Ray Edwards Show

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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