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.