Ray Edwards Show

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.