Ray Edwards Show

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.