Ray Edwards Show

Who are “Internet Marketers”, and how do they get it wrong? There is a very distinct group of online entrepreneurs that are referred to as “Internet Marketers”, as opposed to the general online population of business people who do marketing. And within this distinct group, there are some common practices that will lead you to disaster… in this episode, I'll show you how to avoid that problem. Here's what else is up in this week's podcast episode: The app that made me a journal keeper… against my will.  Is there a time to stop crying out to God? Stu McLaren is back with advice on living well. Plus, our feature presentation… 5 Traps “Internet Marketers” Fall Into. Special Announcements This weekend is the 3-Day Live Intensive,  April 5-7 in Phoenix. Get your ticket right now – click here. Would you like to have me speak at your event or church? I am accepting a limited number of engagements for 2013.  Click here to visit my speaking page and get details on my availability. Tip Of The Week If you've ever wanted to keep it journal, but just never been able to stick with it, you might want to try DayOne. Spiritual Foundations Is there ever a time to stop “crying out to God” and start taking some action? Consider this story from Exodus: The Lord said to Moses, “Why do you cry to me? Tell the people of Israel to go forward. Lift up your staff, and stretch out your hand over the sea and divide it, that the people of Israel may go through the sea on dry ground.” Exodus 14:15-16 God gave Moses authority. That's what the staff in his hand represented. So when Moses had the people crying out to God, the Lord asked Moses why. And then God told him to have the people go forward, and exercise his authority. As partakers in the new covenant, we also have authority. It comes to us in the name of Jesus Christ. If you feel that you're caught between “the devil and the deep blue sea”, perhaps it's time to stop crying out to God, and start exercising your authority as a royal priest, and in the name of Jesus Christ. Lifestyle Business Segment Stu McLaren,  superstar entrepreneur from WishList Products And RhinoSupport, brings us our Lifestyle Business Segment. This week, Stu tackles the subject of living well. Feature Segment: 5 Traps “Internet Marketers” Get Caught In When I use the term “Internet Marketers” in this particular episode, I'm referring to that curious group of folks who can be described like this: marketers who sell marketing stuff to marketers, who then sell marketing stuff to marketers, who sell… you get the idea. Now I am not saying that Internet Marketers are bad people, or that there is anything wrong with this particular niche. In fact, I believe quite the contrary. I do believe there are some common pitfalls that many people in this niche encounter. And today, I'm going to outline five traps Internet Marketers get caught in. I think you can en joy great success either as an Internet Marketer yourself, or by learning from Internet Marketing experts… if you avoid these five traps. The Internet Marketing MLM Trap. Please don't flame me, I'm not criticizing multilevel marketing companies that sell on the Internet. But within that industry (the MLM industry) there are many scams. Most of them are some version of “selling the dream to people who then sell the dream to other people”… And nobody is selling any actual product. The same happens in Internet marketing. The Copycat Trap. This is the bane of “how to” content creation. If all you are teaching is “how to” it quickly becomes indistinguishable from “me too”. The antidote is moving beyond mere knowledge, and producing Wisdom. The Hamster Wheel Trap. Instead of creating foundational products, and building a marketing system, entrepreneurs stuck in this trap are having to produce the “product of the week”. Always a new pitch. Always a new topic. Very tiring. The Hyperbolic Intensifier Trap. We get the word “height” from the word “hyperbole”. When you are creating commodity products and information, the only way to fight the competition war is by exaggerating the benefits of your own product. You have to intensify your hyperbole until eventually, you're just telling lies. The Spirit of Mammon Trap. Call it greed. Call it avarice. Jesus called it Mammon. This comes from a Greek word that seems to imply the personification of a spiritual force behind the worship of money. “Do not love the money and use people. Instead, use money to love people.”-Joseph Prince These traps can sneak up on you. Keep your eyes open, stay well away from these, and enjoy more success and fulfillment. Not to mention sounder sleep. Your Feedback Do you have an idea for a podcast you would like to hear? Do you have a question that you like to ask me? Please contact me. And 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 podcast. You can also find the podcast on Stitcher.  

If you have ever felt the pressure of multiple converging deadlines, or simply too much to do and not enough time to do it all… I've got good news! There is a way to get out of overwhelm and into stress-free productivity. In this week's episode, I will help you implement a three-step process to get out of overwhelm and into action. Here's what else is up in this week's podcast episode: The secret to recording your iPad or iPhone screen.  Is God willing to help you with your problem? Finally, the return of Stu McLaren and the Lifestyle Business segment. Plus, our feature presentation… A Three-Step Process to Get Out Of Overwhelm. Special Announcements Time is almost up on the 3-Day Live Intensive,  April 5-7 in Phoenix. Get your ticket right now – click here. Special paid webinar next Tuesday, called “2 Hour Copy”. Learn more here. Would you like to have me speak at your event or church? I am accepting a limited number of engagements for 2013.  Click here to visit my speaking page and get details on my availability. Tip Of The Week ReflectorApp lets you “AirPlay mirror your iPhone 4S, iPad 2 or the new iPad to any Mac or PC, wirelessly.” In other words, you can record your iPhone or iPad screen! It's just $12.99 Spiritual Foundations You probably believe God can do anything… but do you believe He will? Or that He is willing? How about this story… And behold, a leper came and worshiped Him, saying, “Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean.” Then Jesus put out His hand and touched him, saying, “I am willing; be cleansed.” Immediately his leprosy was cleansed. Matthew 8:2–3 Jesus showed that He was not only willing, but did the most amazing thing – he touched the leper. This points out the Lord's compassion, of course, and also the difference between the Old and New Covenants. In the Old Covenant, if you touched the leper, you became unclean. In the New Covenant, Jesus touches the leper and the leper becomes clean. Jesus was wiling – but is He willing in your case? Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Hebrews 13:8 Whatever your need, Jesus is willing. Be certain of that. And don't feel you are disqualified because of things you worry make you unclean. When Jesus touches you, you are made clean! Lifestyle Business Segment It's the return of Stu McLaren! This week Stu answers the question: what is the value of connecting, really? Feature Segment: A Three-Step Process to Get Out Of Overwhelm It happens to all of us. We get into a situation where it feels as though we’re faced with multiple deadlines, crisis situations, and a calendar that is jam-packed… And it just feels impossible to meet all the demands. How do you get out of a situation like that? Of course, I am speaking from personal experience. As I am writing this, I am facing one of the busiest seasons of my life. I have a conference that I am hosting coming up in less than two weeks, I have a couple of crucial client projects I’m working on, a client and friend I am partnering with on a very important project, three books in development, this blog, the weekly podcast, and multiple commitments in my church and ministry. Many of these activities have deadlines that have, through one series of events or another, coalesced to come due at the same time. Let me start by saying that I’m not complaining. The time pressure that I’m experiencing is almost exclusively brought on by fantastic opportunities that I am extremely grateful for. Nevertheless, I feel the stress of thinking that I’m going to let someone down. So what do I do in a situation like this? And more importantly, and the reason you are most likely reading this post, what do you do in a situation like this? I actually have a strategy that works. I’ve already applied it to my situation, and I can tell you that if you will follow the steps I’m about to outline for you, you’ll discover that you can relieve the pressure, meet your obligations, and be at peace. Get Clear about Your Commitments. This step alone will bring you some psychological relief. I tell you this because many of us are reluctant to go through the step of defining our commitments, afraid of what will find. Trust me when I tell you that knowing what you’re committed to is much less stressful than having a vague, nagging suspicion that some things are falling through the cracks.I recommend getting a clean legal pad, a pen you enjoy writing with, and some sort of timer (I just use the timer on my iPhone).Pile up every piece of paper, note card, scratch pad, mail item, everything in your inbox… All of the “stuff” that carries any sort of potential commitment. Just put it in a pile. Make sure you have access to your email inbox. You also need to have your calendar, whether that is a Franklin planner, your iPhone, or whatever calendaring system you use.Now, starting with the physical stuff, pick up the first item on top of the pile and decide what to do with it, either do it (if it takes two minutes or less), defer it (schedule it for later, writing into your calendar), delegate it (and it off to someone else and make a note in your calendar about when to check back in with them on this particular issue), or delete it (throw it away). When you’re finished going through your physical stuff, there should be no that left.Anything you need to keep for reference should be filed quickly and without lingering over. This is the reason for the timer-you’ve got to make this step quick. Do not get distracted on the rabbit trails. Don’t give yourself more than an hour total for this entire exercise. Next, move to your email inbox and go through the same process. As you go through this entire exercise, things will spring to mind that you need to do. Note them on your legal pad. The goal of going through this is that you clear all the physical “stuff” off your desk, you clear your inbox to zero, and you track all your commitments either on your calendar or your legal pad. Now you have a good idea of what you are actually committed to. Breathe a sigh of relief. Assign a Priority To Everything You Are Committed to. This is where David Allen and I part company. He is not a fan of the ABC prioritization system. But I have found that in situations where deadlines are crowded and crucial, prioritization is necessary. Only assign an “A” priority to items that are both urgent and important-things that must be done, and they must be done by a date that is getting close.Items that are important but not urgent (in other words, the date is not closing in on you like a freight train) get a “B” priority. I will warn you that this category is the one that will sneak up on you. By which I mean you’ll be tempted to load everything else on your list into the “B” category. I advise you in the strongest possible terms not to do that. Only put items in this category that are truly important. This is going to leave you with some “C” items… And these are the things that are neither urgent nor important. Consider just scratching them off your list altogether. If they are not urgent, and they are not important, why on earth are you committed to them? If you find items on this list that you just can’t let go of, put them on a “maybe” list. That way you will know you haven’t lost them, that you can always refer back to them, and you can admit that you may never do them. Mark Your Impending Deadlines on the Calendar. Identify which project or task comes up first on your physical calendar, and start working on that item first. Don’t work on anything else-and I do mean anything else-until this item is complete or until you hit a stopping point.I define a stopping point as any point at which you can no longer make progress until something happens that you are not in control of. Maybe you are waiting for data from a colleague, perhaps there is a phone call that is scheduled and you can’t proceed until after that call, etc. Once you have either finished this first task or project, or you can no longer make forward progress on it, move to the next item that shows up as a deadline on your calendar. Avoid the temptation to even look at your “B” list. Two Key Pieces of Advice Fight the Resistance As If Your Life Depended on It. “The resistance” is the force that tries to distract you, too stop you from getting work done, or otherwise stand in the way of your accomplishing your goals.Steven Pressfield wrote about this in his wonderful book, The War of Art. My friend Michael Hyatt has written extensively about “the resistance”p on his blog.The Resistance is what convinces you that even though you have an important project you need to work on, now would be a good time to go get your hair cut. Or go to the post office. Or clean your desk. Or workout. Or do anything except the one thing you know you absolutely should be doing. If you want to get out of the feeling of stress and overwhelm you must not only fight the resistance, you must wrestle it to the ground and choke the life out of it. I know that sounds graphic, I know it sounds dramatic, but this is the real test. Can you defeat the resistance. Can you avoid distraction and procrastination. Can you exercise integrity in the moment and remain committed to the goals and tasks to which you have stated your committed. Resistance is the devil… and if you resist the devil, he will flee. Keep Cranking until You’re Ahead of the Curve.  This phase is really the test of whether or not you will get out of overwhelm. If you are willing to run the marathon, and keep at it until all of your “A” items are taking care of, and you begin to make process on the “B” items, you can quite quickly pull yourself out of overwhelm.A quick note here about the word “no”. During seasons where you feel overwhelmed, the skillful use of the word “no” is more important than at any other time in your life. You must, as Harvey Mackay is famous for saying, learn to smile and say “no” until your lips bleed. This can be especially difficult when the things you are saying “no” to are actually good things. As God has continued to bless me in my business, I have found that having his favor on my life has opened a multitude of doors for me. And it is at these times that I must remember that just because the doors are open is not mean I’m supposed to pass through them. In fact, I cannot pass through all of them.I am a firm believer in boundaries, especially around your time. I have times when I’m completely off the clock and do not do any work. Both times are part of my commitment to myself, my God, and my family. I also recognize that there are seasons in my life (and please note that I said “seasons”-not “epochs”) where I will temporarily move the boundaries. I’m currently in such a season. I’m working longer hours, spending more time on work projects the normal, and maintaining intense focus on my business. These seasons can be compared to the harvest on the farm. I have planted many seeds over the last couple of years, and the crop is coming in. I can either suspend all other activities and get to work on the harvest, or watch all my hard work rot in the field. As for me and my house, we are working the harvest until all the crops are in the barn. Following these steps has brought me out of that desperate feeling of being overwhelmed, and into the quiet satisfaction of a job well done. I believe that if you will follow them, they will do the same for you. Your Feedback Do you have an idea for a podcast you would like to hear? Do you have a question that you like to ask me? Please send me an email. And 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 podcast. You can also find the podcast on Stitcher.  

How much money do you need to make in order to be comfortable? How much money would it take for you to finally realize your dream of working for yourself, and quitting your job. That number will be different for each person, but after talking to many online entrepreneurs (and those who want to be) I am amazed at how often the answer is the same: $5000. In this week's episode, I will show you five different ways you can reach that $5K goal. Here's what else is up in this week's podcast episode: The secret to great high definition video from your laptop.  How to have peace in any storm. Plus, our feature presentation… 5 ways to $5K. Special Announcements The clock is running out on the 3-Day Live Intensive,  April 5-7 in Phoenix. Get your ticket right now – click here. Would you like to have me speak at your event or church? I am accepting a limited number of engagements for 2013.  Click here to visit my speaking page and get details on my availability. Tip Of The Week Thanks to advice from Michael Hyatt, I recently upgraded my Skype video interview tool box. The problem with doing Skype video interview recordings is really twofold: getting crisp looking video, and getting great sound. One solution to both is the Logitech c920 HDpro WebCam. This WebCam costs around $120 and delivers 1080p HD video for Skype. You can also use it for other video applications, such as making tutorial or teaching videos. The picture quality is extraordinary, and the stereo sound is fantastic. One concern you may run into is that, according to the documentation, this camera does not work with a Mac. You can safely ignore that information. I plugged the camera into my MacBook Air, which instantly recognized the camera. Now, Logitech does not support Mac users, which is a shame, but there is a solution. If you want to use the full capabilities of the camera (such as pan and tilt, zoom, autofocus, and aperture control) you just need the Webcam Settings App. It is only $7.99. Spiritual Foundations Is it possible to be at peace, even when the storm is raging around you? “Storm” in this case might be an actual storm, it might be a storm in your finances, your health, your family, or at work. Here's what it says in Psalm 91: He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress; My God, in Him I will trust.” You shall not be afraid of the terror by night, Nor of the arrow that flies by day, Nor of the pestilence that walks in darkness, Nor of the destruction that lays waste at noonday. Psalm 91:1-2, 5-6 It doesn't matter what's going on all around you, you don't have to be afraid, even in the middle of a violent storm. God is able to willing to give you peace, safety, and protection. Sometimes, God's rescue doesn't look the way we thought it would-but he never fails us, and he always keeps his word. And just remember this: God's delays are not God's denials. If you are a follower of Jesus, all these promises are yours. And don't fall for the deception that says if you are not perfect in your behavior that you somehow disqualify yourself for his favor. Remember that he forgave all of your sins, and that is forever. Don't worry that you might have messed up by some sinew committed today her yesterday or last week. You didn't do anything to gain his protection… And you can't do anything to lose it. If you have accepted Jesus as your Savior, you are already resting in the secret place… And you are already dwelling under the shadow of the Almighty. Feature Segment: 5 Ways to $5K I was speaking at a seminar in the Midwest, and afterward was answering questions from people in the audience. As we stood around talking, Jake shuffled forward, cleared his throat and said, “I have a question.” His question is the genesis for this weeks episode. “I am a professional airline pilot,” Jake said. “I really want to create a business doesn't require me to be away from home so much, yet I'm very nervous about. I need to make at least $3000 a month.” I stood there looking at him, shocked. That was all? Here is a man who commandeers jumbo jets for a living, and he was doubtful about being able to generate $3000 a month online? I told Jake that his goal was easy, and he needed to set his sights higher. And spent the next half hour so giving him some of the ideas am about to share with you. Is $5K  the Magic Number? Visit any popular online marketing form, and you'll find a similar theme: many people chasing after that elusive goal of making somewhere between three and $5000 per month. That's why I've decided to focus this week's podcast on giving a boost to anyone who knows it's possible to make $5000 a month online, but so far just hasn't achieve that goal. And I'm not going to stop at just one plan, instead I'm going to give you five proven ways to make $5000 a month online. And, since I love alliteration, each one is going to start with the letter F (for “five”). Let's get right to it. Five Ways To 5K 1. Fulfill the need for information. This is probably the way you are most familiar with-creating and selling your own information products. Most people don't realize the value of what they already know. There is money to be made in the subjects about which you know a lot, and others know very little. Choose your topic carefully, and you could easily become wealthy. Think about the topic areas that have already created fortunes for information marketers: How to make money How to save money How to save time How to lose weight How to gain muscle … I think you get the idea. So how do you pursue this particular method of making $5000 per month? Just start brainstorming your own interests, talents, and gifts. You're looking for a topic that has three “intersection points”: Your talent, skill, or knowledge What other people are interested in What other people will pay money for Once you have zeroed in on a topic, here are the steps to take to get your online information marketing business set up: Research the viability of your product. Scope out your competition and create the premier product in the topic. Create your product. Set up your website. (At the very least, you need four pages: the value invitation page, the value delivery page, sales page, and the product delivery page) Set up your follow-up system. 2. Find great bargains and resell them. This is one of the fastest ways to make money online, most people overlook it. That's because it's not glamorous. But if you can find great bargains on physical items, you can resell them on eBay or craigslist at a substantial markup. There are many, many people who make much more than $5000 a month selling boring items on eBay. 3. Focus on providing a service. In my opinion, this is the fastest and easiest way to start making money online. Figure out what skill comes easily to you (copywriting, Web design, technical stuff like setting up blogs, etc.) and offer those services to other people. This is the online version of a lawnmowing business. There are plenty of people who have more money than time, or more money than skill, and they are willing to pay very good fees to people who can do this kind of work for them. This is a great way to get started. 4. Fix and flip existing websites. This can be a lot of fun, and the concept is pretty easy to understand. Just like the TV show, “Flip This House”, you are simply looking for property that is undervalued. You want to find a website that offers a good product, but does a poor job presenting their product. A website that, with a few tweaks to the look and feel, and the sales copy, you can improve significantly. Then you can either choose to continue raking in the money from that website, or you can sell it to someone else at huge profit. 5. Finish old projects. Many marketers and entrepreneurs I know have a lot of “partially done” or even “mostly done” products or websites languishing on their hard drive. What if you just picked a week, blocked out your schedule, and vowed to finish those projects? Get that last 10 to 20% of the work done, and get them online? For many people, simply finishing the projects you've already started can automatically push you over the $5000 per month income level. There Are More Possibilities These are only five ways to make $5000 per month. There are dozens upon dozens of other ways to do it. These may not even be the top five ways (although I did try to select them based on the criteria). Certainly, different people will have a different way of deciding what the “top five ways” might be. My point in doing this week's podcast was really not to convince you to use a specific method, but rather to open your eyes to the possibilities that are already there. Are You Stepping Over Money? Sometimes I feel as though people are walking around, crunching under their feet a three-foot layer of silver dollars, and whining about not having any money. My whole purpose is to get you to look down, see the money on the ground, and start scooping it up. Think about Jake. A supremely qualified professional, who every day has dozens of people, perhaps hundreds of people, placed their lives in his hands with total trust… Yet he could not envision himself making $3000 a month. I think we can agree his challenge was not in a lack of skill, it was in the lack of belief and direction. Hopefully, you now have both. Now go change the world Listener Calls We heard from these  listeners this week. Your Feedback Do you have an idea for a podcast you would like to hear? Do you have a question that you like to ask me? Please send me an email. And 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 podcast. You can also find the podcast on Stitcher.    

What if I told you there is a power source you can tap into that would make you unbeatable? Undefeatable? Invincible to the problems that confront you in your daily life? What if I revealed that “secret power source” to you in this very podcast… Fully and completely… And you were never the same again? That is my goal for our 52nd episode of the Ray Edwards Show. Here's what else is up in this week's podcast episode: $460 device now available on your iPhone for 99 cents. Why your problem – whatever it is – is never about the problem. Podcast birthday wishes and surprises. Plus, our feature presentation… The Unbeatable You. Special Announcements My  conference, the 3-Day Live Intensive, is April 5-7 in Phoenix. Get your early-bird ticket discount right now – click here. What happened to Spiritual Foundations Podcast? Get your questions (and plugs) in for next week's episode using the voicemail tab on the website or the phone at  (509) 713-2679. Would you like to have me speak at your event or church? I am accepting a limited number of engagements for 2013.  Click here to visit my speaking page and get details on my availability. Tip Of The Week Large LED countdown clocks are a staple of the broadcast industry. They're also useful for live events. The best deal I've found is this clock for $460. But recently I discovered an app for my iPhone and iPad that does the same thing for 99 cents. Check out the Timer On Fire app. Spiritual Foundations In the Princess Bride, our hero Iniga Montoya faced a big problem. The dread pirate Roberts, aka “Wesley”, whose help he desperately needed, was dead. So Inigo turned to the one guy who might have a solution, Miracle Max. When Inigo  explained the problem, Max's response was a dramatic shift in perspective (listen to the audio to hear the full story). Whenever my wife and I are sending one another off to go tackle the day, we sometimes use the same words that Max gave the guys… “Have fun storming the castle!” Miracle Max saw a completely different problem. But, you might say, that is a movie. What about real life? So here's another example. I used to suffer from something commonly referred to as Seasonal Affective Disorder. At least that is what I told myself. I even had a solution figured out – move! Only the weather wasn't really my problem. A key strategy to facing difficulties in life-whether those difficulties are with your physical health, your relationships, money, or anything else-is to realize the problem is never really about the problem. “It's never about the weather.” ~ Lynn Edwards Depression and despair, or joy and happiness are a choice. A merry heart does good, like medicine, But a broken spirit dries the bones. Proverbs 17:22 I do recognize that there are clinical conditions that cause depression and anxiety, as well as other mental disturbances. I am not suggesting that anyone for grow appropriate medical care. I am saying that God providesHealing, even in those situations. Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. 9 And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong. 2 Corinthians 12:8-10 Feature Segment: The Unbeatable You The key to being unbeatable is really rather simple: it's understanding your identity and everything flows out of that. In fact, terms like “mission”, “vision”, and “purpose”Get thrown around carelessly as if they were synonymous with one another. They are not. The key to being unbeatable is not that you never suffer a setback or problem. It's that you have an effective strategy for snatching victory out of the jaws of defeat.  In my view, there are three ingredients to achieving this: 1. Set up the game so you cannot lose. 2. Understand and be able to articulate your identity, purpose, mission, vision, values, and goals. 3. Decide in advance how you will handle adversity. Set up the Game so You Cannot Lose How is this even possible? You use the same approach Captain Kirk used when he faced the Kobayashi Maru simulation. You change the rules. My rule that makes every scenario a no-lose scenario is: There are no failures, there are only results. But I do with the results is up to me. Know Your “Big Reason Why” It has been said that if you have a big enough “why”, you will always discover the answer to “how”. Most people have nowhere near enough clarity about their own beliefs and values. And herein lies the key to being unbeatable. You need to understand, and be able to articulate the following: your identity, purpose, mission, vision, values, and goals. Let's use my own answers as examples… Identity. Who are you? My answer: One who follows Jesus; a royal priest. Purpose. Why are you here? My answer: To bring about God's will on earth, as it is in heaven. Mission. What is your specific assignment? (Strategy) My answer: Business for the Glory of God. Vision. What does the accomplishment of your mission look like? (Tactics) My answer: To teach and empower people to claim their own Divine Destiny and live a life of Freedom, Joy, and Love through Jesus Christ. We do this by providing quality services (including books, audio and visual programs, home study materials, speeches, seminars, trainings, coaching and consulting delivered with love, excellence and integrity in Christ). Values. What qualities, characteristics, and states do you value most? (Compass) My answer… A commitment to the following spiritual, ethical, and corporate values: Faithfulness to Jesus Christ. “His will, on earth as it is in Heaven”. With God all things are possible. Passion for our work, dedicated to the Lord. Love and acceptance of others and of ourselves. Christ-like responses to all situations, events and people. Truth and honesty in all things. Continued spiritual growth. Clarity of purpose and communication. Speaking only that which imparts Grace to the listener. Impeccability in our actions and the quality of our work. Accountability. Harmony. Continuous and never-ending improvement. Profitability. Generosity of heart and spirit. Fun. Joy. Gratitude. Goals. What are your specific objectives (both strategic and tactical), and what is your timeline for accomplishing them? State your goals in the positive/affirmative, present tense, connected to an emotion, and anchored to a date and time. Some examples: I am enjoying the satisfaction of having added 100,000 new subscribers to our email list by 5pm, December 1, 2013. I am relishing the stress-free systematized business that permits me to work only 20 hours per week by 12 Noon, November 1, 2013. I am enjoying my healthy weight of 185 pounds, which I achieved on or before 9am October 1, 2013. These should be articulated on paper. Take some time and write them out. Invest yourself in this process. Decide in Advance How You Will Handle Adversity This is a condensed summary of an entire podcast, from episode 007. We cannot control what happens to us, but we can control how we respond – and what we believe about the setback. Knowing how to face trials proactively is one of the top skills in business… and in life. Here are 10 steps to transform setbacks into comebacks.  See it for what it is. Remember God’s plan for you (Jer 29:11 and Romans 8:28) Ask good questions – questions that lead to helpful answers. Be careful what you think, see, and say. Notice what works; do more of that. Notice what doesn’t work; stop doing that. Live in the now. Avoid depression and anxiety. Move your body every day. Put good fuel in the machine. Fill your eyes with solutions. Remember that pain is inevitable, but suffering is optional. (Matthew 6:34) Listener Calls We heard from lots of listeners this week. Your Feedback Do you have an idea for a podcast you would like to hear? Do you have a question that you like to ask me? Please send me an email. And 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 podcast. You can also find the podcast on Stitcher.    

Are you getting the most out of your business? Today's podcast interview will help you think about that question in  new ways. It's the optimization episode! In this week's podcast episode: Free training opportunity. Is it Biblical to squeeze more profit from your business? Where in the world is Stu McLaren? Special Announcements My  conference, the 3-Day Live Intensive, is April 5-7 in Phoenix. Get your early-bird ticket discount right now – click here. We still have a contest running in celebration of next week's 52nd episode of this podcast.  More details here. What happened to Stu McLaren? What happened to Spiritual Foundations Podcast? Get your questions (and plugs) in for next week's episode using the voicemail tab on the website or the phone at  (509) 713-2679. Every caller wins a prize next week! Free webinar training on sales copy tomorrow night. Would you like to have me speak at your event or church? I am accepting a limited number of engagements for 2013.  Click here to visit my speaking page and get details on my availability. Tip Of The Week Use commenting – and particularly podcast comments – to bring traffic to your own site. Spiritual Foundations What does the Bible say about “optimization”? A slack hand causes poverty, but the hand of the diligent makes rich. Proverbs 10:4 That seems like common sense. Does it say more? The soul of the sluggard craves and gets nothing, while the soul of the diligent is richly supplied. Proverbs 13:4 And here's one more … Know well the condition of your flocks, and give attention to your herds, 24 for riches do not last forever; and does a crown endure to all generations? 25 When the grass is gone and the new growth appears and the vegetation of the mountains is gathered, 26 the lambs will provide your clothing, and the goats the price of a field. 27 There will be enough goats' milk for your food, for the food of your household and maintenance for your girls. Proverbs 27:23-27 Feature Segment: Our feature segment this week is an interview with Melanie Benson Strick. You can get the free gift Melanie offered on the interview by clicking here. Your Feedback Do you have an idea for a podcast you would like to hear? Do you have a question that you like to ask me? Please send me an email. And 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 podcast. You can also find the podcast on Stitcher.    

Worry kills you slowly. It makes you sick. We know this. But how do we stop worrying so much? In this week's podcast episode: How to trick yourself into exercise Why worry is bad for you. Why this week's podcast is so late. Special Announcements My  conference, the 3-Day Live Intensive, is April 5-7 in Phoenix. Get your early-bird ticket discount right now – click here. Rollo (L) and Parker (R) We have a contest running in celebration of the upcoming 52nd episode of this podcast. Just make helpful, substantive comments on 10 posts (here on the blog), and you could win a free copy of my new book. More details here. And why the podcast is late. Would you like to have me speak at your event? Click here to visit my speaking page and get details on my availability. Tip Of The Week Trick yourself into exercising by combining it with something you love doing. A lunchtime conversation with a friend of mine led to a new attitude about exercise for me, and the tip of the week for you. Spiritual Foundations The spiritual effects of worry take a heavy toll. Heavy thoughts bring on physical maladies; when the soul is oppressed so is the body. ~Martin Luther There's no doubt about it. When we are sick, we are simply not capable of accomplishing as much as when we are well. Worry makes us sick. Worry weighs a person down; an encouraging word cheers a person up. Proverbs 12:25 And here's one more thing to think about. Worry is the opposite of trusting God. Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7 Feature Segment: When I was in the radio business I spent a year working in a city back East, at a job I hated. My boss was mentally ill-seriously. It was like working for Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. One day he was friendly and courteous, the next day he was an overbearing, abusive monster. I became a walking example of what it's like to live in anxiety all the time. I began having anxiety attacks. I went to the emergency room more than once, thinking I was having a heart attack. One morning, I woke up, and the left side of my face did not work. I tried brushing my teeth and water dribble down my chin onto my shirt. I thought I was having a stroke… And this lead to the strangest doctor's visit I have ever had. Listen to the audio for the full story. When we worry, we spend all of our energy focusing on the negative, and operating in fear. This closes our eyes to possibilities that lay all around us. The fact is, most of the stuff we worry about never happens anyway. But that is all philosophy. How about some practical tips on how you can just stop worrying so much? If you would like to spend less of your time worrying, and more of it accomplishing, here are 7 things you can most definitely cross off your “worry list”. Don't worry about things you can’t control. Don't worry about things you can control (since you control them, what is there to worry about?) Don't worry about what other people think of you (see number 1). Don't worry about the past (nothing you can do to change it). Don't worry about the future (see number 2). Don't worry about the unknown (um…  since you can’t know it… what are you worrying about?). Don't worry about how you might respond to any challenge (you’ll only know when you face it). 3 Tactics That Fight Worry Exercise Meditation Prayer. Worry replaced by prayer equals faith and peace. Listener Questions On this episode we heard from these listeners: JD Crouse has 3 questions – about our audio player, a podcasting course, and recorded webinars. I haven't been emphasizing the call in part of the show, but would love to field more listener questions and hear more of your success stories. You can leave messages here through Speakpipe, or on our phone line at (509) 713-2679. Resources Mentioned Blubrry podcast player plugin. Learn How To Podcast and Podcasting A-Z by Cliff Ravenscraft Evergreen Business System Your Feedback Do you have an idea for a podcast you would like to hear? Do you have a question that you like to ask me? Please send me an email. And 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 podcast. You can also find the podcast on Stitcher. What are some of your indispensable iPad apps, and how do you use them? Share your ideas and observations below in the comments.  

More and more, I find my iPad replacing other tools – like my computer, Kindle, and even my physical notebook.     In this week's podcast episode: How to make money by goofing off. The secret of becoming a better, more successful person – on automatic pilot. And my recommended Top 10 iPad Apps For Idea Entrepreneurs. Special Announcements My  conference, the 3-Day Live Intensive, is April 5-7 in Phoenix. Get your early-bird ticket discount right now – click here. Be sure you refer to my notes from the Platform Conference – one of the most value laden conferences I have ever attended. We have a contest running in celebration of the upcoming 52nd episode of this podcast. Just make helpful, substantive comments on 10 posts (here on the blog), and you could win a free copy of my new book. More details here. Would you like to have me speak at your event? Click here to visit my speaking page and get details on my availability. Tip Of The Week How to make money by goofing off? I must be joking, right? Not at all. It's proven that our best ideas, most resourceful states, and highest periods of creativity come when we are relaxed and in “the flow”. The problem is we seldom experience this state as a conscious intention. Here's how to “goof off” productively. Spiritual Foundations The secret of becoming a better, more successful person – on automatic pilot. While I was at a conference a few weeks ago, the topic being taught was “speed to implementation”. Surrounded by a group of born achiever types, I felt swept up in the momentum of getting things done quickly. I went to my hotel room that night and furiously worked on completing a book manuscript, and by the time morning arrived my initial draft was done. Why was it that I was suddenly able, or motivated, to get the book done so quickly? Did I suddenly have abilities that I didn't have before? No. I was being carried by the momentum of the people around me. Motivated, cajoled, provoked. I was, in short, persuaded by the power of peer pressure. The people we surround ourselves with influence who we become. The point I'm trying to make is not a new one. It is simply that we tend to adopt the mannerisms, behaviors, and values of the people we spend the most time with. Want to become a better person? Be more successful? Be more punctual? Spend time with people who are more successful, more punctual, and who are in general the kind of “better person” you would like to be. “You’re the average of the five people you spend the most time with.” – Jim Rohn The interesting thing is, most of us do not consciously choose who those people are. What does the Bible say about this idea? Well we don't have to look far-in the book of wisdom known as The Proverbs, we find this… The righteous should choose his friends carefully, for the way of the wicked leads them astray. Proverbs 12:26 What if you consciously engineered being around five people who lift you up, instead of being around five people who pull you down? Feature Segment: Top 10 iPad Apps For Idea Entrepreneurs This past Sunday in church, I did the unthinkable. During the pastor's sermon, I opened up my iPad and began doodling. Heads turned. Questioning looks appeared on the faces of the people around me. Some people try to pretend they didn't notice. My wife simply nudged our friends Jim and Diane, who were sitting next to us, and shrugged. As if to say, “Well, that's our Ray.” But I wasn't ignoring the sermon or even being rude. I was taking notes in one of the top 10 apps that I use on a daily basis. My iPad has become such an indispensable tool that I even use it in church. Certainly, in my business as what I refer to as an “idea entrepreneur”, my iPad is central to my workflow. So this weeks podcast feature segment is all about the top 10 iPad apps I use in my business, and that I recommend to other idea entrepreneurs. I won't just give you a list of the apps, however. I'll also provide you with a description of how I use them, and even a few tips that may be helpful if you choose to use them as well. Omnifocus. This is my go to app for implementing GTD. It's expensive, but I still haven't found anything else I like better. And I've tried them all. Mail. This is simply the native app that comes with iOS. I've tried a few alternatives, but I really like the way Apple has implemented this app. Notifications turned off. Agenda. I find Apple's Calendar app disappointing, and learned about Agenda through Leo Laporte. I've been using it ever since, and I love it. Integrates with Google Calendar seamlessly. Mr. Reader. I track about 300 websites, mostly WordPress blogs. It's how I find new and interesting ideas, trends, and tidbits that I can share.This only takes me about 30 minutes a day, and that is all due to Mr. Reader. This app aggregates all those websites into one convenient place. Pocket. When I find something online that I want to save for later reference, I put it in Pocket. I may save notes or clippings for a blog post, a book chapter, or simply for my own reading pleasure. Evernote. Evernote is my universal filing cabinet, where I keep blog posts in progress, book outlines, swipe files, reference material, and more.It all synchronizes between my MacBook Pro, iPad, iPhone. So all my stuff is available to meet anywhere, anytime. Indispensable tool. Penultimate. This is the app that left my moleskin notebook lonely and unused. It's a notetaking app, and it integrates with Evernote. Lose the paper, keep the handwriting, and remember everything. Kindle. I don't use my actual kindle device very much anymore. I carry around enough devices, and I use the Kindle app on my iPad to do most of my reading. I am considering trading my full-size iPad in for an  iPad Mini. Reason: the mini seems easier to hold for long periods of time when reading. It also takes up less room in a briefcase. Or a pocket. Downcast. I listen to a lot of podcasts, and this is the app I use to do it. I wish it had a happier name. But I couldn't be happier with the app itself. MindMeister. I mind map just about every piece of content I write, every project plan, and… well, everything.I went through most every mind-mapping app available, and there are some good ones. I finally settled on MindMeister.I like the ability to share maps, I like the  look and feel, and it exports to just about every other mind-map software format. So I can share my maps between MindMeister and MindManager (the app I use on my MacBook Pro). Bonus Apps: Olive Tree Bible Study App, Pages, Keynote. Listener Questions On this episode we heard from these listeners: Carey Green of ChristianHomeandFamily.com asked,”Are tags important to getting search engine traffic?” Beau Miles asked, “Will you be offering an audio version of your new book?” John Olson called in with a report on how he has been using my productivity tips from the podcast episode on getting a days work done in two hours, which was episode 43. I haven't been emphasizing the call in part of the show, but would love to field more listener questions and hear more of your success stories. You can leave messages here through Speakpipe, or on our phone line at (509) 713-2679. Your Feedback Do you have an idea for a podcast you would like to hear? Do you have a question that you like to ask me? Please send me an email. And 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 podcast. You can also find the podcast on Stitcher. What are some of your indispensable iPad apps, and how do you use them? Share your ideas and observations below in the comments.  

If you'd like to know the easiest way to sell anything to anyone, you're going to love this weeks podcast. In this week's podcast episode: How your iPhone can help you achieve your goals. How to let your weaknesses, limitations, and problems propel you to greater success. And, Finally, the easiest way to sell anything to anyone. Tip Of The Week This is the modern equivalent of “accountability partners”. The Lift App is a simple way to achieve any goal, track your progress, and get the support of your friends. Currently available only for iPhone, Android and Wieb versions are on the way soon. Spiritual Foundations Don't worry about weakness… What if there was a different way of understanding Paul's story about his “thorn”, and a different way of understanding the phrase “my grace is sufficient”? Because of the extravagance of those revelations, and so I wouldn’t get a big head, I was given the gift of a handicap to keep me in constant touch with my limitations. Satan’s angel did his best to get me down; what he in fact did was push me to my knees. No danger then of walking around high and mighty! At first I didn’t think of it as a gift, and begged God to remove it. Three times I did that, and then he told me, My grace is enough; it’s all you need. My strength comes into its own in your weakness.   Once I heard that, I was glad to let it happen. I quit focusing on the handicap and began appreciating the gift. It was a case of Christ’s strength moving in on my weakness. Now I take limitations in stride, and with good cheer, these limitations that cut me down to size—abuse, accidents, opposition, bad breaks. I just let Christ take over! And so the weaker I get, the stronger I become. 2 Corinthians 12:7-10   Feature Segment: The Easiest Way To Sell Anything Understand the Scale of Awareness and “O.P.E.N. the Sale” In the movie “Jerry Maguire” Tom Cruise's character makes an impassioned speech to the girl he loves, trying to convince her how much he cares for her. She finally tells him, “You had me at hello…” Often, we do the same when trying to persuade or sell. Unaware of the feelings of our prospects or listeners, we prattle on far beyond the point that we need to. We say things that are irrelevant to the listener. Understanding “where they are” would spare us all that effort. The late, great copywriter Eugene Schwartz understood the power of the awareness level of your prospect. Knowing where they stand already is vital to knowing what to say to them. The fastest, easiest way to influence anyone is with what is already influencing them. Here is the scale of awareness that I use in writing copy to help me know how to talk to my reader: O – Oblivious P – Pondering E – Engaged N – Needing This powerful secret is easy to underestimate. Just try using it in your sales communications, and watch your persuasion power grow! Special Announcements My own conference, the 3-Day Live Intensive, is April 5-7 in Phoenix. Get your early-bird ticket discount right now – click here. I’m attending the Platform Conference in Nashville. Would you like to have me speak at your event? Click here to visit my speaking page and get details on my availability. Your Feedback Do you have an idea for a podcast you would like to hear? Do you have a question that you like to ask me? Please send me an email. And 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 podcast. You can also find the podcast on Stitcher. Call in your questions or comments to our new, fancy “request line” at (509) 713-2679 What are some ways you have seen the “awareness scale” in action? Share your ideas and observations below in the comments.  

When you attend a conference, you make an enormous investment in time, money, and energy. In this week'ss podcast, I give you a precise system for getting the most out of any conference. In this week's podcast episode: A powerful video editing studio for your iPad. Why you were born for this entrepreneurial life. And, of course, how to get the most out of any conference. Tip Of The Week The Pinnacle Studio App for iPad is a remarkable video studio that cost less than $13. Some people complain about the cost of this app. These are people that have forgotten that the iPad and the app they hold in their hands gives them editing power that would've cost tens of thousands of dollars only a few years ago. It's truly remarkable what we have available to us for less then a lunch at McDonald's. Spiritual Foundations Seek Wisdom Seeking wisdom and knowledge is practical. In that night God appeared to Solomon, and said to him, “Ask what I shall give you.” And Solomon said to God, “You have shown great and steadfast love to David my father, and have made me king in his place. 9 O Lord God, let your word to David my father be now fulfilled, for you have made me king over a people as numerous as the dust of the earth. 10 Give me now wisdom and knowledge to go out and come in before this people, for who can govern this people of yours, which is so great?” God answered Solomon, “Because this was in your heart, and you have not asked for possessions, wealth, honor, or the life of those who hate you, and have not even asked for long life, but have asked for wisdom and knowledge for yourself that you may govern my people over whom I have made you king, wisdom and knowledge are granted to you. I will also give you riches, possessions, and honor, such as none of the kings had who were before you, and none after you shall have the like.” 2 Chronicles 1:7-12 That was under the Old Covenant – and the Bible tells us we live under a “new and better covenant” (Hebrews 8:6). What is our promise under the New Covenant? Let's check what Jesus says:  “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? 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? And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life?And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble. Matthew 6:25-34 And don't start thinking you have to earn the Kingdom and Righteousness through your own efforts. 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 Get The Most Out of Any Conference Before the Conference Preparation Is Key: This checklist will serve as a reminder of what you can do before attending a conference to increase the results you get from attending. You may want to customize, modify, or add to the checklist to make it more suitable to your needs. Know your purpose for attending this conference (learning, people to meet, get clients, meet JV Partners, etc.) Know your criteria for success (number of contacts to make, speakers to meet, deals to close, etc.). Have a list of goals you have for attending this conference; this way, when you leave you’ll know if you achieved success or not. Business cards, printed both sides, with an offer on the back that gets people back in contact with you and into your “marketing funnel”. Prepare your “elevator speech”. Study the background of the speakers; do your homework. Book your hotel room early; get a room “close to the action”. Book your airline ticket early for the best rate and most flexibility. When possible, set up meetings in advance. Arrive one day before the conference starts; leave the day after it ends. Digital camera, video camera, and audio recorder Computer Note cards and envelopes, pre-stamped with return addresses already on them (ready to fill in and mail from hotel before you leave). Notebook (Ray recommends Moleskine notebooks). Pens. Jacket (conference rooms are often kept cold!) Target list of people you want to meet. Target list of subjects you want to learn about from each speaker. A list of questions you want answered before you leave. During the Conference You’re Working! While you’re at a conference, you’re at work – this is not a weekend vacation. Make every moment as profitable as possible. Get checked in, put your “stuff” away, and set up your “temporary office”. Keep your room neat and organized in case you have a business meeting there. Meet and greet people in the bar the night before the conference starts. Never eat alone, and don’t eat with the same person twice. Get your picture taken with people (speakers and “regular people” too). Introduce people to one another; make connections between people. Arrive at the registration desk/conference room early each day. Meet and greet people. Use your “elevator speech” or “audio logo” to start conversations. Network between sessions; plan meetings between sessions. Eat small, light meals frequently to keep your energy level consistent. Keep breath fresh. Stinky breath does NOT win friends. Dress comfortably in business casual attire; wear comfortable shoes. Don’t carry too much “stuff” with you into the conference room. Do carry your business cards at all times, and your calendar (book, smartphone, etc.) Turn OFF your cell phone ringer; don’t take or make calls in the conference meeting room (!). Close doors quietly when leaving or entering the room during a session. Attend all networking events; get your photo taken with everyone. Take photos of other people together – send them a copy (get their contact info!). If appropriate, get audio or video testimonials from your clients. Give testimonials whenever you can; it’s good promotion for you. Start early, and keep going late; schedule a nap so you can do the late-night networking. After the Conference The Golden Mile! This is where most people really fall down – the “last mile”, or as we like to call it, “the Golden Mile”. It’s all about the follow-up and the follow-through. Organize all your notes, to-dos, and business cards. Write notes to all your key contacts on the note cards you brought; mail them from the hotel before you leave. Share a ride to the airport if possible; make it a networking opportunity. Use the time in the airport lounge or on the plane to write emails, follow-up notes, and make to-do lists. Send quick follow-up emails to everyone on the list you built at the conference. Upload digital photos of you with other people to a photo service; send a copy to them using a service like http://sendoutcards.com Post photos to your Facebook and Google+ account. Put to-dos into your planning system (Outlook, iPhone, GTD, etc.). Plug them in over the next 3 weeks so nothing falls through the cracks. When home, unpack and organize all your materials immediately.?Call every person you met at the conference. Calling on the phone sets you apart. Quickly fulfill any promises you made. Go through your notes from the conference (all neatly collected in your Moleskine notebook or other “idea capture device”, right?). Anything that can be done in 2 minutes or less (domain registration, emails, downloads, etc.) — just DO it. Anything that will take longer, SCHEDULE it in your planning system. Review your goals and criteria for success from the conference; evaluate how you did. Update these checklists with items you thought of that should be on them; constantly be refining your checklists and systems. Schedule the consumption of any Continuing Education products you purchased at the conference, so that you actually USE them. Special Announcements My own conference, the 3-Day Live Intensive, is April 5-7 in Phoenix. Get your early-bird ticket discount right now – click here. I’m attending the Platform Conference in Nashville. It is probably sold out.  Get a ticket while you can! Would you like to have me speak at your event? Click here to visit my speaking page and get details on my availability. Your Feedback Do you have an idea for a podcast you would like to hear? Do you have a question that you like to ask me? Please send me an email. And 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 podcast. You can also find the podcast on Stitcher. Call in your questions or comments to our new, fancy “request line” at (509) 713-2679 Do you have any tips you would add? Share your ideas and tactics below in the comments.  

Just like anything worth doing, there is a way to market that just works. There are rules. Today's podcast shows you what they are. In this week's podcast episode: The disciplines of marketing. The “Secret Weapon” system for using GTD with Evernote. Are you trying too hard? Tip Of The Week The “Secret Weapon” system for using GTD with Evernote. Spiritual Foundations Let God Do the Work We often try to do ourselves what God has already done for us. …for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure. Philippians 2:13 Stop trying to do it on your own, and let God do what He wants! Feature Segment: Ray Edwards's 13 Natural Disciplines of Effective Online Marketing Almost all marketing is dreadfully weak and ineffective, unfocused, and irrelevant. Or it's hype-filled, pushy, and repulsive. Stop that. Learn to “market like water”. The 13 Natural Disciplines: 1. Abandon branding as a primary outcome and seek response. Branding is inherent. 2. Always track everything with ruthless precision. 3. Within the context of your values – results rule. 4. Always make an offer. 5. Always seek a trackable, profitable response. 6. Always give a reason for immediate response. 7. Ask only for one response at a time. 8. Tell them exactly what to do next. 9. Use strong copy. It will sound like “junk mail”. 10. Kill your darlings. 11. Always followup in the short term. 12. Always followup in the long term. 13. Keep detailed customer files and study them carefully. Special Announcements I’m attending the Platform Conference in Nashville. It is nearly sold out.  Get a ticket while you can! I was written up by Eric T Wagner on Forbes.com recently. You can check out the article here. My new book is nearly ready – more to come! Would you like to have me speak at your event? Click here to visit my speaking page and get details on my availability. Your Feedback Do you have an idea for a podcast you would like to hear? Do you have a question that you like to ask me? Please send me an email. And 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 podcast. You can also find the podcast on Stitcher. Call in your questions or comments to our new, fancy “request line” at (509) 713-2679 Do you have any discplines you would add? Share your ideas and tactics below in the comments.