Ray Edwards Show

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. 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