiritual as well. Tip Of The Week I recently attended Jeff Walker’s LaunchCon conference where my friend Phil Sherwood remarked that you really need time to process everything you learn from a conference, seminar, or workshop. He’s right, and inside this edition of the tip of the week I reveal a surefire way to turn information into implementation. Feature Segment: How To Make Your Annual Income In A Single Month I know an entrepreneur whose sales averaged 50,000 per month, or $600,000 per year. This same entrepreneur, by using the technique discussed in this episode, made just over $600,000 in a single month. Catch that. In March he makes $50,000… in April he makes $600,000. How is this possible? It is legal? Is is sustainable? I have good news for you…it IS legal, and it IS sustainable. So… What IS the “secret”? It is the phenomena known as “The Product Launch.” These launches are wildly successful when done with intelligence, elegance, and work. In this episode I share the Seven Reasons You Must Do A Launch Now, and how to get started on your very own launch. How To Help Subscribe to the show through iTunes and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will mention you on this show. We are also on Stitcher.com, so if you prefer Stitcher, please subscribe there. Get The Transcript Right-Click and “Save As” to Get the PDF Transcript.  

In this episode we show you how anyone can double their income by Christmas by following this time-tested formula. Click here to download or listen to this episode now. Spiritual Foundations Every day you make one choice that sets the tone for the success or failure of your day. Think of it as your daily Rosetta Stone, the one key that can either unlock your day’s potential, or confine you in a prison of your own making. What is this one choice? Listen to this week's episode to find out. Tip Of The Week What is the ideal subject line length for your emails? Sounds like the ultimate geeky copywriter question, right? But here’s the thing…would you open your front door to a stranger and welcome them into your home if you couldn’t see them? If your subject line is too long, your message gets truncated in your prospect’s email viewer, your intention is lost, and even the best email in the world is left standing of your prospect’s digital front porch…lonely and unwanted. Here’s the good news, it doesn’t have to be that way. In this episode we’ll give you the ideal subject line length, and some ideas on how to turn these few precious characters into a standing invitation into your audience’s home. Feature Segment: 3 Ways To Double Your Income Before Christmas It really is possible to double your income before Christmas – because what we reveal in this week’s episode is exponential, not incremental. Legendary marketer Jay Abraham is known for saying there are “only three ways to grow your business”. These three ways are the keys To doubling your business before the festive season is upon us. Here they are, spelled out for you in this week's episode: Increase the number of customers. Increase the average transaction of each customer. Increase the frequency of transactions. Don’t be mislead by the simplicity of these keys. I know you’re tempted to say, “I already know that, Ray”, but be careful – those words are the rocks that have shipwrecked countless businesses. In this episode we're going to be the marketing lighthouse that guides you safely through these treacherous waters to the safe harbor of business success. How To Help Subscribe to the show through iTunes and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will mention you on this show. We are also on Stitcher.com, so if you prefer Stitcher, please subscribe there. Get The Transcript Right-Click and “Save As” to Get the PDF Transcript.  

This week's show is an interview with Brian Kurtz, direct marketing expert and co-author of the must-have upcoming book The Advertising Solution. Click here to download or listen to this episode now. Tip of the Week Our tip this week is the app WhatSize. This app scans all the hidden files in your system and gives you the opportunity to dramatically increase the available space on your hard drive. Sean was able to free up 160gb of space in just 30 minutes! Spiritual Foundations This past week we held our Copywriting Virtual Summit where I gathered over twenty-five of the world’s leading direct response experts and marketers to share their best wisdom with anyone who has ears to hear. What does this have to do with Spiritual Foundations? Proverbs 19:20 tells us, “Listen to advice and accept instruction, that you may gain wisdom in the future.” Seeking an outside perspective from qualified sources can give you answers you never knew existed to the challenges you face today. Like I tell the people in my mastermind, “You can’t read the label if you’re inside the bottle.” Selah. Feature Presentation Brian Kurtz is one of the heroes of direct response copywriting. He has over thirty-five years of experience in the field, and as the leader of Boardroom, Inc which was the proving ground for state of the art direct marketing and copywriting. He has been able to market and sell newsletters and books via direct response television (infomercials) and using e-mail and the Internet in huge numbers. At the height of his infomercial success, he was responsible for buying media in excess of $80 million and sold over 3 million books via direct response television over a three year period. Brian is also the co-author of one of the most important books in recent memory, The Advertising Solution. This modern-day masterpiece is a collection of direct response gems from six legends of copywriting…the original MadMen. Imagine sitting in a room with David Ogilvy, Claude Hopkins, Robert Collier, John Caples, Gary Halbert, and Eugene Schwartz as they imparted their greatest secrets of how to turn copy into cash. In this interview Brian reveals: Why this is the best time to be a marketer. The answer is right at your fingertips. How being grounded in the “old school” can make you a master of the “new school”. It’s a marriage made in Heaven. One of the most important tenets in copywriting. Do this and watch your sales skyrocket. The single best way to write original copy that sells…almost everyone does this the wrong way. And how to get your hands on hard to find swipe files, videos, and more from the direct response masters mentioned above…for FREE! While you’re thinking about it, go to TheLegendsBook.com and secure your copy of the book that should be sitting right next to the laptop of every serious copywriter out there. How To Help Subscribe to the show through iTunes and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will mention you on this show. We are also on Stitcher.com, so if you prefer Stitcher, please subscribe there. Get The Transcript Right-Click and “Save As” to Get the PDF Transcript. 

This week's show is an interview with Joanne Miller, the author of Creating a Haven of Peace. Click here to download or listen to this episode now. Tip of the Week: Apple's all-new iOS 10 is a winner, especially for iPhone users. Spiritual Foundations Make every movement with the peace and the Spirit of God in mind. If the household is worthy, let your peace come upon it. But if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you.” – Matthew 10:13 Feature Segment: An Interview with Joanne Miller Joanne Miller, wife of 48 years to popular author Dan Miller of the world-famous 48Days.com, has been his raving fan, speaker at their live events, and an integral part to the success of their thriving 48 Days community. She is an accomplished artist, speaker, blogger, author of five children’s books, and co-author of Be Your Finest Art. Creating a Haven of Peace describes the decorating ideas, meals, games and celebrations that built her family's respect, laughter, and lasting relationships. FREE Copywriting Summit This week we are continuing the No-Cost Copywriting Virtual Summit. (This free Copywriting Virtual Summit ends on September 30.) Click Here for FREE ACCESS to the Copywriting Virtual Summit I've “Called in favors” from the friends, colleagues, and revered mentors who have taught and mentored ME over the last 30 years… and they've all agreed to teach YOU… for no cost at all. Consider it the ultimate “pay-it-forward” gift in business. YOUR new teachers and mentors are the leaders in the field, top players like: Jay Abraham Jeff Walker John Carlton Bob Bly Ryan Levesque Perry Marshall Daniel Levis Ben Settle … and many more! Click Here for your FREE ACCESS to the Summit now. How To Help Subscribe to the show through iTunes and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will mention you on this show. We are also on Stitcher.com, so if you prefer Stitcher, please subscribe there. Get The Transcript Right-Click and “Save As” to Get the PDF Transcript.   

This week's show is an interview with Brian Holmes, the author of 4 Cornerstones for Strategic Living: A Proven Framework For Building the Life You Want With What You Have. Click here to download or listen to this episode now. Feature Segment: An Interview with Brian Holmes Brian has generously agreed to give our listeners a free digital copy if his book and an accompanying online course. Click here to claim those free gifts now. FREE Copywriting Summit The No-Cost Copywriting Virtual Summit, starts in just two days from the release of the episode. (This free Copywriting Virtual Summit begins on Wednesday, September 21, 2016… and ends on September 30.) Click Here for FREE ACCESS to the Copywriting Virtual Summit I've “Called in favors” from the friends, colleagues, and revered mentors who have taught and mentored ME over the last 30 years… and they've all agreed to teach YOU… for no cost at all. Consider it the ultimate “pay-it-forward” gift in business. YOUR new teachers and mentors are the leaders in the field, top players like: Jay Abraham Jeff Walker John Carlton Bob Bly Ryan Levesque Perry Marshall Daniel Levis Ben Settle … and many more! Click Here for your FREE ACCESS to the Summit now. How To Help Subscribe to the show through iTunes and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will mention you on this show. We are also on Stitcher.com, so if you prefer Stitcher, please subscribe there. Get The Transcript Right-Click and “Save As” to Get the PDF Transcript.

There are two magic words that empower you to become better at anything and everything… and in this episode, we'll explore those words and how to use them. Click here to download or listen to this episode now. Spiritual Foundations “No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.” (1 Corinthians 10:13) Tip Of The Week Facebook Lead Ads Feature Segment: How to Get Better at Everything Determine where you really are. “Neither an optimist nor a pessimist be, but be advised by reality.” Determine where you want to be. Determine the cost to get there. Determine if you're willing to pay the price. Determine to PAY it. How To Help Subscribe to the show through iTunes and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will mention you on this show. We are also on Stitcher.com, so if you prefer Stitcher, please subscribe there. Get The Transcript Right-Click and “Save As” to Get the PDF Transcript. Are you determined to get better at whatever?

You might not know this but you DO need a sales letter. Here are 5 reasons why you MUST have a sales letter… Click here to download or listen to this episode now. Spiritual Foundations “The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is long-suffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.” (2 Peter 3:9) Tip Of The Week Tap Typing iOS Typing Trainer Feature Segment: 5 Reasons You Need a Sales Letter To Understand your unique value, message, and mission To articulate those things to your person… their pain… and their problem To sell your stuff To inform all your written messaging To inform all your spoken messaging How To Help Subscribe to the show through iTunes and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will mention you on this show. We are also on Stitcher.com, so if you prefer Stitcher, please subscribe there. Get The Transcript Right-Click and “Save As” to Get the PDF Transcript. Do you have a sales letter?  If not, what do you feel is your biggest challenge in finishing it?

Do you really KNOW your business?  Find out why Phase 5 is so important to the growth and development of your Enterprise! Click here to download or listen to this episode now. Spiritual Foundations “I thank my God always concerning you for the grace of God which was given to you by Christ Jesus, 5 that you were enriched in everything by Him in all utterance and all knowledge” (1 Corinthians 1:4-5) Tip Of The Week Sentey LS-6141 Aluminum 10 Ports – 7 port Usb Hub 3.0 and 3-charging Ports, Portable Hub for Mac or PC Desktop, Macbook Pro, Mac Mini or Any Notebook, Mini Hub with Free Transport Pouch Included. Buy it here on Amazon Feature Segment: Stats and Adjustments Log everything. Emails sent. Opens. Ad clicks. Optin conversions. Webinar show-ups. When people leave. Track video metrics. How many sales? Total conversion rate? Where are the weak links? Split test sales letter tweaks and ad tweaks. Make adjustments and see if they work. How To Help Subscribe to the show through iTunes and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will mention you on this show. We are also on Stitcher.com, so if you prefer Stitcher, please subscribe there. Get The Transcript Right-Click and “Save As” to Get the PDF Transcript. This all can feel overwhelming – but which phase are you in? Don’t work on Phase 4 if you’re still in Phase 1 or 2.

It's time for Phase 4 – MARKETING! Let's recap the first 3 phases first, because these must be done before you get to Phase 4… Phase 1: Problem-Pain-Person, Initial Analysis (The ‘P’ from the Pastor Framework) What problem are you solving? What is the pain the person is experiencing? Who is the person feeling this pain? Phase 2: Product How are you solving this problem? This is the stuff. Course? Coaching? Physical Product? When will it be ready? Armand Morin Phase 3: Copy Go through Copy Academy (the entire thing… not just the quick start module), and write the first draft of your sales letter. We Review Click here to download or listen to this episode now. Spiritual Foundations “Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has seen God at any time. If we love one another, God abides in us, and His love has been perfected in us.” (1 John 4:11-12) Tip Of The Week My friend Chad Cannon has this incredibly useful free ebook that gives you a template for building an effective book marketing landing page. In this ebook, you'll discover: The 11 quick essentials that all effective book landing pages must have. How to make your landing page a “branded experience” that effectively sells books. The secret must-do’s for engaging viewers and converting sales. Chad is the Founder & CEO of Chadwick Cannon Agency, a digital marketing agency that serves authors and entrepreneurs. Before that he was VP of Marketing at Thomas Nelson Publishers, where he oversaw hundreds of book marketing campaigns, with 16 of them hitting the New York Times bestseller list. He’s worked with some of the most successful authors in the industry, including Dr. Henry Cloud, Lysa TerKeurst, Michael Hyatt, Donald Miller, and Bob Goff. Download your free copy of the book now.   Feature Segment: Phase 4 of Business Development – Marketing You need a marketing SYSTEM Where are these people hanging out? Better yet, where are they looking for solutions already? Overall Ad Strategy – then TACTICS Email sequences and segments Landing page copy Ad copy How To Help Subscribe to the show through iTunes and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will mention you on this show. We are also on Stitcher.com, so if you prefer Stitcher, please subscribe there. Get The Transcript Right-Click and “Save As” to Get the PDF Transcript. Do you feel you’d be willing to invest in an affordable guided system?

On today's show, we will take a one week break from our Five Phases Series and talk about the 7 lessons we learned at Copywriting Academy Live! Click here to download or listen to this episode now. Spiritual Foundations “Therefore be imitators of God as dear children. And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma.” (Ephesians 5:1-2) Tip Of The Week Scrivener for iOS Feature Segment: 7 Lessons Learned at Copywriting Academy Live Live events are expensive, risky, and time-consuming … but worth it. Teamwork makes the dream work. No plan survives contact with reality. Adapting to the needs of your customers and clients is paramount. Don’t pretend you have everything figured out – everybody else knows that’s not true. Trust your team, your audience, your gut… and God. Nothing builds community like bread, love, and laughter How To Help Subscribe to the show through iTunes and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will mention you on this show. We are also on Stitcher.com, so if you prefer Stitcher, please subscribe there. Get The Transcript Right-Click and “Save As” to Get the PDF Transcript. Have you asked and answered all the questions in Phase 1 for your business?

On today's show, we will be delving into Phase 3 of our 5-Phase Business Roadmap. We're talking about the “deadliest mistake you can make in business” – the failure to sell. Which means, we're talking about copywriting! Click here to download or listen to this episode now. Spiritual Foundations “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.” (Matthew 6:33). (NKJV) Tip Of The Week How to Write Copy That Sells Feature Segment: How to Sell With Copy Copy is salesmanship in print. PASTORING and shepherding. Marketing something you do FOR people , not TO them Long copy vs short     How To Help Subscribe to the show through iTunes and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will mention you on this show. We are also on Stitcher.com, so if you prefer Stitcher, please subscribe there. Get The Transcript Right-Click and “Save As” to Get the PDF Transcript. Do you struggle with writing your copy?

Last week we began to outline the 5 Phases of Business Development Today we’ll cover Phase 2: How to Know Your Product Will Sell. Click here to download or listen to this episode now. Spiritual Foundations Fear keeps us from becoming all God intends for you. It can ruin your life. Anxiety makes us sick. Sometimes the solution for that is medical. But often we are trying to use a medical solution to a spiritual problem. There are 365 “fear not” commands in the Bible. That’s one for every day of the year. Angels, and the post-resurrection Christ, always said, “Fear not!” The cure for fear? The opposite of fear is not courage. It’s love. The Bible says, “There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear …” (1 John 4:18 NIV). God is love, and the more you fill your life with God, the less fear you are going to have. Tip Of The Week Will It Fly Book by Pat Flynn Feature Segment: The 5 Phases of Business Development You Must Not Skip Phase 2: How to Know Your Product Will Sell How are you solving this problem? This is the stuff. Course? Coaching? Physical Product? Do you really know what they will buy? When will it be ready? How To Help Subscribe to the show through iTunes and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will mention you on this show. We are also on Stitcher.com, so if you prefer Stitcher, please subscribe there. Get The Transcript Right-Click and “Save As” to Get the PDF Transcript. Have you ever launched a product that just flopped? Why do you thnk that happened?

So many times people have asked us for a business roadmap. Or a checklist. Where do you start? Well, what are those 100 things? Turns out you can neatly break them into 5 sections, or  phases of business development. Today we’ll cover Phase 1. Click here to download or listen to this episode now. Spiritual Foundations Fear keeps us from becoming all God intends for you. It can ruin your life. Anxiety makes us sick. Sometimes the solution for that is medical. But often we are trying to use a medical solution to a spiritual problem. There are 365 “fear not” commands in the Bible. That’s one for every day of the year. Angels, and the post-resurrection Christ, always said, “Fear not!” The cure for fear? The opposite of fear is not courage. It’s love. The Bible says, “There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear …” (1 John 4:18 NIV). God is love, and the more you fill your life with God, the less fear you are going to have. Tip Of The Week Dragon Anywhere Dictation for iOS Feature Segment: The 5 Phases of Business Development You Must Not Skip Phase 1: Problem-Pain-Person, Initial Analysis The ‘P’ from the Pastor Framework What problem are you solving? What is the pain the person is experiencing? Who is the person feeling this pain? Do many people have this problem? Are they willing and able to pay money to solve it? Are they already buying? Are others already selling? How To Help Subscribe to the show through iTunes and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will mention you on this show. We are also on Stitcher.com, so if you prefer Stitcher, please subscribe there. Get The Transcript Right-Click and “Save As” to Get the PDF Transcript. Are you in Phase 1? Did you “skip” it? Or are you about to start?

Last week's episode was a hot one – as we covered how to promote and sell your products and services online. If you haven't listened to episode #240 of The Ray Edwards Show, we recommend that you do so. This week, we're tackling the issue that really holds most people back – their conflicting beliefs about money and prosperity. And even if you were born after 1990, even if you were raised on Adam Smith and your mama read you bedtime stories by Ayn Rand… you probably still have some of these inner conflicts you're gonna have to deal with someday if you ever want to reach your full entrepreneurial potential. Click here to download or listen to this episode now. Spiritual Foundations Do you  need wisdom to make decisions in your business? Ask God! He is ready to help. Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Inasmuch as God has shown you all this, there is no one as discerning and wise as you. You shall be over my house, and all my people shall be ruled according to your word; only in regard to the throne will I be greater than you.” – Genesis 41:39-40 No matter how bad things got, Joseph always trusted God as the source of his wisdom. Joseph started out “in the pit” – literally. Then he was sold into slavery. Then he was thrown into prison. But no matter where he was thrown, or what was thrown at him, Joseph turned to God for wisdom to make decisions. He ended up running the household of his master. He ended up running the prison. And in the end, he ended up running the foreign nation that had taken him captive – Egypt!   Tip Of The Week Goodnotes tips from Cliff Ravenscraft: Get the Goodnotes app from the App Store for your Mac. You can copy hand-written notes as an image and paste them into emails, web pages, or text messages. The note Cliff sent to my iPhone! Feature Segment: Prosper With Purpose What does it mean to “prosper with purpose?” What is prosperity? Your money represents your life. Money is barter on steroids. The shocking truth about money. Not all value can be represented by money. Our 3 Foundational Conclusions… How To Help Subscribe to the show through iTunes and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will mention you on this show. We are also on Stitcher.com, so if you prefer Stitcher, please subscribe there. Get The Transcript Right-Click and “Save As” to Get the PDF Transcript. Final Thought Sean: “Not only do you have permission to prosper, but if you want to change the world, you have a mandate to prosper.” Ray: My prayer for you is that you will see more and more that God is doing exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us. And that power is the Spirit of God Himself! Live life fully alive, refuse to suffer, go forth and prosper with purpose! Do you deal with any of the inner conflicts about money, wealth, and possessions? How has this episode affected you?

Last week we discussed packaging your passion – turning your wisdom and experience into a knowledge product. We covered the 3 converging marketplace forces that make that possible. This week, we'll assume you've identified your passion and decided how to package it. So, how do you sell it? How do your promote your product? Anyone with a good product can promote it – by mastering a specific method of persuasive communication. Copywriting. Today we'll give you a basic framework for that, plus some cool cheat sheets you can use right away. That, plus we SOLVE the “Instagram Problem”, and provide you with a secret backdoor to the Copywriting Academy LIVE conference… a $5,000 conference you can attend for FREE. AND… the return of LISTENER QUESTIONS! Click here to download or listen to this episode now. Spiritual Foundations Are you in a “valley” in your life? Are you lonely? Depressed? Afraid? Maybe it's a minor valley – a day where you seem to be slightly off schedule and unproductive, ineffective, and uninspired. Maybe it's more serious: an argument with your spouse, a problem with a child who has gone astray, or you've just lost your job. Or maybe it's worse: you or someone you love received a devastating medical diagnosis. Someone close to you may have died or been horribly injured. These are all valleys – and all can lead to hopelessness and the fear of facing the valley alone. There's even a song about it, written by Woody Guthrie: You gotta walk that lonesome valley, You gotta walk it by yourself, Nobody here can walk it for you, You gotta walk it by yourself. This is actually a Christian song, full of references to Biblical heroes. It's well-written. It's catchy. And it is 100% wrong. Jesus is our Great and Good Shepherd, and He promises every believer that he will “never leave you nor forsake you.” (Hebrews 13:5-6). He said, “I will be with you always.” (Matthew 28:20) You are never alone. You don't walk ANY valley by yourself – not even the darkest one. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.” Psalm 23:4 Notice it's the valley of the SHADOW of death. Not death itself. For Christians, there is no such thing as death. We go on. We transition. We are resurrected – but it's even better than that. We are placed into bodies and lives BETTER than any we EVER have in this present age. Jesus walked the valley of death so we wouldn't have to. Then he snatched the victory from death, rose again, and handed us back the keys of the kingdom. It's worth noting that up until this point in the 23rd Psalm. God is LEADING us… and then suddenly we WALK into the valley of the SHADOW of death. But even though walking into the FEAR of death may be our choice… or perhaps we even contributed to the DANGER TO OURSELVES by smoking, driving drunk, cheating in a marriage – or whatever… Jesus is not there to WHACK us with his Shepherd's staff and say “I TOLD you so!” But see how Jesus, our good shepherd, watches over and delivers us even though we walk—not by His leading—into the valley of the shadow of death. He is still with you in the valley. It's NOT a lonesome valley. You DON'T have to walk it by yourself. Somebody else DID walk it for you. His name is Jesus. Tip Of The Week Let's solve the Instagram Problem. Problem: you want to post to Instagram from your computer, but you can't. You have to do it from your phone. Problem: you want to schedule your Instagram posts ahead of time, but you can't… unless you use an app that runs on your phone all the time. Grum to the rescue. Scheduling your Instagram posts for a whole week is easy. Upload photos from your computer and they will be published in your Instagram account on the required day and at the right time For your convenience Grum lets you set up hashtags, emojis and there's a calendar for your posts. Post your content to as many accounts as you need at the same time. No need to log in and out of the Instagram app to switch accounts! Feature Segment: Promote Your Product Last time, in episode 239… 3 Converging Forces That Make “Idea Businesses” Possible Global Networks Instant Commerce Systems Digital Distribution These 3 converging forces make it possible to take your life's passion and turn that passion into a book, a product, or a business. We gave you a method for determining WHAT to package into a product. So if you need that, go back and listen to episode 239. Now, this is where people get STUCK. “How do I make a product?” “I don't have a video studio/camera/produce/face.” “I'm shy.” “I can't write, or I hate writing.” The “how” to make the product is NOT THE MAIN ISSUE. It's a detail. People get stuck, but it's easy to overcome. This is all a smokescreen for the REAL problem. The REAL problem is: we don't like to sell. GET OVER YOUR INNER CONFLICTS Your product is good. Business only works when both sides prosper. The way to sell without manipulation: the P.A.S.T.O,R, framework. P – Person, Problem, Pain A – Amplify, Aspiration S – Story, Struggle, Solution, System T – Transformation, Testimonials O – Objections, Offer R – Reverse the Risk, Raise the value, Request a Response We have a free video training series on this which you can access at this link. Next week we will dive deep into how you can Prosper With Purpose. What's the PURPOSE behind all this prospering? How can you prosper and feel positive about it? Listener Questions This week we bring back listener questions. We have questions from: Kevin Lageer asks how do you go about finding your passion when there's nothing you feel passionate about. Julie wants to know how to get this free book about LinkedIn marketing from John Nemo. Tyrone Barton from Alabama says he loves the show – and has some suggestions for us. Matt Champagne  takes issue with something Ray said a few episodes back. How To Help Subscribe to the show through iTunes and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will mention you on this show. We are also on Stitcher.com, so if you prefer Stitcher, please subscribe there. Get The Transcript Right-Click and “Save As” to Get the PDF Transcript. Final Thought My prayer for you is that you will see more and more that God is doing exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us. And that power is the Spirit of God Himself! Live life fully alive, refuse to suffer, go forth and prosper with purpose! Do you have any lingering questions about how to Package Your Passion, or how to Promote Your Product? Any questions you'd like to make SURE we include in out next episode, entitled ‘Prosper With Purpose'?

How do you take your life's passion – the thing that lights you up inside, that brings you joy, that makes you come alive – and turn that passion into a book, a product or a business? Can anyone do it? Should you? How do you do it? Click here to download or listen to this episode now. Tip of the Week:  How to Triple Your Productivity The trick is pretty simple: use three times as many monitors. I can keep a resource open on one monitor (research, notes, etc.) My working document on the center monitor. I can keep communication or utilities open on the third monitor. You can do this rather on the cheap (as I currently am). I use these three: my Macbook Pro 15″ Retina, and two run-of-the-mill 21″ LCD monitors. And once you decide this really works for you, you can upgrade with a specialized dock (which is what I'm doing next). I recommend you look at the Henge Dock. Why Henge Dock? Intelligent. Automated docking and full integration with Mac OS X together make the world’s most intelligent docking station. Powerful. Support for up to three external displays and 13 expansion ports, including Thunderbolt 2 – your Macbook has never been more powerful. Elegant. Metal architecture and an elegant design create a natural extension of your MacBook. Secure. Safeguard your MacBook automatically with password protected dock locking. Henge Dock for Macbook Pro is $ 449 USD Feature Segment: Package Your Passion 3 Converging Forces That Make This Possible Global Networks Instant Commerce Systems Digital Distribution These 3 converging forces make it possible to take your life's passion – the thing that lights you up inside, that brings you joy, that makes you come alive – and turn that passion into a book, a product or a business? What could you possibly package? What if you “don't have a passion”? Discover your passion with an “I Exam”: 1. Things you love to do. 2. Things you're good at (other people say so). 3. Things other people pay for that are on lists (1) and (2) A convergence here gives you a place to start. The “how” to make the product is NOT THE MAIN ISSUE. It's a detail. Park the thoughts of tech, and next week, we will explore how to “promote your products.” JP Sears “How to be a Life Coach” This is hilarious (coaches, please have a thick skin… have a laugh!) Watch the video by clicking here. You'll be taken to YouTube. Share the Love Subscribe to the show in iTunes and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will definitely mention you on this show. We are also on Stitcher.com, so if you prefer Stitcher, please subscribe there. Connect with Ray on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, or LinkedIn. Get The Transcript Click here to get the transcript now.

On today's show, we'll explore how to use the most powerful website you don't understand – LinkedIn! Our special guest is John Nemo. Since 2012, John Nemo has helped hundreds of Business Coaches, Consultants, Trainers, Small Business Owners, Sales and Business Development Executives use LinkedIn to generate more business for themselves. Today he will help you! Click here to download or listen to this episode now. Feature Segment: Grow Your Business With LinkedIn On this episode you'll hear: The crazy but amazing story of how, in 2012, John quit his day job and built an entirely new business from scratch using ONLY LinkedIn. Why LinkedIn is so much more than just a “job seeker” type platform, and why it can't seem to escape that outdated narrative. What you are missing out on by ignoring or underestimating this platform right now – especially if you're NOT looking for a job. Why LinkedIn is the single BEST place online right now to find more sales leads and customers (especially if you're a small business owner, coach, consultant, entrepreneur, trainer, or sales professional. The shocking truth: 99 percent of people are using LinkedIn the wrong way. How to stop doing that. The “One Sentence Your LinkedIn Profile MUST Have” … learn exactly what the sentence is, and how to start using it today. The process to use, if you're a small business owner, consultant, or coach, and want to generate some new business on LinkedIn. (John explains EXACTLY how to make that happen.) How to balance the “personal vs. professional” side of things on LinkedIn. Why it's important you have both, and in the right proportions. John is making a special, free training available just for listeners of The Ray Edwards Show, and you can get your free gifts by clicking here: LinkedInRiches.com/ray Check out Ray's “Nemo-fied” LinkedIn profile. Share the Love Subscribe to the show in iTunes and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will definitely mention you on this show. We are also on Stitcher.com, so if you prefer Stitcher, please subscribe there. Connect with Ray on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, or LinkedIn. Get The Transcript Click here to get the transcript now.

This is not just for online businesses, but how to grow ANY business… and it starts with obeying the 7 Immutable Laws of Business Growth. Listen to the episode for more detail. Click here to download or listen to this episode now. Spiritual Foundations “Without counsel, plans go awry, But in the multitude of counselors they are established.” (Proverbs 15:22) Tip of the Week Glympse app for the iPhone. Feature Segment: How To Grow Your Online Business 7 Immutable Laws of Business Growth You must create massive value You must create that value for a specific, identifiable group of people These people must have money and be willing to spend it You must effectively communicate your value so that they want it (THIS IS COPYWRITING) You must sell based on value, not on price You must test and track your results. You must seek to command the market Share the Love Subscribe to the show in iTunes and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will definitely mention you on this show. We are also on Stitcher.com, so if you prefer Stitcher, please subscribe there. Connect with Ray on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, or LinkedIn. Get The Transcript Click here to get the transcript now.

This is not just for online businesses, but how to run ANY business… and it starts with avoiding the “5 Failings That Will Kill Your Business.” Click here to download or listen to this episode now. Spiritual Foundations Business IS Spiritual “The people will curse him who withholds grain, but blessing will be on the head of him who sells it.” (Proverbs 11:26) Tip of the Week Good Notes app for the iPad Pro Handwrite on documents and PDF's. Lined Paper Option Specialized shapes and objects  Feature Segment: How To Start Run Online Business 5 Failings of Businesses Failing to measure and track your marketing. Failing to grow. Failing to protect your confidence. Failing to be the leader. Failing to invest and reinvest. Share the Love Subscribe to the show in iTunes and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will definitely mention you on this show. We are also on Stitcher.com, so if you prefer Stitcher, please subscribe there. Connect with Ray on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, or LinkedIn. Get The Transcript Click here to get the transcript now.

So how exactly do you start your online business… A business based on what you know. A business based on what you enjoy. …a Wisdom Enterprise! Click here to download or listen to this episode now. Spiritual Foundations What Does It Mean To Walk In Your Integrity in Business “As for me I will walk in my integrity, redeem me and be merciful to me.” (Psalm 26:11, NLT) Discover what it means to YOU to walk in your own integrity and you will find redemption and mercy. Tip of the Week The Apple iPad Pro, with the smart keyboard cover and pencil! The iPad finally feels like a note taking platform. The pro used with the pencil, you can take notes, draw diagrams, etc. Keyboard Cover is quite good! You can do just about anything that a computer can do with this addition to the iPad. Feature Segment: How To Start Your Online Business 10 Steps to Start Your Online Business Based on Wisdom & Experience Identify your unique wisdom premise. Know your perfect customer well. Craft your value proposition. Create an orientation process. Remove the friction. Form strategic partnerships. Be the client you want to have. Develop your unique wisdom talk. Leverage digital media to build an email list. Make an offer. Share the Love Subscribe to the show in iTunes and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will definitely mention you on this show. We are also on Stitcher.com, so if you prefer Stitcher, please subscribe there. Connect with Ray on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, or LinkedIn. Get The Transcript Click here to get the transcript now.

At a recent meeting of my mastermind group, I was asked an interesting question… “What exactly to you do, Ray?” It’s a great question that deserves more than just a one sentence answer, so I’ve decided to do something a little different for the next few episodes of The Ray Edwards Show. I’m going to do a deep dive on precisely how I help you start, run, and grow your online business. Don’t worry, all your favorite segments like Spiritual Foundations and Tip of the Week will still be there for your listening pleasure. In fact, this week in these segments I ask some compelling questions of my own, like: If you have a real relationship with someone, is it a one-day-a-week thing, or an everyday thing? Is it ever okay to sacrifice authenticity for comfort? And…what in the world did we do to turn my son Sean, who had a professed disdain for to-do lists, into a productivity junkie? Click here to download or listen to this episode now. Spiritual Foundations     Why I Don't Eliminate My Spirituality From My Business For me in the past, my spiritual life was a Sunday thing…I was covered with a 7-day eternal fire insurance. My relationship with God became a real daily relationship. The Bible says we are the Bride of Christ. When you are married to someone, when you love someone, you don't pretend they're not in the room. The fact is: It is our job to be WHO we ARE! Tip of the Week Todoist is a task management app that keeps you focused so you can get things done! It's clean. Distraction-free design It Simple and Easy. It's flexible. Not only can you log in from your computer, but there are apps for your mobile devices so you can stay on top of your tasks when you are on-the-go. Feature Segment: What Do You Do, Exactly? 7 Reasons Why You Should Start a Business You won't get fired from your own business. If your boss turns out to be a jerk or an idiot, you can make them change. Despite government meddling, owning a business is the best tax strategy going. Every day you get to start over. You literally write your own paycheck. You help other while helping yourself. Only entrepreneurs will save the world. 7 Reasons Why You Should Start a Wisdom Enterprise Accelerates your own personal growth. Multiplies your personal income quicker than anything else. Enables your to surround yourself with extraordinary people. Delivers a value to people in the best way possible Attracts influential people with unique opportunities for you. Promotes the mastery of your life skills. Provides the best way to express your gifts and talents. Share the Love Subscribe to the show in iTunes and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will definitely mention you on this show. We are also on Stitcher.com, so if you prefer Stitcher, please subscribe there. Connect with Ray on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, or LinkedIn. Get The Transcript Click here to get the transcript now. 

Note: This episode is the second half of my conversation with Cliff Ravenscraft, aka The Podcast Answer Man. You can listen to Part One by clicking here. Cliff Ravenscraft is the king of helping people start their own podcast. He's helped thousands of people do it. But wait – there's more… This is fascinating conversation ended up being so far-ranging, we had to make it two episodes. We'll discover… Why typecasting is not necessarily a bad thing. How the musical Hamilton changed Cliff's life – and so many others. The nature of ambition, service, and selfishness. And so much more! Click here to download or listen to this episode now. Links Wow – what a lot of links we mentioned. I think I got most of them. Cliff Ravenscraft Hamilton Leonard Nimoy I Am Not Spock, by Leonard Nimoy I Am Spock, by Leonard Nimoy The 5 Love Languages, by Gary Chapman Grace Revolution, by Joseph Prince Les Miserables Cliff's show on What I Want My Life to Look Like in 20 Years Cliff”s show on Getting Past Episode 007 A podcast called I Can't Stop  Spending Wayne Jacobson, The God Journey Podcast Share the Love Subscribe to the show in iTunes and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will definitely mention you on this show. We are also on Stitcher.com, so if you prefer Stitcher, please subscribe there. Connect with Ray on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, or LinkedIn. Get The Transcript Click here to get the transcript now. Transcripts provided by Rev.com – a great solution if you need your podcast, sermon, speech, or other audio transcribed.

Cliff Ravenscraft is the king of helping people start their own podcast. He's helped thousands of people do it. But wait – there's more… This is fascinating conversation ended up being so far-ranging, we had to make it two episodes. We'll discover… Why typecasting is not necessarily a bad thing. How the musical Hamilton changed Cliff's life – and so many others. The nature of ambition, service, and selfishness. And so much more! Click here to download or listen to this episode now. Links Wow – what a lot of links we mentioned. I think I got most of them. Cliff Ravenscraft Hamilton Leonard Nimoy I Am Not Spock, by Leonard Nimoy I Am Spock, by Leonard Nimoy The 5 Love Languages, by Gary Chapman Grace Revolution, by Joseph Prince Les Miserables Cliff's show on What I Want My Life to Look Like in 20 Years Cliff”s show on Getting Past Episode 007 A podcast called I Can't Stop  Spending Share the Love Subscribe to the show in iTunes and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will definitely mention you on this show. We are also on Stitcher.com, so if you prefer Stitcher, please subscribe there. Connect with Ray on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, or LinkedIn. Get The Transcript Click here to get the transcript now. Transcripts provided by SuccessTranscripts – a great solution if you need your podcast, sermon, speech, or other audio transcribed.

Andy Mason is a remarkable man, doing remarkable work: helping small business owners and world-class CEO's bring the supernatural realm into the world of business. In this interview, you'll find out… How a real-life shepherd had an “Abraham moment” – and took his family around the globe as a result. Why God is interested in your business success. The difference between the “prosperity gospel” and  the “poverty gospel”. How you can get God's help in your business. And so much more! Click here to download or listen to this episode now. Links If you found this podcast even mildly interesting, I strongly encourage you to join the Heaven in Business community. This is a really different approach to integrating your faith and work. Click here to check it out. Dream Culture Andy's book, God With You at Work Bethel School of Supernatural Ministry Heaven in Business Conference Heaven in Business Facebook page Heaven in Business Online Community Danny Silk, Loving on Purpose Share the Love Subscribe to the show in iTunes and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will definitely mention you on this show. We are also on Stitcher.com, so if you prefer Stitcher, please subscribe there. Connect with Ray on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, or LinkedIn. Get The Transcript Click here to get the transcript now. 

What if I told you it's possible to make money by just giving stuff away? Well, that's exactly what I'm telling you today. Plus… How to decide what kind of day to have. Send snail-mail from your iPhone. …and flair! Click here to download or listen to this episode now. Spiritual Foundations Decide What Kind of Day to Have “I will praise the Lord at all times. I will constantly speak his praises.” (Psalm 34:1, NLT) Our expectation determines our experience. We often leap to a conclusion about what things mean. For most people, the conclusion is often negative. We are all too prone to base our expectation of today on what happened yesterday, or the past few months, or the past few years. You may have had a rough day, week, month, or year. People in your life might be angry, negative, complainers, or even abusive. The fact is: it doesn't matter what happened in the past – that does not determine your future! You get to decide what kind of day you're going to have. Right now, you have the power to become the change you want to see in your life. Even if people are mean, bad things are happening all around you, and nothing may seem to be going your way. Expect the goodness of God to show up in your life, and expect Expect the goodness of God to show up in your life, and expect favor, blessings, and good success. Speak words of faith over your day, over your life and over your future. Get a bigger vision of your life, expect your path to be illuminated and clear, and make room for God to do something amazing for you. Pray This Way “Father, I praise You at all times. I choose to see your hand in my life, sending me grace, favor, and mercy. Thank you that you make all things work together for my good. Amen!” Tip of the Week PunkPost.co is a note-writing service that uses your phone to send real mail. It costs $6 per card, but that might be cheaper than you think. Pick a card. Add your message. Hit send. You just sent real mail without ever leaving your phone. Punk Post will hand-transcribe it and take it to the post office for you. And they'll even send you photos of it so you can breathe easy that it’s on its way. Handwritten for you with love. Real pen and ink, hand-letterpressed cards, calligraphy, stamps and scribbles. Their community of artists and writers are passionate about the craft behind every post. Real Handwriting. Your post will have the irreplaceable  charm of a writer’s penmanship. Unique Card Collections. Punk Post partners with talented artists to bring you stylish letterpress cards for any occasion. Confetti and Photos. Add fun extras to turn getting your  posts into a tiny house party. Super Easy Contacts. Stay up to date with your pals’  latest contact information. Get Birthday Reminders. Feel like da bomb by sending  birthday cards perfectly on time. Feature Segment: 7 Secrets of Selling Through Serving Or, How to Make Money Giving Stuff Away Think of marketing as something you do for people, not to people. Help your audience with a problem before you try to sell them something. Give value recklessly. Give value consistently. Give value strategically. Give value tactically. Sell people what they want (and give them what they need.) Share the Love Subscribe to the show in iTunes and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will definitely mention you on this show. We are also on Stitcher.com, so if you prefer Stitcher, please subscribe there. Connect with Ray on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, or LinkedIn. Get The Transcript Click here to get the transcript now. 

We just returned from Social Media Marketing World 2016, and this episode is filled with our impressions, some takeaways, and tips. We get into what you can do to make any conference trip better, and how to get the most from your conference dollars. How to be happy, regardless of what happens. How to turn your phone into walkie-talkie. …and flair! Click here to download or listen to this episode now. Spiritual Foundations Don't Get Attached to Outcomes Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit”; whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away. Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that.” But now you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil. – James 4:13-16 Verse 17 says: “Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin.” I think this is saying: we should just be looking for ways to help. Make plans, but don't obsess over things going exactly your way every time. There may be more important opportunities at work than you can currently see. Tip of the Week With Voxer you can: Turn your phone into a walkie-talkie. Talk, send text and photos — send live or recorded voice, text messages and photos instantly—to one person or an entire group. Listen live or listen later — Listen ‘live’ while someone is speaking and respond immediately or listen later and reply when it’s convenient. Use any network, globally — Voxer works on any cellular or Wifi network around the world. Feature Segment: Top 10 Takeaways & Tips From Social Media Marketing World 2016 Conference Or, How to Get the Most From Your Next Conference Live video is hot. You are not Gary V. Traditional Media outlets (radio, TV, magazines) are now looking for people with Platforms. You should build one. Yes, Social Media does work “in your business”… whatever your business is. Arrive at conferences a day early, and leave a day late. Hydrate. Avoid alcohol, sugar, and heavy meals. Get plenty of sleep. Learn to take care of your voice, Learn to take care of your feet. Build in space for processing, pondering, and pacing. Don't be “super-networker guy”. Just care about people and make friends. Share the Love Subscribe to the show in iTunes and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will definitely mention you on this show. We are also on Stitcher.com, so if you prefer Stitcher, please subscribe there. Connect with Ray on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, or LinkedIn. Get The Transcript Click here to get the transcript now (COMING SOON). Transcripts provided by SuccessTranscripts – a great solution if you need your podcast, sermon, speech, or other audio transcribed.

This is a special edition of the Ray Edwards Show where I interview the founder of Meet Edgar, Laura Roeder.  I love her story and I think you will too! Laura Roeder is… The founder of MeetEdgar, a new social media automation tool designed to prevent updates from going to waste. Since 2009, she’s been teaching entrepreneurs how to harness the power of social media marketing and create their own fame at LKR Social Media. Laura was named one of the top 100 entrepreneurs under 35 in 2011, 2013 and 2014 and spoke at the White House about the value of entrepreneurship. Laura has spoken at numerous influential industry conferences including, BlogWorld, The South by Southwest Interactive Conference, Real Estate Connect, The Social Communications Summit and BlogHer, discussing online marketing, social media, and personal branding. Laura has been seen on Fox News, Forbes.com, CNET, The Los Angeles Times, Fast Company, Mashable, Yahoo Finance and many more influential publications and media channels. Click here to download or listen to this episode now. Links Mentioned In the Show Winetracker Meet Edgar Support Meet Edgar on Facebook How To Help Subscribe to the show in iTunes and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will definitely mention you on this show. We are also on Stitcher.com, so if you prefer Stitcher, please subscribe there. Connect with Ray on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, or LinkedIn. Get The Transcript Click here to get the transcript now (COMING SOON). Transcripts provided by SuccessTranscripts – a great solution if you need your podcast, sermon, speech, or other audio transcribed.

It's a wild-west version of the show, as Sean and Ray are operating on too little sleep and too much caffeine. The subject: why you must master copywriting, especially if you think you don't need to. Click here to download or listen to this episode now. Tip of the Week Would you like some in-depth video training on how to create copy that makes more sales? Would you like to learn how to write copy that sells like crazy, but doesn’t sound sleazy or pushy? And best of all, would you like to get access to these information-packed, professionally-produced, and incredibly helpful tutorials absolutely free? Today we’re releasing the second in a series of four videos that will give you the very best ideas, tactics, and even formulas that we encourage you to borrow and use in your own copy to make more money. Starting right now. Just go to WriteCopyThatSells.com, and put in your email address, to get access to the video series. All FOUR videos are ready and waiting for you.   Feature Segment: 7 Reasons You Must Master Copywriting In which we explore why it's important for you to master copywriting – whether you thin you're selling anything or not. How To Help Subscribe to the show in iTunes and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will definitely mention you on this show. We are also on Stitcher.com, so if you prefer Stitcher, please subscribe there. Connect with Ray on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, or LinkedIn. Get The Transcript Click here to get the transcript now. 

Today's podcast is filled with action steps you can put to work in your business right away. These steps are designed to make more money. It should be no surprise to you but all seven steps involve your copywriting skills. But we're not going esoteric on you. This podcast is not about theory, it's about practice. You'll be able to put this stuff to work right now. Today. In this week's episode, you'll find… How to know it's time to give up trying to solve the problem you face, and try something crazy. Something supernatural. How to get access to our new copywriting training series, free. 7 keys to more effective copywriting-you'll be writing words that sell better, faster, and easier than ever before. …And there's more! Click here to download or listen to this episode now. Spiritual Foundations Stop Trying to Figure It Out “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding.” (Proverbs 3:5, NKJV) Have you ever faced a situation that seemed impossible? We all do at some point. Sometimes it just seems that a certain problem has no logical solution. It's in moments like these that we need to give up trying to figure it out. Sometimes it's best to remember that we have access to “the mind of Christ”. I did not make that up, the Apostle Paul says so in the New Testament. So if we have access to “the mind of Christ”, that means we have access to the vast storehouse of knowledge of God himself. And trust me, He knows the answer to your problem. How do we access this source of wisdom and power? We have to do the most counterintuitive thing: turn off the logic machine, stop researching our problem on Google, stop overanalyzing the problem, and stop looking for answers in the natural realm. It's time to tap into the supernatural. Stop leaning on our own understanding, and instead, choose to trust God.  None of the problems we face are a surprise to God, nor are they a challenge to Him. Your mind is a powerful thing. But sometimes, your mind will try to distract you, so you don't even notice that God is speaking to your heart all the time. Your mind, not your heart, is the source of fear, doubt, and terror. These emotions can block the signal God is broadcasting to your heart. That's why it says in the book of Proverbs we should trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding. And if you can simply “let it go”, stop thinking about the problem and the solutions so much, and just listen for what God has to say, you will find faith rising up. You'll start to feel hope, even in impossible situations. So today, no matter how dark things may look to you now, choose to lean on God. Trust that He has a good future in store for you. Trust that He has poured out grace and favor on your life. Trust Him, because in the final analysis, He's the only one you can totally trust, every time. Join me in a prayer like this: “Daddy, I'm making the choice to lean on you. Not on my own understanding. I know that you are working all things out for my good. So I won't put my confidence in the evidence that I see, but I will trust in your Word, and I will trust in You. I receive Your peace, in Jesus's name. Amen.” Tip of the Week Would you like some in-depth video training on how to create copy that makes more sales? Would you like to learn how to write copy that sells like crazy, but doesn’t sound sleazy or pushy? And best of all, would you like to get access to these information-packed, professionally-produced, and incredibly helpful tutorials absolutely free? Today we’re releasing the second in a series of four videos that will give you the very best ideas, tactics, and even formulas that we encourage you to borrow and use in your own copy to make more money. Starting right now. Just go to WriteCopyThatSells.com, and put in your email address, to get access to the video series. Videos one and two are ready and waiting for you.   Feature Segment: 7 Keys to More Effective Copywriting These seven keys will give you the overall mindset for how to write persuasive copy. Begin with the end in mind Tune into the world's most popular radio station Ask if it passes the “so what?” test Write liberally Edit ruthlessly Read it to real people The only test that matters That is the “what to do” part of today's lesson. For the “how to do it” part, head on over to WriteCopyThatSells.com and get our free video training while it lasts. How To Help Subscribe to the show in iTunes and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will definitely mention you on this show. We are also on Stitcher.com, so if you prefer Stitcher, please subscribe there. Connect with Ray on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, or LinkedIn. Get The Transcript Click here to get the transcript now. Transcripts provided by SuccessTranscripts – a great solution if you need your podcast, sermon, speech, or other audio transcribed.

Copywriting is the single most valuable skill you can develop in business. It's the only skill you can use to create more sales, out of thin air, without spending more on ads or changing your product or delivery. And if you need cash quick, you're going to love today's episode. We're going to explore proven methods that can produce nearly instant income. Specifically, I will be spelling out three killer copy tactics that create cash. Reliably. Time after time. And the funny part is, you just experienced two of them already. Also in this week's episode… How it's possible that God is offering you incredible gifts-and you are refusing to take them! An incredible new copywriting tutorial video series, that is absolutely 100% free. How to get it. …and there's more! Click here to download or listen to this episode now. Spiritual Foundations Don't Block Your Blessing “…Whatever He says to you, do it.” (John 2:5, NKJV) If I offer you a gift, holding out to you with arms extended, but you keep your hands in your pockets… To whom does the gift still belong? I can't force you to take it. Yet, sometimes this is how we behave in life. There are gifts that are right in front of us, we have our hands firmly stuffed in our pockets, oblivious to what life is offering us. there are times when we are so focused on the only thing we can think about (such as needing more money) that we fail to see what God is offering to us in the here and now. Usually, it will lead us directly to what we need provision for. You might say, “I get that, but I do need money and I don't have my hands in my pockets. But God still hasn't supplied me with the money.” We'll keep in mind that the “hands in pockets” thing is a metaphor. There may be something else that God is asking you to do or suggesting to you that you are ignoring. As because you're so focused on the outcome, you're missing the process. You might say that you're working hard, but your timing faithfully, and the your “doing everything right”. And maybe you are. And I certainly don't want to get into a discussion about whether or not we earn God's favor (we don't). But one thing I know we do is sometimes block God's attempts to bless us. Is the equivalent of having your hands in your pockets when someone's trying to give you a gift. For instance, if you're holding bitterness and anger in your heart toward someone, or unforgiveness, that could block your blessing. Today, ask the Lord to help you search your own heart for anything that may be blocking or refusing his power. This is about trying to find something wrong with you, by the way. It's not about trying to “search out sin”. Most of us don't need to search sin out – we know exactly where to find it. This can be more subtle. If you're spending all your energy and emotional reserves on harboring unforgiveness toward someone, or you're operating from a victim mindset because you're so “wounded”, you're cutting off access to your own best self. You're limiting the resources you have access to, and you're doing it by choice. So you might try praying something like this today: “Daddy, every part of my life belongs to you. I know you have my best interest at heart. Show me anything I need to do, anything I need to change, so that I'm open to receiving everything you want to give me. In Jesus name, Amen.” Tip of the Week Would you like some in-depth video training on how to create copy that makes more sales? Would you like to learn how to write copy that sells like crazy, but doesn't sound sleazy or pushy? And best of all, would you like to get access to these information-packed, professionally-produced, and incredibly helpful tutorials absolutely free? Today we're releasing the first in a series of four videos that will give you the very best ideas, tactics, and even formulas that we encourage you to borrow and use in your own copy to make more money. Starting right now. Just go to WriteCopyThatSells.com and put in your email address to get access to the video series. Video one is ready and waiting for you. Feature Segment: 3 Killer Copy Tactics That Create Cash Proven Methods Produce Instant Income I believe in building businesses for the long-term. Creating valuable products, with a view to the future, and having lifelong relationships with your customers. And then, sometimes, you just need to pay the rent this month. That's why in this episode I'm sharing some proven methods that can bring you income right now. Here are 3 “killer copy tactics that create cash”… Benefits. Write benefit-driven copy. notice how this episode was titled. The title serves as the episodes headline. Specificity.Tie the benefit to specific actions. In this case, I tied the benefit of instant income to the action of listening to this episode. Deadlines. Use deadline scarcity to prompt immediate action. Can it really be this simple? You bet it can. Share the Love Subscribe to the show in iTunes and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will definitely mention you on this show. We are also on Stitcher.com, so if you prefer Stitcher, please subscribe there. Connect with Ray on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, or LinkedIn. Get The Transcript Click here to get the transcript now. Transcripts provided by SuccessTranscripts – a great solution if you need your podcast, sermon, speech, or other audio transcribed.

Most people live lives of robotic repetition… they are just going through the motions, and about 90% of those motions are the same ones  they went through yesterday. Most people follow routines and rituals they have never consciously thought through. But then we have one of “those” days. You know the kind. The perfect day. Everything just goes your way… on those days we feel 10 feet tall and bulletproof. Why can't every day be like that? Today's guest, Craig Ballantyne, thinks everyone can. In this week's episode, you'll find… The reason I believe something really good is about to happen to you An app that will help you unclutter your Mac Desktop. Craig Ballantyne will share his Perfect Day Formula! And there's more! Click here to download or listen to this episode now. Spiritual Foundations Favor Is Pursuing You! Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. (Psalm 23:6) I have a friend – let's call him Pete – who seems to have the Midas Touch. Everything he touches turens to gold. He publishes a book, it's a NYT Best Seller. He sells a product online, it makes millions. His family is the family everyone dreams of. But it's not King Midas' touch – it's the touch of the One True King, Jesus. In the Bible, there was another King, David, who was known as a man after God’s own heart. His outlook on life was instructive. In Psalm 23, he says, “Goodness and mercy are following me.” David expected favor. He expected goodness. One translation says, “God’s kindness chases me everywhere that I go.” King David’s attitude was “something good is going to happen to me. Favor is following me. Wherever I go, God’s blessings are pursuing me. ” It's no mystery why David overcame great obstacles, and saw his dreams come true. He was positive that goodness was chasing him down like the “hound of heaven.” And God's goodness is chasing YOU right now. That same Psalm says “I lack nothing.” So what's chasing you is not lack. It's not failure. It's not sickness. It's not depression or anxiety. God says you are a royal priest, a child of the king, and heir to the promises given to Abraham, a co-heir with Christ. God says all your debts have been paid. You're redeemed from every curse. Divine connections, restoration of what was lost, favor, grace, and blessings … all in hot pursuit of YOU, wherever you are! God’s goodness and mercy are chasing you – all the days of your life! Pray this prayer with me: Daddy thank you for the gift of righteousness and the abundance of grace. thanks for your goodness and mercy! Today I'll be looking for your goodness and mercy in my life. Amen! Tip of the Week Unclutter is a new handy place on your desktop for storing notes, files and pasteboard clips. Most of the time it hides at the top of your screen. To open it, you just move the pointer to the very top of the screen and scroll down. It's easy to drag items from other applications to the top of screen to store them in Unclutter. More features: Instant, configurable access even in full screen mode Full multi-display support File Storage, to keep your Desktop clean from temporary files Notes, to write down something quickly Clipboard manager, to track what you copy and paste, browse clipboard history Draggable cards that can stick on top of other windows Files and notes auto-sync across all your Macs via Dropbox. Retina display support. Light/Dark theme to match system appearance.   Feature Segment: Interview with Craig Ballantyne Wherein Ray interviews Craig Ballantyne about Craig's new book, The Perfect Day Formula: How to Own the Day and Control Your Life. In this action-packed interview you'll discover… How to overcome the feeling of “being stuck” or “getting nowhere”. How to have a real separation between work and family so you can be fully present with your family. Why having a self-created set of rules is actually a source of great personal freedom. The secret of winning your mornings. How to beat procrastination. The 10-3-2-1 goodnight formula to guarantee a good night's sleep, and waking up with energy, ready to take on the day. The Five Pillars of Success and how to put them to work in their own life. …and a lot more! How To Help Subscribe to the show in iTunes and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will definitely mention you on this show. We are also on Stitcher.com, so if you prefer Stitcher, please subscribe there. Connect with Ray on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, or LinkedIn. Get The Transcript Click here to get the transcript now. Transcripts provided by SuccessTranscripts – a great solution if you need your podcast, sermon, speech, or other audio transcribed.

You probably know it's good to care about your audience. But I think you should go far beyond that. You should A.D.O.R.E. them! In this week's episode, you'll find… Why you are about to experience more favor, abundance, and “happy accidents” than you have ever imagined. The charmingly simple audio recording app you're going to love. A success story interview with one of my Regency Mastermind Members, Dr. Michael Hudson. And the Five Phases of Adoration that bring more profits, more often! Click here to download or listen to this episode now. Spiritual Foundations  More Than You Imagined “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him.” (1 Corinthians 2:9) I was diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease a few years ago. I've been contending for a supernatural breakthrough (i.e., miraculous healing by God) all this time. Just last week, I went to the neurologist for my quarterly exam. I almost cancelled the appointment, because I've been feeling so much better. But I decided to go anyway. The doctor was soon shaking his head and grinning. “I am a tough judge,” he said. “But you are BETTER. You're still symptomatic, but you're WAY better than you were a year ago.” “Ray,” he said, “People don't GET better from this. And yet, here you are.” Then he said the thing that really got to me. “I'm so glad you didn't cancel. I needed this. All day I'm surrounded by people who have given up. You have really encouraged me.” We all get discouraged. We all need someone to lift us up. And I've got good news for you… Whatever you're dealing with, don't give up on God. He will never give up on you. Help is on the way. In Christ's Kingdom, people DO get better. Because God loves you, He longs to shower us with natural and supernatural blessings: healing, restoration, opportunities, favor, increase, and peace. God's dream for your life is better, bigger, and more than you can imagine. Maybe your dream is to be healed from an incurable disease. Maybe it's just to experience a day without pain. God's dream is that you live in vibrant, divine health. Maybe your dream is to stop living in desperate poverty, deep in debt. God's dream is your credit cards are paid off, your mortgage is paid off. God's dream is to increase your wealth so that you never worry about money again You might dream of existing without fear or depression. God's dream is for you to be overflowing with confidence and joy. Get ready for good things. God has more blessings for you than you ever imagined. Keep your heart open and your mind open and your eyes open… today could very well be the day you experience the abundant life Jesus promised! If you're a praying person, pray this with me… if you're not, think of it as an affirmation: Daddy, thank you that your hand is with me, and thank you for pouring out your blessing, grace, and favor on my life. I accept your abundance in every area of my life, in Jesus name. Amen! Tip of the Week Piezo makes it a snap to record audio on your Mac. In seconds, you'll be recording audio from any application or from audio inputs like microphones. Piezo requires almost no configuration, and it's a blast to use. Simple and inexpensive – that's a winning combination. As they put it on their website: “charmingly simple audio recording.” Guest Interview: Dr Michael Hudson Dr. Michael Hudson is a member of my Elite Regency Mastermind. He is also a teacher, speaker, writer, facilitator, coach, & ideapreneur. He helps people discover their vision, write their story, and speak their vision into existence using his proven VisionSpeaker System. Visit 52SpeakerSecrets.com to download your free copy of Michael’s ebook filled with practical insights you can use to increase your impact every time you speak. Feature Segment: Why You Must A.D.O.R.E. Your Tribe Want to make more profits, more often? Want to do it in a way you can feel great about? I call it the Five Phases of Adoration. Amazing Free Gift Deliver Value Offer Retention Engage (New Free Gift) These Five Phases of Adoration can be repeated over and over, with escalating profits. How To Help Subscribe to the show in iTunes and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will definitely mention you on this show. We are also on Stitcher.com, so if you prefer Stitcher, please subscribe there. Connect with Ray on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, or LinkedIn. Get The Transcript Click here to get the transcript now. Transcripts provided by SuccessTranscripts – a great solution if you need your podcast, sermon, speech, or other audio transcribed.

It's another first for the Ray Edwards Show. Imagine sitting in on one of our private team meetings in which we discuss a product launch. Recently, we held just such a meeting and we recorded it. We invite you to listen in, as we recap what happened in the product launch we conducted in October. In the episode, we  go over exactly what we did during the launch, how things went, what went well, what did not go well, and some ideas for improvement in the future. Listen to the episode now to hear: The good, the bad, and the ugly of a real-life product launch – complete with the numbers. The insider secrets to recruiting “big” JV Partners for your launch from one of the industry's top JV Managers, Matt McWilliams. Strategic thinking “on your feet” during a product launch from our Director of Strategic Development, Sean Edwards. Copywriting insights from one of the very few copywriters I have ever hired to write copy for me, Marshall Bone. Plus we've created a fantastic downloadable resource – and enhanced transcript – you definitely want to grab. It's free (as is the podcast!) Click here to download or listen to this episode now. Here's just a smattering of the sparkling gems we unearthed for you during this no-holds-barred team meeting… How to bring in the right partners to promote your product. This is the fastest way to bring in sales that would otherwise elude you. The three things that will ensure a smooth and successful launch. Skip these and you better have a large supply of aspirin nearby, ‘cause the headaches are a comin’. The truth about the importance of copy in your launch. You may have the greatest product in the world, but if you can’t communicate your message effectively your launch is over before it starts.   The single most effective way to turn total strangers into a tight-knit community of raving fans. This free bonus will also identify the people who are ready, willing, and able to go to the next level with you. What tools to never be without during your launch. These vital systems can make the difference between success and failure. The truth about recruiting affiliate partners. (Hint: It’s not always who you know.)   The single most effective way to lower your “dropout†rate, and cause your customers to get the most out of your product. This will greatly reduce the biggest cause of customers asking for refunds. What your affiliates won’t tell you that could cost you thousands. We show you how to head this disaster off at the pass, and keep those profits rolling. The fastest, safest way to develop a creative environment for your team. This is one of the most overlooked parts of a launch, and they key to its success.   The $7 solution that will eradicate your biggest launch nightmare. This one thing will save you untold amounts of time and money. Little known secrets that can eliminate failure completely…even when it feels like everything is falling apart at the seams. What never works when dealing with an upset customer. Unfortunately, this is what most marketers always do first. Why good intentions aren’t enough: We share our secret process that creates grateful customers who can’t wait to buy from us again. Plus – I’ll share the “3 P’s†that serve as the lever to move your business to the next level. You’ll never look at a launch the same way again. Little known secrets that compel your JV partners to keep their commitments…and get them to raise their hand to promote you again and again.   What never to do at 3am during your launch. I will never make this mistake again. What to do if you can’t afford to hire your own launch team. This simple hack will give you all the benefits of a team without the hassle of payroll. How interrupting someone’s dinner spiked our sales. Some calls are worth taking. How To Help Subscribe to the show in iTunes and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will definitely mention you on this show. We are also on Stitcher.com, so if you prefer Stitcher, please subscribe there. Connect with Ray on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, or LinkedIn. Get The Transcript Click here to get the transcript. Transcripts provided by SuccessTranscripts – a great solution if you need your podcast, sermon, speech, or other audio transcribed.

I'm so excited to offer you this special bonus episode of the Ray Edwards Show. Today you're in for a real treat, as you listen in on a conversation with Michael Hyatt. In this week's episode, Michael shares some practical lessons from his new book, Living Foward.  Whenever Michael and I talk, the conversation always takes some fun and unexpected turns, and this was no exception. Listen to the episode now to hear: The valuable lesson Mike and his wife Gail learned after surviving a terrifying riptide in Hawaii (and it's not the lesson most people take from this kind of experience.) Why telling your boss “no” can be the most important, career-enhancing thing to do (if you do it for these reasons, in this way.) The surprising but important difference between courage and confidence. The reason why Michael thinks it's perfectly acceptable for Christians to pursue the “life they want” – and it's based on this one question Jesus repeatedly asked people… before he healed them. (This is a fascinating insight, worth the entire interview.) Click here to download or listen to this episode now. How To Help Subscribe to the show in iTunes and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will definitely mention you on this show. We are also on Stitcher.com, so if you prefer Stitcher, please subscribe there. Connect with Ray on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, or LinkedIn. Get The Transcript Click here to get the transcript now. Transcripts provided by SuccessTranscripts – a great solution if you need your podcast, sermon, speech, or other audio transcribed.

Do things in your business and your life ever get so crazy that you  feel totally stressed out, overwhelmed, and  ready to run & hide until it's all over? Me neither. But if that did ever happen, here's what I would do… In this week's episode, you'll find… Two lessons I learned from pilot training that help me keep my life on course (and right side up!) The new word I made up, what  it means, and why it's important to you. How to get out of stress, and into peace & energy… by using “4-D Productivity .” And there's more! Click here to download or listen to this episode now. Spiritual Foundations Control Your Attitude & Your Altitude For a Smoother Flight Through Life Pilots know how to avoid a crash. Two keys are attitude and altitude … Altitude Is Life Altitude is how high above the terrain your are. The greater your altitude, the less likely you are to run into obstacles, and the more time you have to recover from storms, turbulence, or mechanical trouble. Attitude Determines Outcome “Orientation of the aircraft relative to Earth's horizon. It indicates pitch (fore and aft tilt) and bank (side to side tilt) and is a primary instrument for flight in instrument meteorological conditions.  Attitude indicators are also used on manned spacecraft, where they indicate the craft's yaw angle (nose left or right) as well as pitch and roll, relative to a fixed-space inertial reference frame.” Stay elevated … and keep a good stable attitude. In life, our attitude is revealed by what we say. “I believe the single most important decision I can make on a day-to-day basis is my attitude choice. It’s more important than my past. It’s more important than my education or my bankroll or my success or my failures. My attitude choice is more important than my fame or my pain or what others think or say about me or my position or my circumstances. Attitudes keep me going or cripple my progress. Attitude alone fuels my fire or assaults my hope.” — Strengthening Your Grip, Pastor Charles Swindoll There are 3 Keys to Remember About Attitude and Altitude First, the attitude reveals the true person. “But those things which proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and they defile a man.” Matthew 15:18 Second, the attitude predicts the future. “For as a person thinks in his heart, so is he.” (Proverbs 23:7, NKJV). Third, our attitude CONTROLS our altitude. And altitude is life. “Whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.” Philippians 4:8New King James Version (NKJV) Tip of the Week Feature Segment: Four Dimensional Productivity Anyone can achieve a state of maximum productivity and maximum peace & energy  by embodying the 4 D’s. For any project, task, or decision, there are only 4 options: Delete Delegate Defer Do How To Help Subscribe to the show in iTunes and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will definitely mention you on this show. We are also on Stitcher.com, so if you prefer Stitcher, please subscribe there. Connect with Ray on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, or LinkedIn. Get The Transcript Click here to get the transcript. Transcripts provided by SuccessTranscripts – a great solution if you need your podcast, sermon, speech, or other audio transcribed.

In this week's episode, Sean turns the tables on Ray. The interviewer is now the one being interviewed. Click here to download or listen to this episode now. Feature Segment: Sean Edwards Interviews Ray Edwards Sean gets to ask Ray the questions this week. Some of the questions Sean asks… What is copywriting, and why is it so important to entrepreneurs and small-business owners? In your book, How to Write Copy That Sells, you refer to the “magic building blocks” of sales copy. What are those blocks, and how do we use them? Recently, you introduced the term called “Distributed Sales Messaging”. What is that all about, and why is it important? Are there any types of businesses that this “copy-centric” approach will NOT work for? Do Internet “product launches” still work, or has that gravy train already passed us by? How To Help Subscribe to the show in iTunes and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will definitely mention you on this show. We are also on Stitcher.com, so if you prefer Stitcher, please subscribe there. Connect with Ray on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, or LinkedIn. Get The Transcript Click here to get the transcript now. Transcripts provided by SuccessTranscripts – a great solution if you need your podcast, sermon, speech, or other audio transcribed.

What if you could go from struggle to stratosphere? Fumbling to flying? What if you could multiply the sales and profits of any business? That's what this episode is all about. In this episode… How to multiply sales and profits of any business. Ray's # 1 productivity “secret” (even if you know this, chances are you are not using it!) God says you are something special! Click here to download or listen to this episode now. Spiritual Foundations Yes, you are something special! But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.” 1 Peter 2:9 Tip of the Week My number one productivity “secret” (even if you know this, chances are you are not using it!)   Feature Segment: How to Multiply Sales and Profits of Any Business Today, I'll share some thoughts on the one low-cost or no-cost change you can make to your marketing that can multiply sales and profits.   How To Help Subscribe to the show in iTunes and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will definitely mention you on this show. We are also on Stitcher.com, so if you prefer Stitcher, please subscribe there. Connect with Ray on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, or LinkedIn. Get The Transcript Click here to get the transcript now. Transcripts provided by SuccessTranscripts – a great solution if you need your podcast, sermon, speech, or other audio transcribed.

Many of us have one or more goals we just can't seem to crack. Maybe it's those stubborn “last 10 pounds” (or last 50 pounds) you just can't seem to lose. Perhaps it's the debt you never seem to pay off. Whatever the goal may be, if you'd like a system guaranteed to get those goals crossed off your list, this episode is for you. In this episode… How you can know for sure if God is “on your side”. The one conference you must attend this year, and your invitation to join us. And our featured segment, How to Always Hit Your Goals. Click here to download or listen to this episode now. Spiritual Foundations Rest Assured, God Is On Your Side “If God is for us, who can be against us?” – Romans 8:31 If God is for you, what opposition can stand in your way? We can all experience more of God's ever-present favor on our lives through these 4 practices. 4 Practices That Help You Receive God’s Help Memorize Romans 8:31, and personalize it: “Ray, if God is for you, who can be against you?” Ask: What is the hidden opportunity in this? Ask: How can I use this? Pray: God, what’s the next right thing for me to do? Tip of the Week Social Media Marketing World 2016. 3,000 pros in San Diego Top Pros: Guy Kawasaki, Jay Baer, Mike Stelzner, Amy Porterfield, Pat Flynn, Michael Hyatt, Dan Miller, Michael Port, Cliff Ravenscraft, Chris Brogan… and yours truly. Networking party onboard the USS Midway Lots of learning sessions, including a copywriting for social media workshop! Feature Segment: How to Write Copy That Sells Is it possible to always hit your goals? Yes it is, if you use my BAM! Goal-setting Framework. There is no failure, other than failing to learn something. Sometimes the most important thing we learn is we still have a lot to learn. BAM! Goal Targets B – aseline. Your “Baseline” goal target is what you can reasonably be expected to do, based on your past performance. You know you will always hit your baseline. A – mazing. Your “Amazing” goal target is one you are reasonably sure you can hit this level, but you're not sure you will. The Amazing Target requires hustle, commitment, and discipline. But it's possible, and you know it. M – iracle. The “Miracle” Target is just what the name implies. It's only possible through a miracle. It's amazing how many miracles happen in the wake of hustle. How to “BAMify” Your Traditional Goals Re-evaluate Re-calibrate Re-set with BAM! How To Help Subscribe to the show in iTunes and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will definitely mention you on this show. We are also on Stitcher.com, so if you prefer Stitcher, please subscribe there. Connect with Ray on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, or LinkedIn. Get The Transcript Click here to get the transcript now. Transcripts provided by SuccessTranscripts – a great solution if you need your podcast, sermon, speech, or other audio transcribed.

The Ray Edwards Show will continue to publish without fail every week. We have never missed a week. But… The “Faith Friday” and weekly “Deep Dive” episodes are coming to an end. It was an experiment, and all the date tells me we're making the right move by going back to one episode per week. Listen to this short episode to hear the whole story of why I've made this decision, and where we go from here… Click here to download or listen to this episode now. Help the Show Subscribe to the show in iTunes and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will definitely mention you on this show. We are also on Stitcher.com, so if you prefer Stitcher, please subscribe there. Connect with Ray on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, or LinkedIn. Get The Transcript Click here to get the transcript now. Transcripts provided by SuccessTranscripts – a great solution if you need your podcast, sermon, speech, or other audio transcribed.  

Success is not an accident. That's what Paul B Evans says. And he says if you want to be successful, you have to make it happen on purpose. Click here to download or listen to this episode now. Links Mentioned In the Show The Paul B Evans Website. The 1010 Life. Pat's blog and podcast, Smart Passive Income. Help the Show Subscribe to the show in iTunes and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will definitely mention you on this show. We are also on Stitcher.com, so if you prefer Stitcher, please subscribe there. Connect with Ray on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, or LinkedIn. Get The Transcript Click here to get the transcript now. Transcripts provided by SuccessTranscripts – a great solution if you need your podcast, sermon, speech, or other audio transcribed.  

Do you know what the most important skill in business is? Persuasive communication. And persuasive communication is at the heart of great Copywriting. Today, a reading from my forthcoming book, How to Write Copy That Sells. Click here to download or listen to this episode now. Spiritual Foundations How to lead like Jesus.  Now before the Feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that His hour had come that He should depart from this world to the Father, having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end. And supper being ended, the devil having already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray Him,  Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He had come from God and was going to God, rose from supper and laid aside His garments, took a towel and girded Himself. After that, He poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel with which He was girded.  Then He came to Simon Peter. And Peter said to Him, “Lord, are You washing my feet?” Jesus answered and said to him, “What I am doing you do not understand now, but you will know after this.” Peter said to Him, “You shall never wash my feet!” Jesus answered him, “If I do not wash you, you have no part with Me.” Simon Peter said to Him, “Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head!” Jesus said to him, “He who is bathed needs only to wash his feet, but is completely clean; and you are clean, but not all of you.” For He knew who would betray Him; therefore He said, “You are not all clean.” So when He had washed their feet, taken His garments, and sat down again, He said to them, “Do you know what I have done to you? You call Me Teacher and Lord, and you say well, for so I am.  If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you.  Most assuredly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master; nor is he who is sent greater than he who sent him. If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them. John 13:1-17 Tip of the Week Social Media Marketing World 2016. 3,000 pros in San Diego Top Pros: Guy Kawasaki, Jay Baer, Mike Stelzner, Amy Porterfield,Pat Flynn, Michael Hyatt, Dan Miller, Michael Port, Cliff Ravenscraft, Chris Brogan… and yours truly. Networking party onboard the USS Midway Lots of learning sessions, including a copywriting for social media workshop! Feature Segment: How to Write Copy That Sells A reading from my forthcoming book, How to Write Copy That Sells.. How To Help Subscribe to the show in iTunes and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will definitely mention you on this show. We are also on Stitcher.com, so if you prefer Stitcher, please subscribe there. Connect with Ray on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, or LinkedIn. Get The Transcript Click here to get the transcript now. Transcripts provided by SuccessTranscripts – a great solution if you need your podcast, sermon, speech, or other audio transcribed.

Many (if not most) modern Christians have a “pop-up Jesus”… we “pop him up” on Sunday morning, or maybe while we're listening to Christian radio. But when the chips are down (sickness, relationship trouble, financial problems), we often turn to more “practical” answers, like medical science, Dr. Phil, and good financial books. None of that is bad. But if we put our faith in those things, we're sunk. We need to pursue, and be preoccupied, with “the One Thing” for all Christians. If you are a Christian, there is only one thing you need. And we should be obsessed with that One Thing. Click here to download or listen to this episode now. Now it happened as they went that He entered a certain village; and a certain woman named Martha welcomed Him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who also sat at Jesus’ feet and heard His word. But Martha was distracted with much serving, and she approached Him and said, “Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Therefore tell her to help me.” And Jesus answered and said to her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her.” Luke 10:38-42 Whenever you find yourself worried about “many things”, remember the One Thing that is needful. Jesus. Help the Show Subscribe to the show in iTunes and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will definitely mention you on this show. We are also on Stitcher.com, so if you prefer Stitcher, please subscribe there. Connect with Ray on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, or LinkedIn. Get The Transcript Click here to get the transcript now. Transcripts provided by SuccessTranscripts – a great solution if you need your podcast, sermon, speech, or other audio transcribed.  

You have a great business idea — or so you think. But will it work? That's the subject of Pat Flynn's new book, Will It Fly?, and in this Deep Dive Conversation, we dig into how Pat validates business ideas. He breaks down the core of what's in his book. And he talks about why he does all that he does… Click here to download or listen to this episode now. Links Mentioned In the Show Order Pat's book by going to WillItFlyBook.com Pat's blog and podcast, Smart Passive Income. Help the Show Subscribe to the show in iTunes and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will definitely mention you on this show. We are also on Stitcher.com, so if you prefer Stitcher, please subscribe there. Connect with Ray on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, or LinkedIn. Get The Transcript Click here to get the transcript now. Transcripts provided by SuccessTranscripts – a great solution if you need your podcast, sermon, speech, or other audio transcribed.  

Can you be persuasive without being manipulative? Is there a difference between the two? And should you even care? In today's episode, we tackle these questions and more. Click here to download or listen to this episode now. Spiritual Foundations Positioning and Self-Promotion In the Kingdom “Let another praise you, and not your own mouth; someone else, and not your own lips.” – Proverbs 27:2 3 Revelations That Precede Elevated Positioning • Apart from Him, we can do nothing. ““I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.” John 15:5 • No agenda is more important than His will on earth, as it is in Heaven. “Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth. As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world.” John 17:17-18 • Becoming who God sees you as involves a process of being “transformed” by the renewing of your mind. “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” Romans 12:2 Tip of the Week Social Media Marketing World 2016. 3,000 pros in San Diego Top Pros: Guy Kawasaki, Jay Baer, Mike Stelzner, Amy Porterfield,Pat Flynn, Michael Hyatt, Dan Miller, Michael Port, Cliff Ravenscraft, Chris Brogan… and yours truly. Networking party onboard the USS Midway Lots of learning sessions, including a copywriting for social media workshop! Feature Segment: The Power of Persuasion Without Manipulation Educate. First you, and then your clients. Think. First for them, then with them. Help. Help them see the problem, and help them see the cost of not solving it. Investigate. With integrity, investigate if and how you can help them. Choice. Honestly present their choices (including “do nothing”.) Seal the deal. Or Send them on their way! How to Put E.T.H.I.C.S. to Work In Your Selling Process Keep the framework in front of you. Write out what parts of your selling processes are not “E.T.H.I.C.S.” driven. Put yourself in their shoes & change your approach. How To Help Subscribe to the show in iTunes and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will definitely mention you on this show. We are also on Stitcher.com, so if you prefer Stitcher, please subscribe there. Connect with Ray on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, or LinkedIn. Get The Transcript Click here to get the transcript now. Transcripts provided by SuccessTranscripts – a great solution if you need your podcast, sermon, speech, or other audio transcribed.

It's another Faith Friday, and today we're tackling the question: as a Christian, is it wrong to promote yourself? If it is, what does that say about marketing and advertising? These are questions that trouble thoughtful Christians. I believe that you can get more clarity about the difference between marketing and self-promotion by remembering 5 keys from the life of Joseph. Click here to download or listen to this episode now. Just because God reveals your destiny to you doesn't necessarily mean you need to share it with everyone. Promotion flows through God's Presence. Sometimes promotion lies on the other side of adversity. Promotion is always for the purpose of glorifying God. God will promote you only when it won't destroy you. Whenever you get confused about the difference between marketing and self-promotion, remember these 5 keys from the life of Joseph. Help the Show Subscribe to the show in iTunes and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will definitely mention you on this show. We are also on Stitcher.com, so if you prefer Stitcher, please subscribe there. Connect with Ray on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, or LinkedIn. Get The Transcript Click here to get the transcript now.  Transcripts provided by SuccessTranscripts – a great solution if you need your podcast, sermon, speech, or other audio transcribed.  

Depending on who you ask, it seems over 90% of people think they “have a book inside”. So why is it that less than 2% of people ever manage to get that book outside? Why is it so many never get that book published, let alone become a best-seller? My deep-dive Conversation this week is with Chandler Bolt, who has cranked out 5 (yes, five) best-selling books. He has a system for reproducing this result. Reliably. Like clockwork. Chandler reveals exactly what he does, and how he does it. You can do it, too! Click here to download or listen to this episode now. In This EPIC Conversation with Chandler Bolt… How Chandler went from college dropout to best-selling author in a matter of months. The tragedy that led to triumph. Why there's never been a better time to become an author. The very solid reasons you may want to forget about getting a “traditional” book deal, and self-publish instead. What kinds of books sell the most (it's probably not what you think). Why this method of writing and publishing will work for you even if you hate writing. … and a whole lot more! How to Get $11,000 Worth of Free Gifts Chandler's course, Self-Publishing School, opens for registration Friday (January 21, 2016). This course shows you a proven method for writing your book (even if you don't know what to write about), publishing it, and making it a best seller in 90 days. Chandler actually guarantees it. Now, if you sign up for his course, using my link (this link) when the doors open Friday…  And if you follow the steps… And when you write your book, and it becomes a bestseller… I will do the following for you: Give you access to my “Success Optimizer”, a one-year coaching program (Value $1,000) I will write a review of your book and publish it on my blog, which has over 63,000 readers. (Estimated Value $7,500 — if it were possible to buy this, which it's not). I'll even do a personal Book Marketing Consultation Session with you. (Value $2,500) Just make sure you get credit for purchasing Chandler's course through my link Friday, so you get these $11,000 worth of free bonus gifts from me. (If you click the link before Friday, just put your email address in the form on this page, and Chandler will send you an email the minute the doors open). Help the Show Subscribe to the show in iTunes and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will definitely mention you on this show. We are also on Stitcher.com, so if you prefer Stitcher, please subscribe there. Connect with Ray on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, or LinkedIn. Get The Transcript Click here to get the transcript now. Transcripts provided by SuccessTranscripts – a great solution if you need your podcast, sermon, speech, or other audio transcribed.  

Ever notice how you’re excited at the beginning of a new thing – like a project, a client, your business, or even your relationships? It’s like you’re on fire, but with time the passion often fades. How do you resurrect that passion when the fire seems like it’s gone out? The best way we’ve found to share your best photos and be inspired by others. How to become visionary! …and our featured segment… 7 Questions to Resurrect Your Passion… Click here to download or listen to this episode now. Spiritual Foundations You Must Have a Vision Before You Can See It “Where there is no vision, the people perish.”Proverbs 29:18 KJV Oswald Sanders' book, Spiritual Leadership: “Those who have most powerfully and permanently influenced their generation have been the “seers” – men who have seen more and farther than others… Vision includes foresight as well as insight.” “Eyes that look are common. Eyes that see are rare.” “Vision includes optimism and hope. The pessimist sees a difficulty in every opportunity. The optimist sees an opportunity in every difficulty.” “The man who sees the difficulties, so clearly that he does not discern the possibilities will be unable to impart inspiration to his followers.” “Vision imparts venturesomeness, the willingness to take fresh steps of faith when there is a seeming void beneath.” “A vision without a task makes a visionary. A task without a vision is drudgery. A vision with a task makes a missionary.” 3 Decisions That Release Vision Decide to seek both foresight and insight. Decide to be optimistic and hope-filled; to see an opportunity in every difficulty. Decide now to never have a vision without a task, and to never have a task without a vision. Tip of the Week 500 Pixels -The Home to Everyone’s Best Photos Feature Segment: 7 Questions to Resurrect Your Passion What was it like when it was new to me? What did I want to know when I knew nothing? What did I do when I was passionate about this? How did I think when I was passionate about this? How did I speak when I was passionate about this? What did I enjoy the most when I was passionate about this? What negatives never entered my mind when I was passionate about this? What to do with these questions: Journal these questions and their answers. Be present with the questions and answers. PRACTICE: Act “as if” How To Help Subscribe to the show in iTunes and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will definitely mention you on this show. We are also on Stitcher.com, so if you prefer Stitcher, please subscribe there. Connect with Ray on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, or LinkedIn. Get The Transcript Click here to get the transcript now. Transcripts provided by SuccessTranscripts – a great solution if you need your podcast, sermon, speech, or other audio transcribed.

Last week's Faith Friday episode, What's So Amazing About Grace? sure stirred up some commentary. And some questions. And some outright disagreement. A few of the questions raised by that episode: Is it true that I, Ray Edwards, do not pray for my sins to be forgiven? Did I really say that nothing Jesus said before His resurrection applies to Christians today? Do I think it's okay for Christians to live a life of sin because they are “under Grace”? Click here to download or listen to this episode now. Help the Show Subscribe to the show in iTunes and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will definitely mention you on this show. We are also on Stitcher.com, so if you prefer Stitcher, please subscribe there. Connect with Ray on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, or LinkedIn. Get The Transcript Click here to get the transcript now. Transcripts provided by SuccessTranscripts – a great solution if you need your podcast, sermon, speech, or other audio transcribed.  

It's another deep-dive conversation, this week with Joel Comm. Joel Comm is.. The guy still owns one of the first 18,00 websites on the entire internet. The author of the best-selling book on Twitter. The man who built a company and sold it to Yahoo! Click here to download or listen to this episode now. In This Conversation with Joel Comm… How Joel started online before there was a world wide web. The inside scoop on making a seven-figure deal with Yahoo. The story of Joel & Eric Holmlund creating the  world's first Internet Reality Show (The Next Internet Millionaire). How to stay on the cutting edge, just ahead of the hot trends… by playing with toys! … and a whole lot more! Links Mentioned Joel's Blog Next Internet Millionaire The Adsense Code Twitter Power  KaChing Help the Show Subscribe to the show in iTunes and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will definitely mention you on this show. We are also on Stitcher.com, so if you prefer Stitcher, please subscribe there. Connect with Ray on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, or LinkedIn. Get The Transcript Click here to get the transcript now. Transcripts provided by SuccessTranscripts – a great solution if you need your podcast, sermon, speech, or other audio transcribed.  

One of the biggest problems in our lives is that little thing called our tongue. The good news is this troublesome little powerhouse can also be one our biggest blessings, when used properly. In this episode… How to have peace in the midst of chaos, trouble, and problems How To Rule Over Your Day …and our featured segment… 7 Sentences To Change Your Life… Click here to download or listen to this episode now. Spiritual Foundations “Then He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, ‘Peace, be still!’ And the wind ceased and there was a great calm.” (Mark 4:39, NKJV)  “A storm is coming.” How do you respond to life's storms? Jesus was in a boat on open water when a massive storm arose… and then the most remarkable thing happened… Tip of the Week What kind of day you have is up to you. A good way to get a grip on this is to Journal. I use Day One and a template with questions. You might use the 5 Minute Journal, or John Lee Dumas’s Freedom Journal (highly recommended!) What to do: Get a journal. Take a look at TheFreedomJournal.com Feature Segment: 7 Sentences to Change Your Life You can determine the quality of your days, which do the same for weeks, months, years, decades, destiny by following theses 7 simple directives. You can make your own, but make sure it’s a DIRECTIVE, an action sentence that guides your actions… I will create as much value for as many people as possible. I will make good decisions faster, and never leave the scene of a decision without taking an action to move the decision forward. I will own my attitude, actions, and response to circumstances, no matter what they may be. I will choose joy. I will serve, praise, honor, and treat gently the people in my life. I will speak only what I want to see show up in my reality. I will spend less than I earn, pay myself first, and invest so that money works for me. How To Help Subscribe to the show in iTunes and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will definitely mention you on this show. We are also on Stitcher.com, so if you prefer Stitcher, please subscribe there. Connect with Ray on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, or LinkedIn. Get The Transcript Click here to get the transcript now. Transcripts provided by SuccessTranscripts – a great solution if you need your podcast, sermon, speech, or other audio transcribed.  

We continue our experiment for the new year – a “Faith Friday” Spiritual Foundations edition of the Ray Edwards Show. Please let me know if you like these and want them to continue. If they are serving you, I'll keep publishing them. Sometimes I am asked, “Ray, why are you so hung up on a basic teaching like ‘grace'? What's so amazing about Grace? Didn't you go to Sunday School?” In this episode I share: Why a revelation of the True Gospel of Grace is so important to you. The secret to living without fear of death. Why you can be sure the Lord is “with you”, no matter what. How to know you're not “out of fellowship” with God. The reason and nature of “schizophrenic Christianity” – and what we must do about it. The hidden factor that can rob you of your ability to receive God's goodness, blessings and favor in your life. What “your part” is in the relationship with God. Click here to download or listen to this episode now. How To Help Subscribe to the show in iTunes and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will definitely mention you on this show. We are also on Stitcher.com, so if you prefer Stitcher, please subscribe there. Connect with Ray on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, or LinkedIn. Get The Transcript Click here to get the transcript now. Transcripts provided by SuccessTranscripts – a great solution if you need your podcast, sermon, speech, or other audio transcribed.  

Another “deep dive” interview! This episode we chat with Chris Ducker the author of Virtual Freedom. How to Work with Virtual Staff to Buy More Time, Become More Productive, and Build Your Dream Business. Chris certainly “walks his talk”. Of his own “virtual freedom”, he says, “I now work an average of 6-hours a day, my workweek no longer includes Friday and I get to spend lots of time with my wife and three awesome children.” During this wide-ranging interview, you'll discover.. Why going with a smaller publishing company might be the best idea for your book. (04:00) How a near-death experience led to Chris's greatest business epiphany. (05:00) How and why Chris started blogging. (06:00) The all-important concept of the “Virtual CEO”, and what it means to you. (06:38) How Chris completely replaced himself so his business could run without him. (07:00) The secret advice Jay Baer gave Chris (that you can use)  that caused Chris's blog numbers to skyrocket. (09:15) Should everyone use Periscope? And what are the secrets of successful “scoping”? (11:00) The truth about “personal brand” vs. “company brand” – which is best?  (14:42) Why you should never worry about other people “stealing your ideas” online. (15:30) Chris and I share our respect for the warrior-philosopher, Bruce Lee. (27:00) The book by Bruce Lee (that's not about kung fu). (28:00) The little-known “origin story” of Youpreneur.com (29:00) How Chris managed to get a great domain name (Youpreneur.com) that was already taken. (33:00) Why Chris's podcast is one of my few essential listens. (37:00). Is it too late to build a “brand you” business? (38:00) The hilarious conversation Chris had with Lewis Howes. (42:00) Books Chris recommends some favorite books (44:00) An awesome moment during which “The Force Awakens” and we share Star Wars stories.  (45:00) Chris reveals the bizarre talent he possesses that you'll be shocked to learn about. (47:00). Click here to download or listen to this episode now. Links Mentioned Chris Ducker's Blog The Youpreneur Podcast Chris on Twitter Chris's book, Virtual Freedom Striking Thoughts, by Bruce Lee School of Greatness, by Lewis Howes The Automatic Customer, by John Warrillow   How To Help Subscribe to the show in iTunes and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will definitely mention you on this show. We are also on Stitcher.com, so if you prefer Stitcher, please subscribe there. Connect with Ray on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, or LinkedIn. Get The Transcript Click here to get the transcript now. Transcripts provided by SuccessTranscripts – a great solution if you need your podcast, sermon, speech, or other audio transcribed.  

It's a New Year… and it's time for a New You! In this episode… How to be richly blessed in the New Year. The most elegant “Task Manager” Ray has ever found, and one reason not to use it. … and of course – How to Achieve True Success. Click here to download or listen to this episode now. Spiritual Foundations “Therefore be imitators of God , as well-beloved children . And walk in love…” (Ephesians 5:1–2, AMP) How your DNA affects who you are – and how you can change your DNA. How to experience a more peaceful, less stressful life. And of course, how to be richly blessed in the New Year. Tip of the Week I have moved from Omnifocus to Nozbe and now to Todoist. Here’s what I like about Todoist… Todoist is elegant, and you can use it without reading the instructions. It’s everywhere, on all my devices. The price is right. It’s free to try, and the premium version is only $29 per year. You can customize it to your liking. Try Todoist now at todoist.com Feature Segment: New Year, New You This is the time of year when so many of us set goals and make resolutions. Here’s the problem… We start out strong, almost invariably fall off the wagon, and then quit. What's the solution? In this segment, for the first time publicly, I will show you my R7 approach to succeeding in the New Year. I know you can re-create, re-invent, and restart your life at any time. You can systematically achieve true success by following the R7 Approach. Listen to the episode to find out how. Note that this training is one small piece of the Success Optimizer training, which retails for $1,000. The good news is, you can get it free when you buy Michael Hyatt's “5 Days To Your Best Year Ever” course. To buy Michael's course, click here and register. Click here for a short video where I describe the $3,375 in free bonuses I will give you when you buy the course through me.   How To Help Subscribe to the show in iTunes and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will definitely mention you on this show. We are also on Stitcher.com, so if you prefer Stitcher, please subscribe there. Connect with Ray on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, or LinkedIn. Get The Transcript Click here to get the transcript now. Transcripts provided by SuccessTranscripts – a great solution if you need your podcast, sermon, speech, or other audio transcribed.  

This is a new experiment for the new year – a “Faith Friday” Spiritual Foundations edition of the Ray Edwards Show. In this episode: How your DNA affects who you are – and how you can change your DNA. How to experience a more peaceful, less stressful life. And of course, how to be richly blessed in the New Year. Click here to download or listen to this episode now. How To Help Subscribe to the show in iTunes and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will definitely mention you on this show. We are also on Stitcher.com, so if you prefer Stitcher, please subscribe there. Connect with Ray on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, or LinkedIn. Get The Transcript Click here to get the transcript now. Transcripts provided by SuccessTranscripts – a great solution if you need your podcast, sermon, speech, or other audio transcribed.  

Have you been promising yourself that you would start a business of your  own “someday”? Or have you started a business already, and everything seems to be going against you? In this episode: We discuss the virtues of “Christian Selfishness”. A foolproof method for not breaking your diet resolutions this year. And of course, those 5 pesky roadblocks to starting your own business. All this, plus our never-ending quest for Truth, Justice, and the American Way… Click here to download or listen to this episode now. Spiritual Foundations On Christian Selfishness “Looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.” Hebrews 12:12 We do things for God out of the profit motive. To be happy. “God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in him.” – John Piper “The glory of god is Man fully alive”. – St Iraneus Figure out what makes you truly happy and fully alive, and go after it in God’s name! Tip of the Week The #1 Way To Avoid Busting Your Diet In The New Year This is guaranteed to work, 100% of the time, and I guarantee less than 10% of our listeners will do it. Spend your eating on paper first. Make a list of everything you will eat in a month. Throw everything else out. In the trash. Right now. Today. Don’t replace it. Featured Segment Everything you believe about why you can’t start a business is a lie. Your biggest hurdle to getting started is… your thinking. You have a thinking problem. Anyone can start a business with a lot less stress and difficulty, by simply eliminating these 5 mental roadblocks in their thinking (I spell these out in the episode – listen to the podcast episode.) How To Help Subscribe to the show in iTunes and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will definitely mention you on this show. We are also on Stitcher.com, so if you prefer Stitcher, please subscribe there. Connect with Ray on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, or LinkedIn. Get The Transcript Click here to get the transcript now. Transcripts provided by SuccessTranscripts – a great solution if you need your podcast, sermon, speech, or other audio transcribed.  

This episode is another deep-dive Wednesday interview, this time with John Lee Dumas of Entrepreneur On Fire. In this episode: I catch John Lee by surprise, and then he opens up in a deeply heartfelt way. The amazing story of how John Lee struggled as a veteran returning home – and then triumphed like crazy. How to achieve your top goal in less than 100 days. How you can help build a school in Africa! All this, plus our never-ending quest for Truth, Justice, and the American Way… Click here to download or listen to this episode now. The Freedom Journal is a gorgeous, 300-page, leather-bound, gold embossed journal that will guide you in the accomplishment of your #1 S.M.A.R.T. goal: S – Specific M – Measurable A – Attainable R – Relevant T – Time-bound A unique, step-by-step process: With daily tasks, nightly recaps, 10-day sprints and quarterly reviews, The Freedom Journal WILL hold you accountable to accomplishing your #1 goal in 100-days. How To Help Subscribe to the show in iTunes and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will definitely mention you on this show. We are also on Stitcher.com, so if you prefer Stitcher, please subscribe there. Connect with Ray on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, or LinkedIn. Get The Transcript Click here to get the transcript now. Transcripts provided by SuccessTranscripts – a great solution if you need your podcast, sermon, speech, or other audio transcribed.  

According to the Statistic Brain Research Institute, only 8% of people who make New Year’s Resolutions actually stick with them. Why is it so hard to maintain the change? Why do most of us quit before we even  get started? In this episode: I get personal, and give you a peek into the goals I failed to hit this year… why I think I failed… and what I plan to do aobut it in 2016. The amazing power of the “9 Environments” to guide (and even control) your destiny. How to consciously re-engineer your “9 Environments” to support the behavior patterns and emotional states that lead to success. And…is Ray Edwards really recommending you get rid of your books? Yep. All this, plus our never-ending quest for Truth, Justice, and the American Way… Click here to download or listen to this episode now. Spiritual Foundations “Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven, and whose sins are covered; blessed is the man to whom the Lord shall not impute sin.” Romans 4:7–8 Some people think that if they were more “right” with God, then He would hear their prayers. For example, they sometimes believe that if they had not quarreled with their wives or had those bad thoughts about their boss earlier in the day, then God would answer their prayers. But I have good news: God is not like that. Tip of the Week: Hire Your Own Personal Chef… Cheap! What if you could eat healthy, real-food meals, prepared fresh for you by a gourmet chef… but for less than it costs to eat out at a cheap health-destroying restaurant? That's what we're experiencing with Pete's Paleo. Thank you Joe Polish for introducing me to Pete's! Featured Segment: Why You Find It Hard To Maintain The Change Anyone can increase their ability to maintain the change over time, by optimizing each of these 9 Environments. Physical Environment Mental Environment Spiritual Environment Emotional Environment Social Environment Financial Environment Work Environment Geographical Environment Transportation Environment How To Help Subscribe to the show in iTunes and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will definitely mention you on this show. We are also on Stitcher.com, so if you prefer Stitcher, please subscribe there. Connect with Ray on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, or LinkedIn. Get The Transcript Click here to get the transcript now. Transcripts provided by SuccessTranscripts – a great solution if you need your podcast, sermon, speech, or other audio transcribed.  

NOTE: As of last week, we have changed podcast release day to Mondays for the main podcast. We're now experimenting with a second show each week. These shows will be long-form interviews, which I am dubbing “remarkable conversations”. Feedback sought and appreciated. Businessman and Life Coach, Aaron T. Walker, has inspired many through his leadership, mentorship, and consistent pursuit of excellence. He enjoys helping others and believes experience is a great teacher. 35 years of entrepreneurship and marriage have given Aaron a wealth of experience. For 19 years and counting, Aaron has been coached personally by his friend, financial guru Dave Ramsey.  My guess is he's learned a thing or two from Dave! In this episode: How Aaron started his first business as a teenager with none of his own money. The difference between success and significance, and how to attain both. The chilling story of how Aaron contemplated shooting a man – and the life-changing insight he gained from that experience. The truth about building lots of wealth. The astonishing method for doubling your business in record time – without new equipment, without new marketing dollars, without new staff… even without selling of any kind! How Aaron gets world-class media opportunities and mentoring from powerful, famous people – it's so simple you can start doing this today, yourself. Why Aaron believes this is the best time in history to start a business, no matter how old or young you are. …and much more! Click here now to listen to the episode. Aaron's Website, View From the Top Give Aaron a shout-out on Twitter. The free assessment documents Aaron mentioned are on this page (top right box in the sidebar). How To Help Subscribe to the show in iTunes and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will definitely mention you on this show. We are also on Stitcher.com, so if you prefer Stitcher, please subscribe there. Connect with Ray on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, or LinkedIn. Get The Transcript Click here to get the transcript now (COMING SOON). Transcripts provided by SuccessTranscripts – a great solution if you need your podcast, sermon, speech, or other audio transcribed.  

NOTE: As of last week, we have changed podcast release day to Mondays for the main podcast. I know, know… that seems to imply there is an “other than main” podcast. Is that true? Yep. Details coming soon. Why do some people seem to succeed so easily, while others struggle merely to get by. Why is it some people seem to take a clear path to an exciting, vital destiny, while other lead lives of monotonous mediocrity? In this episode: Did you ever feel like the door to your destiny is just locked? Like you can’t get through no matter how hard your try? Maybe the answer isn’t to try harder. Maybe the answer is to get the keys to the door! The supernatural secret to more energy, less stress, and amazing powers of stunning accomplishment. And…is Ray Edwards really recommending you get rid of your books? Yep. All this, plus our never-ending quest for Truth, Justice, and the American Way… Click here to download or listen to this episode now. Spiritual Foundations If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus[a] from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you.” Romans 8:11 You can get out of a state of fatigue, discouragement, and depression… you don’t have these things, you create them. Your thoughts, and especially your words, always empower some form of spiritual activity. Want energy, joy, and enthusiasm? Don’t wait for these things to “happen to you”… you make them happen. They are within your spirit… all you have to do is release them. Speak out and create the  energy, joy, and enthusiasm… whatever  you need… to accomplish what God has made you to accomplish! Tip of the Week: Get Rid of Your Books Am I, Ray Edwards, recommending you get rid of your books? Me, the champion of reading? Yes! Here's what I suggest you do: listen to the episode. Featured Segment: 5 Crucial Keys That Unlock The Doors of Destiny Did you ever feel like the door to your destiny is just locked? Like you can’t get through no matter how hard your try. Maybe the answer isn’t to try harder. Maybe the answer is to get the keys to the door. Your destiny is predetermined… by you. Design it. Anyone can unlock the doors of destiny, by using these 5 Crucial keys. Key 1: Purpose What is the meaning of your life? What does “Interview With The Vampire” have to do with your life purpose? You must know the larger story you are part of. For me, it is “to glorify god by living life fully alive, taking my deepest enjoyment from Him”. Key 2: Mission How are you drawn to operate in the context of your purpose? Does your purpose change during the course of your life? How do you discover the role you play in the story? Key 3: Vision What does it mean to have a “vision”? What we can learn about vision from Walt Disney. You must know what your future “scenes” in that story look like. Key 4: Goals How will you know when you have arrived? Guys Without Goals: “I have never failed to hit a goal… because I’ve never set one.” For you to know when the mission is truly accomplished, you must define the specific objectives you want to meet. Key 5: Take The Required Actions Summary Key 1 – Know your Purpose (What is the meaning of your life?) Key 2- Know Your Mission (What is your current assignment that serves your Purpose?) Key 3 – Clarify your Vision ( what does success LOOK like?) Key 4 – Define Your Goals (what are the milestones along the way to mission accomplished?) Key 5 – Take The Required Actions How To Help Subscribe to the show in iTunes and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will definitely mention you on this show. We are also on Stitcher.com, so if you prefer Stitcher, please subscribe there. Connect with Ray on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, or LinkedIn. Get The Transcript Click here to get the transcript now. Transcripts provided by SuccessTranscripts – a great solution if you need your podcast, sermon, speech, or other audio transcribed.  

NOTE: As we prepare to begin a new year, I am making a few changes to the way I create and deliver content to you. The first such change: the main podcast will now be published on each Monday. – Ray Edwards If you market products or services of any type, your audience, your customer list, and your workplace is filled with them: Millenials. They are maligned, misrepresented, and misunderstood. Cutting through all this noise and disinformation about the rise of tomorrow's leaders can enhance your family, your relationships, and yes… your business. In this episode: This week we turn the tables and I interview Sean – who is my c0host for this show, our company's Director of Strategic Development, and – surprise! – a Millenial. How to receive wisdom from your adult children. The surprising element of life that is vital to Baby Boomers, but very low on the priority scale for Millenials… and why understanding  this is your key to connecting with them. Who are Millenials, and how are they different from other generations? Are Millennials really suffering from entitlement and narcissism? What you must know if you want your marketing messages to hit home with Millenials… and the mistakes you must absolutely avoid. Why (and how) Millenials will change the world for the better. Click here to download or listen to this episode now. Spiritual Foundations “A wise son makes a glad father.” – Proverbs 15:20 “He who walks with wise men will be wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm.” – Proverbs 13:20 Don't just teach your children, learn from them. Featured Segment: Marketing to Millenials Some fact about Millenials to set the context for our discussion: Millennials are the demographic cohort following Generation X. Most researchers and commentators use birth years ranging from the early 1980s to the early 2000s Authors William Strauss and Neil Howe believe that each generation has common characteristics that give it a specific character, with four basic generational archetypes, repeating in a cycle. In their theory, summarized in their book The Fourth Turning, Millennials will become more like the “civic-minded” G.I. Generation. Jean Twenge, the author of the 2006 book Generation Me, attributes Millennials with the traits of confidence and tolerance, but also identifies a sense of entitlement and narcissism based on personality surveys that showed increasing narcissism among Millennials compared to preceding generations when they were teens and in their twenties. The University of Michigan's “Monitoring the Future” study of high school seniors (conducted continually since 1975) and the American Freshman survey, conducted by UCLA's Higher Education Research Institute of new college students since 1966, showed an increase in the proportion of students who consider wealth a very important attribute, from 45% for Baby Boomers (surveyed between 1967 and 1985) to 70% for Gen Xers, and 75% for Millennials. But the percentage who said it was important to keep abreast of political affairs fell, from 50% for Baby Boomers to 39% for Gen Xers, and 35% for Millennials. The idea of “developing a meaningful philosophy of life” decreased the most across generations, from 73% for Boomers to 45% for Millennials. The willingness to be involved in an environmental cleanup program dropped from 33% for Baby Boomers to 21% for Millennials. In March 2014, the Pew Research Center issued a report about how “Millennials in adulthood” are “detached from institutions and networked with friends.” The report says Millennials are more upbeat than older adults about America's future, and 49% of Millennials say the country’s best years are ahead. Interestingly, they're the first generation in the modern era to have higher levels of student loan debt and unemployment. Most this data was obtained from this article at Wikipedia. Listen to the episode to hear Sean's startling take on Millenials, and how they will change the world. Seans website is SeanEdwards.com. Connect with Sean on his Facebook Page. Sean's New Book – Highly Recommended Reading American Resurrection: The Failure of the U.S. Constitution and the Rebirth of a Nation The Constitution has failed, and most people don’t even realize it. Over the past century, both Republicans and Democrats have forgotten its purpose… and our nation’s great destiny.  No one party is to blame. We have just forgotten the reason why our nation exists. Hidden behind misunderstood and empty party slogans, our country is caught in a confused struggle to do what is right. We have cannibalized our principles and forgotten who we are. This book is an attempt to reawaken the giant that changed the world. The ideas that the led to our nation’s founding still have the power to radically change history. We only need to remember them. Liberal or conservative, this book will challenge you to see the world in a new and powerful way. Sacred cows in both parties will be put to the test. And hopefully, our nation can begin the journey back to greatness. The United States still has a destiny to fulfill in the world, the only question is… will we do what is necessary to realize that future? Find out how by reading American Resurrection: The Failure of the U.S. Constitution and The Rebirth of A Nation. If you'd like to try two free chapters from the book first, just click here and enter your email address. Your free sample will be emailed to you. How To Help Subscribe to the show in iTunes and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will definitely mention you on this show. We are also on Stitcher.com, so if you prefer Stitcher, please subscribe there. Connect with Ray on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, or LinkedIn. Get The Transcript Click here to get the transcript now. Transcripts provided by SuccessTranscripts – a great solution if you need your podcast, sermon, speech, or other audio transcribed.  

Some people are waving a “stupid” flag, signaling the rest of us that they are… well… stupid. Here's how to know if you are waving “stupid flags” – and what they cost you in terms of money, repect, relationships, and opportunities. We don't leave you hanging – we'll give you some hints on …. how to stop. Spiritual Foundations How to Change Your Life, Overnight, No Matter What Tip Of the Week The Best Camera Money Can Buy Photographers mentioned: Austin Mann Dan Rubin 10 of the Best iPhone Photographers And if you're up for the 30 day challenge, post your daily iPhone (or whatever phone/camera you carry) on Instagram. Follow me on Instagram – and I can't wait to see your photos! Feature Segment: Are You Waving “Stupid Flags”? You can know if you are waving “stupid flags” that cost you money, relationships, and opportunities…. and you can learn to stop waving those flags. Here are 3 questions to ask yourself before you speak: Does what I’m saying or doing possibly sound like a complaint? STUPID FLAG! Complaining is stupid. But making a request is smart. Does what I’m saying or doing come at a cost to someone else? STUPID FLAG! Words and actions are as painful or deadly as a fist or a knife. Make sure your humor doesn’t cost someone else. “Like a madman who throws firebrands, arrows, and death is the man who deceives his neighbor and says, “I am only joking!” Proverbs 26:18-19 Does what I’m saying possibly display my ignorance? STUPID FLAG! Especially if you're about to express a heated opinion, stop and ask yourself, “How do I know this is true?” Remember that sometimes, even if you are certain you're right, speaking your opinion won't build anyone up, nor will it “impart grace to the hearer”. (Ephesians 4:29) 30 Day Challenge: “30 Days of No Stupid Flags” – all you need is a rubber band and commitment. Or, as Sean explained, a Sharpie and some nerves of steel. Are you joining either of this month's Challenges? Why or why not? How To Help Subscribe to the show in iTunes and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will definitely mention you on this show. We are also on Stitcher.com, so if you prefer Stitcher, please subscribe there. Connect with Ray on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, or LinkedIn. Get The Transcript Click here to get the transcript now. Transcripts provided by SuccessTranscripts – a great solution if you need your podcast, sermon, speech, or other audio transcribed.  

Maybe you've heard: giving thanks makes you feel happier and more fulfilled. There are at least 7 scientifically proven benefits to practicing the “attitude of gratitude”. And right now, as we enter the Thanksgiving Holiday season, the media is filled with heartwarming stories of all we should be thankful for. Today, I'm going to suggest you be thankful for the bad stuff. The challenges. The tragedies. The pain. In today's show, we'll discover: The shocking truth about suicide rates during the holidays. The 3 dangers of “counting your blessings”. The 7 scientifically proven benefits of  gratitude. The 5 unconventional times to practice thankfulness. How the attitude of gratitude makes you healthy, wealthy, and wise. Why you can be thankful for the trials, and not just through them. Plus, I'll share a tip for how to get your podcast ranked higher in iTunes, quick and easy. Spiritual Foundations Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.– James 1:2-8 All those things that seem to oppose our goals are actually the raw material for achieving them. – Dan Sullivan You can be thankful for trials, and truly count it all joy, not because God is teaching you a lesson, but because when approached with faith, trials always lead to victory. God doesn't cause everything, but He can use everything. Tip Of the Week How do you get your podcast ranked higher in iTunes? It comes down to 2 key factors, according to my buddy Cliff Ravenscraft: Recent new subscribers in iTunes, using the Apple Podcast App. Recent new downloads in iTunes, using the Apple Podcast App. It is my opinion that high star ratings and favorable reviews somehow factor into the equation as well. Feature Segment: 5 Unconventional Times To Practice Thankfulness (How The Attitude Of Gratitude Makes You Healthy, Wealthy, and Wise) This is is season for bloggers and podcasters to roll out their “Thanksgiving posts”. And I do believe we all have a lot to be thankful for. Of course, it's easy to be thankful when you live in a nice warm house, are privileged to indulge in gluttony, and watch multi-million dollar entertainment spectacles piped into your home virtually free of charge. Especially if you're healthy, and are in the top 10% of the world's wealthiest people. Before you argue that last point, let me assure you that if you live in any modern country, especially in the USA or Canada, you almost certainly are. Check for yourself. I'll wait. Just in case you didn't check, according to the Global Rich List website, if you make $14,000 per year in the USA, you're in the top 9.52% of the richest people in the world by income. So get grateful. The Shocking Truth About Suicide Rates During The Holidays Normally, this is where a blogger or podcaster would tell you about suicide rates surging up dramatically during the holidays. The convetinal wisdom is that we should exercise great discipline in being thankful during this time of year, because otherwise, we may, like so many, slip into depression. The problem with this is that it's simply wrong. Suicides do not go up during the holidays. They are, in fact, at their lowest rates of the year. But don't just take my word for it: The Health Central website says: There is a well known reduction in the suicide rate on major public holidays (including non-religious). Many studies in different Western countries have found the drop is even more pronounced during the Christmas to New Year's stretch.  Read the whole article here. The Wall Street Journal looked into this a few years ago, and their conlusion is that suicides dip in the winter, and peak in the spring. They back it up with solid reearch: Studies from around the world suggest the key factor is climate, rather than the calendar. In the U.S. from 1999 to 2004, the six highest months in terms of suicides per day were March through August, not in that order, with a peak in July, according to my analysis of numbers provided by the CDC. (The seasonal variation isn’t extreme; the daily averages range from 76.3 suicides in December to 87.6 in July.) Other northern hemisphere countries such as Switzerland and Lithuania exhibit the same trend as the U.S. Suicide rates rise in England and Wales on hotter days, according to a study this year. In Singapore, near the equator, there was little seasonal effect. In the southern hemisphere, suicide rates peak in December. Climate’s role isn’t totally understood; some researchers have linked suicide’s seasonality to the amount of sunshine. What do we conclude? One obvious possibility is that becuase people are practicing gratitude more intetionally during the holidays, they are less likely to kill themselves. So that's a big point in favor of “the attitude of gratitude”. However, don't skip this next part, because I want you to know… The 3 Surprising Dangers Of “Counting Your Blessings” Denial and gratitude are not the same thing. If you're swimming in the alligator tank, all the gratitude in the world is unlikely to keep you from being some lizard's dinner. Giving thanks only for the “good stuff” can bottle up poisonous thinking and emotions. It suppresses, refuses to deal with, and thereby strengthens, the power of unresolved pain. Your glib attiude and lack of empathy can hurt other people. You must be sensitive to what is happening with the people around you. Whoever blesses his neighbor with a loud voice, rising early in the morning, will be counted as cursing. Proverbs 27:14 A man’s spirit will endure sickness, but a crushed spirit who can bear? Proverbs 18:14 The 5 Unconventional Times To Practice Thankfulness When you a depressed. When you are lonely. When you are ill. When you lose someone you love. When tragedy strikes. How has “the attitude of gratitude” helped you deepen your faith… how has it make you healthier, wealthier, and wiser? How To Help Subscribe to the show in iTunes and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will definitely mention you on this show. We are also on Stitcher.com, so if you prefer Stitcher, please subscribe there. Connect with Ray on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, or LinkedIn. Get The Transcript Click here to get the transcript now. Transcripts provided by SuccessTranscripts – a great solution if you need your podcast, sermon, speech, or other audio transcribed.  

When it comes to productivity, there is no shortage of advice. The problem is it's often the same advice, repackaged with a bright new wrapper. Nothing new inside. And there's no problem with that. Often, we need to hear the same advice presented differently, at different periods in our life, before it “clicks” and we finally “get” it. But sometimes, we need something truly different, something that rises above the normal, and begins to look more like a revolution than an evolution. Today's “7 Shocking Productivity Hacks” may not seem new at first, but the extremes to which I will advise you to take these measures is, at least, something outlandishly more radical than what most would recommend. When you listen to today's show, you'll discover: How you can finally conquer your overflowing email inbox, once and for all, guaranteed. For free. The devastatingly effective method that ensures you never receive another unwanted phone call. A radical, but powerful method for getting rid of “dead weight” friends and acquaintances who are dragging you down… without making them feel judged, and without hurting their feelings. The almost magical technique to prevent writer's block, plus multiply your creativity, energy, and productivity by a factor of at least 7 … maybe 10. How to eliminate – totally and permanently – the #1 way other people waste your time. How to slash unwanted interruptions, meetings, and junk mail from your life, with one simple, bold “directive.” The single sentence (that you will come up with) that will erase any excuse you have for wasting a single minute of your time on someone else's priorties, for the rest of your life. How God can set you free from self-destructive habits, Plus, I'll share a resource that helps you improve your marketing. That's all comin' up on this week's show! Spiritual Foundations If you're breathing, you are tempted by various kinds of self-destrcutive behavior. It may be overeating, drinking, drugs, sex … or seemingly “lesser” sins like compulsive gaming TV watching, or even being “grumpy” all the time. God will set you free from these and any other self-destructive behavior, also known by the less popular term, “sin”. How do we know this? There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” -Romans 8:1 Don't get tripped up if your Bible says, “who do not walk accoirding to the flesh but according to the Spirit.” Some translations, such as the New King James, include that line but it isn't in the oldest, most reliable Greek manuscripts of the New Testament. (NOTE: Sean thought it might be a good idea for me to point out that not everyone agrees that those are the most reliable manuscripts…. I explain more about this in the show.) Now. Back to our topic – that verse. Notice the tense: “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” So don't get all filled with guilt when you are tempted to sin. Just don't engage in the self-destructive behavior. Having the thought is not a sin. Acting on it is. As it was explained once to me: “You can stop birds from landing in the tree, but you can stop them from building a nest.” The same power that raised Jesus from the dead is inside you now, and that means you have the power of Christ to resist the temptation. And lest you fall into a “shame spiral”, just remember that even when you do give in, when you fail, you are still “the righteousness of God” in Christ. And there is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. As you become more aware of how Jesus has cloaked you in His righeousness, and you see more of the Spirit living in you, you will not keep on sinning. You will not keep up the habits that destroy you. You have the power to “go and sin no more” – but only after you experience the reality of His Grace. Tip Of the Week Get your tickets early for Social Media Marketing World 2016. I'll be speaking there this time around, and right now you can save a lot of money on your ticket. April 17-19 San Diego, California Networking party on the USS Midway aircraft carrier. You’ll choose from 100+ expert-led sessions and workshops in multiple social media marketing tracks (you get access to all). Mari Smith, Guy Kawasaki, Chris Brogan, Mark Schaefer,Michael Stelzner, Jay Baer, Brian Solis, Amy Porterfield, Michael Hyatt, Cliff Ravenscraft, John Lee Dumas, Joel Comm, Pat Flynn, Chris Ducker, Dan Miller… and so many more! Great information, inspiration, and motivation … in a no-pitch zone! I want to “storm the gates” with our own little cohort. See you there? Feature Segment: 7 Shocking Productivity Hacks Delete your email account. (How you can finally conquer your overflowing email inbox, once and for all, guaranteed. For free.) Change your phone number. (The devastatingly effective method that ensures you never receive another unwanted phone call.) Move to a different city. (A radical, but powerful method for getting rid of “dead weight” friends and acquaintances who are dragging you down… without making them feel judged, and without hurting their feelings.) Don't share your email address, phone number, and mailing address. (To anyone. How to bring unwanted interruptions, meetings, and junk mail from your life, with one simple, bold “directive.”) Never return another phone call. (How to eliminate – totally and permanently – the #1 way other people waste your time.) Stop consuming content. (The almost magical technique to prevent writer's block, plus mutliply your creativity, energy, and productivity by a factor of at least 7… maybe 10.) Ask the “desert island” question. (The single sentence that you will come up with that will erase any excuse you have for wasting a single minute of your time on someone else's priorties, for the rest of your life.) Do you have some ‘shocking produdctivity hacks' of your own? How To Help Subscribe to the show in iTunes and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will definitely mention you on this show. We are also on Stitcher.com, so if you prefer Stitcher, please subscribe there. Connect with Ray on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, or LinkedIn. Get The Transcript Click here to get the transcript now. Transcripts provided by SuccessTranscripts – a great solution if you need your podcast, sermon, speech, or other audio transcribed.  

Would you like the closest thing to a “silver bullet” when it comes to marketing your business? Here it is: tell good stories. But you must tell them in a very specific way, or this tactic can backfire. Fear not! This week I'm having a conversation with Donald Miller, who knows how to tell a great marketing story. Don shares some of his very best techniques with us in this interview. You'll learn… How Don discovered the power of story to sell products. The single most important character in your marketing story. How to use story in your marketing to sell more of … virtually anything at all. And much, much more. The Storybrand Online Workshop Click here to find out more about the “no-travel-required” online version of Don's Storybrand workshop. How To Help Subscribe to the show in iTunes and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will definitely mention you on this show. We are also on Stitcher.com, so if you prefer Stitcher, please subscribe there. Connect with Ray on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, or LinkedIn.   Get The Transcript Click here to get the transcript now. Transcripts provided by SuccessTranscripts – a great solution if you need your podcast, sermon, speech, or other audio transcribed.  

Does you marketing make it past the trash can (or the delete key)? Probably not. Here's how to fix that. 5 Ways To Have Your Customers Want To Receive Your Marketing Why I Take Communion Every Day. Why we say stupid things… and how to stop! And much, much more. How To Help Subscribe to the show in iTunes and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will definitely mention you on this show. We are also on Stitcher.com, so if you prefer Stitcher, please subscribe there. Connect with Ray on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, or LinkedIn.   Get The Transcript Click here to get the transcript now. Transcripts provided by SuccessTranscripts – a great solution if you need your podcast, sermon, speech, or other audio transcribed.  

Is your business built like a diving board – with only one support underneath? Or is it built like the Parthenon, which has stood for thousands of years because of its strength? The 7 Pillars of Competitve Advantage for Your Business Why we should always be thankful, no matter what comes our way. How to get your business out of the red and into the black – fast! (for less than $20) And much, much more. Links From the Show Jeff Walker's book, Launch! How To Help Subscribe to the show in iTunes and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will definitely mention you on this show. We are also on Stitcher.com, so if you prefer Stitcher, please subscribe there. Connect with Ray on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, or LinkedIn.   Get The Transcript Click here to get the transcript now.  Transcripts provided by SuccessTranscripts – a great solution if you need your podcast, sermon, speech, or other audio transcribed.  

Today we interview Cliff Ravenscraft, the Podcast Answer Man. Cliff explains… How to know if podcasting is for you. Why most people don't succeed with podcasting, and how you can avoide their fate. The very good reasons why now is the perfect time to start a podcast. And much, much more. Links From the Show Cliff Ravenscraft, the Podcast Answer Man Dan Miller Michael Hyatt Pursuing a Balanced Life GSPN Cliff's Podcasting A to Z Course (NOTE: get $500 off by entering the promo code “RAYSENTME” when purchase) Cliff's free Podcasting Blueprint webinar this Friday, October 23, 2015. How to Get Promoted on the Show Subscribe to the show in iTunes and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will definitely mention you on this show. We are also on Stitcher.com, so if you prefer Stitcher, please subscribe there. If you don't already get the email newsletter, sign up for that and get the new free video: “3 Keys to Change the World and Make Your Business Grow.” Connect with Ray on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, or LinkedIn. How to Get Featured on the Show Send an email to support [@] rayedwards.com (take out the brackets and make it a real email address).. disguising our email address like this on the webpage helps us cut down on spam. Sorry for the hassle. Blame the spammers. In your email, tell us a little about how you “made the leap” to entrepreneurialism, what (if any) influence I (Ray) have had on your business, and any other propaganda you think will help your case. We can't say yes to every application, but I promise we do read and consider every application. Get The Transcript Click here to get the transcript now. Transcripts provided by SuccessTranscripts – a great solution if you need your podcast, sermon, speech, or other audio transcribed.  

Today’s show is another “special edition”, where we will dive deep into the mechanics of how to build a remarkable business. In this episode, you'll get… The “secret system” for explosive business growth. The difference between your “talents and skills” and your anointing, and why you should care. A simple way to find out your anointing, if you don't know already. The 5 essential components that must be part of your strategic plan. 7 reasons why you must master this system now – today. What your real job is… and it's bigger than you think. Links From the Show Your free copywriting mini-course and templates. How to Get Promoted on the Show Subscribe to the show in iTunes and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will definitely mention you on this show. We are also on Stitcher.com, so if you prefer Stitcher, please subscribe there. If you don't already get the email newsletter, sign up for that and get the new free video: “3 Keys to Change the World and Make Your Business Grow.” Connect with Ray on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, or LinkedIn. How to Get Featured on the Show Send an email to support [@] rayedwards.com (take out the brackets and make it a real email address).. disguising our email address like this on the webpage helps us cut down on spam. Sorry for the hassle. Blame the spammers. In your email, tell us a little about how you “made the leap” to entrepreneurialism, what (if any) influence I (Ray) have had on your business, and any other propaganda you think will help your case. We can't say yes to every application, but I promise we do read and consider every application. Get The Transcript Click here to get the transcript now. Transcripts provided by SuccessTranscripts – a great solution if you need your podcast, sermon, speech, or other audio transcribed.  

Yes, this is the second podcast this week – consider it a free bonus, included with your regular subscription. No extra charge. I am a professional copywriter, and I teach copywriting to entrepreneurs who want to increase their sales and profits fast. This week, I'm answering the top 10 questions I am most frequently asked about the art and science of copywriting. During this show you'll also discover… If God just “showers us with His favor”, does that mean we don't need to do any work at all? How to get a free online “mini-course” in writing copy that sells. What Ray would do with a million “extra” dollars. Links From the Show Your free copywriting mini-course and templates. The Apple website. How to Get Promoted on the Show Subscribe to the show in iTunes and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will definitely mention you on this show. We are also on Stitcher.com, so if you prefer Stitcher, please subscribe there. If you don't already get the email newsletter, sign up for that and get the new free video: “3 Keys to Change the World and Make Your Business Grow.” Connect with Ray on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, or LinkedIn. How to Get Featured on the Show Send an email to support [@] rayedwards.com (take out the brackets and make it a real email address).. disguising our email address like this on the webpage helps us cut down on spam. Sorry for the hassle. Blame the spammers. In your email, tell us a little about how you “made the leap” to entrepreneurialism, what (if any) influence I (Ray) have had on your business, and any other propaganda you think will help your case. We can't say yes to every application, but I promise we do read and consider every application. Get The Transcript Click here to get the transcript now. Transcripts provided by SuccessTranscripts – a great solution if you need your podcast, sermon, speech, or other audio transcribed.  

What if I told you the greatest persuasion secret known to humanity could be summed up in a single sentence? And that it is so dangerously powerful, we almost deleted this episode? It's true. During this show you'll also discover… Why does God bless us? What do we have to do? The healthiest way of eating known to humans. Another success story interview, this time with Bob Burg, the author of The Go Giver. Links From the Show About the benefits of a ketogenic diet: Keto Clarity Ketogenic Cookbook   Blair Warren's (apparently defunct) website The One-Sentence Persuasion Course Bob Burg's website The Go-Giver, Expanded Edition book How to Get Promoted on the Show Subscribe to the show in iTunes and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will definitely mention you on this show. We are also on Stitcher.com, so if you prefer Stitcher, please subscribe there. If you don't already get the email newsletter, sign up for that and get the new free video: “3 Keys to Change the World and Make Your Business Grow.” Connect with Ray on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, or LinkedIn. How to Get Featured on the Show Send an email to support [@] rayedwards.com (take out the brackets and make it a real email address).. disguising our email address like this on the webpage helps us cut down on spam. Sorry for the hassle. Blame the spammers. In your email, tell us a little about how you “made the leap” to entrepreneurialism, what (if any) influence I (Ray) have had on your business, and any other propaganda you think will help your case. We can't say yes to every application, but I promise we do read and consider every application. Get The Transcript Click here to get the transcript now. Transcripts provided by SuccessTranscripts – a great solution if you need your podcast, sermon, speech, or other audio transcribed.  

  There are 5 bedrock truths that all great copywriters know. After hearing this episode, you will know them too. During this show you'll also discover… How to build faith and always be receiving answers to prayer. The best deal on a second monitor – ever. An interview with New York Times best-selling author Michael Port. Links From the Show   DuetDisplay app Michael Port's website Steal the Show book by Michael Port Free Copywriting Training Free Copywriting Training How to Get Promoted on the Show Subscribe to the show in iTunes and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will definitely mention you on this show. We are also on Stitcher.com, so if you prefer Stitcher, please subscribe there. If you don't already get the email newsletter, sign up for that and get the new free video: “3 Keys to Change the World and Make Your Business Grow.” Connect with Ray on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, or LinkedIn. How to Get Featured on the Show Send an email to support [@] rayedwards.com (take out the brackets and make it a real email address).. disguising our email address like this on the webpage helps us cut down on spam. Sorry for the hassle. Blame the spammers. In your email, tell us a little about how you “made the leap” to entrepreneurialism, what (if any) influence I (Ray) have had on your business, and any other propaganda you think will help your case. We can't say yes to every application, but I promise we do read and consider every application. Get The Transcript Click here to get the transcript now. Transcripts provided by SuccessTranscripts – a great solution if you need your podcast, sermon, speech, or other audio transcribed.  

I believe that for most businesses, the most valuable skill you can learn is writing copy. It can make the difference between profit or bankruptcy. During this show you'll also discover… The #1 barrier to hearing God's voice. An indispensable tool for evoking emotions in your writing. Success story from student and regency member Marshall Bone. Links From the Show The Emotion Thesaurus by Angela Ackerman and Becca Puglisi Marshall Bone's website How to Get Promoted on the Show Subscribe to the show in iTunes and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will definitely mention you on this show. We are also on Stitcher.com, so if you prefer Stitcher, please subscribe there. If you don't already get the email newsletter, sign up for that and get the new free video: “3 Keys to Change the World and Make Your Business Grow.” Connect with Ray on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, or LinkedIn. How to Get Featured on the Show Send an email to support [@] rayedwards.com (take out the brackets and make it a real email address).. disguising our email address like this on the webpage helps us cut down on spam. Sorry for the hassle. Blame the spammers. In your email, tell us a little about how you “made the leap” to entrepreneurialism, what (if any) influence I (Ray) have had on your business, and any other propaganda you think will help your case. We can't say yes to every application, but I promise we do read and consider every application. Get The Transcript Click here to get the transcript now. Transcripts provided by SuccessTranscripts – a great solution if you need your podcast, sermon, speech, or other audio transcribed.  

In this show, I'll share the daily practice that leads to prosperity – and is guaranteed to spare you a life of poverty, fear, and depression. We'll explore the  7 pillars of this practice – what they are, and how to practice them every day. During this show you'll also discover… A very inexpensive podcast gear setup (start a show for less than $100). Why you are hard-wired to seek happiness and joy.. Another success story interview, this time with student and Regency member Kirk Bowman, on how to increase the value you bring to your customers… and how to get paid more for it. Links From the Show The Dangerous Duty of Delight, by John Piper. Bossjock app. ATR2100 microphone. Auphonic app for better audio. CLiff Ravenscraft's Podcasting A to Z Class, final session at this price. Kirk Bowman's website, The Art of Value.   How to Get Promoted on the Show Subscribe to the show in iTunes and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will definitely mention you on this show. We are also on Stitcher.com, so if you prefer Stitcher, please subscribe there. If you don't already get the email newsletter, sign up for that and get the new free video: “3 Keys to Change the World and Make Your Business Grow.” Connect with Ray on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, or LinkedIn. How to Get Featured on the Show Send an email to support [@] rayedwards.com (take out the brackets and make it a real email address).. disguising our email address like this on the webpage helps us cut down on spam. Sorry for the hassle. Blame the spammers. In your email, tell us a little about how you “made the leap” to entrepreneurialism, what (if any) influence I (Ray) have had on your business, and any other propaganda you think will help your case. We can't say yes to every application, but I promise we do read and consider every application. Get The Transcript Click here to get the transcript now. Transcripts provided by SuccessTranscripts – a great solution if you need your podcast, sermon, speech, or other audio transcribed.  

If you ever feel like you get one area of your life working well, only to find a fire breaking out in some other part of your life… if you feel you are “doing okay” but still don't feel that sense of happiness, or success, or fulfillment you're after… this episodes is just for you! We'll explore the  4 Levels of Living That Bring Fulfillment and Success – what they are, and how to experience them every day. During this show you'll also discover… Soon… You could be INVINCIBLE! Where to find gifts that make people think you’re Tony Stark (or Bruce Wayne). A good reason to come to Spokane to shop or have coffee. Another success story interview with student and Regency member Brian Holmes, on how to break free from the unseen forces that hold you back from success and happiness. The Creed of the Unbeatable Man by Ray Edwards NOTE: The following is 100% supported by Scripture. All Scripture references are linked to the Scriptural source of that idea or statement. I'm providing these as a resource, not as an invitation to debate. -Ray When the world would beat me down, when the adversary comes against me, when the darkness seems overwhelming… when the mantle of mediocrity settles on my shoulders and seeks to weigh me down, when the grey and rainy skies won't relent… when the arrows pierce my armor, the bloodshed seems like a tide, and the odds seem overwhelmingly stacked against me [a] … in these times I will remember: There is One who is unbeatable, his name is Jesus, and I am a co-heir to his legacy. [b] Before the world was, he existed and in fact made the world for his purposes. [c] I know that in this world I will have trouble, but I take courage, because he has overcome the world. [d] He is never surprised, discouraged, alarmed, or afraid. [e] He sits at the right hand of his Father, God Almighty, and as Jesus is in heaven, so am I in this world. [f] In him I am free. [g] His Spirit, the same Spirit that raised him from the dead… that healed the sick, cleansed the lepers, caused demons to flee, and set right everything that has ever gone wrong or ever will… that same Spirit lives in me. [h] The Spirit of God leads me into all truth [i], sets me free [j], and reminds me that through Jesus I am 100% righteous and worthy to receive God's love.[k] I am a saint and not a sinner [l], I am the light of the world, the city on a hill, the salt of the earth [m]… redeemed, restored, renewed, raised to life [n] … victorious, powerful, rich, healed, saved, delivered [o]... growing in wisdom and favor with men and with God [p]… an heir to the promises of Abraham and his descendants [q]… a son and a friend of God…[r] Through the finished work of the cross, I am protected, favored, loved, and approved… weighed and found worthy. [s] I am beyond the reach of sickness, death, judgment, and condemnation. [t] I may have trouble, but trouble never has me. [u] I am unpunishable, unashamed, and unafraid. [v] I am unbeatable. [w] And so are you. [x] Links From the Show Atticus Coffee & Gifts, Spokane, WA Boo Radley's, Spokane, WA The Grommet The cool keyring Ray bought from The Grommet Huckberry (check out their “opt-in” strategy – opt in, or you don't get to see anything.) Brian Holmes's website for Strategic Living. The Strategic Living Podcast The Ties That Bind Online Course Shin Ohtake's Max Workouts (key to Ray losing 50 pounds so far this year!) John Lee Dumas's Entrepreneur on Fire Podcast Pat Flynn's Smart Passive Income Podcast Cliff Ravenscraft's Podcast Answer Man Podcast Heaven in Business Conference at Bethel Church in Redding, CA Perry Marshall's website Evolution 2.0 by Perry Marshall Dan Sullivan Seneca the Younger Zig Ziglar How to Get Promoted on the Show Subscribe to the show in iTunes and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will definitely mention you on this show. We are also on Stitcher.com, so if you prefer Stitcher, please subscribe there. If you don't already get the email newsletter, sign up for that and get the new free video: “3 Keys to Change the World and Make Your Business Grow.” Connect with Ray on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, or LinkedIn. How to Get Featured on the Show Send an email to support [@] rayedwards.com (take out the brackets and make it a real email address).. disguising our email address like this on the webpage helps us cut down on spam. Sorry for the hassle. Blame the spammers. In your email, tell us a little about how you “made the leap” to entrepreneurialism, what (if any) influence I (Ray) have had on your business, and any other propaganda you think will help your case. We can't say yes to every application, but I promise we do read and consider every application. Get The Transcript Click here to get the transcript now. Transcripts provided by SuccessTranscripts – a great solution if you need your podcast, sermon, speech, or other audio transcribed.  

“What do I do if I don't have a product to sell?” This is a very common question we hear, and today we'll answer it. In fact, it's possible to go from idea to income in less than a week. During this episode you'll also discover: Who Let The Dogs Out (hint… it was you!) How to raise a computer from the dead The 10 day challenge we're inviting you to try, that can change your life! Links From the Show Michael Hyatt's podcast on negativity. Caffeine app for Mac that keeps your computer awake. Mike Kim's Website Mike Kim's Pivot Course How to Get Promoted on the Show Subscribe to the show in iTunes and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will definitely mention you on this show. We are also on Stitcher.com, so if you prefer Stitcher, please subscribe there. If you don't already get the email newsletter, sign up for that and get the new free video: “3 Keys to Change the World and Make Your Business Grow.” Connect with Ray on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, or LinkedIn. How to Get Featured on the Show Send an email to support [@] rayedwards.com (take out the brackets and make it a real email address).. disguising our email address like this on the webpage helps us cut down on spam. Sorry for the hassle. Blame the spammers. In your email, tell us a little about how you “made the leap” to entrepreneurialism, what (if any) influence I (Ray) have had on your business, and any other propaganda you think will help your case. We can't say yes to every application, but I promise we do read and consider every application. Get The Transcript Click here to get the transcript now. Transcripts provided by SuccessTranscripts – a great solution if you need your podcast, sermon, speech, or other audio transcribed.  

There are 5 Murderous “Profit Poachers” that are on a merciless mission: to kill your business. The good news? Simply knowing about them can stop the cash-killers in their tracks. During this episode you'll discover: A simple app that increases the life of your Apple laptop battery. The lessons we can learn from Ananias and Sapphira… and why they had it right about money! “The 5 Profit Poachers That Murder Your Business” (And How to Stop Them In Their Tracks) The Paul B. Evans secret to preposterous productivity (without doing too much). How to get booked as a speaker, and make a better than decent living. Why you don't need a “speaker packet” or a “demo reel”… and might even be better off without one. How to get your work finished each day before 8am. How Paul creates content in minutes, not hours. The secrets of packing for a 7-day business trip -carrying everything in only a single backpack. How you can make an appearance on this show, and promote your business or website! Links From the Show The story of Ananias and Saphirra “What's Up With That?” bit from SNL The FruitJuice App Paul B Evans Website, Facebook, and his Million Dollar Keynote Training (only useful if you want to actually make big money from your speaking career… have more impact when you speak… or simply banish “stage fright” forever!) And finally, what the heck was Ray saying about “Li'l Sweet”? It's from a Diet Dr. Pepper ad (don't drink soda, it's bad for you… but the commercial is weirdly hilarious): How to Get Promoted on the Show Subscribe to the show in iTunes and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will definitely mention you on this show. We are also on Stitcher.com, so if you prefer Stitcher, please subscribe there. If you don't already get the email newsletter, sign up for that and get the new free video: “3 Keys to Change the World and Make Your Business Grow.” Connect with Ray on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, or LinkedIn. How to Get Featured on the Show Send an email to support [@] rayedwards.com (take out the brackets and make it a real email address).. disguising our email address like this on the webpage helps us cut down on spam. Sorry for the hassle. Blame the spammers. In your email, tell us a little about how you “made the leap” to entrepreneurialism, what (if any) influence I (Ray) have had on your business, and any other propaganda you think will help your case. We can't say yes to every application, but I promise we do read and consider every application. Get The Transcript Click here to get the transcript now. Transcripts provided by SuccessTranscripts – a great solution if you need your podcast, sermon, speech, or other audio transcribed.  

It can be hard to say “NO”.  Here are 3 powerful ways to say “NO” pleasantly. Find Out How To Say No Pleasantly. Did You Know God Forgives But He Also Forgets? Can We Ask A Big Favor? Subscribe to the show in iTunes and give us a rating and review. Go ahead and subscribe now, and give us your star rating and review on iTunes. We will definitely mention you on this show. We are also BACK on Stitcher.com, so if you prefer Stitcher, please subscribe there. If you don't already get the email newsletter, sign up for that and get the new free video: “3 Keys to Change the World and Make Your Business Grow.” Connect with me on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, or LinkedIn. Get The Transcript Click here to get the transcript now. Transcripts provided by SuccessTranscripts – a great solution if you need your podcast, sermon, speech, or other audio transcribed.  

Let's face it, we all make stupid mistakes. Learn to recover after making a “BIG MESS”. How To Recover From Stupid Mistakes. The Holy Spirit Wants To Guide You Into Victory   Can We Ask A Big Favor? Subscribe to the show in iTunes and give us a rating and review. Go ahead and subscribe now, and give us your star rating and review on iTunes. We will definitely mention you on this show. We are also BACK on Stitcher.com, so if you prefer Stitcher, please subscribe there. If you don't already get the email newsletter, sign up for that and get the new free video: “3 Keys to Change the World and Make Your Business Grow.” Connect with me on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, or LinkedIn. Get The Transcript Click here to get the transcript now. Transcripts provided by SuccessTranscripts – a great solution if you need your podcast, sermon, speech, or other audio transcribed.  

Do you have a morning routine? Learn 7 ways you can Supercharge yours now. Learn 7 Ways To Supercharge Your Morning. Make It Your Goal To Seek God's Wisdom Can We Ask A Big Favor? Subscribe to the show in iTunes and give us a rating and review. Go ahead and subscribe now, and give us your star rating and review on iTunes. We will definitely mention you on this show. We are also BACK on Stitcher.com, so if you prefer Stitcher, please subscribe there. If you don't already get the email newsletter, sign up for that and get the new free video: “3 Keys to Change the World and Make Your Business Grow.” Connect with me on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, or LinkedIn. Get The Transcript Click here to get the transcript now. Transcripts provided by SuccessTranscripts – a great solution if you need your podcast, sermon, speech, or other audio transcribed.  

Did you know that Discomfort Determines Destiny? Learn the 3 Ways now. How Discomfort Determines Destiny Be Patient With God's Promises and Do Not Lose Hope In Him Can We Ask A Big Favor? Subscribe to the show in iTunes and give us a rating and review. Go ahead and subscribe now, and give us your star rating and review on iTunes. We will definitely mention you on this show. We are also BACK on Stitcher.com, so if you prefer Stitcher, please subscribe there. If you don't already get the email newsletter, sign up for that and get the new free video: “3 Keys to Change the World and Make Your Business Grow.” Connect with me on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, or LinkedIn. Get The Transcript Click here to get the transcript now. Transcripts provided by SuccessTranscripts – a great solution if you need your podcast, sermon, speech, or other audio transcribed.  

Are you miserable a lot of the time? Chances are you in more in control of that feeling than you realize. Here's what to do about it. The Method To Stop Making Yourself Miserable Are You Stressing Out Over God Delivering His Promises Can We Ask A Big Favor? Subscribe to the show in iTunes and give us a rating and review. Go ahead and subscribe now, and give us your star rating and review on iTunes. We will definitely mention you on this show. We are also BACK on Stitcher.com, so if you prefer Stitcher, please subscribe there. If you don't already get the email newsletter, sign up for that and get the new free video: “3 Keys to Change the World and Make Your Business Grow.” Connect with me on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, or LinkedIn. Get The Transcript Click here to get the transcript now. Transcripts provided by SuccessTranscripts – a great solution if you need your podcast, sermon, speech, or other audio transcribed.  

Do you ever have that feeling of being totally overwhelmed? Well, in today's podcast, we go into a system for getting out of overwhelm that anyone can apply immediately. The 5 Steps To Getting Out Of Overwhelm. Do You Have Enough Faith Can We Ask A Big Favor? Subscribe to the show in iTunes and give us a rating and review. Go ahead and subscribe now, and give us your star rating and review on iTunes. We will definitely mention you on this show. We are also BACK on Stitcher.com, so if you prefer Stitcher, please subscribe there. If you don't already get the email newsletter, sign up for that and get the new free video: “3 Keys to Change the World and Make Your Business Grow.” Connect with me on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, or LinkedIn. Get The Transcript Click here to get the transcript now. Transcripts provided by SuccessTranscripts – a great solution if you need your podcast, sermon, speech, or other audio transcribed.  

173What is a lie exactly? I have written elsewhere that “Lies… are simply falsehoods perpetrated upon us for the purpose of robbing us of something.” Yet we lie to ourselves every day. Why would we do that? And of what are we robbing ourselves? The 5 Destructive Lies You Tell Yourself The 5 Liberating Truths That Will Set You Free The Most-Quoted Bible Verse in Hell Resources Mentioned In This Episode Ray's previous post about lies. Francis Frangipane. The Lord of the Rings. The Bible.  Archive of Podcast Episodes Can We Ask A Big Favor? Subscribe to the show in iTunes and give us a rating and review. Go ahead and subscribe now, and give us your star rating and review on iTunes. We will definitely mention you on this show. We are also BACK on Stitcher.com, so if you prefer Stitcher, please subscribe there. If you don't already get the email newsletter, sign up for that and get the new free video: “3 Keys to Change the World and Make Your Business Grow.” Connect with me on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, or LinkedIn. Get The Transcript Click here to get the transcript. Transcripts provided by SuccessTranscripts – a great solution if you need your podcast, sermon, speech, or other audio transcribed.  

Today's episode is Part 2 of a two-part interview with best-selling author Frank Viola. I had great fun with this conversation, and if you are a writer (or want to be one), I think you'll learn a lot from it. I get to “grill” Frank about questions writers always want to know about other writers… Why do you write? How do  you write? Are you a “word count guy” or are you a “time at keyboard” guy? How do you get published? And we pick up where we left off… Frank was going off on a bit of a “rant”.. Resources Mentioned In This Episode Frank Viola's website. The “Christ Is All” podcast. The definitive guide to Frank Viola's books. Frank Viola's list of the Best 100 Christian Books. The Buzz Seminar Course. (I get paid a commission if you buy this – just sayin'.) Can I Ask A Big Favor? Subscribe to the show in iTunes and give us a rating and review. Go ahead and subscribe now, and give us your star rating and review on iTunes. We will definitely mention you on this show. We are also BACK on Stitcher.com, so if you prefer Stitcher, please subscribe there. If you don't already get the email newsletter, sign up for that and get the new free video: “3 Keys to Change the World and Make Your Business Grow.” Connect with me on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, or LinkedIn. Get The Transcript Click here to get the transcript. Transcripts provided by SuccessTranscripts – a great solution if you need your podcast, sermon, speech, or other audio transcribed.  

Today's episode is Part 1 of a two-part interview with best-selling author Frank Viola. Frank has long been one my favorite authors, and in this episode I get to “grill” him about questions writers always want to know about other writers… Why do you write? How do  you write? Are you a “word count guy” or are you a “time at keyboard” guy? How do you get published? And so much more… Resources Mentioned In This Episode Frank Viola's website. The “Christ Is All” podcast. The definitive guide to Frank Viola's books. Frank Viola's list of the Best 100 Christian Books. The Buzz Seminar Course. (I get paid a commission if you buy this – just sayin'.) Can I Ask A Big Favor? Subscribe to the show in iTunes and give us a rating and review. Go ahead and subscribe now, and give us your star rating and review on iTunes. We will definitely mention you on this show. We are also BACK on Stitcher.com, so if you prefer Stitcher, please subscribe there. If you don't already get the email newsletter, sign up for that and get the new free video: “3 Keys to Change the World and Make Your Business Grow.” Connect with me on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, or LinkedIn. Get The Transcript Click here to get the transcript. Transcripts provided by SuccessTranscripts – a great solution if you need your podcast, sermon, speech, or other audio transcribed.  

It often feels as though we're faced with the choice to either win or lose. What if you could always win?   Regardless of the outcome, whether you are winning or losing is mostly a matter of your own choice. In this show, I'll give you “The 828 Tool” for always winning. Other reasons to listen: How to have more peace. How to use your computer power supply to become more productive. Spiritual Foundations Don't Let Your Heart Be Troubled Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you… Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. John 14:27   Tip Of the Week How to use your computer power supply to become more productive. Feature Presentation: How to Always Win The challenge: more and more we feel as if we're losing. Higher standards Instant comparison More scores to keep More information Always on Never enough Impossible false standards It isn't about living the perfect life – it's about understanding the perfection of life. And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. – Romans 8:28 If that's too “churchy” for you, this wisdom is recognized by great  thinkers in different ways. “Every adversity, every failure, every heartache carries with it the seed of an equal or greater benefit.” – Napoleon Hill “One who gains strength by overcoming obstacles possesses the only strength which can overcome adversity.” – Albert Schweitzer “If you are pained by external things, it is not they that disturb you, but your own judgement of them. And it is in your power to wipe out that judgment now.” – Marcus Aurelius So how can you see the good in adversity? How can you transform the obstacle from being in the way to being the way? Use The 828 Tool.  Click here to download the tool now, for free. Use The 828 Tool and share your results. Can I Ask A Big Favor? Subscribe to the show in iTunes and give us a rating and review. Go ahead and subscribe now, and give us your star rating and review on iTunes. We will definitely mention you on this show. We are also BACK on Stitcher.com, so if you prefer Stitcher, please subscribe there. If you don't already get the email newsletter, sign up for that and get the new free video: “3 Keys to Change the World and Make Your Business Grow.” Connect with me on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, or LinkedIn. Get The Transcript Click here to get the transcript. Transcripts provided by SuccessTranscripts – a great solution if you need your podcast, sermon, speech, or other audio transcribed.  

Writers love apps. We can waste countless hours testing and researching them. Before apps, it was pens, paper, and especially notebooks. The truth is, the tools we use are not nearly as important as the act of writing. The only indispensable pen, notebook, or app is the one that you will use to do actual writing. In this show, I'll share my personal 7 indispensable writing apps. Other reasons to listen: How to know God's not angry with you. An app that changes your negative thinking into positive thinking. Spiritual Foundations God's Not Angry With You One of my ancestors, Jonathan Edwards, is famous for a sermon called “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God.” This is a mischaracterization of God that pervades the church. God is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow. If you don't understand the Bible through the lens of covenant and context, you can't understand it at all. God's unchanging attitude toward you is love and mercy. Remember you are a saint in the arms of a happy God! Tip Of the Week WinStreak is an app that is the brainchild of Dan Sullivan of Strategic Coach. According to Dan & the app's website: We live in a world where there’s a lot of negative information. WinStreak is a simple tool for making sure that, at the end of every day, you feel positive about your accomplishments and excited for the next day. At the end of each day, regardless of what happened, record what your biggest “wins” were. Then, plan what your biggest wins will be for tomorrow. This will keep you focused on your goals while recognizing and celebrating your achievements—or wins—along the way. It’s that easy. Even if you experience setbacks, disappointments, or obstacles during the day, you know you’ll always have wins from today and have a plan to accomplish more wins tomorrow. Tracking your progress in terms of wins will undoubtedly maximize your productivity and kick-start your motivation. The way you interpret your days is entirely up to you. Would you rather see your days as wins or as losses? It’s a phenomenal breakthrough to realize that you’re in control of the story of your life. The premise it’s based on is simple: Life is a game, and we can set it up every day so we’re always winning. Our experience is that making this kind of thinking a habit actually leads to people being more effective, fun to be around, and enjoyable to work with. The app is free, and you can get the full impact in less than five minutes per day. Grab the app and get on a Winstreak! Feature Presentation: 7 Indispensable Apps For Writers Scrivener. Scrivener is a powerful content-generation tool for writers that allows you to concentrate on composing and structuring long and difficult documents. TextExpander. Type more with less effort! TextExpander saves your fingers and your keyboard, expanding custom keyboard shortcuts into frequently-used text and pictures. Drafts. Drafts is a different kind of note taking app. In Drafts, text comes first – open the app and get a new, blank draft. Get your text down quickly, then act on it with powerful actions. Evernote. For everything you do, Evernote is the workspace to get it done. Byword. Simple and efficient text editing for Mac, iPhone and iPad. Microsoft Word. Bloated, buggy, and necessary. Pages. Pages for Mac is a powerful word processor that gives you everything you need to create documents that look beautiful. What writing apps do you find indispensable? Can I Ask A Big Favor? Subscribe to the show in iTunes and give us a rating and review. Go ahead and subscribe now, and give us your star rating and review on iTunes. We will definitely mention you on this show. We are also BACK on Stitcher.com, so if you prefer Stitcher, please subscribe there. If you don't already get the email newsletter, sign up for that and get the new free video: “3 Keys to Change the World and Make Your Business Grow.” Connect with me on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, or LinkedIn. Get The Transcript Click here to get the transcript. Transcripts provided by SuccessTranscripts – a great solution if you need your podcast, sermon, speech, or other audio transcribed.  

“So, what do you do every day? What's typical  day like in your life?” I am asked this question, or something similar, often enough that I thought it might be worth answering in a podcast episode. This show is entitled, “A Day in the Life of Ray”. Other reasons to listen: How to see more good days than bad, from now on. A service that allows you to easily build beautiful process documentation for your business and your team. An encore presentation of the Masterclass, “How To Write A Sales Page That Rakes In $10 Million”. How to get promoted on this show to my audience.     Spiritual Foundations No More Bad Days Recently I've seen two friends go through a battle with cancer, and I saw first hand how we are in control of our response to what happens to us. Regardless of your circumstances, whether you have a good day or a bad day is really up to you Shakespeare wrote in Hamlet that, “there is nothing either good or bad, but thinking makes it so.” Proverbs 23:7 says, “For as he thinks within himself, so he is.” (NASB) There are 3 keys to stepping into a life with no more bad days. Key #1: Set Up a Rule You Can Always Meet In Order to Have a Good Day. Tony Robbins tells the story of two different gentlemen who attended one of his exclusive seminars in Fiji. One gentleman was a billionaire, a high achiever. The other was successful in many ways, but not someone with extraordinary income. Tony noticed that the billionaire seemed to be miserable, while the more average gentleman seemed to be extraordinarily happy. So Tony asked each man what was required in order for him to have a good day. The billionaire gave a long list of requirements that had to be met, including the amount of time he exercised, his target heart rate, his perfect diet, achieving certain financial milestones in his business, certain processes that had to happen correctly without fail, and a long list of things that must happen in order for him to have a good day. When Tony asked the gentleman who was a more moderate financial success about his rule for having a good day, the man replied with a big smile: “It's simple. Every day above ground is a good day.” You get to set up the rule for what makes a good day. Why not make it one you can meet? Key #2: Change the Way You Interpret What Happens to You. The lens we used to look at the world tends to control what we see. There is the story that is told about to traveling salesmen, each of whom had a conversation with the same farmer at the corner of his field near the road. The first asked him, “Hey! What kind of people live around here?” The farmer replied, “Well, what kind of people did you find in the last place you visited?” The salesman grimaced and said, “A bunch of dishonest, ornery, inhospitable scoundrels.” The farmer nodded, and said, “I expect you'll find the same sort of people around here.” The next day, a different traveling salesman encountered that same farmer at the corner of his field. This new salesman had a big smile on his face and said, “Hello! What a beautiful day, and what a beautiful farm you have! I wonder if I might ask you, what sort of people will I find around here?” Farmer grinned, and asked, “what sort of people did you find in the last place you visited?” “A lot of generous, happy, open hearted and welcoming people. That place was a real joy to visit!” The farmer smiled, and said, “I expect you'll find the same sort of people around here.” What we expect informs our interpretation of what we experience. The environment inside our heads controls the environment outside our heads. What we think about tends to be what we experience. Key #3: Have Biblical Hope. The word “hope” means something different in the Bible than what we typically mean by the word hope in our culture. In modern culture, “hope” is a wishy-washy, half in, half out milquetoast way of thinking. If we say we “hope” something will happen in a certain way, what we are really saying is, in effect, “I wish it would happen this way, but I know it probably won't.” On the other hand, typical hope can be defined as “the positive expectation of good things.” That's why our life of faith is referred to as “hope that does not disappoint”. And there are plenty of reasons to believe this hope of the Bible is for real. In the book of Romans, we are told that God makes “all things work for the good of those who love Him.” Jesus exhorted us not to worry about things we need in everyday life, but to trust that our Father in heaven is a good father, and he knows how to take care of his children, and that he will always give us what is best for us. Sometimes we may not be able to see how that is true, because we don't have his perspective. Just as a child might be upset when a parent roughly grabs them by the arms, yanks them off the ground, and throws them to the ground. The child may believe this was mean and cruel behavior, not realizing that their father just yanked them out of the way of an oncoming car, and saved their life. What's more, according to the Bible we know that the things that we speak and think have spiritual power to change what actually happens to us. I would encourage you to think about things that are good and positive. You may not be able to control your feelings, but you can certainly take control of your thoughts. The Apostle Paul put it this way: “Whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.” Philippians 4:8 (ESV) I don't have “zero bad days” just yet… But I have many more good days than bad ones, and that ratio is always improving. I believe it is because I use the 3 keys to unlock the door to more good days: Set up an easy-to-meet rule for what makes a good day. Change the way you interpret what happens to you. Have biblical hope. A “positive expectation of good things.” Tip Of the Week SweetProcess is a service that allows you to easily build beautiful process documentation for your business and your team. 7 reasons I am back with them after a brief hiatus. Frees up my time, I can stop spending time on repetitive tasks. Get them documented and out of my head, so someone else can do them. Now I'm free to focus on growing my business. I can endure employee turnover without the setbacks. When an employee leaves, training their replacement is a breeze since all of their tasks have been documented and refined over time. Easy for team refinement. The system makes it easy for my team to make processes more efficient over time as we hone each step in any given process. Reduces errors and re-do’s. Procedures are easy to follow, illustrated with screenshots, videos and checkboxes to ensure no steps are missed. Adds value to my business. A business built on a foundation of well-documented Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) has a higher value, which grows over time. Forces me to evaluate processes. As I think through the steps, I am forced to ask, “Is this the best way to do this?” I have discovered and eliminated many inefficiencies as a result. Better than Word, Google Docs, or other apps. SweetProcess is more elegant, custom-built for the task, easy to use and keep up to date, and “siloed” from other systems. And it's just more fun to use! Feature Presentation: A Day in the Life of Ray Rise at 4 AM Make bed Pray Meditate Brush teeth, shave Take care of dogs Drink 12 ounces of water Take communion Worship Make declarations Protein shake Bulletproof coffee Bible Classical music Read spiritual book Read nonfiction book Take morning meds at 6AM Journal Listen to a grace centered message Lumosity Check mint Create content starting at 7AM – Noon Lunch NOON – 1PM Do admin work Exercise for 60 minutes 3PM Spend time with family 4:30 PM In bed by 9pm What's a day in your life like? What are some parts of your daily routine your consider non-negotiable? Announcements Some useful announcements… Great feedback on the format. We're definitely going to keep things tight, but we are moving to a 48 minute length, and here's why: we are making the show available for distribution on radio. It's free to you a a radio station, and we leave you space for your commercial breaks. If you want to run the show on your station, simply reach out to us  at support@rayedwards.com An encore presentation of the Masterclass, “How To Write A Sales Page That Rakes In $10 Million”. Next Monday at 4pm Pacific. Click here to register. How to get promoted on this show to my audience. We're having a testimonial contest: video, results based, with examples you can show. Make a video, and tell the following story: Make a video, and tell the following story: What problem you faced before you “met” me… What would have happened if you hadn't solved that problem… What you did that you learned from me… And the specific results that happened… Then post the video to YouTube, and send us a link to the video along with your conact information. Send it to support@rayedwards.com. Can I Ask A Big Favor? Subscribe to the show in iTunes and give us a rating and review. Go ahead and subscribe now, and give us your star rating and review on iTunes. We will definitely mention you on this show. We are also BACK on Stitcher.com, so if you prefer Stitcher, please subscribe there. If you don't already get the email newsletter, sign up for that and get the new free video: “3 Keys to Change the World and Make Your Business Grow.” Connect with me on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, or LinkedIn. Get The Transcript Click here to get the transcript. Transcripts provided by SuccessTranscripts – a great solution if you need your podcast, sermon, speech, or other audio transcribed.  

Social media marketing is here, it's here to stay, and it's bigger than ever. But who can keep up with the trends, the new networks, and the shifting sands of strategy and tactics? How do you know what to spend your time on, and what's a waste? Who could possibly sort through this mass of possible opportunities or pitfalls? You- that's who! All you really need is the 2015 Social Media Marketing Industry Report. In today's episode, I'll tell you where to get it, why it's important, what to look for, and how you can use this valuable piece of marketing intelligence to catapult your social media marketing forward in the remaining half of the year! Other reasons to keep listening include: How to write a $10 Million sales page… Why you can have hope no matter how big your challenges… And your last chance to get a free training video on how to start, run, and grow a business that changes the world. Spiritual Foundations You Lose Nothing Because God Restores Everything No matter what situation you find yourself in, you can be assured that God sees you, cares for you, and will provide for you… and beyond that, he will restore what the enemy has stolen, and set you up better than you were before! In the Old Testament, God protected Hagar and her son Ishmael when she was cast out from Abraham's house. Hagar called Him “the God who sees me”. While Job was severely tested, God did restore everything he lost and more. When Joseph was sold into slavery by his brothers, unknown to them he rose to rule over all of Egypt. He was not bitter, but said, “What you intended for evil, God intended for good, so that I could save your lives and many others.” And in Romans 8:28 the Apostle Paul tells us “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good…” So remember, no matter what may come your way, God is for you and not against you, he will restore you to better than you were before. His grace is bigger than any setback, problem, or circumstance, even the ones that seem impossible. He sees you. He restores and heals. What the enemy intends for your evil, God will repurpose for your good. And He makes ALL THINGS work together for your good! Tip Of the Week Would you like to know how to write a $10 Million sales page? I'm going to show you just that next Tuesday, June 2, 2015 in a special free Masterclass. This is a live training, so I'm sorry – if you're listening to this after June 2, 2015, this opportunity has already passed you by. That's why it's a good idea to listen to the podcast every week, and subscribe to my email newsletter! We only have 1,000 seats available for this Masterclass, so register now at https://rayedwards.com/masterclass. Feature Presentation: The State of Social Media Marketing The 2015 Social Media Marketing Industry Report is out. The purpose of the report is to show how marketers are using social media to grow their businesses. The report is authored by Michael Stelzner, the founder of Social Media Examiner. It's their 7th annual report, 52 pages, and over 80 charts. It's all easy to understand and digest, and Mike takes the time to point out the “not-so-obvious” findings. Over 3,700 marketers responded to the survey that produced this report, and I don't know of any other source from which you can get this kind of data. Why This Report Is Of Value To You I highly recommend you get the report for yourself and start digesting it. Most of your peers will probably ignore it… and of those who download it, most will not read it… and of those who do read it, only a small, single-digit percentage of them will actually take the time to understand it and reason through the implications. Place yourself in that small minority, and you give yourself an enormous success advantage you can start capitalizing on immediately. I'll give you a top line taste of what can be gained from this report in moment, but let me echo some advice form the report itself. This information is for you regardless of your experience level with social media marketing. If you're experienced with social media, compare yourself against other marketers, see which platforms they're looking at next and determine whether you're achieving the same benefits as your more experienced peers. If you're a beginner (or really any level), take a look at the time commitment, benefits and platforms that your peers are using. • The time commitment: The report examines the weekly hours marketers invest in their social media efforts. This analysis will be helpful for marketers just getting started or those seeking support staff. • The benefits of social media marketing: This section of the study reveals all of the major advantages marketers are achieving with their social media efforts. It also looks at how weekly time invested and years of experience affect the results. • Most-used social media platforms: Discover which platforms marketers are using and how their usage will change this year. The report also examines which platforms experienced marketers are using. Other interesting, and more advanced topics in the report include… • Social media networks people want to learn more about: In this section, you'll discover the social platforms that marketers are most interested in learning about. • The report also examines the role of content in social media marketing, paid social media and how marketers respond when new networks emerge. • Plus questions such as how business-to-business (B2B) companies differ from business-to-consumer (B2C) companies and whether the size of a business has any bearing on results. • Perhaps most interesting of all, the report also highlights significant changes since last year's study. I Know What You REALLY Want… Here Are The Top Nuggets From The Report Okay, I know how it is. You're busy and you want me to read the report FOR you and give you a summary. And that's what I'm going to do. But it would be a huge mistake for you to leave it there. You see, there is a very deep and valuable advantage and opportunity for you in the report, but to make it work you're going to have to get the report and mine this particular pot of gold for yourself. I'll explain all that shortly, but for now, let me satisfy your curiosity with some of the primary findings… • Twitter, YouTube and LinkedIn hold the top spots for future plans: A significant 66% of marketers plan on increasing their use of these social networks. • Marketers want to learn most about Facebook: While 93% of marketers are using Facebook, 68% want to learn more about it and 62% plan on increasing Facebook activities. • Video becoming important: A significant 57% of marketers use video in their marketing; however, 72% want to learn more about video marketing and plan on increasing their use of video. • Podcasting on growth trajectory: Only 10% of marketers are involved with podcasting, yet 26% plan on increasing their podcasting activities and 43% of marketers want to learn more about podcasting. • Facebook and LinkedIn are the two most important social networks for marketers. When allowed to only select one platform, 52% of marketers selected Facebook, followed by LinkedIn at 21%. • Most marketers aren't sure their Facebook marketing is effective: Only 45% of marketers think that their Facebook efforts are effective. • Tactics and engagement are top areas marketers want to master: At least 91% of marketers want to know the most effective social tactics and the best ways to engage their audience with social media. The Hidden Opportunity I Spoke Of Earlier Perhaps the most opportunity-rich information in the report are the top 5 social media questions marketers want answered. The top social media questions marketers want answered can be summarized in the following keywords: tactics, engagement, measurement, audience and tools—in that order. But do not stop here. If you are a social media marketing provider or agency, if you are a consultant or coach, or i you train people in social media marketing, this is the vein of pure gold you're looking for. Here, in this section of the report, you will find the topics for your next consulting sessions, online courses, blog posts, and podcasts! My advice: go beyond the obvious top line conclusions, spend some time reading an digesting, and think. Think about the following: How can you take advantage of the trends for promoting your own business? How can you model the best behavior for you clients and students? What connections can you draw that take data from different areas of this report and tie them together into new strategic and tactical approaches to marketing incorporating social media. And then dig deeper: how can marry your specific knowledge of your target market with the trends and current needs of marketers revealed in this report, and use that mixture to create new rocket fuel for marketing programs? Thinking of this nature will give you an advantage your competitors will not even understand, let alone duplicate. For those of you intrepid enough to actually heed my advice, you'll find more than 80 charts that visually convey some fascinating findings. For example, the report looks at which social networks are used by those who invest the most time in social media marketing, the benefits achieved by those who've been at this for years and how marketers respond to new social networks. There's much more to be mined from this report. I've only scratched the surface. What most will fail to realize is what a generous gift Mike Stelzner gives us with this report. In fact, I am honestly going to try and convince him to charge for this. An independent study, commissioned to retrieve the same level of response, exactness of data, and rigorous construction of the questions to yield unbiased, statistically reliable results would surely be a minimum six-figure investment. You get all this for free. At least until I can talk Mike out of the crazy tree, and get him start charging something for this treasure chest… which is filled with treasure maps to other treasure chests! Someday. But in the words of Aragorn, son of Arathorn, not this day. For now, it's still free, so go download your report now at: http://www.socialmediaexaminer.com/report2015/ What is the most interesting and useful insight you got from the new report? May I Ask A Favor? Subscribe to the show in iTunes and give us a rating and review. Go ahead and subscribe now, and give us your star rating and review on iTunes. We will definitely mention you on this show. We are also BACK on Stitcher.com, so if you prefer Stitcher, please subscribe there. If you don't already get the email newsletter, sign up for that and get the new free video: “3 Keys to Change the World and Make Your Business Grow.” I'll be taking this video down soon, so if you want to get access to it, do it now! Connect with me on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, or LinkedIn. Get The Transcript Click here to get the transcript. Transcripts provided by SuccessTranscripts – a great solution if you need your podcast, sermon, speech, or other audio transcribed.  

Have you heard the phrase, “Information is power?” Well, it's not true. It's not even close to being true. The idea that “information is power” is misleading, and causes many people to create roadblocks to their own success. And it's about more than just the distinction that “information applied is power” – even that variation has problems. I'll explain how to transform the lead of “information” into the gold of “transformation” in this episode. Spiritual Foundations You Have Everything You Need Steve was a coaching client who had everything going for him. He was a web designer with extraordinary talent, a great reputation, and a constant stream of people who wanted to do business with him. But Steve didn't feel successful. One day he told me, “Ray, everybody thinks I'm a success, but I feel like a total failure. I haven't hit any of my goals this year, I'm feeling discouraged, and I'm not even sure my heart is in my work any more.” I asked him, “Steve, how can you say that? You're extremely talented and succesful.” “That's just it, Ray. I don't even know if that's true. My work seems mediocre to me, when I compare it to (and here he named another well-know designer.)” Suddenly, a light came on in my head. “Steve, it sure seems like you're aware of a lot things you don't have… your goal weight, your goal income, your dream house, the talent that so-and-so has…” “Exactly!” “What about what you do have?” I said. He snorted. “Yeah, I know, Ray. I should count my blessings.” I smiled. “That's a good idea,” I said, “But not what I was going to say.” He seemed curious, so I pressed on. I quoted this to him: “The LORD is my shepherd, I lack nothing.'” ~ Psalm 23:1 (NIV) He skepticism returned. “Yeah, but I don't have…” and he proceeded to make list of all the things he wanted, but didn't have. I interrupted him gently,”So is the Scripture right, or are you right?” He stopped talking. I had thrown him a curve ball. I knew what he was thinking: he believed Scripture, but his experience wasn't matching up to it. I said, “God is saying that from His perspective, you don't lack a thing.” Steve said nothing. “So if you lack nothing, what do you have, Steve? The Scripture also contains the answer for that. “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.” ~ 2 Timothy 3:16–17 (ESV) Steve said, “I know that's true. So why am I so miserable?” “Because you keep declaring what you DON'T have! That's what your focus is on. And what we focus on tends to grow. As you focus on lack, you begin finding more and more of it in your life.” “So what do I do to to change that?” he asked. I told Steve this… “Steve, God has given you everything you need to live the destiny you were created for. And He did create you to fulfill a great destiny! And the power to access that destiny is in God's Word.” “A good place to start is by watching your self-talk. What are you saying to yourself all day long? If what you're saying is, ‘Look at all the things I don't have. Time, money, peace, love, security…' Then you will find that to be what you experience.” “But Psalm 23:1 says you ‘lack nothing.'” “What if you replaced all your victim thinking, and victim-oriented self-talk ,with the Word of God over your life? Paul wrote to Timothy that Scripture is provided so ‘that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.' So say to your self: ‘The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing! I am complete! I am equipped for every good work!'” “In Romans 8:28 it says, ‘…we know that all things work together for good of those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.' So if it's not good yet, it's not done yet!” I told Steve that every time one of these negative thoughts came to his mind, he should not speak it out loud, but should declare the truth of what God says about him. And that he should do so out loud, in a strong voice, as if he meant it. We worked on his coaching plan for the next month, he promised to do as I suggested, and said he would report back on our next call (in 30 days.) In less than 10 days, I got a call from Steve. “Ray I'm so excited I couldn't wait to tell you what's happened! I began doing just was we agreed, and in just a few days things started changing. I started to have more confidence. I started waking up in the morning in a good mood. Two new clients signed on at the highest rates I have ever been paid. And I am much more happy now that I'm not constantly thinking about what I don't have!” What worked for Steve can work for you, too. Stop telling yourself stories about what you don't have. Remember that your words have power to change reality. So speak the truth of the Scripture out loud. Put it into your words, but base it on God's Word. He has promised us we lack nothing, we are equipped for every good work, we have everything we need, and He is working things out for our good. So say to yourself… “I am called to God's purpose for my life! He is making everything work out for my good. I am equipped with everything I need to overcome any obstacle! I am more than a conquerer. God is giving me the desires of my heart!” I give you the same challenge I gave Steve: do this for 30 days, and report back to me here, and let me know what God has done in your life, as you focus on the truth that you lack nothing! Tip Of the Week Well, I have my voice back, and so the release of my brand new Copywriting Course,  rolls on this week. You can get access to all the free stuff we're giving away, just by going to RayEdwards.com/formula. Feature Presentation: Information Is Not Power Power is the “potential ability to do work”. Information is not power. Action is not power. Right Action is power. You can become more powerful (accomplish more with less effort) by remembering these three points: The transmission of information does not equal the creation of understanding. If you need to get people to understand you, more is required than a mere “information dump”. This will only overwhelm, and actually diminishes understanding. More time does not usually create better decisions. Waiting longer, to get more information, usually results in poorer decisions, not better ones. Get the required information – then make a rapid decision based on your first reaction. The message you are preaching is not nearly as persuasive as the message you are living. You will replicate in others who you are, not what you say. What do we do with this? How does this apply in life, and specifically in our “information marketing” businesses? Give instructions, not explanations. Teach “how to”, not “what do”. Gather the MRI (Minimum Require Information) to make a good decision. Guess at the MRI if you must. Sometimes you will be wrong. To make better decisions, make more decisions. Faster. Demonstrate  and embody what you want to see in others. Don’t HAVE a message – BE a message. Put these to work, and share your results below in the comment section, May I Ask A Favor? Subscribe to the show in iTunes and give us a rating and review. Go ahead and subscribe now, and give us your star rating and review on iTunes. We will definitely mention you on this show. We are also BACK on Stitcher.com, so if you prefer Stitcher, please subscribe there. If you don't already get the email newsletter, sign up for that and get the new free video: “3 Keys to Change the World and Make Your Business Grow.” Connect with me on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, or LinkedIn. Get The Transcript Click here to get the transcript.Transcripts provided by SuccessTranscripts – a great solution if you need your podcast, sermon, speech, or other audio transcribed.  

The single most important thing you can do to boost your social media engagement is right better headlines. If you don't get the click, you certainly don't get engagement. Old-fashioned headline templates are no longer enough. You need a smarter, stickier strategy. In today's episode I give you a sample from our brand-new copywriting course-I'll share five amazing tricks for perfect social media headlines. Tip Of the Week COPYWRITING COURSE NOTE: You may be wondering, “Hey Ray, where's that link to your copywriting course?” Well, this episode was recorded a few weeks ago… and this week I got a nasty case of laryngitis that really threw us off schedule. As soon as I get my voice back, we will open up the course. Sorry 'bout the delay! Spiritual Foundations No Other Gospel But This In the New Testament, the apostle Paul continuously refers to the gospel as “the gospel of grace” or “the gospel of peace”. In fact, he had to defend himself against those who accused him of preaching “too much grace”. These people wanted to put God's church back under the law, just to “keep things in balance”. Paul was so persecuted about this that he had to offer a defense for his grace teaching in the book of Romans. Many accused him of promoting a gospel that would cause licentiousness… Or license to sin. To which Paul responded: “What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it?” Romans 6:1-2 Interestingly, the very Gospel that Paul preached, the “Gospel of Grace”, is the one seen by many in the church today as the aberration. Paul warned against this, both in his day and for our day: But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. (Galatians 1:8 NKJV) These days, many persecute those who preach the gospel of grace using the same verse. Ironically it was against the very same kind of “anti-grace” people that Paul originally wrote this verse. My point: there is only one gospel, and that is the gospel of the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. The radical, scandalous, wipes the slate clean, your sins are forgiven once and for all, past present and future, liberating gospel of grace. If you're not being persecuted for the same things which Paul is persecuted and criticized about, perhaps you're not preaching the same gospel Paul was preaching. Feature Presentation: 5 Tricks For Perfect Social Media Headlines Use Numbers Keep It Short Use the “Rubberneck Effect” Shocking Juxtapositions Promises, Promises Will you put these headline tricks to work, and post a link to your most shared Social Media content? May I Ask A Favor? Subscribe to the show in iTunes and give us a rating and review. Go ahead and subscribe now, and give us your star rating and review on iTunes. We will definitely mention you on this show. We are also BACK on Stitcher.com, so if you prefer Stitcher, please subscribe there. If you don't already get the email newsletter, sign up for that and get the new free video: “3 Keys to Change the World and Make Your Business Grow.” Connect with me on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, or LinkedIn. Get The Transcript Click here to get the transcript.Transcripts provided by SuccessTranscripts – a great solution if you need your podcast, sermon, speech, or other audio transcribed.  

Want to know the secret to writing well? Write a lot. Want to know the secret to writing a lot? Write fast. Not only does writing fast help you write better, it also allows you to make more money (if your income is dependent upon your writing). In this episode… The O.D.E.S.S.A. Secret To Writing 10X Faster (And Better) Tip Of the Week Today we are releasing the first in a free video series called, “Magic Words That Make You Rich” (hat tip to  Ted Nicholas). You can watch the first video by clicking here, or in the image below. In it, I will share the secrets of writing captivating headlines… plus the master framework I use to write copy for my world-famous clients. You can start using it yourself, today. Spiritual Foundations No Ifs Ands Or Buts Do you believe that God is all-powerful? Do you believe that Jesus Christ has saved you and made you his own? Do you believe his promises to heal you, to prosper you, to bless you? Do you? I find that many believers seem to have a lot of “ifs, ands, or buts” when it comes to what they believe God can and will do for them. “Yes, I believe God can heal me, if he wants to.” “Yes, I believe God will restore my family, and it will take a lot of work on our part to make it happen.” “Yes, I believe the gifts of the Holy Spirit are for today, but only for a few people and only in extraordinary circumstances.” These beliefs sound reasonable. But they carry an inherent flaw, and that is they are not biblical. Let's explore.. God can, “if” he wants to. In the book of Exodus, God gave us one of his names: “I Am the Lord Who Heals You.” When asked if he was willing to heal, Jesus said, “I am willing.” When asked if he was able, the Lord said, “all things are possible for the one who believes.” When it comes to God “and” something else to intervene in our lives, God's grace  (his unmerited favor) “is sufficient”. We don't need to add anything to it. Our part is simply to receive. When it comes to God and “butts”, there are no “gotcha” clauses. Jesus Christ is “the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow”. He said “come to me, you who are weary and heavy laden”… He said we will “lay our hands on the sick, and they will recover”… He said we “are the righteousness of God”… And that our faith “has been counted to us as righteousness”. We all have the same Holy Spirit, the same father God, the same elder brother, Jesus Christ. God causes all things to work together for the good of those who love him, and who are called according to his purposes. That's you, and that's me. No ifs, ands, or buts. Feature Presentation: The O.D.E.S.S.A. Secret To Writing 10X Faster (And Better) Want to write 10 times faster, and write better in the process? Use the following steps of the  O.D.E.S.S.A. method to speed up your writing, and improve its quality at the same time. Outline Dictate Edit Share Speak Apply Will you try the O.D.E.S.S.A. method, and report back here with your results? Include a link to what you wrote! May I Ask A Favor? Subscribe to the show in iTunes and give us a rating and review. Go ahead and subscribe now, and give us your star rating and review on iTunes. We will definitely mention you on this show. We are also BACK on Stitcher.com, so if you prefer Stitcher, please subscribe there. If you don't already get the email newsletter, sign up for that and get the new free video: “3 Keys to Change the World and Make Your Business Grow.” Connect with me on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, or LinkedIn. Get The Transcript Click here to get the transcript.Transcripts provided by SuccessTranscripts – a great solution if you need your podcast, sermon, speech, or other audio transcribed.  

Have you ever written a blog post, one you thought was going to be brilliant, only to read it afterward and realize it falls flat? Have you ever gone back through your library of past posts, and occasionally wondered, “How did I write something this boring? If so, don't despair. I think all of us who write experience this phenomenon. The good news is you can resurrect “dead” blog posts. In this episode, I will describe 5 quick ways you can jumpstart  a dead blog post. Tip Of the Week The Grommet. Grommets are products with purpose invented by people with stories. Find something thoughtful, inspiring, innovative, or useful. NOTE: Next week, we start releasing free material as we get ready to open up our copywriting course! To get on the VIP Early Bird Notification list, so you don't miss anything, click here. Spiritual Foundations The Reckless, Dangerous, and Rebellious Prosperity Gospel I'm always a little amused when I hear a criticism leveled and those of us who believe God intended man to prosper and be in good health, especially when it sounds like this: “Oh, so you believe in the prosperity gospel?” The term itself is used with derision. Another form of this question is, “Don't tell me you're one of those ‘health and wealth gospel' believers?” I always want to reply, “Would you prefer a sickness and poverty gospel? Do you think Jesus came not to give us life, and life more abundantly, but rather sickness, and death more quickly?” Of course, I don't reply this way because I do understand that most people who say these things are speaking out of true conviction. They believe their criticism of the so-called “prosperity gospel” is valid, that the “prosperity gospel” distorts the truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ. I do agree that the gospel of prosperity and health is reckless, dangerous, and even rebellious. It represents the reckless love of God for us as humans and his children. It is dangerous to the spirit of religion, the same spirit that led the Jewish leaders of Christ's day to nail him to a cross. It is rebellious, in the same way the Romans felt this rabble-rouser Jesus was rebellious. The gospel of prosperity, of health, of wealth, and peace for all mankind is dangerous and rebellious … against the system of the world. And that is exactly why we must embrace it. That is why the Apostle John wrote, “I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers. ” (3 John 1:1) One of the most damning criticisms of the prosperity gospel is: what are we to make of people who live in Third World countries, who have no real chance of prosperity? If God really wants everyone to prosper, how could he allow such conditions to exist? I suspect that His response would be, “How can you? I left you in charge.” Ultimately, when the full Kingdom is consummated on the earth, every injustice will be set right, every person who is lost anything will be repaid seven times what they lost, and all of us will be made whole, well, and will lack nothing. That Kingdom reality is already here, but not in its fullness, and our current assignment is to bring more of that Kingdom reality to all those around us, and to every place we go. It doesn't matter that it makes us uncomfortable, it is still our assignment. Jesus modeled for us the behavior of a person in full relationship with the Father, and with the Holy Spirit. He healed every person who came to him for healing. He paid his bills-for the first part of his life by working at a trade and having a business, in the years of his ministry he paid his taxes by finding money in the mouth of a fish. If I suggested that you pay your taxes in a similar way, because you have faith in God, I would be branded as some sort of heretical “prosperity preacher”. So be it. Here's what I know: Scripture says that we are to be in good health, and to prosper in all things, even as our soul prospers. I believe it all starts with “soul prosperity”; with our mind, will, and emotions being in perfect alignment with those of the Lord. This is only possible through the indwelling life of the Holy Spirit. The more we can experience that reality, the more the reality of material wealth, and physical health, will be ours. So don't be discouraged by criticisms about the “prosperity gospel”. And don't be discouraged by the fact that you don't see everything you want to see in this regard-yet. Know that God's promises are true, he never lies, he is never late, he never fails to deliver. You are blessed immeasurably by the Creator of the universe. You are promised there will come a day when you will live in your perfected body the way it was intended to be originally, that you will suffer no illness, that you will not weep any longer, and there will be no lack of money, food, love, safety, or anything else you need. If that isn't true health and wealth, and I don't know what is. Feature Presentation: 5 Ways To Jumpstart Your Dead Blog Posts You've written a blog post, and it feels to you is though it has fallen flat. Or perhaps you're looking through your back catalog and found some old posts that really did fall flat. They got no engagement, very few if any comments, and you just feel overall it could've been better. Is there an easy and simple way to jumpstart these “dead” blog posts-shock them with the paddles, so to speak, and get their heart beating again? Absolutely! Here are 5 ways you can jumpstart a dead blog post… Headlines. Exchange that old, plain-Jane, boring headline for one that invokes emotion, uses power words, is controversial, cutting, inflammatory, or creates great hope. Go crazy and brainstorm many different headlines for your old, dead blog post. Sometimes all a post needs to bring it back to life is for someone to actually read it. The Lead.  Just like a good novel or movie, a blog post needs to start in the middle of the action. It needs to capture the imagination of the reader right away. If you've written a piece that just doesn't seem to have life in it, after you've readjusted the headline, consider rewriting the “lead” (the first few sentences or paragraphs) that set up the rest of the post. Instead of relating dry facts or a boring thesis statement, perhaps you could tell story, share a personal experience,  or ask some penetrating and thought-provoking questions. Simply ask yourself, “How can I make the beginning of this post more outrageous, more imaginative, more inspiring, or even into something that would evoke more skepticism?” Subheads.  Often, long blog posts die a quick death because people simply cannot wade through the wall of text that confronts them. This is why we break up our writing online into shorter paragraphs; it makes it easier for people to scan, and it looks as though it will be easier to read. One of my favorite devices for keeping people reading a post is to use mini-headlines or “Subheads” to string the main part of the story together throughout the text. Images.  I'm talking about pictures here. Actual pictures. If you can find a photo that perfectly illustrates the point you're trying to make, or one that is representative of the idea you're trying to convey, then by all means use it. Make sure you use a photo that you have the rights to use (either by the photo through a stock photo service, one you have otherwise obtained a clear license for, or a photo you took yourself). Do be careful not to use cliché photos: if you're writing about how to negotiate, for heaven's sake please don't show photo of two men in business suits shaking hands! You can be more creative than that. One great source of unusual but creative photos for this purpose is a stock photo website called Unsplash. Many thanks to my friend Mike Kim for pointing this resource out to me. Enhanced Content.  Offer an enhanced version of the content in your blog post. This might mean creating an audio file to accompany it, making a short tutorial video to go along with the blog post, or creating a checklist, infographic, or cheat sheet that can be downloaded. This enhanced content should add to the value of the post by making it readily implementable. Amy Porterfield does a great job of this on her blog. Not only is this something that is fairly easy for you to do, it can definitely increase the size of your email list if you use the approach that Amy uses, asking for an email exchange for the download. Using any one of these five jumpstart tactics should infuse your blog post with new life; using all of them is almost guaranteed to “resurrect the dead”. Your assignment: put one or more of these tactics to work and apply them on your blog. This is something you could do today and begin to see the results immediately. Will you? Which of these 5 “jumpstart tactics” will you  put to work on your blog today? Post a link! May I Ask A Favor? Subscribe to the show in iTunes and give us a rating and review. Go ahead and subscribe now, and give us your star rating and review on iTunes. We will definitely mention you on this show. We are also BACK on Stitcher.com, so if you prefer Stitcher, please subscribe there. If you don't already get the email newsletter, sign up for that and get the new free video: “3 Keys to Change the World and Make Your Business Grow.” Connect with me on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, or LinkedIn. Get The Transcript Click here to get the transcript.Transcripts provided by SuccessTranscripts – a great solution if you need your podcast, sermon, speech, or other audio transcribed.  

On March 27, my friend Michael Hyatt started a firestorm with a blog post entitled, How Much Business Is Your Profanity Costing You?  One of the most heated debates I've witnessed online ensued. Many people offered the rationale that their profanity was either a way of bonding with their audience, or of using an NLP technique known as a “pattern interrupt” (allegedly getting immediate attention and thus making communication more effective). I think most of the discussion missed Michael's most important point. I'm amazed that almost all of the hundreds of people who vented their opinion completely failed to see the most powerful business-based argument Michael put on the table. In today's show, I'll be Captain Obvious and show what you may have missed – plus I'll give you 5 reasons why your cussing isn't making you cool, it's costing you cash. Tip Of the Week Grammarly. Grammarly makes you a better writer by finding and correcting up to 10× more mistakes than your word processor. Get VIP Early-Bird Access To The Copywriting Formula! Our long-awaited Copywriting Course, The Copywriting Formula, will be released in a very short time – in fact, you'll have access to some great freebies from the course itself in just a couple of weeks. To get on the Early Bird Notification list, click here now. Spiritual Foundations Think (and Speak) On These Things What does the Scripture say about cussing? Well, first let's dispel a myth: the commandment that says we should not “take the Lord's name in vain” is not about cussing! However, that doesn't mean the Bible has nothing to say on this subject. “Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.” (Philippians 4:8) Then there is this instruction from the Apostle Paul: “Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving.” (Ephesians 5:4) And this verse is particularly instructive: “Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers.” (Ephesians 4:29)   Feature Presentation: 5 Reasons Cussing Is Costing You Cash On March 27, my friend Michael Hyatt started a firestorm with a blog post entitled, How Much Business Is Your Profanity Costing You? One of the most heated debates I've witnessed online ensued. Many people offered the rationale that their profanity was either a way of bonding with their audience, or of using an NLP technique known as a “pattern interrupt” (allegedly getting immediate attention and thus making communication more effective). I think most of the discussion missed Michael's most important point. In his post, Michael gave these 3 reasons to cut the cussing: Profanity alienates people. Profanity hurts your brand. Profanity doesn't work. But the most obvious potential loss, which most people who read the article missed, was this sentence: “I don’t always feel comfortable directing my audience to do the same. It’s just not worth offending them.” In other words, your profanity might prevent Michael from recommending you to his 525,057 readers. Another friend, Joel Comm, wrote a splendid article on this subject some time ago, about professional speakers cursing from the stage. Joel said, “If you are disrespectful of your audience, the impact of your message is going to be diminished.” I was so pleased that Michael started this public discourse on what I feel is an important subject. I was inspired to add my own thoughts. Here are my “5 Reasons Cussing Is Costing You Cash”. None of them are “moralizing” – I covered that already in Spiritual Foundations – all are pragmatic. Cussing costs you promotional opportunities from major influencers. Cussing costs you personal recommendations from many more individuals. They may not be major influencers like Michael Hyatt, John Maxwell, Dave Ramsey, or Joel Comm… but if each person influences a circle of 250 people, and you have thousands in your audience… what is that costing you? Constant, dramatic cussing erodes trust with most people. It's a simple logical equation for most: if you're willing to say such vile things in your professional life, what are you like on a personal basis? When the spotlight is not on you? When you're not being watched? Cussing distracts people from the value of what you bring to the world. Instead of considering the purchase of your book, seminar, or training materials. the discussion becomes one about why you use the F-word so much. Is that really the kind of “pattern interrupt” you want to perform? Cussing will cause some people to actively oppose the purchase or use of your books, live events, and materials. You may never know how deep this particular iceberg goes under the surface of the water. If you are still determined that your use of profanity is “strategic” or “therapeutic” or “effective” for your audience, I urge you to consider this question: if you stopped using profanity, would anyone complain? Do you think profanity adds anything positive to your message? May I Ask A Favor? Subscribe to the show in iTunes and give us a rating and review. Go ahead and subscribe now, and give us your star rating and review on iTunes. We will definitely mention you on this show. We are also BACK on Stitcher.com, so if you prefer Stitcher, please subscribe there. If you don't already get the email newsletter, sign up for that and get the new free video: “3 Keys to Change the World and Make Your Business Grow.” Connect with me on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, or LinkedIn. Get The Transcript Click here to get the transcript. Transcripts provided by SuccessTranscripts – a great solution if you need your podcast, sermon, speech, or other audio transcribed.  

We often hear success stories of people who go from “rags to riches”. We usually hear about the struggles they had when they started. What is uncommon is to hear about the struggles they still endure, and how they are overcoming them in the present moment. I'm very excited about today's show, which is mostly a recording of a conversation between me and my friend Cliff Ravenscraft, also known as The Podcast AnswerMan. During this totally unscripted, off-the-cuff interview, you'll discover: How the TV show Lost helped Cliff become a leading voice in the world of podcasting. How investing in one specific training program changed the entire vector of Cliff's life, and career. Why success on the outside may not be an indicator of success on the inside (Cliff opens up and tells of his most recent struggle, and the incredible way he is gaining victory.) The story of a prayer that brought a miraculous answer in the most unexpected place, and literally transformed Cliff's life in the moment. How “selfies” can actually be selfless. Two books you absolutely must read if you want to change your physical health once and for all (and chances are you've never heard of either of them). Plus, a whole lot more wisdom from the man who helps so many take their lives “to the Next Level.” Tip Of the Week Periscope. A competitor to the similar app Meerkat, Periscope turns your mobile phone into a TV broadcast studio – in your pocket. I've been playing with this ever since I was at Social Media Marketing World. I really think this is a revolutionary technology and we have only begun to see the ramifications it carries for the future. Jump in and play, the water is fine. Spiritual Foundations The Secret of How to Lack Nothing “The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.” Psalm 23 I'm learning the deep lesson that if we believe God's Word is true, it literally means we lack nothing in this present moment. That is sometimes hard to accept, especially if we are sick, in pain, experiencing a broken relationship or home, have lost our job, or any of the myriad of hurtful challenges we deal with in day-to-day life. Yet God's word says that we “lack nothing”. How can this be? God sees things from a different perspective than we do. He sees the whole picture. What may look like lack to us, he knows to be a temporary situation. God knows that He will ultimately tip the scales of justice in our favor, and that anything we feel we have lost will be restored to us. God is good, all the time, no matter what. Ground your faith in the bedrock of that confession. Know that God is your friend. Believe it or not, that is the message of the book of Job. How do we practice this idea that we lack nothing, especially when our circumstances tell us that we may lack everything? I believe the key is gratitude. You Can't Pay The Bills With Gratitude… Or Can You? When Jesus fed the 5,000 with only a little bread and a little fish, he prayed. But he did not ask for a miracle, groaning and pleading with his Father in Heaven. Scripture says he “gave thanks” and then had the disciples distribute the bread to the thousands of people present. I don't think it's an accident that we're told he “gave thanks”. He expressed gratitude for what he had and he stepped into an aspect of the Kingdom that allowed miraculous provision to flow from a seemingly insufficient supply. That's how the Kingdom works. Your level of prosperity will equal exactly the level of your gratitude. So give thanks for what you do have, and give no attention to what you feel might be lacking in this moment. Because you, my friend, lack nothing. Feature Presentation: How Cliff Ravenscraft Transformed His Life I actually had a page full of questions I was going to ask Cliff during our interview. I did ask the first question, but from there, the interview took on a life of its own. And I'm so glad it did. You will enjoy and be blessed by Cliff's story, as I was. Have you ever experience a miraculous answer to prayer like Cliff did? I hope you'll share that story. May I Ask A Favor? Subscribe to the show in iTunes and give us a rating and review. Go ahead and subscribe now, and give us your star rating and review on iTunes. We will definitely mention you on this show. We are also BACK on Stitcher.com, so if you prefer Stitcher, please subscribe there. If you don't already get the email newsletter, sign up for that and get the new free video: “3 Keys to Change the World and Make Your Business Grow.” Connect with me on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, or LinkedIn. Get The Transcript Click here to get the transcript. Transcripts provided by SuccessTranscripts – a great solution if you need your podcast, sermon, speech, or other audio transcribed.  

You're smart. You never believed the people who said “there's no money in Social Media”. You thought the people who said Social was all about “pictures of what people had for lunch” or “videos about cats” were missing the point. Yes, those things are popular on Social Media… and it's also true that Social Media is a vital marketing medium that can bring big rewards, monetary and otherwise when done right. Just ask Taylor Swift, Oreo, the folks behind the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge, or even President Barack Obama. Just knowing Social Media Marketing is important, however, is not enough. You must know how to do it right – or at least how to not do it wrong. Today's episode will address what I consider to be the 5 Social Media Marketing Mistakes you are most likely making right now… and how to fix them. Tip Of the Week I have not one, but three tips for you this week! Tip #1: Smart Podcast Player First, I'm very excited about the new podcast player we are using on our website. You know, that little “play” button you click to hear audio on the web, such as listening to podcast episode? Up until now we were using a very primitive podcast player. But we just switched the Pat Flynn's Smart Podcast Player. Pat created the player for his own enormously popular podcast. Here's what he says about it: I created this custom player with my team because I wanted a better listening experience for my audience. They deserve the best. After sharing the player with my audience, I received hundreds of requests from other podcasters who wanted to use the player too, and so the Smart Podcast Player was born. You put an immense amount of time and care into creating your podcast; the player you use should reflect that. My team and I have put the same attention and care into building the Smart Podcast Player. I know that you (and your listeners) will love it. Some of the features and benefits: Works with any feed, from any host, anywhere. Looks amazing the design is clean and modern, and you can customize it to match your site perfectly. Lets your listeners explore, discover, and share. The Smart Podcast Player has an interactive library that allows your listeners to explore past episodes in your backlist without interrupting the episode that’s playing. The player also empowers your listeners to search your backlist by tag, download their favorite episodes in MP3 format, and share episodes with their friends. Your library of episodes updates automatically anytime you publish a new episode to your feed. All metadata is available, episode description included. Your listeners can control the speed of the currently playing episode just like they enjoy doing when they use today’s latest podcast mobile apps. It's also got rave reviews from podcasters like John Lee Dumas, Michael Hyatt, and Jaime Tardy of the Eventual Millionaire podcast. And this one is a big deal that I think doesn't get enough emphasis: there's a direct “Subscribe In iTunes” button on the player. The number of subscribers plays a big role in how your show ranks on iTunes. And now your podcast player can encourage those subscriptions, as in the picture you see below (you can actually click that picture and subscribe to this podcast… go ahead… I'll wait…) You can see the entire library of The Ray Edwards Show in the Smart Podcast Player, so you can see it in action, by clicking here. And once you've decided you can't live without the player, check it out at SmartPodcastPlayer.com Tip #2: Twitter Power 3.0 You may know Joel Comm as a New York Times Best-Selling author, and as a top social media influencer. I know him as the guy who convinced me to write and publish my first book, Writing Riches. Much of my success is tied to that book. It was published because of Joel's encouragement and advice. We have been good friends for many years now. I don't know Dave Taylor, but I have benefitted from his work at AskDaveTaylor.com many, many times (just as millions of others have). Joel and Dave just launched their co-authored book, Twitter Power 3.0, and I recommend you click here and buy your copy now. Twitter Power (the previous version) is already the world’s top-selling book on the subject of Twitter. It was endorsed by Tony Robbins (who, by the way, has 2.58 million followers on Twitter). This newly updated super-guide, Twitter Power 3.0 will show smart businesses and entrepreneurs how to use Twitter to massively grow their reach. And this new, improved, cutting-edge book is endorsed by none other than Guy Kawasaki, who says, “This book will give you a big head start toward mastering Twitter from two people who already have.” The book is also endorsed and praised by Robert Scoble, Mari Smith, Chris Brogan, Jay Baer, John Lee Dumas, Michael Stelzner, Kim Garst, and other top social media influencers. Look, you don't need anyone's expensive “Twitter Course” or “coaching” – you can dominate your market on Twitter simply following the advice in this book. Inside Twitter Power 3.0, you'll discover how to: Grow your number of followers PLUS increase your engagement on Twitter Make your content to go viral (you’ll be shocked at what works and what doesn’t!) Measure the Twitter metrics that matter most and fine-tune your strategy to maximize your results In celebration of the launch of Twitter Power 3.0, Joel and Dave are offering some generous bonuses when you order your copy of the book today. The bonuses you get include a brand new eBook called Social Poetry 2 (which features the top marketers/influencers online… even I make a brief appearance in the book). So, to get more followers and influence on Twitter, start by ordering your copy of Twitter Power 3.0. And, of course, claim all the free bonuses that come with your purchase. I don't make a single penny for recommending this book to you. The links in this post are not affiliate links. I just happen to think this is an excellent book, and I think you need to read it (if you want to be successful with Twitter). Tip #3: Social Media Marketing World 2015 Session Recordings Was traveling to San Diego for Social Media Marketing World 2015 just not an option for you this year? If so, you missed the marketing event of the year. I had the privilege of leading one of the tracks at the event, and I soaked up a ton of great knowledge from the other sessions. Below is a picture of me with my personal Mastermind Group, the Green Room Mastermind. In the photo is Pat Flynn, Cliff Ravenscraft, Mike Stelzner, Mark Mason, and Leslie Samuel. This is the first time we have all been in the same physical space at one time! (L-R) Mark Mason, Mike Stelzner, Pat Flynn, Cliff Ravenscraft, Leslie Samuel I know, I know, you're feeling left out. What if you could catch ALL the conference sessions at your convenience without any travel expenses or the need to replicate yourself? The good news is now you can! All you need is the Virtual Ticket to Social Media Marketing World 2015! For a fraction of the cost of a regular ticket, you’ll get full access to the recording of EVERY session. Yes, every keynote, all the panels and each great session–the ones people travel thousands of miles to see–will be at your fingertips. With your Virtual Ticket, you’ll have access to 100+ online recordings of everything. You can watch playbacks from your computer, tablet or smartphone at your leisure. You’ll also be able to interact with your peers via our private LinkedIn networking group. Click here to get your virtual ticket now. There's no risk, either – you can try the first two days once the recordings are posted and still cancel for a full refund if you decide it's not for you! Spiritual Foundations Satan Is No Longer Allowed To Accuse You Of Anything Recently a friend expressed worry that his troubles were because of Satan. My friend said to me, “I just know this problem is happening because Satan is the ‘accuser of the brethren', making sure God is aware of my every sin.” He was referring to a passage from Revelation 12:10: “Then I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, “Now salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down.” (NKJV) Many people believe that this is still going on, and that the “casting down” comes at the end of time. But that is not true. A careful reading of Revelation in the context of the rest of the New Testament shows that this “casting down” of the “accuser of the brothers” has already happened. “Who shall bring a charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies.” Romans 8:33 In book of Job, Satan is in God's presence and us griping about Job (see Job 1:6-12). Now here's the question I have about this scene: what the heck is Satan doing at God's throne? That's God's most holy place. How can Satan be allowed there? It's pretty simple: we gave him our pass to the throne room of heaven. Adam bowed to the will of Satan in the Garden of Eden in Genesis 3, and that means's Satan was able to take Adam's place and could come before God. Satan became “the accuser of the brothers” – he did nothing but bend God's ear with lies about us. Then something amazing happened. The “last Adam”, Jesus Christ, gave his own blood and cleansed the things of Heaven (Hebrews 9:22-24). The work Jesus did, which he called “finished”, redeemed the place where Satan stood before God. There's no place in heaven for Satan. He cannot come before God and accuse you or me. Those days are over. The next bit of good news is who is in God's presence today – and that would be JEsus. He is there on our behalf (Hebrews 9:24). And so now who can condemn or accuse us? “Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us.” Romans 8:34 Listen, as I read the book of Job I see it contains many theological knots. I can't untie half of them. I do know that much of it is bad theology, presented as just that. God himself says that Job's friends spoke wrongly about Him, invalidating much of the text as theology. Job wanted someone to plead on his behalf. (Job 9:33) We actually have what Job desired – we have Jesus as our representative, and he is interceding for us (1 Timothy 2:5). So… what does Satan do now? The only thing he can do: he comes to you and me, here on earth, and accuses us through our conscience. His only weapon is lies. His weapon is only effective if we believe the lies. He has no power. (Colossians 2:15) So if you find yourself thinking that God's will is for you to be sick, or hurting, or hungry… or that God is punishing you for your sins… don't buy into that garbage! Don't listen to Satan's lies. God justifies you, and nobody, not even the devil himself, has the power to come before God and accuse you. You, just like Jesus, have free and total access to God's throne of grace to “obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need”. (Hebrews 4:16) Revel in your righteousness, and know that all your sin-debt has been paid, you are free, and there's no one left to accuse you. Imagine yourself in the place of the woman caught in the act of adultery. Here accusers dragged her to Jesus, accusing her. He turned the accusers away and… When Jesus had raised Himself up and saw no one but the woman, He said to her, “Woman, where are those accusers of yours? Has no one condemned you?” She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said to her, “Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more.” John 8:10-11 That's what he's saying to you and me today: “Neither do I condemn you.” Feature Presentation: Are You Making These 5 Social Media Marketing Mistakes? Social Marketing is more important now than ever. If you don't believe that, or don't understand why its true, hasten thyself over to Social Media Examiner and get the  Sixth Annual Social Media Marketing Industry Report. It is 50 pages, and over 80 charts worth of data from 2,800 organized into an important and comprehensive report. It will open your eyes to just how important Social Media Marketing is to you and your business. Based on that report, Mike Stelzner gave a fantastic keynote at Social Media Marketing World 2015, where he outlined the 8 major trends all marketers must know about in 2015. After spending two and a half days at the conference last week, attending sessions, taking notes like a madman, listening to the podcasts and reading several books by presenters at the conference, plus reading a pile of articles on Social Media Examiner, I decided to create this Social Media-focused show. So here are the 5 Social Media Marketing Mistakes you are most likely making… and how to fix them. Pronto. Social Media Marketing Mistake #1 Failure to have a Strategic Social Media Marketing System. “Strategic” means: the identification of long-term or overall aims and interests and the means of achieving them. “System” means: a set of principles or procedures according to which something is done; an organized scheme or method. Thus, a Strategic Social Media Marketing System is: A set of principles and procedures of using Social Media with the overall aim of increasing the profitability of the enterprise. Do you have such a system? Is it written down? Does the document clearly define the intent of the system? Does it define, step-by-step, how to activities are to be conducted to achieve the Strategic Objective? Could anyone on your staff or team execute the instructions based solely on the written procedure? If not, you don't have a system. How To Fix Mistake #1: Develop a written document that spells out the principles and procedures of using Social Media with the overall aim of increasing the profitability of the enterprise. Social Media Marketing Mistake #2 Failure to have a consistent branding presence across Social Media Platforms. Your images, logos, and profile pages look different across all the different services, including your own blog. Your logo, colors, and design scheme are just a hodgepodge of what you used at the time you signed up for any given network. How To Fix Mistake #2: Get a professional logo design and headshot made, if you don't already have them. Know what your design color palette is and use it. Then, change your images, logos, and profile pages should look alike across all the different services, including your own blog. Your logo, colors, and design scheme should always match. And if you have a personal brand, use the same headshot on all the services… and make sure it looks like you! Social Media Marketing Mistake #3 Failure to understand the different Social Media services. The rules – both written and unwritten – differ from service to service. the proper way to be a valued member of each community is to understand its culture and behave accordingly. Proper behavior looks different on LinkedIn than on Google+ or Facebook, and Facebook profile etiquette is different from the etiquette for Facebook pages. And Twitter is different from all the rest. Unfortunately, many (most) marketers have never taken the time to really learn the culture of the networks they are part of. These same marketers then don't understand why their “social” marketing “doesn't work.” Here's a clue: If everywhere you go, you smell body odor, you might be the one who needs a shower. How To Fix Mistake #3: Study the most popular users of each service. Watch their behavior and interaction. Read a guide on the networks you want to be part of. You can find definitive guides and up-to-the-minute tips at Social Media Examiner for free. One powerful and important insight: spend most of your time on Social Networks being social. Interact. Respond. And don't make the mistake of being self-promotional all the time. My rule of thumb is to try to be 90% sharing and helpful, and to use only 10% of my Social Media activity to directly promote. Now go out on the playground… and play nice! Social Media Marketing Mistake #4 Failure to have a presence on the most important Social Media sites. Many marketers sign up for ever Social Media network, don't dig deep into any of them, and so have a lackluster presence everywhere. Yuck. Don't  do this. It just makes you appear to be one of the mediocre masses. You shouldn't – and can't – have a presence on all Social Media networks. How To Fix Mistake #4: I know I will get arguments on this, but in my opinion, here are the networks you should focus on, in the order of priority, from most important to least (but I think they are all important). Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Instagram Pinterest Google+ As I said, I know some will want to argue with be about this list, but I think it's right on target. Feel free to differ with me in the comments… or on Social Media!   Social Media Marketing Mistake #5 Failure to use strong visual content in your Social Media Marketing. Most Social Media Marketers are focused on words. As a copywriter, I understand. But copywriting and writing in general isn't really about the medium – it's about the message. If you're focused only on the text, you're missing out on huge momentum and potential profit. More and more, people are consuming visual content. How To Fix Mistake #5: Get visual – especially video-visual! One of the hottest trends, according to the data from the Social Media Marketing Industry Report (and Mike Stelzner's keynote), is video. In particular, native video. Meaning video that is posted and hosted on the network distributing it. The networks seem to be giving preference to video that is uploaded via their own network interface. So use Facebook to upload your video to Facebook, instead of uploading it to YouTube and linking to it on Facebook. The same is true of other networks as well. And for goodness sakes, don't forget pictures and those “quote memes” that seem so popular. You can make your own using Canva or Wordswag. And finally, there are infographics. If you want to capture complex ideas in a simple way people love, use infographics. There are a lot of great tools to make them yourself, among them Canva, PikToChart,  and Visual.ly. Which of these 5 Social Media Marketing Mistakes are you making, and what will you do this week to fix them? May I Ask A Favor? Subscribe to the show in iTunes and give us a rating and review. Go ahead and subscribe now, and give us your star rating and review on iTunes. We will definitely mention you on this show. We are also BACK on Stitcher.com, so if you prefer Stitcher, please subscribe there. If you don't already get the email newsletter, sign up for that and get the new free video: “3 Keys to Change the World and Make Your Business Grow.” Connect with me on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, or LinkedIn. Get The Transcript Click here to get the transcript. Transcripts provided by SuccessTranscripts – a great solution if you need your podcast, sermon, speech, or other audio transcribed.  

Cash is the oxygen that lets your business breathe. And just like oxygen, when there is none available it's all you can think about because you need it to survive. Sometimes your business just needs a fast infusion of cash, and today I'll show you 3 ways to get cash quick. Best of all, they are legal, moral, and ethical! Tip Of the Week I have a new friend, and I love him. His name is Edgar. Let me explain. Most of our social media updates go to waste. They’re only seen by a fraction of our total audience, falling victim to things like time of day, mysterious algorithms and other factors that are beyond our control. Fewer and fewer people see our social media updates. To keep up, we’re forced to publish more frequently, just to stay engaged with our audiences. This can make social media marketing a real burden, one that grows heavier each day… and one that offers diminishing returns. Edgar to the rescue! No longer do you publish your updates just once and then watch them sink beneath the waves of obscurity, missed by most and forgotten by all (even you) within hours of publication. Edgar catalogs your social updates into a library that grows over time. You curate the library, and Edgar republishes those updates on a schedule you set. He publishes only what you want, and only when you want it done. What happens once Edgar publishes all of the updates in a category (like “My Blog Posts,” for instance)? He just pulls more updates from your library. You can handcraft each update and even write several fresh updates that point to the same resource, blog post or podcast episode. Your social media posts don’t go to waste. Your “old” posts can become new again. And you have time to catch up on the latest episodes of The Walking Dead and Game of Thrones. You can read a whole stack of 44 cool Social Media Marketing tips like this in this article at Social Media Examiner. Spiritual Foundations The Bible says that where sin abounds, grace abounds much more. (Romans 5:20) But grace is about more than the forgiveness of sins. Check this out: “And the Child grew and became strong in spirit, filled with wisdom; and the grace of God was upon Him.” Luke 2:40 Jesus did not sin. (2 Corinthians 5:21) So why and how was God’s grace was upon Jesus? There must be some way a human can abound in God’s grace even when he has not sinned. The word “grace” is first mentioned in the Bible in Genesis 6:8, which says that “Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord”. Noah’s name means “rest”. So the verse is literally saying that rest found grace. Grace was upon Jesus because He lived a life of rest, and trust in His Father. He said, “The Son can do nothing of Himself. He can do only what He sees His Father doing.” (John 5:19) Grace comes upon us when we rest and trust God. But what if nothing happens? Honestly, if after you have given the matter to Jesus and nothing happens, what can you do? If Jesus Himself can’t do anything about it, do you think you can? But here's the truth: once the problem is handed over to Jesus, He can and will do a perfect work of taking care of it for you! So live a life of rest. Have this attitude and tell the Lord, “I just rest in You Lord and I trust You.” Feature Presentation: The Fastest Path to Cash Sometimes your business just needs a fast infusion of cash, and today I'll show you 3 ways to get cash quick. Best of all, they are legal, moral, and ethical! Provide a service. Consult. Do a combination for more leverage. Where do you find these customers? Your employer or past employers. Your customers or past customers. People you know, or people they know. Question: Which path to fast cash could you take this week – and will you? How You Can Help Subscribe to the show in iTunes and give us a rating and review. Go ahead and subscribe now, and give us your star rating and review on iTunes. We will definitely mention you on this show. If you don't already get the email newsletter, sign up for that and get the new free video: “3 Keys to Change the World and Make Your Business Grow.” Connect with me on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, or LinkedIn. Get The Transcript Click here to get the transcript. Transcripts provided by SuccessTranscripts – a great solution if you need your podcast, sermon, speech, or other audio transcribed.  

Many people struggle with getting their online business rolling because they never get around to creating their product. They think it has to be hard and take a long time. But I don't think either of those things are true. In fact, today I'll share 3 easy ways you can create products fast! Tip Of the Week How to read an extra book each month – audiobooks! I use Audible.com to read an extra book a month – some months two books! 3 reasons why this is a good idea: It makes use of what tony Robbins calls “N.E.T” time… meaning No Extra Time. It keeps your mind engaged when it would otherwise be idle. You read an extra 12 books this year! Try it and see for yourself. Spiritual Foundations To receive from the Lord, all we need is to hold the correct beliefs. How do we do this? So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ. Romans 10:17 So what is the “word of Christ”? Let's get an example: And a great crowd followed him and thronged about him. And there was a woman who had had a discharge of blood for twelve years, and who had suffered much under many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was no better but rather grew worse. She had heard the reports about Jesus and came up behind him in the crowd and touched his garment. For she said, “If I touch even his garments, I will be made well.” And immediately the flow of blood dried up, and she felt in her body that she was healed of her disease. And Jesus, perceiving in himself that power had gone out from him, immediately turned about in the crowd and said, “Who touched my garments?” And his disciples said to him, “You see the crowd pressing around you, and yet you say, ‘Who touched me?’” And he looked around to see who had done it. But the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came in fear and trembling and fell down before him and told him the whole truth. And he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace, and be healed of your disease.” Mar 5:24-34 Worth noting: This woman violated Jewish law (being in public while unclean, touching the Teacher, touching a man). She had tried many times already to be healed. She had merely “heard the reports about Jesus” and she said, “If I touch even his garments, I will be made well.” What did she hear about him? She drew something from Jesus that others around him did not draw! Feature Presentation: 3 Easy Ways to Create Products Fast Not every product you make can or should be your magnum opus. Here are 3 easy ways to create products fast. Teach what you know. Use audio, video, or screen capture. Report on what others know. Do audio or video interviews. Get transcripts. Make summaries and checklists. Curate the best teaching of the top experts. Read, interview, organize, synthesize. Cite sources, give credit. Sell using paypal or gumroad. Question: What's and easy product you could create in the next 7 days? How You Can Help Subscribe to the show in iTunes and give us a rating and review. Go ahead and subscribe now, and give us your star rating and review on iTunes. We will definitely mention you on this show. If you don't already get the email newsletter, sign up for that and get the new free video: “3 Keys to Change the World and Make Your Business Grow.” Connect with me on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, or LinkedIn. Get The Transcript Click here to get the transcript. Transcripts provided by SuccessTranscripts – a great solution if you need your podcast, sermon, speech, or other audio transcribed.  

It can be hard to find time to build your business, especially if you have a full-time job. “Moonlighting” to build your business can lead to burnout, problems with your current employer, or the failure of your spare-time startup. I found I had to make five specific trade-offs to make it work. I believe anyone who is leaving a full-time job to pursue their own business can do the same, if you’re willing to make these same five trade-offs. Tip Of the Week The easiest way to develop a new habit is to make it as automatic as possible. I suggest making it the first thing you do when you wake up. That's how I have developed my gratitude and meditation practice over the last month. Spiritual Foundations Sometimes we feel as though God might be too busy to pay attention to us as an individual. After all, we are one out of billions. We think that way because we are constricted by time and place. God is not limited by these factors. Even when Jesus was in His earthly body, and thus willingly limited in the same ways we are, Jesus always took time for individuals. Think about it. Jesus was traveling when he took time out to minister to the demon-possessed man from a distant area, the country of the Gadarenes. On his way there, He had time to minister to his disciples and show them he could calm the stormy sea. When He and the disciples returned to Galilee, a man named Jairus came to the Lord for help. His 12-year-old daughter was dying and he came to ask Jesus to come heal her. On His way there, Jesus was stopped by the woman who had been tormented by a bleeding condition for 12 years, and Jesus took time to stop and heal her. While He stopped for the woman, Jairus's daughter died, and the report came that Jesus was too late. Jesus reasured Jairus, “Do not be afraid; only believe, and she will be made well.” (Luke 8:49–50) He took the time to walk the rest of the way to Jairus' house and raised the little girl from the dead. Now, Jesus is not limited by time or space. He can be and is everywhere at once. And He always hears when we call. Even when He is busy. Even when it seems too late. He will always come through for you! Success Story: Matt McWilliams This is an interview featuring a success story from Matt McWilliams. Feature Presentation: Five Trade-Offs Help Build Your Business Faster It can be hard to find time to build your business, especially if you have a full-time job. “Moonlighting” to build your business can lead to burnout, problems with your current employer, or the failure of your spare-time startup. This is familiar territory for me – I built my marketing and copywriting business while working a full-time job in the demanding world of broadcast radio. In 2005, I was an executive with a regional broadcast company, traveling virtually every week, and responsible for the programming and marketing of dozens of radio stations all across the Northwest United States. Even though I had a cushy radio job, I could see the handwriting on the wall for an industry faced with increasing competition, decreasing audience, and shrinking revenue. It was time to get out. I decided to start my own business. In order to make the transition from full-time employee to full-time entrepreneur, I needed to build  my business income up before I left the corporate job – and I had to do it without stealing time form my “day job”. I found I had to make five specific trade-offs to make it work. I believe anyone who is leaving a full-time job to pursue their own business can do the same, if you’re willing to make these same five trade-offs. The Five Trade-Offs Trade short-term pain for long-term gain. Let’s face it: you’re going to be working harder for a while. That meant, for me, getting up earlier in the morning and going to bed later at night. In the short term, the extra work was painful. But the freedom I gained from making this trade was well worth the pain. Trade activities that are tension-relieving for those that are goal-achieving. In the old days, when I was just a “company man” workin’ the job, I often blew off steam by watching lots of TV, going to the movies, and spending weekends at the lake, hiking, or just hanging around the house. Those activities were tension-relieving, but I traded them for activities that were goal-achieving. This meant time previously spent on recreation was now devoted to writing copy,  creating products, and marketing my services. Trade hours now for days later. I soon realized that I was trading extra hours in the present day for days of freedom in the future. This realization helped keep me motivated. I keep telling myself that having all my days in the future free to do as I please was worth giving up some of my hours in the short-term. Trade luxuries for leverage. If you don’t have enough time to build  your business as quickly as you’d like, you may want to hire some help. Outsource some work, for instance. Building a business requires more than and investment of time; it also requires, to some degree, an investment of money. For instance, you might cut back on vacation spending, forgo the latest Apple gizmo, and give up other luxuries, so you can invest those extra dollars in order to outsource work for the business. You’re trading luxuries for the leverage you need to reach your goal. Trade fringe time for full-time status. Most of us have “fringe time” that mostly goes to waste – or at least that is filled with activities that don’t have any lasting value. Think about your own “fringe time” and how you currently fill it. Are you willing to trade your fringe time now for full-time status in your own business in the future? If you are willing to make these trade-offs, you can find the time to get your business off the ground even if you’re a “spare-time startup” – and you can leave the security of your job with income already rolling from the business. Question: What are some things you need to “trade” to help make your start-up business successful? How You Can Help Subscribe to the show in iTunes and give us a rating and review. Go ahead and subscribe now, and give us your star rating and review on iTunes. We will definitely mention you on this show. If you don't already get the email newsletter, sign up for that and get the new free video: “3 Keys to Change the World and Make Your Business Grow.” Connect with me on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, or LinkedIn. Get The Transcript Click here to get the transcript. Transcripts provided by SuccessTranscripts – a great solution if you need your podcast, sermon, speech, or other audio transcribed.  

I have written quite a bit about productivity, and done more than a few podcasts on the subject of getting things done. Today, I am taking a departure from the normal recommendations about being productive-including my own. On today's show, I will share five surprising productivity “hacks”- shortcuts that make you more productive. But shortcuts you may be shocked to hear coming from me. Tip of the Week This week's tip I actually picked up from my good friend Pat Flynn. Recently, I was listening to Pat's Smart Passive Income Podcast, and heard him talk about two apps that intrigued me. I've been using them now for a couple of weeks, and found them to be remarkably helpful. Calm. This app is a “meditation app”. Yes, I know what you are thinking. Do we need an app for meditating? I think the answer is yes. Having tried a number of such apps, this is the only one that consistently helps me guide my brain into a calmer, less fragmented, and more anxiety-free state. Calm supplies you with a series of “environments”, or soundscapes, that in and of themselves have a calming effect. Some of the choices include gentle rain, wind on a mountain meadow, the ocean, etc. But the app is more than a white noise generator. It also supplies a series of guided meditations that help still your mind and assist you in focusing on the here and now. This is an app that actually helps you with the practice of mindfulness. And for my Christian brothers and sisters who worry about what they may perceive to be “Eastern religious” practices, I can assure you that the guided meditations I have worked through so far have nothing to do with religion of any kind. These meditations are more about being present in this moment, and not getting caught up in thinking about things that are not happening right here, right now (the source of most of our anxiety and depression). I upgraded to the premium version, and considerate money well invested. SleepCycle. This app monitors the depth of your sleep by using the accelerometer in your iPhone. The theory is, the app detects how much you are moving in your bed at night. If you're moving a lot, you are either awake or in “light sleep”. If you are in deep, sound sleep, you won't be moving at all. Sleep cycle takes your target wake-up time, and watches you carefully to see when you are in light sleep, and only then will it give a soft gentle alarm to wake you. Waking when you are in light sleep leaves you feeling refreshed, alert, and energetic. This hass been very helpful to me, and using the app has increased my overall sleep time to an average of almost 6 1/2 hours. Spiritual Foundations What does it mean to repent? I submit it's not what you think. “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind…” Romans 12:2 Feature Presentation: Five Surprising Productivity Hacks And now we come to the five surprising productivity hacks. Today I present some counterintuitive, but highly effective, productivity hacks. You may be surprised to hear these coming from me, but I have been experimenting with different practices of late, and found that each of these recommendations have helped me be more productive in real terms: in other words, getting useful stuff done that I want to accomplish. Read fiction. Goof off. Watch television. Multitask. Put Your Shoulder to the Wheel. What about you? What are your unconventional or surprising productivity hacks that go against the grain of the modern school of productivity? I'd love to see you share those below. How You Can Help Subscribe to the show in iTunes and give us a rating and review. Go ahead and subscribe now, and give us your star rating and review on iTunes. We will definitely mention you on this show. If you don't already get the email newsletter, sign up for that and get the new free video: “3 Keys to Change the World and Make Your Business Grow.” Connect with me on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, or LinkedIn. Get The Transcript Click here to get the transcript. Transcripts provided by SuccessTranscripts – a great solution if you need your podcast, sermon, speech, or other audio transcribed.  

Does this sound like you? You hear people talk about “finding their passion” and “discovering your calling”, but you don't seem to be able to find yours.  You want to do work that matters, and enjoy the process – but you don't know how. The secret, as suggested by Jeff Goins in his new book The Art of Work is to find the intersection between what you care about and the needs of the world. (And, by the way, you can get a free copy of The Art of Work for a limited time here.) Today's podcast is a conversation with Jeff Goins, and we dig deeply into these matters, and we talk about how you can abandon the status quo and live a life that matters. Interview: Jeff Goins on Finding Your Calling and The Art of Work If you have struggled with finding the work that really gets you fired up, and that makes a difference in the world, you'll get a lot out of this conversation. Resources Mentioned In The Show Jeff Goins' blog Get a free copy of The Art of Work How You Can Help Subscribe to the show in iTunes and give us a rating and review. Go ahead and subscribe now, and give us your star rating and review on iTunes. We will definitely mention you on this show. If you don't already get the email newsletter, sign up for that and get the new free video: “3 Keys to Change the World and Make Your Business Grow.” Connect with me on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, or LinkedIn. Get The Transcript Click here to get the transcript. Transcripts provided by SuccessTranscripts – a great solution if you need your podcast, sermon, speech, or other audio transcribed.  

The time comes for all of us when we have to make big life transitions. In fact, it comes many times over the years… going off to college, getting married, starting a family, starting a business or new job. And there are other big transitions, too, the ones we don't enjoy so much. These can include serious illness, broken marriages, the death of a loved one – and many more unpleasant challenges we'd rather not face. In today's episode, I share surprising conversation with Brian Holmes about how to navigate these times of transition – the good ones and the not-so-good ones, too. Interview: Brian Holmes on How to Navigate Big Life Transitions This is a powerful interview, especially if you are facing any big “sea changes” in your life. Resources Mentioned In The Show Brian Holmes website Ties That Bind How You Can Help Subscribe to the show in iTunes and give us a rating and review. Go ahead and subscribe now, and give us your star rating and review on iTunes. We will definitely mention you on this show. If you don't already get the email newsletter, sign up for that and get the new free video: “3 Keys to Change the World and Make Your Business Grow.” Connect with me on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, or LinkedIn. Get The Transcript Click here to get the transcript. Transcripts provided by SuccessTranscripts – a great solution if you need your podcast, sermon, speech, or other audio transcribed.  

I think we can all agree, if you get your writing published on Huffington Post, The Good Men Project, or Entrepreneur.com, that would probably be a good thing, yes? It turns out it may not be all that hard to do… In today's episode, I interview the Amazing Kimanzi Constable, and that's just one of the many fascinating lessons you will learn. Spiritual Foundations: How to Get God to Bless Your Work Commit your work to the Lord,     and your plans will be established. Proverbs 16:3 Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ. Colossians 3:23-24 Some people think they are facing a difficulty because God is punishing them for some sin – and that is ridiculous. Interview: How to Get Featured on Big Sites Like Huffington Post This is my interview with Kimanzi Constable. Listen. Learn. Repeat. How You Can Help Subscribe to the show in iTunes and give us a rating and review. Go ahead and subscribe now, and give us your star rating and review on iTunes. We will definitely mention you on this show. If you don't already get the email newsletter, sign up for that and get the new free video: “3 Keys to Change the World and Make Your Business Grow.” Connect with me on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, or LinkedIn. Get The Transcript Click here to get the transcript. Transcripts provided by SuccessTranscripts – a great solution if you need your podcast, sermon, speech, or other audio transcribed.  

Study entrepreneurs, and you'll find some great behaviors to emulate. Just as useful: study the things they don't do! In today's episode, I'll share 10 Things Successful Entrepreneurs Don't Do. Other Reasons To Keep Listening How to learn a language for free. No, God is not punishing you for some sin! How to get a great design for your website – a conversation with my designer. That's all coming up in today's episode… Tip of the Week: DuoLingo is the way to learn a language for free. Snarky Nomad has a fabulous review. Spiritual Foundations: God Is Not Punishing You For Some Sin! In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace. Ephesians 1:7 Some people think they are facing a difficulty because God is punishing them for some sin – and that is ridiculous. Interview: How to Work With a Designer In which I interview my designer, Jason Clement of Red Letter Design. Feature Presentation: 10 Things Successful Entrepreneurs Don't Do Think the world owes them anything. Settle. Fear risk. Take no for an answer. Blame their failure on others. Give up. One thing. Look for obstacles. Think “realistically”. Expect their friends and family to understand.Notes. Resources Mentioned In The Show DuoLingo App Snarky Nomad Red Letter Design How You Can Help Subscribe to the show in iTunes and give us a rating and review. Go ahead and subscribe now, and give us your star rating and review on iTunes. We will definitely mention you on this show. If you don't already get the email newsletter, sign up for that and get the new free video: “3 Keys to Change the World and Make Your Business Grow.” Connect with me on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, or LinkedIn. Get The Transcript Click here to get the transcript. Transcripts provided by SuccessTranscripts – a great solution if you need your podcast, sermon, speech, or other audio transcribed.  

Donald Miller is one of the most influential Christian writers of our day. His books evoke strong reactions, and for many they strike a chord like no work before. His new book, Scary Close, is available today, and in this interview we discuss how he came to write it, and why the message of this book is so important. Get the book and other neat stuff at Donald Miller's website. You can also buy it at Amazon. How You Can Help Subscribe to the show in iTunes and give us a rating and review. People who have done so, and given us five-star reviews: Go ahead and subscribe now, and give us your star rating and review on iTunes. We will definitely mention you on this show. If you don't already get the email newsletter, sign up for that and get the new free video: “3 Keys to Change the World and Make Your Business Grow.” Connect with me on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, or LinkedIn. Get The Transcript Click here to get the transcript. Transcripts provided by SuccessTranscripts – a great solution if you need your podcast, sermon, speech, or other audio transcribed. Question: What part of the act do you need to drop?  Click here to leave your comments.

Now that you are marketing your products and services online, you have instant global reach. But there's one problem: your marketing now stands shoulder to shoulder with Coke, Ford, the NFL, Oprah, and every other major brand that's online. How do you compete? In this session I'm sharing a conversation with Marshall Wayne, who is breaking new ground for Platform-Builders and Solo Pros… using something I like to think of as “Cinematic Marketing”. And the good news is, it doesn't have to cost a fortune. Other Reasons To Keep Listening You'll discover the new alarm clock app I'm using on my iPhone that improves my sleep and increase my energy level upon awakening. How you can be free of guilt and shame. I'll share how you can get your own show promoted on this podcast! That's all coming up in today's episode… Tip(s) of the Week: I'm using the Rise Alarm Clock App for iPhone and loving it.  Rise is a beautifully simple alarm app. It's a work of art that wakes you up. No annoying clutter. Reach out and move the interface; Set and sleep. Not your typical alarm sounds. Wake up in the woods if you want, or pick a song from iTunes. Dock it and stare at the beautiful, large clock for day or night with multiple backgrounds (portrait or landscape) Create your own alarm labels for as many scheduled wake-up times as you need. *with IAP From the lock screen: Shake it like a Polaroid picture to snooze or turn off the alarm. Let SleepTunes help you fall (asleep) by making a sleepy playlist with a shut-off timer. Click here to learn more and get Rise for your iPhone. Spiritual Foundations: How We Can Be Free of Guilt and Shame You probably already know this, but I believe that Grace is not a doctrine that is part of the Gospel – I believe it is the Gospel. The Good News is way better than you think.  For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.)” Romans 5:17 For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” 2 Corinthians 5:21 For I will be merciful toward their iniquities, and I will remember their sins no more.” Hebrews 8:12 Keep in mind that when Jesus died on the cross, He paid the price for all your sins, and at that moment all of them were in the future. And He wiped them all clean. That means all your sins – even the ones you haven't committed yet – are forgiven, and God isn't even aware of them! God takes our sins – past, present, and future, and dumps them in the sea and puts up a sign that says ‘No Fishing Allowed'.” Corrie Ten Boom   Feature Presentation: How To Create An Iconic Personal Brand, With Marshall Wayne Marshall Wayne is a photographer and videographer who helps people created iconic personal brands. Resources Mentioned In The Show Marshall Wayne's website. The Icon Engineering System. The Agency Declassified. How You Can Help Subscribe to the show in iTunes and give us a rating and review. Go ahead and subscribe now, and give us your star rating and review on iTunes. We will definitely mention you on this show. If you don't already get the email newsletter, sign up for that and get the new free video: “3 Keys to Change the World and Make Your Business Grow.” Connect with me on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, or LinkedIn. Get The Transcript Click here to get the transcript. Transcripts provided by SuccessTranscripts – a great solution if you need your podcast, sermon, speech, or other audio transcribed.

How do you start a company with just an idea, a few volunteers, and no budget… and in less than 5 years have a web media property with 15 million readers? That's what Michael Stelzner did with Social Media Examiner, and in today's episode we'll share a conversation with Michael about how he did it. And how you could, too! In this conversation, we'll discover together: Why the smartest promotional strategy might be not promoting. The best way to differentiate yourself from your competitors. Michael's method for launching new projects and products. And his personal Social Media Marketing strategy. Announcements: On Friday, we'll release the first in a series of free video trainings on how to sell more of whatever you sell… without being a salesperson. I've got some powerful frameworks to share that will more of your emails opened, more of your content read and shared, and more of your products and services sold. We're moving podcast publication day to Tuesdays. Success Stories I'm still looking to share your success stories and good news. So if you've got a business triumph, spiritual victory, a story of God's miraculous intervention in your life or your business… I want to hear about it. Click this link to record a voicemail about your success story or testimony. Spiritual Foundations: What I Learned From My Wife About Joy If you've lost your joy, there's an easy way to retrace your steps and find it again. “But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”Matthew 6:33 “For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.” Romans 14:17 The Kingdom of God is peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. Feature Presentation: A Conversation With Michael Stelzner, Founder of Social Media Examiner In this conversation, we'll discover together: Why the smartest promotional strategy might be not promoting. The best way to differentiate yourself from your competitors. Michael's method for launching new projects and products. And his personal Social Media Marketing strategy. How You Can Help Subscribe to the show in iTunes and give us a rating and review. People who have done so, and given us five-star reviews: Travis Greenlee, who calls the show “The best marketing and leadership training on iTunes.” Shari Miller says she gets “Practical, awesome, useful ideas. This is one amazing podcast!” Adrienne Olson says: “Listened once, fan for life!” Go ahead and subscribe now, and give us your star rating and review on iTunes. We will definitely mention you on this show. If you don't already get the email newsletter, sign up for that and get the new free video: “3 Keys to Change the World and Make Your Business Grow.” Connect with me on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, or LinkedIn. Get The Transcript Click here to get the transcript. Transcripts provided by SuccessTranscripts – a great solution if you need your podcast, sermon, speech, or other audio transcribed. What's your approach to social media marketing?

I listen to lots of podcasts. And while I have a few core podcasts I don't ever miss, I am constantly trying new shows out, looking for fresh voices I can put into my listening rotation. In today's episode, I'll share my listening strategy: how I selected my “A” shows, which I never miss, how I select my “B” shows, which I selectively listen to, and how I decide what new shows to sample. And of course I will give you my list of 10 fresh new shows you should check out. Other Reasons To Keep Listening A book you can read this afternoon that will boost the success you enjoy starting tonight. What to do about being disappointed with God. How you can get promoted on my show, and get exposure for your website. That's all coming up in today's episode… Announcements: Next week, we'll release the first in a series of free video trainings on how to write powerful sales copy that sells your products and services… without feeling like a sleazy salesperson. I've decided to open the “insider only” invitation to our upcoming event Permission to Prosper to podcast listeners and subscribers. After all, you're insiders too! Click here for the details, but do it quickly. Success Stories I'm looking to share your success stories and good news. So if you've got a business triumph, spiritual victory, a story of God's miraculous intervention in your life or your business… I want to hear about it. Click this link to record a voicemail about your success story or testimony. Tip of the Week: I just re-read The Go-Giver by Bob Burg and John David Mann. This book is a quick read, but it can radically shift your level of success immediately. Even better, the tactics are not faddish, but are rather based on timeless principles. While implementing what you read may not put money in your bank account tomorrow, I do believe you will feel more wealthy within 24 hours of reading it (if you put the principles into practice). It's engaging, fun to read, and has a strong spiritual foundation (while not being tied to any one religion). To say more would be to reduce the impact of the book – just get it and read it. Or re-read it. You won't be sorry. Click here to buy this book from Amazon. Spiritual Foundations: What to do about being disappointed with God. Do you ever feel let down by God? How do you deal with that? Give ear to my prayer, O God, and hide not yourself from my plea for mercy! Attend to me, and answer me; I am restless in my complaint and I moan, because of the noise of the enemy, because of the oppression of the wicked. For they drop trouble upon me, and in anger they bear a grudge against me. My heart is in anguish within me; the terrors of death have fallen upon me. Fear and trembling come upon me, and horror overwhelms me. And I say, “Oh, that I had wings like a dove! I would fly away and be at rest; yes, I would wander far away; I would lodge in the wilderness; Selah I would hurry to find a shelter from the raging wind and tempest.” Destroy, O Lord, divide their tongues; for I see violence and strife in the city. Day and night they go around it on its walls, and iniquity and trouble are within it; ruin is in its midst; oppression and fraud do not depart from its marketplace. For it is not an enemy who taunts me— then I could bear it; it is not an adversary who deals insolently with me— then I could hide from him. But it is you, a man, my equal, my companion, my familiar friend. We used to take sweet counsel together; within God's house we walked in the throng. Let death steal over them; let them go down to Sheol alive; for evil is in their dwelling place and in their heart. But I call to God, and the Lord will save me. Evening and morning and at noon I utter my complaint and moan, and he hears my voice. He redeems my soul in safety from the battle that I wage, for many are arrayed against me. God will give ear and humble them, he who is enthroned from of old, Selah because they do not change and do not fear God. My companion stretched out his hand against his friends; he violated his covenant. His speech was smooth as butter, yet war was in his heart; his words were softer than oil, yet they were drawn swords. Cast your burden on the Lord, and he will sustain you; he will never permit the righteous to be moved. But you, O God, will cast them down into the pit of destruction; men of blood and treachery shall not live out half their days. But I will trust in you. Psalm 55 Pour out your complaint to the Lord, but remember He will ultimately bring you the justice you seek. Feature Presentation: 10 Fresh New Podcasts You Should Check Out I'm a lifetime learner, and one of my favorite ways to learn is through podcasts. I am fairly systematic about my listening – I have 3 tiers, or “rotations”: A – 10 podcasts I never miss. B – 10 podcasts I listen to selectively. C – 10-15 shows I am checking out, and sampling. 10 Podcasts I Never Miss This Is Your Life, by Michael Hyatt and Michele Cushatt Podcast Answerman, by Cliff Ravenscraft Smart Passive Income, by Pat Flynn 48 Days, by Dan Miller The School of Greatness, by Lewis Howes Mac Power Users, by David Sparks and Katie Floyd Online Marketing Made Easy, by Amy Porterfield Bethel Church Sermon of the Week, by Bethel Church in Redding, CA The Portfolio Life, Jeff Goins Social Media Marketing Podcast, Michael Stelzner 10 Fresh New Podcasts To Check Out (These Are Your Shows I'm Just Trying Out Or I Listen to Selectively) The Charged Life, Brendon Burchard The Tim Ferriss Show, Tim Ferriss Fizzle, by Corbett Barr, Chase Reeves, and Caleb Wojcik Social Media Examiner Show (different than #10 above, this is a daily 10-minute show) The 1-Day Business Breakthrough, by Chris Ducker and Pat Flynn Radiolab from WNYC The Dave Ramsey Show The Chalene Show, Chalene Johnson This American Life, by Ira Glass Ask Pat, by Pat Flynn How You Can Help Subscribe to the show in iTunes and give us a rating and review. People who have done so, and given us five-star reviews: Go ahead and subscribe now, and give us your star rating and review on iTunes. We will definitely mention you on this show. If you don't already get the email newsletter, sign up for that and get the new free video: “3 Keys to Change the World and Make Your Business Grow.” Connect with me on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, or LinkedIn. Get The Transcript Click here to get the transcript. Transcripts provided by SuccessTranscripts – a great solution if you need your podcast, sermon, speech, or other audio transcribed. Question: What are the top podcasts you would recommend that others check out?

A young woman has quit smoking, been promoted at work, and run a marathon. An untested CEO takes over one of America's biggest companies and focuses on just one behavior pattern in the company, and very soon Alcoa is at the top of the Dow Jones. A marketer at Procter & Gamble notices a seemingly insignificant pattern while studying videos of how people make their beds. As a result, the company makes a small shift in advertising and Febreze goes from being one of the company's biggest flops to earning a billion dollars a year. What do all three cases have in common? Reporter and best-selling author Charles Duhigg believes that in each case, the success came from a shift in the patterns that shape our very lives – our habits. Habits do form our destiny, but we can consciously choose our habits. That shift – a change in your key habits – can help you transform your relationships, your finances, your health, your business, and your life. In today's episode, I'll suggest 10 life-changing habits to adopt now. And I'll give you the tools, tactics, and battle plan to help make those habits stick. Other Reasons To Keep Listening You'll discover the best book I know of on the subject of habits, why they are so powerful, and how to change them. I'll attempt an answer to the question: “Is it right for Christians to choose to ‘upgrade' their peer group in order to be more successful, or is that a selfish, sinful pursuit?” You'll get a direct link to the best $10 training on Omnifocus you'll find anywhere. That's all coming up in today's episode… Announcements: Next week, we'll release the first in a series of free video trainings on how to write powerful sales copy that sells your products and services… without feeling like a sleazy salesperson. Our Regency Mastermind Round One Membership filled up almost instantly. News about Round Two is coming soon. We're also working on a plan for a group mentoring plan for newbies… this will be a community that should be affordable for almost anyone. We will unveil our plans in the very near future. I've decided to open the “insider only” invitation to our upcoming event Permission to Prosper to podcast listeners and subscribers. After all, you're insiders too! Click here for the details, but do it quickly. Success Stories I'm looking to share your success stories and good news. So if you've got a business triumph, spiritual victory, a story of God's miraculous intervention in your life or your business… I want to hear about it. Click this link to record a voicemail about your success story or testimony. Tip(s) of the Week: “In The Power of Habit, award-winning New York Times business reporter Charles Duhigg takes us to the thrilling edge of scientific discoveries that explain why habits exist and how they can be changed.” So reads the copy on Duhigg's website. He goes on to describe his book this way: “Along the way we learn why some people and companies struggle to change, despite years of trying, while others seem to remake themselves overnight. We visit laboratories where neuroscientists explore how habits work and where, exactly, they reside in our brains. We discover how the right habits were crucial to the success of Olympic swimmer Michael Phelps, Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz, and civil-rights hero Martin Luther King, Jr. We go inside Procter & Gamble, Target superstores, Rick Warren’s Saddleback Church, NFL locker rooms, and the nation’s largest hospitals and see how implementing so-called keystone habits can earn billions and mean the difference between failure and success, life and death.” “At its core, The Power of Habit contains an exhilarating argument: The key to exercising regularly, losing weight, raising exceptional children, becoming more productive, building revolutionary companies and social movements, and achieving success is understanding how habits work.” Click here to buy this book from Amazon. Omnifocus Video Field Guide Are you an Omnifocus user and GTD practitioner? Then you're going to love David Sparks's new Omnifocus Video Field Guide. David says: “The OmniFocus Video Field Guide is a screencast, not a book. A lot of people have asked me to write a book about OmniFocus but instead I made this 2.5 hour video that takes you, soup to nuts, through the Omni Group's supremely bad-ass task manager. The screencast can turn an OmniFocus novice into a task-managing ninja.” Spiritual Foundations: Is it right for Christians to ‘upgrade' their peer group in order to be more successful? When we talk about being “intentional about your peer group”, seeking out relationships with people more successful than you, and eliminating  or limiting the access to you that negative people have, are we being selfish or sinful? “Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm.”Proverbs 13:20 “Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers.” Psalm 1:1-3 Minister to everyone, but take care who you give access to your heart. Feature Presentation: 10 Life-Changing Habits To Adopt Now Habits are the tiny hinges that swing the big doors of your life – either opening or shutting them. Habits control the tiny, incremental behaviors that shape our lives. “Sow a thought, reap an action; sow an action, reap a habit; sow a habit, reap a character; sow a character, reap a destiny.†– Stephen R. Covey, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People It's the small things we do every day that have the big effect down the road. “You will never change your life until you change something you do daily. The secret of your success is found in your daily routine.†– Darren Hardy, The Compound Effect 10 Life-Changing Habits To Adopt Now Rituals. Gratitude. Forgiveness. Exercise. Food. Responsibility. Journal. Generosity. Overdeliver. Notes. I use The Habit List app to track my daily habit practice. Resources Mentioned In The Show Click Here to get your “Hour of Power” poster. Permission to Prosper Conference Limited-Time Discount Registration The Power of Habit by Charles Duhigg The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen R. Covey The Compound Effect by Darren Hardy Omnifocus Video Field Guide by MacSparky (David Sparks) How You Can Help Subscribe to the show in iTunes and give us a rating and review. People who have done so, and given us five-star reviews: Travis Greenlee, who calls the show “The best marketing and leadership training on iTunes.” Shari Miller says she gets “Practical, awesome, useful ideas. This is one amazing podcast!” Adrienne Olson says: “Listened once, fan for life!” Go ahead and subscribe now, and give us your star rating and review on iTunes. We will definitely mention you on this show. If you don't already get the email newsletter, sign up for that and get the new free video: “3 Keys to Change the World and Make Your Business Grow.” Connect with me on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, or LinkedIn. Get The Transcript Click here to get the transcript. Transcripts provided by SuccessTranscripts – a great solution if you need your podcast, sermon, speech, or other audio transcribed. Question: What habits will you adopt to uplevel your life?  Click here to leave your comments.

As we begin a new year, it's popular for many bloggers and podcasters to make “predictions” about the new year. I prefer not making predictions (unless I feel inspired to do so), but I will point out 7 crucial trends to watch for in 2015. I believe these trends represent some fundamental shifts in the way business is done online, and the way you will continue to build your platform in the new year Other Reasons To Keep Listening I will reveal one of  the apps I'm using to help me meet my financial goals in 2015. We will tackle the question, “if God is always good, then why do bad things happen to good people?” I'll also share how you can get a plug or mention, or even an appearance on this show. That's all coming up in today's episode… Announcements: Our Regency Mastermind Round One Membership filled up almost instantly. Stay tuned for news about round 2. We're also working on a plan for a group mentoring plan for newbies… this will be a community that should be affordable for almost anyone. News to come soon. I've decided to open the “insider only” invitation to our upcoming event Permission to Prosper to podcast listeners and subscribers. After all, you're insiders too! Click here for the details, but do it quickly. Success Stories I'm looking to share your success stories and good news. So if you've got a business triumph, spiritual victory, a story of God's miraculous intervention in your life or your business… I want to hear about it. Click this link to record a voicemail about your success story or testimony. This week's success story comes from Danna Demetre. Tip of the Week: I have some pretty huge financial goals for 2015. One of the main tools I am using for course corrections and double checking my progress is a free app called Personal Capital. Using this app, I can see what is happening with all my accounts at a glance, and see an instant, up-to-date calculation of my net worth. Brilliant. According to their website, Personal Capital provides “award-winning tools provide an in-depth view of your finances and help you eliminate excessive fees. Plus, our advanced analytics and expert advisors are on hand to give you a personalized investment strategy. So you and your money can have a little fun of your own.” Sign up now for free. Spiritual Foundations: If God Is Always Good, Why Do Bad Things Happen? This is not a new question. It's been dealt with by many great theologians, and I don't count myself as one of them. But I do know this: we really have one basic decision to make. Is God good, and can he be trusted? And it really is a decision. If you're looking for a mathematical formula to prove it one way or another, I predict you will be disappointed. Personally, after I decided to settle this question in my heart once and for all, everything else became very clear to me. Even the subject of “mystery.” Here are three explanations that might help us understand why bad things happen to God's people. This is not heaven. We live in a fallen world, where the influence of the enemy still creates chaos and attempts to unravel the things which God has woven into place. The victory has been one by Jesus on the cross, and we live in an era when it is slowly but implacably being enforced by us, his “kingdom of priests”. We cannot see the whole picture. Put another way, we simply don't know everything. It's possible that if we did, many things that we viewed now as injustices or the failure of God to keep his promises would actually be seen as the opposite. Think of it this way: your child may not understand why you are forcing them to undergo a painful and traumatic medical procedure. You, on the other hand, know that it's necessary for the doctor to remove the child's appendix so that they might live and not be killed by the very poison that conveys their system. A crude example, but perhaps illustrative. Romans 8:38 assures us that God makes all things work for the good of those who love him, and who are called according to his purposes. If you are a follower of Christ, that includes you. And please note that it doesn't mean that God is not directly causative in whatever evil may befall you, but that he can, will, and does turn what was intended for evil to ultimately prove good for you. I understand that all these answers may feel empty in the face of a devastating problem, such as a broken marriage, a cancer diagnosis, the sudden unexpected death of a child, or some other brutal and horrible experience that you may be undergoing right now. It is in these places that the importance of the decision I mentioned earlier becomes obvious. The time to make the decision that God is always good, and that he can be trusted, is before the crisis occurs. The time to exercise the faith for that belief is before you desperately need it. Feature Presentation: 7 Trends To Watch For In 2015 Don't make the mistake of letting what you know get in the way of what you need to learn. I often tell people that classic copywriting formulas will always work, because human psychology does not change. At the basis of that statement is I believe deep truth. However it can also be misleading. If you assume that old-fashioned headline templates, for instance will work as well today as they once did, you may be in for a rude awakening. If you believe that the old school, hard-core, hard-sell, carnival barker style of writing copy still works as well as it did even a year ago, you are definitely in for a rude awakening. As I've discovered through my own business, and working with clients on theirs, there is a new elegance required to writing powerful, persuasive copy. This is just one example of a new trend that does not cancel out a time-tested principle, but doesn't fact require a reinterpretation of that principle through fresh linens. You will be much better prepared for doing business in 2015 if you keep the following seven landscape changing trends in mind. Ignore them at your peril. 7 Trends To Watch For in 2015 The continued rise of high-quality video for the purposes of marketing and selling. The meteoric, explosive growth of podcasting as a marketing channel, and the end of “old school marketing” inside podcasts. The dramatically higher bar that has been set for content marketing to be successful. A major shift away from “homebrew” website solutions, and the shift toward turnkey systems. The crucial importance of the power of proper association. The “thinning of the herd” that will eliminate the shallow, the con artists, and the opportunity seekers… and create an extraordinary advantage for those who are genuine original thinkers, strong personalities, and world changers. The absolute necessity of being more than “10% better” than your competition; the absolute necessity of creating your own category. Resources Mentioned In The Show Permission to Prosper Conference Limited-Time Discount Registration Personal Capital Just Get Started  book by Ray Edwards Money Words book by Ray Edwards Writing Riches book by Ray Edwards Danna Demetre's website How You Can Help Subscribe to the show in iTunes and give us a rating and review. People who have done so, and given us five-star reviews: Travis Greenlee, who calls the show “The best marketing and leadership training on iTunes.” Shari Miller says she gets “Practical, awesome, useful ideas. This is one amazing podcast!” Adrienne Olson says: “Listened once, fan for life!” Go ahead and subscribe now, and give us your star rating and review on iTunes. We will definitely mention you on this show. If you don't already get the email newsletter, sign up for that and get the new free video: “3 Keys to Change the World and Make Your Business Grow.” Connect with me on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, or LinkedIn. Get The Transcript Click here to get the transcript. Transcripts provided by SuccessTranscripts – a great solution if you need your podcast, sermon, speech, or other audio transcribed. Question: What are your thoughts on today's episode?  Click here to leave your comments.

Have you ever suffered from depression or anxiety? Depression is a major problem in the world today. By the year 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that depression will be the number two cause of “lost years of healthy life” worldwide. This time of year feelings of depression are common. Most people suffer in silence. And in this episode I will share my own battle with depression, and give you my recipe for defeating this debilitating and deadly disease. Tip of the Week: Moodtracker. Enter daily a choice of three moods and have the option to input notes as well. You can see a twoweek calendar view from the main page, or a full month view calendar from the Calendar view. Also, export your notes to email so you can bring in your notes to your next doctor's visit or keep for your reference. Spiritual Foundations: Depression Is Always a Spiritual Battle Depression is always a spiritual matter at the root – but don't let condemnation creep in. Whoever has no rule over his own spirit is like a city broken down, without walls. Proverbs 25:28 Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a desire fulfilled is a tree of life. Proverbs 13:12 Decide to use the opportunity to glorify God. The deeper your depression, the more expressive your worship should be. Read the Psalms until you hear your voice – then camp there for a while. Feature Presentation: How To Overcome Depression Depression is a major problem in the world today. By the year 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that depression will be the number two cause of “lost years of healthy life” worldwide. Of the estimated 17.5 million Americans who are affected by some form of depression, 9.2 million have major or clinical depression. Two-thirds of people suffering from depression do not seek necessary treatment. 80% of all people with clinical depression who have received treatment significantly improve their lives. The economic cost of depression is estimated at $30.4 billion a year but the cost in human suffering cannot be estimated. Women experience depression about twice as often as men. People who are not depressed don't commit suicide. I've battled depression myself, and I know it is not an easy thing to deal with. I have tried just about every solution available to fight depression. I feel it is important to resist this force, which is more than a mere “feeling” – it is an enemy that will devour your life and the lives of those around you. But there is hope. And I'm going to share my own battle plan and recipe for overcoming depression. First Things First: Does God Want Me To Be Depressed? First and foremost, let me state very clearly: I don't think depression or anxiety are ever from the Lord. Ever. End of discussion. God can and does use bad things and turns them ultimately to our good-but that is his work in redeeming an imperfect creation from the curse mankind placed it under. It is not him abusing his children in order to “teach them something”. The theology here is very deep: Good things come from God. Bad things come from Satan. Children understand this. It takes adults make it complicated. Ray's 9-Step Anti-Depression Recipe Prayer daily, as a conversation with God. Practice the awareness of God's Presence. Journaling daily (I use Day One, and a template of questions that I answer each day. I store the template as a TextExpander snippet). Read 5 Psalms and 1 chapter of Proverbs daily (in addition to normal Bible reading/study) Vigorous Exercise 6 days per week (while listening to powerful, positive UPBEAT worship music – ie, no “I've written an ode to my problems” type songs) Daily declarations (speaking out loud the promises of the word, see the book above) Paleo Diet to regulate blood sugar and neurochemistry Supplementation (especially Vitamin D and B-Complex) Tracking mood daily (use MoodTracker App) Additional Resources For Battling Depression Here is a list of resources that have been very useful to me. I Declare: 31 Promises to Speak Over Your Life – Joel Osteen Declarations: Unlocking Your Future – Steve Backlund Strengthen Yourself In The Lord – Bill Johnson The Power of Right Believing – Joseph Prince Philips goLITE BLU Light Therapy Device Final Thoughts On Overcoming Depression No discussion of this topic would be complete without mentioning antidepressant medications. As a last resort, I can tell you that antidepressant medications can be useful. But I strongly believe this is only after you have exhausted every other possible answer. There are peer-reviewed, controlled studies that demonstrate vigorous exercise is just as effective as antidepressants in most patients. The possible exception to this rule is that you may have an actual physiological problem in your brain. In my case, because I was been diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease, I have empirical evidence that my neurological systems are flawed. Specifically, the production and delivery of dopamine, which controls movement, is at the root of most Parkinson's symptoms. It just so happens that dopamine also controls mood. Thus, there may be more of a direct physiological element in my individual case. But even this is in dispute amongst experts. I have taken anti-depressants, under the close supervision of a medical professional. So if you need to do this, please do not accept any shame or condemnation for doing so. God always does the healing, whether through the laying on of hands by a believer… or the laying on of hands by a doctor. Or the blessing of intellect that allows the creation of medicines that heal. The Role Of Psychology and Psychiatry In Treating Depression If you seek counseling of any kind, I strongly recommend working with a Christian counselor, and finding one who does not have some perverse “theology of suffering”. Unless you want to suffer and believe it is “for a reason”. I have in the past sought out professional help with depression. Even when I went to see a medical professional, I sought one who was a believer, because the baseline theological premises one begins with influence the final practical outcome conclusions one forms. Even in medicine. Get The Transcript Click here to get the transcript. Transcripts provided by SuccessTranscripts – a great solution if you need your podcast, sermon, speech, or other audio transcribed. Question: Have you ever struggled with feelings of depression?  Click here to leave your comments.

We often treat the future as if it's a mystery. As if we don't have a say in it, or any control if it. And while there is some truth  in that, there is a deeper truth also. We get to choose how we see the future, and the choice we make has a profound influence over the outcome we experience. This episode shows you 5 powerful ways to see the road ahead.     Tip of the Week: I may have finally found an app to replace Cardmunch – the iPhone app I previously used to process business cards I received at conferences. The new app is called Card Reader, and it's made by Full Contact. The maker claims is “the easiest way to scan business cards into Google Contacts, iPhone Contacts, & 250+ other apps.” The advantage Card Reader has over other card scanners is simple, and powerful: the business cards you scan into it are transcribed by real live humans, not by an OCR algorithm. If you'd like to be the one-in-a-million who actually does something with all those business cards you collect, give Card Reader a try. Plus, Full Contact will unify, synch, and keep up-to-date all the contacts in your Google, Facebook, Twitter, and Contacts. Spiritual Foundations: Grace Is Not A Doctrine “Grace”, to most Christians, is a doctrine. A part of the overall gospel of Jesus Christ. But that's not the case. Grace is not a “doctrine” or a “part of” the gospel. It is the gospel itself, in its entirety. For if, because of one man's trespass, death reigned through that one man, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ. Romans 5:17 We tell new Christians they ” are saved by grace through faith”. That salvation is a “free gift”. Then, once they have nought our sales pitch, we begin telling them how they have to “clean up their act”. But performance-based Christianity is a modern invention, not a biblical principle. We don't “behave our way” into to the life of the Spirit. Many churches teach that we must stop serving the “desires of the flesh” so that we can then walk more by the Spirit… but the Bible says the exact opposite. But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.  For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do.  But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. Galatians 5:16-18 When we walk by the Spirit, we will naturally be freed from the power of sin. How then, do we “walk by the Spirit”? Here are some good ways to start: By becoming Christ-conscious instead of sin-conscious. Read the Scripture and look for Christ and His grace. Recalling, meditating on, and speaking out loud the testimony of what He has done. Talk to God, and listen what He says to you (through His word, other people, “coincidences”, the “still small voice”, a sense of his presence., etc.) Listen to and soak up anointed teaching, preaching, and worship music. Doing these things will help you walk by the Spirit… and your transformed behavior will flow from you naturally. Feature Presentation: 5 Powerful Ways To See The Road Ahead Here are 5 powerful ways to see the road ahead – transforming your thinking, and conforming it to these frameworks, can have a powerful impact on the future you actually experience. Possible. Don't allow your thoughts to rehearse all the possible ways things might go wrong. Instead, meditate n great detail on exactly how things could go right. Provident. Remember that the Universe is the creation of a benevolent God who wants only the best for you. and even when chaos intervenes and things go wrong, it can ultimately work in your favor (Romans 8:28). Peaceful. Peace has very little to do with what is happening around us, and everything to do with what is happening within us. Powerful. The agency in your life belongs to you. You are a “powerful person” – meaning you are not a victim of circumstances, bad luck, or other people's poor choices. Prepared. God has prepared a specific, beneficial, fulfilling destiny for you, and you must remember this, even when you feel you can't see it. Even if you don't fancy yourself a believer, I have a suggestion. Believe your future has been prepared for you anyway. Which belief will allow you to proceed with more confidence, clarity, and control: the belief that life is a random game of chance with no rhyme or reason… or the belief that a force greater than you is looking out for you, and constantly adjusting the odds in your favor? Which believe will make you more calm, proactive, flexible, and give you access to your own personal levels of highest performance?   Get The Transcript Click here to get the transcript. Transcripts provided by SuccessTranscripts – a great solution if you need your podcast, sermon, speech, or other audio transcribed. Question: What are you looking forward to in 2015? How will you use these 5 ways of seeing the road ahead to empower your journey?  Click here to leave your comments.

This is a special episode where I'm taking the time to answer a ton of questions from listeners and readers. I really enjoy these kinds of shows, and this one is no exception. By the way, I am looking for success stories to start sharing on every episode. If you have a success story to share, click here and record it using Speakpipe. Keep your success story short and powerful (2 minutes or less is best). We're looking for ways you've  been blessed by this show, whether is was financially, in your business or work, spiritually, or miraculous healing or provision! Tip of the Week: Michael Hyatt has just released his brand new course, called 5 Years To Your Best Year Ever. If you want to set goals that you actually achieve, and make resolutions that really stick… this course is the way to do it. I did last year's version, and got some astonishing results. For instance, my family paid off $103,012  in debt, and I personally lost 35.2 pounds of fat! I'm excited to participate in this year's version of the course. I'm asking my personal Mastermind, the Regency Group, to invest in the course so we can all go through it together. I want you to get the benefit of this course, too. Right now you can get it at the Early Bird Discount price. Don't wait – do it now, get access to the entire course, and start crafting the plan for your best year ever. Please keep in mind, I'm a paid affiliate for this program and earn a commission if you purchase through this link. This does not affect your price. However… If it makes you uncomfortable that I receive a commission, and you wonder about my motivations, then purchase through the link that will deny me any commission. Use that link, and I won't make a dime. I want you to benefit from this course regardless of whether I make any money. Spiritual Foundations: The Peculiar Problem Of Doubt Doubt is something most believers struggle with. There was the man who lacked belief, who said to Jesus, “I believe. Help my unbelief.” Thomas doubted the resurrected Christ was real until he could press his fingers in the nail-holes left by the Lords ttorturouscrucifixion. Peter had a clue, when he said to Jesus across the raging storm at sea, “Lord if it is you, call me to come to you.” And because of that request, Pete walked on the water. There are 3 steps that will help us banish the peculiar problem of doubt: Acknowledge it when it is real, but refuse to feed it. Like Thomas, prove the truth to ourselves. The best way is the testimony. Like Peter, ask Jesus to give us faith for the impossible, and then be crazy enough to brave the waves! Feature Presentation: Ask Me Anything In this episode I answer a bunch of listener questions! Next Week:  “The Road Ahead” Episode Get The Transcript Click here to get the transcript. Transcripts provided by SuccessTranscripts – a great solution if you need your podcast, sermon, speech, or other audio transcribed. Question: Have you ever struggled with doubt? How did you overcome it? Click here to leave your comments.

It's the time of year when we all start to think about making resolutions and setting goals for the new year… and we're either happy about it, or cynical. This week Michael Hyatt is my guest, and he offers a fresh perspective on setting goals. By the way, if you haven't seen the fabulous free video training Michael is giving away on how to make 2015 “your best year ever”, click here right now and get access to those videos! Tip of the Week: Blinkist is a great little app that lets you access concise book summaries on your iPhone or iPad. Want to mentor with me in 2015? Click here to register for a pre-application Webinar Monday, December 8, at 7pm Eastern. Spiritual Foundations: The God of Our Goals “Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established..” Proverbs 16:3 As we set goals for the coming year, it's important to include God in the process, for these 3 reasons: Calling Character Charisma When our Calling, Character, and Charisma are activated by the presence of God, our plans will be established indeed! Feature Presentation: Michael Hyatt on Goal Setting and Your Best Year Ever This is a spectacular interview with Michael Hyatt on how to set goals for the new year (or any time). NOTE: enroll in Michael's course by clicking this link to get into the accountability group I mentioned in the episode. Next Week:  The “Ask Me Anything” Episode Get The Transcript Click here for the transcript. Transcripts provided by SuccessTranscripts – a great solution if you need your podcast, sermon, speech, or other audio transcribed. Question: How will you apply the power of copywriting in your business or career? Click here to leave your comments.

Some people think “copywriting” – the art and science of writing sales copy – is dead and gone. Killed by social media. The truth is copywriting is alive and well. and more important than ever to you and your business. You must master this. Tip of the Week: For a long time, I stopped taking handwritten notes. I found it tedious, and I found I seldom referred to them again. Plus I was so worried about catching every little detail, just taking t he notes was a stressful experience. Then I discovered Sketchnotes. Now I look forward to taking notes. I highly recommend you try this, even if you think you can't draw. Get the book, and check out the website of Mike Rohde. He's the leader of the Sketchnotes movement. He did the illustrations for REWORK. You can watch a video demo of this “Sketchnoting” thing in action here. Have fun. Spiritual Foundations: Grace For Each Day “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.” Matthew 6:34 The Israelites were in the desert, and God provided food for them each morning called manna. God commanded them to collect only enough for that day – if they took more, or kept any, the next day it was filled with worms and it stank. The manna in the Old Testament is a picture of God's grace, and he was showing us that He gives you enough grace for today, and you can't try and save it up for tomorrow. And that's okay, because there will always be a new supply of fresh grace every day. Worrying about what you will do tomorrow, being afraid and anxious, ruins today and doesn't help tomorrow in the least. Rest in the fact that God is trustworthy, and keeps his word. Rest in the new grace God has given you today. And remember… it's always today. Feature Presentation: 3 Reasons Why You Must Master Copywriting There are 3 reasons why you must master the art and science of copywriting, no matter what your business or job. Human psychology does not change. Sales copy may look different, but it still works the same. Sales copy allows you to create money-generating assets out of thin air. Next Week:  The “Ask Me Anything” Episode Get The Transcript Click here to get the transcript. Transcripts provided by SuccessTranscripts – a great solution if you need your podcast, sermon, speech, or other audio transcribed. Question: How will you apply the power of copywriting in your business or career? Click here to leave your comments.

Is it possible there is one “Master Skill” that trumps all others when it comes to business success? I believe it's not only possible, but that it's absolutely the truth. In today's episode, I'll reveal what that “master skill” is, and how you can acquire it for yourself. Tip of the Week: The CoSchedule app for your blog. It's a “content marketing editorial calendar”… and so much more. Spiritual Foundations: It's Not About Your Faith “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.” Galatians 2:20 When you are working up your faith, trying to believe for some miracle from God… working to increase your own faith could be standing in your own way. Why? If you are focused on your own faith, you're focused on your self. Don't trust in your own faith, but in the faith of Jesus. His faith is perfect. And the Bible says He is the Author and the Finisher of your faith. When you're focused on Jesus, you'll be open to receive His goodness and His grace. The answer to all your prayers is to rest in Christ, depend on His faith, and you'll get the breakthrough you need. Feature Presentation: The Master Skill of Business Success So what is the “Master Skill” for business success? The skill that, when you acquire it, can actually trump and erase many, if not all, of your other shortcomings? I believe the “Master Skill” is that of Strategic Communication. Most communication is done at the tactical level; the most powerful communication is guided by strategy. Here are 5 keys to more strategic communication. Know the difference between strategy and tactics. Clearly define the strategic objective of your communications. Understand and use the principle of Focused Attention. Develop a framework for all your communications. Practice relentlessly: results, recap, refine. Next Week:  The Master Skill of Business Success Get The Transcript Click here to get the transcript. Transcripts provided by SuccessTranscripts – a great solution if you need your podcast, sermon, speech, or other audio transcribed. Question: How will you apply strategic communications in your business or career? Click here to leave your comments.

You've probably heard it so much that you may even tune it out: writing and publishing a book is a good thing. But do you know why? In today's episode, I'll give you 7 good reasons why you should write a book, even if you think you're “not a writer”. Tip of the Week: Speed up video to save time Speed up video up to 5 times faster with perfect clarity Zip through Flash and HTML5 videos online Save time and enjoy more with no audio distortion or “chipmunking” Works for lectures, seminars, training, speeches and even Google Voice messages Slow down video to learn or take notes Slow down video as much as 3 times slower than original Perfect for foreign language learning, complex material, dance steps, guitar chords or more Try Enounce MySpeed video accelerator. Spiritual Foundations: How to Live Freely and Lightly “Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to Me. Get away with Me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with Me and work with Me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with Me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.” Matthew 11:28–30, THE MESSAGE “Learn the unforced rhythms of grace.” Following Jesus is not heavy or difficult. Anyone or anything that makes you tired, worn out, or beaten down by man-made religious rules… that didn't come from Jesus. Stop trying to be perfect. You can't. God doesn't require us to be Christ-like, but invites us into the Christ-life. God will never cause you to be sick, or worried, or stressed out. He is good, and will always stand ready to heal, to soothe, and to bring peace. Look for the goodness of God that is already in your life, and then watch that goodness increase. Feature Presentation: 7 Reasons Why You Should Write a Book Here are 7 great reasons why you should consider writing and publishing a book: Books help people. Writing a book clarifies your own best ideas. A book helps you get clients. Being a published author gives you author-ity in your field. It's easier to get speaking engagements if you have a book. Your book can be the hub of an entire business. A book is the business card nobody throws away. Next Week:  The Master Skill of Business Success Get The Transcript Click here to get the transcript now. Transcripts provided by SuccessTranscripts – a great solution if you need your podcast, sermon, speech, or other audio transcribed. Question: Have you written a book (feel free to plug your book in these comments) – and if not, what's holding you back? Click here to leave your comments.

What if, in 2015, you could give yourself the “Ultimate Advantage” in every area of your life – faith, physical, emotional, and financial? In today's episode, I'll share some foundational elements and practical advice on how to do just that. Announcements Here are a couple of immediate advantages you can give yourself in the area of learning, growing, and connections: In just a few days from now the Platform Conference in Colorado Springs, will be in full swing, starting November 9th. If there are any seats still available, you can still save $100 when you click here and add the special code RAY to your order.  Yes, I am a featured speaker, and I am also a student. I plan to learn as much as anyone while I am there. I hope you will be there with us. As I have mentioned previously, Cliff Ravenscraft and I are hosting a special one-day event the day after the Platform Conference. This is a “Day With Cliff and Ray”, and if you're going to be in Colorado Springs for the Platform Conference, you should definitely consider joining us for this event. The applications are piling up for the Private Personal Mastermind Group, led by me, in 2015. I've really been surprised by the response to this, as we haven't really promoted it other than a few casual mentions on the podcast. This will be a small group, and our time together  will be intentional, demanding, and designed to bring you into alignment with your personal destiny. The criteria for membership in the group will be very precise, and the investment will not be exorbitant, but neither will it be cheap. If none of that scares you off, and if in fact you are one of the people who have expressed to me how you wished I would create a group like this, please reach out to me by sending an email to support [@] rayedwards.com. Tip of the Week: I've been using and enjoying the newly re-designed PocketCasts app. It's a podcast player for iPhone, iPad, and Android. I find this one to be full-featured, including the all important speed control, as well as visually beautiful. It's kind of like FlipBoard for podcasts. Spiritual Foundations: Wisdom For Your Practical Problems Wisdom equals the Presence Of God. Wisdom is a person… “God has united you with Christ Jesus. For our benefit God made him to be wisdom itself.” 1 Corinthians 1:30 Whatever your need for wisdom, God has promised to grant your request. “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.” James 1:5 This is not poetry or figures of speech, but literal truth: “The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned. The spiritual person judges all things, but is himself to be judged by no one. “For who has understood the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?” But we have the mind of Christ.” 1 Corinthians 2:14-16 Feature Presentation: How To Get The “Ultimate Advantage” In 2015 What more could you need, other than the wisdom we were just speaking of, to gain the “ultimate advantage”? Just because you have access to wisdom doesn't mean you are using it. I believe there are 5 C's that can help bring your ultimate advantage in 2015. Cultivating the increased awareness of, and being more sensitive to, the Presence of God. Clarifying your purpose, mission, vision and values (these are different things). Commitment to acting with integrity in each moment, at the point of choice. Communicating powerfully with intention,  love, and transparency in a way that honors all involved. Community that is intentionally created. Join a high-quality Mastermind Group (you can inquire about the possibility of joining mine with an email to support [@] rayedwards.com, or if you want to form your own I highly recommend Dan Miller's product on forming your own.) Next Week:  7 Reasons You Should Write a Book Get The Transcript Click here for the transcript. Transcripts provided by SuccessTranscripts – a great solution if you need your podcast, sermon, speech, or other audio transcribed. Question: How do you think the “5 C's” could impact your life in 2015, if you applied them? Click here to leave your comments.

I'm still in the mode of preparing my plans for 2015. I have some pretty big ideas about what I want to accomplish next year, and I'm sure you do as well. In today's episode, the theme is “how to own your life”.  It includes an interview with one of my favorite people, Chris Brogan.  It also includes an opportunity to work closely with me in 2015. Keep listening for details. Announcements In a little over a week, I will be gathering with all the other folks who are attending the Platform Conference in Colorado Springs, starting November 9th. There are still a few seats available, and you can still save $100 when you click here and add the special code RAY to your order.  yes, I am a featured speaker, but I am also a student. I plan to learn as much as anyone while I am there. I hope you will be there with us. We have been quietly formulating the plan for a Private Personal Mastermind Group, led by me, in 2015. This will be a small group, and our time together  will be intentional, demanding, and designed to bring you into alignment with your personal destiny. The criteria for membership in the group will be very precise, and the investment will not be exorbitant, but neither will it be cheap. If none of that scares you off, and if in fact you are one of the people who have expressed to me how you wished I would create a group like this, please reach out to me by sending an email to support [@] rayedwards.com. Tip of the Week: As I have mentioned previously, Cliff Ravenscraft and I are hosting a special one-day event the day after the Platform Conference. This is a “Day With Cliff and Ray”, and if you're going to be in Colorado Springs for the Platform Conference, you should definitely consider joining us for this event. On the last day of platform, the people who are attending the “Day with Cliff and Ray” will gather together and share an evening meal. This will be very relaxed, informal, we will get to know one another on a deeper level before our intense one-day event the next morning. Here is what we will be doing at this event, on Wednesday, November 12: The Deeper Connection Session:  in which our intention is to foster deep, lasting relationships between all the people in the room, so we can mutually support one another in the coming year as we all seek to take our platforms to the next level. The Next Level Resources Session:  in which Cliff and I will be sharing all of our most useful tools, tricks, techniques, apps, procedures, systems, and even our workflows. This is like getting in “over the shoulder” look into how we run our businesses. The Most Valuable Investment Session: During this session, each member of the group will be given a few moments to share what they feel has been the most beneficial investment that they have made in taking their own platform to the next level. Hearing “what has worked” for others may be just the source of inspiration that you need to get a glimpse at new possibilities. AMA with Cliff & Ray Session: During this “Ask Me Anything” session, you will have the opportunity to ask Cliff or Ray ANYTHING you want. Both Cliff and Ray are very willing to share anything and everything from their own experiences that may be of help to you. So just think about it. If you could ask anything of Cliff or Ray, what would it be? Write those questions down and bring it to this session. Spiritual Foundations: God Is With You In Your Trial by Fire “I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire; and they are not hurt, and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.” Daniel 3:25 Daniel was God's man inside a corrupt system-the government that was overrun by unbelievers, or even worse, those who believed in the powers of darkness. This corrupt system was even run by a man who would set himself up as God-King Nebuchadnezzar. When Daniel’s friends, Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-Nego, were thrown into a fiery furnace by Nebuchadnezzar, because they would not bow down to a foreign God, guess what happened? The most remarkable thing: one of the Old Testament appearances of Jesus Christ. he showed up right there inside the furnace with them, preserve them in the fire, and brought them out alive and well. The Bible tells us that “the hair of their head was not singed nor were their garments affected, and the smell of fire was not on them” (Daniel 3:27). Right now, you may be going through your own fiery trial. You can rest assured that God is not watching from a distance, wishing you good luck, and telling you to hang in there until the afterlife. He is with you in the very trial. In the very flames. The Bible says that “God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it” (1 Corinthians 10:13). When God is with you, you can walk through the fiery furnace, and you can walk out, holding his hand, undamaged and even without the smell of smoke on you. Feature Presentation: How to Own Your Life With Chris Brogan Check out the podcast audio to hear the complete interview with Chris Brogan. Next Week:  How To Create Your Own “Unfair Advantage” In 2015 Get The Transcript Click here to get the transcript. Transcripts provided by SuccessTranscripts – a great solution if you need your podcast, sermon, speech, or other audio transcribed. Question: What parts of your life do you feel you don't “own”… and what are you going to do about it? Click here to leave your comments.

It's not too early to start getting ready for 2015. In fact right now is the perfect time to assess how this year has gone, and what you'd like to see happen in 2015. In my case, 2014 started off a little “bloated” – both physically and mentally. I want 2015 to be lean & mean (in the most fun sense of that word). That's what today's episode is all about: how to set yourself up for a lean, mean 2015. Announcements I am getting excited about the upcoming Platform Conference in Colorado Springs, starting November 9th. There are still a few seats available, and you can still save $100 when you click here and add the special code RAY to your order. Tip of the Week: Plus, Cliff Ravenscraft and I are hosting a special one-day event the day after the Platform Conference. This is a “Day With Cliff and Ray”, and if you're going to be in Colorado Springs for the Platform Conference, you should definitely consider joining us for this event. Here is what we will be doing at this event: The Deeper Connection Session: During this session, every person will be given a few moments to introduce themselves. These introductions will be done in a fun and interesting way that will certainly help you get to know each of the other folks in the group on a much deeper level. The Next Level Resources Session: During this session, Cliff and Ray will go back and forth, in rapid fire succession, as they share their most valuable tips, tools and other resources that have helped them to achieve what is most important to them. There is no doubt that you will walk away with many valuable resources to take your own platform to the next level. The Most Valuable Investment Session: During this session, each member of the group will be given a few moments to share what they feel has been the most beneficial investment that they have made in taking their own platform to the next level. Hearing “what has worked” for others may be just the source of inspiration that you need to get a glimpse at new possibilities. AMA with Cliff & Ray Session: During this “Ask Me Anything” session, you will have the opportunity to ask Cliff or Ray ANYTHING you want. Both Cliff and Ray are very willing to share anything and everything from their own experiences that may be of help to you. So just think about it. If you could ask anything of Cliff or Ray, what would it be? Next, write that question down and bring it to this session. Spiritual Foundations: 3 ways to hear from God today. Know. Expect. Listen. It's easier than you think. Feature Presentation: How to Set Yourself Up For a Lean, Mean 2015 Here are 15 Practices I am adopting for a lean, mean, 2015: Devote more time to practicing the Presence of God. Evaluate all existing commitments and renegotiate or eliminate those that no longer work. Get more rest (8 hours + a nap). Read and eat slowly. Connect more deeply with a smaller number of people. Consume less, produce more. Upgrade my Mastermind. Schedule no more than 40% of my time. Say “No thank you” to 90% of requests for my time and energy. Spend 80% of my working time in the area of my Unique Ability. See Dan Sullivan's material on Unique Ability. Re-commit to GTD. Check out David Allen's GTD class on Lynda.com. Expand my use of templates. Make better use of my main tools: OmniFocus, DragonDictate, TextExpander, Evernote, Scrivener. Retire my email address and cell phone number. Simplify, simplify, and then simplify. Next Week:  Chris Brogan! Get The Transcript Click here to get the transcript. Transcripts provided by SuccessTranscripts – a great solution if you need your podcast, sermon, speech, or other audio transcribed. Question: How do you plan to have a lean, mean 2015 – or do you? Click here to leave your comments.

The tag line in my logo says “Live with Joy, Lead with Passion, and Prosper with Purpose”. Occasionally someone asks me, “So how to do you that?” That's what today's episode is all about: answering that question. Announcements I am getting excited about the upcoming Platform Conference in Colorado Springs, starting November 9th. There are still a few seats available, and you can still save $100 when you click here and add the special code RAY to your order. Plus, Cliff Ravenscraft and I are hosting a special one-day event the day after the Platform Conference. This is a “Day With Cliff and Ray”, and if you're going to be in Colorado Springs for the Platform Conference, you should definitely consider joining us for this event. Here is what we will be doing at this event: The Deeper Connection Session: During this session, every person will be given a few moments to introduce themselves. These introductions will be done in a fun and interesting way that will certainly help you get to know each of the other folks in the group on a much deeper level. The Next Level Resources Session: During this session, Cliff and Ray will go back and forth, in rapid fire succession, as they share their most valuable tips, tools and other resources that have helped them to achieve what is most important to them. There is no doubt that you will walk away with many valuable resources to take your own platform to the next level. The Most Valuable Investment Session: During this session, each member of the group will be given a few moments to share what they feel has been the most beneficial investment that they have made in taking their own platform to the next level. Hearing “what has worked” for others may be just the source of inspiration that you need to get a glimpse at new possibilities. AMA with Cliff & Ray Session: During this “Ask Me Anything” session, you will have the opportunity to ask Cliff or Ray ANYTHING you want. Both Cliff and Ray are very willing to share anything and everything from their own experiences that may be of help to you. So just think about it. If you could ask anything of Cliff or Ray, what would it be? Next, write that question down and bring it to this session. Tip of the Week: I absolutely love the Field Guides at MacSparky, which is the blog of David Sparks. Currently I'm reading his guide on Presentations, as I'm preparing for my presentation at the Platform Conference. His Field Guides are thorough, media-rich, and darn near flawless. I also recommend the podcast he does with Katie Floyd, which is called Mac Power Users. Bonus Tip: Dan Franks and Jared Easley are doing the Business Podcaster Summit in January. This is a great, no-travel-required event you should consider putting on your calendar. Spiritual Foundations: Instead of looking for something to do in God’s word, look for something to believe. Here are 5 things to believe that will change your life. Speak them and hear them. My prayers are powerful and effective. (James 5:16) I hear God's voice. (John 10:27) Today is the best day yet. (2 Corinthians 3:18, Isaiah 9:6) Everywhere I go people encounter Jesus. (2 Corinthians 2:14) God is madly in love with me. (Psalm 33:18,  John 3:16-17) Thanks to Levi Hug from Bethel Church in Redding, California for these points. Feature Presentation: How to Live with Joy, Lead with Passion, and Prosper with Purpose So how does one actually do what I propose in my tagline? How you do “live with joy, lead with passion, and prosper with purpose?” While I could write a book about this (and I am in fact doing just that), I want to share a shorter answer. This answer is simple, but high-leverage. It's really just 3 steps: Decide Connect Pursue Decide to live with joy. Happiness is a decision first. Be careful little brain, what you think. Emotion follows motion. The bet cure for depression is usually a good run. Protect the asset. Get proper food, exercise, and rest. Connect your deepest passion to what you do every day. What do you do when you are free to do what you want? What did you dream about as a child? What do you do that makes you forget the clock? Pursue your life's purpose. Know why you are here on earth. Let purpose drive your life. Make sure you stay “on purpose”. Next Week:  Set Yourself Up For a Lean, Mean, 2015. Get The Transcript Click here to get the transcript. Transcripts provided by SuccessTranscripts – a great solution if you need your podcast, sermon, speech, or other audio transcribed. Question: How do you manage to live with joy, lead with passion, and prosper with purpose? Click here to leave your comments.

The quality of your life is directly impacted by the quality of your habits. The problem is, most of us did not consciously choose to habits we currently possess. We drifted, stumbled, or otherwise accidentally acquired most of our habits.  Not all of those habits support the outcomes we truly want for ourselves or the ones we love. In today's episode, we will examine five common habits that will completely wreck your life and how to get rid of them. Tip of the Week: Maybe you read The Four Hour Workweek and tried to outsource different parts of your job or business. Maybe that even worked well for you. And maybe, just maybe, you are still kind of stressed out. Perry Marshall suggested something to me once that was actually life-changing. It's one of those “tiny hinges that swing big doors”. It's a twist on the idea of outsourcing. What if, instead of outsourcing high-level tasks at your job or business, you outsourced tasks in your personal life? You may scoff at first, but think about it: if you could outsource things like your laundry, yard maintenance, shopping, cooking, cleaning, mail pickup and drop-off, etc… how much time and energy would that free up for you? Perry's suggestion to me was that it's better to start by outsourcing those things to clear out space in my life so that I could have time for critical thinking. This gives me margin so that I can spend time on creating ideas, reading, making connections, and generally performing the kind of alchemy that entrepreneurs get paid for. I've been experimenting with this idea in a serious way recently, and my latest find came to me through my friend Stu McLaren, who turned me on to Fancy Hands. Basically, Fancy Hands will do anything for you that can be done in 15 minutes or less. So far I've had them: Research a long list of inspirational quotes for an upcoming presentation. Find me the best deal on a Keurig coffee maker. Proof some blog posts. Find and recommend a list of local people who might be available to do some personal assistant work for me (like the things I listed above). One of the things I really like about their service is they calculate how much time you've saved by having them do this stuff for you. So far, I've invested about 10 minutes typing up the tasks I wanted them to work on: they estimate they saved me 1.4 hours. I think that's about right. Currently, I plan to have them proofread all my blog posts, which I estimate should save me anywhere from 4 to 6 hours per month. Not that I spent that much time proofreading my blog posts, mind you…that estimate comes from the number of emails I get from people who say things like, “Do you realize what a goofy typo you made in this blog post?” For the record, I had them proof this post. How did they do? This is a very easy service to try, and if you decide to stick with them it's cheap. And there's no contract. Click here to check out Fancy Hands now. Spiritual Foundations: Are you worried, anxious, stressed out, overwhelmed? If you are troubled about a lot of different things today, I have an answer for you. You've heard me talk about a book called The One Thing by Gary Keller and Jay Papasan. And that is indeed a good book. You've also heard me talk about a book called Essentialism, By Greg McKeown. That is also a good book. But in truth, there is really only a single “one thing” that is essential to a fulfilled and peaceful life. And you'll find that story in a different good book-the Bible. In the Gospel of Luke, chapter 10, we read the story of Jesus visiting the home of two sisters, Martha and Mary. Martha was fluttering around the house working hard at being “the hostess with the mostest”. She wanted everything to be just right. Mary, on the other hand was sitting at Jesus's feet, soaking up everything he had to say. It didn't take very long for Martha to get angry, and she apparently felt angry enough that she rebuked Jesus! She said to him, “Lord, don't you care that my sister has left me to do all the work? Tell her to help me!” Technically, Martha was correct in her assessment. In that culture, and at that time, it was considered improper for a woman to be sitting at the feet of the teacher. And it was also considered good manners to prepare food and serve your guests. Jesus was gentle, but he came down on the side of Mary. But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.” Luke 10:41-42 The emphasis on “one thing” is mine. So what is the “one thing” that Mary chose? It was to sit at the feet of Jesus, and listen to what he had to say. If you have a lot on your mind today, the one thing you need to do is to sit at the feet of Jesus and soak up his words. He has an unlimited supply of grace, wisdom, and peace. We tend to get busy doing things when we are anxious. We often transfer that into our spiritual life, thinking if we can just serve God at some higher level then he will bless us. That's exactly what Martha was doing-and it wasn't working. That's not to say that serving God is a bad thing. In fact, it's worth noticing that Jesus did not rebuke Martha for the service; he gently corrected her for being “worried and troubled about many things.”  You might say, “Ray, how can I sit at the feet of Jesus and listen to his words now that he's no longer on the earth?” Two things to consider: First, we as believers are the “body of Christ” on the earth. Jesus resides in your brothers and sisters who follow him. He can speak to you through them: through their words, through their prayers, and their acts of service. Second, Jesus recorded his words for us through the Holy Spirit in the New Testament. And of course, all Scripture is inspired by God, so the entire Bible is his word. You can have it with you all the time-even on your smart phone! The next time you are “worried about many things”, why not try doing “the one thing that is necessary” and listen to the words of your Savior? Feature Presentation: Five Bad Habits That Will Wreck Your Life The forces that shape our lives are usually more glacial than catastrophic. Meaning, they work over time like the ancient glaciers that carved out the mountains, moving inch by inch over the span of years. The glacial power of life change is often contained in the habits we form-the things we routinely do without thinking about it, over and over again, year after year. “Sow a thought, reap an action; sow an action, reap a habit; sow a habit, reap a character; sow a character, reap a destiny.” ~ Stephen R. Covey, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People Here are five bad habits that are virtually guaranteed to wreck your life. The habit of reactivity. The habit of poor association. The habit of procrastination. The habit of instant gratification. The habit of victimhood. Of course, I'm not going to leave you hanging. Once you've decided to get rid of these bad habits, you need to replace them with good ones. These are five good habits that will enhance your life. They are the antithesis of the bad habits we just discussed. The habit of proactivity. The habit of intentional association. The habit of advance preparation, and the power of the compound affect. The habit of delayed gratification. The habit of the victorious mindset. Cultivate these habits for 30 days and I guarantee you will see a dramatic change in the quality of your life. Commit to them for six months and I believe your results in life will be almost unrecognizably good. Next Week:  How to Live with Joy, Lead with Passion, And Prosper with Purpose. Get The Transcript Click here to get the transcript. Transcripts provided by SuccessTranscripts – a great solution if you need your podcast, sermon, speech, or other audio transcribed. Question: Have you overcome any of these bad habits in the past, and if so how did you do it? Click here to leave your comments.

Many people in our modern society are prisoners. Prisoners of a job they hate, of a profession they despise, or even of a business that owns them (instead of the other way around.) It doesn't have to be this way. Today's podcast is devoted to the idea that you can break free of that prison. That you can escape your “day job” and start living in the reality of your “dream job.” Feature Presentation: Interview with Author Kary Oberbrunner… Author, life coach, and speaker Kary Oberbrunner shows people how to launch their dream jobs and experience the freedom to go as they please, earn as they wish, and live as they like. His nine proven steps will help readers “jailbreak” from their day jobs without relying on an MBA, investors, or a lucky break. In this interview you'll discover how to: Overcome self-limiting beliefs that sabotage success Start lean and stay lean by ignoring conventional thinking Build a dream team of experts committed to their cause Carve out a niche and get noticed in a noisy world Market beforehand to create critical momentum Monetize a message to its full potential Achieve personal clarity, competence, and confidence Earn greater influence, impact, and income in the marketplace Through sharing his own story and the success of others who have followed his process, Kary shows us that anyone can turn their passion into a full-time gig. Kary Oberbrunner Links Kary Oberbrunner's main website. The Day Job To Dream Job website. Order Kary's book on Amazon.com. Next Week: Five Bad Habits That Can Wreck Your Life. For real this time. Get The Transcript Click here to get the transcript. Transcripts provided by SuccessTranscripts – a great solution if you need your podcast, sermon, speech, or other audio transcribed. Question: Why do you want to move from “day job” to “dream job”? Click here to leave your comments.

Have you ever heard the phrase, “If you don't have your health, you don't have anything”? I think this is a stupid thing to say, and in today's episode I will explain why – and what to say instead. And for those who don't have your health, I've got a newsflash: you also don't have a free pass to whine, complain, and make excuses. Tip of the Week: The LoseIt! app makes tracking your nutrition, hydration, and exercise easy and fun. Lumosity offers a great way yo keep your brain sharp – by playing games! HabitList helps you cultivate habits you want to develop and keep track of your streaks. Spiritual Foundations: If you are busy, stretched and stressed to the max, and need every minute of a 14 hour day to keep your head above water – the best thing you cando is set aside plenty of time to read God's word. The Bible. Why would I say that? My son, be attentive to my words; incline your ear to my sayings. Let them not escape from your sight; keep them within your heart. For they are life to those who find them, and healing to all their flesh.“ Proverbs 4:20-22 I have certainly found the source of peace in stressful times to be taking refuge in the Word. And it's not just my experience. I read an article recently by Pastor Joseph Prince about George Müller, who in the 1800's ran five orphanages, and oversaw the care of more than 2,000 orphans. Müller was not wealthy, and the funding of these orphanages depended solely on donations. Every day, Müller set aside time to study the scriptures. Prince wrote: Once, Müller was talking with a man who worked between 14 and 16 hours every day. He told the man, “You are destroying your health. You don’t have time for your family and, most importantly, you don’t have time to nourish your inner man with the Word of God.” The man replied, “I hear you, but I can’t see how I can cut down my working hours and spend time in the Word because even with the 14 to 16 hours I put in each day, I still can’t put enough bread on the table for my family.” As the man walked away, Müller said, “He doesn’t believe that if he gives time to God’s Word first, God will take care of all his needs.” Whatever your needs, stresses or responsibilities, take time each day to read God's Word and nourish your spirit. Feature Presentation: If You Don't Have Your Health… I think it's time we stopped saying, “If you don't have your health, you don't have anything.” Here are 5 reasons why: It's not true. You have life, God, family, friends, and a chance to make meaning each day. It's a disempowering belief. Repetition is the mother of belief. It robs people of their destiny. It makes people into victim thinkers. I propose we say instead, “If you don't have your health, you still have everything.” And here are five reasons why that is true: Everything in this world is temporary anyway. God can and does restore health to the hopeless every day. Intentionally changing what we say begins to change our beliefs. We all have a fatal disease called life, and nobody survives it. There are countless examples of people with horrific health problems who accomplished incredible feats. What's Your Excuse? Here are people whose problems could have been used as an excuse, but who achieved greatness in spite of, or perhaps even because of, the health challenges they face. Stephen Hawking. Even though he is totally disabled by ALS, has revolutionized physics. Franklin D. Roosevelt. The only US President to server more than two terms, and generally recognized as on e of the best US Presidents ever. Roosevelt was paralyzed from the waist down by polio. Yet he still led the USA during two of her most trying times – the Great Depression and World War II. Michael J Fox. His Fox Foundation has accelerated Parkinson's research by decades, and million of dollars. And he continues to act, earning awards for his current roles. Marlee Matlin. Emmy winning actress, deaf since she was 18 months old. Helen Keller. Both blind and deaf, she graduated college and became an advocate for women's rights. Ludwig Van Beethoven. Lost most of his hearing by the age of 20. Composed some of his greatest works by feeling the vibration of the notes from the piano. So… what's your excuse? Next Week: Five Bad Habits That Can Wreck Your Life. Get The Transcript Click here to get the transcript. Transcripts provided by SuccessTranscripts – a great solution if you need your podcast, sermon, speech, or other audio transcribed. Question: Have you changed any limiting beliefs as a result of this episode? Click here to leave your comments.

This week I have my good friend Cliff Ravenscraft on the show – yes, the Podcast Answer Man himself will join us and we'll discuss the future of podcasting and what it means for those building a platform. I know you were expecting Five Destructive Habits That Will Wreck Your Life, but this is a good programming change. Trust me. We have a BIG announcement, and I'll get you those Five Destructive Habits That Will Wreck Your Life in a couple of weeks! Feature Presentation: Cliff Ravenscraft, The Podcast Answer Man An interview with the leader of Podcasting. Click here to find the details about the live workshop Cliff and I are conducting in November. Next Week: If You Don't Have Your Health… Get The Transcript Click here to get the transcript. Transcripts provided by SuccessTranscripts – a great solution if you need your podcast, sermon, speech, or other audio transcribed. Question: What are you doing to build your platform? Click here to leave your comments.

We are busy. Too busy, it seems; if I ask ten friends what their biggest challenge is, five will answer with some variation of, “I'm just too busy.”   In this episode I will share 10 specific tactics to help un-busy yourself. Tip of the Week: My favorite new meeting tool is Zoom.us. I like it better than Skype or GoToMeeting for the following reasons: Smoother video streaming. Ease of use. Simple screen sharing. Easy recordings. Less expensive than other alternatives. Spiritual Foundations: Should we be working harder to be better Christians? No. All our “working” and striving will only make us feel guiltier and dirtier than before we started. …you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption, so that, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.” 1 Cor 1:30 Your righteousness is not measured by what you do or don't do; it is measured by what Jesus already did. Feature Presentation: Ten Ways To Un-Busy Yourself This Week We are too busy. We need to slow down, so we can get more meaningful work done. Here are 10 specific tactics to help un-busy yourself. Start work an hour later. Quit work an hour earlier. Don't take any lunch meetings. Work four days instead of five this week. Don't take any incoming phone calls. Eliminate all shopping (online and offline). Stop watching TV, listening to the radio, and reading the newspaper. Meditate twice a day. Cancel all recurring meetings. Cancel all social and volunteer activities. Even picking a few of these ten will free up space in your mind, help you get more centered, and perhaps bring you a renewed sense of peace, power, and purpose. Next Week: Five Destructive Habits That Will Wreck Your Life Get The Transcript Click here to get the transcript. Transcripts provided by SuccessTranscripts – a great solution if you need your podcast, sermon, speech, or other audio transcribed. Question: Which un-busying practices will you adopt this week? Click here to leave your comments.

For the longest time, when asked how quickly I can turnaround a writing project, my answer has been: “I can write better than anybody who can write faster, and I can write faster than anybody who can write better.” I recently discovered the person who originally penned that phrase: American journalist A.J. Liebling, who wrote primarily for The New Yorker. The reason I think this  quote rings true for many writers is actually a secret of the trade. Writing faster makes you a better writer. Tip of the Week: You know by now I'm a big fan of Scrivener. today I'd like to introduce you to the best training I've found on how to use Scrivener effectively: Learn Scrivener Fast. Spiritual Foundations: Is God judging us? Is his judgment the source of the scary things we hear in the news? God is love. (1 John 4:8) There is no fear in love. (1 John 4:18) How we can “test the spirits”. (1 John 4) Don't be deceived by ministries of fear. Feature Presentation: Write Faster, Write Better Here are 5 reasons why writing faster can make you a better writer. You'll write more. Your skill level will improve. Writing fast turns off the self-editor and inner critic. The 10,000 hour rule works in your favor. Imperfect practice is better than perfect intentions. What level of output are you truly capable of as a writer? Next Week: Ten Ways To Un-Busy Yourself! Get The Transcript Click here to get the transcript. Transcripts provided by SuccessTranscripts – a great solution if you need your podcast, sermon, speech, or other audio transcribed. Question: How fast do you write? Click here to leave your comments.

The power of momentum is hard to overestimate. A productive person is likely to remain productive, and the opposite is also true. We can intervene in our own lives. What if there was a way to turn yourself into self-propelled productivity machine? Tip of the Week: This week I;m going to encourage you to “Slack”. It just might make you more productive. Try the Slack app now. Spiritual Foundations: Here's a question I get from readers and listeners every now and then: “If God's will is always healing, why am I still sick?” The short answer is I don't know. There are many explanations that sound good, and yet for every one there is a scripture that seems to disprove it. Think you don't have enough faith? Then what do you do with the man who didn't even believe Jesus could help his son… and then Jesus just healed the boy, despite the father's lack of faith? Think you have sin in your life that you have to get cleaned up first? Then what about the woman who was caught in the very act of adultery, whom Jesus forgave and spared from physical death? Then there are interesting passages like the one where Jesus prays for a blind man, and the man is not instantly healed. He reports to the Lord that he can “see men like trees,” implying that he could see a little, but imperfectly. So what did the Lord do? He prayed again! If that formula is good enough for Jesus, it's good enough for me. And I am not so arrogant as to assume I might not need to pray more than twice. In short, this is an area of mystery. I believe we must be comfortable living with mystery. I know that God's promise is that he will heal every one of us. I also know that it seems that some of us (myself included) have not yet been healed. The danger lies in becoming bitter or angry with God, distorting or maligning his personality because he won't do what we want, or even presuming that we know what he should do and when. The danger on the other side lies in just deciding that God is not going to heal, and that contrary to his word, it must not be his will. Here's the shocking truth: not everything that happens in this world is God's will. That may freak you out a little, but it's true, and I can prove it. The Bible says that God is not willing that any one should perish. But people perish every day. Therefore, it is clear that not everything that happens is God's will. Since I am not able to answer this question with any authority, I return to my “short” answer: I don't have an opinion on this, and I can't be forced to express an opinion I don't possess. Feature Presentation: Self-Propelled Productivity You can set up your productivity routine to work just like a self-propelled mower – a lot of grass gets cut without a lot of pushing required. Here are a few suggestions to give your productivity its own momentum. Wake up earlier than most people and accomplish your most difficult  or dreaded tasks before others are even awake. Block out the first 3-4 hours of your day as your un-interruptible “productivity zone”. Refuse all inputs until after Noon. Learn your own weaknesses and “trick” yourself into succeeding (gym clothes ready for next morning, working out first thing, setting my clock intentionally fast.) Find someone to kick your rear end for you. (Rick Raddatz story) Get The Transcript Click here to get the transcript. Transcripts provided by SuccessTranscripts – a great solution if you need your podcast, sermon, speech, or other audio transcribed. Question: Do you use any tricks to automatically make yourself more productive? Click here to leave your comments.

If you're always plugged in to the Internet, you might just be unplugging from some of the most important relationships in your life.   Today I'll discuss 5 reasons why you might not want to take your laptop to bed. Tip of the Week:   Simplify your writing with the new downloadable Hemingway app. Spiritual Foundations: “Hey Ray, are you a ‘greasy grace' guy?” The question comes to my email inbox every now and then. Here's my answer. There is no such thing as “greasy grace” – there is only the Gospel, and the Gospel is grace. Grace is a gift, so all your working at it won't help you. You can't ever deserve it – the word actually means “unmerited favor”. The #1 accusation hurled at Paul was that he proposed too much grace, and too much freedom. If we're not accused of the same things Paul was accused of, are we preaching the same thing he preached? Feature Presentation: Don't Take Your Laptop To Bed Having a laptop, iPad or iPhone sure makes it easy to stay plugged in – even where we should be unplugged. Here are 5 reasons why taking your gadgets to bed with you might not be such a great idea. If you're married, taking your laptop to bed with you robs your spouse of your presence and sends the signal that your gadget is more important them. That softly glowing light actually interferes with your ability to sleep well, even after you turn it off. The mental stimuli are also damaging  the quality of your sleep. Communicating with the world and your co-workers during all hours sends the message that you have no boundaries, and they will respond accordingly. You're teaching your subconscious mind that even your bedroom is not a place of rest. Get The Transcript Click here to get the transcript. Transcripts provided by SuccessTranscripts – a great solution if you need your podcast, sermon, speech, or other audio transcribed. Question: Do you take your laptop, or other connected device, to bed with you? Do you think that has a positive or negative effect on your life? Click here to leave your comments.

If you give away free content as part of a “Content Marketing” strategy, it's important to know wthat you should not give away everything. If you give away the wrong stuff, you'll never make any money.   In today's episode I you get the “5 Fatal Flaws Of Free Content” – and how to avoid them. Tip of the Week: The best way to manage all your passwords: Dashlane. Spiritual Foundations: “Does the Holy Spirit convict us of sin?” My answer may surprise you. And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment: concerning sin, because they do not believe in me; concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father, and you will see me no longer; concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged.” John 16:8-11 Feature Presentation: 5 Fatal Flaws Of Free Content Content marketing is a great tactic – as long as you don't give away the wrong stuff. Doing that will kill your hope of making any sales. Here are the 5 biggest “fatal flaws” I see people make with free content as a marketing strategy… Fails to move the reader progressively toward a decision Assumes too much about what the new reader already knows. Gives away the thing readers are most likely to pay for. Gives away all the “how to”. (Only give away the “what to”) Closes all the “open loops” in the readers mind. Get The Transcript Click here to get the transcript. Transcripts provided by SuccessTranscripts – a great solution if you need your podcast, sermon, speech, or other audio transcribed. Question: What experience (good or bad) have you had with giving away free content as a marketing strategy? Click here to leave your comments.

Have you ever known anyone who just never seems to get what they want in life? They make lots of plans but things never seen to pan out well? I believe there are 5 requirements for getting successful outcomes in any area.   In today's episode I will share the 5 Requirements, and explain how you can put them to work starting today. Announcements: Thanks for the 5-star reviews on iTunes from Brian Knight of SuccessForNurses.com, and Cheri Fields at CreationScience4kids.com,  If you enjoy the podcast, I would consider it a great favor if you subscribe (and leave a review) in iTunes. I'm speaking at the Platform Conference in November. Register using this link, and as you check out enter the promo code RAY to save $100 on your ticket. Tip of the Week: Ever wish you had a better way to stand your iPad or iPhone upright? Try the Stump at StumpStore.com. Spiritual Foundations: What is the Kingdom, and how do we know we're in it? For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.”Romans 14:17 We are instructed to seek first the Kingdom of God every day (Matthew 6:33). But what is the Kingdom of God? Is it good works? Being sinless? Bible reading? In Romans 14:17 Paul writes that the Kingdom of God isn't something outside you flowing in — “the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking”. It's something inside you flowing out — “righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit”. So how do we experience this practically? How do we “seek first God’s kingdom”? We must be flowing with righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. Righteousness is not something you can work for, because it's not based on what you do. This righteousness is actually His righteousness, and it is a gift. (Romans 5:17; 1 Corinthians 1:30) We need to be grounded in the truth that you are the righteousness of God in Christ. (2 Corinthians 5:21) The debt for your sin has been paid, so God says He has cleansed our conscience. We have peace with God and we also have the peace of God. So where does the joy come from? The same place it came from for the disciples. They were filled with joy when they saw Jesus, His hands and His side. (John 20:20) So here's what to do:  every day, practice seeing yourself righteous in Christ. This means don't be conscious of your sins – but rather be conscious of your righteousness. You may be listening to worship music, or to preaching or teaching, but whatever you are feeding yourself on should help you see Jesus, with His pierced hands and side, the same evidence of his finished work that gave the disciples joy. See all your sins forgiven, and you will experience peace and joy. This is exactly how to seek the kingdom of God! Feature Presentation: The 5 Requirements For Success In Anything Clarity Confidence Character Consistency Commitment Get The Transcript Click here to get the transcript. Transcripts provided by SuccessTranscripts – a great solution if you need your podcast, sermon, speech, or other audio transcribed. Question: How have these 5 Requirements helped you to succeed – or how has their absence caused less than ideal results? Click here to leave your comments.

So what books have you read that changed you? This show is about my list of some of the life-changing books I have read. Some of them may surprise you. Announcements: If you enjoy the podcast, I would consider it a great favor if you subscribe (and leave a review) in iTunes. I'm speaking at the Platform Conference in November. Register using this link, and as you check out enter the promo code RAY to save $100 on your ticket. Tip of the Week: I discovered a neat little device that easily lets you clip you iPhone to the AC vent in your car. Surprisingly simple. It's the Kenu Airframe – Portable Smartphone Car Mount. Spiritual Foundations: How many times have you tried to lose weight, or quit smoking, or change some bad habit? Did you use willpower? How did that work out? Most will end up going overboard and binging on food cigarettes, sex, or whatever their “bad habit” was. Often you end up worse off that you were to start with. The reason is: you tried to do it on your own. God's promise is that he works in you both to do and will for his good pleasure. Repeat after me: “God, I can't do this, but you can!”Feature Segment: How to Write Emails That Get Response Feature Presentation: The Secret Book List That Changed My Life “You will be the same person in five years as you are today except for the people you meet and the books you read.” Charlie “Tremendous” Jones Jesus Manifesto by Leonard Sweet and Frank Viola Destined to Reign by Joseph Prince Unmerited Favor by Joseph Prince Business For The Glory Of God by Wayne Grudem 80/20 Sales and Marketing by Perry Marshall The Alchemist Paulo Coelho The One Thing by Gary Keller and Jay Papasan The Purpose Driven Church by Rick Warren Do the Work by Steven Pressfield The War of Art by Steven Pressfield Turning Pro by Steven Pressfield Platform by Michael Hyatt Accidental Genius: Using Wiring to Generate Your Best Ideas, Insight, and Content by Mark Levy Secrets of Dynamic Communications: Prepare With Focus, Deliver with Clarity, Speak with Power by Ken Davis The Stormlight Chronicles by Brandon Sanderson (Way of Kings, Words of Radiance) The Codex Alera series by Jim Butcher The Kingkiller Chronicles by Patrick Rothfuss (The Name of the Wind, The Wise Man's Fear) Get The Transcript Click here to get the transcript. Transcripts provided by SuccessTranscripts – a great solution if you need your podcast, sermon, speech, or other audio transcribed. Question: So how about you? What books are on your list? Click here to leave your comments.

I hear this complaint a lot: “People don’t respond to emails anymore. It’s like they don’t read them, or don’t have enough courtesy to write back.” Usually the person doing the complaining will then expand on how Western society is crumbling around our ears. Rather than spend our time complaining about how inconsiderate people have become, I suggest learning how to write emails that demand a response. Announcements: If you enjoy the podcast, I would consider it a great favor if you subscribe (and leave a review) in iTunes. I'm speaking at the Platform Conference in November. Register using this link, and as you check out enter the promo code RAY to save $100 on your ticket. Tip of the Week: Use the Parcel App to track your packages. This is a handy little app that lets you track all your packages on your iPad or iPhone, without having to log into a website. Spiritual Foundations: Don't let “Christian Stress” trip you up. Feature Segment: How to Write Emails That Get Response There are really two challenges here: first, to make sure people read your emails. Second, to make sure they answer your email while the message is still fresh. Here are five keys to doing both: Make your subject line attention-getting. The subject line of your email should be riveting, like a newspaper headline. The subject line’s job is to get the recipient to read the actual email. One way to do this is simply make your request in the subject line itself: “Can you come to dinner with me Thursday night at 7 PM?” Or, for example, “Do you have a copy of Michael’s PowerPoint slides?” Clearly ask for what you want. Don’t write a vague, rambling narrative, and then expect the recipient to figure out what you want. Get right to the point, and make your request clear: ask them to “deliver the report before 5 PM”… or to “bring the extra projector to the meeting room”… whatever it is you need, clearly make the request in the email itself. Let them know if you even require a response. If you need a response to your email, say so, and make it clear what the response should be. If you don’t need a response, you can simply in the email with, “no response required.” Keep your email short. Nobody is excited to see a novella show up in their inbox. Keep your email shorter than a page. Most email communications can be conveyed in five sentences or less. In fact, you might want to give this service a try. Only one subject per email. You’ll get a quicker response to your email messages if you only address one subject in each email. This makes it much easier for the recipient to get you the information or answers  you need. Your response won’t be held up by the recipient, as she tries to find an answer to just one of the seven questions you asked. What To Do Now Grab the Parcel App to track your packages. Use the above tips to write an email that gets a response! Forgo the “Christian Stress” in your life. Get The Transcript Click here to get the transcript. Transcripts provided by SuccessTranscripts – a great solution if you need your podcast, sermon, speech, or other audio transcribed. Question: How did you get better response to your emails? Click here to leave your comments.

Last week we focused on writing powerful, persuasive copy. This week I'm bringing you an interview with a leader in the direct response marketing world – and the guy who has hired almost all the great living direct response copywriters. This is a rare interview with Brian Kurtz of Boardroom, Inc. Announcements: If you enjoy the podcast, I would consider it a great favor if you subscribe (and leave a review) in iTunes. I'm speaking at the Platform Conference in November. Register using this link, and as you check out enter the promo code RAY to save $100 on your ticket. Feature Segment: Interview With Brian Kurtz What To Do Now Claim your $2,500 bonus (1 hour of consultation with yours truly) by doing the following: Register for the Titans of Direct Response Marketing using this link. After you have registered, send a copy of your receipt to my support team here. We'll get on the phone and arrange your consultation. Get The Transcript Click here to get the transcript. Transcripts provided by SuccessTranscripts – a great solution if you need your podcast, sermon, speech, or other audio transcribed. Question: Have you ever hired a great copywriter, or used the power of copy to sell your products or services? Click here to leave your comments.

One of the most important skills you can develop is the skill of writing persuasive copy. Copy that sells products and services. There is a formula for writing such copy, and in today's episode, I will share it. You can start using it today.. Announcements: If you enjoy the podcast, I would consider it a great favor if you subscribe (and leave a review) in iTunes. This helps new people discover the show. A big thanks to Camilla-NoMoreHamsterWheel, and DayneDad,  for giving us a review on iTunes in the last last week. I'm speaking at the Platform Conference in November. Register using this link, and as you check out enter the promo code RAY to save $100 on your ticket. Tip Of The Week  Split-test your life. In direct response marketing, we  test different elements of our marketing, honing on on the most effective variation. This process allows you to be constantly improve the outcomes you are achieving. It occurred to me that I could do the same in my personal life. Here are some routines and habits I am split testing in my own life: Doing my quiet time/”hour of power” each morning first vs. doing my most important work task first each morning. Exercising in the early morning hours vs. exercising in the afternoons. Recording my podcasts weekly vs. recording them 6 weeks in advance Caffeine intake vs. no caffeine intake. Naps each day vs. no  naps each day. The possibilities are endless. What can you split test in your personal life? Spiritual Foundations If you are feeling overwhelmed, stressed, overworked, and anxious – there is rest and peace for you. The Lord wants you to enter into His rest. Now, in the Kingom, everything is upside down. He who wants to be lifted up must bow down, those who want to rule must serve. and those would wish to be first must be last. To achieve God's rest does not mean that we are inactive. It means we understand that while we may labor with God, the outcome is up to Him, not to us. It is in vain that you rise up early     and go late to rest, eating the bread of anxious toil;     for he gives to his beloved sleep. Psalm 127:2 So go ahead, and do what needs to be done – but rest. And when you have done all you can do, then stand. Leave the outcome to God. Feature Segment: How to Write Web Copy That Sells Here is the formula for writing web copy that sells your products and services. First: why it's necessary. People don't take any action initially. They don't know you, like you, or trust you. Copy fills in the gap. Why it's so long. We need to answer all the objections ahead of time. Better for us to raise and answer all the questions first. It's time for a new paradigm. To Sell More, P.A.S.T.O.R. Your Customers A Five-Part Framework For Better Sales Copy If you want to sell more of your products and services, or even simply sell more people on your ideas, you must learn the basics of the art of copywriting. But what is copywriting, really? One of my favorite definitions was given by a man named John E. Kennedy, back in 1904. Kennedy defined advertising (and copywriting) as: “salesmanship in print.” If you can write effective sales copy, you can literally write your own paycheck. There really should be no such thing as a “broke copywriter”. By definition, good copywriters can create money out of thin air. So why does copy so often fail? Copywriting Fails When You Ignore Universal Principles There are universal psychological triggers that help you sell more effectively. The problem is, the field of copywriting is strewn with misleading, manipulative, and even in some cases malicious techniques. You can hardly “swing a cat” without hitting a copywriter who has a “formula” for writing copy. Most of these formulas are actually quite good.  Many however, are based on tricks of manipulation and psychology that are more than a bit morally wonky. The framework I’m going to share with you today, though, is intentionally based on universal principles that are focused on doing good, and helping people make decisions that are in their own best interest. To Sell More, P.A.S.T.O.R. Your Customers Most people associate the term “pastor” with the preacher at church. While this is certainly true in most cases, the original meaning of the word “pastor” was actually “to shepherd”. And what does the shepherd do? He or she cares for, feeds, and protects the flock. Now, before we go any further, I should address the habit that some marketers have of referring to their customers as their “herd”. It seems to paint an unflattering picture. This kind of imagery is not what I am invoking here. The actual role of a shepherd is a loving, caring, and protective one. In fact, Jesus, who called himself the “good Shepherd”, actually laid down his life for his flock. I am not suggesting any religious overtones for your copy: what I am suggesting is that you adopt the same loving, caring, and protective role as you write copy for your prospects and customers. And, as you might’ve guessed, P.A.S.T.O.R. is also an acronym for the major sections of your copy. Here is the explanation: “P” is for PROBLEM You must begin by identifying  the problem that you are solving. The simplest, most effective way to do this is to describe the problem in great detail. It’s a psychological principle: the more accurately you can describe your reader’s problem in terms they relate to, the more they instinctively feel that you must have an answer to that problem. Use the reader’s own language, the very words and phrases they use to describe the problem they want to solve. For instance, if you are writing about fitness and weight loss, you might begin by describing their current situation this way: “You've tried every fad diet that’s come along. You’ve started and stopped a dozen different exercise programs, perhaps joined several different gyms, but the truth is you just can’t seem to take the weight off (or keep it off.) Perhaps you’re even feeling a little disgusted with yourself and your inability to control your eating and your weight. You feel like no matter what you try, it’s not going to work.” Remember, you’re not judging their behavior, rather you are describing their experience as it currently is. This means you have to understand their experience as it currently is. You have to know your audience and what they are thinking. As the great copywriting legend Robert Collier said, you have to “join the conversation that is already taking place in the reader’s mind.” “A” is for AMPLIFY The next step is to amplify the consequences of not solving the problem. This is really the key to making sales, and it is probably the most neglected step in the process. What will motivate people to buy your product, invest in your service, or accept your idea is usually not the beautiful outcome framed in a positive light. It is rather, realizing the cost of not attaining that outcome. In other words: what is it costing them to not solve this problem? When I’m writing copy about a business improvement program, for instance, I may have the reader walk through a simple exercise like this:  “Write down your average monthly income over the last 12 months. Then write down what you want your average monthly income to be. Let’s say that your average income is $5000 per month, and your goal is actually to make $15,000 per month in your business. That means the “gap” between where you are and where you want to be is $10,000 per month. You’re paying a cost of $10,000 every month you don’t solve this problem.” “S” is for STORY and SOLUTION  Once you have described the problem, and amplified the consequences of not solving it, it’s time to share the story of how the problem can be solved. This will be different depending on your situation. It might be the story of how you yourself finally solved this persistent problem. It might be the story of how you helped a client or customer discover the solution on their own. It does need to be more than simply a description of what the solution is: telling the story of Bob, the frustrated business owner who was on the edge of bankruptcy, whose family had lost faith in him, and who, out of desperation tried one last idea that saved his business… is infinitely more powerful than simply saying, “One day, Bob figured out the answer.” It should go without saying, but I will say it just in case: the story must absolutely be true. Don’t make these things up. And if you’re thinking, “But what if there is no story?” I would suggest you just haven’t looked closely enough. There is always a story to tell. “T” is for TRANSFORMATION and TESTIMONY The next key step in writing your copy is to remember that whatever you’re selling, whether it’s a home study program, a book, a seminar, your consulting services… anything at all… what people are buying is not the “stuff”, it’s the transformation. When people buy the P90X workout program, they did not wake up one morning and say to themselves, “I sure hope today somebody tries to sell me a bunch of DVDs and a wall chart.”  Those things (the DVD’s, charts, etc) are the “stuff”. What buyers of P90X are actually purchasing is that lean, healthy, youthful physique they want for themselves. The transformation. It’s also important that you offer testimony, real-life stories of people who have made the transformation that you are teaching, and who have done so successfully. Study the most successful infomercials, and you'll discover that they consist of about 70% testimonials. And while most of us will not be writing infomercials, it’s important to remember there are three questions people are asking when you sell them coaching, consulting, or instruction about anything. The questions are: Has this person been able to do what they are describing for themselves? Has this person been able to teach other people to achieve the results they are describing? Will this person be able to teach me how to achieve these results? “O” is for OFFER So far, you have defined the problem, clarified the cost of not solving it, told the story of the solution, and helped your reader visualize the transformation through testimonials from others just like themselves. Now is the time to describe exactly what you are offering for sale. This is the section of your copy where you lay out your offer. You can even create a subheading for the section called something clever like, “Here’s Exactly What You Get”. Make certain that you focus 80% of your copy on the transformation itself. You do have to talk about the deliverables (the class schedule, the DVDs, etc.), but that should only occupy about 20% of your copy in this section. Just remember that as you describe the deliverables in the offer section, you must keep tying them back to the transformation and benefits your buyers will receive.  So instead of simply writing that the buyer will receive “8 DVDs, each containing a 45 minute workout session”, you might instead write that they will receive “8 DVDs that each contain a body-sculpting, fat-burning transformational work out that will help you craft the lean muscle you really want.” “R” is for RESPONSE This is one of the areas where copy tends to often be the weakest: the response request. We are asking the customer to buy. At this point, you should not be shy about making this request. You should tell the customer exactly what to do in order to get your program, your consulting, your book, etc. You should remind them why it’s important o do so. I often write copy similar to this: “You're at the point of decision. You can either continue down the path of least resistance, the path you have already been traveling, or you can choose the road less traveled. The path of least resistance will probably result in you getting the same outcomes you’ve always received. But if you want something different to happen, if you want to change the direction of your health (or your relationships, or your finances, etc.) you’re going to have to do something different. Make a new choice, and pursue your new outcome.” And then I will write very specific, directive copy telling them exactly what to do next: “Click the button below, fill out the order form, and we will immediately ship your entire package to you. It will contain everything you need to get started.” Some people shy away from strong language like this, but the fact is, if you truly believe that you have a solution that will solve a problem for people, why on earth would you not be as direct as possible in telling them how to get that solution? In fact, aren’t you doing them a disservice by not making the strongest case possible? My suggestion is that you use this framework to write or rewrite your sales copy. The key to making this approach to writing sales copy successful is the having the mindset of being a “pastor”. If you apply the principles of being a shepherd to your readers, and you follow the sequence of the P.A.S.T.O.R formula, my prediction is you will experience more sales, more profits, and more happy customers… more often.  What To Do Now Steps you can take to put this week's episode content to work for you: Split-test elements of your daily life and habits. Sign up for the free webinar training on how to write a book in 30 days or less. Run your sales copy through the P.A.S.T.O.R. framework. Get The Transcript Click here to get the transcript. Transcripts provided by SuccessTranscripts – a great solution if you need your podcast, sermon, speech, or other audio transcribed. Question: What one action will you take from today's podcast that will move you toward the success you seek? Click here to leave your comments.

Most small businesses will fail. According to StatisticBrain.com, 25% of businesses will fail in year one, by year five the failure rate is 55%, by year ten it's 71%. Why does this happen? There are many explanations being offered, from industry changes to economic environment. My strong belief is that most of these so-called reasons are excuses. And when we get right down to the real reasons most businesses fail, it turns out the top 10 reasons are all within your control. In this episode I will explain what the 10 true reasons are, and how to control them and increase your odds of success. Announcements: If you enjoy the podcast, I would consider it a great favor if you subscribe (and leave a review) in iTunes. This helps new people discover the show. A big thanks to Phil Conrad, Chris Michalowski, Kent Julian, for giving us a review on iTunes in the last last week. I'm speaking at the Platform Conference in November. Register using this link, and as you check out enter the promo code RAY to save $100 on your ticket. Tip Of The Week  Did  you ever sit squirming in the movie theater, because you needed to run to the restroom but didn't want to miss an important scene? Now there's an app to help you out. It's called RunPee! RunPee lets you call up the movie you're watching and the app will tell you when is a good time to go to the restroom, how long you have, and even tell you what happens while you're gone. It has silent alarms you can set up, letting you know when it's safe to go to the bathroom, so you don't have to take out your phone in the dark theater. The best part is… it's free! Click here to get the RunPee app.   Spiritual Foundations Following Jesus can be confusing sometimes. First of all, Jesus himself said some of the most puzzling things. And now, 2,000 years after he rose from the dead, there are many conflicting opinions about what he said and did. How do you know who is telling the truth? Who really represents the Spirit of god, and who is a false teacher or false prophet? I think there are 5 distinguishing characteristics that should be warning signals of false teachers or doctrines. (For further reading, see 1 John.) Claims to be the “one true way”. Promotes an “us against them” mindset. Sets up one person as the “ultimate authority” who must be blindly obeyed. Over-emphasizes one doctrine or scripture in a weird way. Uses fear and manipulation to control followers. Remember what Jesus himself said: “By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” (John 13:35) Feature Segment: The 10 True Real Reasons Your Business Will Probably Fail Most businesses do not close because of competition, the economy, regulation, or any of the other excuses businesses owners use to explain their failure. Most businesses that fail do so because of preventable mistakes on the part of the business owner. The most common reasons are: Mediocre product, customer service. No employee training system. No marketing system. No investment in business/staff improvement. No clear objectives. No testing and tracking. Inefficiency. Laziness. No advisors. No cash. In the audio, I explore each of these in depth, and provide solutions to each of these problems. What To Do Now Steps you can take to put this week's episode content to work for you: Get your business or web site promoted on my show by givings us a review in iTunes! Review the list of the 10 reasons businesses fail and ask yourself: could I improve in any of these areas? Do what it takes to correct any of the mistakes you or your company might be making right now. Get The Transcript Click here to get the transcript. Transcripts provided by SuccessTranscripts – a great solution if you need your podcast, sermon, speech, or other audio transcribed. Question: What action will you take this week to strengthen your own business? Click here to leave your comments.

“How do I really start my own online business?” This is a question I hear pretty often. Recently I found myself saying, “Well, it's pretty simple. You just need to…” and then I heard myself spewing out a long list of stuff that was anything but simple. Clearly I needed a simpler, more cohesive answer to this question. That's what this episode is all about. Announcements: If you enjoy the podcast, I would consider it a great favor if you subscribe (and leave a review) in iTunes. This helps new people discover the show. A big thanks to Ben Wally and Matt McWilliams for giving us a review on iTunes last week. I'm speaking at the Platform Conference in November. Register using this link, and as you check out enter the promo code RAY to save $100 on your ticket. Tip Of The Week  This week I'm recommending another book, Ryan Holiday's The Obstacle Is The Way.  In life we are often frustrated by the obstacles we face. Throughout history, there has been a different way of viewing obstacles. A way that was familiar to John D. Rockefeller, Amelia Earhart, Ulysses S. Grant, and Steve Jobs. A belief that the obstacle is not in the way, but that it is the way. The philosophy behind this belief was articulated by the Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius, who struggled to define the way of excellence in any circumstance. In this book, Holiday spells out in simple language that very philosophy. “The impediment to action advances action. What stands in the way becomes the way.” — Marcus Aurelius   Spiritual Foundations What do you trust God with? Over the last few weeks, my life has been deeply impacted by an insight I received from my wife Lynn. In this section of the show, I explain the insight and how to put it to work in your own life. Feature Segment: How To Really Build An Online Business The Right Mindset. This is the crucial foundation you must build on if you want a sustainable business. Something To Say Or Sell (Book & Speech). You must find your own Unique Wisdom Message, and distill that into a Signature Book, Signature Speech, and Signature Product Line. “Platform” Website. These days we don't wait to be invited to the platform, we build our own. Email List. Your most important asset is your email list, and the relationship you cultivate with those people. Social Media System. It's crucial to find a way to market with Social Media without allowing it to consume your time. Content. The currency of marketplace preeminence is the creation and distribution of valuable content that solves a problem people actually have. Traffic. A store with no people in the door is a store that soon will be no more. Conversion. You must convert browsers into buyers if you want to produce profits. Cash Register. The simple but vital matter of how you will be paid. In the audio, I explore each of these in depth, and provide the actual resources I use and recommend for each part of the system. Here are links to the products and services I mentioned in this episode. Content Creation and Other Training Rapid Writing System. Our training program that teaches you how to write and publish your book in 30 days or less. How to Profit From What You Already Know. Our comprehensive course on building a business based on your knowledge, experience, and wisdom. 3-Day Live Intensive. Our 3-day seminar where I share the very latest tactics and tool that are working right now, today. Dreamstorm Workshop. Currently our most exclusive training, where I personally help you discover your Unique Wisdom Message, and turn that into a book, speech, and integrated product suite. (Limited seats available for the July 8-10 event, click here to apply. Acceptance not guaranteed.) Platform. The book by Michael Hyatt that is a must-read. Platform University. A highly recommended membership community. Website Building WordPress. Framework for building your web site. Just use it. Bluehost. This is our recommended hosting company. Get Noticed! Theme. The WordPress theme I currently use and recommend. Studiopress. Very reliable, highly recommended themes for WordPress. Email Marketing Aweber. Email marketing software service. Mailchimp. Email marketing software service, free for the first 2,000 subscribers. InfusionSoft. Handles your email marketing, customer relationship management, and commerce (shopping cart). Conversion and Cash Register Rapid Copywriting. Our course that teaches how to write sales copy fast & easy, including templates. Writing Riches. My book about sales copy. Wishlist. Plugin that turns your WordPress site into a members download area, or full-fledged membership site. LeadPages. Easy software for making landing pages of all kinds. Paypal. Take payments online. PowerPay. Accept credit cards directly on your site. Other Recommended Sites Michael Hyatt Amy Porterfield Cliff Ravenscraft Stu McLaren What To Do Now Here are some steps you can take to put this week's episode content to work for you: Review my 9-item checklist for building your online business and determine what you're still missing. Decide what the next logical step is you can take to fill in your first gap – and take that action immediately. Schedule the remaining actions over the next 90 days. Get The Transcript Click here to get the transcript. Transcripts provided by SuccessTranscripts – a great solution if you need your podcast, sermon, speech, or other audio transcribed. Question: What part of the system do you still need to fill in to make your business complete? Click here to leave your comments.

Have you ever noticed that over the years, you tend to do pretty much the same things? What I mean is, if you’re a reader you remain one, if you’re a writer you tend to write, if you’re a procrastinator you tend to keep procrastinating, and so forth. The key to being productive, profitable, and happy is not in changing your nature. It's in learning to turn your nature to your advantage. In this week's episode, I'll share some ideas on how to do just that. Announcements: If you enjoy the podcast, I would consider it a great favor if you subscribe (and leave a review) in iTunes. This helps new people discover the show. A big thanks to Brian Holmes, Nick Alexander, Tim, Rick Stevens, and John Stolpe  for giving us a review on iTunes this week. Tip Of The Week  Essentialism by Greg McKeown. This book is a great clarifying breath of fresh air. In an age where we are continually sold the idea that more is better, McKeown recommends “the disciplined pursuit of less.” From the book: The Way of the Essentialist isn’t about getting more done in less time. It’s about getting only the right things done.  It is not  a time management strategy, or a productivity technique. It is a systematic discipline for discerning what is absolutely essential, then eliminating everything that is not, so we can make the highest possible contribution towards the things that really matter.   By forcing us to apply a more selective criteria for what is Essential, the disciplined pursuit of less empowers us to reclaim control of our own choices about where to spend our precious time and energy – instead of giving others the implicit permission to choose for us. Essentialism is not one more thing – it’s a whole new way of doing everything. It’s about doing less, but better, in every area of our lives. “ Spiritual Foundations There should be no such thing as a Christian who is perpetually unhappy. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. Matthew 6:33 For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. Romans 14:17 For if, because of one man's trespass, death reigned through that one man, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ.Romans 5:17 For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. 2 Corinthians 5:21 Feature Segment: How To Be Productive, Profitable, and Happy I think one of the real tricks of success is to simply recognize these things you tend to do, and then find ways to make these tendencies support your success. In fact, I think most people are miserable because they fail to do just that. Instead of working with their tendencies in order to succeed (almost effortlessly), they identify their tendencies as the problem and vow to change. That, my friend, is called swimming against the river. And while you may get credit for working your tail off while doing it, you’re not going to make much progress relative to the shoreline. Case in point: for the longest time I was worried about my information “addiction”. Just this morning, I read an entire business book. Read part of a novel. Checked out a few hundred new items in Feedly.  And later I will sort through some 200 emails waiting for me. I have dozens of PDFs in my “To Read” folder on my Macbook Air. I have dozens more videos and audios to go through in my “To Listen” and “To Watch” folders. And once upon a time I thought something was wrong with me because of this kind of behavior. So I struggled against it. I read books about it. I read articles about it. I listened to self-help material about it. Is anyone other than me seeing the irony yet? One day I stumbled across an article by Dan Kennedy in which he detailed his working habits… and I was shocked to discover they were nearly identical to mine (at least when it came to info-consumption)! And Dan saw it not as a weakness to be changed… but rather as a strength to be nurtured. That was life-changing for me. It gave me a way to stop struggling against my natural tendencies, and to embrace the way God made me. That tendency to process large quantities of unrelated information allows me to form connections between ideas, concepts, and methods that I would not possess if I limited my information intake. So now I structure my work and my routine in such a way that my behavior in this regard in strengthened, reinforced, and nurtured — and then put to profitable use in my writing. I look for ways to channel that stream of information so that it’s not wasted. So what does this all mean to you? In my experience, it means that if you find yourself fighting the same old battles (chronic lateness, procrastination, forgetfullness), you’ve probably unwittingly been holding yourself back by resisting your own gifts. If you have trouble with authority, why work in a job when it’s clear you’d be happier as an entrepreneur? If you are always late for appointments — why not just stop making appointments (Arnold Shwarzenneger reportedly refuses to make appointments with anyone, and he seems to be doing okay running the state of California). And if you have tendencies that are frowned upon by others — for instance, sleeping during the day and staying up all night — why not look for a way to turn the tendency into an asset (for instance, by working via Internet with clients or companies in a different time zone… where suddenly YOU are the early riser!)? Just because certain tendencies, behaviors and attitudes are not “acceptable” in one context does not mean those qualities are “bad”. It simply means — at least in my experience — you need to find a different context! And that decision — how you live your life — is (for most of us) entirely a choice. (And to ward off the inevitable objections to my premise: yes, I recognize that there are behaviors and “tendencies” that are illegal, immoral, and unethical. That’s not what we’re talking about here, okay? Anything that falls into those three categories should be jettisoned from your life. ‘Nuff said on that.) Now take a moment to think about this… In what ways could your “limiting tendencies” become strengths? How could your re-arrange your life to make it so? If you can find positive, proactive ways to answer those questions, you just might find yourself more productive, profitable, and happy. What To Do Now Here are some steps you can take to put this week's episode content to work for you: Get the book, Essentialism. Journal some ideas on what parts of your nature you have sought to suppress that might actually be a strength,. Brainstorm some ideas on how you might channel your natural tendencies in a way that is more beneficial, and hat might even be an asset.. Get The Transcript The transcript for this show will be available soon. Transcripts provided by SuccessTranscripts – a great solution if you need your podcast, sermon, speech, or other audio transcribed. Question: What natural tendency do you have that some view as a weakness or liability, but you have turned into a strength or asset? Click here to leave your comments.

There's a saying: “The customer is always right.” But what about customers who are abusive, dishonest, and bullying? Are they always right? I think not. And you must protect yourself and your staff from these bullies. In this week's episode, I share 7 tips for handling abusive or “problem” customers. Announcements: If you enjoy the podcast, I would consider it a great favor if you subscribe (and leave a review) in iTunes. This helps new people discover the show. A big thanks to Dr. Brad Miller, jself93, Chris Pilon, Roger Carr, Astanc, Clean Colleen, and Chef52,  for giving us a review on iTunes this week. We're holding a contest this month. FIRST… everyone who gives us a review in iTunes will get a FREE copy of two of my books – MoneyWords and Just Get Started! Then, out of all the entries, we will draw one winner at random of our $797 training we just completed called, “How to Profit From What You Already Know”. To enter, you need to (1) subscribe to the podcast in iTunes and (2) give us an honest rating. Be sure you either put your website URL in your review, so we can contact you… or email us AFTER you have published your rating. That way if we draw your name we can contact you and let you know you won. You can also enter by leaving us a voicemail (at the bottom of this post, or click here.) We will have the drawing on June 15th. Tip Of The Week  I really like a habit tracking app called Habit List. From their website: “Habit List includes everything you need to reach your goals, wrapped in a beautiful and intuitive interface. It motivates you, helps you stay focused, and keeps you on track. It’s for all the little things that make a big difference.” I like that you can track streaks, be reminded what is due today, and track your trends. Spiritual Foundations Our job as Christians is not to hide out in the church building – it's to launch out into the world. And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in[a] the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:18-20 Feature Segment: How To Deal With Abusive Customers Sometimes customers are dishonest, abusive, and even psychopathic bullies. You need to protect yourself and your staff from these people. Here are 7 tips for dealing with abusive customers. Have clear policies in place regarding the most common questions your customers may have. Establish a procedure for processing feedback. Respond quickly and decisively. Identify bullies quickly, and disengage politely and quickly. Know when to fire a customer, and do it sooner rather than later. Realize that sometimes the relationship is just not right, and end it. Never engage in a public debate with a customer. By the way, not all customer complaints are bullying or abusive. Most complaints are poorly communicated requests. When you make a mistake, admit it and correct it immediately. As hard as it may be, don't let the crazy antics of a few troublemakers distort your perception of your customers, or yourself. If you get 99% positive feedback, and 1% irrational criticism, recognize that the problem is likely not on your end. What To Do Now Here are some steps you can take to put this week's episode content to work for you: Ask yourself how, as a follower of Christ, you can exert more influence for his Kingdom in your so-called ordinary life. Review the list of actions for dealing with abusive customers, and start putting this into place immediately. Review your customer records and ask yourself if there are a few stinkers you need to get rid of. Get The Transcript Get the transcript for this show by clicking here. Transcripts provided by SuccessTranscripts – a great solution if you need your podcast, sermon, speech, or other audio transcribed. Question: Have you ever had to deal with a “crazy customer”? How did you handle it? (NO NAMES, PLEASE!) Click here to leave your comments.  

There is one online business teacher whose students have created over half a BILLION dollars in sales, using his methods. He also happens to be one of the most graceful people I know. Now, he has written a book that distills down the core elements of his training, and it's just been released. In this week's episode, I spend some time talking with my friend Jeff Walker about his new book, Launch (as of this writing, if you click here you can get the book for free… no joke.) Announcements: If you enjoy the podcast, I would consider it a great favor if you subscribe (and leave a review) in iTunes. This helps new people discover the show. A big thanks to Barak Strickland, Jself93, WaterForShepherds, Nathan Hale, Darin Sargent, Sponz, and lahokie,  for giving us a review on iTunes this week. We're holding a contest this month. FIRST… everyone who gives us a review in iTunes will get a FREE copy of two of my books – MoneyWords and Just Get Started! Then, out of all the entries, we will draw one winner at random of our $797 training we just completed called, “How to Profit From What You Already Know”. To enter, you need to (1) subscribe to the podcast in iTunes and (2) give us an honest rating. Be sure you either put your website URL in your review, so we can contact you… or email us AFTER you have published your rating. That way if we draw your name we can contact you and let you know you won. You can also enter by leaving us a voicemail (at the bottom of this post, or click here.) We will have the drawing on June 15th. Tip Of The Week  I just got a new strap for my Nikon D5200 camera. It's actually a sling, called the BlackRapid RS-5. It attaches to the bottom of the camera, by screwing into the tripod mount. This makes for an easier way to carry the camera. I really like this strap so far, for the following reasons: Fits over the shoulder, instead of looped around the back of your neck. This makes it more secure. It's easier on my back and shoulders. It helps me protect the lens from being accidentally banged into something. The camera is ready to shoot in a split second. Spiritual Foundations Last year I was at a healing conference in Redding, California. Ironically I was in extraordinary levels of back pain. At one point in the conference, people began praying for one another, and I admitted to those around me I was in a great deal of pain. As they spoke God's word over my back, specifically “by His strips we are healed”, my back pain miraculously dranied away. I was healed! A couple of years before that a friend of mine called to tell me goodbye. He had cancer and his doctor told him to say his goodbyes! I spoke God's grace and healing word over that situation, as did many others. My friend's cancer was healed! When you speak God's word over your life and your situation, the entire universe bends to bring it about. So shall my word be that goes out from my mouth;     it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose,     and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it. Isaiah 55:11 If the words you confess are God's words – and you confess them in faith – God will move to bring His word to pass! Sometimes we even forget words we confesses in faith long ago. But God does not forget! Feature Segment:  Jeff Walker, Product Launch Formula, And A Life Of Grace This week's show is an interview with Jeff Walker, author of the new book, Launch. Resources mentioned in the interview with Jeff: RelaxMelodies.com The Alchemist, by Paolo Coehlo Launch, by Jeff Walker What To Do Now Here are some steps you can take to put this week's episode content to work for you: Click here to request your copy of Jeff Walker's new book, Launch, for free.. Rate and review the show on iTunes to have a chance at winning our $797 training for free. Get The Transcript Click here to get the transcript of this show. Transcripts provided by SuccessTranscripts – a great solution if you need your podcast, sermon, speech, or other audio transcribed. Question: What do you most want to know about launching a business online? Click here to leave your comments.  

When I was 14 years old, I was inspired to get into radio because I loved listening to “American Top 40”. It was a countdown show of the 40 most popular songs on the radio each week, hosted by Casey Casum. This week, I'm sharing the top 40 podcasts I listen to, with a little explanation of why you might want to check them out. I will also identify the podcasts I absolutely do not miss, ever. And I'll share the 3 very popular podcasts I instantly did NOT like. Plus, here are some additional reasons to keep listening… How to get Jeff Walker's new book, Launch, for free! An interview with Strategic Living Podcast host Brian Holmes. Contest where you can win our recent $797 training for FREE… Announcements: If you enjoy the podcast, I would consider it a great favor if you subscribe (and leave a review) in iTunes. This helps new people discover the show. A big thanks to Christopher Reid and Jeff Payne for giving us a review on iTunes this week. We're holding a contest this month. Out of all the entries, we will draw one winner at random of our $797 training we just completed called, “How to Profit From What You Already Know”. To enter, you need to (1) subscribe to the podcast in iTunes and (2) give us an honest rating. Be sure you either put your website URL in your review, so we can contact you… or email us AFTER you have published your rating. That way if we draw your name we can contact you and let you know you won. You can also enter by leaving us a voicemail (at the bottom of this post, or click here.) We will have the drawing on June 15th. Tip Of The Week  You can get Jeff Walker's new book, Launch, for free right now. This is a limited time offer, as he is… er… LAUNCHING his book! You get some very valuable bonus materials just for requesting a free copy. You do have to pay the shipping fee (it's less than $7.) Click here to get Jeff Walker's book for free. Spiritual Foundations This week's Spiritual Foundations segment is an interview with Brian Holmes, the host of the Strategic Living Podcast. Feature Segment:  Ray Edwards' Top 40 Podcast Countdown These are my Top 20 Podcasts. This list is entirely subjective, and it will undoubtedly change. Every week I am trying out new podcasts, so every week a few may drop off this list and a few new ones may rise up. But the top 5-7 have remained remarkably stable, with one notable exception. This Is Your Life by Michael Hyatt. Podcast Answerman by Cliff Ravenscraft. 48 Days by Dan Miller. Smart Passive Income by Pat Flynn. The Portfolio Life with Jeff Goins. Online Marketing Made Easy by Amy Porterfield. Converge by Dane Sanders. Christ Is All by Frank Viola. The Charged Life by Brendon Burchard. Beyond The To Do List by Erik Fisher. The Tim Ferriss Show by Tim Ferriss. The Joseph Prince Podcast Bethel Sermon of the Week Social Media Marketing Podcast by Michael Stelzner Social Triggers Insider with Derek Halpern The Lede by Copyblogger Media Internet Business Mastery with Jeremy Frandsen and Jason Van Orden Rise to the Top with David Siteman Garland Mixergy with Andrew Warner Lighten Up! with Ken Davis The Fizzle Show with Corbett Barr, Chase Reeves, and Caleb Wojcik Ask Pat with Pat Flynn Read to Lead Podcast by Jeff Brown The Robert Plank Show by Robert Plank. Radiolab from WNYC. This Week In Tech by Leo Laporte. The Tech Guy by Leo Laporte. The Strategic Living Podcast with Brian Holmes. Eventual Millionaire by Jaime Tardy. The God Journey by Wayne Jacobsen Entrepreneur On Fire by John Lee Dumas The Joel Comm Show by Joel Comm Starve the Doubts by Jared Easley. The Audacity to Podcast byDaniel J Lewis The Dave Ramsey Show. 99% Invisible by Roman Mars. TED Radio Hour. The 5AM Miracle Podcast by Jeff Sanders. Conversion Cast by LeadPages.net New Rainmaker by Brian Clark   The 10 Podcasts I Never Miss This Is Your Life by Michael Hyatt. Podcast Answerman by Cliff Ravenscraft. 48 Days by Dan Miller. Smart Passive Income by Pat Flynn. The Portfolio Life with Jeff Goins. Online Marketing Made Easy by Amy Porterfield. The Tim Ferriss Show by Tim Ferriss. Converge by Dane Sanders. Christ Is All by Frank Viola Radiolab from WNYC. The 3 Podcasts I Instantly Disliked… And Later Changed My Mind The Tim Ferriss Show by Tim Ferriss. The Charged Life by Brendon Burchard. Entrepreneur On Fire by John Lee Dumas   Listener Questions Jon D Harrison asks about how to start fresh with a new direction. Bill Thomas had some comments about Podcast Episode 113. Jevonnah Ellison had nice things to say about the show.   What To Do Now Here are some steps you can take to put this week's episode content to work for you: Click here to request your copy of Jeff Walker's new book, Launch, for free. Check out some fresh new podcasts to renew your thinking. Rate and review the show on iTunes to have a chance at winning our $797 training for free. Question: What are podcasts do you never miss? Click here to leave your comments.  

What if you could automate success? What if you would set a few things in motion that, if not guaranteeing your success, would automatically increase the likelihood of success … in all areas of your life? In today's episode I share how controlling 5 “environments” greatly increases the odds of your success. Plus, here are some additional reasons to keep listening… A proven way to turn your blog into a business, and a powerful strategy for writing posts that go viral. What do we do when God seems silent? Contest where you can win our recent $797 training for FREE… Announcements: If you enjoy the podcast, I would consider it a great favor if you subscribe (and leave a review) in iTunes. This helps new people discover the show. A big thanks to Andrew Gommesen of the Speaking4Him Podcast, Stephen Shell from StephensWeightLoss.com, ArbMan85, Jonathan Harrison, Vincente Cotto, Jamison from Creative Church Leadership, TodMon26, and Bryan from Engaging Missions for giving us a review on iTunes this week. You can also find the podcast on Stitcher. We're holding a contest this month. Out of all the entries, we will draw one winner at random of our $797 training we just completed called, “How to Profit From What You Already Know”. To enter, you need to (1) subscribe to the podcast in iTunes and (2) give us an honest rating. Be sure you either put your website URL in your review, so we can contact you… or email us AFTER you have published your rating. That way if we draw your name we can contact you and let you know you won. You can also enter by leaving us a voicemail (at the bottom of this post, or click here.) We will have the drawing on June 15th. Tip Of The Week  If you would like some very practical help building up your blog as a business, you should consider attending the Buzz Seminar, which is hosted by my friends Frank Viola and Mike Morrel. In this show, I interview these two, and Frank gives away a very powerful tip on writing blog posts that go viral (and he certainly knows how to do that!) Spiritual Foundations What do we do when it seems God has gone silent, and we're not hearing his voice? Many have suggested you should look for some hidden sin in your life, that explains why you have been “cut off” from God. I have a different idea about what is going on, and how you can re-establish communication with your Father in Heaven. Have you fallen victim to the lies of the Accuser, and are you wallowing in self-condemnation? What was the last thing God did say to you? Have you actually been taking time to listen? Feature Segment:  The 5 Environments That Automate Success What if you could automate your own success? While that is not totally possible, you can indeed set up your life os that your odds of success are greatly improved. You do this by intentionally controlling 5 major “environments”. The importance of the environments you operate in cannot be over-emphasized. In the show audio, I explain why this is true. The 5 Environments are: Physical Environment Mental Environment Emotional Environment Financial Environment Transportation Environment When you consciously engineer your 5 Environments to support patterns and states that lead to success, you will enjoy more success than before… automatically. Listener Questions 1. Roger Whitney asks about how I choose my topics for the podcast, and how far in advance I know what the topic will be. 2. David wants to know how a successful real estate appraiser could transfer their knowledge into an online, passive income business. What To Do Now Here are some steps you can take to put this week's episode content to work for you: Enter our contest by subscribing and rating the show in iTunes… or by asking a question using our voicemail system (look below). Consider attending Frank and Mike's live training seminar in Florida over the July 4th holiday. Make a written plan for one step you can take to shape each of your 5 Environments. Question: What elements in your current Environments are not supporting you, and how will you change those elements? Click here to leave your comments.  

We entrepreneurial types tend to be graded starting things and leaving other people to clean up the details. Our staff, virtual assistants, and colleagues may find it difficult to deal with us. There's nothing wrong with you, you just need to realize what you're good at, what other people are good at, and how to negotiate the handling of tasks so that both of you are operating in your “zone”. So today, I'll explain to you how to work with other people without driving them crazy. Plus, here are some additional reasons to keep listening… One of the best books on selling I've ever read. How to stop “spiritual sweat disorder”. What to do with the information in this episode… Tip Of The Week I'm a little behind the party on this one, but I just got a fantastic new book called To Sell Is Human by Daniel H. Pink. Pink gives a brand-new look at the art and science of selling. His insights go against what most of us have been taught about selling, but he has a lot of social science to back them up. This is a practical book, not just pie-in-the-sky theory. Pink has no less than six alternatives to the classic “elevator pitch”, and gives specific tips on how to perform other functions of the sales process in a more persuasive, more humane, and more profitable way. Spiritual Foundations Don't be fooled by the “work ethic” that demands you pour out the sweat before you get the reward. Earning your living by the “sweat of your brow” was actually part of the curse! Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? Matthew 6:26 Feature Segment:  How To Work With Other People Without Making Them Crazy Entrepreneurs possess certain personality traits that make us hard for other people to understand, and sometimes make it even harder for other people to work with us. In their perception, we create a lot of chaos, take a lot of risks, and behave capriciously. Our codebook for how to communicate and succeed is different from the codebook they are using. If you've taken any of the personality type assessments, you may have discovered that you, as an entrepreneur, tend to be a Starter, and not so much a Finisher. I've known this about myself for quite some time, and the remedy is to surround yourself with people who are good Finishers, people who are good at doing the details and follow-up… and then letting them do that without micromanaging or driving them nuts. That last part has been hard for me. I have found my interaction with other workers in my business, especially outsourcers, to be frustrating at best (with a few notable exceptions, among them being my stellar Assistant Kathy!). When things were not working so well, their work came in late, or not done correctly, or they disappeared on me when I needed them again. I read about a method of communication that, as far as I know, was developed by Rob Berkeley. It's called the Circle of Commitment, and has made a huge difference in the way I work with people. Request: you make a request of someone else, asking them to do a particular task or job. Negotiation: you mutually arrive at an agreement on what the completed work will look like, and when it will be done. Performance: the employee, or outsourcer, does what they agreed to do and delivers it to you. Acceptance: you communicate whether the job they did was satisfactory, and if it is you congratulate them, and if it is not you explain what needs to be done in order to complete the task. Rinse and repeat until the job is finished. This may not seem like a big deal, but it has really revolutionized my life and eliminated a lot of stress for me. Probably for the people who do work for me as well. Because after reading about this in Perry Marshall's Renaissance Club Newsletter, I realized I was pretty horrible at every step except the first one. I was good at asking what I wanted done, not very clear when I was negotiating exactly what would be delivered, mostly oblivious to the performance of the task, and once the deliverables showed up I did an abysmal job of communicating that I had received the work and what my evaluation of it might've been. Not pretty. Since becoming conscious of these four steps and using them as I work with others, I've become laser-accurate in my communications. I even received feedback from one of my writers, who expressed, with a great deal of relief, how exciting it was that I was finally letting them know that I had received the pieces he had written for me. I always assumed that he knew my silence meant everything was fine. Woops. Just being clear in these four steps will make a huge difference in how you work with other people What To Do Now So here's your assignment that will help you turn this week show into profits, put the tips and action, and make your life better in the process. If you've never taken an assessment of your personality, such as the Kolbe A,  do so. And then get every member of your team to take the same assessment. Make sure you've got the right people doing the right jobs, and that you're not out of balance somewhere or missing a key personality type. Post the Circle of Commitment somewhere prominent so that you will remember to practice it diligently. Whenever you negotiate and agree upon work to be done by someone else, make a note in your calendar or planning system so that you can follow through on the Acceptance step. Question:  How do you ensure better communication with your team members? Click here to leave your comments.  

Many a professional, and many a freelancer, find themselves asking, “How can I get more clients?” May I suggest this is the wrong question?  in fact, it is precisely the wrong question. A better question to ask would be, “how can I build a business where clients come looking for me?” We will explore the construction of such a scenario in today's episode. Plus, here are some additional reasons to keep listening… The greatest headset I've ever used for doing tele-seminars. The very first thing you should do every day. And how to turn this episode into money… Announcements: If you’re tired of not making any money with your online business and you’d like to finally just get things jumpstarted… I’m getting together with a small group of serious entrepreneurs here in Spokane in July. Were going to spend three days and just build your business from the ground up. Or rebuilt it if what you’re doing is not working. It’s not cheap, and the only way to get in is to pass through and ” interview”  with me personally. We have 12 seats, two of them are already spoken for, and I promise you every single one will be filled. I do not promise to ever do this again. If you think you would like to be part of this group, to finally stop “talking” a big game and asked a start PLAYING the big game, click here and fill out this application in full. If your application seems to merit further consideration, my assistant will set up a call between you and me. Tip Of The Week  I just got a new wireless headset for use with my telephone, and I absolutely love it. It has crystal clear sound, a noise canceling microphone, 10 hours of battery life, and incredible range. It's the Plantronics Savi 740. Spiritual Foundations Living a life of joy and peace is not difficult. Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” Matthew 6:31-33   Feature Segment:  Stop Trying To Find Clients Constructing a business so that clients seek you instead of vice versa is a lot like farming. First you have till the soil, then you have to sow the seeds, and then you cultivate the rows. Only then can you begin to see the harvest. At every year you must repeat the cycle, because the year you don't, there will surely be no harvest. Think in terms of three different crops. The crops each take a different amount of time to bear fruit. The short-term crop: you can plant and harvest in the next 30 to 60 days. Of course the still takes time, and you may be hungry today in which case you have to resort to hunting instead of agriculture. I get that. But if you spend all your time hunting and no time planting, you will never harvested crop. So hunt today if you must, and also each day be busy about working on that short-term harvest. The medium-term crop: this is where your thinking and 1 to 3 year harvest times. It's the result of consistently doing a podcast like this one, writing guest posts on high-profile blogs, publishing books and speaking at seminars and workshops. It may be hard to see, but you definitely can do work today that will pay you until three years from now. Long-term crop: this is 3 to 5 years or more in the future. Work you did, people you worked with, project she worked on, relationships you've built, have a progressive momentum. Those were all dominoes that were tipped in the past, and each domino is a little bigger, and one day five years later what started as a tiny handheld domino is you knocking over a massive victory the size of a small skyscraper. It's the famous client, the multimillion dollar product launch, the New York Times bestseller, etc. that never would've happened without you plugging away for five years or more. Won't feed you today, but may feed you for the rest of your life. What To Do Now Grab three calendars, or three different-colored markers for one calendar, or whatever floats your boat. You're going to make three timelines. For each of the three different crops, put an activity every week on the calendar for that specific crop: short-term, medium-term, and long-term. Make these action items that you can do, measure, and point to and say, “that is done.” Do two activities every week in the short-term and medium-term timelines. That will put more income in the pipeline for you over the next six months, and give you capital to finance the long-term campaign. And finally, a rule of thumb: on the farm, there is no such thing as “a day off”. While I do believe we need free days, where we can rest and recuperate every week, make it a point each day of the week to either (a) do something or (b) make sure something is being done that cultivates future business. Every day. Without fail. If you do as I recommended, you will very quickly find yourself no longer hunting for clients. Clients will be hunting for you.   Question:   What activities will you commit to in each of the three different time frames? Click here to leave your comments.

Recently I was working with a client on an advertising campaign. We had been running a particular ad in a variety of online media  (mainly solo mailings to email newsletters), and the ad was barely breaking even. We decided to test different subject lines.  Basically, we changed seven words. Immediately upon our next mailing, our “Return on Ad Spend” or ROAS  Went from around 80% to a startling 150%. Seven words. There's a saying in the direct response marketing business: “tiny hinges swing big doors”. In this episode, I will introduce you to five such “tiny hinges” that can “swing big doors” in your business. Small changes you can make that might mean the difference between meteoric success or humiliating bankruptcy. Plus, here are some additional reasons to keep listening… A nearly miraculous way to get rid of all the physical junk mail that clogs your mailbox. Why you should give up on working hard enough to earn God's favor. And a new feature, how to turn this episode into action and profits… Announcements: If you enjoy the podcast, I would consider it a great favor if you subscribe (and leave a review) in iTunes. This helps new people discover the show. A big thanks to todmon26 and bdentzy for giving us a review on iTunes this week. You can also find the podcast on Stitcher. I know many of you are waiting for details about the affordable mastermind, and we are still ironing out how and if we're going to do that. Thanks for your patience. Finally, and this is definitely not for everyone, but if you're tired of not making any money with your online business and you'd like to finally just get things jumpstarted… I'm getting together with a small group of serious entrepreneurs here in Spokane in July. Were going to spend three days and just build your business from the ground up. Or rebuilt it if what you're doing is not working. It's not cheap, and the only way to get in is to pass through and ” interview”  with me personally. We have 12 seats, two of them are already spoken for, and I promise you every single one will be filled. I do not promise to ever do this again. If you think you would like to be part of this group, to finally stop “talking” a big game and asked a start PLAYING the big game, click here and fill out this application in full. If your application seems to merit further consideration, my assistant will set up a call between you and me. Tip Of The Week  Every day I go to my mailbox-my real world, physical mailbox, looking forward to getting something fun. A good sales piece, for me, is a treasure. Issues of my favorite newsletters, also a treasure. Books, cards from readers and listeners, the occasional gift. All great stuff in good fun. Then there is the “junk”. Now what many people consider junk I actually look forward to-a good sales letter, a magalog or bookalog,  or the weekly direct-mail piece from James Malinchack.   Everyone's got their own definition of junk, but those things to me are treasures. Junk, to me is all the poorly executed direct mail that I get. The stuff that so bad that it's a total waste of ink and paper. Stuff that's completely irrelevant to me, my business, my family. How do you get those folks to stop sending you mail? Why, there is an app for that of course. It's called Paperkarma. It's free. Using this app, you simply take a picture of the offending junk mail, click a button, and the folks at Paperkarma make your junk mail go away. I'll be darned if I know how they make any money doing this, but I'll keep using them as long as they manage to stay in business.  They are not 100% successful, by the way, and getting everybody to stop sending your junk mail. And if the mail happens to be addressed to “occupant” or to someone who used to live in your address, or if it's just a ZIP-Code-carpet-bomb mailing, this app is not going to help. But it's a great little tool, and can dramatically reduce the amount of stuff you have to recycle every week. Spiritual Foundations Do you find yourself working hard to get God to fulfill your prayers? I know people who have an illness and who run from healing evangelist superstar to healing evangelist superstar, practice the Daniel fast, anoint themselves with oil, repeat special prayers, and do their best to be 100% sinless and perfect and holy in their behavior. In other words, they are always looking for the right “magic ritual”  or “good behavior” that will get God to heal them. But God has already supplied all our needs, and promised us that we don't need to worry or work so hard. There's a beautiful story in the gospel of John that shows us why this does not work, and why in fact we should stop working so hard to get God to give us what he is already promised. When Jesus saw him lying there and knew that he had already been there a long time, he said to him, “Do you want to be healed?” The sick man answered him, “Sir, I have no one to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up, and while I am going another steps down before me.” Jesus said to him, “Get up, take up your bed, and walk.” And at once the man was healed, and he took up his bed and walked. Now that day was the Sabbath.” John 5:6-9 This man encountered the one who was greater than the Angels, and who did not need a special supernatural event to deliver his promise This man encountered Jesus. Notice a couple of things: Jesus didn't ask the man to do anything until after he was healed… And the healing took place on the Sabbath. The day of rest. Rest easy in God's promises, and believe that he always keeps them. Our job is to simply rest on his assurances, and trust that he knows when, where, and how to give us his very best. Whether the answer you're seeking has to do with your family finances, a relationship, and illness, or some mental torment that you currently are enduring, just rest. Jesus will take care of you. God's delays are not God's denials. Feature Segment:  Tiny Hinges That Swing Big Doors Here are five “tiny hinges that swing big doors”. Five small leverage points that can turn your business around, multiply your productivity, and skyrocket your profitability. As my friend Michael Hyatt likes to say, get all your numbers going “up and to the right.” Headlines. This includes the headline for your sales letter, for your space ad, the subject line for your emails, the title of your blog post, or the first sentence of your radio spot.  The job of the headline is to get the reader interested so that they will pay attention to the rest of the ad, post, or spot. Many times you can change the headline and no other copy, yet see a dramatic increase in sales. Media. Last year, a client I work with experienced a dramatic downturn in the response they were getting from their online media buys. We took the same messaging and started buying radio commercials. Radical increase in profits, and a whole lot less work. If you've been making a lot of money and newspaper in that goes south on you, just try moving your media budget or redistributing it to include different media. Simple. Audience. Dan Kennedy famously said, “it's easier to get a new audience than to write a new speech.” If your response rates are flagging, maybe it's because this audience has heard you give the speech 100 times already. Just go find a new audience. In other words, by your ads in different magazines, or on different websites, or send email ads to different lists. Preframing. what people see or know about you before they see your ad can make an astounding difference in the response you get to that at. So think carefully through this: what do people see immediately before they see your copy? Is it an email? A banner ad? Do they hear a mention on a tele-seminar? Carefully craft and control the frame in which you are presented, and you can dramatically affect the outcome. Format. I'm continually amazed that this escapes so many. Not everyone likes to read sales letters. Some people will never sit down and watch a video. Others will only listen to your message if they can literally do so-as in sticking earbuds in their ears while they're on the treadmill. And other people are not interested in any of those things, they want to look you in the eye and see how you conduct yourself with other people, So the best way to reach them is either in person sales presentation or at a seminar or workshop. I just described the basic modalities in which people experience life: visual, auditory, and kinesthetic. If you are not presenting your message in all the available formats, you could be missing out on the one format that could dramatically increase your results. What To Do Now As always, I want you to leave the podcast by taking some action. So here's how to turn this episode into real-world value: Get a copy of the free Paperkarma app, and banish the junk mail from your life. Give yourself a break, and stop thinking you can work hard enough to earn God's favor. Just receive it. And take the list of those five “tiny hinges”, and put them to work in your business today. Make a small change in your headlines, try different media, look for a new audience, reengineer the way you are framed before people see your ad copy, and present your case in as many different formats as possible… Audio, video, text on paper, in live seminars and workshops. Finally, if you experience any success as a result of something you've learned or heard on this show, I want to feature your success story and congratulate you. Leave me a voicemail at the link below, or post your story in the comments. Question:   Have you ever had an experience where a tiny hinge swung a big door for you? Click here to leave your comments.

Recently, my life fell apart. At least that's how it felt emotionally. From the outside, everything looked great.  I was an in demand speaker, making lots of money, with a lot of projects in the works, and the field of possibility ahead of me. The truth was another matter. My calendar was overscheduled, my time was overcommitted, I had agreed to too many meetings and too many projects, and my health deteriorated dramatically.  Somehow, I had managed to get off track. Way off track. Then I had an epiphany. It didn't instantly solve all my problems, but it did show me the solution to all my problems, and the path I needed to walk to get back on track. Interestingly, I believe this same solution can work for you when you get off track, and I'll share a simple set of steps you can file away from when you need them. Plus, here are some additional reasons to keep listening… One iPhone case to rule them all. Why happiness really is the truth. An update on the “affordable online mastermind”… Announcements: If you enjoy the podcast, I would consider it a great favor if you subscribe (and leave a review) in iTunes. This helps new people discover the show. A big thanks to AmGram, Kevin Anthony Williams,  and Mark Henson for giving us a review on iTunes this week. You can also find the podcast on Stitcher. We are definitely moving forward with the affordable mastermind I've been talking about starting. We are still mapping out the plan for what will be most helpful, but it will probably look something like this: provide some basic training materials on building an online business, and having a monthly Q&A call where you could talk with me. Would love your ideas, thoughts, and suggestions. Put them in the comments at the end of this post. Tip Of The Week  A friend of mine showed me his Speck iPhone Wallet Case, and I was immediately smitten. For a long time I've been using the Duluth Trading Company's Smallet, which is a near-razor-thin wallet that holds only a few cards. But in my search for evermore minimalistic living, it bothered me that I had to carry both a wallet and my iPhone in my pocket. Now, with the new Speck  case, I carry only one item. The challenges it only holds three cards-so right now I'm carrying is my phone, my drivers license, a business debit card, and my personal debit card (because at the Edwards household, we don't do credit cards). There are a few other cards that I normally carry with me-health insurance card, Costco card, Barnes & Noble membership card, library card, etc. So I came up with the very clever idea of simply taking pictures of those cards with my iPhone and keeping them in a special photo album on the phone itself. I'll keep you posted on how this works out. Spiritual Foundations There's a very popular song  with the refrain “clap your hands if you know happiness is the truth.” It just so happens I do know that. As followers of Jesus, we are supposed to be happy. How do I know this? For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.” Romans 14:17 Feature Segment:  How to Get Back On Track From the outside, everything looked great.  I was an in demand speaker, making lots of money, with a lot of projects in the works, and the field of possibility ahead of me. The truth was another matter. My calendar was overscheduled, my time was overcommitted, I had agreed to too many meetings and too many projects, and my health deteriorated dramatically.  Somehow, I had managed to get off track. Way off track. Then I had an epiphany. It didn't instantly solve all my problems, but it did show me the solution to all my problems, and the path I needed to walk to get back on track. Interestingly, I believe this same solution can work for you when you get off track, and I'll share a simple set of steps you can file away from when you need them. Here's the epiphany: 99% of all the results I'm experiencing in my life are 100% appropriate. Let me elaborate… I weigh exactly what I'm supposed away… based on what I eat and how much I exercise. I get exactly the amount of sleep I should be getting… based on how much caffeine and sugar I consume, what time I eat my evening meal, and how I choose to stimulate or not stimulate my brain in the few hours before going to bed. My income, expenses, and profits for my business are precisely what they should be… based on what work I do, who I choose to work with, how I invest my time in building the business, and the choices I make about expenditures The point I'm trying to make is this: our lives are closed systems. They have a beginning, a middle, and an end. What happens between the beginning and the end is largely up to us. I say that 99% of all of our results are 100% appropriate, in that 1% are things that are actually outside of our control: an unexpected genetic defect causes the disease or deformity, market forces we had no chance of influencing diminish the value of our investments, a tornado demolishes the house we live in, etc. but despite the impression that may be given by the disaster-fascinated media, these events are definitely the minority. We don't get fat because the “big food industry” is out to get us. We get fat because we chose to have a big Mac and a chocolate shake for dinner last night, instead of a salad and a lean steak. This epiphany came to me as a result of reading three books, in succession: Living Buddha Living Christ, by Thich Nhat Hanh,  The Practice of the Presence of God by Brother Lawrence, and Work the System by Sam Carpenter. Sidebar for my Christian brothers and sisters… …there were many things in Hanh's book I could simply not agree with, and he clearly does not understand fully what it means to be a follower of Christ. I am very clear that Jesus is the only way to heaven and life with the Father. That being said, I found some valuable and powerful truths contained in Han's  the book; but I don't want anyone to be confused about what I believe or what I perceive as the truth. Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life. I will be publishing a full review of Sam Carpenter's book next week. But the primary distinction I got from that book was that all of life is a system; and each part of our lives is a subsystem, consisting of many other subsystems. Take for example your health: is a system contained within your body. Subsystems include the system of what you eat, the system of how you use and maintain the physical framework of your body, the system of what thoughts you permit to enter and remain in your mind, the system of how much rest and sleep you get, the system of the environment in which you keep your body most of the time, etc The point of all this is simply that getting back on track is not about considering a broad sweeping wholesale change in your life. It is about adjusting the component subsystems where you got off track. For instance, when it comes to my speaking schedule, the processes of the system that make up my speaking business are roughly something like this: I write and publish blog posts, podcasts, guest articles, etc. Potential meeting planners, here the podcasts, get a word-of-mouth recommendation about having me speak at your event. Meeting planners contact my office and we negotiate a fee and agreement. I accept the speaking engagement, and get paid my retainer. I show up on the appointed date, give a speech, get the balance of my payment. I go home. What had gone awry in the system of my speaking business over the past few months was that I performed step number 4 too many times and without enough discretion. I said “yes” to far too many people. This resulted in my calendar being overscheduled, and also bled over into the other subsystems of my life, affecting my sleep, and ultimately my physical health. But it gets even more interesting. Because of the squeeze on my schedule, I had to work overtime during the hours I was home to complete client projects, work on my own products and trainings, get my podcast completed, etc. this disrupted the system that I call “family time”. It also disrupted the system that I call “exercise”, and the system that I call “sleep”. In those three cases, I simply didn't get enough family time, exercise, or sleep. So, in its wisdom, my body did what it sometimes does to force me to pay attention to it: it got sick. The implication at the beginning of this podcast was that I did in fact get back on track, that I can show you how to do the same. In the spirit of transparency, I am just now emerging from the rubble of this massive system disruption, but things are much much better, and I realize I have been here before. So I feel relatively confident in helping you in your own quest to get back on track. Here are the steps. 7 Steps For Getting Back on Track First, you must acknowledge that you have gotten off track, and have that same moment of realization that I did that the blueprint you have for what life is supposed to be like does not match the snapshot of what  life actually is like currently. Forget the big picture, look for the simple mechanical problems in the small subsystems of your life that have gone wrong. Isolate and identify those malfunctioning systems and subsystems. Discover the procedures that could've prevented or at least lessened the problem you are currently experiencing in this particular system or subsystem. Write down the new system of procedures you will use to prevent this one small isolated problem Make it easy for yourself to follow your new procedure: remember the metaphor of the elephant, the rider, and the path. Go through this same process with each system or subsystem that is malfunctioning to any degree. When you correct the small variances in the tiniest of subsystems, the next level of systems above becomes smoother and less chaotic, allowing you to move your corrections up one level. Eventually the “big picture” takes care of itself. What I Personally Have Done I identified a few primary systems that needed better working procedures to solve some of the problems that were cropping up. So I developed step-by-step procedures for: Evaluating speaking opportunities. Evaluating possible new projects. Working with junior copywriters. Evaluating possible new clients. Marketing my company's products and services. Selling my company's products and services (yes, this is different than the above). My physical health, diet, and exercise. Simplifying and beautifying my physical environment. I began making adjustments and every one of these systems, and began to instantly see a decrease in chaos and disorder… And more evidence of righteousness peace and joy. I'm definitely back on track. And you can be too. One final note. Sam Carpenter said something deeply profound in his book that is worth repeating. I don't have to like the steps needed to correct my malfunctioning systems-but I do have to take them if I want to see change. The result is the reward.   Question:   Have you ever had the experience of getting off track, and if so how did you get back on the path? Click here to leave your comments.

I was recently on the phone with someone, and they were talking. Something they said sparked a reaction in me, and I began thinking about how is going to respond. As they continue to talk, I constructed an elegant argument in my head to counter what they had just told me. Then they spoke words that struck fear into my heart: “Do you think I should've done that?” I had no idea what they were talking about. You might think the skills and I'm urging you to master is listening. That is an effect of mastering this skill, but not the skill itself. Mastering this mysterious skill will make you a better listener, more focused, less distracted, and a better thinker. And that's just the tip of the iceberg. Plus, here are some additional reasons to keep listening… The best way to master your email challenge. If you feel overwhelmed by email, this one is for you. A fun and exciting way to sharpen your mind. What your life would look like if God wrote the script. Now let's get on with it… Announcements: If you enjoy the podcast, I would consider it a great favor if you subscribe (and leave a review) in iTunes. This helps new people discover the show. A big thanks to Mark Noldy and Deanna Gillingham for giving us a review on iTunes this week. You can also find the podcast on Stitcher. I've received a lot of questions about the affordable mastermind I've been thinking about starting. In the show, I explain more of what I was considering, now that is changed based on some responses I received. In a nutshell, it seems like what would be useful to folks is to provide some basic training materials and building an online business, and having a monthly Q&A call where you could talk with me. Interested? Would love your thoughts. Put them in the comments at the end of this post. Tip Of The Week  Tip #1: Crash Course is an educational YouTube channel started by Hank Green and John Green, also known as the VlogBrothers. Crash Course was one of the 100 initial channels of YouTube's $100 million original channel initiative. Having finished earlier courses on Biology, World History, Ecology, English Literature, Chemistry, and United States History, Hank and John Green now teach, respectively, Psychology and Literature. Crash Course launched a preview on December 2, 2011. As of April 6, 2014, the CrashCourse YouTube channel has earned over 1.5 million subscribers and over 90 million video views. Tip #2: How and why you might declare email bankruptcy… Spiritual Foundations The Fifth Gospel, and God's will for your life. What would your life look like if God wrote your biography in advance? Well, He has already done so. Here's what that means: You were alive before you were born. You have the DNA of Christ. You have a new kind of life, fueled by the nature of God. You have received new superpowers. You have a new mission in life. Feature Segment:  Master This Skill To Change Your Life The skill that will change your life is mindfulness. Awareness. Being right here, right now. This is not as easy as it may sound at first. Our mind loves to play a hilarious trick on us, and causes us to live either in the past or in the future, impishly avoiding the present. Being mindful makes you aware of God's presence, of what is happening right in front of you. This will make you a better listener, a better communicator, more skilled in your work, or successful, happier, at peace, and bring your greater depth of fulfillment. So how do you become more mindful? How do you master this skill that I guarantee will change your life? As silly as this may sound, the easiest way to begin is to mentally, or even out loud, speak what you are noticing right now. It might sound like this: “I am standing on my deck, drinking this cup of coffee. I am breathing in. There is a bird sitting on the wire that stretches across my backyard. It is a Robin. I breathe out. A soft wind is blowing across my skin.” This takes practice. It is more difficult than you think, and it is also easier than you think. There is no trick to it, other than being aware of what is happening in this moment. When you're having a conversation with someone, being mindful of what they are saying will bring you a shocking new awareness in your relationships. Nobody will say to you, “hey, you seem more mindful now.” But they will sense that you are actually listening to them, paying attention to them, valuing what they have to say. They will feel heard by you, and this is one of the most basic human needs. “Right now, he is telling me about his work, and I sense by the expression on his face in the tone of his voice that he is anxious and worried about something there. Now he is explaining a conflict with his boss. This situation makes him both fearful and angry.” You speak out loud: “That must make you anxious and angry at the same time.” It's important that you understand this is not a technique meant to help you manipulate other people, or “push their buttons”. The most valuable possession you have is the present. All I'm suggesting is that you in fact value it, notice it, experience it. The temptation you will have at this point is to write this off as either too flighty, or impractical, or blindingly obvious. If that's how you're feeling, I simply challenge you to occasionally be aware of the present moment as you go about your life. Notice what you've been missing. What To Do Now   Question:  what have you noticed about the importance of being present and mindful? Click here to leave your comments.

It occurred to me recently I often run my business from a backpack. In my backpack I carry my Nikon, some lenses, my iPad, and my MacBook air. If I can find an Internet connection, that's about all I need to run my business from virtually anywhere.  In this episode, you get five essential keys to running a backpack business. Plus, here are some additional reasons to keep listening… I will share a seldom used function on your iPhone that can change your life. Stu McLaren with the Lifestyle Business Report. Now let's get on with it… Announcements:  I'm considering the formation of an affordable, entry-level Mastermind Group. This would be a true mastermind group, led by me, with personal interaction available. Would you be interested? Let me know in the comments on this post. Tip Of The Week  The  mysterious function on your iPhone that hardly anyone ever uses, but can dramatically improve your life. It's called the “off” switch. Lifestyle Business Segment  With Stu McLaren Spiritual Foundations Usually, the reason we cannot hear God's voice is we are too busy listening to other voices. Feature Segment:  How to Have a Backpack Business Get a backpack (seriously.) Avoid limiting structures (like offices.) Become a hard-core simplitist.  Get a little help (but not too much.) Get out there and do something. Take your backpack.   What To Do Now If you enjoy the podcast, I would consider it a great favor if you subscribe (and leave a review) in iTunes. This helps new people discover the show. You can also find the podcast on Stitcher. Question:  Do you have a backpack business, and if so, how do you do it? Click here to leave your comments.

Ever reach the end of a workday, and wonder where the hours went? Sometimes it seems there's just too much to do, and not enough time to do it all. In this episode, I'll share 5 “tricks” that will help you get more done in less time. Plus, here are some additional reasons to keep listening… I will share an app that helps you make great-looking  portraits on your iPhone. Stu McLaren with the Lifestyle Business Report. Now let's get on with it… Announcements: Thanks to all who have left a review of the Ray Edwards Show in iTunes. Including  Johnny Lee Phillips, Cynthia Charleen, and Kevin Anthony Williams.  I'm considering the formation of an affordable, entry-level Mastermind Group. This would be a true mastermind group, led by me, with personal interaction available. Would you be interested? Let me know in the comments on this post. Tip Of The Week  The Facetune app helps you create pictures showing people in their best light. Lifestyle Business Segment  With Stu McLaren Spiritual Foundations Why do followers of Jesus experience tough times? Keep these 3 things in mind: We don't see what God sees. We don't know what God knows. Nothing surprises God! “The Lord directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives.” Psalm 37:23 “Either God is doing a work in you, or He is using you to do a work in someone else.” Joel Osteen Feature Segment:  5 Tricks To Get More Done In Less Time Refuse any input (email, Facebook, voicemail, phone calls, chat, etc.) until you complete your “One Thing” for the day. Do your most important work next, still refusing inputs. Work in focus blocks, punctuated by short bursts of physical activity. Shorten your workweek and your workday with “hard stops.” Do things faster.   What To Do Now If you enjoy the podcast, I would consider it a great favor if you subscribe (and leave a review) in iTunes. This helps new people discover the show. You can also find the podcast on Stitcher. Question:     How do you  Get more done in less time? Click here to leave your comments.

Sometimes it seems difficult to keep creating content, doesn't it? And for a lot of people it's difficult to even get started. In today's show, I will show you how to D.A.R.E.  to create great content that sells. Also coming up… The app  for recording great audio on your iPhone. Stu McLaren with the Lifestyle Business Report. Now let's get on with it… Announcements: Thanks to all who have left a review of the Ray Edwards Show in iTunes. Including Mike Kim, Christy Largent, and Mike Skiff! For more info about the one-day mastermind with me and 11 other people, where we make radical progress in your business… is on. Click this link to make your deposit and application. Conferences where I will be attending and/or speaking: Social Media Marketing World, March 26-28, 2014, San Diego, CA SCORRE Conference May 5-8, Orlando, FL Tip Of The Week  The Griffin iTalk App makes it easy to capture great audio on your iPhone. Lifestyle Business Segment  With Stu McLaren Spiritual Foundations To receive the benefits of following Jesus, we must practice His presence.  “I will never leave you or forsake you.” Hebrews 13:5 Feature Segment:  D.A.R.E. to Create Great Content Desire–based Aspirational Results-focused Experience   What To Do Now If you enjoy the podcast, I would consider it a great favor if you subscribe (and leave a review) in iTunes. This helps new people discover the show. You can also find the podcast on Stitcher. Question:     How do you create great content? Click here to leave your comments.

One week from today, Social Media Marketing World opens in San Diego. It's the biggest physical event in the Social Media Marketing space, and I am privileged to be one of the speakers. In today's show, I will share what I expect from the event… and what I expect from any conference I attend. Also coming up… The  coach that lives on your iPad. Stu McLaren with the Lifestyle Business Report. A free video training series for you. Now let's get on with it… Announcements: Thanks to all who have left a review of the Ray Edwards Show in iTunes. Including Dennis McIntee, Mike Morrell, and Larry Bloomquist! For more info about the one-day mastermind with me and 11 other people, where we make radical progress in your business… is on. Click this link to make your deposit and application. Conferences where I will be attending and/or speaking: Social Media Marketing World, March 26-28, 2014, San Diego, CA SCORRE Conference May 5-8, Orlando, FL Tip Of The Week  The Unstuck app for iPad makes it easy to get on-demand coaching whenever you need it. Lifestyle Business Segment  With Stu McLaren Free Video Training Series This FREE training video has nothing for sale. I just show you how to turn your knowledge and experience into products people buy. This video includes… The 7 Levels of Content. Why most people who create Knowledge Products get stuck at Level 5, and how you can become un-duplicatable by moving to levels 6 and 7. The Ultimate Content Outline. This simple outline helps you create any piece of content (email, blog post, video, book, etc) and know exactly what to say. How to know what your “topic” should be. Decide with clarity what topic you are going to focus on. Click here to get full access to all three training videos. Spiritual Foundations Under the new covenant, God promises to do three things: Lead us—“I will put My laws in their mind and write them on their hearts.” (Hebrews 8:10) Work miracles for us—“I will be their God, and they shall be My people.” (Hebrews 8:10) Help us to know Him—“…all shall know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them.” (Hebrews 8:11) How do we experience this? By remembering… “For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more.” Hebrews 8:12 Feature Segment:  What I Expect From Social Media Marketing World Every conference I attend has the potential to yield multiples of whatever I invested to be there. This is especially true of Social Media Marketing World, which is coming up next week. Here's what I expect from any conference I attend, and what I expect specifically from Social Media Marketing World. 5 Things I Expect from Any Conference A major disruption in my schedule. The opportunity to reflect, recharge, and refocus. To learn something new, or learn something old from a new perspective. To be challenged in some way. To meet new people, and to reconnect with friends. 5 Things I Expect from Social Media Marketing World To discover the best social media marketing techniques from the world's top experts. Some are my friends, like Mari Smith,  Michael Hyatt, Amy Porterfield, Michael Stelzner, Joel Comm,  and Cliff Ravenscraft.  Some are mentors that I have never met, but hope to at this conference, such as Jay Baer, Chris Brogan, John Jantsch, and many others. To be challenged in my thinking about social media marketing, and online business models. The best networking experience I've ever had. The opportunity to reflect, recharge, and refocus. To contribute to a great panel discussion with my fellow panelists, Erik Fisher, Cliff Ravenscraft and John Lee Dumas.   What To Do Now If you enjoy the podcast, I would consider it a great favor if you subscribe (and leave a review) in iTunes. This helps new people discover the show. You can also find the podcast on Stitcher. Question:    What do you expect from SMMW (or any conference)? Click here to leave your comments.

Two years ago this week, I did the very first episode of this podcast. I didn't realize I was making a commitment to cranking out show every week, but that's what happened. It hasn't always been easy. I took this photo with my new Nikon D5200. In this episode, I  am taking some time to review the lessons I've learned after doing 104 episodes, week after week. I will also talk about a very important decision I've made-whether to continue doing the show or not. Also coming up… The best way to get clean audio recordings of your speeches on your iPhone. Stu McLaren with the Lifestyle Business Report. A free video training series for you. Now let's get on with it… Announcements: Thanks to all who have left a review of the Ray Edwards Show in iTunes. Including Noble Crawford, Kim Tester, and “Chef52”! For more info about the one-day mastermind with me and 11 other people, where we make radical progress in your business… is on. Click this link to make your deposit and application. Conferences where I will be attending and/or speaking: Social Media Marketing World, March 26-28, 2014, San Diego, CA SCORRE Conference May 5-8, Orlando, FL Tip Of The Week  The Rode Smartlav Lavalier Microphone for iPhone and Smartphones is a professional-grade wearable microphone designed for use in a wide range of film, television and broadcast scenarios, or wherever professional quality audio is required in a discreet, portable format without the complication and expense of additional wireless equipment. Lifestyle Business Segment  With Stu McLaren Free Video Training Series This FREE training video has nothing for sale. I just show you how to turn your knowledge and experience into products people buy. This video includes… The 7 Levels of Content. Why most people who create Knowledge Products get stuck at Level 5, and how you can become un-duplicatable by moving to levels 6 and 7. The Ultimate Content Outline. This simple outline helps you create any piece of content (email, blog post, video, book, etc) and know exactly what to say. How to know what your “topic” should be. Decide with clarity what topic you are going to focus on. Click here to get full access to all three training videos. Spiritual Foundations Whether we like it or not, God provides for all the things that we need. How do we know this? And how do we gain access to it? 25 “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? 27 And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life?[a] 28 And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, 29 yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30 But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31 Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. 34 “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble. Matthew 6:25-34 Feature Segment:  What I Learned From 2 Years of Doing This Podcast For two years-24 months-I have been doing this show every single week. I have learned a lot of lessons along the way. Here are 24 of the most important lessons I learned, one for each month that I've been doing the show. Prior preparation prevents poor performance. Perfectionism is the mask procrastination wears to hide fear. The harvest never comes before tilling, planting, and cultivating. It is better to give than to receive, yet giving often results in receiving. The human voice is the most intimate of all communication media. The power of the podcast for business has been greatly undersold. Discipline means doing what needs to be done, even when you don't feel like doing it. Experience is the best teacher, and often the most expensive one; the highest leverage teaching is other people's experience. You have not because you ask not. Every project seems to reach the pinnacle of difficulty right before the point of breakthrough. Your commitment to excellence is reflected in what you ship. Mistakes in business can be setbacks, but are seldom fatal. Every adversity contains within it the seed for an equal or greater benefit. The warrior trains for battle, but the victory is the Lords. It's okay to switch horses, especially if the one you are riding is tired. Successful people see problems as challenges to be overcome; unsuccessful people see problems as an excuse to quit. One of the most valuable things you can learn is how to gracefully say no. You will either pour most of your efforts into building your own dream, or inevitably pour them into building someone else's. If you are not investing in your own education and program of improvement, you have decided to stop growing. Most people are the average of the five people they spend the most time with. You can use the power of the peer group to raise your level of performance and manifestation-you simply choose your peer group intentionally. Your own tongue contains the power of life and death over you, your family, and your business. The reason showing up is 90% of the battle is that most people simply failed to do it. The most powerful skill you can master is the practice of presence. Will I continue the show? What To Do Now If you enjoy the podcast, I would consider it a great favor if you subscribe (and leave a review) in iTunes. This helps new people discover the show. You can also find the podcast on Stitcher. Question:    What will you get done this week as a result of this podcast? Click here to leave your comments.

Ever feel like you just need to get more stuff done? I think we all feel that way at some point. In this episode, I interview Robert Plank on getting things done. Also coming up… The app that prevents long-windedness. Stu McLaren with the Lifestyle Business Report. The one-word Copywriting shift you can make today Now let's get on with it… Announcements: Thanks to all who have left a review of the Ray Edwards Show in iTunes. Including Ray Massie, Joshua Rivers, Lisa R, Stever, Robert Pieto! For more info about the one-day mastermind with me and 11 other people, where we make radical progress in your business… is on. Click this link to make your deposit and application. Conferences where I will be attending and/or speaking: Social Media Marketing World, March 26-28, 2014, San Diego, CA The Launch Conference, April 7-10, 2014, Orlando, FL SCORRE Conference May 5-8, Orlando, FL Tip Of The Week  The pClock app that keeps you from blowing past your time limits when speaking. Lifestyle Business Segment  With Stu McLaren Copywriting Corner The one word shift that you can make that amps up your persuasion power. Spiritual Foundations When you see yourself the way God sees you, you won't be “full of yourself”… you will be your full self. Feature Segment:  Interview With Robert Plank In the episode I we hear from Robert Plank on: How to stay out of overwhelm. How to avoid having a lot if half-finished products and projects. The secrets of single-minded focus. A simple philosophy of copywriting… or any process! The magic of the “3 Day Rule” and the power of having just “4 Daily Tasks”. What To Do Now If you enjoy the podcast, I would consider it a great favor if you subscribe (and leave a review) in iTunes. This helps new people discover the show. You can also find the podcast on Stitcher. Question:    What will you get done this week as a result of this podcast? Click here to leave your comments.

My “one word” for this year is: simplify. Why did I choose that word, and what does it mean to you? In this episode, I will share five good reasons why you should consider simplifying, too. Also coming up… How to write like Hemingway. Stu McLaren with the Lifestyle Business Report. The One Copywriting Rule That You Must Follow. Now let's get on with it… Announcements: Thanks to all who have left a review of the Ray Edwards Show in iTunes. For more info about the one-day mastermind with me and 11 other people, where we make radical progress in your business… is on. Click this link to make your deposit and application. Conferences where I will be attending and/or speaking: Social Media Marketing World, March 26-28, 2014, San Diego, CA The Launch Conference, April 7-10, 2014, Orlando, FL SCORRE Conference May 5-8, Orlando, FL Tip Of The Week  The app that helps you write like Hemingway. Lifestyle Business Segment  With Stu McLaren Copywriting Corner This week I share  “The One Copywriting Rule You Must Follow”. I explain how to use the Rule on today's show. Spiritual Foundations It's not necessary to debate people into the Kingdom. “Christ is all in all.”— Colossians 3:11 In the end, a debate about salvation, the existence of God, or who Jesus is, will be fruitless. Only a direct revelation, illuminated by the Holy Spirit, brings people into the Kingdom. And inside the church, all our focus on leadership programs, small groups, building programs, social justice, church growth initiatives, etc. miss the mark. We have,  when we focus on these things, abandon our first love. A good test: simply count the number of times a pastor (or a book, or teaching series) references the name Jesus. “Christ is all I need. You can strip away everything else from me, and I would still be left with Christ. Take away my gifts and my ministry; take away signs and wonders; take away the sense of His presence; take away my ability to read; take away every spiritual and religious pursuit I have, and I will still have Christ. And having Him, I have everything.” ~  Jesus Manifesto by Frank Viola and Leonard Sweet Feature Segment:  5 Good Reasons To Simplify The word I chose to guide 2014 was simplify. In this episode, I explain why I chose it, and five reasons why you should consider simplifying too. Simplifying your possessions and give you clarity, energy, and peace. Complexity in any area of your life weighs you down. Simplicity is the best preparation for the future. Simplicity gives you the broadest range of choices in any decision. Simplicity creates margin. In the episode I talk about my  journey toward simplification, where it will lead, and how you can benefit. What To Do Now If you enjoy the podcast, I would consider it a great favor if you subscribe (and leave a review) in iTunes. This helps new people discover the show. You can also find the podcast on Stitcher. Question:    Do you feel you would benefit from simplifying? How will you start? Click here to leave your comments.

I believe the way you start your day determines how it will end; productive and happy, or frustrated and fruitless.  That's why I put so much focus on my morning routine,  which is the foundation of my personal “Productivity Protocol”.  My morning routine is an intentional set of activities designed to set me up for the best possible day. With the right routine in place, I believe we can make our best days better, and perhaps even salvage what might have been a “bad day.” If you are familiar with my work, I have written about this before. But my routine has changed , and I have refined my process. On today's show, I will pull back the curtain on my newly re-engineered morning routine. Also coming up… The Post-It Note ToDo System. Stu McLaren returns. A super-simple copy outline. Now let's get on with it… Announcements: Thanks to all who have left a review of the Ray Edwards Show in iTunes. For more info about the one-day mastermind with me and 11 other people, where we make radical progress in your business… is on. Click this link to make your deposit and application. Conferences where I will be attending and/or speaking: Social Media Marketing World, March 26-28, 2014, San Diego, CA The Launch Conference, April 7-10, 2014, Orlando, FL SCORRE Conference May 5-8, Orlando, FL Tip Of The Week  The Post-It Note Planning System. Lifestyle Business Segment  With Stu McLaren Copywriting Corner This week I share a “super simple copywriting outline”. It goes like this: Headline: How to Get the Thing You Want, In Three Easy Steps Here's the problem, and what happens if you don't solve it… I solved the problem, and here's how… Who the heck am I, and why should you believe me? Introducing my Fancy New Problem-Solving System It's worked for me, for my other customers, and it will work for you… Here's exactly what you get How much it costs, and why it's worth 10 times more I will take all the risk Here's exactly what to do now Sure, there are lots of nuances to writing great copy. But this basic outline will help you quickly write a sales message. I flesh out the process and explain how to use the outline on today's show. Spiritual Foundations I have been accused of being a “hyper grace teacher”. According to this accusation, I have overemphasized the importance of the grace of Jesus Christ at the expense of his Lordship. Of course, I vehemently disagree with this criticism. I recently had a discussion about this for a topic with my friend Frank Viola, and I asked him if he would be willing to join us on the show so we could talk about the controversy over so-called “greasy grace”. To hear this fascinating interview, you'll need to listen to the audio of this week's show. You can find the course Frank mentioned by clicking here. Feature Segment: Create A Morning Routine That Sets You Up For Success The purpose of creating an intentional morning routine is to develop an habitual set of activities to start each day. The way you start the day sets the tone for the way you will finish out the rest of the day. A good routine in the morning will give you momentum for the rest the day, that increases the likelihood for productivity and success. My own routine has gone through considerable evolution over the last few years. Recently, I found my previous routine had become stale and somewhat out of alignment with my current priorities. So I've decided to reengineer it. This new routine will also undoubtedly evolve over time, but this is what I'm doing now, and what seems to be working for me. Get up early. I don't use an alarm clock, but I tend to naturally awaken between 4 and 5 AM. Most days, my day starts at 5 AM. Drink 24 ounces of water. Most of us live in a constant state of mild dehydration. This is bad for your body, and bad for your brain. I intentionally hydrate first thing in the morning. Especially considering the next part of my routine… Drink a cup of Bulletproof Coffee.  This is a blend of organic coffee, high quality MCT oil, and butter, blended into a delightful, flavorful, and creamy beverage. It tastes better than a latte, and  supports the healthy functioning of your brain.  there is a great deal of research about the benefits of Medium Chain Triglycerides (MCT), especially for preventing or alleviating the symptoms of conditions such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease. The best part, though, is that drinking Bulletproof Coffee gives me a great jolt of energy and mental clarity and focus. Prayer and mindfulness. This is where, in the words of Brother Lawrence, I “practice the presence” of Jesus. I'm listening for what he has to say to me today. Execute the Morning Reading Process. I'm currently reading nine books simultaneously, and I have written about this process recently. If you'd like to know more about how I managed to read as many as 40 books in a week, refer to this post. Quickly, though, I start by reading the Bible, then a devotional, and follow that up with some kind of theological work. Then I read a chapter in each of the other books I'm currently working through.  Write in my journal. I use the journaling app Day One, a template for each station journal entry that I adapted from one Michael Hyatt wrote about his blog, and usually spend only about 15 minutes journaling. The template is key. Before, whenever I attempted to Journal, I felt as though it was some sort of “artsy crafty” thing and really couldn't get into it. Having a template gives me an intentional set of data and/or thoughts that I want to record each day, and makes the journaling process as easy as filling in the blanks. It also means that later in life, when I refer back to this journal, it will have context and meaning. Plan my day. I still plan my day the night before. Planning tomorrow is the last activity I will do today. However, I have found it is extremely useful to review that plan at this step in my morning routine. I often end up changing the plan, because I have a fresh perspective on the day. While I am a big proponent of David Allen's GTD methodology, I'm afraid I still use a daily task list. I know GTD devotees will be disappointed to hear this, but this is what works for me. Years ago, I learned the “6 Most Important Things” to-do list method from Earl Nightingale (if memory serves correctly.) Robert Plank and Lance Tamashiro teach a system they call “4 Daily Tasks”, which I think is a better refinement of Nightingale's original idea. I simply make a list of “5 Things”. Each day, I have 5 things I want to accomplish, no matter what else happens. I start with number 1 and don't work on anything else until that is done. Then I move to number 2, and so on until I get to number 5. Once I've completed number 5, I am free to do whatever I want for the rest of the day. The key to making the system work is to make sure that they really are 5 “things”, and not 5 “projects”. Exercise.  By this time it is around 8 AM. At least four days out of the week, but ideally seven, I either go to the gym or hit the road for 40 minutes of physical exercise. It's good for your body,  it's good for your brain, and it's good for your emotional well-being. If I don't do it at this point in my day, it becomes much less likely that I will do it at all. Start working on my “5 Things.” Once upon a time, I wrote my 5 Things on a whiteboard, and at the end of the day would take a photo with my iPhone of the 5 Things crossed out. These days I use the Post-it note system I described in the Tip of the Week. I admit that I still cross off the items… but I don't take a picture. I just throw the Post-Its away.  Stop working at 3 PM. This is more of a goal than it is a reality as of this writing. This represents a big change in my modus operandi. But having a hard stop at the end of the day, and making it this early, give me the freedom to engage in other activities that are important to me that otherwise get shortchanged by work. That's my morning routine, and how transitions into the rest of my productivity protocol for the day. It's a new revision, I just started working this routine, and I will update you let you know how it's going somewhere down the line (if you're interested.) What To Do Now If you enjoy the podcast, I would consider it a great favor if you subscribe (and leave a review) in iTunes. This helps new people discover the show. You can also find the podcast on Stitcher. Question:   What is your morning routine, and is it time to reengineer it? Click here to leave your comments.

This is episode 100… 100 weeks in a row, we've cranked out a new show. While Episode 104 will mark the 2-year anniversary of the show, I felt we had to do something special for #100… so that's what we're doing. And on today's episode I'm going to do  our usual segments, but the feature presentation segment will be exclusively your questions. Also coming up… How to know what your market wants. How to not waste your life. One of the most powerful copy secrets I know. Now let's get on with it… Announcements: Thanks to all who have left a review of the Ray Edwards Show in iTunes. For more info about the one-day mastermind with me and 11 other people, where we make radical progress in your business… is on. You can get the full story here. Conferences where I will be attending and/or speaking: Social Media Marketing World, March 26-28, 2014, San Diego, CA The Launch Conference, April 7-10, 2014, Orlando, FL JV Alert: The Perfect Game April 24-27, Denver, CO SCORRE Conference May 5-8, Orlando, FL Tip Of The Week  Survey your customers! Copywriting Corner The power of “reason why”. Spiritual Foundations Don't waste your life. “Only one life, ’twill soon be past, Only what’s done for Christ will last.” The good news is that includes being an entrepreneur! Feature Segment: Nothin' But “Q&A With Ray” With questions from: Michael Hyatt Cliff Ravenscraft Dr. Kenny Handelman Kirk Bowman Dan Miller Alejandro Reyes Frank Viola Annett Bone Martin Howey Jeff Sanders Ian Bone Jason Nicholas Joel Comm Ken McArthur Tracy Childers Ryan Eidson Mike McMahon Marshall Bone Phil Drysdale Tor Constantino Stu McLaren What To Do Now If you enjoy the podcast, I would consider it a great favor if you subscribe (and leave a review) in iTunes. This helps new people discover the show. You can also find the podcast on Stitcher. Question:  What are your big questions about how to monetize your message? Click here to leave your comments.

I'm pleased to have Michael Stelzner as my guest on today's show. If you don't know who Michael is… well in the words of Ron Burgundy, he's “kind of a big deal.” Don't act like you're not impressed. The Networking Party that kicks off this year's Social Media Marketing World in San Diego will happen on the deck of the USS Midway! We'll get to Michael's interview in a few minutes, but first I want to tell you about the upcoming celebration, and a few other reasons to keep listening, such as… The most compressive goal-setting and tracking software I have found. The number 166. One of my NEW top Copywriting book recommedations. Now let's get on with it… Announcements: Thanks to all who have left a review of the podcast in iTunes. This week I would like to thank:  Kirk Bowman, Eric Dingler, “Lady J” Jevonnah Ellison. It looks like the one-day mastermind with me and 11 other people, where we make radical progress in your business… is on. You can get the full story here. Next week's show is number 100, and we will be devoting it exclusively to listener questions. I'm turning the microphone over to you. Conferences where I will be attending and/or speaking: NAMS 11 February 7-9, 2014, Atlanta, GA Social Media Marketing World, March 26-28, 2014, San Diego, CA The Launch Conference, April 7-10, 2014, Orlando, FL JV Alert: The Perfect Game April 24-27, Denver, CO SCORRE Conference May 5-8, Orlando, FL Tip Of The Week  I have been experimenting with a number of different goal-setting apps, and so far the most full-featured of the bunch is GoalsOnTrack.   Things I like about GoalsOnTrack: It has a great little iPhone app. It syncs my due dates with Google Calendar. It's hierarchical, so it works like an outline. I can track my goal, the purpose that drives the goal, the start and end dates… and most importantly, the habits and action plans needed to support the goal. I do wish they offered a native iPad app, but other than those two points I love GoalsOnTrack. Copywriting Corner Accidental Genius: Using Writing to Generate Your Best Ideas, Insight, and Content One of the problems I see in the world of copywriting and marketing today is a lack of original ideas. Look, folks, John Caples and David Ogilvy did not achieve their greatness by using somebody else's “swipe file”. They got their breakthrough ideas by dipping into a deeper well, where they probably found ideas swimming around that grew out of reading books (you remember those, stories like Moby Dick, Huckleberry Finn, The Stand, Fahrenheit 451, Etc.?) I suggest you dip into those wells for yourself. The best copy, in my humble but accurate opinion, is between the covers of the best novels. But, I digress. Would you like a shortcut to writing better copy? This great book was recommended to me by my friend Andy Traub. In the book, Levy teaches a concept and technique he calls freewriting. His claim is that it helps you produce breakthrough ideas and solve problems in minutes. This book has literally changed my writing process. I'm using the freewriting technique to generate material for my blog posts, podcasts, books, seminars, and products. What I was shocked to discover is that even if we consider ourselves creative, we tend to hold ourselves back. Inside each of us lives The Editor. Her job (yes, I'm afraid it's always a her) is to tell us that our writing is not perfect, that we need to go back and revise it, that we need to make sure we never sound stupid. Heaven forbid if anybody thought we were crazy. What results from that kind of limiting belief is limited thinking. Careful thinking. Thinking that wants to make sure we fit in. Thinking that keeps us stuck. Free writing, on the other hand, starts with you writing as fast as you can, for as long as you can, about something that's important to you and ignoring the standard rules of grammar and spelling and what you learned in English class and what your mother might think and what the Ladies' Society For Literary Decency might think. I freewrote that last sentence. Notice that it was longer than most of my more controlled writing. It also, I think, had a little sparkle. I'm not going to polish it fix it, I'm going to leave it here as an example that perhaps will tease you into buying this book. I've only scratched the surface of Levy's work. He has six big “secrets” that help render your Editor unconscious and let your genius run around for a while, naked and free. There are also a score of other exercises and techniques. And yes, he does teach you how to refine your free writing into something that you would share with somebody without fear or embarrassment. Spiritual Foundations 2 hours. That's the amount of time each week the average businessperson, manager, or entrepreneur spends  inside of church. If you've done the math already you realize that there are only 168 hours in a week. That means that 166 hours are spent outside the church for most modern Christians. There's nothing wrong with that. In fact, that's my point in this week's Spiritual Foundations. Jesus never told us, “go to church.” In fact, he said something quite opposite: And he said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation.” Mark 16:15 Most modern Christians act as if “ministry” is a job title that preachers have. But according to the Bible, the job of the preacher is to equip the saints for the work of the ministry. The saints (that's you and me) are the ones doing the ministry. As a minister in the marketplace, you are quite literally going “into all the world.” In future episodes, we're going to focus a lot more intently on what it means to do marketplace ministry without being preachy or repulsive to other people. We're going to focus on how you show the love of Christ to others in such a way they are changed by it… they are changed by him. For now, I leave you with something to think about. Just like Jesus,  your meant to be out there, doing your father's business. So how's business? Feature Segment: Social Media Marketing With Michael Stelzner Michael Stelzner is the founder of Social Media Examiner, the world’s largest online social media magazine. Michael is also the author of the books Launch and Writing White Papers… and the man behind some large events, such as Social Media Marketing World (the most influential physical event in the industry, and I am thrilled to be speaking there next month), and Social Media Success Summit, the largest online conference. He is also host of the Social Media Marketing podcast show. Get your tickets by clicking here.  What To Do Now If you enjoy the podcast, I would consider it a great favor if you subscribe (and leave a review) in iTunes. This helps new people discover the show. You can also find the podcast on Stitcher. Question:  What are your big questions about how to monetize your message? Click here to leave your comments.

Do you have a message you'd like to get out the world, and you wonder if it's possible to get paid for it? It is possible, and it does take work, but not as much as you might think. And on today's episode I'm going to show you  seven simple steps to monetizing your message. Also coming up… A travel app that I consider must-have. How to know who is a real follower of Jesus, and who is not. How to write blockbuster copy in 45 minutes. Now let's get on with it… Announcements: Thanks to all who have left a review of the podcast in iTunes.  I'm going to start publicly acknowledging those who have done so, if I can identify you (sometimes the usernames in iTunes make that difficult.) This week I would like to thank:  Doug 9999, Tom Page, Joe Taylor, Walter G, Wesley Wiley, ChurchBoy 77, “frequent listener”. Every person who submits an audio question for the podcast will receive a free gift (if, and only if, we use your question on the podcast). Click here to submit your audio question. Meanwhile, if you would be interested in the possible one-day mastermind with me and 11 other people, where we make radical progress in your business… And if you're not just “interested” but you already know you want to do it,  fill in this form. If it looks like you would be a good fit, I will call you myself.  (If you just want the “details”, listen to the podcast. I explain all the “details”.) Conferences where I will be attending and/or speaking: NAMS 11 February 7-9, 2014, Atlanta, GA Social Media Marketing World, March 26-28, 2014, San Diego, CA The Launch Conference, April 7-10, 2014, Orlando, FL JV Alert: The Perfect Game April 24-27, Denver, CO SCORRE Conference May 5-8, Orlando, FL Tip Of The Week  My top must-have travel app, Tripit.  There are lots of travel apps available, and I have tried most of them. But this one is the hands-down winner that I was willing to pay money for. Here are three reasons why I really love this app: No more cutting and pasting. Automatically create itineraries by forwarding confirmation emails to a special email address. Custom itineraries. Add maps and directions, travel notes, photos, recommendations and more. Easy access, 24/7. Access your itinerary any time online, via mobile device, calendar feeds or social sites. Sharing. Share itineraries with family, friends, and co-workers to keep them in the know and connect with them on the road. Mobile alerts. Get mobile alerts or emails about flight delays, cancellations, and gate changes. Copywriting Corner Do you want to know the magic formula for writing copy that sells? Me too. The fact is, there is no such formula. There are frameworks, and I teach those. What's more, I use them. But the truth is the best copy comes from inspiration and creativity. Where do those things come from? That is the subject of this week's Copywriting Corner. John Cleese has famously said he doesn't know where great ideas come from, but he's certain they don't come from our laptops. I believe it's important to be open to, and fill up on, stimulating, exciting, interesting, moving, and varied experiences. To live life. To give your brain a chance to get away from your projects, so it can do your work. My best copy has never come from following a template or formula. It is come from a flurry of white hot inspired ideation. Yours can too. In the audio version of this show, I expand a bit on these concepts, but for the benefit of you text a files, here are some tips Give yourself plenty of creative input for your brain to work with (TV, movies, real world experiences, books, and especially things that are outside your normal range of experience.) Carry a notebook and a pen! When one of those lightning strike idea moments happens, stop everything else and capture the inspiration in what I call “the vomit draft”. Spiritual Foundations How do we know who's a true follower of Jesus? Well, first of all, there is no “litmus test” they can tell us for sure if another person is “saved” or not. Only the Holy Spirit himself knows that for sure. So how do we know, with all the various opinions and doctrines and expressions of Christianity, who the true followers of Christ really are? I think Jesus himself gave us the answer. He said: By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” John 15:35 Feature Segment: How To Monetize Your Message By far, the most frequent question I am asked is some variation of, “Ray, how do I start a business of my own on the Internet? Can I really make enough money to get by? Or is it just a scam?” It definitely is not a scam. I know plenty of people who have made this transition. Of course some of them are quite well known, and have been clients of mine. Some are my friends, and I've been privileged to know a few who are household names. But more impressive, I think, are the people you may have never heard of who have done exactly this. People who do things as varied as teaching massage therapists how to run a business, or teaching how to grow your own medicinal herbs, or unique brand of artful photography, or even dog training… It is definitely possible to take your knowledge and experience, what you already know, in turn that into money. In fact, I'm teaching a brand-new webinar on this very subject tomorrow night (Thursday, January 30, 2014.) You can register for that webinar by clicking here. It's free. Meanwhile, here are seven simple steps that will help you move closer to learning how to monetize your message. First, you must decide that it's okay to actually do this. Identify your “tribe”. Hone your message. Package your message properly. Promote your message. Profit from your message. Ask, “what's next?” We are at a significant point in history, unique and exciting. Every person is a media company if they want to be. For less than $100, you can have your own mini media empire. So the question is no longer access to distribution. The question is what will you do with it? Listener Questions Barak: How do you grow your audience? Corbin Links:  How do you overcome a bad book review on an influential site? Dan Tredo:  How do you overcome technical problems when building information business? Todd Liles: Where do you find good Infusionsoft campaign templates?   What To Do Now If you enjoy the podcast, I would consider it a great favor if you subscribe (and leave a review) in iTunes. This helps new people discover the show. You can also find the podcast on Stitcher. Question:  What are your big questions about how to monetize your message? Click here to leave your comments.

Have you broken your New Year's resolutions yet? Most people have-my estimate is that over 90% have. So what do you do now? I'd say it's time to get serious about planning your year. And on today's episode I'm going to show you how to do it in less than one hour. Also coming up… My top three productivity apps for 2014. Why what you say has spiritual power. Your invitation to a one-day mastermind with me. Now let's get on with it… Announcements: Thanks to all who have left a review of the podcast in iTunes.  I'm going to start publicly acknowledging those who have done so, if I can identify you (sometimes the usernames in iTunes make that difficult.) This week I would like to thank:  Kingsley, Hope Dispenser… Cindy Bidar… Missouri Broker… Corbin 111… Jim Munchbach… Phil Drysdale… Robert Plank… Ernie Lansford… Carmen Manrique… Nick Douglas… Jeff Brown… Jeff Sanders… Rick Butts… Ryan Eidson… John Tiller… Liz Dugger… Todd Brown… Chad Meisinger… Bob Shoe… Rob Metras…  and Eric Graham. Every person who submits an audio question for the podcast will receive a free gift (if, and only if, we use your question on the podcast). Click here to submit your audio question. Meanwhile, if you would be interested in the possible one-day mastermind with me and 11 other people, where we make radical progress in your business… And if you're not just “interested” but you already know you want to do it,  fill in this form. If it looks like you would be a good fit, I will call you myself.  (If you just want the “details”, listen to the podcast. I explain all the “details”.) Conferences where I will be attending and/or speaking: NAMS 11 February 7-9, 2014, Atlanta, GA Social Media Marketing World, March 26-28, 2014, San Diego, CA JV Alert: The Perfect Game April 24-27, Denver, CO SCORRE Conference May 5-8, Orlando, FL Tip Of The Week  My top three productivity apps probably will not come as much of a surprise. But I have made a shift, so here they are: Evernote. I think of Evernote as my “magical filing cabinet/notebook/backup brain”. I really couldn't function the way I do without it. Nozbe. It took a strong recommendation from Michael Hyatt to finally get me to try a different task management system. I had been using OmniFocus for years.  Now, after just a couple of weeks, I can't imagine going back. Dragon Dictate.  I have finally taken the time to learn the nuances (pun intended) of using the software. I don't know of anyone who can type faster than they can talk. Other than dictating and having your words recorded by transcriptionist, this is the fastest way I know to write. Copywriting Corner If you ever get stuck writing copy, and find yourself staring at a blank page, here's a quick tip that will get the copy flowing again. Just start writing up the offer. Describe the “stuff” you'll be selling. If even that requires too much creativity, try just writing up the guarantee. In other words, write what I call “the stupid parts”. I don't mean that these parts the copy are unimportant, or that you should be careless about the final draft of these sections. What I do mean is that you can write this kind of copy even if you are in a “stupid state”. I usually find that fairly soon the creativity starts to flow again, and I can start writing “the smart parts”. And yes, I also go back and rewrite the parts I started with, because all of your copy needs to be “smart parts”. Spiritual Foundations I believe that as followers of Christ, we have the very Spirit of God living inside of us. I believe because of this, the words we speak have power. Thus, saying negative things (“I can't do this”… “Why does this always happen to me”… “It always turns out like this”… and so on) can have a powerful adverse impact on our lives. By the same token, saying positive things brings about good things in our life. This is not “positive thinking”. It is absolutely not “The Secret”, which is a new age religion not compatible with following Christ. Some people wonder if my belief in “positive declarations” is Biblical. It certainly is. And here are 3 biblical reasons why you should only declare good things about yourself, your loved ones, and your life. When we speak or hear life-giving declarations, grace is imparted. “Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers” (Ephesians 4:29) The words we speak can either bless or curse our lives. “For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned” (Matthew 12:37) Perhaps the most powerful Scripture on this topic is also the simplest: “Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit” (Proverbs 18:21). Feature Segment: How To Plan Your Year In Just 1 Hour By now it's likely your  New Year's resolutions are broken. Most people's are. I believe the reason behind this is the same force that was behind my experience while hiking recently.  I got so focused on the length and height of the mountain we were trying to climb, I wanted to give up.  It was only when I learned to focus on short-term and intermediate points on the path that I found the strength to continue the hike. (For the full hiking story,  you need to listen to the show!) This is the problem with New Year's resolutions. I have a different plan in mind for you. Here's how to plan your entire year in an hour or less, and it matches up a lot more closely with what you already do naturally anyway. First, plan your days off. 52 weeks means 52 Saturdays and Sundays… Which really should be 104 days free from work. Add in 10 days for actual vacation, and 10 more days for holidays, and you have a minimum of 124 free days. Put those in your calendar, and protect them like the treasure they are. Next, plan the important personal events that you simply must attend. Weddings, birthdays, anniversaries, and family reunions come to mind. I would also include here any important church or mission functions. Now, plan any seminars, conferences, or other learning events you are going to attend. Don't fool yourself; you have a limited number of these events you can attend. You probably know the most important ones already so plug them into the calendar. Any weekends or other free days that get eaten up by these events must be replaced somewhere else in your calendar. At this point, in my own planning I realized I had only about 165 days left before I even started the year. That means out of the entire year, I only had 23 weeks to “work”… less than half the weeks in the year. This is a powerful realization, because the things that I have listed above are going to happen to you… whether you put them on the calendar or not. The only exception might be that, because of a lack of planning, you sacrifice your “free days”… meaning you are sacrificing time with family, time recharging and resting, time to re-create. Big mistake. So what do you do when youre remaining 23 weeks (or whatever number you came up with)? First of all, I don't recommend working 12-15 hours a day to try and make up the difference. In fact, I recommend you limit your work day to about six hours. That's all the productive time you're going to get out of the day anyhow, whether you admit it or not. This leads us to a very important realization… we can now calculate the value of an hour of our work. Here's how to do that… Decide how much money you want to make this year. Let's say, just for the sake of example, your target income is $200,000. You have 165 days to work,  And I think it's pretty fair to say that a third of those days will be spent doing administrative and preparatory work (in other words, not the actual stuff your paid for). This leaves you with about 110 full “workdays”-days when you perform the actual work that gets you paid. Let's suppose you're going to work seven hours per day (and if you can actually squeeze seven productive hours out of a day, you are performing at a higher level than 95% of everyone else on earth… congratulations.) Seven hours per day times 110 days yields 770 hours. Which means you're being paid $259.74 per hour in order to make your $200,000 this year. So what's the point? I haven't describe anything unrealistic. In fact, I may have just given you the first realistic picture of what your year actually looks like you've ever seen. Perhaps right now you're having a revelation of why you never made the money you want to make, or achieved the things you want to achieve. It's because you have less time available to work than you think you do. This is not bad news. It simply means your primary question should be: “Is what I'm doing right now worth $259.74 per hour?” If the answer is no… stop it. You're probably already ahead of me. You're probably thinking about all the other things I haven't plugged into your schedule… doctor appointments, unexpected illnesses, pleasant surprises… even the possibility that you want to make more money than what I mentioned. My point isn't even that you need to have a perfect plan. It's that you need to put the big pieces of the puzzle in your calendar first, the ones you know that are beyond choosing, the ones you know that are important (like those free days), and the ones you know you have little control over. It means you need to get a realistic view of how many hours you actually have available to you this year to accomplish your goals, to be intentional about how you use them, and most importantly… to not be surprised at the end of the year, when you could've planned a different outcome. I suppose if I had a summary message it would be this: I believe you can do almost anything you want this year, but you almost certainly cannot do everything you want. What To Do Now If you enjoy the podcast, I would consider it a great favor if you subscribe (and leave a review) in iTunes. This helps new people discover the show. You can also find the podcast on Stitcher. Question: how do you plan your year? Click here to leave your comments.

This week we will continue with listener questions. As you may remember, we just completed our first ever Annual Reader/Listener Survey for this site (and podcast). We got some interesting and surprising results in that survey…  and lots of feedback, comments, and questions. We will answer more questions and comment on more comments. Also on today's episode… Tip of the Week I address the overreaction to my comments about “radical grace”. Would you like to be in a mastermind with me? And the always award-winning, much much more. Announcements: Looking for a copywriting gig? Send me a one sheet “sales letter” on why you would be a perfect copywriter for me to hire. 800 words maximum. Also send along any samples you think would convince me you are brilliant. Make the subject line of your email say only: “Blue Fondue”. Send that email to the address I provided in the podcast, and listen to the podcast audio for instructions about what happens next. If you email me with questions, I have not listened to the podcast instructions, I won't be able to answer you. Starting this week, every person who submits an audio question for the podcast will receive a free gift (if, and only if, we use your question on the podcast). Click here to submit your audio question. Meanwhile, if you would be interested in the possible one-day mastermind with me and 11 other people, where we make radical progress in your business… And if you're not just “interested” but you already know you want to do it,  fill in this form. If it looks like you would be a good fit, I will call you myself.  (If you just want the “details”, listen to the podcast. I explain all the “details”.) Conferences where I will be attending and/or speaking: Strategic Influence Jan 14-16, 2014, Phoenix, AZ NAMS 11 February 7-9, 2014, Atlanta, GA Social Media Marketing World, March 26-28, 2014, San Diego, CA JV Alert: The Perfect Game April 24-27, Denver, CO SCORRE Conference May 5-8, Orlando, FL Tip Of The Week   Stuck In Customs Copywriting Corner This is the official kickoff of one of your suggestions from our listener survey: that I include a copywriting tip in each episode.  Each week I will include a tip on how to improve the power and persuasiveness of your copy. In other words, I will help you write copy that moves people to action, whether that action be to buy a product, to opt into a list, or to adopt an idea you are “selling” to them. This week's tip: the easiest and fastest way to influence anyone is by using what is already influencing them. This is a restatement of Robert Colliers classic advice: you must enter the conversation that is already taking place in the mind of the reader. But how do you do this? To get into the mind of your prospect, you need to have tea.  No, it's not a beverage. It's a visualization exercise, for which I have coined the term The Empathy Amplifier (T.E.A.). Here's how to do it: Gather all the actual data you have about your prospects (the people to whom you are writing). Get into a quiet place. Perhaps even have an actual cup of tea. Now visualize yourself stepping into the body and life of your prospect. (This is not some form of demonic astral projection, it simply you using your sanctified imagination to understand another person's life better.) Walk through every detail of their day that you can imagine: when they wake up, how they wake up, what they see/hear/smell/feel… What they have for breakfast, the kind of car they drive to work, the neighborhood they drive through, the waiter greeted at the office, the emotional state they feel throughout the day… Right up to the moment they walk through the door of home at the end of the workday and collapse onto the sofa to watch TV. Or whatever they do. Take your time. Do this exercise thoroughly. Think about what their fears, frustrations, and anxieties are. What is their dominant driving emotion, most of the time? When you have bathed yourself in the wash of their experience… Now you can start writing some copy. Try it. In fact, I would love to share some reader examples with everyone else. So if you do this exercise, and write a paragraph or two of copy, and you know there is a difference-send me that copy! I'll share with the world! Spiritual Foundations Last week I talked about those who resist a “radical grace” approach to the gospel. I mentioned that some people are afraid this is an error, and refer to it as “cheap grace” or “greasy grace”.  Their concern is that this teaching that Jesus has already paid the price for our sins… past, present, and future, is a perversion of the gospel. That it gives people license to sin, and makes them bitter, arrogant, and prideful.  I said that Grace is not a license to sin. It is what empowers us to overcome sin. I also knowledge to that some use the word “grace” as an excuse for their sin. But we don't know (a) whether that person IS or IS NOT a true believer… and (B) how and/or when that person will be overcome by God's Grace and led out of a life of sin. Let me assure you that I got the same objections from more than one person. So if you objected, and you are hearing this, please understand that I am not directing this only at you. I am, in the best way I know, lovingly offering you a different way of considering this issue. I reached my conclusions on these matters based solely on Scripture. I can defend them based solely on Scripture. But that would take an entire podcast to even begin to scratch the surface. So let me summarize this quickly, and perhaps allow some people to rest easy, by saying this: The grace that Jesus Christ offers lets you completely off the hook for sin. It settles your sin problem once and for all. Past, present, and future. It is not necessary for you to beg for forgiveness every time you cross the line in sin. Even if you do it willfully. Grace is much more powerful than that, and creates within you a new heart that makes it more and more impossible for you to sin. For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. It teaches us to say “no” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age. Titus 2:11-12, NIV Grace does not increase the desire to sin. Preaching this radical grace does not cause people to sin more. What causes that is the very spirit of “religion” which so desperately wants to bind people to rules and regulations. It is this religious spirit that causes well-meaning believers say things like, “Yes, grace is wonderful, but you got to be careful… you've got to make sure you balance that teaching with an emphasis on holiness…  and following God's commandments.” I humbly disagree. We are not under the law, but under grace. Let's see what the New Testament has to say about the Law.     Acts     The law is an unbearable yoke. (Acts 15:10) Romans     The law reveals sin but cannot fix it. (Romans 3:20)     If the law worked then faith would be irrelevant. (Romans 4:14)     The law brings wrath upon those who follow it. (Romans 4:15)     The purpose of the law was to increase sin. (Romans 5:20)     Christians are not under the law. (Romans 6:14)     Christians have been delivered from the law. (Romans 7:1-6)     The law is good, perfect, and holy but cannot help you be good, perfect, or holy. (Romans 7:7-12)     The law which promises life only brings death through sin. (Romans 7:10)     The law makes you sinful beyond measure. (Romans 7:13)     The law is weak. (Romans 8:2-3) 1 Corinthians     The strength of sin is the law. (1 Corinthians 15:56) 2 Corinthians     The law is a ministry of death. (2 Corinthians 3:7)     The law is a ministry of condemnation. (2 Corinthians 3:9)     The law has no glory at all in comparison with the New Covenant. (2 Corinthians 3:10)     The law is fading away. (2 Corinthians 3:11)     Anywhere the law is preached it produces a mind-hardening and a heart-hardening veil. (2 Corinthians 3:14-15) Galatians     The law justifies nobody. (Galatians 2:16)     Christians are dead to the law. (Galatians 2:19)     The law frustrates grace. (Galatians 2:21)     To go back to the law after embracing faith is “stupid.” (Galatians 3:1)     The law curses all who practice it and fail to do it perfectly. (Galatians 3:10)     The law has nothing to do with faith. (Galatians 3:11-12)     The law was a curse that Christ redeemed us from. (Galatians 3:13)     The law functioned in God's purpose as a temporary covenant from Moses till John the Baptist announced Christ. (Galatians 3:16 & 19, also see Matthew 11:12-13, Luke 16:16)     If the law worked God would have used it to save us. (Galatians 3:21)     The law was our prison. (Galatians 3:23)     The law makes you a slave like Hagar. (Galatians 4:24) Ephesians     Christ has abolished the law which was a wall of hostility. (Ephesians 2:15) Philippians     Paul considered everything the law gained him as “skybalon” which is Greek for “poop.” (Philippians 3:4-8) 1 Timothy     The law is only good if used in the right context. (1Timothy 1:8 – see next verse for the context)     The law was made for the unrighteous but not for the righteous. (1 Timothy 1:9-10) Hebrews     The law is weak, useless, and makes nothing perfect. (Hebrews 7:18-19)     (As an aside – that's some fighting talk – no wonder the author of Hebrews remains anonymous to this day!)     God has found fault with it and created a better covenant, enacted on better promises. (Hebrews 8:7-8)     It is obsolete, growing old, and ready to vanish. (Hebrews 8:13)     It is only a shadow of good things to come and will never make someone perfect. (Hebrews 10:1) This list of scripture, and the commentary, was supplied by my good friend Phil Drysdale. I recommend you read Phil's blog at PhilDrysdale.com Let me answer clearly this accusation that there is such a thing as “greasy grace”: no, no, no! Grace does not cause disregard for holiness-your religion does. As a final thought on this subject, I will quote the well-respected Bible commentator Martyn Lloyd Jones, who wrote the following  in his Commentary on Romans 6: The true preaching of the gospel of salvation by grace alone always leads to the possibility of this charge being brought against it. There is no better test as to whether a man is really preaching the New Testament gospel of salvation than this, that some people might misunderstand it and misinterpret it to mean that it really amounts to this, that because you are saved by grace alone it does not matter at all what you do; you can go on sinning as much as you like because it will redound all the more to the glory of grace. If my preaching and presentation of the gospel of salvation does not express it to that misunderstanding, then it is not the true gospel.” Your Further Comments More emphasis on selecting niches and keywords. This is my biggest problem. I prefer to read the transcription of a podcast. Broadcast listener questions I like the short format the best. I really like the podcast. It would be nice if all blog post were able to be listened to. Your Further Questions Do you have live hands-on workshops about Writing Riches for those of us who could use a tutorial? I believe in your message and impressed by you as a person — so my question would be “What can I do to help you be successful Ray?” What is the best way to get content and products created without bogging down and missing the market? Do you think it's possible to create an income with “just” a Dad blog and podcast? Is it really that easy to charge big money for common knowledge? (or maybe I know more than I think I do) More details about how you include God in your daily business activities. Very few people mention God and business together (that's why I love your posts/Podcasts). How do you specifically include prayer in your business activities? What To Do Now If you enjoy the podcast, I would consider it a great favor if you subscribe (and leave a review) in iTunes. This helps new people discover the podcast. You can also find the podcast on Stitcher. Question: how are you doing on your goals and resolutions so far in the new year? Click here to leave your comments.

I promised this week would be about the most important subject I've ever covered. That subject is… you. We just completed our first ever Annual Reader/Listener Survey for this site (and podcast). Boy, did we get some interesting and surprising results in that survey…  and it's all about you. I also received a ton of comments and questions. Many of them flattering, some of them not so much. On this weeks podcast I'm sharing the good, the bad, and the ugly. Also on today's episode… December's comment contest winners. Status of the updated copywriting course. Gadget recommendation: the perfect digital camera. Does teaching “radical grace” give people license to sin? Would you like to be in a mastermind with me? And the always award-winning, much much more. Announcements: The winners of access to the updated copywriting course are:  Dan Black (37)  Eric Dingler (7)  Todd Liles (7)  Paul Jolicoeur (6)  Adam Collier (4) The copywriting course itself is going to be released a bit later than originally planned. Stay tuned to find out why. Looking for a copywriting gig? Send me a one sheet “sales letter” on why you would be a perfect copywriter for me to hire. 800 words maximum. Also send along any samples you think would convince me you are brilliant. Make the subject line of your email say only: “Blue Fondue”. Send that email to the address I provided in the podcast, and listen to the podcast audio for instructions about what happens next. If you email me with questions, I have not listened to the podcast instructions, I won't be able to answer you. Starting next week, every person who submits an audio question for the podcast will receive a free gift (if, and only if, we use your question on the podcast). Click here to submit your audio question. “Permission to Prosper” event originally scheduled for April has been postponed… Mainly because I haven't finished the companion book yet! We will update you soon. Meanwhile, if you would be interested in the possible one-day mastermind with me and 11 other people, where we make radical progress in your business… And if you're not just “interested” but you already know you want to do it,  fill in this form. If it looks like you would be a good fit, I will call you myself.  (If you just want the “details”, listen to the podcast. I explain all the “details”.) Conferences where I will be attending and/or speaking: Strategic Influence Jan 14-16, 2014, Phoenix, AZ NAMS 11 February 7-9, 2014, Atlanta, GA Social Media Marketing World, March 26-28, 2014, San Diego, CA Tip Of The Week  As you may know, I have taken a deep interest in digital photography. After extensive research, reading many reviews, and looking at many, many cameras, I settled on the Sony NEX-7. the main reasons I decided on this camera are: Digital SLR's are on the way out, and mirrorless compact cameras are the future of digital photography. This camera is about five times lighter than the equivalent DSLR. While megapixels are not everything, the NEX-7  is a 24 megapixel camera, and also has a relatively large sensor (which is more important than the number of megapixels) There are not as many lenses available for this camera as for others, but pretty much all the lenses I would ever need are available. It's about half the cost of equivalently powerful DSLR. I find the electronic menu system quite easy and intuitive to use. This camera shoots fantastic video, and shoots it at 60 frames per second (wow!) If you're interested in knowing more, check out this review by Trey Ratcliffe. If you want to buy a Sony NEX-7, get the best deal here at Amazon. Spiritual Foundations When we talk about the radical grace of Jesus, some people become concerned that this will encourage others to sin freely. This is not the case. Grace is not a license to sin. It is what empowers us to overcome sin. Do some use “grace” as an excuse for their sin? So it seems. But we don't know (a) whether that person IS or IS NOT a true believer… and (B) how and/or when that person will be overcome by God's Grace and led out of a life of sin. Resist the temptation to judge people, and resist the temptation to diminish the power of the Gospel. For that is what we do when we throw around terms like “cheap grace” or “greasy grace”. There's no such thing. God's grace covers all of our sin. ALL. You won't win people to the Kingdom by bearing them over the head with the 10 Commandments. You win them by showing them the grace of Christ. “Just as I am, without one plea, But that thy blood was shed for me…”  Survey Results And Listener Questions The votes are in, the polls are closed, and this is what I learned (thank you for sharing). 77 % of you are 40 or older. 44.87% have a Bachelor’s Degree; 31.03% have a Masters or Doctorate 82.14% of you make over $50,000 per year; 48.21% make over $100,00! 87.5% of you are Christians, and 96.43% say your faith is either “Important” or “Very Important” to you. 69.64% say I write and talk just the right amount about faith; 25% say you wish I would talk more about faith. 81.9% of you are business owners, entrepreneurs, or corporate leaders. More of you prefer the podcast to the blog (this was a shocker!) The most popular topics you want to hear more about from me are (in order of popularity): making an income online, productivity, copywriting, and spiritual topics. That’s a topline selection of some of the most significant data we collected. Were still sifting through some of the open-ended responses. The Most Surprising Result We did ask a follow-up question about what product or training you would most like me to create for you next, and frankly I was shocked by the results. I felt certain the number one choice would be a new, revised copywriting course. I felt so certain, in fact, we had already started working on this. But… By a healthy 3-to-1 margin, the most desired training is “how to package, promote, and profit from what you already know”. The people have spoken, and I have listened. We are working on this very training right now… more to come on this soon. (Never fear… The copywriting course will be next on the agenda!) So what does all this data mean, anyway? How will it affect the content we publish going forward? What We Plan to Do First and foremost, I want to make this blog more useful for you. A better investment of your time. More helpful to you. Let me be clear: even if you never do business with my company, even if you never buy a single thing we have to offer, I want to make sure we offer value to you. Based on what we learned in the survey, here are some things we plan to do: Take a bolder stance for being disciples of Jesus in the marketplace. The spiritual foundations of success will take an even more central role. Clearly, we have not been hiding this one “under a bushel”, but the hunger for guidance in this area was made clear by the many comments we received. I plan to respond to this need as a top priority, because that’s what you told me you wanted. Focus more on the topics you are most interested in. That means you’ll be getting more podcasts and articles on how to create your own online business, how to be more productive, how to write more powerful copy, and the spiritual foundations of business success. Provide more tutorials and “how to” pieces. It’s clear most of you would like more “how to” and tutorial material. We plan to provide this, much of it for free, in the coming year. Develop a community. If one thing has become obvious to me, it is that you (the readers of this blog, and the listeners of this podcast) are a powerful, connected, talented, and gifted group of people. I believe one of the greatest gifts I could give you is to connect you to one another. We are exploring exactly how would be the best way to develop a  community where we can make that happen. Offer practical help for simplifying complex lives. I was pleased to see that so many of you are well educated, already-successful entrepreneurs and professionals. I have also realized, through reading the free-form questions and comments, that those of us in this position facing unique set of challenges. We have to juggle many responsibilities: family, children (and grandchildren), employees, business partners, etc. Many of us don’t feel completely free to make radical changes in our lives without carefully weighing the consequences and ramifications for other people who depend upon us. I plan to spend more time focusing on solutions to these problems. Your Comments Add a copywriting tip to each episode. You have a skill that so many want. This would be tremendously helpful. Would love more blog content apart from the podcast notes, but the podcast is soooo good that it's enough to keep me hooked! i liked it longer – you were able to delve deeper into concepts…! Consistency in what day(s) you will post articles to blog. Seems that each week/month is different. And don't need too many articles: 1-2 articles besides podcast/week is sufficient. I love the current format of the podcast, but perhaps you would consider more frequent blog posts? Your Questions What's your strategy when you launch a new product? Why did you stop the Spiritual Foundations Podcast? How do you handle any negative feedback you get from people who say you wear your faith on your sleeve too much. I would like to know more about how you figured out your talents and if you have any suggestions for others to figure that out. Who was the person that opened the door for you to go to the next level in your business? What To Do Now If you enjoy the podcast, I would consider it a great favor if you subscribe (and leave a review) in iTunes. This helps new people discover the podcast. You can also find the podcast on Stitcher. Question: how will YOU engage un more of a conversation with your customers this year? Click here to leave your comments.

Michael Hyatt is my guest on the first podcast of 2014, and we discuss how to set effective goals for the new year.   What To Do Now Click here to get Michael's Goal-Setting Videos, and I will invite you to a small, private, “Mastermind call.” If you enjoy the podcast, I would consider it a great favor if you subscribe (and leave a review) in iTunes. This helps new people discover the podcast. You can also find the podcast on Stitcher. Question:   What goals will you set for the New Year? Click here to leave your comments.

Stephen King. He is the Charles Dickens of this century. People either love him or hate him. My churchgoing friends are often shocked to learn that I read his work, and admire it. In today's show I share some business lessons I have learned from King. Also on today's episode… Are you a Madman? Or a Madwoman? Copywriters wanted. And the always award-winning, much much more. Announcements: I am updating my copywriting course… I will announce our winners next week. Next week's show will be about what could be the most important topic I have ever covered.  Don't miss it. Conferences where I will be attending and/or speaking: NMX, Jan 4-6, 2014, Las Vegas, NV Strategic Influence Jan 14-16, 2014, Phoenix, AZ NAMS 11 February 7-9, 2014, Atlanta, GA Social Media Marketing World, March 26-28, 2014, San Diego, CA Tip Of The Week – Again! Digital Photography School. A great site for all things photo. Spiritual Foundations 1 John 4:18: “perfect love casts out fear.”. Have you ever been told by someone that you should have more of the “fear of the Lord”? The implication is that your Christian walk cannot be correct unless you're constantly afraid that God is going to “whack you” when you screw up. It’s true, The Bible talks about the “fear of the Lord”. Let's take a look at what it actually says. As believers who live under the new covenant, and followers of Jesus, we should let Jesus himself define what the “fear of the Lord” actually is. When the devil tempted Jesus in the desert, and asked Jesus to worship him, Jesus says, “it is written, you shall worship the Lord your God…”. You'll find that in Matthew 4:10. If you have a modern Bible with cross references, you'll notice that Jesus is actually quoting from the Old Testament. He's quoting his favorite book of the Bible (the book he quoted most often), and the passage he's pointing to is Deuteronomy 6:13. That passage says, “you shall fear the Lord your God and serve him. But wait a minute! That's not what Jesus said… He said you shall WORSHIP the Lord your God. What's going on here? While there are plenty of theologians who will argue with me, it seems clear that Jesus is explaining what the passage in Deuteronomy actually means. To fear God is to worship him. I trust the theology of Jesus more than I trust any other earthly theologian. He has interpreted the “fear of the Lord” for me, and that settles the matter. One last point worth noting: every single time the disciples were afraid of Jesus, he said the same thing. “Fear not.” Seven Lessons From Stephen King Stephen King is a writing and marketing machine, having accomplished the unusual feat of being successful as a craftsman, and as an entrepreneur.  He has sold well over 350 million books, and spawned countless movies and television shows. His latest novel-to-screen adaptation is Under The Dome. How? I have written extensively elsewhere about writing for the purpose of strategic influence. I can point to no better model of how to do this right than King. There are seven key lessons you can learn from Stephen King, and the way he conducts his business (the business of writing). And for those of you who are offended by my saying “the business of writing”… perhaps if you thought about your writing as a business, you wouldn’t be so easily offended. Food for thought. Learn your craft. Whether his subject matter is always to your taste or not, you would have to be willfully ignorant to declare Stephen King anything other than a master of the art of writing stories. He has honed his craft to a fine edge, and without this particular weapon in his arsenal, the rest of what you’re about to read would not be possible. You must master the craft. Be prolific. King has stated that he writes every day, including his birthday and Christmas day. He has since admitted that this might be a bit of an exaggeration, but not much. His ethic of working every day is plainly demonstrated by his amazing output. You don’t publish 50 novels,  five nonfiction works, and over 200 short stories by goofing off.  you do it by applying liberal amounts of fingers to keyboard. Be real. One reason people are often uncomfortable with King’s writing is that he tends to bring heavy doses of reality into his stories. I’m not talking about the vampires, giant spiders, and ghosts, of course. I’m talking about the sometimes embarrassing, sometimes offensive, sometimes infuriatingly irrational ways that people talk and behave. King unabashedly presents people as they really are. And this makes his detractors uncomfortable… And his fans love him. Have a personality. When King began his career, he decided to be exactly who he is. I have no way of knowing this, but I’m pretty certain this was a conscious decision made in the full knowledge that it might backfire financially. He could have been more “respectable” by writing that vaguely named thing called “literary fiction”, but instead he chose to write what fascinated him. Be fearless. Stephen King has never shied away from the potential criticism he might get from atheists, believers, Democrats, Republicans, or  the League of Decency. He’s written some ugly scenes, and seems that many writers would have shied away from because they didn’t want to be associated with that material. For better or worse, that fearlessness has catapulted him from the mass of mediocrity to the pinnacle of literary success. Try new things. King was one of the first to take advantage of the digital publishing medium. He was one of the first to publish a novel in serial form online. He has branched out into music, comic books, and of course films and television. Some of his experiments have fallen flat. Others have been a meteoric success, both critically and financially (remember Stand by Me and The Green Mile?) Do many things simultaneously. One of the ways King manages to stay so prolific is that he is doing many things simultaneously. He’s always working on a new book or story, and usually has more than one project cooking in the background (a movie, a TV series, and audiobook, or the radio stations that he owns in Maine). While you may or may not ever be his equal on the bestseller lists (he has a pretty strong head start on most of us), you definitely can learn from the career and methodologies of Stephen King. Question: what have you learned about writing, or the business of writing, from Stephen King… Or any other modern writers? Share below… What To Do Now If you enjoy the podcast, I would consider it a great favor if you subscribe (and leave a review) in iTunes. This helps new people discover the podcast. You can also find the podcast on Stitcher. Question:   What worked, and what didn't work, for you this year? Click here to leave your comments.

In this weeks podcast I will reveal to you what worked for me in 2013…  as well as what didn't work. You get to profit not only from my success stories, but even from my failures. Also on today's episode… Are you a Madman? Or a Madwoman? Copywriters wanted. An exciting new guide on how to form your own mastermind group… reduxe. What is the truth about so-called “greasy grace”? And the always award-winning, much much more. Announcements: I am updating my copywriting course… win free access with your comments between now and Christmas. Next week's show will be about what could be the most important topic I have ever covered.  Don't miss it. The return of listener questions! How to promote yourself on my show! Conferences where I will be attending and/or speaking: NMX, Jan 4-6, 2014, Las Vegas, NV Strategic Influence Jan 14-16, 2014, Phoenix, AZ NAMS 11 February 7-9, 2014, Atlanta, GA Social Media Marketing World, March 26-28, 2014, San Diego, CA “Permission to Prosper” April 8-10, 2014, Spokane, WA Tip Of The Week – Again! One of the most powerful things you can do to accelerate your success in 2014 is to form an intentional mastermind group. Click here and take a look at Dan Miller's new course on how to do just that. It's worth 10 times the investment he's asking. Spiritual Foundations Is the so-called “new grace movement” cheapening the concept of grace? Is it promoting something we know as “greasy grace”? In the podcast, I give my answers to these questions. Feature Segment:  What Worked (and What Didn't) In 2013 I share my most successful… and also my LEAST successful business moves in 2013. Here's where they'll mean to you and your success in 2014… What worked: This podcast.  High leverage, high engagement, premium content delivery vehicle. Facebook.  Believe it or not, this was my number one source of traffic in 2013. Premium pricing.  Over 80% of the revenue we generated came from the most expensive 5% of services and products we offer. What didn't work: Busyness.  Over committing led to me making a few poor tactical decisions, and was a severe drain on my mental focus, emotional well-being, and physical health. Complexity. Complexity is the mother frustration, and the father of fatigue.  Rugged individualism.  It's an American ideal.  It's romantic. It feels heroic. The only problem is, it doesn't work. What To Do Now If you enjoy the podcast, I would consider it a great favor if you subscribe (and leave a review) in iTunes. This helps new people discover the podcast. You can also find the podcast on Stitcher. Question:   What worked, and what didn't work, for you this year? Click here to leave your comments.

When your blog is the cornerstone of your business (as it is for mine, and I recommend it be for yours), creating  enough content can be a challenge. In today's episode, I will share 10 different ways you can create more content, more consistently, and more easily. Also on today's episode… How to get my newly updated copywriting course for free. How to become an apprentice and work directly for me. An exciting new guide on how to form your own mastermind group. Answer the question: why are Christians so cheap? And the always award-winning, much much more. Announcements: I am updating my copywriting course… win free access with your comments between now and Christmas. Want to finally finish your book, and get it published by New York publisher? Want to get that accomplished before the end of January?  Click here and fill out this application. We'll talk. Next week's show will be about what worked great for me in 2013, and what didn't work so well… and how you can directly benefit from some of my embarrassing admissions. The return of listener questions! How to promote yourself on my show! Conferences where I will be attending and/or speaking: NMX, Jan 4-6, 2014, Las Vegas, NV Strategic Influence Jan 14-16, 2014, Phoenix, AZ NAMS 11 February 7-9, 2014, Atlanta, GA Social Media Marketing World, March 26-28, 2014, San Diego, CA “Permission to Prosper” April 8-10, 2014, Spokane, WA Tip Of The Week One of the most powerful things you can do to accelerate your success in 2014 is to form an intentional mastermind group. Click here and take a look at Dan Miller's new course on how to do just that. It's worth 10 times the investment he's asking. Spiritual Foundations Give freely and become more wealthy; be stingy and lose everything.” Proverbs 11:24 In a recent discussion, a couple of my friends brought up the fact that selling things to the Christian market is not a good idea. Christians, they said, are cheap. One brought up a statistic they heard from a retail bookstore owner, who said the number one category of books that are stolen our Christian books. Three questions: Is this true? If it's not true, why is it so widely believed? Either way, what should we do about it? In the podcast, I give my answers to these questions. Feature Segment:  10 Ways to Create More Content The cornerstone of your online business is the creation of great content. But that creation is not always easy, especially if you have a goal of producing a lot of content consistently. Here are 10 ways to produce more content, more consistently, and more easily. Especially when your ideas are running dry. See a movie. This can result in posts like “The Hobbit's Guide to Online Marketing” or even “What Ironman Can Teach You about List Building”. Tell a personal story. Make a list of the most exciting, shocking, or embarrassing stories that have happened to you. This list should give you the starting point for many a blog post. Be the interviewer. Pick the people you would most like to learn from, and set up interviews with them. Write a review. You can review a book, a training program, a seminar, software… Anything applicable to your audience. The more detail, the better. Publish a how to. We love tutorials, especially the granular, step-by-step kind. Ask your audience. Just ask what they would most like to hear from you about. Other great ways to phrase the question include: what's your biggest problem? What's holding you back? What your number one question? Curate some content. Simply collect and share links of your 10 favorite blog posts on subject X. Variations: “The 10 Best Posts On…”, “Four Distinctly Different Views About…”, “Seven Approaches To…” Case studies. They can be your clients, or they can be other companies. Talk about what they're doing right, why you think it's right, and summarize some takeaways. Opposite day. Make a list of your most popular posts, and ask yourself, “what if I took the opposite view on this?” Guest posts. Solicit for guest posts on your blog. Just make sure what they write will be interesting to your audience. But if they come from your audience, they most assuredly will be. What To Do Now If you enjoy the podcast, I would consider it a great favor if you subscribe (and leave a review) in iTunes. This helps new people discover the podcast. You can also find the podcast on Stitcher. Question:  Which of these ideas can you put into practice and use today? Click here to leave your comments.

What most people do this time of year: run around in a frenzied chaos, and slide into the finish line of the current year battered, bruised, and confused. I have discovered three crucial actions that if, intentionally taken, can quite literally multiply the success and fulfillment you enjoy in 2014. Today, I'll share with they are and how you can use them.  A favorite productivity app revisited… and why.  Why I love sinners.  And the always award-winning, much much more. Announcements: I am updating my copywriting course… win free access with your comments between now and Christmas. Seats available for Strategic & Tactical Influence (STI) — dates January 14-16 in Phoenix, AZ. Conferences where I will be attending and/or speaking: NMX, Jan 4-6, 2014, Las Vegas, NV Strategic Influence Jan 14-16, 2014, Phoenix, AZ NAMS 11 February 7-9, 2014, Atlanta, GA Social Media Marketing World, March 26-28, 2014, San Diego, CA “Permission to Prosper” April 8-10, 2014, Spokane, WA Tip Of The Week   There's nothing like a little peer pressure to get you to do the right thing. Like exercise, for instance. Listen to the podcast to find out why I'm revisiting a favorite productivity app, with renewed vigor ( the app is Lift.) Spiritual Foundations And behold, a woman of the city, who was a sinner, when she learned that he was reclining at table in the Pharisee's house, brought an alabaster flask of ointment, 38 and standing behind him at his feet, weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears and wiped them with the hair of her head and kissed his feet and anointed them with the ointment.” Luke 7:37-38 I love sinners –  here is why and how. Feature Segment:  3 Crucial Actions To Prepare You For 2014 There are three actions that, if taken, will dramatically shift the experience you have of 2014. Most to listen to this show will agree with these actions, and proceed to never take them. How about you? Pause Ponder Prepare. What To Do Now Grab your calendar and schedule a spot for each of these three. Then, if you wouldn't mind, report back your experience here. If you enjoy the podcast, I would consider it a great favor if you subscribe (and leave a review) in iTunes. This helps new people discover the podcast. You can also find the podcast on Stitcher. Question:    What did you discover when you took time to pause, ponder, and prepare? Click here to leave your comments.

What if you could influence people before you even met them? Would that be a valuable skill in business? Not only is it possible, you can engineer it with intention. And you should. In today's episode, you'll discover:  The difference between strategic and tactical influence, and when to use each.  The three key factors we need whenever we feel we've heard a special calling from God.  My very favorite photography app.  And the always award-winning, much much more. Announcements: I am updating my copywriting course… win free access with your comments between now and Christmas. Seats available for Strategic & Tactical Influence (STI) — dates January 14-16 in Phoenix, AZ. Conferences where I will be attending and/or speaking: NMX, Jan 4-6, 2014, Las Vegas, NV Strategic Influence Jan 14-16, 2014, Phoenix, AZ NAMS 11 February 7-9, 2014, Atlanta, GA Social Media Marketing World, March 26-28, 2014, San Diego, CA “Permission to Prosper” April 8-10, 2014, Spokane, WA Tip Of The Week I've recently taken up photography as a hobby. My current cameras are my iPhone 5S, the Canon A1400, and an old Nikon DSLR that I'm borrowing from my son. My dream kit is a Sony NEX-7. But one thing I've learned is long before you need a new camera, you need better skill with the camera you have, and you need some finesse and how you process your photos after you take them. Which leads me to the fact that I own many, many photography apps. But the one that consistently produces the best results for me is snapseed. Even though it gets a lot of complaints, it seems fairly easy to use to me, and I have produced some pretty nice photos using. Above are three examples. Spiritual Foundations The key to taking a word from God in bringing it into manifestation usually lies at the intersection of three circles: Spirit, Soul, and Strategy.  The reason people are often disappointed when “God's word” doesn't come true for them might be because they've missed one of these three. Feature Segment: The Unconventional Guide to Influence What is influence? According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary: “the power to change or affect someone or something : the power to cause changes without directly forcing them to happen.” When you have strategically crafted your influence in a particular sphere, you can affect change without direct communication. Change the atmosphere around people, and you change the atmosphere inside people. Get clarity on what outcomes you seek to achieve. Reverse engineer the required influence to produce the outcome. Discover who you have to become in order to exert such influence. Codify your wisdom in a way to is easy to distribute to other people; the most powerful way is to write a book. Practice and enhance your communication skills so that you are able to transmit your message in an effective, powerful, and memorable way. Become skilled in the science of causing your ideas to spread; in common parlance, we call this “marketing”. Develop an intentional process that causes others to want what you have; transform your ideas into cash. What To Do Now The development of the seven steps has both a Strategic and a Tactical component. At our three-day workshop in January, not coincidentally entitled Strategic and Tactical Influence we develop both of those components, and we work through all seven steps in the system, producing a distilled, Big-League Idea born out of your knowledge wisdom and experience… Developing this into a full-fledged outline for your Big-League Book (and even finishing the book, if you choose to opt for the upgrade)… Developing your talking points for media interviews, etc.… And devising a customized, intentional cash flow funnel for transmuting your ideas into income. The investment for this workshop is not cheap, but for the right person this is the bargain of the decade. We have a handful of seats left; if you would like to reserve one, if you are serious and you want to know more,  click here to fill out an application. If it looks like you might be a good fit for the workshop, we will get back in touch with you. If you enjoy the podcast, I would consider it a great favor if you subscribe (and leave a review) in iTunes. This helps new people discover the podcast. You can also find the podcast on Stitcher. Question:    What's your plan for developing more influence in 2014? Click here to leave your comments.

It's just the right time to start thinking about your plans for the new year. It's just the right time to get started early. Today,  I'll explain how to really set yourself up for a great new year-the best year yet. By the time were done, you will have discovered: Why online backups are not enough, and the two hidden “gotcha” they all contain. How to know if you're growing spiritually 7 steps to setting up your best year so far Announcements: Answer the reader's poll, and be blessed in return. I am updating my copywriting course… stay tuned for more details coming soon. The coming comment contest, and why you should start commenting now. Conferences where I will be attending and/or speaking: NMX, Jan 4-6, 2014, Las Vegas, NV Strategic Influence Jan 14-16, 2014, Phoenix, AZ NAMS 11 February 7-9, 2014, Atlanta, GA Social Media Marketing World, March 26-28, 2014, San Diego, CA “Permission to Prosper” April 8-10, 2014, Spokane, WA Tip Of The Week In which I explain the two hidden “gotchas” of all online backup services. Spiritual Foundations All spiritual growth involves discomfort. It is abnormal for a believer not to have an appetite for the impossible. When we are born again and open the Bible and start reading about Jesus, we all want to do the things that Jesus does. Unfortunately many of us fall prey to disappointment or bad teaching and that appetite goes. This desire that was birthed in us at conversion gets buried by disappointment, by things which didn’t happen as we thought they should have, or teaching that said it wasn’t supposed to be like that. And yet we don’t have the luxury, we don’t have the right, to lower the standard of scripture to our level of experience. The responsibility of every believer is to look at what is possible and then in the secret place with God contend until there is breakthrough, until we manifest the very things that Jesus said should be manifested in our lives. That is the privilege of a believer.” Bill Johnson, Manifesto For a Normal Christian life Feature Segment: 7 Steps To Your Best Year so Far This is the perfect time to be planning your new year. In fact, if you wait until after Thanksgiving, I think you may already be under the gun. Here are 7 steps you can take right now to set yourself up for your best year so far. Evaluate your progress for this year, and for the last quarter. Create a fresh Life Plan. I recommend Michael Hyatt's free life plan book. Click here to download it. Plan your priorities using annual time blocks. Identify your 3 Keys, and how you will track them; establish annual, quarterly, monthly, weekly, and daily tracking. Invite wise counsel, and do not despise it. Honestly evaluate areas where you need to improve, identify “Keystone habits”,  and commit to those habits. (for more on “Keystone habits”, read The Power of Habit By Charles Duhigg)  Start today, right now. What To Do Now All seven of these steps can be implemented immediately-and should be. Join me in committing to complete the seven steps before the Thanksgiving holiday. If you enjoy the podcast, I would consider it a great favor if you subscribe (and leave a review) in iTunes. This helps new people discover the podcast. You can also find the podcast on Stitcher. Question:   How will you plan your success in the coming year? Click here to leave your comments.  

What if there was a way to cut through the fluff, the chaos, confusion, and just flat out fix your business? Well, there is. Today,  I'll explain how you can stop worrying, start living, and learned to love discipline. By the time were done, you will have discovered: Why you do stuff you don't want to do, and don't do stuff you do want to do. How to stop that.  How to use your laptop's power cable to increase your productivity. The key to releasing power into the lives of others. And of course, five specific ways discipline will make you rich. Announcements: Answer the reader's poll, and be blessed in return. I am updating my copywriting course… stay tuned for more details coming soon. The coming comment contest, and why you should start commenting now. Conferences where I will be attending and/or speaking: NMX, Jan 4-6, 2014, Las Vegas, NV Strategic Influence Jan 14-16, 2014, Phoenix, AZ NAMS 11 February 7-9, 2014, Atlanta, GA Social Media Marketing World, March 26-28, 2014, San Diego, CA “Permission to Prosper” April 8-10, 2014, Spokane, WA Tip Of The Week How can your laptop's power cord increase your productivity? In the podcast audio, I reveal this arcane secret… Spiritual Foundations If what you are saying does not impart grace to the people listening,  it's better to be silent. Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give cgrace to those who hear.” Ephesians 4:29 We can do terrible damage with what we say, or we can bring life. Speak only life, and watch what happens. Feature Segment: 5 Ways Discipline Will Make You Rich Wikipedia says “Discipline is a course of actions leading to a greater goal than the satisfaction of the immediate. A disciplined person is one that has established a goal and is willing to achieve that goal at the expense of his or her immediate comfort.” Add this book to your list of must-reads: The Ultimate Sales Machine, by Chet Holmes. If you haven’t read it, move it to the top of your list. If you have read it and haven’t yet implemented every single strategy inside its covers, read it now. Again. Probably my favorite passage from Chet’s masterful business work is one that most people read without understanding its import. In the early pages of the book, Chet points out that most people will read his book, agree with its precepts, and still not do them. He says this is the “reverse psychology” section of the book, in which he attempts to prod the reader into doing what needs to be done. In Chet’s words, “I’m goading you into applying a powerful force for creating success from what you’re going to learn… and that force, my friends, is pigheaded discipline and determination.” Pigheaded discipline is the subject of this post for very good, and simple, reason. That reason being the fact that this is the most-lacked skill in over 90% of entrepreneurs. In my experience, what stands in our way, what holds us back from our potential, is usually not some external force (such as competition or marketplace conditions)-it is, rather, our own inability to say no to the things that distract us from our most profitable activities, and our continued inability to say yes only to those activities that produce the results we seek. It is as if the world conspires against us to lead us down this path to destruction. Most of our peers, and certainly most of our employees, are happy to tell us what we should be spending our time on-and almost without fail their advice is dead wrong. It usually doesn’t come packaged as advice, by the way – it usually comes packaged as a meeting… a phone call… a personal plea… or some kind of interpersonal conflict. None of which are, perhaps, designed to take us off target- but all of which inevitably do. Guard your heart carefully, eternal entrepreneur, and focus only on the things that expand the kingdom. Employ pigheaded discipline. There are at least five ways cultivating more discipline will make you rich: Discipline measures activity instead of intent. Discipline measures results instead of reasons. Discipline cultivates stewardship. Discipline produces accurate thinking. Discipline practices the Pareto principle. What To Do Now Here's how you put these five points to work right now, starting today. Reverse engineer the daily activities needed to achieve your objectives, schedule them, and then do them. Meticulously track the results you achieve, and continuously adjust your approach until you reach your objective. Carefully examine your finances, your relationships, your health, your spiritual foundations. If there are any areas where you are not being a good steward, you already know what to do. Do it. Today. Evaluate every area of discontent in your life, determine the cause, and decide what is required to fix it. See things as they are, then see them as you want them to be, then make them how you see them. Ruthlessly eliminate activities and relationships that do not move you forward toward your objectives. Begin today, by making a list of at least 10 things to eliminate from your life. If you enjoy the podcast, I would consider it a great favor if you subscribe (and leave a review) in iTunes. This helps new people discover the podcast. You can also find the podcast on Stitcher. Question:  What have you learned from conferences that has changed your life for the better? Click here to leave your comments.  

I just attended the single best business conference I've ever been to… and it has nothing to do with my being one of the speakers! Today, I share my notes from this week's Platform Conference. By the time you listen to today's podcast, you will have discovered: The real secret to stress-free productivity How to get your business cards imported into your smart phone for free Why you procrastinate and how to stop doing that A simple formula that allows you to WOW your customers The secret that allowed Jeff Goins to build 100,000 readers for his blog The simple method for building an intimate connection with your tribe that will surprise you The altar you are probably worshiping at that will eventually kill you, and what to do about it Why it's important for you to make as much money as possible And much, much more! Announcements: The Return of the Lifestyle Business Segment, and listener questions. Our first ever annual readers poll is coming tomorrow.  Next week I'll be offering a free video training series on writing powerful persuasive copy. Be looking for it. A new listener comment contest. Conferences where I will be attending and/or speaking: Private Client Meeting, Dec 2-4 NMX, Jan 4-6, 2014, Las Vegas, NV Strategic Influence Jan 14-16, 2014, Phoenix, AZ NAMS 11 February 7-9, 2014, Atlanta, GA Social Media Marketing World, March 26-28, 2014, San Diego, CA “Permission to Prosper” April 8-10, 2014, Spokane, WA Tip Of The Week Cardmunch is a free iPhone app that turns business cards into contacts. Spiritual Foundations We accomplish the most from a place of rest. Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30 Rest does not equal in activity. It means that we are able to be active without fear, doubt, or emotional striving. We become peace inside chaos, we are the call my at the center of the storm. Feature Segment: What I Learned From The Platform Conference Nearly every significant turning point in my life has been marked by attending a conference.  which is not to say that every conference I have attended was a life changer; but even at the “poorly produced” conferences, I always learn something of value. This week, I  had a life-changing experience at the single best business conference I have ever had the privilege of attending, the Platform Conference in Dallas, Texas. How does this affect you? As always, I seek to learn everything I can and then bring it back here to share with you. While not every one of the ideas I'm going to share is necessarily be applicable to you, I believe many of them will. Here are some (not all) of the most valuable things I learned at this year's platform conference. The absolute imperative of building your own platform. “Platform” is a metaphor for the stage you construct from which you share your ideas, insights, and advice. As Michael Hyatt says in his book Platform, building a platform is how you “get noticed in a noisy world”. I write frequently about creating strategic influence; which means to exert influence in the lives of people who have never even met you. The mechanism by which you do this is your platform. Although I have long been a proponent of platform building, after this week's conference I am absolutely convinced it is of paramount importance for anyone who has something important to say, or something useful to sell. The dynamic tension between excellence and procrastination. Michael Hyatt started us off with a powerful presentation that reiterated the five-part framework of his book. (Incidentally, for all my students and coaching clients, that book is required reading.) Michael teaches that we must start every project by “baking in WOW”. The key to creating the “wow” experience for our readers and customers is to exceed their expectations. I came home with a long list of things I need to do to bake more “wow” into everything we do at my company. The other side of the coin is, it's easy to use this commitment to excellence as an excuse to never get anything off the ground. Seth Godin makes it clear it's important that we “ship”-that we get a project out the door and into the hands of our audience or tribe. Perfectionism is the mother of procrastination.” -Michael Hyatt Ken Davis offered a startling perspective on creating  “WOW”. Ken is  a best-selling author, frequent radio and television guest, and one of the country's most sought-after inspirational and motivational speakers,  Ken's premise is that WOW is “found at the intersection of pretty, practical and personal.” He shared compelling examples of this from real-life advertising and marketing campaigns. Apple Computer is, of course, the primary example of a company doing this right. Think about it. Every product they introduce has all three of those elements. Yesterday I got my new iPhone 5s. I assure you that it is very pretty, it is extraordinarily practical, and my password is actually my thumb print: you can't get more personal than that. Also, implicit in Ken's brilliant instruction was the importance of being interesting and entertaining. This is something Ken teaches at his SCORRE  conference, which I plan to attend next May. Jeff Goins, who writes a frustratingly beautiful blog at GoinsWriter.com (frustrating only because he makes writing brilliantly look incredibly easy), inspired us with his session. I took many notes from Jeff's talk, which was about starting from scratch and building a platform with words, passion and people. My big take away from Jeff's talk was this: the key to succeeding at platform building is not about “who you know”, it's about who you can help. This includes not only helping other influential speakers, authors, and bloggers… More importantly, it's about the tribe of readers you help. Focusing on that will eventually bring you the attention your message merits. As I stopped chasing attention, more people began paying attention to what I had to say.” -Jeff Goins Cliff Ravenscraft, the founder of the podcast mastermind, has produced over 3100 podcast episodes. He has helped thousands of people and organizations launch successful podcasts. While Michael Hyatt inspired me to start my podcast, Cliff provided me with the practical knowledge, tools, and advice that have allowed me to succeed as a podcaster. Cliff made it clear in his talk that the opportunities and benefits of podcasting can dramatically shift your success as a platform builder. While I am obviously a proponent of podcasting, it was only after watching clips presentation that I realized what an incredibly powerful “secret weapon” podcasting is for building your platform there is no other way to build such an incredibly intimate connection with people. And at this point in time, competition is very thin in podcasting. While I knew in principle this was true, I don't pay much attention to my chart rankings in iTunes. But while listening to Cliff speak, I checked and discovered my own podcast ranks in the top 25 in the world for business and marketing advice on iTunes! Thanks Cliff, for the reminder. Lysa Terkeurst, The New York Times best-selling author and president of Proverbs 31 ministries, knocked me off my feet with her presentation. Lysa is a bona fide celebrity, and yet she is the most humble and approachable person you'll ever meet. I'm a bit of  word nerd, so when Lysa started sharing her copywriting techniques for writing value propositions, I swooned.  She was inspiring, smart, and entertaining. She was also incredibly generous and although she shared. Amy Porterfield is a friend I only met in the “real world” just this week. Amy and I first met a few years ago, when she was still working for Tony Robbins. She was actually the person in Tony's organization who hired me to write copy for Tony. Since leaving his organization, Amy has built an amazing business, created one of the most successful podcasts on the subject of marketing (click here for the Online Marketing Made Easy podcast), and authored a book called Facebook Marketing All-in-One for Dummies. Amy gave a stunning presentation on her Facebook advertising secrets. I promise you I'm already at work implementing her ideas for my own business. But, that's not the most valuable thing I learned from my friend Amy. I watched her while an audience full of seasoned business professionals was held captive by her stark and transparent admission of how overwork had almost wrecked her life… and how setting a new standard has given her freedom, satisfaction, and even more success. When you worship at the altar of “hustle” you say yes to everything because it never feels like you're doing enough.” -Amy Porterfield Amy Porterfield, you did in fact change my life this week.  I hereby renounce my worship of the idol called “hustle”. Derek Halpern is the creator of the well-known blog Social Triggers. Derek is a brilliant business thinker, and approaches marketing with the attitude of a scientist. He dives deep into scientific research and finds ways to apply it to social media, blogging, and online marketing. He has influenced the marketing approach of thousands of business people, and host one of the top marketing podcast on iTunes. He also dresses like a boss. Derek may have been the most prepared presenter I've ever encountered (well, other than Michael Hyatt!) I was most impacted by a simple statement from Derrick: “Don't sell often, but when you do, so hard.” By “selling hard”, Derek does not mean to be and of noxious pushy salesperson… he carefully studies the desires of his marketplace, and tailors every nuance of his marketing and selling specifically to the people who need what he has to offer. Powerful stuff. Stu McLaren is the co-founder of WishList member, the membership site solution for WordPress that now powers over 43,000 online communities. Stu is of course a great friend of mine, and we are perfectly aligned when it comes to the moral rightness of prospering in business. I took more notes during Stu's presentation than anyone else's, but without a doubt the single most powerful thing he had to say (at least in my opinion) was this: “The more money you make, the more impact you can have.” Amen, Stu McLaren. Michele Cushatt was the MC of the conference, and her bright and cheerful personality said just the right tone for the entire event. But that was only the precursor to what had to be one of the most powerful talks I have ever heard. There was a moment in her speech that had the entire room in total silence, except for an occasional sniffle… because she also had managed to bring tears to the eyes of most of the attendees. Those tears were not generated by some trite emotional device, but by a powerful moment in which she revealed the truth about why many of us struggle with achieving our full potential. I hesitate to say more, because when you get the chance to hear Michele speak (and you will, because her star is rising), I don't want to spoil this special moment for you. Suffice it to say, Michele, if you are reading this… I have promised myself to dive deep into life. Thank you, my new friend, for how you contributed to my experience of life. 3 Powerful Takeaways From The Conference Itself. I know I've already shared quite a few insights, but it's only a fraction of what I took away from the conference this week. When I zoom out another level, I also learned some valuable lessons from the overall conference experience. And for this learning, I have to give credit to Michael Hyatt, Ken Davis, and their amazing team, who crafted a framework that allowed this event to have  such impact. Here are three of the many learnings I gleaned from the overall conference experience. WOW is in the details.  Michael and Ken  pay close attention to every detail of this conference, from the choice of venue (it was beautiful and comfortable), to the way the rooms were set up, to the number of people staffing the event making sure things were happening happening smoothly, to all the printed materials that accompany the event. Every element was high quality, with attention being paid to design and the experience that the attendees had. In fact, from beginning to end, this can conference embodied the intersection of pretty, practical, and personal. For me, the Platform Conference raised the bar on how these things ought to be done, and you will see the results at my upcoming Permission to Prosper event in Spokane next year. Community multiplies the benefits of training. It was not lost on me that connecting people to one another was carefully engineered into the entire conference structure. There was a networking reception the night before any of the conference activities began, there was ample space between sessions for people to connect the network. We took many meals together, there are few things more powerful than breaking bread with other people to connect and bond you to one another. Is it more expensive for the promoter to provide such opportunities? Undoubtedly. Does it provide a deeper more fulfilling experience for attendees? Absolutely. Devotion to your participants is primary in importance. I have never been asked to do more as a speaker at a conference that this one. And I have never been more delighted with my conference experience than at this one. I attended every session, I was present at every networking meal, and made myself available every waking hour to meet with attendees. It was tiring, hard work… but it was so rewarding. I'm sure that sounds noble, but I have to be honest, I feel the person most rewarded was me. I met so many brilliant, loving, powerful, and remarkable people. My life will be forever changed by those I encountered and had the privilege of getting to know. I'm absolutely convinced I made several new lifelong friends at this event. The environment that fostered these kinds of relationships (not just for me, but for everyone who attended) was intentionally produced by Michael and Ken, and will be incorporated into any future events that I myself produce. What To Do Now How can you benefit from my notes? Pick three of my takeaways and use them.  Decide exactly how you're going to incorporate them into your business, and then schedule it on your calendar. I look forward to hearing the results you produce. If you enjoy the podcast, I would consider it a great favor if you subscribe (and leave a review) in iTunes. This helps new people discover the podcast. You can also find the podcast on Stitcher. Question:  What have you learned from conferences that has changed your life for the better? Click here to leave your comments.  

I will never forget the day I heard the bad news about copywriting. And now, I'm about to give you that same bad news.  I heard the news from an off-the-wall copywriter in Utah, who had miraculously survived a brain tumor. I'll tell you the whole story in today's episode. And what it means to you. Announcements: Conferences where I will be attending and/or speaking: Platform Conference, Nov 3-5 2013, Dallas, TX Private Client Meeting, Dec 2-4 “The Forge” NMX, Jan 4-6, 2014, Las Vegas, NV Strategic Influence Jan 14-16, 2014, Phoenix, AZ NAMS 11 February 7-9, 2014, Atlanta, GA Social Media Marketing World, March 26-28, 2014, San Diego, CA “Permission to Prosper” April 8-10, 2014, Spokane, WA Tip Of The Week This week, my tip of the week is a simple exercise… a short question that can totally revamp your perspective on your business, and even your life. Spiritual Foundations  God wants us to build people up, not tear them down. “Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.” Ephesians 4:29 This is only possible when we begin to see other people the way God sees them. And he saw enough in them, even the people we are fear or we hate, to actually die in their place. “You are still worldly. For since there is jealousy and quarreling among you, are you not worldly? Are you not acting like mere humans?” 1 Cor 3:3 Feature Segment: 7 Things You Don't Want to Hear About Copywriting Here are the seven inconvenient truths about copywriting: It takes work. Not everyone is good at it. Even the best have flops. Sometimes it's not necessary. It works almost like magic. Long copy usually works best. The most effective copy probably will embarrass you in front of your friends. If you enjoy the podcast, I would consider it a great favor if you subscribe (and leave a review) in iTunes. This helps new people discover the podcast. You can also find the podcast on Stitcher. Question:    Do you write your own sales copy, or do you have someone write it for you? Click here to leave your comments.  

My consulting client was facing a tough season. None of her marketing was working. While considering the problem she was facing, it became obvious what was missing. Since that time, I've developed a short checklist that can almost always cure marketing woes. Today I'll share the checklist. Announcements: Conferences where I will be attending and/or speaking: Ray's Platinum Mastermind Oct 28-29, 2013, Las Vegas, NV Platform Conference, Nov 3-5 2013, Dallas, TX Private Client Meeting, Dec 2-4 “The Forge” NMX, Jan 4-6, 2014, Las Vegas, NV Strategic Influence Jan 14-16, 2014, Phoenix, AZ NAMS 11 February 7-9, 2014, Atlanta, GA Social Media Marketing World, March 26-28, 2014, San Diego, CA “Permission to Prosper” April 8-10, 2014, Spokane, WA Tip Of The Week This week's tip is once again a book, this one by my friend Joel Comm. The book is called “So, What Do YOU Do? Discovering the Genius Next Door with One Simple Question”, and it features people from all walks of life who are passionate about what they do. The goal is to inspire readers and demonstrate that it’s not just the so-called “gurus” who have something to say. There is tremendous value all around us if we just stop long enough to listen and discover what others are all about. Spiritual Foundations  Would you like to know how you can be stronger, healthier, more at peace, and experience more of God's blessing? “But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.” Romans 8:11 The more aware we become of what it means to be righteous through Jesus, the more we will see a renewing of life in all areas.  How we gain this awareness? By reminding ourselves of biblical truths. Feature Segment: 5 Marketing “Musts” If your marketing fails to produce results, chances are it's missing one of the following five “musts”.  In any complete marketing system, you must have: Credibility Congruency Connection Competency Consistency If you enjoy the podcast, I would consider it a great favor if you subscribe (and leave a review) in iTunes. This helps new people discover the podcast. You can also find the podcast on Stitcher. Question:   Which of These Five Areas Do You Excel In, Which Do You Need to Strengthen? Click here to leave your comments.  

There is a dangerous reason why you don't achieve your goals. There's a good chance you are committing this mistake yourself, even if you do lots of good stuff. In today's episode I will share with you how to go about fixing this problem. Announcements: Conferences where I will be attending and/or speaking: Ray's Platinum Mastermind Oct 28-29, 2013, Las Vegas, NV Platform Conference, Nov 3-5 2013, Dallas, TX Private Client Meeting, Dec 2-4 “The Forge” NMX, Jan 4-6, 2014, Las Vegas, NV Strategic Influence Jan 14-16, 2014, Phoenix, AZ NAMS 11 February 7-9, 2014, Atlanta, GA Social Media Marketing World, March 26-28, 2014, San Diego, CA “Permission to Prosper” April 8-10, 2014, Spokane, WA Tip Of The Week The In-Between by Jeff Goins The Entrepreneurial Author by  David Hancock and Jay Conrad Levinson 48 Days to the Work You Love by Dan Miller A Question of Faith by Tor Constantino The Blog of Mike Morrell Spiritual Foundations I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. Galatians 2:20 What does it mean to have Christ living in you? It's really an astounding concept. I don't really know how to explain it fully, but I know that Apostle Paul meant something by it. A good place to start might be simply asking the question throughout the day, “If Christ is living in me, what is he doing right now? And am I cooperating?” Another good step would be to check out this discipleship course by my friend Frank Viola. If you click this link, I receive a small commission. If that makes you uncomfortable, please click this link. It won't change your price, but clicking the second lake means I will not be compensated financially. Feature Segment:Why You Don't Achieve Your Goals, And What to Do about It I've noticed two key distinctions in almost every one of these conversations. The individual in question does not have an accurate definition of success. The individual in question has not clearly defined how they will KNOW if they have achieved their desired outcome. THESE TWO POINTS ARE NOT THE SAME THING.So often, people get distracted away from these two stark realities, by substituting activity for accomplishment. For many people, this begins to look a lot like “buying the latest information product” or “attending the latest seminar”.In other words, accumulating more information. What we NEED is not more “learning”, but more “earning”.Take a little time to write (preferably in your journal) about the following: Decide what you want. The lifestyle you want your business to provide. Determine the necessary steps to achieve what you want. Determine the price of doing what is necessary. Commit to pay the price. Ruthlessly track your progress through data, not through storytelling. If you enjoy the podcast, I would consider it a great favor if you subscribe (and leave a review) in iTunes. This helps new people discover the podcast. You can also find the podcast on Stitcher. Question:  How Do You Objectively Measure Your Progress Toward Your Goals? Click here to leave your comments.  

It's harder than ever to get people to share their email address. Nobody wants more spam in their inbox. What's a marketer to do? The solution to the problem is surprisingly simple, and increasingly difficult. But it's well worth the effort as I will demonstrate in today's episode. Announcements: Conferences where I will be attending and/or speaking: The Wisdom Thesis Workshop, October 9-11 Private Mastermind Group, October 28-30 SCORRE Conference, October 14-17 Platform Conference, November 3-5 Private Mastermind Group, December 17 NAMS 11 February 7-9, 2014 “Permission to Prosper” April 8-10, 2014   Tip Of The Week Drafts for iOS is my new mobile text editor of choice. For the past week I've been traveling using only my iPad as my main computer. Spiritual Foundations Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly…but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law he meditates day and night. Psalm 1:1–2 All over the world, men and women are looking for wisdom. If you want proof, just visit the self-help section of the bookstore. I've often said that self-help is no help, and it often becomes shelf help. I don't mean to say there is no wisdom in those books. The fact that the Bible urges us not to sit in the “counsel of the ungodly” means that the ungodly actually do have counsel. But it also tells us that those who meditate on Jesus day and night “shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf also shall not wither; and whatever he does shall prosper.” Keep your eyes on Jesus, seek out his wisdom and counsel, and the counsel of others who follow him. It will cause you to prosper. Feature Segment: How to Create Lead Magnets That Attract Prospects By now, you are certainly convinced that you must build an email list if you want to succeed in marketing online. You may be a little more advanced, and understand that it's only partially true that “the money is in the list”… You may have realized that the money is actually in your relationship with the list. The relationship starts with how you acquired the list. Purchased emails are at the bottom of the barrel, as they are almost certainly spam. Opt in for a “free newsletter” or even a “free report” are somewhat higher up the food chain, but not much. Yet some people manage to create lead magnets that draw people like a gravitational field. How do they do this, and more importantly, how can you? Know your customer Know the customer's FFA's Develop a unique solution Solve their problem with power, elegance, and finality Communicate the value of your offer Deliver on what you promise Provide the answer in each modality, with excellence The fortune is in the follow-up If you enjoy the podcast, I would consider it a great favor if you subscribe (and leave a review) in iTunes. This helps new people discover the podcast. You can also find the podcast on Stitcher. Question: How have you used testimonials to help market your business? Click here to leave your comments.  

We all know we should be using testimonials to help sell our products and services. But there's another, less obvious use that can boost your bottom line. This week's episode, I'll explain how you can actually make sales by giving testimonials to other people… Even your competitors. Announcements: Conferences where I will be attending and/or speaking: The Wisdom Thesis Workshop, October 9-11 Private Mastermind Group, October 28-30 SCORRE Conference, October 14-17 Platform Conference, November 3-5 Private Mastermind Group, December 17 NAMS 11 February 7-9, 2014 “Permission to Prosper” April 8-10, 2014   Tip Of The Week TextExpander allows you to type less, while writing much more. Spiritual Foundations Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts. Acts 2:46, NIV Holy Communion, or the Lord's Supper, is how we access the life of Jesus. When you break the bread, remember that he took the punishment in his physical body so that we could be completely healed. When you drink the wine, be reminded that Jesus has already paid the price for every sin. The point is to be reminded that what matters is not what we do, but what Jesus has already done. The more we can be aware of this, the more his grace we will see manifested in our lives. Feature Segment: How to Market With Testimonials I'm not talking about using testimonials where people proclaim how useful your product is, or how great you are. Those are important, and you should use the. But there is another way of marketing using testimonials that is less obvious. I'm talking about giving testimonials to others, and being strategic about what you say when offering those testimonials. Make your testimonial truthful, to the point, and inspirational. Be as specific as possible about results. Pay attention to production quality. Make it useful to the recipient. Strategically embed your USP and your web address. Remember the “Before – during – after” framework. Use a powerful closing statement. Make your testimonial easy for the recipient to use. Be proactive in offering testimonials. Example Testimonial If you enjoy the podcast, I would consider it a great favor if you subscribe (and leave a review) in iTunes. This helps new people discover the podcast. You can also find the podcast on Stitcher. Question: How have you used testimonials to help market your business?Click here to leave your comments.  

Productivity is about more than the right day planner, a particular methodology, and certainly more than having a good “to do list”. In today's episode, I interview one of my favorite podcast hosts, Erik J. Fisher of the Beyond the to Do List Podcast. Other highlights coming up in today's show… I give you my initial read on iOS7… the good, the bad, and yes… the ugly How you can be sure God is not mad at you. At least three powerful takeaways on productivity from Erik. And then we have the ever popular, “much, much more.” Announcements: Conferences where I will be attending and/or speaking: The Wisdom Thesis Workshop, October 9-11 Private Mastermind Group, October 28-30 SCORRE Conference, October 14-17 Platform Conference, November 3-5 Private Mastermind Group, December 17 NAMS 11 February 7-9, 2014 “Permission to Prosper” April 8-10, 2014 Tip Of The Week I have been using the new iOS7 since the day it came out. Here are my initial thoughts. (You have to listen to the episode to get my thoughts!) Spiritual Foundations Your sins will not be played for all to see on Heaven's big screen television. For I will be merciful toward their iniquities, and I will remember their sins no more. Hebrews 8:12 Feature Segment: Interview With Erik J. Fisher In today's episode, I interview one of my favorite podcast hosts, Erik J. Fisher of the Beyond the to Do List Podcast. If you enjoy the podcast, I would consider it a great favor if you subscribe (and leave a review) in iTunes. This helps new people discover the podcast. You can also find the podcast on Stitcher. Question:   How do you get “beyond the to do list” and boost your productivity? Click here to leave your comments.  

What is the one secret that can accelerate the growth of your business, and every other area of your life? I believe it is the crucible of companionship. This weeks episode is all about how to create your own Mastermind Group. Here are three good reasons to keep listening… If you want to compress time, and achieve more in 12 weeks than most people can achieve in 12 years… If you want to avoid pitfalls, perils, and mistakes… If you want to achieve more success, with less stress, and less effort… Then this episode is definitely for you. Announcements: Conferences where I will be attending and/or speaking: SCORRE Conference, October 14-17 Platform Conference, November 3-5 Private Mastermind Group, November Tip Of The Week A free set of videos that are a kind of “short course” on how to launch a product on the Internet. These will be available for a limited time, so grab them now. Click here for the videos. Spiritual Foundations  If you are feeling overwhelmed, stressed out, or hopeless… help is on the way. Don’t be afraid, I’ve redeemed you. I’ve called your name. You’re mine. When you’re in over your head, I’ll be there with you. When you’re in rough waters, you will not go down. When you’re between a rock and a hard place, it won’t be a dead end— Because I am God, your personal God, The Holy of Israel, your Savior. I paid a huge price for you: all of Egypt, with rich Cush and Seba thrown in! That’s how much you mean to me! That’s how much I love you! I’d sell off the whole world to get you back, trade the creation just for you. So don’t be afraid: I’m with you. Isaiah 43:1-5 Feature Segment: How To Start Your Own Mastermind Group One major key to any success I have enjoyed has been the principle of the Mastermind. Mastermind Groups have played a big role in propelling my business forward. What are the benefits of a Mastermind Group? Positive peer pressure Different perspective the Hawthorne principal  How to Start A Mastermind Group Determine Your Purpose Create a Dream List Of Members Draft a Proposal Invite Your Dream Team Provide Leadership Set Regular Meetings Establish Ground Rules Provide Order and Structure Avoid “Creep Factor” Recommended Resource: Dan Miller has a product called Creating Your Own Mastermind Group, which I highly recommend. If you enjoy the podcast, I would consider it a great favor if you subscribe (and leave a review) in iTunes. This helps new people discover the podcast. You can also find the podcast on Stitcher. Question:   How do you make use of “Value Creation Marketing” in your business? Click here to leave your comments.  

The pressure is on. You need to come up with big ideas for a client, or for your own business, or just to get yourself out of a problem. But being under the gun for a big idea is just the kind of environment that seems to stop the flow of said big ideas. Today show is about how to get big ideas on demand. Announcements: Conferences where I will be attending and/or speaking: The Wisdom Thesis Workshop, October 9-11 Private Mastermind Group, October SCORRE Conference, October 14-17 Platform Conference, November 3-5 Private Mastermind Group, November NAMS 11 February 7-9, 2014 “Permission to Prosper” April 8-10, 2014 Tip Of The Week Slideshark for making presentations on your iPad. Spiritual Foundations For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace. Romans 6:14 Feature Segment: How To Get Big Ideas On Demand Ray's Big Idea-Getting Formula: Clear your mind Clear your desk Turn off distractions Whiteboard it! Use a process (like Wisdom Thesis) Cross-pollinate Evaluate For a complete description of the Wisdom Thesis, register for Friday's webinar (WARNING: no replay). If you enjoy the podcast, I would consider it a great favor if you subscribe (and leave a review) in iTunes. This helps new people discover the podcast. You can also find the podcast on Stitcher. Question:   How do you come up with your best ideas? Click here to leave your comments.  

Would you like to know the marketing concept that will attract the most buyers, for the least cost, in the shortest period of time? Today's show is all about something I call “Value Creation Marketing”. Reasons to listen are the fact that “Value Creation Marketing”… Attracts buyers before they're even thinking about buying. Closes a bigger percentage of sales. Fills the pipeline faster. Just makes the most money. So this episode is only for you if you want the least expensive marketing method, that works faster, with less human effort, and yields the best customers Announcements: Conferences where I will be attending and/or speaking: SCORRE Conference, October 14-17 Platform Conference, November 3-5 Private Mastermind Group, November Tip Of The Week Many thanks to Ernie Lansford, who forced me to try a Mackie mixer. This week I'm testing the Mackie 1402VLZ4 … and I love it! 5 Reasons I Prefer the Mackie 1402VLZ4 Over My Previous Mixer It's built like a tank. Visual ease-of-use. Pure clean sound. 2 additional channels. 6 XLR inputs. Get your own Mackie 1402VLZ4 by clicking here. Get Cliff Ravenscraft's tutorials on how to set up your studio equipment by clicking here. Spiritual Foundations Jesus took what we deserved so we would get what he deserved. By this is love perfected with us, so that we may have confidence for the day of judgment, because as he is so also are we in this world. 1 John 4:17 Feature Segment: What Is “Value Creation Marketing”? Today's show is all about something I call “Value Creation Marketing”… and why you should be using it… “Value-Creation Marketing” is the least expensive marketing, that works faster, with less effort. Click To Tweet Value Creation Marketing: Overcomes resistance Attracts buyers before they are buyers Closes more sales Gets you higher fees Builds a board audience Honors people at all levels Follows the rule of the farm Question that come up: So, how do you do it? What if your business is “different”? If you give away everything for free, how do you make money? If you enjoy the podcast, I would consider it a great favor if you subscribe (and leave a review) in iTunes. This helps new people discover the podcast. You can also find the podcast on Stitcher. Question:   How do you make use of “Value Creation Marketing” in your business? Click here to leave your comments.  

You've heard it before. The problem that holds you back is not lack of information. You already know what to do – but you don't do what you know. The question is why you don't do what you know? And that is what I'll be answering in today's episode. Announcements: Conferences where I will be attending and/or speaking: SCORRE Conference, October 14-17 Platform Conference, November 3-5 Tip Of The Week Sweetprocess lets you document all those repetitive tasks that eat up your precious time, so you can grow your team and grow your business. Spiritual Foundations Christ-followers get help in changing their behaviour:  “I want to do what is right, but I can’t. 19 I want to do what is good, but I don’t. I don’t want to do what is wrong, but I do it anyway.” Romans 7:18 “So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus. 2 And because you belong to him, the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you from the power of sin that leads to death.” Romans 8:1-2 Feature Segment: Why You Don't Do What You Know Why we don't do what we know we should do… and what to do about it… The reason we know what to do but still don't do it: the pain of changing our behavior seems more real than the pain of staying the same. Click To Tweet How to change: Write down what you want to change Write down why you want to change it Write down what will happen if you don't change Write down what will happen if you do change Repeat, reward, and reinforce If you enjoy the podcast, I would consider it a great favor if you subscribe (and leave a review) in iTunes. This helps new people discover the podcast. You can also find the podcast on Stitcher. Question:   Why do you do the same thing even when you know you should change? Click here to leave your comments.  

I had two conversations this week that prompted the topic of today's podcast. One had to do with weird Christian views about money, and the other had to do with a question about the business mission of my company. This episode is going to be like one big Spiritual Foundations segment… So, if you're not into that, you might want to skip out until next week. However, if any of the following apply to you… You ever wonder if it's okay to want to get rich. Internal conflicts about money seem to slow you down. Your Christian brothers and sisters judge or criticize you because you're so enthusiastic about business and success. You wonder about how to reconcile the gospel with your desire to succeed in life. The question of how to integrate your spiritual life with your business life seems to come up a lot. You'd like an explanation of just what exactly my weird business is all about. … Then this episode is definitely for you! And if you're one of those people who loves it when somebody is WRONG ON THE INTERNET…  and you feel it's your job to set them straight… this is your show! You may disagree in the comments, but no name-calling, etc, Please disagree agreeably. Announcements: And here we go… You Have Permission to Prosper He sat across from me and stared me in the eye. “It is scripturally wrong for a Christian to try to be rich.” He looked at me defiantly. I gently tried to explain that he might not have the entire picture, but he was going to hear none of it. This is a slightly fictionalized account of several conversations I've had over the last year or so. The other person in this story represents people who, when told what I do in my business, are quick to want to school me on why I'm wrong. Worse, some of them told me that I'm leading people to hell. This disturbed me somewhat. Then I had a conversation with someone very close to me, in just the last week. This person, a member of my family, began to describe to me what they thought my business was about: “You write copy, and you teach other people how to write copy, and you sell a bunch of Internet marketing stuff.” Well, no. The answer to both of these misunderstandings is actually the same. So today, I'm going to revisit a post I made previously on this blog, and spell out very carefully what is the purpose of my businesses… what we do… and how it ties together with this conundrum of Christians and cash. I really have one basic premise to offer you, and it is this: as a follower of Jesus you are entitled to prosper in every way. And that includes money. You have, straight from the pages of Scripture, permission to prosper. My Marketplace Mission: 1,000 Millionaires. I feel that God has prepared me for this very time to help demolish the mindsets of both poverty and greed that have a grip on so many. I am privileged to be called to be part of the solution. Our mission going forward, here at Ray Edwards International, Inc, is a very simple one: to mentor, foster, and lead 1,000 people to become millionaires. Not to become millionaires for the reasons the world normally supposes people want to be rich. Not so that they can buy the biggest house, or the fastest sports car, or acquire the “most toys”. Our aim (and my personal mission) is to develop “Kingdom millionaires”. People who seek to accumulate wealth in order to do the work of God’s kingdom. “Millionaire Missionaries”, if you will. Leading 1,000 people to become millionaires means bringing one billion dollars into God’s Kingdom – money that will be used for His purposes. Over the last few years, I’ve had the great privilege of working with many well-known marketers and thought-leaders. Some of my clients are household names. I’ve been able to contribute to their success, and my work has been responsible, in part, for bringing millions of dollars into those businesses and those personal fortunes. Today, we continue to serve by bringing practical wisdom on how to start, run, and grow business period we do this through consulting services, coaching programs, seminars and workshops, instructional products, in writing books. I have dedicated my work-all of it-to the building of God’s kingdom. How? By continuing to help people and businesses create more wealth – but now with a renewed and more accurately-focused purpose. By being dedicated… To the destruction of the poverty and greed mindset. To the creation of new wealth. To the alleviation of suffering, sickness, and poverty. We are in a world at war. It’s Good against evil. While evil wants to take over, we resist the idea of giving up a single inch of ground. This is the sound of a revolution. If You’re Receiving This Message, You Are The Resistance If this resonates with you, if you want to be part of this revolution, I invite you to stick with me. As dark as some people think tomorrow looks, we have a different view. We believe the future is pregnant with promise, and we are committed to taking back tomorrow from the “gloom and doomers”. So how can you join in? First, and absolutely of most importance, make sure you are following Jesus. Accept Him as your Lord (your Master) and as your Savior. It’s not complex. All that is required: If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. Romans 10:9 Next, if what I’ve said here seems to draw you toward it, then this is your place! Subscribe to this blog, if you haven’t already. Our values are reflected in the articles we publish, the podcasts we produce, the information products and books we make available. I just got word that my new book has been accepted by the publisher, and we have an event scheduled for April 8-10. Both are called Permission to Prosper. My teaching and materials reflect the principles of helping you build wealth from a foundation of Kingdom principles – for Kingdom purposes. We will be together on the journey of true prosperity. And like John, the beloved disciple of Jesus, I want you to prosper, even as your soul prospers. I look forward to contributing to your success. We have some exciting things in store for you. In the meantime… May you prosper wildly, and may you be radically blessed. Question:    Have you struggled with any of the issues brought up in this podcast? Click here to leave your comments.  

Why do I still invest the time and money to attend seminars, even though many people would think I don't have to? I have at least five good reasons why, and in this episode I will share them with you. Announcements: Conferences where I will be attending and/or speaking: SCORRE Conference, October 14-17 Platform Conference, November 3-5 And if you enjoy the podcast, I would consider it a great favor if you subscribe (and leave a review) in iTunes. This helps new people discover the podcast. You can also find the podcast on Stitcher. Tip Of The Week How to rescue your time… with an app, of course! Spiritual Foundations If you're on a guilt trip, I promise you God was not your travel agent. 3 reasons why:  Grace is bigger than whatever we may feel “convicted” or  “condemned” about. “By this we shall know that we are of the truth and reassure our heart before him; 20 for whenever our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and he knows everything. Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence before God; and whatever we ask we receive from him, because we keep his commandments and do what pleases him. And this is his commandment, that we believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he has commanded us. Whoever keeps his commandments abides in God, and God in him. And by this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit whom he has given us.”1 John 3:19-24 The Bible calls the law the ministry of Death. “Now if the ministry of death, carved in letters on stone, came with such glory that the Israelites could not gaze at Moses' face because of its glory, which was being brought to an end, will not the ministry of the Spirit have even more glory? For if there was glory in the ministry of condemnation, the ministry of righteousness must far exceed it in glory.  Indeed, in this case, what once had glory has come to have no glory at all, because of the glory that surpasses it.” 2 Corinthians 3:7-10 Take a clue from what Paul was persecuted for. “What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means! “Romans 6:1-2 Feature Segment: 5 Reasons Why I Still Attend Seminars After all these years, I'm still attending seminars and workshops… here are 5 reasons why… To remain a student. To be productively uncomfortable. To connect with clients, customers, and friends. To make JV connections. To buy. Listener Calls This week we heard from: Jeff Brown, Read to Lead Podcast Walter Montero Paul Potter Adam Collier Greg Gilbert   Question:   Why do you attend seminars? Click here to leave your comments.  

For many bloggers, it's the number one topic of discussion: how to get more traffic to your blog.  Having a bigger number of visitors doesn't necessarily mean you have a more profitable business, but let's face it; we all want more traffic. In this episode, I'll explain how  to get more traffic to your blog. Announcements: Conferences where I will be attending and/or speaking: NAMS Conference, August 9-11 SCORRE Conference, October 14-17 Platform Conference, November 3-5 And if you enjoy the podcast, I would consider it a great favor if you subscribe (and leave a review) in iTunes. This helps new people discover the podcast. You can also find the podcast on Stitcher. Tip Of The Week This week I share the value of inconveniently scheduled entertainment. Spiritual Foundations “But now even more the report about him went abroad, and great crowds gathered to hear him and to be healed of their infirmities. But he would withdraw to desolate places and pray.” Luke 5:15-16 The more value you have to offer, the more demand others will place on you. The more value you place on serving, the more tempted you will be to supply what others demand. This seems good, but there is one problem… …you are a limited resource. Which means eventually the supply (you) will be exhausted by the demand (others). At that point, everyone ceases to be served. In order to serve at the highest level, for the longest possible time, you must preserve the resource. What this means: Not everyone who wants “just five minutes” from you can have it. Not everyone who wants to partner with you on a business or a project gets a “yes”. Not everyone who makes a request of you, or a demand on your time/money/energy, gets their request granted. You must preserve the resource (you) and learn to say “no” Most people will not be happy with your boundaries. That’s why most people fail to establish and enforce them. Be different than most people. Because you are a limited resource, and we need you. Feature Segment: How To  Get More Blog Traffic Success as a blogger cannot be measured by subscriber numbers alone. That doesn't mean we don't count the number of subscribers. How do you get more traffic to your blog? Here are seven tips… Write 3 to 5 “Pillar Posts”. Post Consistently And Frequently. Comment On High Traffic Blogs. Write Guest Posts For High-Traffic Blogs. See this post by Jeff Goins about guest posting. Link To Other Blogs in Your Posts. Encourage Commenting on Your Blog. Use Social Media to Promote Your Blog Posts. Question:   What tactics do you use to get more traffic to your blog? Click here to leave your comments.  

It's all the rage: “content marketing”. But if you think just giving away lots of great content for free is going to make you money, you haven't thought the matter through. Chances are you're making one of the three big content marketing mistakes. St. John's Cathedral in Spokane, WA, taken with my iPhone. In this episode, I'll explain how to create content that actually makes sales. Announcements: Conferences where I will be attending and/or speaking: NAMS Conference, August 9-11 SCORRE Conference, October 14-17 Platform Conference, November 3-5 And if you enjoy the podcast, I would consider it a great favor if you subscribe (and leave a review) in iTunes. This helps new people discover the podcast. You can also find the podcast on Stitcher. Tip Of The Week I've been enjoying the challenge of trying to take great photographs using just my iPhone. Turns out this is a very popular hobby. Two great resources, if you're interested in giving it a try, are iPhone Photography and the ProCamera App. I also like 100 Cameras In 1. Spiritual Foundations “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” Romans 10:17 What we put into our brains makes a difference in our life, and that includes our spirit life. I'm not big on rules, so I'm not going to tell you there are things you should or should not listen to or watch. But I will suggest you might want to be careful what you put inside yourself. Anything that you are going to listen to, or watch, needs to pass through a filter. Here's a good one: is this helpful? Is it healing? Is it hopeful? Is it loving? If the answer to the above questions is “no”, you might want to reconsider whose word you listening to, and what the consequences might be. Feature Segment: How To Create Content That Sells Content really does sell, but if you give away the store, you go broke fast. The key is you must create content that encourages a buying decision. The three big “content marketing” mistakes: Creating mediocre content. Creating content that completely satisfies your customer's needs. Creating content without being intentional. Keys to creating content that sells. Your best material is your best marketing. Create content that is “useful, but incomplete” (thanks Jimmy D Brown). Be strategic about the content you create. Create products that get results, while laying the foundation for new purchases. Question:  What content  marketing strategies have brought you the best results? Click here to leave your comments.  

Over the last few weeks, I've had the opportunity to talk on the phone with a number of consulting clients. I was startled to hear virtually the same phrase come out of each of their mouths: “I need clarity on what I'm supposed to be doing, and help focusing on it.” Why do we feel we lack clarity? And why do we have trouble focusing? Most importantly, how can we get clear and focused? I've got an answer for you in today's episode. Announcements: Conferences where I will be attending and/or speaking: JV Alert, July 26-28 NAMS Conference, August 9-11 SCORRE Conference, October 14-17 Platform Conference, November 3-5 Want To Be On Next Week's Show? My topic for next week's show is “Creating Content That Sells”. If you have a question on that topic, you can ask by visiting my voicemail page (just click here to leave a message). This is a great way to promote your own website. First, make sure you have a great question, and then start off by saying your name and your website. If your question is used on the show, we will even include a link back to your site in the show notes. Your Feedback Do you have an idea for a podcast you would like to hear? Do you have a question that you like to ask me? Please contact me. Call in your questions or comments to our new, fancy “request line” at (509) 713-2679 or click here to leave a message on my Voicemail Page And if you enjoy the podcast, I would consider it a great favor if you subscribe (and leave a review) in iTunes. This helps new people discover the podcast. You can also find the podcast on Stitcher. Tip Of The Week GoodReader for iPad allows you to markup PDF documents using a stylus. This is great for editing, proofreading, and notetaking. Lifestyle Business Segment Featuring Stu McLaren of Wishlist Products and Rhino Support. This week:  creating more meaning in your work. Spiritual Foundations “Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” Romans 8:1 Have you ever made a big mistake, and been filled with regret? Recently I made a major decision without consulting my wife. I gave the appearance of consulting her, by writing a highly persuasive, highly logical justification of my decision and presenting it to her and asking, in essence, “you agree with me don't you?” In other words, I blindsided and bulldozed her. How she supposed to respond? I hurt her feelings. The decision may have been right, that the way I presented it was all wrong. I felt like a creep. How could I do that to the person I loved most in the world? Pause… that feeling that I experienced, right there, is called condemnation. It's the feeling that we need to be punished for something we have done. My example is just one from real-life. You could substitute your own. Maybe you have had an angry thought, shaded the truth, cut the corners on the business deal, delivered less than your best, spoken words in anger, had a lustful or greedy thought, been inpatient or intolerant of a family member… I'm sure you can come up with your own examples. The Bible calls these things sin (which means to “fall short of the target”), and left on our own, our sin condemns us. But, as those who follow Christ, our sins have been forgiven. Past, present, and future. Condemnation is a tool of Satan uses against us to disempower us. If he can get us thinking, “what kind of Christian are you anyway? If people knew what you are really like, they would be shocked…” Then he can get us to become isolated from others, and ineffective in our calling and our mission. There is now no condemnation… it's in the present tense. The next time you feel tempted to do something you know is wrong, repeat this verse out loud. Use it as a “fighter verse”. It's the Word of God, and the Bible tells us that even the Angels “heed the voice of His word”. That His word “will not return to Him void” (in other words, it will not be ineffective). And if you realize after the fact that you've done something wrong, remind yourself of the same thing… there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.  As Pastor Joseph Prince writes: The power of Jesus to overcome every temptation kicks in when you remain conscious that even at the point of temptation, Jesus is still with you and that you are righteous in Him apart from your works (Romans 4:6)! When you do that, you reject the condemnation for the temptation that you are facing. You are now able to rest in your righteous identity in Christ apart from your works, and release the power of Christ in you to rise above the temptation. Feature Segment: How To Get Clarity And Focus Know your reason WHY. Think through WHAT outcome you want. Plan HOW to achieve the outcome. Have SMARTER goals (Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, Time-Bound, Evaluate, Re-Evaluate… November 1981 issue of Management Review by George T. Doran.) Build systems that run without you. Create margin. Sharpen the saw. Resources Mentioned In This Episode Michael Hyatt's free ebook, Creating Your Personal Lifeplan Work the System by Sam Carpenter Margin by Richard Swensen 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Dr. Stephen R. Covey Question: How do you get clarity and focus? Click here to leave your comments.  

When I am interviewed, one question that comes up regularly is: “Ray, if you are starting your business today how would you do it?”  I think the implication is things are different today than when I started, and thus a different approach is required. But is that true? In this week's episode I'll answer the question, how would I start over today? Announcements: Conferences where I will be attending and/or speaking: JV Alert, July 26-28 NAMS Conference, August 9-11 SCORRE Conference, October 14-17 Platform Conference, November 3-5 Want To Be On Next Week's Show? My topic for next week's show is “How To Get Clarity And Focus”. If you have a question on that topic, you can ask by visiting my voicemail page (just click here to leave a message). This is a great way to promote your own website. First, make sure you have a great question, and then start off by saying your name and your website. If your question is used on the show, we will even include a link back to your site in the show notes. Your Feedback Do you have an idea for a podcast you would like to hear? Do you have a question that you like to ask me? Please contact me. Call in your questions or comments to our new, fancy “request line” at (509) 713-2679 or click here to leave a message on my Voicemail Page And if you enjoy the podcast, I would consider it a great favor if you subscribe (and leave a review) in iTunes. This helps new people discover the podcast. You can also find the podcast on Stitcher. Tip Of The Week Changing things up a bit, this week's Tip of the week is actually a hat tip to three of my favorite podcasts. This Is Your Life by Michael Hyatt Podcast Answer Man by Cliff Ravenscraft 48 Days by Dan Miller Lifestyle Business Segment Featuring Stu McLaren of Wishlist Products and Rhino Support. this week: the value of taking risks. Spiritual Foundations “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” 2 Corinthians 5:17 Who are you, and why are you here? These are big questions, but the answers are vital to building a sustainable business on a firm foundation. You are a child of God. You are here to establish his will “on earth, as it is in heaven.” Once you are in submission  to the great commission, you can understand your mission. Feature Segment: How I Would Start Over Today Discover my own unique ability. Find the intersection of my unique ability, the desires of my marketplace, and what they're willing to pay for. Build a platform and a listening station. Create a unique solution for an identifiable group of people with money. Build a marketing system to bring that offer to my people. Question: how would you start over today? What questions do you have about starting up for the first time? Click here to leave your comments.  

Just yesterday I was on the phone with a client. She had just finished describing her business to me. She wants to sell a product that teaches women how to help their husbands break an addiction to pornography. “I guess what I'm wondering,” she said, “is this a ministry or business? Is there really a way to make money doing this?” In other words, she was asking if it's possible to monetize her particular message. This is a common question. Almost everybody wonders about it at some point, and almost everybody thinks their businesses “different”. If you're listening to the show, I believe it is definitely possible for you to monetize your message. To do well while doing good. And today I will tell you exactly what you need to do for that to happen. Announcements: JV Alert, July 26-28 NAMS Conference, August 9-11 SCORRE Conference, October 14-17 Platform Conference, November 3-5 Tip Of The Week This weeks tip explains how I use the Kindle reader app on my iPad, plus Evernote, to do research for my books and articles. Spiritual Foundations This weekend like to share something written by Kris Vallotton.  It's about the importance of setting boundaries. This is a crucial skill needed by anyone in this business of ours. “It's really important to set boundaries with people. If you don't learn to set boundaries in your life, other people will superimpose their priorities and values on you. The people who hate the fact that you're setting boundaries are the very ones who need them the most! Some people view boundaries as unloving or harsh. They think that you should run to every emergency, let people violate your values, and never say no to anyone or else you are not being loving. Jesus loved people and yet he had no problem confronting them. Personally, I'm tired of marshmallow Believers. Doormat Don and Molly meek need to get some courage and leave the powerless, victim camp of spineless Christianity.” “It's funny, when I share things like this on my Facebook page people think I'm venting or I'm in a bad mood. I don't need to be in a bad mood to set boundaries, I've had to learn to live with them or die without them. No public figure could survive very long without setting boundaries. For example, it's common for people to talk to me while I'm in a bathroom stall or even slide a book under the stall for me to autograph. Often people will follow me out to my car after a 12 hour day of ministry to take a picture with me. All these people mean well, and it is really nice to be loved. But it takes a toll on you and soon you find yourself exhausted; not wanting to be around people. So you finally learn to set boundaries and risk being misunderstood. But it's better to be misunderstood and fruitful, than to be burnout, broke down, and useless.” I urge you to take some time this week to think about what your boundaries are, and perhaps identify places in your life where a lack of boundaries is depleting your personal  resources.  You can't help anyone else if you're in the process of drowning. Feature Segment: How To Monetize Your Message How can you monetize any message? It's actually fairly simple. First, in order to monetize your message, you must become the message your mission deserves. Second, there are four strategic components to the monetization process: Big Mission Big Idea Big Invitation Big Offer Third, in the Big Offer phase of your monetization plan, there are four subcomponents that must be present: Community Copy Content Call to Action Want To Be On Next Week's Show? My topic for next week's show is “How Would Ray Start Today?”. If you have a question on that topic, you can ask by visiting my voicemail page (just click here to leave a message). This is a great way to promote your own website. First, make sure you have a great question, and then start off by saying your name and your website. If your question is used on the show, will even include a link back to your site in the show notes. Your Feedback Do you have an idea for a podcast you would like to hear? Do you have a question that you like to ask me? Please contact me. Call in your questions or comments to our new, fancy “request line” at (509) 713-2679 or click here to leave a message on my Voicemail Page And if you enjoy the podcast, I would consider it a great favor if you subscribe (and leave a review) in iTunes. This helps new people discover the podcast. You can also find the podcast on Stitcher.  

One of the most common questions I get is this: “Ray, how do you create your podcast each week?” In this week's episode, I'll give the most complete answer ever. And I'll walk you through my workflow for creating this podcast. The official “studio” of the Ray Edwards Show.   Announcements: JV Alert, July 26-28 NAMS Conference, August 9-11 SCORRE Conference, October 14-17 Platform Conference, November 3-5 Tip Of The Week The Eagle Creek Tarmac 22 is my new carry-on, along with Eagle Creek Pack It Cubes. Allows me to travel with just one bag for a 3-day conference. Thanks to Chris Brogan and Michael Hyatt for the tip. Packing Pro. This app is my new method of choice for a packing checklist. Spiritual Foundations Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Matthew 11:28 A few nights ago, I had serious trouble sleeping. I lay awake staring at the ceiling, reviewing the many responsibilities and tasks that lay before me the next day. Although I was weary, I could not rest. Finally, I spoke aloud to Jesus, and gave him my list of things I was worried about. He took my list, and I fell asleep. Sometimes we just need to take the promises of the Bible at face value. We don't need to understand the Greek, or have an exegetical analysis performed by a trained theologian. If you know Jesus, he has promised to give you rest. Whatever you're dealing with, whether it's financial, emotional, physical, or anything else, he sees you. He's already promised to give you rest. To take over your heavy burden. You can just ask. He will give you peace. Feature Segment: How I Create My Podcast First things first. Just about everything I learned about podcasting, I learned from Cliff Ravenscraft. He is the Podcast Answer Man. I will share how I create my podcast, but for the detailed tutorials and instruction you need on the subject, I recommend Cliff's material without reservation. Ray's  Podcast Gear Mixer: Behringer Xenix X1222 USB Microphone: Heil PR40 Digital audio recorder: Zoom Handy Recorder H2 Digital hybrid: JK Audio Innkeeper 1X Audio processor: Multicom Pro-XL MDX4600 Headphones: Audio Technica ATH – M30 Magic bullet: iMic USB audio interface Website platform: WordPress Podcasting plug-in: Blubrry Powerpress Software: Adobe Audition, Creative Cloud; ID3 Editor; SoundByte Media server: Libsyn Computer: MacBook Air, 13 inch, 500 GB SSD Odds and ends: many different cables, Brother labeler for cables, great degree of patience, Cliff Ravenscraft podcast training to remove need for patience Ray's Podcast Workflow Decide on topic Fill in SCORRE template Fill-in podcast Show Prep template Assemble audio clips Records show “live” to digital audio recorder Transfer show from SD card to MacBook Air Process audio using Adobe audition Export audio of show to MP3 format Use ID3 tag software to tag MP3 file Upload MP3 file to Libsyn Add media link to post Preview post and double check all links, copy, and the audio file Schedule show for publication Want To Be On Next Week's Show? My topic for next week's show is “Monetizing Your Message”. If you have a question on that topic, you can ask by visiting my voicemail page (just click here to leave a message). This is a great way to promote your own website. First, make sure you have a great question, and then start off by saying your name and your website. If your question is used on the show, will even include a link back to your site in the show notes. Your Feedback Do you have an idea for a podcast you would like to hear? Do you have a question that you like to ask me? Please contact me. Call in your questions or comments to our new, fancy “request line” at (509) 713-2679 or click here to leave a message on my Voicemail Page And if you enjoy the podcast, I would consider it a great favor if you subscribe (and leave a review) in iTunes. This helps new people discover the podcast. You can also find the podcast on Stitcher.  

This week I'm going to pull back the curtain and share what I believe have been my seven against business mistakes, and what you can learn from them.   Announcements: JV Alert, July 26-28 NAMS Conference, August 9-11 SCORRE Conference, October 14-17 Platform Conference, November 3-5 Tip Of The Week Apple Voice Memos is a fantastic recording studio in your pocket. Spiritual Foundations But as it is, Christ has obtained a ministry that is as much more excellent than the old as the covenant he mediates is better, since it is enacted on better promises. Hebrews 8:6 Sometimes when trials come our way, we think God is giving us a test. Or that he is “shaping our character”. I have heard people say things like, “It wasn't until I got cancer that my family came together. So I know that was God's plan for my life.” Often, people in these situations will cite the book of Job as support for this position. Let me be clear: God is not the author of evil. And cancer is evil. Many will point to the book of Job, or other places in the Old Testament, and say, “See, this is where God was judging a person… sending a spirit of sickness on a person… causing evil things to happen to a person or nation.” And then they will quote Scripture to say that God is “the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow.” Such thinking misses the point. Yes, God is the same. But his covenant has changed. God has always been merciful. He has always been good. He has always been the healer, the restorer, the protector. The old covenant was given because God's people demanded it. It is not what he wanted for the, but they stood their ground in the desert and demanded that Moses go up and bring them back the law. The book of Job is a book of bad theology, presented as bad theology. Job's friends, the ones who sat around and speculated about why God sent tragedy Job's way (as punishment for sin, to shape his character, etc.) got it wrong. God himself said so in the book. Jesus, Scripture tells us, is the perfect mirror representation of the Father. Anything that you think about the Father, but which contradicts what you see demonstrated in the life of Jesus, is simply wrong. Jesus healed every person who came to him. He was merciful. He was joyful. And he never once imparted cancer, poverty, divorce, tragedy, or accidents to anyone in order to teach them a lesson. Does God make all things work together for good? Yes. Can he use any situation in our lives as an opportunity for us to learn and grow? Yes. And keep in mind that he clearly promises us, among other things, divine health, divine wealth, peace… In fact he promises us that we will “prosper in all things, even as your soul prospers.” Feature Segment: My Biggest Business Mistakes Many business coaches and mentors are happy to tell you about their successes. Most are not so quick to share stories of their failures, because they worry that this will diminish their positioning in your eyes. The problem is: it's from failure that we may learn some of our most valuable lessons. Today, I'm going to share what I consider to be seven of my biggest business mistakes, what I learned from them, and what I feel you can take away from them as well.    Ray's Seven Biggest Business Mistakes Not starting soon enough. How I hesitated to strike out on my own. Going into debt. The borrower is slave to the lender. Accepting clients I knew were a bad fit. The “Client Who Ate My Calendar” story Failing to establish clear boundaries. “No, I can't take your call at 11pm on Saturday/” Moving too slowly. Ideas lose fire as the clock ticks. Failure to focus. Dispersing your forces weakens your impact. Lacking simultaneous execution. Just so I can contradict #6… Want To Be On Next Week's Show? My topic for next week's show is “How I Create My Podcast”. If you have a question on that topic, you can ask by visiting my voicemail page (just click here to leave a message). This is a great way to promote your own website. First, make sure you have a great question, and then start off by saying your name and your website. If your question is used on the show, will even include a link back to your site in the show notes. Your Feedback Do you have an idea for a podcast you would like to hear? Do you have a question that you like to ask me? Please contact me. Call in your questions or comments to our new, fancy “request line” at (509) 713-2679 or click here to leave a message on my Voicemail Page And if you enjoy the podcast, I would consider it a great favor if you subscribe (and leave a review) in iTunes. This helps new people discover the podcast. You can also find the podcast on Stitcher.  

What if you could run a company with no office, no staff, no inventory and no overhead? You can, and that is what this week's show is about.   Announcements: Wisdom Thesis Workshop coming up, June 25-28 JV Alert, July 26-28 NAMS Conference, August 9-11 SCORRE Conference, October 14-17 Platform Conference, November 3-5 Tip Of The Week NextIssue.com features a nap that allows you to read all your favorite magazines on your iPad for just $14.99 a month. Genius Scan turns your iPhone into a pocket scanner. It enables you to quickly scan documents on the go and email the scans as JPEG or PDF. Spiritual Foundations And of His fullness we have all received, and grace for grace. John 1:16 If you are in a place where you feel the demands made on you are too much, I've got good news. You can stop working so hard, and watch God step in and supply everything you need. I frequently feel the demands of life. There are many expectations from clients, readers, listeners, and that's just on the business side of my life. If I let myself get caught up in thinking about the demands placed on me, it can feel like a heavy load. It's in these times that I turn to Jesus and simply tell him, “this is now your problem.” I know that sounds crass. But hear me out. Recently, I returned from about three weeks of continuous air travel, conference speaking, and intense activity. The day after I got back home, I was scheduled to meet with a small group of entrepreneurs that I mentor in our church. As I drove to the meeting, really unprepared, I said to the Lord, “God, I can't do this. I have nothing for them. I surrender this to you, and I can't wait to see how you're going to handle it.” As always, God showed up. He gave me just the right words to say, and more importantly he gave me just the right heart to hear what was on the minds of the people at the meeting. We had deeply rewarding time together. I was just as much nourished and refreshed as anyone else at the meeting. That's the kind of thing that happens when you set down the burden and leave it up to the Lord to carry it. When we are able to receive the abundance of God's grace, to give up on all of the work were trying to do, and simply rest in God's favor… The weight of demand is lifted from our shoulders and we are carried on the river of God's unlimited supply. Feature Segment: How to Run a Virtual Company Today, it is  stopno longer necessary to make a huge capital investment to run a company. There are many startups and even established businesses that generate millions of dollars in revenue each year-without having a building, employees, or even inventory. How do you run such a “virtual company”? And if the idea intrigues you, how do you transition from being a traditional business to “going virtual”?   The Virtual Company 10 Point Plan Run an “8020 analysis” on your business Get rid of the building Eliminate your employees Build a business system Own nothing, control everything Use proven tools: base camp, Google apps, GoToMeeting, Skype,  etc. Use off-the-shelf software solutions Realize you are an information marketing business Focus on direct response marketing only Commit to becoming a business owner and not just an operator.  “Great business owners get rich. Great business operators just get tired.” Keith Cunningham Want To Be On Next Week's Show? My topic for next week's show is “My Biggest Business Mistakes and What You Can Learn From Them”. If you have a question on that topic, you can ask by visiting my voicemail page (just click here to leave a message). This is a great way to promote your own website. First, make sure you have a great question, and then start off by saying your name and your website. If your question is used on the show, will even include a link back to your site in the show notes. Your Feedback Do you have an idea for a podcast you would like to hear? Do you have a question that you like to ask me? Please contact me. Call in your questions or comments to our new, fancy “request line” at (509) 713-2679 or click here to leave a message on my Voicemail Page And if you enjoy the podcast, I would consider it a great favor if you subscribe (and leave a review) in iTunes. This helps new people discover the podcast. You can also find the podcast on Stitcher.  

What if you could reduce the hours you spend working by 50%, and yet still be three times as productive? What if you could do that starting tomorrow? You can. And that's what today show is all about-how to triple your productivity tomorrow.   Announcements: Wisdom Thesis Workshop coming up, June 25-28 NAMS Conference, August 9-11 Platform Conference, November 3-5 Tip Of The Week Adobe Creative Cloud. Once upon a time, owning just Photoshop was a $500 investment. Now you can get every Adobe makes for about $50. Maybe less. Spiritual Foundations Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm. Proverbs 13:20 (ESV) For a couple of years I worked in the insurance business. I was very young, and I was the newest agent in the office. Al, the seasoned gray-headed veteran of the business, decided to take me under his wing. “You'll get a lot of raw raw from management,” Al told me one day, “but I can show you how things really work around here. And you can make a lot of money.” Pretty soon, I had begun to hang around Al and his buddies more often than not, and had begun to adapt their attitude. Cynical, jaded, laced with lots of sarcastic comments. One day my manager, Frank, took me to lunch. As we were eating, he casually remarked, “I'm not sure hanging out without is in your best interest.” “But he's just trying to help me,” I said. I was a bit naïve in those days. “And after all, he's got 30 years of experience with this company.” Frank chuckled. “No, Ray,” he said. “He's got one year of experience, and he's repeated it 30 times.” Frank's comment had a real impact on me, because I instantly knew he was telling the truth. The next day, I decided to have my morning coffee with one of the younger agents in the office named Richard. Richard had been with the company only five years, but he was the top salesman in the office. Al's group of buddies regarded Richard with disdain, and now I knew why. Who we hang out with, and whose wisdom we listen to, determines the kind of person we will become. Feature Segment: Triple Your Productivity Tomorrow Have you ever noticed that when you're going on vacation, the week before you leave is incredibly productive? Somehow you managed to get a couple of weeks ahead on your work, a couple of weeks ahead on all of your bill paying and chores around the house, you get your itinerary planned for the two week shall be on vacation, plus you get all the packing in preparation for the trip finished. How do you do that? If you could harness that “magic”, you'd probably be three times as productive as you normally are. The good news is, I believe any of us can do exactly that. And on this show, I'm giving you a blueprint for how to wake up three times as productive tomorrow morning. Let's get started.   The 3X Productivity Blueprintt Do a mind sweep Identify tomorrow's “must do's” Put those on your task list, in order of priority Store your mind sweep safely Review tomorrow's appointments Plan the time required to accomplish “must do's” Go to bed early; get up early First thing tomorrow, drink 16 ounces of water Take time to connect with your creator, and your purpose Exercise for 30 minutes Arrive at work one hour earlier than normal Focus on live number one from your list Continue until complete; moved to next item Short circuit interruptions today Take a break, moved to the rest of your list Deal with backlog Have your “got a minutes” Get to inbox zero Deal with loose ends Delegate everything left over Make tomorrow's task list, plan tomorrow's schedule Simply repeat this procedure every day from now on. Want To Be On Next Week's Show? My topic for next week's show is “How to Run a Virtual Company”. If you have a question on that topic, you can ask by visiting my voicemail page (just click here to leave a message). This is a great way to promote your own website. First, make sure you have a great question, and then start off by saying your name and your website. If your question is used on the show, will even include a link back to your site in the show notes. Your Feedback Do you have an idea for a podcast you would like to hear? Do you have a question that you like to ask me? Please contact me. Call in your questions or comments to our new, fancy “request line” at (509) 713-2679 or click here to leave a message on my Voicemail Page And if you enjoy the podcast, I would consider it a great favor if you subscribe (and leave a review) in iTunes. This helps new people discover the podcast. You can also find the podcast on Stitcher.  

Imagine starting and running a business that has no office, no employees, no inventory, no overhead, and potential revenue in the millions of dollars. Every day you work from wherever you want-maybe one day from your house, maybe the next day from Starbucks, maybe the next day from the deck of a cruise ship.  Sound like a cheesy Internet ad? Maybe. But it's also reality for a lot of people I know. And it can be reality for you. That's what today show is all about-how to be a “minimalist entrepreneur”.  The idea for this week show sprang from a series of blog posts written by my friend Ryan Lee. If you haven't read those posts, I highly recommend them. Announcements: Wisdom Thesis Workshop coming up, June 25-28 NAMS Conference, August 9-11 Platform Conference, November 3-5 Tip Of The Week BaseCamp Mobile App for IOS. While there have been many attempts to create a mobile app that allows you to access your Basecamp account, this is the official 37 signals app. And it works flawlessly, just as you would expect. Spiritual Foundations Put it in writing, because it is not yet time for it to come true. But the time is coming quickly, and what I show you will come true. It may seem slow in coming, but wait for it; it will certainly take place, and it will not be delayed. Habakkuk 2:3 (GNB) Does it ever seem that God  is answering your prayer by saying “no”? Let's assume that what you're asking for in prayer is consistent with God's will, as it is revealed in the Bible. And let's assume that you even feel, for one reason or another, that you have heard from God in this area and that you felt his answer was yes. Yet the thing you're praying for doesn't seem to come through. Just remember what Robert Schuller said: “God's delays are not God's denials.” Sometimes God answers our prayer for an oak tree by delivering us just exactly that. An oak tree. That's called a miracle. Other times, he delivers us an acorn, and we have to cultivate it and care for it as it grows. And while you are waiting for the fulfillment of your prayer, you might ask God who he wants to be to you, in that interval. “Don't try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do its work so you become mature and well-developed.” (James 1:4, Msg)   Feature Segment: The Minimalist Entrepreneur Matthew is a friendly, unassuming, and very likable guy. But he doesn't have a job. He started his own business a couple of years ago, has no employees, has no inventory or storefront, and runs that business from his laptop. He sometimes works from Starbucks, sometimes from home, in sometimes uses a tiny office he rented a few months ago. In that office it's just him, and the bare minimum of furniture required, and a lot of quiet. And in that quiet, Matthew rakes in an average of $150,000… Per month. Now Matthew is a real person, a friend of mine, and I've changed his name just to protect his privacy. He is a minimalist entrepreneur. I too am a minimalist entrepreneur. In the old days, before the Internet, starting a company that brings in the kind of revenue our company does what it meant a huge capital investment. Perhaps a dozen employees. A lot of overhead, and a great deal of risk. But today, because of the leverage offered by the Internet, I have a global business that I operate mostly from my laptop. And while there are a dozen or so people who make my company run, all but one of them are virtual workers, scattered all over the globe. You, too, can operate a minimalist enterprise. In this episode, how explain the advantages of doing this, and provide a basic outline of how to pull it off.  Advantages Of The Minimalist Entrepreneur Zero startup cost Close to zero operational cost Peace of mind Low stress Big payoff  The Minimalist Entrepreneur Blueprint  Strategy over tactics. No facility. No employees. No inventory. Minimal fixed expense. Virtualize the enterprise. Systemize the enterprise. Globalize the enterprise. Fight feature creep. Define culture. Don't lose money. Want To Be On Next Week's Show? My topic for next week's show is “How to Triple Your Productivity Tomorrow”. If you have a question on that topic, you can ask by visiting my voicemail page (just click here to leave a message). This is a great way to promote your own website. First, make sure you have a great question, and then start off by saying your name and your website. If your question is used on the show, will even include a link back to your site in the show notes. Your Feedback Do you have an idea for a podcast you would like to hear? Do you have a question that you like to ask me? Please contact me. Call in your questions or comments to our new, fancy “request line” at (509) 713-2679 or click here to leave a message on my Voicemail Page And if you enjoy the podcast, I would consider it a great favor if you subscribe (and leave a review) in iTunes. This helps new people discover the podcast. You can also find the podcast on Stitcher.  

A spiritual business or job gives you excitement and a sense of purpose. It makes getting out of bed every day a real joy! Any job can be a spiritual job. This episode will show you how! Coming up on this week's podcast episode: Magic words that change your life. How to know God is on your side. Plus, our feature presentation…  How to  Turn Your Business Around Tip Of The Week What you say is what you experience. Change your language Spiritual Foundations “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11 Is God really on your side? How can you know for sure? Feature Segment: How to Have a Spiritual Business Peter Drucker shared a story of three stonecutters who were asked what they were doing. The first said, ‘I am making a living.’ The second kept on working while he said, ‘I am doing the best job of stonecutting in the entire country.’ The third one looked up with a visionary gleam in his eyes and said, ‘I am building a cathedral.’ These workers were building the Sagrada Familia in Barcelona. That third man had found the secret of spiritual business. The difference between the first and third men is vast. The third is fulfilled, fueled by passion and meaning. Yet they have the same job. How can you have the same experience, no matter what your job might be? Inverted Life Pyramid Faith Fitness Family Finance 7 Tactics For a Spiritual Business Know what you believe. Know why you believe. Do no meaningless work. Speak no meaningless talk. Create massive value. Practice forgiveness. Profit! Your Feedback Do you have an idea for a podcast you would like to hear? Do you have a question that you like to ask me? Please contact me. Call in your questions or comments to our new, fancy “request line” at (509) 713-2679 or click here to leave a message on my Voicemail Page And if you enjoy the podcast, I would consider it a great favor if you subscribe (and leave a review) in iTunes. This helps new people discover the podcast. You can also find the podcast on Stitcher.  

What do you do if business is not so good? Do you blow a pile of money on standard media advertising, like radio and newspaper, and hope for the best?  Do you drain your retirement account savings to keep the business afloat? Do you close down the shop, and stick a sign in the window that says, “the economy did it”? Or do you use a proven, reliable formula to turn your business around? Seems to me that last idea is the best. And that's what this week's episode is all about. How to turn your business around, in any economy. Please subscribe (and leave a review) in iTunes. This helps new people discover the podcast. On this week's podcast episode: The power of storytelling to grow your business. Why your level of faith doesn't matter. Plus, our feature presentation…  How to  Turn Your Business Around Tip Of The Week You can change the quality of your life by changing the quality of your stories. Decide how you want your life to be, and tell that story. Even before it's a fact. Spiritual Foundations All things are possible for one who believes. Mark 9:23 Most modern Christians have been taught this verse means if we have more faith, that all things are possible. In other words, if we can believe, God will intervene on our behalf. He will bring our miracle. If we can't believe, then were out of luck and God is not going to help us. I don't think that's what this verse means at all. Let's look at it in context, and let's also look at how the original language (Greek) is structured. First, what's the context of this verse? A boy is brought to Jesus who is possessed by a demon. The boys father says to Jesus, “if you can do anything, have compassion on us.” Jesus points out that the family, and even his own disciples, have very little or no faith. He calls them “faithless”. Then he goes on to say, ” If you can! all things are possible for one who believes.” So just from the context of the story, it seems that Jesus is talking about himself when he says all things are possible for the one who believes. He's the only one present who has any faith. Pastor Joseph Prince points out that if you study the Greek structure of the verse, it’s actually saying, “Can you believe that all things are possible to him who is always believing?” it's not about how much faith you have. It's not about what you believe, it's about who you believe. Believe Jesus, whose faith is always constant. If you can believe that all things are possible for Jesus… That he makes all things possible for you. Have faith in the one whose faith is perfect on your behalf. Feature Segment: How to  Turn Your Business Around Business success, in any economy, consists of about 20% technical skills, and 80% psychology. What you believe about your business, your ability to generate profit, and what is possible determines whether or not you will be successful. You can't ignore reality, but you can intentionally influence it. Four Required Steps to Turning Your Business Around Decide it's possible See the situation as it is See the situation better than it is Do what is required to make it the way you see it Nine Business Saving Tactics Contact previous customers Improve the physical environment Improve the sales conversation Generate referrals Generate fresh leads Follow-up relentlessly Measure everything Control expenses Increase marketing Want To Be On Next Week's Show? My topic for next week's show is “How to Have a Spiritual Business”. If you have a question on that topic, you can ask by visiting my voicemail page (just click here to leave a message). This is a great way to promote your own website. First, make sure you have a great question, and then start off by saying your name and your website. If your question is used on the show, will even include a link back to your site in the show notes. Your Feedback Do you have an idea for a podcast you would like to hear? Do you have a question that you like to ask me? Please contact me. Call in your questions or comments to our new, fancy “request line” at (509) 713-2679 or click here to leave a message on my Voicemail Page And if you enjoy the podcast, I would consider it a great favor if you subscribe (and leave a review) in iTunes. This helps new people discover the podcast. You can also find the podcast on Stitcher.  

What if you could  become smarter as little as 24 hours? What if you could remember more, come up with more ideas, and think more quickly than ever before? This is eminently possible, and I've got the “get smarter recipe” coming up in today's episode. Please subscribe (and leave a review) in iTunes. This helps new people discover the podcast. On this week's podcast episode:  A new process for better copy.  When you feel separated from God… what to do. Plus, our feature presentation…  How to be smarter! Tip Of The Week Read Copy Logic for a new and better system of improving sales copy. This simple book lays out a system for improving the results you get from your sales copy. And copywriters will love it. When this book was first recommended to me, I was skeptical. It sounded like a book about how to critique copy. I have written lots of copy for clients, and endured many “critique” sessions. Usually, those critique sessions result in weaker copy. They are often a vehicle to stroke the client's ego. Rarely do they result in better sales copy. This book is different. It lays out a step-by-step, easy-to-follow system for improving your sales copy that is both humane and effective. And nobody gets their ego wounded or inflated. Every piece of copy I turn out from now on will go through the Copy Logic system. It just makes sense. And you can't argue with the million-dollar results it has produced. Spiritual Foundations I was talking with a friend of mine, we began to speak of God. My friend said, “I don't think I'm on such good terms with God right now. I'm not sure he would answer any of my prayers.” This made me very sad, because it is the result of poor understanding of the Bible. Too many of us have this picture of a “fire and brimstone” kind of God. In reality God is all loving, and he himself has declared that he will not hold our sins against us. For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more. Hebrews 8:12 Thoughts that make us feel condemned or cut off from God don't come from heaven. Those kinds of thoughts come from the devil himself. You may call him the adversary, or the enemy, or even “the resistance”. Whatever you name him, he's real, and he would like nothing better than to cut you off from your father in heaven. Once you have accepted the gift that Jesus offers-full payment for all your sin-the deal is done. There's no more need to confess, or to keep a running list of your sins. Why would you keep a list that God has promised to forget? Be conscious of the fact that he himself has made you perfect, and watch his blessing flow into your life. Feature Segment: How to Be Smarter The first proposal I make is that you are neither “smart” nor “stupid”-but you can easily enter into either state. The real question becomes, how do you optimize yourself to be in “smart” state more often, and to be in “high smart” most of the time? “Inner Game versus Outer Game Of Intelligence” Nine Ways to Be Smarter Tomorrow Sleep Better Drink More Water Eat Only Plants Breathe More Move More Ask Better Questions Increase Inputs Write Down Your Ideas Become a Noticer Want To Be On Next Week's Show? My topic for next week's show is “How to Turn Your Business Around”. If you have a question on that topic, you can ask by visiting my voicemail page (just click here to leave a message). This is a great way to promote your own website. First, make sure you have a great question, and then start off by saying your name and your website. If your question is used on the show, will even include a link back to your site in the show notes. Your Feedback Do you have an idea for a podcast you would like to hear? Do you have a question that you like to ask me? Please contact me. Call in your questions or comments to our new, fancy “request line” at (509) 713-2679 or click here to leave a message on my Voicemail Page And if you enjoy the podcast, I would consider it a great favor if you subscribe (and leave a review) in iTunes. This helps new people discover the podcast. You can also find the podcast on Stitcher.  

What if instead of chasing after business, you could have business chasing after you? That's exactly what happens for me, and in this week's episode am going to tell you how to build a system that helps you attract business. May I ask for your help? Please subscribe (and leave a review) in iTunes. This helps new people discover the podcast. Here are some other reasons to keep listening to this week's podcast episode:  What are your success rituals?  My update on “The One Thing”. Plus, our feature presentation…  How to Attract Business Tip Of The Week From The ONE Thing by Gary Keller, Jay Papasan… “What’s the ONE Thing you can do this week such that by doing it everything else would be easier or unnecessary?” So how is this working out for me? Listen to the podcast audio to find out. Spiritual Foundations Recently, I was reading a book called Business for the Glory of God. I began to wonder, just what is the “glory of God”? Guess what? There is an answer, and it is important for us to know it. Moses said, “Please show me your glory.” And he said, “I will make all my goodness pass before you and will proclaim before you my name ‘The Lord.’ And I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show mercy on whom I will show mercy. Exodus 33:18-19 God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us. Romans 5:5 Do you not know that youare God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in you? 1 Co 3:16 The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me. John 17:22-23 Feature Segment: How to Attract Business Value Positioning & Authority Hub & Spoke Traffic, Lead, Conversion Systems Path I am conducting a webinar training that details how to do all this two days from now. Click here for details. Want To Be On Next Week's Show? My topic for next week's show is “How to Be Smarter”. If you have a question on that topic, you can ask by visiting my voicemail page (just click here to leave a message). This is a great way to promote your own website. First, make sure you have a great question, and then start off by saying your name and your website. If your question is used on the show, will even include a link back to your site in the show notes. Your Feedback Do you have an idea for a podcast you would like to hear? Do you have a question that you like to ask me? Please contact me. Call in your questions or comments to our new, fancy “request line” at (509) 713-2679 or click here to leave a message on my Voicemail Page And if you enjoy the podcast, I would consider it a great favor if you subscribe (and leave a review) in iTunes. This helps new people discover the podcast. You can also find the podcast on Stitcher.  

What if you could consult with God himself about your business? What if you could ask him questions, and get divinely inspired answers? What if you could ask God to introduce you to key people, or even to send you business? I believe all these things are possible, and in fact I practice them in my own business. And today, I'm going to show you exactly how you can do the same. I would consider it a great favor if you subscribe (and leave a review) in iTunes. This helps new people discover the podcast. Here are some other reasons to keep listening to this week's podcast episode:  An update on the “five things” productivity tactic (hint: five is too many).  An alternative to BaseCamp that works. Plus, our feature presentation… How to Consult With God Tip Of The Week Update on “5 Things”… it's now “1 Thing”. From The ONE Thing by Gary Keller, Jay Papasan… “What’s the ONE Thing you can do this week such that by doing it everything else would be easier or unnecessary?” While I do love (and use) BaseCamp, I am trying out a new tool for managing projects that could be even simpler. Meet BizPad. Spiritual Foundations If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. James 1:5 Sometimes we think God is only interested in “spiritual things”. That he has no interest in the material world, and neither should we. This is not a Judeo-Christian idea. It is an idea that sprouts from Greek thinking, and specifically is at the root of a heresy known as Gnosticism. The Gnostics believed, among many things, that the material world was evil and that only the spiritual world could be pure and unsullied. This led them to believing that Jesus was a ghost, and not an actual man. The truth is from the beginning God wanted to partner with human beings to comp is his purposes. This is why Adam and Eve were put in charge of the garden. They were given assignment, and this was before the fall. So work, and the material world, are not evil, and are not results of the fall. What's my point? When God created the world, he looked at his creation and said it was good. We should relax and enjoy the fact that we can have fun while working, that we are interested in what we do, and celebrate the fact that God made us the way he did. I think he enjoys what we enjoy. And thus, I think he's interested in every aspect of our lives. That he longs to give input, supply answers, and help us out. Just as we long to do the same for our own children.  When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. John 16:13 Feature Segment: How to Consult With God If you separate God from any part of your life, you are not having the full experience of God, nor of that part of your life. Business is no exception. These days, if I am asked if I personally have a consultant for my business, my answer is yes. I have the very best consultant available. God. Now, most people probably assume that I mean I run my business according to godly principles. Principles that I find in Scripture, or that I am taught by pastors and teachers. While this is true (to the best of my ability, and as God enables me), this is not really what I mean. Or rather, it is not all that I mean. I mean that I consult with my father in heaven every day about my business. I’m in constant dialogue with him about what things to work on, what to write, even how to solve specific challenges and problems I encounter along the way. So how do you do it? How do you ask God for answers? How do you ask him for help? Here are five steps I have found useful Know that God is interested, willing, and able. From Scripture we know that he has even counted the number of hairs on your head. We know that one man came to Jesus with the problem and said Jesus could heal him “if he was willing”… And another man came to Jesus and asked for help, “if you are able”… And the answer Jesus gave to both was yes. He was willing, he was able. He healed everyone who came to him. Realize that you are qualified for God’s help. Jesus stepped into the gap between us and God. He solved the “sin problem” once and for all. So just place your faith in him, and know that you don’t have to “clean up your act” or “make amends” before he will be willing to help you. Be intentional about what you are asking. If you are asking for an answer, be specific in your question. If you are asking for help, be specific in your request. I suggest writing down what you are asking for. Offer thanks immediately. In Philippians we are told to make our requests known to God, with “prayer and thanksgiving”. Notice how many times Jesus thanked his father… before the miracle happened. There is a unique opportunity to thank God after your request has been made and before you've seen the answer with your eyes. Expect and look for the answer. Whether you have asked God for an idea, a connection with a person, or just a miraculous infusion of money, so you can meet payroll… be looking for the answer. Have hope. What if God doesn’t answer? Or what if he says no? First, I think the number of times God says “no” is much lower than we believe it is. For instance, when we pray for physical healing, it is clear from reading Scripture that it is always God’s will for us to be healed. He paid a high price so that this could be the case. So if the healing doesn’t come, there is some answer other than the one that puts God in the position of being a liar. I believe that when we pray, something always happens. Always. Maybe we don’t see it, maybe we don’t see it yet, or maybe it comes in a form that we don’t recognize. It’s helpful to remember that God’s delays are not necessarily his denials. A useful question that has helped me navigate these waters is one I learned from Graham Cook. When faced with a difficult situation, and no apparent answer from God, I ask him, “Who does God want to be for me in this situation?” I have received some of the deepest answers to my own prayers by asking God that question. You can ask for God’s help, for answers, and even for direct assistance. And he will answer you. Try it. Listener Questions We heard from these listeners this week: Sonya Ramsey asks  how to avoid making your business into an idol. Anette Bone wants to know how we can be sure we are in God's will. Summer Alexander asks if the changes she made to her business were really God-inspired. Mary Rose Macguire wonders if she's really hearing God's voice, or her own. Pam McCall has a great testimony of God's provision for one of her clients. Laura Viviana when you ask God for something, but it hasn't come yet, how do you deal with it? Rich Bradfield  asks how we keep ourselves an alignment with what God is doing. Tony Policci  asks how we pose a question to God and get a specific answer. Laura McClellan  wonders how we know when we are motivated by profit, as opposed to being motivated by the spirit. Ilene Saidel asks for my favorite scripture to pray for new customers. For if, because of one man's trespass, death reigned through that one man, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ. (Romans 5:17) One gives freely, yet grows all the richer; another withholds what he should give, and only suffers want.  Whoever brings blessing will be enriched, and one who waters will himself be watered.  The people curse him who holds back grain, but a blessing is on the head of him who sells it. (Proverbs 11:24-26)   Want To Be On Next Week's Show? My topic for next week's show is “How to Attract Business”. If you have a question on that topic, you can ask by visiting my voicemail page (just click here to leave a message). This is a great way to promote your own website. First, make sure you have a great question, and then start off by saying your name and your website. If your question is used on the show, will even include a link back to your site in the show notes. Your Feedback Do you have an idea for a podcast you would like to hear? Do you have a question that you like to ask me? Please contact me. Call in your questions or comments to our new, fancy “request line” at (509) 713-2679 or click here to leave a message on my Voicemail Page And if you enjoy the podcast, I would consider it a great favor if you subscribe (and leave a review) in iTunes. This helps new people discover the podcast. You can also find the podcast on Stitcher.  

Hosting your own live event can be risky. I posted about this recently, and I posted my reasons for hosting live events anyway. Now, I'm offering five crucial steps you must be aware of if you want to successfully market your own live event. Ignoring the steps could mean the loss of a lot of money, sleep, and peace of mind. Here's what else is up in this week's podcast episode: The “five things” approach to productivity. The Word that heals. Plus, our feature presentation… 5 Crucial Steps To Marketing Live Events Tip Of The Week The curious case of Dr. Canoe, props to Alex and Robert, and the simplest productivity tool I know. Spiritual Foundations He sent out his word and healed them, and delivered them from their destruction. Psalm 107:20 As Christians, we sometimes fall into using the Bible as a talisman. We hold it like a good luck charm. We pull it out in times of trouble. The power of the Bible-God's word-is released only when you receive it as truth, and then speak it out loud. When God wanted to save the world what did he do? He sent the word. When God wanted to heal his people, the Bible says he sent his word. There is no “your part” that you need to do to receive God's goodness, except this: you must receive it. We help ourselves receive it when we confess it out loud. Feature Segment: 5 Crucial Steps To Marketing Live Events The biggest risk you take when you sponsor a live event is the most obvious one: the risk that nobody will show up. The next biggest risk is not so obvious, but perhaps more commonplace. This is the risk that people will show up, the event will be great, and you will lose money like crazy. Here are five crucial steps you can take to ensure against both of these problems. Be intentional about the model. Identify your attendees carefully. Remember the 5P's. Watch them chickens. Market early, market often, and market using different media. Your Feedback Do you have an idea for a podcast you would like to hear? Do you have a question that you like to ask me? Please contact me. Call in your questions or comments to our new, fancy “request line” at (509) 713-2679 or click here to leave a message on my Voicemail Page And if you enjoy the podcast, I would consider it a great favor if you subscribe (and leave a review) in iTunes. This helps new people discover the podcast. You can also find the podcast on Stitcher.  

Maybe the best way to grow your business if to do less. I'm not encouraging laziness, but rather suggesting something very different. It's time to speed up… by slowing down. Here's what else is up in this week's podcast episode: Scrivener is my new writing tool of choice. The value of comrades in arms. Stu McLaren is back from a dog sled adventure with a talk on sprinting. Plus, our feature presentation… 5 Ways To Simplify Your Business Tip Of The Week Scrivener is a powerful content-generation tool for writers that allows you to concentrate on composing and structuring long and difficult documents. While it gives you complete control of the formatting, its focus is on helping you get to the end of that awkward first draft. Spiritual Foundations But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God… For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified. Hebrews 10:12,14 It's about time we stopped confessing our sins. Why are we so caught up in the idea that we need to remind God of something he has said he has forgotten? You don't need to become more conscious of your sin. You already know when you sin. What we need to become conscious of is our righteousness. Being conscious of how imperfect we are is not humility. It's a failure to understand what Christ has extra done for us. In fact, the Bible tells us that being conscious of our sins means we haven't “evil conscience” (Hebrews 10:22). God sees us without spot, without imperfection, and he sees us wearing his own robes of righteousness. We are righteous, not because of anything we have done, but because of what he has done. Lifestyle Business Segment Stu McLaren,  superstar entrepreneur from WishList Products And RhinoSupport, brings us our Lifestyle Business Segment. This week, Stu tackles the subject of sprinters vs. marathoners. Feature Segment: 5 Ways To Simplify Your Business From last week's podcast, here are 3 good reasons to simplifying your business. Simplifying helps you to focus more on the most profitable elements of your business. Simplifying helps you get paid more for what you sell. Simplifying helps your customers feel as if they are clear on what you do. The question this raised was, how do we do that? Here are five ways to simplify your business. Eliminate 80% of what you are doing. Renegotiate your agreements. Increase output, decrease input. Build intentional constraints into your schedule. Ruthlessly practice “The Art of No”. Your Feedback Do you have an idea for a podcast you would like to hear? Do you have a question that you like to ask me? Please contact me. Call in your questions or comments to our new, fancy “request line” at (509) 713-2679 or click here to leave a message on my Voicemail Page And if you enjoy the podcast, I would consider it a great favor if you subscribe (and leave a review) in iTunes. This helps new people discover the podcast. You can also find the podcast on Stitcher.  

Hosting a seminar can be expensive, risky, stressful, and the source of many potential headaches. So why on earth would you want to host your own seminar? I can think of 5 good reasons. And in this episode we'll examine them. Here's what else is up in this week's podcast episode: In favor of simplification of your business. How can God help me in my business? Stu McLaren is back and has some thoughts on progress. Plus, our feature presentation… 5 Great Reasons To Host a Seminar Tip Of The Week There are 3 good reasons to simplifying your business. Simplifying helps you to focus more on the most profitable elements of your business. Simplifying helps you get paid more for what you sell. Simplifying helps your customers feel as if they are clear on what you do. Spiritual Foundations What's the most concrete way God can help you in your business? When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. John 16:13 How does God answer or speak to us? Some ways… His written Word. Strong impressions. Other people. Coincidence and circumstances. The audible Voice. Dreams and visions. The quickest way to get an answer from God is to (1) ask and then (2) listen. Try it! Lifestyle Business Segment Stu McLaren,  superstar entrepreneur from WishList Products And RhinoSupport, brings us our Lifestyle Business Segment. This week, Stu tackles the subject of progress. Feature Segment: 5 Great Reasons To Host a Seminar I have hosted quite a few of my own events over the years. This past week, I just completed my most ambitious seminar to date. It included a crew for running the administrative side of the seminar, and audiovisual team that handled all of the video, music, microphones, lighting, etc. Several guest speakers. Getting people to show up for the seminar. And a host of other details. It was mega stressful. I also felt compelled to do it, and I'm not sorry for a minute. After having been through this taxing experience more than once, one might ask me the question, “why on earth would you put yourself through this, Ray?” I can think of at least five good reasons why it's great to do your own seminars. It's a great way to create a product. It's a great way to offer higher end programs for sale. It's a great way to crystallize your thinking. It's a great way to network and bond. It's a great way to expand your thinking. Your Feedback Do you have an idea for a podcast you would like to hear? Do you have a question that you like to ask me? Please contact me. And if you enjoy the podcast, I would consider it a great favor if you subscribe (and leave a review) in iTunes. This helps new people discover the podcast. You can also find the podcast on Stitcher.  

Who are “Internet Marketers”, and how do they get it wrong? There is a very distinct group of online entrepreneurs that are referred to as “Internet Marketers”, as opposed to the general online population of business people who do marketing. And within this distinct group, there are some common practices that will lead you to disaster… in this episode, I'll show you how to avoid that problem. Here's what else is up in this week's podcast episode: The app that made me a journal keeper… against my will.  Is there a time to stop crying out to God? Stu McLaren is back with advice on living well. Plus, our feature presentation… 5 Traps “Internet Marketers” Fall Into. Special Announcements This weekend is the 3-Day Live Intensive,  April 5-7 in Phoenix. Get your ticket right now – click here. Would you like to have me speak at your event or church? I am accepting a limited number of engagements for 2013.  Click here to visit my speaking page and get details on my availability. Tip Of The Week If you've ever wanted to keep it journal, but just never been able to stick with it, you might want to try DayOne. Spiritual Foundations Is there ever a time to stop “crying out to God” and start taking some action? Consider this story from Exodus: The Lord said to Moses, “Why do you cry to me? Tell the people of Israel to go forward. Lift up your staff, and stretch out your hand over the sea and divide it, that the people of Israel may go through the sea on dry ground.” Exodus 14:15-16 God gave Moses authority. That's what the staff in his hand represented. So when Moses had the people crying out to God, the Lord asked Moses why. And then God told him to have the people go forward, and exercise his authority. As partakers in the new covenant, we also have authority. It comes to us in the name of Jesus Christ. If you feel that you're caught between “the devil and the deep blue sea”, perhaps it's time to stop crying out to God, and start exercising your authority as a royal priest, and in the name of Jesus Christ. Lifestyle Business Segment Stu McLaren,  superstar entrepreneur from WishList Products And RhinoSupport, brings us our Lifestyle Business Segment. This week, Stu tackles the subject of living well. Feature Segment: 5 Traps “Internet Marketers” Get Caught In When I use the term “Internet Marketers” in this particular episode, I'm referring to that curious group of folks who can be described like this: marketers who sell marketing stuff to marketers, who then sell marketing stuff to marketers, who sell… you get the idea. Now I am not saying that Internet Marketers are bad people, or that there is anything wrong with this particular niche. In fact, I believe quite the contrary. I do believe there are some common pitfalls that many people in this niche encounter. And today, I'm going to outline five traps Internet Marketers get caught in. I think you can en joy great success either as an Internet Marketer yourself, or by learning from Internet Marketing experts… if you avoid these five traps. The Internet Marketing MLM Trap. Please don't flame me, I'm not criticizing multilevel marketing companies that sell on the Internet. But within that industry (the MLM industry) there are many scams. Most of them are some version of “selling the dream to people who then sell the dream to other people”… And nobody is selling any actual product. The same happens in Internet marketing. The Copycat Trap. This is the bane of “how to” content creation. If all you are teaching is “how to” it quickly becomes indistinguishable from “me too”. The antidote is moving beyond mere knowledge, and producing Wisdom. The Hamster Wheel Trap. Instead of creating foundational products, and building a marketing system, entrepreneurs stuck in this trap are having to produce the “product of the week”. Always a new pitch. Always a new topic. Very tiring. The Hyperbolic Intensifier Trap. We get the word “height” from the word “hyperbole”. When you are creating commodity products and information, the only way to fight the competition war is by exaggerating the benefits of your own product. You have to intensify your hyperbole until eventually, you're just telling lies. The Spirit of Mammon Trap. Call it greed. Call it avarice. Jesus called it Mammon. This comes from a Greek word that seems to imply the personification of a spiritual force behind the worship of money. “Do not love the money and use people. Instead, use money to love people.”-Joseph Prince These traps can sneak up on you. Keep your eyes open, stay well away from these, and enjoy more success and fulfillment. Not to mention sounder sleep. Your Feedback Do you have an idea for a podcast you would like to hear? Do you have a question that you like to ask me? Please contact me. And if you enjoy the podcast, I would consider it a great favor if you subscribe (and leave a review) in iTunes. This helps new people discover the podcast. You can also find the podcast on Stitcher.  

If you have ever felt the pressure of multiple converging deadlines, or simply too much to do and not enough time to do it all… I've got good news! There is a way to get out of overwhelm and into stress-free productivity. In this week's episode, I will help you implement a three-step process to get out of overwhelm and into action. Here's what else is up in this week's podcast episode: The secret to recording your iPad or iPhone screen.  Is God willing to help you with your problem? Finally, the return of Stu McLaren and the Lifestyle Business segment. Plus, our feature presentation… A Three-Step Process to Get Out Of Overwhelm. Special Announcements Time is almost up on the 3-Day Live Intensive,  April 5-7 in Phoenix. Get your ticket right now – click here. Special paid webinar next Tuesday, called “2 Hour Copy”. Learn more here. Would you like to have me speak at your event or church? I am accepting a limited number of engagements for 2013.  Click here to visit my speaking page and get details on my availability. Tip Of The Week ReflectorApp lets you “AirPlay mirror your iPhone 4S, iPad 2 or the new iPad to any Mac or PC, wirelessly.” In other words, you can record your iPhone or iPad screen! It's just $12.99 Spiritual Foundations You probably believe God can do anything… but do you believe He will? Or that He is willing? How about this story… And behold, a leper came and worshiped Him, saying, “Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean.” Then Jesus put out His hand and touched him, saying, “I am willing; be cleansed.” Immediately his leprosy was cleansed. Matthew 8:2–3 Jesus showed that He was not only willing, but did the most amazing thing – he touched the leper. This points out the Lord's compassion, of course, and also the difference between the Old and New Covenants. In the Old Covenant, if you touched the leper, you became unclean. In the New Covenant, Jesus touches the leper and the leper becomes clean. Jesus was wiling – but is He willing in your case? Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Hebrews 13:8 Whatever your need, Jesus is willing. Be certain of that. And don't feel you are disqualified because of things you worry make you unclean. When Jesus touches you, you are made clean! Lifestyle Business Segment It's the return of Stu McLaren! This week Stu answers the question: what is the value of connecting, really? Feature Segment: A Three-Step Process to Get Out Of Overwhelm It happens to all of us. We get into a situation where it feels as though we’re faced with multiple deadlines, crisis situations, and a calendar that is jam-packed… And it just feels impossible to meet all the demands. How do you get out of a situation like that? Of course, I am speaking from personal experience. As I am writing this, I am facing one of the busiest seasons of my life. I have a conference that I am hosting coming up in less than two weeks, I have a couple of crucial client projects I’m working on, a client and friend I am partnering with on a very important project, three books in development, this blog, the weekly podcast, and multiple commitments in my church and ministry. Many of these activities have deadlines that have, through one series of events or another, coalesced to come due at the same time. Let me start by saying that I’m not complaining. The time pressure that I’m experiencing is almost exclusively brought on by fantastic opportunities that I am extremely grateful for. Nevertheless, I feel the stress of thinking that I’m going to let someone down. So what do I do in a situation like this? And more importantly, and the reason you are most likely reading this post, what do you do in a situation like this? I actually have a strategy that works. I’ve already applied it to my situation, and I can tell you that if you will follow the steps I’m about to outline for you, you’ll discover that you can relieve the pressure, meet your obligations, and be at peace. Get Clear about Your Commitments. This step alone will bring you some psychological relief. I tell you this because many of us are reluctant to go through the step of defining our commitments, afraid of what will find. Trust me when I tell you that knowing what you’re committed to is much less stressful than having a vague, nagging suspicion that some things are falling through the cracks.I recommend getting a clean legal pad, a pen you enjoy writing with, and some sort of timer (I just use the timer on my iPhone).Pile up every piece of paper, note card, scratch pad, mail item, everything in your inbox… All of the “stuff” that carries any sort of potential commitment. Just put it in a pile. Make sure you have access to your email inbox. You also need to have your calendar, whether that is a Franklin planner, your iPhone, or whatever calendaring system you use.Now, starting with the physical stuff, pick up the first item on top of the pile and decide what to do with it, either do it (if it takes two minutes or less), defer it (schedule it for later, writing into your calendar), delegate it (and it off to someone else and make a note in your calendar about when to check back in with them on this particular issue), or delete it (throw it away). When you’re finished going through your physical stuff, there should be no that left.Anything you need to keep for reference should be filed quickly and without lingering over. This is the reason for the timer-you’ve got to make this step quick. Do not get distracted on the rabbit trails. Don’t give yourself more than an hour total for this entire exercise. Next, move to your email inbox and go through the same process. As you go through this entire exercise, things will spring to mind that you need to do. Note them on your legal pad. The goal of going through this is that you clear all the physical “stuff” off your desk, you clear your inbox to zero, and you track all your commitments either on your calendar or your legal pad. Now you have a good idea of what you are actually committed to. Breathe a sigh of relief. Assign a Priority To Everything You Are Committed to. This is where David Allen and I part company. He is not a fan of the ABC prioritization system. But I have found that in situations where deadlines are crowded and crucial, prioritization is necessary. Only assign an “A” priority to items that are both urgent and important-things that must be done, and they must be done by a date that is getting close.Items that are important but not urgent (in other words, the date is not closing in on you like a freight train) get a “B” priority. I will warn you that this category is the one that will sneak up on you. By which I mean you’ll be tempted to load everything else on your list into the “B” category. I advise you in the strongest possible terms not to do that. Only put items in this category that are truly important. This is going to leave you with some “C” items… And these are the things that are neither urgent nor important. Consider just scratching them off your list altogether. If they are not urgent, and they are not important, why on earth are you committed to them? If you find items on this list that you just can’t let go of, put them on a “maybe” list. That way you will know you haven’t lost them, that you can always refer back to them, and you can admit that you may never do them. Mark Your Impending Deadlines on the Calendar. Identify which project or task comes up first on your physical calendar, and start working on that item first. Don’t work on anything else-and I do mean anything else-until this item is complete or until you hit a stopping point.I define a stopping point as any point at which you can no longer make progress until something happens that you are not in control of. Maybe you are waiting for data from a colleague, perhaps there is a phone call that is scheduled and you can’t proceed until after that call, etc. Once you have either finished this first task or project, or you can no longer make forward progress on it, move to the next item that shows up as a deadline on your calendar. Avoid the temptation to even look at your “B” list. Two Key Pieces of Advice Fight the Resistance As If Your Life Depended on It. “The resistance” is the force that tries to distract you, too stop you from getting work done, or otherwise stand in the way of your accomplishing your goals.Steven Pressfield wrote about this in his wonderful book, The War of Art. My friend Michael Hyatt has written extensively about “the resistance”p on his blog.The Resistance is what convinces you that even though you have an important project you need to work on, now would be a good time to go get your hair cut. Or go to the post office. Or clean your desk. Or workout. Or do anything except the one thing you know you absolutely should be doing. If you want to get out of the feeling of stress and overwhelm you must not only fight the resistance, you must wrestle it to the ground and choke the life out of it. I know that sounds graphic, I know it sounds dramatic, but this is the real test. Can you defeat the resistance. Can you avoid distraction and procrastination. Can you exercise integrity in the moment and remain committed to the goals and tasks to which you have stated your committed. Resistance is the devil… and if you resist the devil, he will flee. Keep Cranking until You’re Ahead of the Curve.  This phase is really the test of whether or not you will get out of overwhelm. If you are willing to run the marathon, and keep at it until all of your “A” items are taking care of, and you begin to make process on the “B” items, you can quite quickly pull yourself out of overwhelm.A quick note here about the word “no”. During seasons where you feel overwhelmed, the skillful use of the word “no” is more important than at any other time in your life. You must, as Harvey Mackay is famous for saying, learn to smile and say “no” until your lips bleed. This can be especially difficult when the things you are saying “no” to are actually good things. As God has continued to bless me in my business, I have found that having his favor on my life has opened a multitude of doors for me. And it is at these times that I must remember that just because the doors are open is not mean I’m supposed to pass through them. In fact, I cannot pass through all of them.I am a firm believer in boundaries, especially around your time. I have times when I’m completely off the clock and do not do any work. Both times are part of my commitment to myself, my God, and my family. I also recognize that there are seasons in my life (and please note that I said “seasons”-not “epochs”) where I will temporarily move the boundaries. I’m currently in such a season. I’m working longer hours, spending more time on work projects the normal, and maintaining intense focus on my business. These seasons can be compared to the harvest on the farm. I have planted many seeds over the last couple of years, and the crop is coming in. I can either suspend all other activities and get to work on the harvest, or watch all my hard work rot in the field. As for me and my house, we are working the harvest until all the crops are in the barn. Following these steps has brought me out of that desperate feeling of being overwhelmed, and into the quiet satisfaction of a job well done. I believe that if you will follow them, they will do the same for you. Your Feedback Do you have an idea for a podcast you would like to hear? Do you have a question that you like to ask me? Please send me an email. And if you enjoy the podcast, I would consider it a great favor if you subscribe (and leave a review) in iTunes. This helps new people discover the podcast. You can also find the podcast on Stitcher.  

How much money do you need to make in order to be comfortable? How much money would it take for you to finally realize your dream of working for yourself, and quitting your job. That number will be different for each person, but after talking to many online entrepreneurs (and those who want to be) I am amazed at how often the answer is the same: $5000. In this week's episode, I will show you five different ways you can reach that $5K goal. Here's what else is up in this week's podcast episode: The secret to great high definition video from your laptop.  How to have peace in any storm. Plus, our feature presentation… 5 ways to $5K. Special Announcements The clock is running out on the 3-Day Live Intensive,  April 5-7 in Phoenix. Get your ticket right now – click here. Would you like to have me speak at your event or church? I am accepting a limited number of engagements for 2013.  Click here to visit my speaking page and get details on my availability. Tip Of The Week Thanks to advice from Michael Hyatt, I recently upgraded my Skype video interview tool box. The problem with doing Skype video interview recordings is really twofold: getting crisp looking video, and getting great sound. One solution to both is the Logitech c920 HDpro WebCam. This WebCam costs around $120 and delivers 1080p HD video for Skype. You can also use it for other video applications, such as making tutorial or teaching videos. The picture quality is extraordinary, and the stereo sound is fantastic. One concern you may run into is that, according to the documentation, this camera does not work with a Mac. You can safely ignore that information. I plugged the camera into my MacBook Air, which instantly recognized the camera. Now, Logitech does not support Mac users, which is a shame, but there is a solution. If you want to use the full capabilities of the camera (such as pan and tilt, zoom, autofocus, and aperture control) you just need the Webcam Settings App. It is only $7.99. Spiritual Foundations Is it possible to be at peace, even when the storm is raging around you? “Storm” in this case might be an actual storm, it might be a storm in your finances, your health, your family, or at work. Here's what it says in Psalm 91: He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress; My God, in Him I will trust.” You shall not be afraid of the terror by night, Nor of the arrow that flies by day, Nor of the pestilence that walks in darkness, Nor of the destruction that lays waste at noonday. Psalm 91:1-2, 5-6 It doesn't matter what's going on all around you, you don't have to be afraid, even in the middle of a violent storm. God is able to willing to give you peace, safety, and protection. Sometimes, God's rescue doesn't look the way we thought it would-but he never fails us, and he always keeps his word. And just remember this: God's delays are not God's denials. If you are a follower of Jesus, all these promises are yours. And don't fall for the deception that says if you are not perfect in your behavior that you somehow disqualify yourself for his favor. Remember that he forgave all of your sins, and that is forever. Don't worry that you might have messed up by some sinew committed today her yesterday or last week. You didn't do anything to gain his protection… And you can't do anything to lose it. If you have accepted Jesus as your Savior, you are already resting in the secret place… And you are already dwelling under the shadow of the Almighty. Feature Segment: 5 Ways to $5K I was speaking at a seminar in the Midwest, and afterward was answering questions from people in the audience. As we stood around talking, Jake shuffled forward, cleared his throat and said, “I have a question.” His question is the genesis for this weeks episode. “I am a professional airline pilot,” Jake said. “I really want to create a business doesn't require me to be away from home so much, yet I'm very nervous about. I need to make at least $3000 a month.” I stood there looking at him, shocked. That was all? Here is a man who commandeers jumbo jets for a living, and he was doubtful about being able to generate $3000 a month online? I told Jake that his goal was easy, and he needed to set his sights higher. And spent the next half hour so giving him some of the ideas am about to share with you. Is $5K  the Magic Number? Visit any popular online marketing form, and you'll find a similar theme: many people chasing after that elusive goal of making somewhere between three and $5000 per month. That's why I've decided to focus this week's podcast on giving a boost to anyone who knows it's possible to make $5000 a month online, but so far just hasn't achieve that goal. And I'm not going to stop at just one plan, instead I'm going to give you five proven ways to make $5000 a month online. And, since I love alliteration, each one is going to start with the letter F (for “five”). Let's get right to it. Five Ways To 5K 1. Fulfill the need for information. This is probably the way you are most familiar with-creating and selling your own information products. Most people don't realize the value of what they already know. There is money to be made in the subjects about which you know a lot, and others know very little. Choose your topic carefully, and you could easily become wealthy. Think about the topic areas that have already created fortunes for information marketers: How to make money How to save money How to save time How to lose weight How to gain muscle … I think you get the idea. So how do you pursue this particular method of making $5000 per month? Just start brainstorming your own interests, talents, and gifts. You're looking for a topic that has three “intersection points”: Your talent, skill, or knowledge What other people are interested in What other people will pay money for Once you have zeroed in on a topic, here are the steps to take to get your online information marketing business set up: Research the viability of your product. Scope out your competition and create the premier product in the topic. Create your product. Set up your website. (At the very least, you need four pages: the value invitation page, the value delivery page, sales page, and the product delivery page) Set up your follow-up system. 2. Find great bargains and resell them. This is one of the fastest ways to make money online, most people overlook it. That's because it's not glamorous. But if you can find great bargains on physical items, you can resell them on eBay or craigslist at a substantial markup. There are many, many people who make much more than $5000 a month selling boring items on eBay. 3. Focus on providing a service. In my opinion, this is the fastest and easiest way to start making money online. Figure out what skill comes easily to you (copywriting, Web design, technical stuff like setting up blogs, etc.) and offer those services to other people. This is the online version of a lawnmowing business. There are plenty of people who have more money than time, or more money than skill, and they are willing to pay very good fees to people who can do this kind of work for them. This is a great way to get started. 4. Fix and flip existing websites. This can be a lot of fun, and the concept is pretty easy to understand. Just like the TV show, “Flip This House”, you are simply looking for property that is undervalued. You want to find a website that offers a good product, but does a poor job presenting their product. A website that, with a few tweaks to the look and feel, and the sales copy, you can improve significantly. Then you can either choose to continue raking in the money from that website, or you can sell it to someone else at huge profit. 5. Finish old projects. Many marketers and entrepreneurs I know have a lot of “partially done” or even “mostly done” products or websites languishing on their hard drive. What if you just picked a week, blocked out your schedule, and vowed to finish those projects? Get that last 10 to 20% of the work done, and get them online? For many people, simply finishing the projects you've already started can automatically push you over the $5000 per month income level. There Are More Possibilities These are only five ways to make $5000 per month. There are dozens upon dozens of other ways to do it. These may not even be the top five ways (although I did try to select them based on the criteria). Certainly, different people will have a different way of deciding what the “top five ways” might be. My point in doing this week's podcast was really not to convince you to use a specific method, but rather to open your eyes to the possibilities that are already there. Are You Stepping Over Money? Sometimes I feel as though people are walking around, crunching under their feet a three-foot layer of silver dollars, and whining about not having any money. My whole purpose is to get you to look down, see the money on the ground, and start scooping it up. Think about Jake. A supremely qualified professional, who every day has dozens of people, perhaps hundreds of people, placed their lives in his hands with total trust… Yet he could not envision himself making $3000 a month. I think we can agree his challenge was not in a lack of skill, it was in the lack of belief and direction. Hopefully, you now have both. Now go change the world Listener Calls We heard from these  listeners this week. Your Feedback Do you have an idea for a podcast you would like to hear? Do you have a question that you like to ask me? Please send me an email. And if you enjoy the podcast, I would consider it a great favor if you subscribe (and leave a review) in iTunes. This helps new people discover the podcast. You can also find the podcast on Stitcher.    

What if I told you there is a power source you can tap into that would make you unbeatable? Undefeatable? Invincible to the problems that confront you in your daily life? What if I revealed that “secret power source” to you in this very podcast… Fully and completely… And you were never the same again? That is my goal for our 52nd episode of the Ray Edwards Show. Here's what else is up in this week's podcast episode: $460 device now available on your iPhone for 99 cents. Why your problem – whatever it is – is never about the problem. Podcast birthday wishes and surprises. Plus, our feature presentation… The Unbeatable You. Special Announcements My  conference, the 3-Day Live Intensive, is April 5-7 in Phoenix. Get your early-bird ticket discount right now – click here. What happened to Spiritual Foundations Podcast? Get your questions (and plugs) in for next week's episode using the voicemail tab on the website or the phone at  (509) 713-2679. Would you like to have me speak at your event or church? I am accepting a limited number of engagements for 2013.  Click here to visit my speaking page and get details on my availability. Tip Of The Week Large LED countdown clocks are a staple of the broadcast industry. They're also useful for live events. The best deal I've found is this clock for $460. But recently I discovered an app for my iPhone and iPad that does the same thing for 99 cents. Check out the Timer On Fire app. Spiritual Foundations In the Princess Bride, our hero Iniga Montoya faced a big problem. The dread pirate Roberts, aka “Wesley”, whose help he desperately needed, was dead. So Inigo turned to the one guy who might have a solution, Miracle Max. When Inigo  explained the problem, Max's response was a dramatic shift in perspective (listen to the audio to hear the full story). Whenever my wife and I are sending one another off to go tackle the day, we sometimes use the same words that Max gave the guys… “Have fun storming the castle!” Miracle Max saw a completely different problem. But, you might say, that is a movie. What about real life? So here's another example. I used to suffer from something commonly referred to as Seasonal Affective Disorder. At least that is what I told myself. I even had a solution figured out – move! Only the weather wasn't really my problem. A key strategy to facing difficulties in life-whether those difficulties are with your physical health, your relationships, money, or anything else-is to realize the problem is never really about the problem. “It's never about the weather.” ~ Lynn Edwards Depression and despair, or joy and happiness are a choice. A merry heart does good, like medicine, But a broken spirit dries the bones. Proverbs 17:22 I do recognize that there are clinical conditions that cause depression and anxiety, as well as other mental disturbances. I am not suggesting that anyone for grow appropriate medical care. I am saying that God providesHealing, even in those situations. Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. 9 And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong. 2 Corinthians 12:8-10 Feature Segment: The Unbeatable You The key to being unbeatable is really rather simple: it's understanding your identity and everything flows out of that. In fact, terms like “mission”, “vision”, and “purpose”Get thrown around carelessly as if they were synonymous with one another. They are not. The key to being unbeatable is not that you never suffer a setback or problem. It's that you have an effective strategy for snatching victory out of the jaws of defeat.  In my view, there are three ingredients to achieving this: 1. Set up the game so you cannot lose. 2. Understand and be able to articulate your identity, purpose, mission, vision, values, and goals. 3. Decide in advance how you will handle adversity. Set up the Game so You Cannot Lose How is this even possible? You use the same approach Captain Kirk used when he faced the Kobayashi Maru simulation. You change the rules. My rule that makes every scenario a no-lose scenario is: There are no failures, there are only results. But I do with the results is up to me. Know Your “Big Reason Why” It has been said that if you have a big enough “why”, you will always discover the answer to “how”. Most people have nowhere near enough clarity about their own beliefs and values. And herein lies the key to being unbeatable. You need to understand, and be able to articulate the following: your identity, purpose, mission, vision, values, and goals. Let's use my own answers as examples… Identity. Who are you? My answer: One who follows Jesus; a royal priest. Purpose. Why are you here? My answer: To bring about God's will on earth, as it is in heaven. Mission. What is your specific assignment? (Strategy) My answer: Business for the Glory of God. Vision. What does the accomplishment of your mission look like? (Tactics) My answer: To teach and empower people to claim their own Divine Destiny and live a life of Freedom, Joy, and Love through Jesus Christ. We do this by providing quality services (including books, audio and visual programs, home study materials, speeches, seminars, trainings, coaching and consulting delivered with love, excellence and integrity in Christ). Values. What qualities, characteristics, and states do you value most? (Compass) My answer… A commitment to the following spiritual, ethical, and corporate values: Faithfulness to Jesus Christ. “His will, on earth as it is in Heaven”. With God all things are possible. Passion for our work, dedicated to the Lord. Love and acceptance of others and of ourselves. Christ-like responses to all situations, events and people. Truth and honesty in all things. Continued spiritual growth. Clarity of purpose and communication. Speaking only that which imparts Grace to the listener. Impeccability in our actions and the quality of our work. Accountability. Harmony. Continuous and never-ending improvement. Profitability. Generosity of heart and spirit. Fun. Joy. Gratitude. Goals. What are your specific objectives (both strategic and tactical), and what is your timeline for accomplishing them? State your goals in the positive/affirmative, present tense, connected to an emotion, and anchored to a date and time. Some examples: I am enjoying the satisfaction of having added 100,000 new subscribers to our email list by 5pm, December 1, 2013. I am relishing the stress-free systematized business that permits me to work only 20 hours per week by 12 Noon, November 1, 2013. I am enjoying my healthy weight of 185 pounds, which I achieved on or before 9am October 1, 2013. These should be articulated on paper. Take some time and write them out. Invest yourself in this process. Decide in Advance How You Will Handle Adversity This is a condensed summary of an entire podcast, from episode 007. We cannot control what happens to us, but we can control how we respond – and what we believe about the setback. Knowing how to face trials proactively is one of the top skills in business… and in life. Here are 10 steps to transform setbacks into comebacks.  See it for what it is. Remember God’s plan for you (Jer 29:11 and Romans 8:28) Ask good questions – questions that lead to helpful answers. Be careful what you think, see, and say. Notice what works; do more of that. Notice what doesn’t work; stop doing that. Live in the now. Avoid depression and anxiety. Move your body every day. Put good fuel in the machine. Fill your eyes with solutions. Remember that pain is inevitable, but suffering is optional. (Matthew 6:34) Listener Calls We heard from lots of listeners this week. Your Feedback Do you have an idea for a podcast you would like to hear? Do you have a question that you like to ask me? Please send me an email. And if you enjoy the podcast, I would consider it a great favor if you subscribe (and leave a review) in iTunes. This helps new people discover the podcast. You can also find the podcast on Stitcher.    

Are you getting the most out of your business? Today's podcast interview will help you think about that question in  new ways. It's the optimization episode! In this week's podcast episode: Free training opportunity. Is it Biblical to squeeze more profit from your business? Where in the world is Stu McLaren? Special Announcements My  conference, the 3-Day Live Intensive, is April 5-7 in Phoenix. Get your early-bird ticket discount right now – click here. We still have a contest running in celebration of next week's 52nd episode of this podcast.  More details here. What happened to Stu McLaren? What happened to Spiritual Foundations Podcast? Get your questions (and plugs) in for next week's episode using the voicemail tab on the website or the phone at  (509) 713-2679. Every caller wins a prize next week! Free webinar training on sales copy tomorrow night. Would you like to have me speak at your event or church? I am accepting a limited number of engagements for 2013.  Click here to visit my speaking page and get details on my availability. Tip Of The Week Use commenting – and particularly podcast comments – to bring traffic to your own site. Spiritual Foundations What does the Bible say about “optimization”? A slack hand causes poverty, but the hand of the diligent makes rich. Proverbs 10:4 That seems like common sense. Does it say more? The soul of the sluggard craves and gets nothing, while the soul of the diligent is richly supplied. Proverbs 13:4 And here's one more … Know well the condition of your flocks, and give attention to your herds, 24 for riches do not last forever; and does a crown endure to all generations? 25 When the grass is gone and the new growth appears and the vegetation of the mountains is gathered, 26 the lambs will provide your clothing, and the goats the price of a field. 27 There will be enough goats' milk for your food, for the food of your household and maintenance for your girls. Proverbs 27:23-27 Feature Segment: Our feature segment this week is an interview with Melanie Benson Strick. You can get the free gift Melanie offered on the interview by clicking here. Your Feedback Do you have an idea for a podcast you would like to hear? Do you have a question that you like to ask me? Please send me an email. And if you enjoy the podcast, I would consider it a great favor if you subscribe (and leave a review) in iTunes. This helps new people discover the podcast. You can also find the podcast on Stitcher.    

Worry kills you slowly. It makes you sick. We know this. But how do we stop worrying so much? In this week's podcast episode: How to trick yourself into exercise Why worry is bad for you. Why this week's podcast is so late. Special Announcements My  conference, the 3-Day Live Intensive, is April 5-7 in Phoenix. Get your early-bird ticket discount right now – click here. Rollo (L) and Parker (R) We have a contest running in celebration of the upcoming 52nd episode of this podcast. Just make helpful, substantive comments on 10 posts (here on the blog), and you could win a free copy of my new book. More details here. And why the podcast is late. Would you like to have me speak at your event? Click here to visit my speaking page and get details on my availability. Tip Of The Week Trick yourself into exercising by combining it with something you love doing. A lunchtime conversation with a friend of mine led to a new attitude about exercise for me, and the tip of the week for you. Spiritual Foundations The spiritual effects of worry take a heavy toll. Heavy thoughts bring on physical maladies; when the soul is oppressed so is the body. ~Martin Luther There's no doubt about it. When we are sick, we are simply not capable of accomplishing as much as when we are well. Worry makes us sick. Worry weighs a person down; an encouraging word cheers a person up. Proverbs 12:25 And here's one more thing to think about. Worry is the opposite of trusting God. Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7 Feature Segment: When I was in the radio business I spent a year working in a city back East, at a job I hated. My boss was mentally ill-seriously. It was like working for Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. One day he was friendly and courteous, the next day he was an overbearing, abusive monster. I became a walking example of what it's like to live in anxiety all the time. I began having anxiety attacks. I went to the emergency room more than once, thinking I was having a heart attack. One morning, I woke up, and the left side of my face did not work. I tried brushing my teeth and water dribble down my chin onto my shirt. I thought I was having a stroke… And this lead to the strangest doctor's visit I have ever had. Listen to the audio for the full story. When we worry, we spend all of our energy focusing on the negative, and operating in fear. This closes our eyes to possibilities that lay all around us. The fact is, most of the stuff we worry about never happens anyway. But that is all philosophy. How about some practical tips on how you can just stop worrying so much? If you would like to spend less of your time worrying, and more of it accomplishing, here are 7 things you can most definitely cross off your “worry list”. Don't worry about things you can’t control. Don't worry about things you can control (since you control them, what is there to worry about?) Don't worry about what other people think of you (see number 1). Don't worry about the past (nothing you can do to change it). Don't worry about the future (see number 2). Don't worry about the unknown (um…  since you can’t know it… what are you worrying about?). Don't worry about how you might respond to any challenge (you’ll only know when you face it). 3 Tactics That Fight Worry Exercise Meditation Prayer. Worry replaced by prayer equals faith and peace. Listener Questions On this episode we heard from these listeners: JD Crouse has 3 questions – about our audio player, a podcasting course, and recorded webinars. I haven't been emphasizing the call in part of the show, but would love to field more listener questions and hear more of your success stories. You can leave messages here through Speakpipe, or on our phone line at (509) 713-2679. Resources Mentioned Blubrry podcast player plugin. Learn How To Podcast and Podcasting A-Z by Cliff Ravenscraft Evergreen Business System Your Feedback Do you have an idea for a podcast you would like to hear? Do you have a question that you like to ask me? Please send me an email. And if you enjoy the podcast, I would consider it a great favor if you subscribe (and leave a review) in iTunes. This helps new people discover the podcast. You can also find the podcast on Stitcher. What are some of your indispensable iPad apps, and how do you use them? Share your ideas and observations below in the comments.  

More and more, I find my iPad replacing other tools – like my computer, Kindle, and even my physical notebook.     In this week's podcast episode: How to make money by goofing off. The secret of becoming a better, more successful person – on automatic pilot. And my recommended Top 10 iPad Apps For Idea Entrepreneurs. Special Announcements My  conference, the 3-Day Live Intensive, is April 5-7 in Phoenix. Get your early-bird ticket discount right now – click here. Be sure you refer to my notes from the Platform Conference – one of the most value laden conferences I have ever attended. We have a contest running in celebration of the upcoming 52nd episode of this podcast. Just make helpful, substantive comments on 10 posts (here on the blog), and you could win a free copy of my new book. More details here. Would you like to have me speak at your event? Click here to visit my speaking page and get details on my availability. Tip Of The Week How to make money by goofing off? I must be joking, right? Not at all. It's proven that our best ideas, most resourceful states, and highest periods of creativity come when we are relaxed and in “the flow”. The problem is we seldom experience this state as a conscious intention. Here's how to “goof off” productively. Spiritual Foundations The secret of becoming a better, more successful person – on automatic pilot. While I was at a conference a few weeks ago, the topic being taught was “speed to implementation”. Surrounded by a group of born achiever types, I felt swept up in the momentum of getting things done quickly. I went to my hotel room that night and furiously worked on completing a book manuscript, and by the time morning arrived my initial draft was done. Why was it that I was suddenly able, or motivated, to get the book done so quickly? Did I suddenly have abilities that I didn't have before? No. I was being carried by the momentum of the people around me. Motivated, cajoled, provoked. I was, in short, persuaded by the power of peer pressure. The people we surround ourselves with influence who we become. The point I'm trying to make is not a new one. It is simply that we tend to adopt the mannerisms, behaviors, and values of the people we spend the most time with. Want to become a better person? Be more successful? Be more punctual? Spend time with people who are more successful, more punctual, and who are in general the kind of “better person” you would like to be. “You’re the average of the five people you spend the most time with.” – Jim Rohn The interesting thing is, most of us do not consciously choose who those people are. What does the Bible say about this idea? Well we don't have to look far-in the book of wisdom known as The Proverbs, we find this… The righteous should choose his friends carefully, for the way of the wicked leads them astray. Proverbs 12:26 What if you consciously engineered being around five people who lift you up, instead of being around five people who pull you down? Feature Segment: Top 10 iPad Apps For Idea Entrepreneurs This past Sunday in church, I did the unthinkable. During the pastor's sermon, I opened up my iPad and began doodling. Heads turned. Questioning looks appeared on the faces of the people around me. Some people try to pretend they didn't notice. My wife simply nudged our friends Jim and Diane, who were sitting next to us, and shrugged. As if to say, “Well, that's our Ray.” But I wasn't ignoring the sermon or even being rude. I was taking notes in one of the top 10 apps that I use on a daily basis. My iPad has become such an indispensable tool that I even use it in church. Certainly, in my business as what I refer to as an “idea entrepreneur”, my iPad is central to my workflow. So this weeks podcast feature segment is all about the top 10 iPad apps I use in my business, and that I recommend to other idea entrepreneurs. I won't just give you a list of the apps, however. I'll also provide you with a description of how I use them, and even a few tips that may be helpful if you choose to use them as well. Omnifocus. This is my go to app for implementing GTD. It's expensive, but I still haven't found anything else I like better. And I've tried them all. Mail. This is simply the native app that comes with iOS. I've tried a few alternatives, but I really like the way Apple has implemented this app. Notifications turned off. Agenda. I find Apple's Calendar app disappointing, and learned about Agenda through Leo Laporte. I've been using it ever since, and I love it. Integrates with Google Calendar seamlessly. Mr. Reader. I track about 300 websites, mostly WordPress blogs. It's how I find new and interesting ideas, trends, and tidbits that I can share.This only takes me about 30 minutes a day, and that is all due to Mr. Reader. This app aggregates all those websites into one convenient place. Pocket. When I find something online that I want to save for later reference, I put it in Pocket. I may save notes or clippings for a blog post, a book chapter, or simply for my own reading pleasure. Evernote. Evernote is my universal filing cabinet, where I keep blog posts in progress, book outlines, swipe files, reference material, and more.It all synchronizes between my MacBook Pro, iPad, iPhone. So all my stuff is available to meet anywhere, anytime. Indispensable tool. Penultimate. This is the app that left my moleskin notebook lonely and unused. It's a notetaking app, and it integrates with Evernote. Lose the paper, keep the handwriting, and remember everything. Kindle. I don't use my actual kindle device very much anymore. I carry around enough devices, and I use the Kindle app on my iPad to do most of my reading. I am considering trading my full-size iPad in for an  iPad Mini. Reason: the mini seems easier to hold for long periods of time when reading. It also takes up less room in a briefcase. Or a pocket. Downcast. I listen to a lot of podcasts, and this is the app I use to do it. I wish it had a happier name. But I couldn't be happier with the app itself. MindMeister. I mind map just about every piece of content I write, every project plan, and… well, everything.I went through most every mind-mapping app available, and there are some good ones. I finally settled on MindMeister.I like the ability to share maps, I like the  look and feel, and it exports to just about every other mind-map software format. So I can share my maps between MindMeister and MindManager (the app I use on my MacBook Pro). Bonus Apps: Olive Tree Bible Study App, Pages, Keynote. Listener Questions On this episode we heard from these listeners: Carey Green of ChristianHomeandFamily.com asked,”Are tags important to getting search engine traffic?” Beau Miles asked, “Will you be offering an audio version of your new book?” John Olson called in with a report on how he has been using my productivity tips from the podcast episode on getting a days work done in two hours, which was episode 43. I haven't been emphasizing the call in part of the show, but would love to field more listener questions and hear more of your success stories. You can leave messages here through Speakpipe, or on our phone line at (509) 713-2679. Your Feedback Do you have an idea for a podcast you would like to hear? Do you have a question that you like to ask me? Please send me an email. And if you enjoy the podcast, I would consider it a great favor if you subscribe (and leave a review) in iTunes. This helps new people discover the podcast. You can also find the podcast on Stitcher. What are some of your indispensable iPad apps, and how do you use them? Share your ideas and observations below in the comments.  

If you'd like to know the easiest way to sell anything to anyone, you're going to love this weeks podcast. In this week's podcast episode: How your iPhone can help you achieve your goals. How to let your weaknesses, limitations, and problems propel you to greater success. And, Finally, the easiest way to sell anything to anyone. Tip Of The Week This is the modern equivalent of “accountability partners”. The Lift App is a simple way to achieve any goal, track your progress, and get the support of your friends. Currently available only for iPhone, Android and Wieb versions are on the way soon. Spiritual Foundations Don't worry about weakness… What if there was a different way of understanding Paul's story about his “thorn”, and a different way of understanding the phrase “my grace is sufficient”? Because of the extravagance of those revelations, and so I wouldn’t get a big head, I was given the gift of a handicap to keep me in constant touch with my limitations. Satan’s angel did his best to get me down; what he in fact did was push me to my knees. No danger then of walking around high and mighty! At first I didn’t think of it as a gift, and begged God to remove it. Three times I did that, and then he told me, My grace is enough; it’s all you need. My strength comes into its own in your weakness.   Once I heard that, I was glad to let it happen. I quit focusing on the handicap and began appreciating the gift. It was a case of Christ’s strength moving in on my weakness. Now I take limitations in stride, and with good cheer, these limitations that cut me down to size—abuse, accidents, opposition, bad breaks. I just let Christ take over! And so the weaker I get, the stronger I become. 2 Corinthians 12:7-10   Feature Segment: The Easiest Way To Sell Anything Understand the Scale of Awareness and “O.P.E.N. the Sale” In the movie “Jerry Maguire” Tom Cruise's character makes an impassioned speech to the girl he loves, trying to convince her how much he cares for her. She finally tells him, “You had me at hello…” Often, we do the same when trying to persuade or sell. Unaware of the feelings of our prospects or listeners, we prattle on far beyond the point that we need to. We say things that are irrelevant to the listener. Understanding “where they are” would spare us all that effort. The late, great copywriter Eugene Schwartz understood the power of the awareness level of your prospect. Knowing where they stand already is vital to knowing what to say to them. The fastest, easiest way to influence anyone is with what is already influencing them. Here is the scale of awareness that I use in writing copy to help me know how to talk to my reader: O – Oblivious P – Pondering E – Engaged N – Needing This powerful secret is easy to underestimate. Just try using it in your sales communications, and watch your persuasion power grow! Special Announcements My own conference, the 3-Day Live Intensive, is April 5-7 in Phoenix. Get your early-bird ticket discount right now – click here. I’m attending the Platform Conference in Nashville. Would you like to have me speak at your event? Click here to visit my speaking page and get details on my availability. Your Feedback Do you have an idea for a podcast you would like to hear? Do you have a question that you like to ask me? Please send me an email. And if you enjoy the podcast, I would consider it a great favor if you subscribe (and leave a review) in iTunes. This helps new people discover the podcast. You can also find the podcast on Stitcher. Call in your questions or comments to our new, fancy “request line” at (509) 713-2679 What are some ways you have seen the “awareness scale” in action? Share your ideas and observations below in the comments.  

When you attend a conference, you make an enormous investment in time, money, and energy. In this week'ss podcast, I give you a precise system for getting the most out of any conference. In this week's podcast episode: A powerful video editing studio for your iPad. Why you were born for this entrepreneurial life. And, of course, how to get the most out of any conference. Tip Of The Week The Pinnacle Studio App for iPad is a remarkable video studio that cost less than $13. Some people complain about the cost of this app. These are people that have forgotten that the iPad and the app they hold in their hands gives them editing power that would've cost tens of thousands of dollars only a few years ago. It's truly remarkable what we have available to us for less then a lunch at McDonald's. Spiritual Foundations Seek Wisdom Seeking wisdom and knowledge is practical. In that night God appeared to Solomon, and said to him, “Ask what I shall give you.” And Solomon said to God, “You have shown great and steadfast love to David my father, and have made me king in his place. 9 O Lord God, let your word to David my father be now fulfilled, for you have made me king over a people as numerous as the dust of the earth. 10 Give me now wisdom and knowledge to go out and come in before this people, for who can govern this people of yours, which is so great?” God answered Solomon, “Because this was in your heart, and you have not asked for possessions, wealth, honor, or the life of those who hate you, and have not even asked for long life, but have asked for wisdom and knowledge for yourself that you may govern my people over whom I have made you king, wisdom and knowledge are granted to you. I will also give you riches, possessions, and honor, such as none of the kings had who were before you, and none after you shall have the like.” 2 Chronicles 1:7-12 That was under the Old Covenant – and the Bible tells us we live under a “new and better covenant” (Hebrews 8:6). What is our promise under the New Covenant? Let's check what Jesus says:  “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life?And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble. Matthew 6:25-34 And don't start thinking you have to earn the Kingdom and Righteousness through your own efforts. For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. 2 Corinthians 5:21   Feature Segment: How to Get The Most Out of Any Conference Before the Conference Preparation Is Key: This checklist will serve as a reminder of what you can do before attending a conference to increase the results you get from attending. You may want to customize, modify, or add to the checklist to make it more suitable to your needs. Know your purpose for attending this conference (learning, people to meet, get clients, meet JV Partners, etc.) Know your criteria for success (number of contacts to make, speakers to meet, deals to close, etc.). Have a list of goals you have for attending this conference; this way, when you leave you’ll know if you achieved success or not. Business cards, printed both sides, with an offer on the back that gets people back in contact with you and into your “marketing funnel”. Prepare your “elevator speech”. Study the background of the speakers; do your homework. Book your hotel room early; get a room “close to the action”. Book your airline ticket early for the best rate and most flexibility. When possible, set up meetings in advance. Arrive one day before the conference starts; leave the day after it ends. Digital camera, video camera, and audio recorder Computer Note cards and envelopes, pre-stamped with return addresses already on them (ready to fill in and mail from hotel before you leave). Notebook (Ray recommends Moleskine notebooks). Pens. Jacket (conference rooms are often kept cold!) Target list of people you want to meet. Target list of subjects you want to learn about from each speaker. A list of questions you want answered before you leave. During the Conference You’re Working! While you’re at a conference, you’re at work – this is not a weekend vacation. Make every moment as profitable as possible. Get checked in, put your “stuff” away, and set up your “temporary office”. Keep your room neat and organized in case you have a business meeting there. Meet and greet people in the bar the night before the conference starts. Never eat alone, and don’t eat with the same person twice. Get your picture taken with people (speakers and “regular people” too). Introduce people to one another; make connections between people. Arrive at the registration desk/conference room early each day. Meet and greet people. Use your “elevator speech” or “audio logo” to start conversations. Network between sessions; plan meetings between sessions. Eat small, light meals frequently to keep your energy level consistent. Keep breath fresh. Stinky breath does NOT win friends. Dress comfortably in business casual attire; wear comfortable shoes. Don’t carry too much “stuff” with you into the conference room. Do carry your business cards at all times, and your calendar (book, smartphone, etc.) Turn OFF your cell phone ringer; don’t take or make calls in the conference meeting room (!). Close doors quietly when leaving or entering the room during a session. Attend all networking events; get your photo taken with everyone. Take photos of other people together – send them a copy (get their contact info!). If appropriate, get audio or video testimonials from your clients. Give testimonials whenever you can; it’s good promotion for you. Start early, and keep going late; schedule a nap so you can do the late-night networking. After the Conference The Golden Mile! This is where most people really fall down – the “last mile”, or as we like to call it, “the Golden Mile”. It’s all about the follow-up and the follow-through. Organize all your notes, to-dos, and business cards. Write notes to all your key contacts on the note cards you brought; mail them from the hotel before you leave. Share a ride to the airport if possible; make it a networking opportunity. Use the time in the airport lounge or on the plane to write emails, follow-up notes, and make to-do lists. Send quick follow-up emails to everyone on the list you built at the conference. Upload digital photos of you with other people to a photo service; send a copy to them using a service like http://sendoutcards.com Post photos to your Facebook and Google+ account. Put to-dos into your planning system (Outlook, iPhone, GTD, etc.). Plug them in over the next 3 weeks so nothing falls through the cracks. When home, unpack and organize all your materials immediately.?Call every person you met at the conference. Calling on the phone sets you apart. Quickly fulfill any promises you made. Go through your notes from the conference (all neatly collected in your Moleskine notebook or other “idea capture device”, right?). Anything that can be done in 2 minutes or less (domain registration, emails, downloads, etc.) — just DO it. Anything that will take longer, SCHEDULE it in your planning system. Review your goals and criteria for success from the conference; evaluate how you did. Update these checklists with items you thought of that should be on them; constantly be refining your checklists and systems. Schedule the consumption of any Continuing Education products you purchased at the conference, so that you actually USE them. Special Announcements My own conference, the 3-Day Live Intensive, is April 5-7 in Phoenix. Get your early-bird ticket discount right now – click here. I’m attending the Platform Conference in Nashville. It is probably sold out.  Get a ticket while you can! Would you like to have me speak at your event? Click here to visit my speaking page and get details on my availability. Your Feedback Do you have an idea for a podcast you would like to hear? Do you have a question that you like to ask me? Please send me an email. And if you enjoy the podcast, I would consider it a great favor if you subscribe (and leave a review) in iTunes. This helps new people discover the podcast. You can also find the podcast on Stitcher. Call in your questions or comments to our new, fancy “request line” at (509) 713-2679 Do you have any tips you would add? Share your ideas and tactics below in the comments.  

Just like anything worth doing, there is a way to market that just works. There are rules. Today's podcast shows you what they are. In this week's podcast episode: The disciplines of marketing. The “Secret Weapon” system for using GTD with Evernote. Are you trying too hard? Tip Of The Week The “Secret Weapon” system for using GTD with Evernote. Spiritual Foundations Let God Do the Work We often try to do ourselves what God has already done for us. …for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure. Philippians 2:13 Stop trying to do it on your own, and let God do what He wants! Feature Segment: Ray Edwards's 13 Natural Disciplines of Effective Online Marketing Almost all marketing is dreadfully weak and ineffective, unfocused, and irrelevant. Or it's hype-filled, pushy, and repulsive. Stop that. Learn to “market like water”. The 13 Natural Disciplines: 1. Abandon branding as a primary outcome and seek response. Branding is inherent. 2. Always track everything with ruthless precision. 3. Within the context of your values – results rule. 4. Always make an offer. 5. Always seek a trackable, profitable response. 6. Always give a reason for immediate response. 7. Ask only for one response at a time. 8. Tell them exactly what to do next. 9. Use strong copy. It will sound like “junk mail”. 10. Kill your darlings. 11. Always followup in the short term. 12. Always followup in the long term. 13. Keep detailed customer files and study them carefully. Special Announcements I’m attending the Platform Conference in Nashville. It is nearly sold out.  Get a ticket while you can! I was written up by Eric T Wagner on Forbes.com recently. You can check out the article here. My new book is nearly ready – more to come! Would you like to have me speak at your event? Click here to visit my speaking page and get details on my availability. Your Feedback Do you have an idea for a podcast you would like to hear? Do you have a question that you like to ask me? Please send me an email. And if you enjoy the podcast, I would consider it a great favor if you subscribe (and leave a review) in iTunes. This helps new people discover the podcast. You can also find the podcast on Stitcher. Call in your questions or comments to our new, fancy “request line” at (509) 713-2679 Do you have any discplines you would add? Share your ideas and tactics below in the comments.  

What if your marketing worked like a machine – automatic, tireless, regardless of whether you show up today or not, and with predictable results? Today's podcast shows you how. In this week's podcast episode: How to market like a machine. A “move it to the top of the stack” book recommendation. Is it okay for Christians to be rich? Tip Of The Week Move this book to the top of your reading stack. Work the System by Sam Carpenter. We must study the mechanical minutia of our tasks if we are to excel. This means observing: looking down and analyzing the sub-systems of our lives…to see our selves as mechanical devices that can be made to be super-efficient. The next step is to spend the majority of our time perfecting each of our sub-systems, one by one. Here’s a happy thought: Study and then perfect your systems as a main focus and you’ll find yourself in select company and therefore flying faster and higher than a huge percentage of the competition. Make More. Work Less. Lots of people work hard to become expert at what they do, but what great heights will be achieved by becoming expert at a flawed process? Sam Carpenter Spiritual Foundations Is it okay for Christians to be rich? But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. Matthew 6:33 Feature Segment: How to Market Like a Machine No business can survive without a systematic approach to marketing. “Systematic” means well-defined, carefully followed procedures that produce predictable results. A true Marketing System consists of the following things: predictable processes that produce large quantities of good prospects, clients, and customers for your business. Your marketing system must provide these prospects efficiently (without a lot of hands-on work from you) and affordably (as in, it costs less to get a customer than the revenue that customer produces). Violate any one of these rules and you're in trouble, one step away from the Taco Delmar Phenomena. Here are the components of a good Marketing System: 1. Product Success Formula: TG + CDP/HAS(YCS )+ THM + WTS 2. Media that is efficient, affordable, they already use 3. A compelling message 4. An irresistable free offer 5. Multi-step automated short-term follow up systems 6. Multi-step long term follow up 7. Tested conversion process Special Announcements I’m attending the Platform Conference in Nashville. It is nearly sold out.  Get a ticket while you can! I was written up by Eric T Wagner on Forbes.com this week. You can check out the article here. My new book is nearly ready – more to come! Would you like to have me speak at your event? Click here to visit my speaking page and get details on my availability. Your Feedback Do you have an idea for a podcast you would like to hear? Do you have a question that you like to ask me? Please send me an email. And if you enjoy the podcast, I would consider it a great favor if you subscribe (and leave a review) in iTunes. This helps new people discover the podcast. You can also find the podcast on Stitcher. Call in your questions or comments to our new, fancy “request line” at (509) 713-2679 How strong is your marketing system? Share your ideas and tactics below in the comments.  

I recently wrote here on the blog about some new productivity “tweaks” with which I have been experimenting. Today's podcast is a report on the results. In this week's podcast episode: A “field report” on my latest productivity experiments. An alternative to mindmaps. How to get free of those “guilty feelings”. Stu McLaren on hiring the right people. Tip Of The Week Not into mind mapping, but wish there was an easy way to outline your ideas? You have got to try Workflowy. It was made for the purpose. Spiritual Foundations Are you plagued by feelings of guilt, about regrets over what you should have done in a certain situation? Don't be… There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. Romans 8:1-2 When Jesus came and paid the price for sin, that included all of our sins. Past, present, and future. That means is far as he is concerned, we have nothing to regret. A “guilty conscience” is not the work of our father in heaven, but is the work of the enemy-the devil. See Hebrews 9:14. Lifestyle Business Stu McLaren has wisdom to share on the subject of hiring-and on not being cheap. Feature Segment: Results of My Productivity Experiments Recently, I wrote on my blog a post about a new plan for improved productivity in 2013. I thought it might be useful to share the results so far. Works and all. Here are the plans I wrote about, and a report on my observations Productivity Philosophy.  If you are not familiar with the GTD philosophy, I encourage you to read David Allen's seminal work on stress-free productivity. A great augmentation to the GTD material is one of my favorite new podcasts and websites, Erik Fisher's “Beyond the To-Do List”. At this point, I would give myself a “brown belt” when it comes to GTD. My biggest challenge is keeping my inboxes to zero, and limiting those inboxes to the smallest number possible. Planning. In keeping with my adherence to GTD, my planning is fairly simple. I have a weekly review session on Fridays, during which I collect all the inputs that have accumulated over the past week, and one by one clear them from my inbox.  So far I've done a pretty good job of keeping on top of my weekly reviews. I'd say I am at about 90% on this one. Disciplined Tracking.  For business activities, I am developing a dashboard for my company in Excel to keep track of key metrics. Frankly, I've gotten so caught up in looking for the perfect dashboard, I haven't really started using one yet. That will change within the next three days, as I am forcing myself to pick some kind of tracking system. Even if it is  3 x 5 cards. Productivity Tools. In the past, I have been a “tool junkie”. I have actually managed to not look at any new productivity tools since the beginning of the year. That may not sound like a big deal to you, but it's a big deal to me. Boundaries. This year, I am resolved to stick to my regimen of only answering email once a day, and the same for phone calls. I also intend to be “off the grid” three days a week for both email and phone calls. Still my biggest challenge. My name is Ray Edwards, and I am a recovering “yes man”. Guarding My Heart and Mind. Toxic thoughts and emotions destroy us. Toxic thinking limits our potential for accomplishment. Toxic emotions limit our potential for happiness and fulfillment. In the new year, I will not allow negative thinking, language, images, or emotions to pierce the boundary of my sight or hearing. While I have improved in this area, I still have work today. Have watched a couple of things on television that, in retrospect, were a bit dark and cynical and viewpoint. It isn't possible to watch things like this and walk away unaffected. Task Batching. I perform best when I batch similar tasks together and do them all at once. This is going pretty well for me, because it is exit become a habit of mine over the last few years. Focus Blocks. “Focus blocks” are clearly defined blocks of time that I use to focus on one single task.  I can tell you this. It seems that making a declaration about a new habit is a surefire way to become a lightning rod for challenges and resistance to that habit. Digital Fasting. I am a digital junkie. I love Facebook, Twitter, Google+, email, RSS feeds… you get the idea. That's why it's important to me to completely unplug frequently. My goal is to be completely free of email, voice mail, and Internet consumption… 100% free… at least one day a week. I have done pretty well, but frankly no where near 100%. This Sunday, I'm shooting for 100%. Sabbath. One day each week, my intention is to be at complete rest. Same answer as the previous section. The Positive No. I mentioned earlier that it is difficult for me to say “no” to people. This year, my default response to every request made of me will be, at least initially, “no”. I had a few chances to practice this, but I still wouldn't counted as one of my core disciplines. Yet. Income Producing Activity Hours. I have identified the activities which are most likely to result in producing revenue for my company: speaking, writing, marketing and advertising, and creating new material or trainings. There are a few other income-producing activities, such as networking, sales calls, and developing JV relationships. I am creating carefully protected and intricately planned “focus blocks” for these activities. These are among the first activities to be scheduled in my calendar. This one has worked out surprisingly well so far. Writing Time. This is in my top tier of income producing activities. It is also in my top tier of spiritually fulfilling activities. Therefore, this is one of my very highest priorities, and will be one of my most protected assets in the new year. 30 Day Challenges. I love new ideas, and I love trying them out. So much so, that I have tended, in the past, to try out many different ideas in a single week. Therefore, in the new year, each month I plan to adopt one “30 Day Challenge”. A single new habit, activity, or discipline. I will post each month's 30 day challenge publicly, and at the end of the 30 days report on my experience. . Hardest one of all for me to keep. My Challenge this month was to journal daily. We're on day 16 of the month, and I've written in my journal four days My plan going forward is to become more disciplined about my new habits, and not to simply give up. That's the mistake I think most people make when it comes to resolutions, or adopting any new discipline. Special Announcements I’m attending the Platform Conference in Nashville. It is nearly sold out. The purpose of the conference: to help you “get noticed in a noisy world.” It’s being put on by Michael Hyatt and Ken Davis. My friends Stu McLaren and Carrie Wilkerson are speaking. I’m also looking forward to meeting  Jeff Goins, Cliff Ravenscraft, Pat Flynn, John Saddington, Michele Cushatt, and Andrew Buckman. Unlike most conferences, there’s not a single speaker I’m not excited to hear and to meet. Get a ticket while you can! I was written up by Eric T Wagner on Forbes.com this week. You can check out the article here. Would you like to have me speak at your event? Click here to visit my speaking page and get details on my availability. Your Feedback Do you have an idea for a podcast you would like to hear? Do you have a question that you like to ask me? Please send me an email. And if you enjoy the podcast, I would consider it a great favor if you subscribe (and leave a review) in iTunes. This helps new people discover the podcast. You can also find the podcast on Stitcher. Call in your questions or comments to our new, fancy “request line” at (509) 713-2679 What Are you doing to be more productive in the new year? And how are your New Year's resolutions coming along? Share your ideas and tactics below in the comments.  

Ever have a day where you feel like you just didn't get anything done? Now imagine getting entire day's work done in two hours. Sound impossible? You won't feel that way after you listen to today's podcast. In this week's podcast episode: How to do a days work in two hours. A counterintuitive marketing book recommendation. How (and why) it's possible to achieve effortless success. Stu McLaren on the importance of being intentional. And a few surprises, too… Tip Of The Week This week I have a rather counterintuitive book recommendation. One of the best marketing books I've ever read (twice now) is Rick Warren's The Purpose-Driven Church. Spiritual Foundations As new creations in Christ, we are supposed to be “at rest”. Our life is not supposed to be about striving and working hard, but about receiving. Yes, I am saying that God will do a lot more for us than we could ever do for ourselves. And that he actually wants it to be that way. There remains therefore a rest for the people of God. For he who has entered His rest has himself also ceased from his works as God did from His. Let us therefore be diligent to enter that rest… Hebrews 4:9-11 This is a promise from God, and it echoes the Old Testament story of the promised land. In ancient Israel, there was an actual land that the people were given as a promise from God.This land was, in God's own words, to include houses that had already been built, vineyards that had already been planted, and wells that had already been dug. Everything was already done for the children of Israel. As believers under the provisions of the new covenant, our “promised land” is to simply rest in what Christ accomplished for us at the cross. In the passage from Hebrews, we learned that God desires that we would enjoy His rest. That we would be blessed, provided for, and healed as we receive from him. Through no efforts of our own. Lifestyle Business Stu McLaren shares his thoughts on the importance of being intentional. Feature Segment: How to Get a Day's Work Done In 2 Hours Here's the overall checklist for doing a days work in two hours. There are 3 phases to this method: Plan, Prepare, Perform. For a detailed explanation… listen to the podcast! Plan Make your “List of Three”, “Fantastic Five”, and your “Weird Time List”. Prepare Wake up one hour earlier. Have a quiet time. Perform Work on your “List of Three” before you do anything else. Use the “F.I.T.” Method. Take a 10 minute break, and move immediately to the “Fantastic Five”. Now take a 30 minute break, and go about your day as usual. Relax. Use your “Weird Time List” to “grout your day”. Special Announcements I’m attending the Platform Conference in Nashville. It is nearly sold out. The purpose of the conference: to help you “get noticed in a noisy world.” It’s being put on by Michael Hyatt and Ken Davis. My friends Stu McLaren and Carrie Wilkerson are speaking. I’m also looking forward to meeting  Jeff Goins, Cliff Ravenscraft, Pat Flynn, John Saddington, Michele Cushatt, and Andrew Buckman. Unlike most conferences, there’s not a single speaker I’m not excited to hear and to meet. Get a ticket while you can! Our exclusive Las Vegas workshop is more than half-full. If you're interested in participating, you will need to contact my office immediately. Tomorrow I will make a special announcement about a brand-new event. Would you like to have me speak at your event? Click here to visit my speaking page and get details on my availability. Your Feedback Do you have an idea for a podcast you would like to hear? Do you have a question that you like to ask me? Please send me an email. And if you enjoy the podcast, I would consider it a great favor if you subscribe (and leave a review) in iTunes. This helps new people discover the podcast. You can also find the podcast on Stitcher. Call in your questions or comments to our new, fancy “request line” at (509) 713-2679 What tips can you offer that would help get an entire day's work done in just two hours? Share your ideas and tactics below in the comments.  

Today I want to share five weird tactics that, when used correctly, almost guarantee more success. In this week's podcast episode: The five weird tactics. The power of the uncommon conversation. My first book recommendation of the new year. That’s all coming up… Tip Of The Week For refreshing, unusual, and inspiring look at the writing life I recommend Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott. Spiritual Foundations Speaking plainly is a shocking and radical way of communicating. Jesus said you should “let your yes mean yes, and your no me no.”  Speaking the truth so plainly is disarming and incredibly persuasive. Try it. Feature Segment: 5 Weird Tactics Make The New Year Your Best Year Ever Do less. Say no. Stop multitasking. Stop setting goals. Pray Special Announcements I’m attending the Platform Conference in Nashville. If you do business online, you MUST attend this conference that helps you “get noticed in a noisy world.” It’s being put on by Michael Hyatt and Ken Davis. My friends Stu McLaren and Carrie Wilkerson are speaking. I’m also looking forward to meeting  Jeff Goins, Cliff Ravenscraft, Pat Flynn, John Saddington, Michele Cushatt, and Andrew Buckman. Unlike most conferences, there’s not a single speaker I’m not excited to hear and to meet. Get a ticket while you can! Our exclusive Las Vegas workshop is more than half-full. If you're interested in participating, you will need to contact my office immediately. Next week I will make a special announcement about a brand-new event. Would you like to have me speak at your event? Click here to visit my speaking page and get details on my availability. Your Feedback Do you have an idea for a podcast you would like to hear? Do you have a question that you like to ask me? Please send me an email. And if you enjoy the podcast, I would consider it a great favor if you subscribe (and leave a review) in iTunes. This helps new people discover the podcast. You can find the podcast on Stitcher by clicking the logo: Call in your questions or comments to our new, fancy “request line” at (509) 713-2679

If your business is struggling right now, or you need more cash flow, you might think it's ridiculous for me to say there's something better than new customers. But there is, and that's what we'll cover in this week's interview with Jim Palmer. In this weeks podcast episode: Jim Palmer shows us explains what is better than new customers. Stu McLaren: “You should start spying on people”. How to achieve effortless success. That’s all coming up… Tip Of The Week I have long been recommended to you a program called Evernote. Recently, a new version of this software has been released. They have succeeded in making a great thing even better. The main features of Evernote that I like: Capture anything – save your ideas, things you like, things you hear, and things you see. Access it anywhere -Evernote works with nearly every computer, phone and mobile device out there. Find things fast. Search by keyword, tag or even printed and handwritten text inside images. Lifestyle Business With Stu McLaren Stu McLaren explains why he has been spying on people. Spiritual Foundations God's plan for you and your business is not that you work so hard that you make yourself sick, destroy your mental health, and wreck your family. His kind of success is effortless, and he has already done the work when he died on the cross: Grace and peace be yours in abundance through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord. His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. 2 Peter 1:2–3 This doesn't mean that you simply sit on the couch and wait for things to fall into your lap. It does mean that as you work, you can be relaxed and free from anxiety and fear. He has already provided every blessing you need in life. So how do you get those blessings? It's simple: believe, and rest on the Lord's promises. You might pray something like this: “Lord, I rest in the work that you have done on my behalf, and I thank you that you are already making good things happen for me. So I will stop all my stressing, struggling, and attempts to control circumstances in order to get what I want. I'm simply receiving what you've already provided.” Feature Segment: Interview With Jim Palmer There is something that is better than new customers-and you might be surprised to discover what it is. That's just one of the nuggets we will reveal in this interview with Jim Palmer. Listen to the podcast audio for the entire interview. And be prepared to take notes! Listener Questions Only one listener question this week, this one from Todd Liles of Service Excellence Training. Todd wants to know how he can get his podcast listed in iTunes. Special Announcements I’m attending the Platform Conference in Nashville. If you do business online, you MUST attend this conference that helps you “get noticed in a noisy world.” It’s being put on by Michael Hyatt and Ken Davis. My friends Stu McLaren and Carrie Wilkerson are speaking. I’m also looking forward to meeting  Jeff Goins, Cliff Ravenscraft, Pat Flynn, John Saddington, Michele Cushatt, and Andrew Buckman. Unlike most conferences, there’s not a single speaker I’m not excited to hear and to meet. Get a ticket while you can! Our exclusive Las Vegas workshop is more than half-full. If you're interested in participating, you will need to contact my office immediately. My next podcast will be on the topic of “How to Make the New Year Your Best Year Ever”. If you have a question about that, please leave me a voicemail message. This is a good way for you to promote your own website, because I will be happy to link to your site in return for you asking a question. Would you like to have me speak at your event? Click here to visit my speaking page and get details on my availability. Your Feedback Do you have an idea for a podcast you would like to hear? Do you have a question that you like to ask me? Please send me an email. And if you enjoy the podcast, I would consider it a great favor if you subscribe (and leave a review) in iTunes. This helps new people discover the podcast. You can find the podcast on Stitcher by clicking the logo: Call in your questions or comments to our new, fancy “request line” at (509) 713-2679

When it seems the economy around you is in turmoil and chaos, is it still possible to thrive? If so, how do you do that? In this weeks podcast episode we will cover: The results of “asking the listeners”. Changes you can expect in the podcast. Stu McLaren: “Doing the work up front”. Is God the source of evil? Plus, “How to Thrive In a Turbulent Economy” That’s all coming up on today’s episode… Tip Of The Week A couple of episodes ago, I advised you to ask your customers what they really want. I proposed using a survey-which is exactly what I did. Here are the results of my survey about how you think I could improve this show. The suggestions were: Add more listener participation and questions. Change the ending music to match the beginning music. Share  concrete copywriting tactics. Get more specific about dollars. Make the show tighter. Those are the top suggestions we are implementing, starting with this episode. I hope you like what you hear. Lifestyle Business With Stu McLaren Stu McLaren explains why it's worth doing the work up front, and doing it well. Spiritual Foundations Recently, I inadvertently started a bit of a tiff on Facebook. I posted the following: If you think you are sick because God has some purpose in it… reconsider. Sickness does not come from God. According to John 10:10, evil is the work of the enemy, who “comes only to steal and kill and destroy”. Jesus, on the other hand, comes so that we “may have life and have it abundantly” (John 10:10). He also came to “destroy the works of the devil” (1 John 3:8). It's simple. God is good. The enemy is bad. Good things come from God, and evil things do not. It's helpful if we keep the difference in mind – it'll help us not attribute the work of the enemy to God! The reason this is important, is because when Jesus rose from the grave and conquered sin and death, he ushered in a new and better covenant for all of us who follow him. We no longer live under fear of punishment, for Jesus has taken the punishment on our behalf. He has covered us in his grace-literally, “unmerited favor.” God does not send evil into your life-not to teach you a lesson, not to improve your character, and certainly not to punish you. If you follow Jesus, you believe in him, you confessed to measure Lord and Savior… you are unpunishable. Feature Segment: How to Thrive In a Turbulent Economy Yes, there is chaos in the marketplace. The economy can be described as turbulent.  But that doesn't matter. There is no reason for you, my entrepreneurial friend, to fear the storm. Bedrock principles will keep you on course. Here are seven keys to thriving even in a turbulent economy… Faith. You will receive what you believe. Carefully guard where you are placing your faith. It makes a difference. Foundations. Most people crumble when their core values are challenged-because they never made those values a conscious decision.  Most of us simply inherit our values and beliefs from our family and friends. Make yours a choice. Don't just know what you believe, know why you believe it. Family. After your connection to your Creator, the most important link to your ultimate success is your family. Even if you have no family, as it is traditionally understood. I explain what to do if you don't have any family living, or none that you are connected with, in the podcast audio. So make sure you listen to the show itself. Friends. How you relate to friends-even how you define that word-is of vital importance to how effective you will be in the world. Especially in the world of business. Focus. What you focus on expands. If your constant focus is on the negativity and the chaos of the environment around you, expect to see more of the same. Take responsibility for what goes on inside your head. Finances. Business is a game won (or lost) by the numbers. The rules are simple: make money, save money, spend as little as possible. Fun. Make it a goal to be more joyful than all of your companions. Joy is magnetic, and draws people to you. It has the added benefit of drawing cheerful people to you, helping eliminate the “Eeyore Factor” from your life. Listener Questions Martin Hurley Jeff Davis Beaumont Miles Jim Siverts Special Announcements I’m attending the Platform Conference in Nashville. If you do business online, you MUST attend this conference that helps you “get noticed in a noisy world.” It’s being put on by Michael Hyatt and Ken Davis. My friends Stu McLaren and Carrie Wilkerson are speaking. I’m also looking forward to meeting  Jeff Goins, Cliff Ravenscraft, Pat Flynn, John Saddington, Michele Cushatt, and Andrew Buckman. Unlike most conferences, there’s not a single speaker I’m not excited to hear and to meet. Get a ticket while you can! Our exclusive Las Vegas workshop is more than half-full. If you're interested in participating, you will need to contact my office immediately. My next podcast will be on the topic of “How to Make the New Year Your Best Year Ever”. If you have a question about that, please leave me a voicemail message. This is a good way for you to promote your own website, because I will be happy to link to your site in return for you asking a question. Would you like to have me speak at your event? Click here to visit my speaking page and get details on my availability. Your Feedback Do you have an idea for a podcast you would like to hear? Do you have a question that you like to ask me? Please send me an email. And if you enjoy the podcast, I would consider it a great favor if you subscribe (and leave a review) in iTunes. This helps new people discover the podcast. You can find the podcast on Stitcher by clicking the logo: Call in your questions or comments to our new, fancy “request line” at (509) 713-2679

There is no need for you to struggle for many years before enjoying success. While it sometimes happens that way, that is not a requirement. Nor is it necessarily a sign of worthiness. In this weeks podcast episode we will cover: How to speed up your iPhone, and boost its battery life, without spending a dime. And, best of all, it only takes about 15 minutes. Stu McLaren: pay me now, or pay me later? December 21st, the Mayan calendar, the “Breaking of the World”… and you! Plus, “How To Succeed Faster “ That’s all coming up on today’s episode… Tip Of The Week Michael Hyatt published a great blog post on how to speed up your sluggish iPhone. These three simple actions will not only speed up your phone, but also appear to boost battery life. Check it out. Lifestyle Business With Stu McLaren Stu McLaren explores the differences between maximizing transactional value, versus maximizing recurring transactions. Sounds boring, but isn't. Spiritual Foundations Entrepreneurs have a divine call and an important role in repairing “The Breaking of the World”.  Never apologize for your love of business, and your relentless pursuit of excellence. These are qualities planted within your DNA by God. Own who you are. The people will curse him who withholds grain, But blessing will be on the head of him who sells it. Proverbs 11:26 Feature Segment: How To Succeed Faster Success does not have to be a slow process. The speed with which we attain our goals has more to do with what happens inside our head, than with what happens in our external circumstances. This episode is all about how to speed up the success process. Here are nine ways you can accelerate your success. Know exactly what your “success destination” looks like. Reverse engineer the path to success. Model those who have done what you wish to do. Avoid the inevitable attractive distractions. Measure your progress in writing. Be accountable to someone. Get a coach-or coaches. Recalibrate on a regular schedule. Consciously select what you are not going to do. Special Announcements I’m attending the Platform Conference in Nashville. If you do business online, you MUST attend this conference that helps you “get noticed in a noisy world.” It’s being put on by Michael Hyatt and Ken Davis. My friends Stu McLaren and Carrie Wilkerson are speaking. I’m also looking forward to meeting  Jeff Goins, Cliff Ravenscraft, Pat Flynn, John Saddington, Michele Cushatt, and Andrew Buckman. Unlike most conferences, there’s not a single speaker I’m not excited to hear and to meet. Get a ticket while you can! Our exclusive Las Vegas workshop is half-full. If you're interested in participating, you will need to contact my office immediately. My next podcast will be on the topic of “How To Thrive In A Turbulent Economy”. If you have a question about that, please leave me a voicemail message. This is a good way for you to promote your own website, because I will be happy to link to your site in return for you asking a question. Would you like to have me speak at your event? Click here to visit my speaking page and get details on my availability. Your Feedback Do you have an idea for a podcast you would like to hear? Do you have a question that you like to ask me? Please send me an email. And if you enjoy the podcast, I would consider it a great favor if you subscribe (and leave a review) in iTunes. This helps new people discover the podcast. You can find the podcast on Stitcher by clicking the logo: Call in your questions or comments to our new, fancy “request line” at (509) 713-2679

Today, I share how to get better clients who pay you more money for your products and services. At one point in my career, I would take on as many as six simultaneous projects, and work as much as 80 to 100 hours a week. That is simply crazy. There is a better way, and in this episode I’ll show it to you.. Other points of interest in this weeks episode: How to read your customers minds, and know exactly what they want. Are you living a life that just “happens to you”? Or are you happening to life? Stu McLaren gives us the answer. In our spiritual foundations segment, will answer the question: does God care even about my small problems, like the pimple on the end of my nose? How could he have time for our tiny little problems? That’s all coming up on today’s episode… so fasten your seatbelt… and let’s roll. Tip Of The Week One of the best ways to find out what your audience wants from you is to ask them. I suggest using a tool like Survey Monkey for this purpose. In fact, I'm going to demonstrate this suggestion in practice, by asking you how I can improve this podcast. Click here to take the survey Lifestyle Business With Stu McLaren Stu McLaren challenges us, by asking: are you living a life you designed, or are you living a life that happens by accident? Spiritual Foundations My blood pressure used to go up every time my phone rang. Why is this person (any person) calling me? Don't they know how busy I am? I’ve got news for you… that attitude is a sickness. Jesus is the perfect model of what a human being led by the Spirit looks like. How they walk and talk and interact with other people. And Jesus always had time. He still does. Then little children were brought to Him that He might put His hands on them and pray, but the disciples rebuked them. But Jesus said, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them… Matthew 19:13–14 I am not sharing this to judge anybody for feeling busy or stressed out. But it strikes me as remarkable that the Son of God always has time for us. He is infinitely available. We don’t have to wait in line. There is a mindset that exists that I call the “poor little me” mindset. This is the line of thinking that leads you to say things like, “God is too busy, and this is only important to poor little me.” This kind of thinking is focused on your own self-worth, or lack of it. But the truth is, God is infinite. He is instantly available to everyone of us-and he is interested in every detail of our lives. Scripture tells us that he even numbers the hairs on our head. Imagine that. Whatever might be troubling you right now, it is not too big, and not too small, for Jesus. Nothing is impossible for him. And he has an infinite amount of time just for you Ask him for help. Open your heart and let all your emotions out. He’s big. He can take it. Approach him just like a little child approaching your father-the perfect father, the one without the shortcomings that earthly fathers have-and ask your daddy for what you need. He’s ready to give it to you. Feature Segment: How To Get Better Clients Who Pay More As I mentioned earlier, when I was beginning to build my freelance business I took on too many clients and worked too many hours. This is chiefly because I was not selective about who my clients were, and did not think through how much they were paying me. This key mistake took its toll. It affected my health, my attitude, and even my family relationships. What’s worse, many of the clients I took on during this time were… well… jerks. It seemed that some of them existed only to torture freelancers. These days, my business is totally different. I work well under 40 hours most weeks. .. and I make a lot more money. I enjoy every hour that I do work. And I simply don’t tolerate cheap or annoying clients anymore. One  of the annoying variety occasionally does slip through under the radar, but once I detect them, I am very quick to chase them back across the border. I have 9 suggestions that will help you attract and secure higher-quality clients, who pay you much higher fees than you currently receive. You may be surprised to learn this is easier than it sounds. Suggestion 1: Decide in advance what you want your business and life to look like. Suggestion 2:  Reverse engineer what kind of clients you need to make that happen. Suggestion 3: Define your criteria of what constitutes a good client – in writing. Suggestion 4: Identify the qualities that are evident in a bad client. Suggestion 5: Commit yourself to never again except a bad client. Suggestion 6: Develop a client screening process. Suggestion 7: Script everything at first. Suggestion 8: Confront with love and boldness; use brave communication. Suggestion 9: Kill the monsters while they’re little. Special Announcements I will be making an appearance onstage at James Malinchak’s “Big Money Speaker Bootcamp” December 6-9 in LA. I’m super-excited about this event! I don’t know if you saw ABC’s hit TV show, “Secret Millionaire”…  James was featured on the show. At the Boot Camp, he shares his strategies and tips on how to become a Big Money Speaker. I’m attending the Platform Conference in Nashville. If you do business online, you MUST attend this conference that helps you “get noticed in a noisy world.” It’s being put on by Michael Hyatt and Ken Davis. My friends Stu McLaren and Carrie Wilkerson are speaking. I’m also looking forward to meeting  Jeff Goins, Cliff Ravenscraft, Pat Flynn, Ken Davis, John Saddington, Michele Cushatt, and Andrew Buckman. Unlike most conferences, there’s not a single speaker I’m not excited to hear and to meet. Get a ticket while you can! I am getting tremendous feedback about the “Big Idea, Big Plan” teleseminar I hosted last week with my “mystery guest”. Replay recording available for a short time. My next podcast will be on the topic of “How To Thrive In A Turbulent Economy”. If you have a question about that, please leave me a voicemail message. This is a good way for you to promote your own website, because I will be happy to link to your site in return for you asking a question. Episode Resources Here are links to resources  mentioned during this episode: Tool: Survey Monkey Stu McLaren's personal blog Wishlist Member Would you like to have me speak at your event? Click here to visit my speaking page and get details on my availability. Your Feedback Do you have an idea for a podcast you would like to hear? Do you have a question that you like to ask me? Please send me an email. And if you enjoy the podcast, I would consider it a great favor if you subscribe (and leave a review) in iTunes. This helps new people discover the podcast. You can find the podcast on Stitcher by clicking the logo: Call in your questions or comments to our new, fancy “request line” at (509) 713-2679

If you are tired of struggling to make sales… if it seems your business exists just to blindly run from one promotion to another… if every month you feel like you have to reinvent the wheel to bring in revenue… you're going to love today's podcast! Today, I'm going to give you a quick method to create a marketing plan for the entire year of 2013. The best part is, this is going to be so simple you can fit your entire marketing plan on a single page. Which means, you'll actually do it! Here's the menu for today's episode: A book recommendation that will change the way you learn, and the way you eat. Why you can expect God to provide open doors, new opportunities, and the resources to overcome whatever challenges you may be facing. My quick and easy method for laying out your promotion and marketing calendar for the coming year… boosting your sales and profits, and slashing the amount of work and stress in your life. And I will share a few special announcements. Tip Of The Week Tim Ferris released his new book, The 4-Hour Chef, this past week, and once again made publishing industry. This time, it was because his book was effectively “banned” from most physical bookstores. Tim turned adversity into opportunity, and launched a formidable bookselling campaign like nothing I've ever seen. In the podcast, I discuss the details of this… plus the merits of the book itself. Spiritual Foundations Does God send misfortune to his children (you and me) so we can “learn a lesson”? Or is it appropriate for us to expect good things from our heavenly father? Is God really on our side? What is the proper response when we face trials, and while we are waiting for God's answer? Here is a clue… in the book of Job, at the point where Job had lost everything (his family, his fortune, and his health), Job refused to blame God for his misfortune. The Lord's anger was kindled against Job's friends, who all seemed determined to convince Job that God had allowed or brought these misfortunes upon him. God honored Job's request for his friends to be forgiven. And notice what the text says next: “And the Lord restored the fortunes of Job, WHEN HE HAD PRAYED FOR HIS FRIENDS. And the Lord gave Job twice as much as he had before.” Job 42:10 Don't allow seeming lack in your own situation to prevent you from providing God's abundance to others. Brokering God's supernatural provision for others releases a grace to receive your own. It's worth noting that this demonstration of lavish Grace took place in the old covenant, and according to the Bible we live now under a much better covenant. How To Create A One-Page Marketing Plan The current business environment is not an excuse for under-performing revenue. There are businesses that are doing quite well, thank you very much. So using words like “it's the economy” amounts to little more than pathetic excuse-making. If you are experiencing a downturn in revenue, the answer is-do something different! A good place to start, especially at this time of the year, is with a fresh marketing plan. Here's how to create one quickly and easily… in a way that is almost guaranteed to boost your revenue. First, consider why you need a marketing plan at all. It's really quite simple: no plan, no real destination. What we want to focus on is coming up with the “minimum effective dose”. We're not trying to write the”War and Peace” of marketing plans. Here's how were going to do this: go get a calendar, and a list of holidays taking place in 2013. Listen carefully to the instructions I give you in the podcast itself, and within about an hour, you will have a better marketing plan for the coming year than 90% of business people in America. Think about this: what will happen if you actually carry this exercise out? Special Announcements I will be making an appearance onstage at James Malinchak's “Big Money Speaker Bootcamp” December 6-9 in LA. I'm super-excited about this event! I don't know if you saw ABC's hit TV show, “Secret Millionaire”…  James was featured on the show. At the Boot Camp, he shares his strategies and tips on how to become a Big Money Speaker. I'm attending the Platform Conference in Nashville. If you do business online, you MUST attend this conference that helps you “get noticed in a noisy world.” It's being put on by Michael Hyatt and Ken Davis. My friends Stu McLaren and Carrie Owensby Wilkerson are speaking. I'm also looking forward to meeting  Jeff Goins, Cliff Ravenscraft, Pat Flynn, Ken Davis, John Saddington, Michele Cushatt, and Andrew Buckman. Unlike most conferences, there's not a single speaker I'm not excited to hear and to meet. Get a ticket while you can! Would you like to have me speak at your event? Click here to visit my speaking page and get details on my availability. Your Feedback Do you have an idea for a podcast you would like to hear? Do you have a question that you like to ask me? Please send me an email. And if you enjoy the podcast, I would consider it a great favor if you subscribe (and leave a review) in iTunes. This helps new people discover the podcast. You can find the podcast on Stitcher by clicking the logo: Call in your questions or comments to our new, fancy “request line” at (509) 713-2679 Question: How far in advance do you plan your marketing, and how do you do it? Leave your tips in the comments below.  

In today's podcast, I am spending a lot of time answering one of the most common questions I receive: “Ray, what online business tools or software do you use to run your Internet based business?” I'll go into detail about what online business tools I use, why I chose them, and also be very candid about whether I would make the same choice if I were starting over again today. Specifically, in this episode we will cover the following: I will share my new favorite iPad app, which is a notetaking app with a twist. In Spiritual Foundations, will discuss God's will to heal in all areas of your life. I will go in-depth on the subject of online business tools. I'll get specific, and name names. Stu McLaren shares exactly how frustrations can be the source of million-dollar business ideas. And I will share a few special announcements. Tip Of The Week Some of my own Paper doodles. This week's tip is for another iPad app. This one is called simply Paper. What makes it different from the app I reviewed last week? Paper is more than a notetaking app. It is really intended for artists. It works and feels like, well… paper. Hence the name. Check it out. Spiritual Foundations God's nature is to heal you in every way: “…God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him.” Acts 10:38 Don't fall for the lie that says God made you sick to “teach you something”. That's not who He is! The Best Online Business Tools In the course of running an online business, there are many tools and applications to choose from. I use a lot of different tools in my own business, and I am frequently asked for recommendations about what the best tools to use might be. I am going to supply some very specific answers, and share some of the tools that I use most in my own business. Before I do, however, I want to make a couple of things very clear. First of all, it is rarely the case that the lack of a tool creates the lack of success. In my experience, successful people are successful despite not having the “right tools”. This may sound counter-intuitive. I am not saying that it's wrong to have the best tools available to get the job done. That would be ridiculous. What I am saying is this: if you are using your search for the “perfect tools” as an excuse not to act, you will almost certainly encounter disappointment. Perhaps outright failure. There is no such thing as a “perfect tool”. It's better to start with what you have, from where you are, and do the best job possible. That is what being an entrepreneur is all about. Creating value out of the available resources. The second thing you should be aware of is that I do receive a commission for recommending most of the tools listed here. If that bothers you, feel free to disregard my advice. However, I will say this: I do not recommend any tool that I have not used myself, or that I do not feel will help you. Here is my list of recommended tools, software, and websites. These have helped me build a successful online business, and I believe they can help you do the same. What I'm Using Now… And Most WordPress.org – This is what I recommend almost everyone use to build their website. It's about more than just “blogging”, it is a rocksolid architecture for constructing any website. There is a reason why so many Fortune 500 companies choose to build their website on the WordPress framework. Plus, because of the ability to apply different “themes” to your WordPress site, you can change the look and feel of your website with the touch of a button (or, in this case, the click of a mouse). Just make sure you are running the self hosted version of WordPress, which will be found that WordPress.org. You don't want to build your website on WordPress.com, because you lose a certain amount of control, and also it just looks less professional. DIYthemes.com – This is the company that sells the thesis WordPress theme. Devotees of thesis are almost fanatical in their enthusiasm for this very solid, lightning fast, SEO optimized WordPress theme. While it is very powerful, and very sophisticated, it also comes with a bit of a steeper learning curve than other WordPress themes. But if you are looking for a rock solid framework for your website, this is the place for you. StudioPress.com – The folks at StudioPress are producing some of the most elegant and beautiful WordPress themes available today. They all work with the Genesis framework, which means your WordPress site will be running on a solid foundation that is optimized to get you search engine love. This is a great option for short-cutting the design phase of your website-these things look great right out of the box. InfusionSoft.com – We just switched! This is a very robust and powerful CRM (or customer relationship management) software system, including email followup, direct mail, shopping cart functionality, and more. Infusion allows you to do some very sophisticated marketing, using behavior-based rules, analytics, and automation sequences. If you have a business that is doing $1 million or more in revenue per year, you might well want to consider using this system. It is not cheap, and there is a learning curve to get the most out of it, but it is well worth both of these costs. PayPal – This is the easiest and best way to start taking payments online. PayPal is an established, trusted payment processor, thanks mostly to their very close association with eBay. It's easy to set up an account, and you have direct access to the money as soon as someone pays you. This is where I recommend you start when you're ready to start taking payments online. iPowerPay.com -At some point, you're going to need a real, honest to goodness merchant account. This is an account that lets you take credit cards directly as a means of payment for your products and services. The customer pays using their credit card, and the money is automatically deposited in your bank account a couple days later. The problem is, it's not exactly easy to get a true merchant account for online business. Especially if you're just starting out. This company is the company I use for my own merchant account. It's very inexpensive to get started, and they have a 98% approval rate for all applications (sometimes it feels like other companies have a 98% rejection rate!). These folks truly understand the business of Internet marketing, so you'll never have to feel like you're forced to explain your business to someone who just doesn't “get it”. Highly recommended. BlueHost – This is the place to start when you initially build your website. You will not outgrow this quickly in all likelihood. Even if you experience huge success with your new website, blue host can accommodate your growth a long way down the road. Their prices are excellent (starting at about 7 bucks a month), and their service is just as good. This is where I recommend all beginners start for their web hosting-and more than a few “seasoned veterans” should be able to do quite well with an account at blue host. Opt-in Skin – This is a WordPress plug-in that allows you to design beautiful and response-enhancing opt-in forms for your WordPress powered site. It has many built-in features, including the ability to split test different designs see which will get the most registrations. I've been using it for a while now, and the only criticism I have is that it runs a little slowly when you're trying to design and generate a new form. That, however, is a small price to pay for what this plug-in will do. Scribe Content – This plug-in helps me optimize my blog posts and site content for better placement in the search engines. This is really the only SEO work that I do on my site. Evernote – My absolute favorite app that defies description – but I’ll try: your new omnipresent, universal, non-corporeal notebook. Yep, can’t describe it. Try it. You’ll understand. LastPass  – The last password you will ever need. Remember a single password, and access all of your accounts and sites. DropBox – This vital service allows me to synchronize the folder on my computer with an identical folder in the cloud. What this means is, I can have access to my files anywhere I can access the Internet. I can also share with others. Indispensable tool! Backblaze – This automated backup service makes a complete up-to-the-minute backup of my computer “in the cloud”. That means even if my computer catches on fire and burns to ashes, I can still duplicate it at the click of a button later. Screenflow – I use this tool to make a screen cast recordings that are responsible for so much of my revenue. For instance, when I make sales videos for my own products, I knew Screenflow. When I create the products themselves, I used Screenflow to create the content. And when I am paid to create sales videos for clients, this is the tool that I use. ByWord – A simple, distraction free writing environment that I love. I learned about this gem from Michael Hyatt. Word – I wish it were not so, but sometimes you just have to have Microsoft Word to get the job done. Usually, the “have to” part is because someone else is using it and thus I am forced to use it also. Pages – In my opinion, a much better word processing and page layout program than Microsoft Word. Lean, sleek, and easy-to-use, everyone should just switch now. So I can stop using that other program altogether. OmniFocus – Hands-down the best implementation of GTD I've ever seen in software. I use this every single day. Synthesis – I'm not currently using synthesis WordPress hosting, but I'm very close to making the move. It's mostly a matter of time for me. Their hosting is designed and optimized for WordPress sites. Meaning you get better security, fewer crashes and other problems, and speed. All very important. GetNoticed! WordPress Theme – I am looking forward to testing Michael Hyatt's upcoming WordPress theme. Based on the design of his own popular website, this team is optimized for experts, authors, thought leaders, life coaches, and others who wish to build an online platform for themselves. The theme has not yet been released, but you can sign up to get notified when it is by clicking here. WishlistMember – Plugin that turns WordPress sites into recurring revenue! Online Business Tools I Don't Use, But Do Recommend Here are a few recommendations for services that I don't currently use in my business, but that I have tested and believed to be very useful. In some cases, I am using these tools and services on behalf of clients. In all cases, I believe these to be of the utmost quality and worth your consideration. SquareSpace.com – Until very recently the only platform are recommended for building a website was WordPress. That was until I gave square space a try. While there are many website building services available these days, this is the only one that I would recommend as a way to build your platform website. Their hosting is incredibly sophisticated, and you will probably never outgrow it. It's virtually impossible for you to generate enough traffic to bring one of their websites down. Their built-in design templates will make your site look like a million bucks. Their drag-and-drop interface makes it easy to design your website yourself. If using WordPress intimidates you, and if you don't need to build sophisticated paid membership site, this is worth considering. Not to mention it is very reasonably priced. BigCommerce.com – If I were starting my business again from scratch today, it is very likely that this is the shopping cart system that I would use. But this service is much more than merely a shopping cart, as they offer help with all phases of building a profitable website. If you take full advantage of everything they have to offer, you will end up spending more than a few dollars, but they do very good work. Highly recommended. AWeber – There are many options to choose from for building your e-mail list, delivering messages to them, and tracking the results of your e-mail marketing. This is my top recommendation for anyone just getting started out. These guys take all the hard stuff and do it for you, in the background. They make sure you stay off the spam lists, and they make sure your e-mail gets delivered. They're also relatively inexpensive. You can get started for about 20 bucks a month. 1 ShoppingCart – This is the shopping cart system that I have used for taking online orders and automating product delivery since about 2004. Not only is it a shopping cart, it also features integrated e-mail marketing functions, handles shipping, taxes, and a lot more. This system is relied on by many online marketers, and the folks who own it have worked hard to keep updating it with the features we need to run our businesses. Highly recommended. Woothemes.com – WordPress themes that are stunning to look at, attractive to search engines, and completely easy-to-use. I've worked with a lot of websites that are built using themes from this company, and this is my number one recommendation for you if you are just starting out. I also highly recommend these themes to you even if you're a seasoned pro. MarketSamurai – For doing market research, and finding those profitable keywords for your website to focus on, this is the software you need. It runs on all computers (Mac, PC, and even Linux) and while it is simple to use, it is also very powerful. The Lifestyle Business Segment Stu McLaren returns as our “lifestyle business correspondent”, and this week Stu is sharing his thoughts on how frustration can be the source of million-dollar product ideas. Special Announcements I will be making an appearance onstage at James Malinchak's “Big Money Speaker Bootcamp” December 6-9 in LA. I'm super-excited about this event! I don't know if you saw ABC's hit TV show, “Secret Millionaire”…  James was featured on the show. At the Boot Camp, he shares his strategies and tips on how to become a Big Money Speaker. I'm attending the Platform Conference in Nashville. If you do business online, you MUST attend this conference that helps you “get noticed in a noisy world.” It's being put on by Michael Hyatt and Ken Davis. My friends Stu McLaren and Carrie Owensby Wilkerson are speaking. I'm also looking forward to meeting  Jeff Goins, Cliff Ravenscraft, Pat Flynn, Ken Davis, John Saddington, Michele Cushatt, and Andrew Buckman. Unlike most conferences, there's not a single speaker I'm not excited to hear and to meet. Get a ticket while you can! Would you like to have me speak at your event? Click here to visit my speaking page and get details on my availability. Your Feedback Do you have an idea for a podcast you would like to hear? Do you have a question that you like to ask me? Please send me an email. And if you enjoy the podcast, I would consider it a great favor if you subscribe (and leave a review) in iTunes. This helps new people discover the podcast. You can find the podcast on Stitcher by clicking the logo: Call in your questions or comments to our new, fancy “request line” at (509) 713-2679 Question: What online business tools could you not live without in your business? Leave your tips in the comments below.  

Do you ever feel like a hamster on a wheel? As if you have to keep running to keep your business afloat, and have no option ever stop? If you'd like to start living a different kind of life… a life where you work less, and actually accomplish more, then today's podcast is for you. Tip Of The Week This week's tip is for an iPad app called Notability. This is my favorite new app. It's about so much more than just taking notes. This app does allow you to take notes, but it also gives you the power to share your ideas using Dropbox and other convenient online services. You can combine notes, sketches, and even photos, and it is even a great way to make quick presentations. Plus, I now feel that I can (sometimes) leave my Moleskine behind, because I have Notability on my iPad. Check it out. Spiritual Foundations The secret to having peace and eliminating stress is not simply working hard to eliminate negative thoughts. You have to replace them with something else.: “Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.” Philippians 4:8 Be encouraged that God has provided a way for you to live in peace and to be worry free, even in the midst of terrible circumstances. Think on it! How To Get More Done By Working Less It is entirely possible for almost anyone to get more accomplished in less hours. In fact, I can almost guarantee it. Here are five ways to get more done by working less: 1. Have a hard stop. 2. Stop working Fridays. 3. Work in defined blocks of time. 4. Check email only once per day. 5. Write out a “not to do list”. The Lifestyle Business Stu McLaren returns as our “lifestyle business correspondent”. Special Announcements I will be making an appearance onstage at James Malinchak's “Big Money Speaker Bootcamp” December 6-9 in LA. I'm super-excited about this event! I don't know if you saw ABC's hit TV show, “Secret Millionaire”…  James was featured on the show. At the Boot Camp, he shares his strategies and tips on how to become a Big Money Speaker. Would you like to have me speak at your event? Click here to visit my speaking page and get details on my availability. Your Feedback Do you have an idea for a podcast you would like to hear? Do you have a question that you like to ask me? Please send me an email. And if you enjoy the podcast, I would consider it a great favor if you subscribe (and leave a review) in iTunes. This helps new people discover the podcast. You can find the podcast on Stitcher by clicking the logo: Question: What tips can you share about how to get more done by working less? You can leave a comment below.

I became aware of Jeff Goins through my friends Michael Hyatt and Stu McLaren. Jeff Goins has come “out of nowhere”, and over the last 18 months has taken the blogging world by storm. His blog readership has grown at an incredibly fast pace, and he landed a book deal with a major publisher. How did he do it? That's what we discuss in this week's interview on the podcast. And here's a clue: one of Jeff's favorite sayings is, “Stop waiting to be picked. Pick yourself.” It gets better:  Stu McLaren returns to the podcast this week, sharing with us  on the art of  “lifestyle business”. Want to know a surefire way to grow your business like crazy? You want to hear this segment. Tip Of The Week and Spiritual Foundations This week's tip is a book recommendation, and I have to be right upfront about this: the book was written by my son, Sean Edwards. And it is awesome. Of course, I would say that. But it's a very good book nonetheless. The book is called The End Of Days, and it explains what the Bible actually says about the so-called “last days”. Surprise: what the Bible says is not what you find in the popular “Left Behind” novels and movies. Many Christians seem to think that believers are supposed to “hunker down” and wait for Jesus to come snatch them out of “the world”, which is going to “hell in a handbasket”. This kind of thinking leads Christians to become disengaged from the rest of the world. That's not what Jesus had in mind at all, and this book explains why the “left behind” view of the “end times” is not scriptural. John 3:16 is perhaps the best-known scripture in history. Interestingly, the next verse, John 3:17, is hardly ever quoted along with verse 16. Here's what  the entire passage says: For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. 17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. (emphasis added) John 3:16-17 What if our job as Christians is not to judge the world, but rather to make it better? I recommend you buy this book and read it right away. Interview With Jeff Goins This is an interview filled with insights from writer Jeff Goins. I think you'll find it inspirational, informative, and educational. And you should buy Jeff's book, Wrecked – it's a book worth reading, in a sea of books that aren't. The Lifestyle Business Stu McLaren returns as our “lifestyle business correspondent”. He got a fancy new mic, so he sounds like a million bucks. Special Announcements I will be speaking in Denver, Colorado, November 9-11 at the next JV Alert Live. I'll be sharing the stage with  great marketers including my friends Joel Comm, Rick Butts, Debbie Bermont, and others. You can register for the event using this link, and I would love to connect with you in Denver. If you do register using my link, please let me know. I am thinking about having a special get together just for people I have invited to the event. I would like to get a sense of how many people that may be. Would you like to have me speak at your event? Click here to visit my speaking page and get details on my availability. Your Feedback Do you have an idea for a podcast you would like to hear? Do you have a question that you like to ask me? Please send me an email. And if you enjoy the podcast, I would consider it a great favor if you subscribe (and leave a review) in iTunes. This helps new people discover the podcast. You can find the podcast on Stitcher by clicking the logo: Call in your questions or comments to our new, fancy “request line” at (509) 713-2679 Question: In what ways will you stop waiting, and just “pick yourself”? You can leave a comment below.  

I just got back from speaking at Jeff Walker‘s Product Launch Formula LIVE! event in Phoenix. It was an amazing event, and I learned something While I was there that I must share with you. It's the secret enemy that is stealing your success right out from under you. This is the reason you keep trying and failing. The reason you keep missing the mark with your projects.And I'm going to show you a useful way of clearing the path ahead of you once and for all. Tip Of The Week One of the hardest parts of writing good, persuasive copy is knowing how to start. It's called “writing the lead”. And most copywriting experts agree, 80% of the pulling power of any campaign or promotion is contained in the lead. So getting that right is crucial. I just read a great little book that I enthusiastically recommend on this subject, called Great Leads: The Six Easiest Ways to Start Any Sales Message Spiritual Foundations There is a right way to be persuasive. Patient persuasion can break down the strongest resistance and can even convince rulers. Proverbs 25:15 Here's What's Holding You Back Want to know the secret force that's holding you back? Take a good long look in the mirror. I was sitting in the audience at Jeff Walker's event this past weekend, when my good friend Don Crowther gave a presentation. Part of his talk was about what blocks us from success. And he said the most astounding thing… “There is no one but you keeping you from becoming who you want to be.”-Don Crowther And then Don shared an exercise that I found very helpful. I don't think he really had a name for it, but I'm going to call it the “Seven Day Challenge”. I walk you through the exercise in the podcast (so you'll need to listen to the audio). Special Announcements I will be speaking in Denver, Colorado, November 9-11 at the next JV Alert Live. I'll be sharing the stage with  great marketers including my friends Joel Comm, Rick Butts, Debbie Bermont, and others. You can register for the event using this link, and I would love to connect with you in Denver. If you do register using my link, please let me know. I am thinking about having a special get together just for people I have invited to the event. I would like to get a sense of how many people that may be. Would you like to have me speak at your event? Click here to visit my speaking page and get details on my availability. Your Feedback Do you have an idea for a podcast you would like to hear? Do you have a question that you like to ask me? Please send me an email. And if you enjoy the podcast, I would consider it a great favor if you subscribe (and leave a review) in iTunes. This helps new people discover the podcast. You can find the podcast on Stitcher by clicking the logo: Call in your questions or comments to our new, fancy “request line” at (509) 713-2679 Question: What is your 7 Day Challenge? You can leave a comment below.  

Copywriting can be tricky. As a copywriter, you work hard to follow the proven formulas and structures. You probably do a great job with that. It's not that tough. And yet, sometimes, we can do everything right and the copy still falls flat. Yes, it is even happens to me. It happens all copywriters. Regardless of what they tell you. More on this later in the podcast! Tip Of The Week I was about this close to buying a brand-new MacBook Pro only a week and a half ago.  But then, I decided to try something else instead. No-not a PC!Instead of buying a new computer, I bought extra RAM, and a solid-state drive to replace my computer's original  hard drive.  The results were interesting, and I explain what happened in the podcast episode (so Yep, You have to listen to the audio to get the full story!) I bought my RAM from crucial.com This is the solid-state drive I recommend; everyone seems to agree it's the best. Spiritual Foundations God has engineered so that the best (and really the only) way to accumulate great wealth is being willing to give it away. One gives freely, yet grows all the richer; another withholds what he should give, and only suffers want.  Whoever brings blessing will be enriched, and one who waters will himself be watered. Proverbs 11:24-25 The 21 Reasons People Buy From You Even though people by based on emotion, it is also correct to say they have reasons for buying. The reasons themselves are based in emotion. An understanding of the driving reasons people buy a particular product or service can be key in writing copy that has the desired result (sales.) It is crucial that you understand the reasons why people buy from you-and specify, clarify, amplify, those reasons in your copy. Need Competition Sex Meaning Mission Greed Comfort Experience Pain Fear Significance Connection Love Contribution Control Conformity Loneliness Anger Prevention Addiction Power I am not suggesting you purposefully use these reasons as a way to manipulate your customers and prospects. I am, however, asserting that understanding the motivations that already exist is key to your sales process Special Announcements I am JAZZED to be attending Jeff Walker's Product Launch Formula Live event in Scottsdale, Arizona this weekend. The event is sold out. If you are attending, please make sure and contact me so we can connect at while we're there. I will be speaking in Denver, Colorado, next month at the next JV Alert Live. I'll be sharing the stage with  great marketers including my friends Joel Comm, Rick Butts, Debbie Bermont, and others. You can register for the event using this link, and I would love to connect with you in Denver. If you do register using my link, please let me know. I am thinking about having a special get together just for people I have invited to the event. I would like to get a sense of how many people that may be. Would you like to have me speak at your event? Click here to visit my speaking page and get details on my availability. Your Feedback Do you have an idea for a podcast you would like to hear? Do you have a question that you like to ask me? Please send me an email. And if you enjoy the podcast, I would consider it a great favor if you subscribe (and leave a review) in iTunes. This helps new people discover the podcast. You can find the podcast on Stitcher by clicking the logo: Call in your questions or comments to our new, fancy “request line” at (509) 713-2679 Question: What are the reasons your customers buy from you? You can leave a comment below.  

If your copywriting is not selling enough, maybe it's because you have failed to P.A.S.T.O.R. And I'm not talking about preaching… Copywriting: The Key To Wealth Generation If you can write effective sales copy, you can literally write your own paycheck. There really should be no such thing as a “broke copywriter”. By definition, good copywriters can create money out of thin air. So why does copy so often fail? Copywriting Fails When You Ignore Universal Principles There are universal psychological triggers that help you sell more effectively.  Certainly, there are universal principles to writing persuasive sales copy. After all, as John E. Kennedy taught us, copywriting is mere “salesmanship in print” You can hardly “swing a cat” without hitting a copywriter who has a “formula” for writing copy. Most of these formulas are actually quite good. The one I'm going to share with you today, though, is intentionally based on these universal principles. To Sell More, P.A.S.T.O.R. Your Customers Most people associate the term “pastor” with the preacher at church. While this is certainly true in most cases, the original meaning of the word “pastor” was actually “to shepherd”. And what does the shepherd do? He or she cares for, feeds, and protects the flock. Now, before we go any further, I should address the habit that some marketers have of referring to their customers as their “herd”. It seems to paint an unflattering picture. This kind of imagery is not what I am invoking here. The actual role of a shepherd is a loving, caring, and protective one. In fact, Jesus, who called himself the “Good Shepherd”, actually laid down his life for his flock. I am certainly not suggesting any religious overtones for your copy: what I am suggesting is that you adopt the same loving, caring, and protective role as you write copy for your prospects and customers. And, as you might've guessed, P.A.S.T.O.R. is also an acronym for pieces of your copy. Here is the explanation: “P” is for PROBLEM “A” is for AMPLIFY “S” is for STORY and SOLUTION “T” is for TRANSFORMATION and TESTIMONY “O” is for OFFER “R” is for RESPONSE If you apply the mindset of being a shepherd to your readers, and you follow the sequence of the P.A.S.T.O.R formula, my prediction is you will experience more sales, more profits, and more happy customers… more often. Spiritual Foundations When we pray, something always happens. The key is to look for what's happening. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. Philippians 4:6 Special Announcements I am very excited to be attending Jeff Walker's Product Launch Formula Live event in Scottsdale, Arizona next week. The event is sold out. If you are attending, please make sure and contact me so we can connect at while we're there. I will be speaking in Denver, Colorado, next month at the next JV Alert Live. I am very pleased to be sharing the stage with other great marketers including my friend Joel Comm and Rick Butts, Debbie Bermont, and others. This is a wonderful event at which to meet like-minded people, network, and find joint venture partners. You can register for the event using this link, and I would love to connect with you in Denver. If you do register using my link, please let me know. I am thinking about having a special get together just for people I have invited to the event. I would like to get a sense of how many people that may be. Would you like to have me speak at your event? Click here to visit my speaking page and get details on my availability. Your Feedback Do you have an idea for a podcast you would like to hear? Do you have a question that you like to ask me? Please send me an email. And if you enjoy the podcast, I would consider it a great favor if you subscribe (and leave a review) in iTunes. This helps new people discover the podcast. You can find the podcast on Stitcher by clicking the logo: Call in your questions or comments to our new, fancy “request line” at (509) 713-2679 Question: How will you apply the PASTOR formula this week? You can leave a comment below.  

You don't have enough money, and I'm going to show you how to get it from the most unlikely place-your own brain! That's right, there is money inside your brain. The trick is knowing how to get it out of there. There are two “games” you have to master if you want your brain to start producing money for you. Those two games are: 1. The “inner game” of money-getting 2. The “outer game” of money-getting This may sound ridiculously obvious, but it is very important to master both of these games if you want to put an end to your cashflow quandary. Let's tackle them one at a time. The “Inner Game” of Money-Getting The “inner game” refers to your core beliefs, attitudes, and emotions about the subject of money. This can go deeper than you think. Specifically, you want to examine: Your beliefs about money and it's nature Your beliefs about your own worthiness “Incantations” you may use to reinforce your beliefs Emotions tied to money This “inner game”, when taken as a whole, serves as a kind of “thermostat” for your economic condition at any given time. We each have a “money setpoint”. It operates just like a thermostat. Go over the setpoint, and you will subconsciously adjust your income back to the setpoint. Dip below the setpoint, and you will begin to subconsciously do things that will bring your income back up to that level. The question you need to ponder: can I consciously readjust just my setpoint? The “Outer Game” of Money-Getting Once you have your “inner game” in order, and you're no longer driving with one foot on the gas and one foot on the brakes, you can begin to pay attention to the “outer game”. This refers to the external actions you must take to bring more money to your life. The getting of money is a skill, and like any skill it can be acquired, improved, and refined. Most people spend about zero time doing any of these things. There are so many ways to get money that the biggest problem in teaching you how to do it is choosing just one. Information Marketing As a Money-Getting Method Selling information, as I have proposed elsewhere, is absolutely the best business you can be in. It requires little to no capital expenditure to start a business selling information, there is little or no overhead, no employees required, and very little risk. Let's run with this idea. The process, grossly simplified, for taking an idea (something inside your brain), externalizing it, and turning it into money, is something like this: Identify a “market” (a specific group of people, similar in nature, who share a common set of needs, wants, and problems). Identify a “pain point” shared by a large number of those people. Match the “pain point” with information, talent, or skill that you already possess or can easily acquire. Having acquired the information that relieves the pain your market is experiencing, turn that information into a salable form: audio, video, book, e-book, etc. Create a website (using WordPress) that magnetically draws people to its front doorstep, compels them to surrender their contact information for free resources, and then markets to them on a sequential basis until they buy your information. Spread the word about your fancy new website using search engine optimization, social media marketing, and yes -gasp! – even paid advertising. Test relentlessly, improve ruthlessly, repeat endlessly. It really is that simple. Yes, there are details that perhaps you're unfamiliar with. Allowing yourself to get stuck in such questions as, “How do I identify the market? How do I do WordPress? What are social media marketing methods?” etc. is a dead-end and an excuse to avoid doing the actual work. All that stuff is merely details. It can be figured out. It has been figured out by lesser people than you. Refuse to get mired in details. True entrepreneurs don't get stuck in that place. People who like to pretend they are entrepreneurs do. If the previous statement upsets you, don't feel condemned or convicted by it. Merely change your behavior to match the outcome you really want. The 30 Day Brain Money Challenge I invite you to accept a challenge. The challenge is simple: in the next 30 days, starting today, do what is necessary to take an idea from your brain and turn it into money. The challenge is no more complicated than that. It is simple. Of course, simple does not mean synonymous with “easy”. But what if you did set your intention to get money out of your brain in the next 30 days? If you are already in the information marketing business, and you are already making a profit, what if you challenged your brain to produce more money than it ever has before? What might be the outcome of excepting such a challenge? Spiritual Foundations Be careful what you focus on – and especially avoid fear, anger, and confusion. “…for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.” 2 Timothy 1:7 Special Announcements I am very excited to be attending Jeff Walker's Product Launch Formula Live event in Scottsdale, Arizona at the end of this month. The event will likely be sold out by the time this podcast is published. If you are attending, please make sure and contact me so we can connect at the event. I would really love to meet you there, and spend some time getting to know you. I will also be speaking in Denver, Colorado, next month at the next JV Alert Live. I am very pleased to be sharing the stage with other great marketers including my friend Joel Comm and Rick Butts, Debbie Bermont, and others. This is a wonderful event at which to meet like-minded people, network, and find joint venture partners. You can register for the event using this link, and I would love to connect with you in Denver. If you do register using my link, please let me know. I am thinking about having a special get together just for people I have invited to the event. I would like to get a sense of how many people that may be. Would you like to have me speak at your event? Click here to visit my speaking page and get details on my availability. Your Feedback Do you have an idea for a podcast you would like to hear? Do you have a question that you like to ask me? Please send me an email. And if you enjoy the podcast, I would consider it a great favor if you subscribe (and leave a review) in iTunes. This helps new people discover the podcast. You can find the podcast on Stitcher by clicking the logo: Call in your questions or comments to our new, fancy “request line” at (509) 713-2679 Question: What is your action plan for getting money from your brain in the next 30 days? You can leave a comment below.  

Joint Ventures are a hot topic. There is a lot of talk in the Internet marketing community about how to “JV”.  This past weekend, I was a featured speaker at JV Alert Live conference In San Diego.  Talking with so many people about their concept of what a “joint venture” really is led me to create this weeks podcast. In this episode we will discuss: what a joint venture is how to create joint ventures pitfalls to avoid. I also have a couple of great interviews that I gathered while I was at the conference. We will hear from our Lifestyle Business correspondent, Stu McLaren. Finally, for those who are a bit geeky, I will tell you about my new mobile podcasting rig. This Week's Tip For my recent trip to San Diego, I knew I wanted to do some recording for the podcast. But I wanted to keep the audio quality high level, without taking my regular studio gear. Therefore, I invested in a couple of microphones – specifically, the Audio-Technica ATR2100. These mics render superior sound, and they are very inexpensive. Listen to the podcast for a sound comparison, and see if you can tell the difference between my $400 microphone (the Heil PR40), and the $48 Audio-Technica ATR2100. I also took along a ZOOM digital recorder and a Behringer mixer. Spiritual Foundations Modern Christianity is indeed about signs and wonders… they see our signs, and it makes them wonder! Nobody knows what we're for only what we're against when we judge the wounded What if we put down our signs crossed over the lines and loved like You did Casting Crowns, “Jesus Friend of Sinners” Who are you to pass judgment on the servant of another? It is before his own master that he stands or falls. And he will be upheld, for the Lord is able to make him stand. Romans 14:4 Lifestyle Business Correspondent This week we have another segment from Stu McLaren Feature Story: How To Do Joint Ventures Why are Joint Ventures important? What is a Joint Venture? How to “do” Joint Ventures What to avoid ”Networking is mostly about showing genuine interest in other people.” Click To Tweet This Quote Announcements Plugs for audio shout-outs, either MP3 or call in at (509) 713-2679 Plugs for hosting accounts using this link. Follow Ray on Twitter and friend Ray on Facebook SUBSCRIPTION LINKS If you have enjoyed this podcast, please subscribe (and leave a review) in iTunes. You can find the podcast on Stitcher by clicking the logo: Call in your questions or comments to our new, fancy “request line” at (509) 713-2679 Question for you: What has your experience been with “joint ventures”? Comment below, or call in at (509) 713-2679  

There is one business that is the very best business for almost anyone to start. And the time to start it is now. That's what this week's podcast is about. As you know, I write this blog and do these podcasts with the intention of helping people start, run, and grow an Internet-based business. I believe people who feel drawn to do such things are drawn by their Creator. That God placed things within you that cause you to want to be in business.  I don't feel this is any less spiritual than people who are “called” to go into ministry. This Week's Tip Put good stuff into your head. The best way I can think of to do that is listen to good, instructional, inspirational podcasts. Here is a list of the podcasts that I have on my “must listen to every episode” list: Michael Hyatt, This Is Your Life Cliff Ravenscraft, The Podcast Answer Man Erik J Fisher, Beyond The To Do List Dan Miller, 48 Days Robert Plank, The Robert Plank Show Derek Halpern, Social Triggers Insider Pat Flynn, Smart Passive Income Joseph Prince Podcast Bethel Church Sermon Of The Week Spiritual Foundations There is no division between “sacred and secular” for believers! Bondservants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh, not with eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but in sincerity of heart, fearing God. And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ. Colossians 3:22-24 (NKJV) Lifestyle Business Correspondent This week we introduce a new segment, featuring my good friend Stu McLaren Feature Story: The Very Best Business For Anyone To Start The best business for anyone to start, in my opinion, is the business of selling information. Here are 10 reasons why that is true: Low Startup Cost High Revenue Low Operating Cost No Inventory No Manufacturing Cost No Employees No Capital Risk No Receivables No Face to Face Selling Automation 5 Variations on Information Marketing Business Approaches Digital Products Digital + Physical Products Digital + Physical Products + Coaching Digital + Physical Products + Coaching + Live Events Digital + Physical Products + Coaching + Live Events  + Licensing ”The very best business for anyone to start right now is the business of selling information.” Click To Tweet This Quote Listener Questions Marshall Bone asks about “Joint Ventures”. Stacey Fisher asks about “Strategic Partnerships” Announcements Plugs for audio shout-outs, either MP3 or call in at (509) 713-2679 Plugs for hosting accounts using this link. Follow Ray on Twitter and friend Ray on Facebook SUBSCRIPTION LINKS If you have enjoyed this podcast, please subscribe (and leave a review) in iTunes. You can find the podcast on Stitcher by clicking the logo: Call in your questions or comments to our new, fancy “request line” at (509) 713-2679 Question for you: Are you in the Information Marketing Business? Why or why not? Comment below, or call in at (509) 713-2679  

A lot has been written and said about writing  copy that sells. Today's podcast goes beyond the basics and provides a framework that allows you to be predictably persuasive, whether you're writing sales copy, giving a speech, or writing a blog post. This Week's Tip One of the new podcasts I'm listening to is Beyond The To Do List with Erik J Fisher – it's a keeper! Spiritual Foundations If you want God to bless you financially, give Him something to work with! So he who had received five talents came and brought five other talents, saying, “Lord, you delivered to me five talents; look, I have gained five more talents besides them.” His lord said to him, “Well done, good and faithful servant…” Matthew 25:20–21 Feature Story: How To Be Predictably Persuasive Persuasion is important to master if you think you might ever need to: Get a date Get a job Make a sale Win an argument Change someone's mind Land a new client Raise a child Raise money for a cause Buy something Sell something Or influence anyone in any way The key to being persuasive is really not in some magic phrases or tricky manipulation – but in principles that never fail to work. There are basic foundational ideas that will serve to make you more persuasive – with predictable results. Calibrate your expectations and clarify your outcome Know the person you're attempting to persuade. Demonstrate non-manipulative empathy. Know where they score on the Persuasion Awareness Scale Test (P.A.S.T.): Know, Care, Considering, Pain Appeal to the four learning styles: Why, What, How, What If Answer any and all questions that stand in the way of transformation. Create an environment that invites decision. ”The easiest way to persuade someone is using what is already persuading them.” Click To Tweet This Quote Announcements Plugs for audio shout-outs, either MP3 or call in at (509) 713-2679 Plugs for hosting accounts using this link. Follow Ray on Twitter and friend Ray on Facebook SUBSCRIPTION LINKS If you have enjoyed this podcast, please subscribe (and leave a review) in iTunes. You can find the podcast on Stitcher by clicking the logo: Call in your questions or comments to our new, fancy “request line” at (509) 713-2679 Question for you: Do you have tips (or opinions) about ethical persuasion? Comment below, or call in at (509) 713-2679  

The key to having all the joy and fulfillment you want from your business and your life is: being clear on your core values. Paul Evans is clear, and in this episode he shares his philosophy on how to make more, give more, and live more. In that order. This Week's Tip ProCamera turns your iPhone into the camera you WANT it to be. Spiritual Foundations The way to get the free from stress is to work… but work at what? Let us therefore be zealous and exert ourselves and strive diligently to enter that rest [of God, to know and experience it for ourselves], that no one may fall or perish by the same kind of unbelief and disobedience .. Hebrews 4:11 (Amplified Bible) Feature Story: How To Make More, Give More, And Live More This week I bring you an amazing interview with Paul Evans. In this interview, you'll discover: How to “live your mission”. Paul's unique philosophy of how to make more… so you can give more… and live more. The jaw-dropping story of how Paul's wife died in his arms…and the amazing nature of what happened next. How you can be at least three times as productive using Paul's startlingly simple system. The audio on Paul's voice is a little…unusual. Just get past that and listen to what he is saying. You'll be glad you did. Announcements Plugs for audio shout-outs, either MP3 or call in at (509) 713-2679 Plugs for hosting accounts using this link. Follow Ray on Twitter and friend Ray on Facebook   SUBSCRIPTION LINKS You can find the podcast on Stitcher by clicking the logo: If you have enjoyed this podcast, please subscribe (and leave a review) in iTunes. Call in your questions or comments to our new, fancy “request line” at (509) 713-2679 Question for you: What philosophy do YOU live by? Comment below, or call in at (509) 713-2679  

You can take your business from idea to recurring income in a very short period of time (sometimes even mere days!) And if you plan it right, you can do the work once and get paid over and over, month after month. This episode outlines a plan for how to do just that – use the internet to create recurring income. This Week's Tip Wistia offers more control, better quality, and better analytics for your videos. Spiritual Foundations Think abundantly – God does! There is one who scatters, yet increases more; and there is one who withholds more than is right, but it leads to poverty. Proverbs 11:24 Feature Story: How To Build Recurring Internet Income The only thing better than creating income from the Internet, is creating income that shows up every month, like clockwork. This doesn't have to happen by chance; it can be engineered consciously. That's what this week's episode is all about. The key thing to remember is that most people make this more complicated than it needs to be. It's really quite simple, and can be boiled down to seven steps. Build a tribe. Find out what they (a) want and (b) need. Sell a product that sells itself. Sell a product people need (and want) every month. Use WordPress, Clickbank, and Wishlist to run your business. Promote your site. Repeat as needed. Listener Questions Robert Plank asks about how I make this podcast. Announcements Plugs for audio shout-outs, either MP3 or call in at (509) 713-2679 Plugs for hosting accounts using this link. Follow Ray on Twitter and friend Ray on Facebook   SUBSCRIPTION LINKS You can find the podcast on Stitcher by clicking the logo: If you have enjoyed this podcast, please subscribe (and leave a review) in iTunes. Call in your questions or comments to our new, fancy “request line” at (509) 713-2679 Question for you: Do you already have recurring income? If not, what holds you back? Comment below, or call in at (509) 713-2679  

The way you think affects the way you act – and that affects everything in your life. Today I want to share with you five “mindsets” (ways of thinking) that murder your business. And yes, I'll tell you how to avoid these profit-killers.  This Week's Tips Build a membership site in five minutes and fewer clicks with Wishlist. Spiritual Foundations When God is your caretaker and protector, you won't lack for anything.  “The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.” Psalm 23 Feature Story: Five Mindsets That Murder Your Business My problems come from outside. People are rational. Everyone needs my product. Success takes a long time. I'll do it tomorrow. Listener Questions Announcements Plugs for audio shout-outs, either MP3 or call in at (509) 713-2679 Plugs for hosting accounts using this link. Follow Ray on Twitter and friend Ray on Facebook   SUBSCRIPTION LINKS You can find the podcast on Stitcher by clicking the logo: If you have enjoyed this podcast, please subscribe (and leave a review) in iTunes. Call in your questions or comments to our new, fancy “request line” at (509) 713-2679 Question for you: Have you ever fallen for any of these “deadly mindsets”? Comment below, or call in at (509) 713-2679  

Sometimes all of our fancy business goals boil down to this: “I need more money.” What do you do, when you need more money, immediately? That's what today's podcast is all about. This Week's Tips Check out Nancy Duarte's book Resonate on the iPad. It is amazing. Spiritual Foundations God will deliver you from all your troubles, but deliverance is not the best that he has in store for you.  “He shall deliver you in six troubles, yes, in seven no evil shall touch you.” Job 5:19 Feature Story: How To Make More Money Immediately First, get outside your comfort zone. Become physically active. Make a list. Be willing to do whatever it takes. Listener Questions Announcements Plugs for audio shout-outs, either MP3 or call in at (509) 713-2679 Plugs for hosting accounts using this link. Follow Ray on Twitter and friend Ray on Facebook   SUBSCRIPTION LINKS You can find the podcast on Stitcher by clicking the logo: If you have enjoyed this podcast, please subscribe (and leave a review) in iTunes. Call in your questions or comments to our new, fancy “request line” at (509) 713-2679 Question for you: Have you ever needed “more money immediately”? Comment below, or call in at (509) 713-2679  

We all have these things that crop up called “problems” – in today's podcast I share some “real life”, and advice on how to pulverize your so-called problems and turn them into opportunities. This Week's Tips Booklover? You're gonna love goodreads the app! Spiritual Foundations When you have problems – be glad!  “My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.” James 1:2-4 Even science backs up Scripture… “Being thankful and positive has great effects on the brain & immune system! Remember, your attitude affects you, not just those around you!” Dr. Caroline Leaf Feature Story: How To Pulverize Your Problems Celebrate Ask yourself the “Problem-Solving Questions” (see below) Look for the upgrade Be proactive Let go Tony Robbins' Problem-Solving Questions What’s GREAT about this? or What could be great about this? What’s not perfect YET? (presupposing that it is going to be perfect) What am I WILLING TO DO to make it the way that I want it? What am I WILLING TO NO LONGER DO in order to make things the way that I want? How can I do what is necessary to get the job done and ENJOY the process? Listener Questions Keller Coleman asks how to persist in the tough times. Angela Wood wants to know how to write in someone else's voice. Todd Bray asks how to get clients to see reason! Antoine McCoy asks about an upcoming live event. Announcements Plugs for audio shout-outs, either MP3 or call in at (509) 713-2679 Plugs for hosting accounts using this link. Follow Ray on Twitter and friend Ray on Facebook   SUBSCRIPTION LINKS You can find the podcast on Stitcher by clicking the logo: If you have enjoyed this podcast, please subscribe (and leave a review) in iTunes. Call in your questions or comments to our new, fancy “request line” at (509) 713-2679 Question for you: How do you face problems? Comment below, or call in at (509) 713-2679  

Attending conferences can pay big dividends – in today's podcast I explain 7 reasons why you should attend conferences. This Week's Tips Use the  iMovie app on your iPad or iPhone to make killer marketing videos fast. http://youtu.be/SbJHKIN5e2w Spiritual Foundations When you have problems – be glad!  “My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.” James 1:2-4 Even science backs up Scripture… “Being thankful and positive has great effects on the brain & immune system! Remember, your attitude affects you, not just those around you!” Dr. Caroline Leaf Feature Story: 7 Reasons To Attend Conferences There's always something new to learn. Conferences are the best place to network. A new environment stimulates creativity. The “immersion factor”. Being seen is important and useful. It's the fastest way to get new clients. Attending conferences can lead to speaking opportunities Those are just 7reasons – there are many more. Announcements Plugs for audio shout-outs, either MP3 or call in at (509) 713-2679 Plugs for hosting accounts using this link. Follow Ray on Twitter and friend Ray on Facebook   SUBSCRIPTION LINKS You can find the podcast on Stitcher by clicking the logo: If you have enjoyed this podcast, please subscribe (and leave a review) in iTunes. Call in your questions or comments to our new, fancy “request line” at (509) 713-2679 Question for you: How do you get value from attending conferences? Comment below, or call in at (509) 713-2679  

If you are a business owner, freelancer, consultant, solo professional, or have any desire to be a leader of any kind – you need to blog. This Week's Tips LastPass – the last password you'll ever need to remember. Spiritual Foundations If you're continually beating yourself up about your shortcomings, here's good news! “For if by the one man’s offense death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.” Romans 5:17 Feature Story: 5 Reasons You Should Blog It's good for business. It wasn't always this way. When I started blogging, it didn't take long for me to realize blogging was building my business, too. I get a steady flow of new business from people who say something like, “Well, I started reading your blog and finally decided I would call you.” Self-expression. Once upon a time, I was a radio DJ. Highly-rated, successful, and loving it. Being on the radio was my own personal megaphone. It was my way of being heard. Now I get that same satisfaction from blogging. You can too. Now everyone's a DJ! Building a relationship with my readers. There's nothing like a blog (and a podcast) to build a relationship with your readers. My blog is the source of most of the conversations I have with my readers. Marketing. I know there are many who say you can't “monetize” a blog. Really? My own blog has brought me… well, let's call it “a substantial amount” of revenue. And I don't even use Adsense (as of this writing). And there are many examples of money-making blogs. Record Of My Thinking. Blogging is a way of distilling my thoughts and preserving them. Doing it publicly forces me to step up my game. Those are just 5 reasons – there are dozens more. Announcements Plugs for audio shout-outs, either MP3 or call in at (509) 713-2679 Plugs for hosting accounts using this link. Follow Ray on Twitter and friend Ray on Facebook   SUBSCRIPTION LINKS You can find the podcast on Stitcher by clicking the logo: If you have enjoyed this podcast, please subscribe (and leave a review) in iTunes. Call in your questions or comments to our new, fancy “request line” at (509) 713-2679 Question for you: How about you? Do you blog – and if so, why? Comment below, or call in at (509) 713-2679