Stephen King. He is the Charles Dickens of this century. People either love him or hate him.

My churchgoing friends are often shocked to learn that I read his work, and admire it. In today's show I share some business lessons I have learned from King. Also on today's episode…

• Are you a Madman? Or a Madwoman? Copywriters wanted.
• And the always award-winning, much much more.

Announcements:

• I am updating my copywriting course… I will announce our winners next week.
• Next week's show will be about what could be the most important topic I have ever covered.  Don't miss it.

Conferences where I will be attending and/or speaking:

• NMX, Jan 4-6, 2014, Las Vegas, NV
• Strategic Influence Jan 14-16, 2014, Phoenix, AZ
• NAMS 11 February 7-9, 2014, Atlanta, GA
• Social Media Marketing World, March 26-28, 2014, San Diego, CA

Tip Of The Week – Again!

Digital Photography School. A great site for all things photo.

Spiritual Foundations

1 John 4:18: “perfect love casts out fear.”.

Have you ever been told by someone that you should have more of the “fear of the Lord”? The implication is that your Christian walk cannot be correct unless you're constantly afraid that God is going to “whack you” when you screw up.

It’s true, The Bible talks about the “fear of the Lord”. Let's take a look at what it actually says.

As believers who live under the new covenant, and followers of Jesus, we should let Jesus himself define what the “fear of the Lord” actually is. When the devil tempted Jesus in the desert, and asked Jesus to worship him, Jesus says, “it is written, you shall worship the Lord your God…”. You'll find that in Matthew 4:10.

If you have a modern Bible with cross references, you'll notice that Jesus is actually quoting from the Old Testament. He's quoting his favorite book of the Bible (the book he quoted most often), and the passage he's pointing to is Deuteronomy 6:13. That passage says, “you shall fear the Lord your God and serve him.

But wait a minute! That's not what Jesus said… He said you shall WORSHIP the Lord your God. What's going on here?

While there are plenty of theologians who will argue with me, it seems clear that Jesus is explaining what the passage in Deuteronomy actually means. To fear God is to worship him.

I trust the theology of Jesus more than I trust any other earthly theologian. He has interpreted the “fear of the Lord” for me, and that settles the matter.

One last point worth noting: every single time the disciples were afraid of Jesus, he said the same thing. “Fear not.”

Seven Lessons From Stephen King

Stephen King is a writing and marketing machine, having accomplished the unusual feat of being successful as a craftsman, and as an entrepreneur.  He has sold well over 350 million books, and spawned countless movies and television shows. His latest novel-to-screen adaptation is Under The Dome. How?

I have written extensively elsewhere about writing for the purpose of strategic influence. I can point to no better model of how to do this right than King.

There are seven key lessons you can learn from Stephen King, and the way he conducts his business (the business of writing). And for those of you who are offended by my saying “the business of writing”… perhaps if you thought about your writing as a business, you wouldn’t be so easily offended. Food for thought.

1. Learn your craft. Whether his subject matter is always to your taste or not, you would have to be willfully ignorant to declare Stephen King anything other than a master of the art of writing stories. He has honed his craft to a fine edge, and without this particular weapon in his arsenal, the rest of what you’re about to read would not be possible. You must master the craft.
2. Be prolific. King has stated that he writes every day, including his birthday and Christmas day. He has since admitted that this might be a bit of an exaggeration, but not much. His ethic of working every day is plainly demonstrated by his amazing output. You don’t publish 50 novels,  five nonfiction works, and over 200 short stories by goofing off.  you do it by applying liberal amounts of fingers to keyboard.
3. Be real. One reason people are often uncomfortable with King’s writing is that he tends to bring heavy doses of reality into his stories. I’m not talking about the vampires, giant spiders, and ghosts, of course. I’m talking about the sometimes embarrassing, sometimes offensive, sometimes infuriatingly irrational ways that people talk and behave. King unabashedly presents people as they really are. And this makes his detractors uncomfortable… And his fans love him.
4. Have a personality. When King began his career, he decided to be exactly who he is. I have no way of knowing this, but I’m pretty certain this was a conscious decision made in the full knowledge that it might backfire financially. He could have been more “respectable” by writing that vaguely named thing called “literary fiction”, but instead he chose to write what fascinated him.
5. Be fearless. Stephen King has never shied away from the potential criticism he might get from atheists, believers, Democrats, Republicans, or  the League of Decency. He’s written some ugly scenes, and seems that many writers would have shied away from because they didn’t want to be associated with that material. For better or worse, that fearlessness has catapulted him from the mass of mediocrity to the pinnacle of literary success.
6. Try new things. King was one of the first to take advantage of the digital publishing medium. He was one of the first to publish a novel in serial form online. He has branched out into music, comic books, and of course films and television. Some of his experiments have fallen flat. Others have been a meteoric success, both critically and financially (remember Stand by Me and The Green Mile?)
7. Do many things simultaneously. One of the ways King manages to stay so prolific is that he is doing many things simultaneously. He’s always working on a new book or story, and usually has more than one project cooking in the background (a movie, a TV series, and audiobook, or the radio stations that he owns in Maine).

While you may or may not ever be his equal on the bestseller lists (he has a pretty strong head start on most of us), you definitely can learn from the career and methodologies of Stephen King.

Question: what have you learned about writing, or the business of writing, from Stephen King… Or any other modern writers? Share below…

What To Do Now

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.

Question:   What worked, and what didn't work, for you this year? Click here to leave your comments.

In this weeks podcast I will reveal to you what worked for me in 2013…  as well as what didn't work.

You get to profit not only from my success stories, but even from my failures. Also on today's episode…

• Are you a Madman? Or a Madwoman? Copywriters wanted.
• An exciting new guide on how to form your own mastermind group… reduxe.
• What is the truth about so-called “greasy grace”?
• And the always award-winning, much much more.

Announcements:

• I am updating my copywriting course… win free access with your comments between now and Christmas.
• Next week's show will be about what could be the most important topic I have ever covered.  Don't miss it.
• The return of listener questions! How to promote yourself on my show!

Conferences where I will be attending and/or speaking:

• NMX, Jan 4-6, 2014, Las Vegas, NV
• Strategic Influence Jan 14-16, 2014, Phoenix, AZ
• NAMS 11 February 7-9, 2014, Atlanta, GA
• Social Media Marketing World, March 26-28, 2014, San Diego, CA
• “Permission to Prosper” April 8-10, 2014, Spokane, WA

Tip Of The Week – Again!

One of the most powerful things you can do to accelerate your success in 2014 is to form an intentional mastermind group.

Click here and take a look at Dan Miller's new course on how to do just that. It's worth 10 times the investment he's asking.

Spiritual Foundations

Is the so-called “new grace movement” cheapening the concept of grace? Is it promoting something we know as “greasy grace”?

In the podcast, I give my answers to these questions.

Feature Segment:  What Worked (and What Didn't) In 2013

I share my most successful… and also my LEAST successful business moves in 2013. Here's where they'll mean to you and your success in 2014…

What worked:

1. This podcast.  High leverage, high engagement, premium content delivery vehicle.
2. Facebook.  Believe it or not, this was my number one source of traffic in 2013.
3. Premium pricing.  Over 80% of the revenue we generated came from the most expensive 5% of services and products we offer.

What didn't work:

1. Busyness.  Over committing led to me making a few poor tactical decisions, and was a severe drain on my mental focus, emotional well-being, and physical health.
2. Complexity. Complexity is the mother frustration, and the father of fatigue.
3.  Rugged individualism.  It's an American ideal.  It's romantic. It feels heroic. The only problem is, it doesn't work.

What To Do Now

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.

Question:   What worked, and what didn't work, for you this year? Click here to leave your comments.

When your blog is the cornerstone of your business (as it is for mine, and I recommend it be for yours), creating  enough content can be a challenge.

In today's episode, I will share 10 different ways you can create more content, more consistently, and more easily. Also on today's episode…

• How to get my newly updated copywriting course for free.
• How to become an apprentice and work directly for me.
• An exciting new guide on how to form your own mastermind group.
• Answer the question: why are Christians so cheap?
• And the always award-winning, much much more.

Announcements:

• I am updating my copywriting course… win free access with your comments between now and Christmas.
• Want to finally finish your book, and get it published by New York publisher? Want to get that accomplished before the end of January?  Click here and fill out this application. We'll talk.
• Next week's show will be about what worked great for me in 2013, and what didn't work so well… and how you can directly benefit from some of my embarrassing admissions.
• The return of listener questions! How to promote yourself on my show!

Conferences where I will be attending and/or speaking:

• NMX, Jan 4-6, 2014, Las Vegas, NV
• Strategic Influence Jan 14-16, 2014, Phoenix, AZ
• NAMS 11 February 7-9, 2014, Atlanta, GA
• Social Media Marketing World, March 26-28, 2014, San Diego, CA
• “Permission to Prosper” April 8-10, 2014, Spokane, WA

Tip Of The Week

One of the most powerful things you can do to accelerate your success in 2014 is to form an intentional mastermind group.

Click here and take a look at Dan Miller's new course on how to do just that. It's worth 10 times the investment he's asking.

Spiritual Foundations

Give freely and become more wealthy;
be stingy and lose everything.” Proverbs 11:24

In a recent discussion, a couple of my friends brought up the fact that selling things to the Christian market is not a good idea. Christians, they said, are cheap. One brought up a statistic they heard from a retail bookstore owner, who said the number one category of books that are stolen our Christian books. Three questions:

1. Is this true?
2. If it's not true, why is it so widely believed?
3. Either way, what should we do about it?

In the podcast, I give my answers to these questions.

Feature Segment:  10 Ways to Create More Content

The cornerstone of your online business is the creation of great content. But that creation is not always easy, especially if you have a goal of producing a lot of content consistently.

Here are 10 ways to produce more content, more consistently, and more easily. Especially when your ideas are running dry.

1. See a movie. This can result in posts like “The Hobbit's Guide to Online Marketing” or even “What Ironman Can Teach You about List Building”.
2. Tell a personal story. Make a list of the most exciting, shocking, or embarrassing stories that have happened to you. This list should give you the starting point for many a blog post.
3. Be the interviewer. Pick the people you would most like to learn from, and set up interviews with them.
4. Write a review. You can review a book, a training program, a seminar, software… Anything applicable to your audience. The more detail, the better.
5. Publish a how to. We love tutorials, especially the granular, step-by-step kind.
6. Ask your audience. Just ask what they would most like to hear from you about. Other great ways to phrase the question include: what's your biggest problem? What's holding you back? What your number one question?
7. Curate some content. Simply collect and share links of your 10 favorite blog posts on subject X. Variations: “The 10 Best Posts On…”, “Four Distinctly Different Views About…”, “Seven Approaches To…”
8. Case studies. They can be your clients, or they can be other companies. Talk about what they're doing right, why you think it's right, and summarize some takeaways.
9. Opposite day. Make a list of your most popular posts, and ask yourself, “what if I took the opposite view on this?”
10. Guest posts. Solicit for guest posts on your blog. Just make sure what they write will be interesting to your audience. But if they come from your audience, they most assuredly will be.

What To Do Now

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.

Question:  Which of these ideas can you put into practice and use today? Click here to leave your comments.

What most people do this time of year: run around in a frenzied chaos, and slide into the finish line of the current year battered, bruised, and confused.

I have discovered three crucial actions that if, intentionally taken, can quite literally multiply the success and fulfillment you enjoy in 2014. Today, I'll share with they are and how you can use them.

•  A favorite productivity app revisited… and why.
•  Why I love sinners.
•  And the always award-winning, much much more.

Announcements:

• I am updating my copywriting course… win free access with your comments between now and Christmas.
• Seats available for Strategic & Tactical Influence (STI) — dates January 14-16 in Phoenix, AZ.

Conferences where I will be attending and/or speaking:

• NMX, Jan 4-6, 2014, Las Vegas, NV
• Strategic Influence Jan 14-16, 2014, Phoenix, AZ
• NAMS 11 February 7-9, 2014, Atlanta, GA
• Social Media Marketing World, March 26-28, 2014, San Diego, CA
• “Permission to Prosper” April 8-10, 2014, Spokane, WA

Tip Of The Week

There's nothing like a little peer pressure to get you to do the right thing. Like exercise, for instance. Listen to the podcast to find out why I'm revisiting a favorite productivity app, with renewed vigor ( the app is Lift.)

Spiritual Foundations

And behold, a woman of the city, who was a sinner, when she learned that he was reclining at table in the Pharisee's house, brought an alabaster flask of ointment, ³⁸ and standing behind him at his feet, weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears and wiped them with the hair of her head and kissed his feet and anointed them with the ointment.” Luke 7:37-38

I love sinners –  here is why and how.

Feature Segment:  3 Crucial Actions To Prepare You For 2014

There are three actions that, if taken, will dramatically shift the experience you have of 2014. Most to listen to this show will agree with these actions, and proceed to never take them. How about you?

1. Pause
2. Ponder
3. Prepare.

What To Do Now

Grab your calendar and schedule a spot for each of these three. Then, if you wouldn't mind, report back your experience here.

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.

Question:    What did you discover when you took time to pause, ponder, and prepare? Click here to leave your comments.

What if you could influence people before you even met them? Would that be a valuable skill in business?

Not only is it possible, you can engineer it with intention. And you should. In today's episode, you'll discover:

•  The difference between strategic and tactical influence, and when to use each.
•  The three key factors we need whenever we feel we've heard a special calling from God.
•  My very favorite photography app.
•  And the always award-winning, much much more.

Announcements:

• I am updating my copywriting course… win free access with your comments between now and Christmas.
• Seats available for Strategic & Tactical Influence (STI) — dates January 14-16 in Phoenix, AZ.

Conferences where I will be attending and/or speaking:

• NMX, Jan 4-6, 2014, Las Vegas, NV
• Strategic Influence Jan 14-16, 2014, Phoenix, AZ
• NAMS 11 February 7-9, 2014, Atlanta, GA
• Social Media Marketing World, March 26-28, 2014, San Diego, CA
• “Permission to Prosper” April 8-10, 2014, Spokane, WA

Tip Of The Week

I've recently taken up photography as a hobby. My current cameras are my iPhone 5S, the Canon A1400, and an old Nikon DSLR that I'm borrowing from my son. My dream kit is a Sony NEX-7. But one thing I've learned is long before you need a new camera, you need better skill with the camera you have, and you need some finesse and how you process your photos after you take them. Which leads me to the fact that I own many, many photography apps. But the one that consistently produces the best results for me is snapseed. Even though it gets a lot of complaints, it seems fairly easy to use to me, and I have produced some pretty nice photos using. Above are three examples.

Spiritual Foundations

The key to taking a word from God in bringing it into manifestation usually lies at the intersection of three circles: Spirit, Soul, and Strategy.  The reason people are often disappointed when “God's word” doesn't come true for them might be because they've missed one of these three.

Feature Segment: The Unconventional Guide to Influence

What is influence? According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary: “the power to change or affect someone or something : the power to cause changes without directly forcing them to happen.”

When you have strategically crafted your influence in a particular sphere, you can affect change without direct communication. Change the atmosphere around people, and you change the atmosphere inside people.

1. Get clarity on what outcomes you seek to achieve.
2. Reverse engineer the required influence to produce the outcome.
3. Discover who you have to become in order to exert such influence.
4. Codify your wisdom in a way to is easy to distribute to other people; the most powerful way is to write a book.
5. Practice and enhance your communication skills so that you are able to transmit your message in an effective, powerful, and memorable way.
6. Become skilled in the science of causing your ideas to spread; in common parlance, we call this “marketing”.
7. Develop an intentional process that causes others to want what you have; transform your ideas into cash.

What To Do Now

The development of the seven steps has both a Strategic and a Tactical component.

At our three-day workshop in January, not coincidentally entitled Strategic and Tactical Influence we develop both of those components, and we work through all seven steps in the system, producing a distilled, Big-League Idea born out of your knowledge wisdom and experience… Developing this into a full-fledged outline for your Big-League Book (and even finishing the book, if you choose to opt for the upgrade)… Developing your talking points for media interviews, etc.… And devising a customized, intentional cash flow funnel for transmuting your ideas into income.

The investment for this workshop is not cheap, but for the right person this is the bargain of the decade. We have a handful of seats left; if you would like to reserve one, if you are serious and you want to know more,  click here to fill out an application. If it looks like you might be a good fit for the workshop, we will get back in touch with you.

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.

Question:    What's your plan for developing more influence in 2014? Click here to leave your comments.

It's just the right time to start thinking about your plans for the new year. It's just the right time to get started early.

Today,  I'll explain how to really set yourself up for a great new year-the best year yet. By the time were done, you will have discovered:

• Why online backups are not enough, and the two hidden “gotcha” they all contain.
• How to know if you're growing spiritually
• 7 steps to setting up your best year so far

Announcements:

• Answer the reader's poll, and be blessed in return.
• I am updating my copywriting course… stay tuned for more details coming soon.
• The coming comment contest, and why you should start commenting now.

Conferences where I will be attending and/or speaking:

• NMX, Jan 4-6, 2014, Las Vegas, NV
• Strategic Influence Jan 14-16, 2014, Phoenix, AZ
• NAMS 11 February 7-9, 2014, Atlanta, GA
• Social Media Marketing World, March 26-28, 2014, San Diego, CA
• “Permission to Prosper” April 8-10, 2014, Spokane, WA

Tip Of The Week

In which I explain the two hidden “gotchas” of all online backup services.

Spiritual Foundations

All spiritual growth involves discomfort.

It is abnormal for a believer not to have an appetite for the impossible. When we are born again and open the Bible and start reading about Jesus, we all want to do the things that Jesus does. Unfortunately many of us fall prey to disappointment or bad teaching and that appetite goes. This desire that was birthed in us at conversion gets buried by disappointment, by things which didn’t happen as we thought they should have, or teaching that said it wasn’t supposed to be like that. And yet we don’t have the luxury, we don’t have the right, to lower the standard of scripture to our level of experience. The responsibility of every believer is to look at what is possible and then in the secret place with God contend until there is breakthrough, until we manifest the very things that Jesus said should be manifested in our lives. That is the privilege of a believer.”

Bill Johnson, Manifesto For a Normal Christian life

Feature Segment: 7 Steps To Your Best Year so Far

This is the perfect time to be planning your new year. In fact, if you wait until after Thanksgiving, I think you may already be under the gun.

Here are 7 steps you can take right now to set yourself up for your best year so far.

1. Evaluate your progress for this year, and for the last quarter.
2. Create a fresh Life Plan. I recommend Michael Hyatt's free life plan book. Click here to download it.
3. Plan your priorities using annual time blocks.
4. Identify your 3 Keys, and how you will track them; establish annual, quarterly, monthly, weekly, and daily tracking.
5. Invite wise counsel, and do not despise it.
6. Honestly evaluate areas where you need to improve, identify “Keystone habits”,  and commit to those habits. (for more on “Keystone habits”, read The Power of Habit By Charles Duhigg)
7.  Start today, right now.

What To Do Now

All seven of these steps can be implemented immediately-and should be. Join me in committing to complete the seven steps before the Thanksgiving holiday.

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.

Question:   How will you plan your success in the coming year? Click here to leave your comments.

What if there was a way to cut through the fluff, the chaos, confusion, and just flat out fix your business? Well, there is.

Today,  I'll explain how you can stop worrying, start living, and learned to love discipline. By the time were done, you will have discovered:

• Why you do stuff you don't want to do, and don't do stuff you do want to do.
• How to stop that.
•  How to use your laptop's power cable to increase your productivity.
• The key to releasing power into the lives of others.
• And of course, five specific ways discipline will make you rich.

Announcements:

• Answer the reader's poll, and be blessed in return.
• I am updating my copywriting course… stay tuned for more details coming soon.
• The coming comment contest, and why you should start commenting now.

Conferences where I will be attending and/or speaking:

• NMX, Jan 4-6, 2014, Las Vegas, NV
• Strategic Influence Jan 14-16, 2014, Phoenix, AZ
• NAMS 11 February 7-9, 2014, Atlanta, GA
• Social Media Marketing World, March 26-28, 2014, San Diego, CA
• “Permission to Prosper” April 8-10, 2014, Spokane, WA

Tip Of The Week

How can your laptop's power cord increase your productivity? In the podcast audio, I reveal this arcane secret…

Spiritual Foundations

If what you are saying does not impart grace to the people listening,  it's better to be silent.

Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give cgrace to those who hear.”
Ephesians 4:29

We can do terrible damage with what we say, or we can bring life. Speak only life, and watch what happens.

Feature Segment: 5 Ways Discipline Will Make You Rich

Wikipedia says “Discipline is a course of actions leading to a greater goal than the satisfaction of the immediate. A disciplined person is one that has established a goal and is willing to achieve that goal at the expense of his or her immediate comfort.”

Add this book to your list of must-reads: The Ultimate Sales Machine, by Chet Holmes.

If you haven’t read it, move it to the top of your list.

If you have read it and haven’t yet implemented every single strategy inside its covers, read it now. Again.

Probably my favorite passage from Chet’s masterful business work is one that most people read without understanding its import. In the early pages of the book, Chet points out that most people will read his book, agree with its precepts, and still not do them. He says this is the “reverse psychology” section of the book, in which he attempts to prod the reader into doing what needs to be done. In Chet’s words, “I’m goading you into applying a powerful force for creating success from what you’re going to learn… and that force, my friends, is pigheaded discipline and determination.”

Pigheaded discipline is the subject of this post for very good, and simple, reason. That reason being the fact that this is the most-lacked skill in over 90% of entrepreneurs. In my experience, what stands in our way, what holds us back from our potential, is usually not some external force (such as competition or marketplace conditions)-it is, rather, our own inability to say no to the things that distract us from our most profitable activities, and our continued inability to say yes only to those activities that produce the results we seek.

It is as if the world conspires against us to lead us down this path to destruction. Most of our peers, and certainly most of our employees, are happy to tell us what we should be spending our time on-and almost without fail their advice is dead wrong. It usually doesn’t come packaged as advice, by the way – it usually comes packaged as a meeting… a phone call… a personal plea… or some kind of interpersonal conflict. None of which are, perhaps, designed to take us off target- but all of which inevitably do.

Guard your heart carefully, eternal entrepreneur, and focus only on the things that expand the kingdom. Employ pigheaded discipline.

There are at least five ways cultivating more discipline will make you rich:

1. Discipline measures activity instead of intent.
2. Discipline measures results instead of reasons.
3. Discipline cultivates stewardship.
4. Discipline produces accurate thinking.
5. Discipline practices the Pareto principle.

What To Do Now

Here's how you put these five points to work right now, starting today.

1. Reverse engineer the daily activities needed to achieve your objectives, schedule them, and then do them.
2. Meticulously track the results you achieve, and continuously adjust your approach until you reach your objective.
3. Carefully examine your finances, your relationships, your health, your spiritual foundations. If there are any areas where you are not being a good steward, you already know what to do. Do it. Today.
4. Evaluate every area of discontent in your life, determine the cause, and decide what is required to fix it. See things as they are, then see them as you want them to be, then make them how you see them.
5. Ruthlessly eliminate activities and relationships that do not move you forward toward your objectives. Begin today, by making a list of at least 10 things to eliminate from your life.

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.

Question:  What have you learned from conferences that has changed your life for the better? Click here to leave your comments.

I just attended the single best business conference I've ever been to… and it has nothing to do with my being one of the speakers!

Today, I share my notes from this week's Platform Conference. By the time you listen to today's podcast, you will have discovered:

• The real secret to stress-free productivity
• How to get your business cards imported into your smart phone for free
• Why you procrastinate and how to stop doing that
• A simple formula that allows you to WOW your customers
• The secret that allowed Jeff Goins to build 100,000 readers for his blog
• The simple method for building an intimate connection with your tribe that will surprise you
• The altar you are probably worshiping at that will eventually kill you, and what to do about it
• Why it's important for you to make as much money as possible
• And much, much more!

Announcements:

• The Return of the Lifestyle Business Segment, and listener questions.
• Our first ever annual readers poll is coming tomorrow.
•  Next week I'll be offering a free video training series on writing powerful persuasive copy. Be looking for it.
• A new listener comment contest.

Conferences where I will be attending and/or speaking:

• Private Client Meeting, Dec 2-4
• NMX, Jan 4-6, 2014, Las Vegas, NV
• Strategic Influence Jan 14-16, 2014, Phoenix, AZ
• NAMS 11 February 7-9, 2014, Atlanta, GA
• Social Media Marketing World, March 26-28, 2014, San Diego, CA
• “Permission to Prosper” April 8-10, 2014, Spokane, WA

Tip Of The Week

Cardmunch is a free iPhone app that turns business cards into contacts.

Spiritual Foundations

We accomplish the most from a place of rest.

Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
Matthew 11:28-30

Rest does not equal in activity. It means that we are able to be active without fear, doubt, or emotional striving. We become peace inside chaos, we are the call my at the center of the storm.

Feature Segment: What I Learned From The Platform Conference

Nearly every significant turning point in my life has been marked by attending a conference.  which is not to say that every conference I have attended was a life changer; but even at the “poorly produced” conferences, I always learn something of value.

This week, I  had a life-changing experience at the single best business conference I have ever had the privilege of attending, the Platform Conference in Dallas, Texas.

How does this affect you? As always, I seek to learn everything I can and then bring it back here to share with you. While not every one of the ideas I'm going to share is necessarily be applicable to you, I believe many of them will. Here are some (not all) of the most valuable things I learned at this year's platform conference.

The absolute imperative of building your own platform. “Platform” is a metaphor for the stage you construct from which you share your ideas, insights, and advice. As Michael Hyatt says in his book Platform, building a platform is how you “get noticed in a noisy world”. I write frequently about creating strategic influence; which means to exert influence in the lives of people who have never even met you. The mechanism by which you do this is your platform. Although I have long been a proponent of platform building, after this week's conference I am absolutely convinced it is of paramount importance for anyone who has something important to say, or something useful to sell.

The dynamic tension between excellence and procrastination. Michael Hyatt started us off with a powerful presentation that reiterated the five-part framework of his book. (Incidentally, for all my students and coaching clients, that book is required reading.) Michael teaches that we must start every project by “baking in WOW”. The key to creating the “wow” experience for our readers and customers is to exceed their expectations. I came home with a long list of things I need to do to bake more “wow” into everything we do at my company. The other side of the coin is, it's easy to use this commitment to excellence as an excuse to never get anything off the ground. Seth Godin makes it clear it's important that we “ship”-that we get a project out the door and into the hands of our audience or tribe.

Perfectionism is the mother of procrastination.”
-Michael Hyatt

Ken Davis offered a startling perspective on creating  “WOW”. Ken is  a best-selling author, frequent radio and television guest, and one of the country's most sought-after inspirational and motivational speakers,  Ken's premise is that WOW is “found at the intersection of pretty, practical and personal.” He shared compelling examples of this from real-life advertising and marketing campaigns. Apple Computer is, of course, the primary example of a company doing this right. Think about it. Every product they introduce has all three of those elements. Yesterday I got my new iPhone 5s. I assure you that it is very pretty, it is extraordinarily practical, and my password is actually my thumb print: you can't get more personal than that. Also, implicit in Ken's brilliant instruction was the importance of being interesting and entertaining. This is something Ken teaches at his SCORRE  conference, which I plan to attend next May.

Jeff Goins, who writes a frustratingly beautiful blog at GoinsWriter.com (frustrating only because he makes writing brilliantly look incredibly easy), inspired us with his session. I took many notes from Jeff's talk, which was about starting from scratch and building a platform with words, passion and people. My big take away from Jeff's talk was this: the key to succeeding at platform building is not about “who you know”, it's about who you can help. This includes not only helping other influential speakers, authors, and bloggers… More importantly, it's about the tribe of readers you help. Focusing on that will eventually bring you the attention your message merits.

As I stopped chasing attention, more people began paying attention to what I had to say.”
-Jeff Goins

Cliff Ravenscraft, the founder of the podcast mastermind, has produced over 3100 podcast episodes. He has helped thousands of people and organizations launch successful podcasts. While Michael Hyatt inspired me to start my podcast, Cliff provided me with the practical knowledge, tools, and advice that have allowed me to succeed as a podcaster. Cliff made it clear in his talk that the opportunities and benefits of podcasting can dramatically shift your success as a platform builder. While I am obviously a proponent of podcasting, it was only after watching clips presentation that I realized what an incredibly powerful “secret weapon” podcasting is for building your platform there is no other way to build such an incredibly intimate connection with people. And at this point in time, competition is very thin in podcasting. While I knew in principle this was true, I don't pay much attention to my chart rankings in iTunes. But while listening to Cliff speak, I checked and discovered my own podcast ranks in the top 25 in the world for business and marketing advice on iTunes! Thanks Cliff, for the reminder.

Lysa Terkeurst, The New York Times best-selling author and president of Proverbs 31 ministries, knocked me off my feet with her presentation. Lysa is a bona fide celebrity, and yet she is the most humble and approachable person you'll ever meet. I'm a bit of  word nerd, so when Lysa started sharing her copywriting techniques for writing value propositions, I swooned.  She was inspiring, smart, and entertaining. She was also incredibly generous and although she shared.

Amy Porterfield is a friend I only met in the “real world” just this week. Amy and I first met a few years ago, when she was still working for Tony Robbins. She was actually the person in Tony's organization who hired me to write copy for Tony. Since leaving his organization, Amy has built an amazing business, created one of the most successful podcasts on the subject of marketing (click here for the Online Marketing Made Easy podcast), and authored a book called Facebook Marketing All-in-One for Dummies. Amy gave a stunning presentation on her Facebook advertising secrets. I promise you I'm already at work implementing her ideas for my own business. But, that's not the most valuable thing I learned from my friend Amy. I watched her while an audience full of seasoned business professionals was held captive by her stark and transparent admission of how overwork had almost wrecked her life… and how setting a new standard has given her freedom, satisfaction, and even more success.

When you worship at the altar of “hustle” you say yes to everything because it never feels like you're doing enough.”
-Amy Porterfield

Amy Porterfield, you did in fact change my life this week.  I hereby renounce my worship of the idol called “hustle”.

Derek Halpern is the creator of the well-known blog Social Triggers. Derek is a brilliant business thinker, and approaches marketing with the attitude of a scientist. He dives deep into scientific research and finds ways to apply it to social media, blogging, and online marketing. He has influenced the marketing approach of thousands of business people, and host one of the top marketing podcast on iTunes. He also dresses like a boss. Derek may have been the most prepared presenter I've ever encountered (well, other than Michael Hyatt!) I was most impacted by a simple statement from Derrick: “Don't sell often, but when you do, so hard.” By “selling hard”, Derek does not mean to be and of noxious pushy salesperson… he carefully studies the desires of his marketplace, and tailors every nuance of his marketing and selling specifically to the people who need what he has to offer. Powerful stuff.

Stu McLaren is the co-founder of WishList member, the membership site solution for WordPress that now powers over 43,000 online communities. Stu is of course a great friend of mine, and we are perfectly aligned when it comes to the moral rightness of prospering in business. I took more notes during Stu's presentation than anyone else's, but without a doubt the single most powerful thing he had to say (at least in my opinion) was this: “The more money you make, the more impact you can have.” Amen, Stu McLaren.

Michele Cushatt was the MC of the conference, and her bright and cheerful personality said just the right tone for the entire event. But that was only the precursor to what had to be one of the most powerful talks I have ever heard. There was a moment in her speech that had the entire room in total silence, except for an occasional sniffle… because she also had managed to bring tears to the eyes of most of the attendees. Those tears were not generated by some trite emotional device, but by a powerful moment in which she revealed the truth about why many of us struggle with achieving our full potential. I hesitate to say more, because when you get the chance to hear Michele speak (and you will, because her star is rising), I don't want to spoil this special moment for you. Suffice it to say, Michele, if you are reading this… I have promised myself to dive deep into life. Thank you, my new friend, for how you contributed to my experience of life.

3 Powerful Takeaways From The Conference Itself.

I know I've already shared quite a few insights, but it's only a fraction of what I took away from the conference this week. When I zoom out another level, I also learned some valuable lessons from the overall conference experience. And for this learning, I have to give credit to Michael Hyatt, Ken Davis, and their amazing team, who crafted a framework that allowed this event to have  such impact. Here are three of the many learnings I gleaned from the overall conference experience.

1. WOW is in the details.  Michael and Ken  pay close attention to every detail of this conference, from the choice of venue (it was beautiful and comfortable), to the way the rooms were set up, to the number of people staffing the event making sure things were happening happening smoothly, to all the printed materials that accompany the event. Every element was high quality, with attention being paid to design and the experience that the attendees had. In fact, from beginning to end, this can conference embodied the intersection of pretty, practical, and personal. For me, the Platform Conference raised the bar on how these things ought to be done, and you will see the results at my upcoming Permission to Prosper event in Spokane next year.
2. Community multiplies the benefits of training. It was not lost on me that connecting people to one another was carefully engineered into the entire conference structure. There was a networking reception the night before any of the conference activities began, there was ample space between sessions for people to connect the network. We took many meals together, there are few things more powerful than breaking bread with other people to connect and bond you to one another. Is it more expensive for the promoter to provide such opportunities? Undoubtedly. Does it provide a deeper more fulfilling experience for attendees? Absolutely.
3. Devotion to your participants is primary in importance. I have never been asked to do more as a speaker at a conference that this one. And I have never been more delighted with my conference experience than at this one. I attended every session, I was present at every networking meal, and made myself available every waking hour to meet with attendees. It was tiring, hard work… but it was so rewarding. I'm sure that sounds noble, but I have to be honest, I feel the person most rewarded was me. I met so many brilliant, loving, powerful, and remarkable people. My life will be forever changed by those I encountered and had the privilege of getting to know. I'm absolutely convinced I made several new lifelong friends at this event. The environment that fostered these kinds of relationships (not just for me, but for everyone who attended) was intentionally produced by Michael and Ken, and will be incorporated into any future events that I myself produce.

What To Do Now

How can you benefit from my notes? Pick three of my takeaways and use them.  Decide exactly how you're going to incorporate them into your business, and then schedule it on your calendar. I look forward to hearing the results you produce.

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.

Question:  What have you learned from conferences that has changed your life for the better? Click here to leave your comments.

I will never forget the day I heard the bad news about copywriting. And now, I'm about to give you that same bad news.

 I heard the news from an off-the-wall copywriter in Utah, who had miraculously survived a brain tumor. I'll tell you the whole story in today's episode. And what it means to you.

Announcements:

Conferences where I will be attending and/or speaking:

• Platform Conference, Nov 3-5 2013, Dallas, TX
• Private Client Meeting, Dec 2-4
• “The Forge”
• NMX, Jan 4-6, 2014, Las Vegas, NV
• Strategic Influence Jan 14-16, 2014, Phoenix, AZ
• NAMS 11 February 7-9, 2014, Atlanta, GA
• Social Media Marketing World, March 26-28, 2014, San Diego, CA
• “Permission to Prosper” April 8-10, 2014, Spokane, WA

Tip Of The Week

This week, my tip of the week is a simple exercise… a short question that can totally revamp your perspective on your business, and even your life.

Spiritual Foundations

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.

Question:    Do you write your own sales copy, or do you have someone write it for you? Click here to leave your comments.

My consulting client was facing a tough season. None of her marketing was working. While considering the problem she was facing, it became obvious what was missing.

Since that time, I've developed a short checklist that can almost always cure marketing woes. Today I'll share the checklist.

Announcements:

Conferences where I will be attending and/or speaking:

• Ray's Platinum Mastermind Oct 28-29, 2013, Las Vegas, NV
• Platform Conference, Nov 3-5 2013, Dallas, TX
• Private Client Meeting, Dec 2-4
• “The Forge”
• NMX, Jan 4-6, 2014, Las Vegas, NV
• Strategic Influence Jan 14-16, 2014, Phoenix, AZ
• NAMS 11 February 7-9, 2014, Atlanta, GA
• Social Media Marketing World, March 26-28, 2014, San Diego, CA
• “Permission to Prosper” April 8-10, 2014, Spokane, WA

Tip Of The Week

This week's tip is once again a book, this one by my friend Joel Comm. The book is called “So, What Do YOU Do? Discovering the Genius Next Door with One Simple Question”, and it features people from all walks of life who are passionate about what they do.

The goal is to inspire readers and demonstrate that it’s not just the so-called “gurus” who have something to say.

There is tremendous value all around us if we just stop long enough to listen and discover what others are all about.

Spiritual Foundations

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.

Question:   Which of These Five Areas Do You Excel In, Which Do You Need to Strengthen? Click here to leave your comments.

There is a dangerous reason why you don't achieve your goals.

There's a good chance you are committing this mistake yourself, even if you do lots of good stuff. In today's episode I will share with you how to go about fixing this problem.

Announcements:

Conferences where I will be attending and/or speaking:

• Ray's Platinum Mastermind Oct 28-29, 2013, Las Vegas, NV
• Platform Conference, Nov 3-5 2013, Dallas, TX
• Private Client Meeting, Dec 2-4
• “The Forge”
• NMX, Jan 4-6, 2014, Las Vegas, NV
• Strategic Influence Jan 14-16, 2014, Phoenix, AZ
• NAMS 11 February 7-9, 2014, Atlanta, GA
• Social Media Marketing World, March 26-28, 2014, San Diego, CA
• “Permission to Prosper” April 8-10, 2014, Spokane, WA

Tip Of The Week

• The In-Between by Jeff Goins
• The Entrepreneurial Author by  David Hancock and Jay Conrad Levinson
• 48 Days to the Work You Love by Dan Miller
• A Question of Faith by Tor Constantino
• The Blog of Mike Morrell

Spiritual Foundations

A good place to start might be simply asking the question throughout the day, “If Christ is living in me, what is he doing right now? And am I cooperating?”

Another good step would be to check out this discipleship course by my friend Frank Viola. If you click this link, I receive a small commission. If that makes you uncomfortable, please click this link. It won't change your price, but clicking the second lake means I will not be compensated financially.

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.

Question:  How Do You Objectively Measure Your Progress Toward Your Goals? Click here to leave your comments.

It's harder than ever to get people to share their email address. Nobody wants more spam in their inbox. What's a marketer to do?

The solution to the problem is surprisingly simple, and increasingly difficult. But it's well worth the effort as I will demonstrate in today's episode.

Announcements:

Conferences where I will be attending and/or speaking:

• The Wisdom Thesis Workshop, October 9-11
• Private Mastermind Group, October 28-30
• SCORRE Conference, October 14-17
• Platform Conference, November 3-5
• Private Mastermind Group, December 17
• NAMS 11 February 7-9, 2014
• “Permission to Prosper” April 8-10, 2014

Tip Of The Week

Drafts for iOS is my new mobile text editor of choice.

For the past week I've been traveling using only my iPad as my main computer.

Spiritual Foundations

By now, you are certainly convinced that you must build an email list if you want to succeed in marketing online. You may be a little more advanced, and understand that it's only partially true that “the money is in the list”… You may have realized that the money is actually in your relationship with the list.

The relationship starts with how you acquired the list. Purchased emails are at the bottom of the barrel, as they are almost certainly spam. Opt in for a “free newsletter” or even a “free report” are somewhat higher up the food chain, but not much.

Yet some people manage to create lead magnets that draw people like a gravitational field. How do they do this, and more importantly, how can you?

• Know your customer
• Know the customer's FFA's
• Develop a unique solution
• Solve their problem with power, elegance, and finality
• Communicate the value of your offer
• Deliver on what you promise
• Provide the answer in each modality, with excellence
• The fortune is in the follow-up

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.

Question: How have you used testimonials to help market your business? Click here to leave your comments.

We all know we should be using testimonials to help sell our products and services. But there's another, less obvious use that can boost your bottom line.

This week's episode, I'll explain how you can actually make sales by giving testimonials to other people… Even your competitors.

Announcements:

Conferences where I will be attending and/or speaking:

• The Wisdom Thesis Workshop, October 9-11
• Private Mastermind Group, October 28-30
• SCORRE Conference, October 14-17
• Platform Conference, November 3-5
• Private Mastermind Group, December 17
• NAMS 11 February 7-9, 2014
• “Permission to Prosper” April 8-10, 2014

Tip Of The Week

TextExpander allows you to type less, while writing much more.

Spiritual Foundations

I'm not talking about using testimonials where people proclaim how useful your product is, or how great you are. Those are important, and you should use the.

But there is another way of marketing using testimonials that is less obvious. I'm talking about giving testimonials to others, and being strategic about what you say when offering those testimonials.

• Make your testimonial truthful, to the point, and inspirational.
• Be as specific as possible about results.
• Pay attention to production quality.
• Make it useful to the recipient.
• Strategically embed your USP and your web address.
• Remember the “Before – during – after” framework.
• Use a powerful closing statement.
• Make your testimonial easy for the recipient to use.
• Be proactive in offering testimonials.

Example Testimonial

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.

Question: How have you used testimonials to help market your business?Click here to leave your comments.

Productivity is about more than the right day planner, a particular methodology, and certainly more than having a good “to do list”.

In today's episode, I interview one of my favorite podcast hosts, Erik J. Fisher of the Beyond the to Do List Podcast.

Other highlights coming up in today's show…

• I give you my initial read on iOS7… the good, the bad, and yes… the ugly
• How you can be sure God is not mad at you.
• At least three powerful takeaways on productivity from Erik.

And then we have the ever popular, “much, much more.”

Announcements:

Conferences where I will be attending and/or speaking:

• The Wisdom Thesis Workshop, October 9-11
• Private Mastermind Group, October 28-30
• SCORRE Conference, October 14-17
• Platform Conference, November 3-5
• Private Mastermind Group, December 17
• NAMS 11 February 7-9, 2014
• “Permission to Prosper” April 8-10, 2014

Tip Of The Week

I have been using the new iOS7 since the day it came out. Here are my initial thoughts. (You have to listen to the episode to get my thoughts!)

Spiritual Foundations

In today's episode, I interview one of my favorite podcast hosts, Erik J. Fisher of the Beyond the to Do List Podcast.

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.

Question:   How do you get “beyond the to do list” and boost your productivity? Click here to leave your comments.

What is the one secret that can accelerate the growth of your business, and every other area of your life? I believe it is the crucible of companionship.

This weeks episode is all about how to create your own Mastermind Group. Here are three good reasons to keep listening…

• If you want to compress time, and achieve more in 12 weeks than most people can achieve in 12 years…
• If you want to avoid pitfalls, perils, and mistakes…
• If you want to achieve more success, with less stress, and less effort…

Then this episode is definitely for you.

Announcements:

Conferences where I will be attending and/or speaking:

• SCORRE Conference, October 14-17
• Platform Conference, November 3-5
• Private Mastermind Group, November

Tip Of The Week

A free set of videos that are a kind of “short course” on how to launch a product on the Internet. These will be available for a limited time, so grab them now. Click here for the videos.

Spiritual Foundations

One major key to any success I have enjoyed has been the principle of the Mastermind. Mastermind Groups have played a big role in propelling my business forward. What are the benefits of a Mastermind Group?

1. Positive peer pressure
2. Different perspective
3. the Hawthorne principal

 How to Start A Mastermind Group

Recommended Resource: Dan Miller has a product called Creating Your Own Mastermind Group, which I highly recommend.

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.

Question:   How do you make use of “Value Creation Marketing” in your business? Click here to leave your comments.

The pressure is on. You need to come up with big ideas for a client, or for your own business, or just to get yourself out of a problem. But being under the gun for a big idea is just the kind of environment that seems to stop the flow of said big ideas.

Today show is about how to get big ideas on demand.

Announcements:

Conferences where I will be attending and/or speaking:

• The Wisdom Thesis Workshop, October 9-11
• Private Mastermind Group, October
• SCORRE Conference, October 14-17
• Platform Conference, November 3-5
• Private Mastermind Group, November
• NAMS 11 February 7-9, 2014
• “Permission to Prosper” April 8-10, 2014

Tip Of The Week

Slideshark for making presentations on your iPad.

Spiritual Foundations

Ray's Big Idea-Getting Formula:

1. Clear your mind
2. Clear your desk
3. Turn off distractions
4. Whiteboard it!
5. Use a process (like Wisdom Thesis)
6. Cross-pollinate
7. Evaluate

For a complete description of the Wisdom Thesis, register for Friday's webinar (WARNING: no replay).

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.

Question:   How do you come up with your best ideas? Click here to leave your comments.

Would you like to know the marketing concept that will attract the most buyers, for the least cost, in the shortest period of time?

Today's show is all about something I call “Value Creation Marketing”. Reasons to listen are the fact that “Value Creation Marketing”…

• Attracts buyers before they're even thinking about buying.
• Closes a bigger percentage of sales.
• Fills the pipeline faster.
• Just makes the most money.

So this episode is only for you if you want the least expensive marketing method, that works faster, with less human effort, and yields the best customers

Announcements:

Conferences where I will be attending and/or speaking:

• SCORRE Conference, October 14-17
• Platform Conference, November 3-5
• Private Mastermind Group, November

Tip Of The Week

Many thanks to Ernie Lansford, who forced me to try a Mackie mixer. This week I'm testing the Mackie 1402VLZ4 … and I love it!

5 Reasons I Prefer the Mackie 1402VLZ4 Over My Previous Mixer

1. It's built like a tank.
2. Visual ease-of-use.
3. Pure clean sound.
4. 2 additional channels.
5. 6 XLR inputs.

Get your own Mackie 1402VLZ4 by clicking here.

Get Cliff Ravenscraft's tutorials on how to set up your studio equipment by clicking here.

Spiritual Foundations

Today's show is all about something I call “Value Creation Marketing”… and why you should be using it…

“Value-Creation Marketing” is the least expensive marketing, that works faster, with less effort. Click To Tweet

Value Creation Marketing:

1. Overcomes resistance
2. Attracts buyers before they are buyers
3. Closes more sales
4. Gets you higher fees
5. Builds a board audience
6. Honors people at all levels
7. Follows the rule of the farm

Question that come up:

• So, how do you do it?
• What if your business is “different”?
• If you give away everything for free, how do you make money?

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.

Question:   How do you make use of “Value Creation Marketing” in your business? Click here to leave your comments.

You've heard it before. The problem that holds you back is not lack of information. You already know what to do – but you don't do what you know.

The question is why you don't do what you know? And that is what I'll be answering in today's episode.

Announcements:

Conferences where I will be attending and/or speaking:

• SCORRE Conference, October 14-17
• Platform Conference, November 3-5

Tip Of The Week

Sweetprocess lets you document all those repetitive tasks that eat up your precious time, so you can grow your team and grow your business.

Spiritual Foundations

Why we don't do what we know we should do… and what to do about it…

The reason we know what to do but still don't do it: the pain of changing our behavior seems more real than the pain of staying the same.
Click To Tweet

How to change:

1. Write down what you want to change
2. Write down why you want to change it
3. Write down what will happen if you don't change
4. Write down what will happen if you do change

Repeat, reward, and reinforce

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.

Question:   Why do you do the same thing even when you know you should change? Click here to leave your comments.

I had two conversations this week that prompted the topic of today's podcast. One had to do with weird Christian views about money, and the other had to do with a question about the business mission of my company.

This episode is going to be like one big Spiritual Foundations segment… So, if you're not into that, you might want to skip out until next week. However, if any of the following apply to you…

• You ever wonder if it's okay to want to get rich.
• Internal conflicts about money seem to slow you down.
• Your Christian brothers and sisters judge or criticize you because you're so enthusiastic about business and success.
• You wonder about how to reconcile the gospel with your desire to succeed in life.
• The question of how to integrate your spiritual life with your business life seems to come up a lot.
• You'd like an explanation of just what exactly my weird business is all about.

… Then this episode is definitely for you!

And if you're one of those people who loves it when somebody is WRONG ON THE INTERNET…  and you feel it's your job to set them straight… this is your show! You may disagree in the comments, but no name-calling, etc, Please disagree agreeably.

Announcements:

And here we go…

You Have Permission to Prosper

He sat across from me and stared me in the eye.

“It is scripturally wrong for a Christian to try to be rich.” He looked at me defiantly.

I gently tried to explain that he might not have the entire picture, but he was going to hear none of it.

This is a slightly fictionalized account of several conversations I've had over the last year or so. The other person in this story represents people who, when told what I do in my business, are quick to want to school me on why I'm wrong.

Worse, some of them told me that I'm leading people to hell.

This disturbed me somewhat.

Then I had a conversation with someone very close to me, in just the last week. This person, a member of my family, began to describe to me what they thought my business was about: “You write copy, and you teach other people how to write copy, and you sell a bunch of Internet marketing stuff.”

Well, no.

The answer to both of these misunderstandings is actually the same. So today, I'm going to revisit a post I made previously on this blog, and spell out very carefully what is the purpose of my businesses… what we do… and how it ties together with this conundrum of Christians and cash.

I really have one basic premise to offer you, and it is this: as a follower of Jesus you are entitled to prosper in every way. And that includes money. You have, straight from the pages of Scripture, permission to prosper.

My Marketplace Mission: 1,000 Millionaires.

I feel that God has prepared me for this very time to help demolish the mindsets of both poverty and greed that have a grip on so many.

I am privileged to be called to be part of the solution.

Our mission going forward, here at Ray Edwards International, Inc, is a very simple one: to mentor, foster, and lead 1,000 people to become millionaires.

Not to become millionaires for the reasons the world normally supposes people want to be rich. Not so that they can buy the biggest house, or the fastest sports car, or acquire the “most toys”.

Our aim (and my personal mission) is to develop “Kingdom millionaires”. People who seek to accumulate wealth in order to do the work of God’s kingdom. “Millionaire Missionaries”, if you will.

Leading 1,000 people to become millionaires means bringing one billion dollars into God’s Kingdom – money that will be used for His purposes.

Over the last few years, I’ve had the great privilege of working with many well-known marketers and thought-leaders.

Some of my clients are household names.

I’ve been able to contribute to their success, and my work has been responsible, in part, for bringing millions of dollars into those businesses and those personal fortunes.

Today, we continue to serve by bringing practical wisdom on how to start, run, and grow business period we do this through consulting services, coaching programs, seminars and workshops, instructional products, in writing books.

I have dedicated my work-all of it-to the building of God’s kingdom.

How? By continuing to help people and businesses create more wealth – but now with a renewed and more accurately-focused purpose. By being dedicated…

• To the destruction of the poverty and greed mindset.
• To the creation of new wealth.
• To the alleviation of suffering, sickness, and poverty.

We are in a world at war. It’s Good against evil.

While evil wants to take over, we resist the idea of giving up a single inch of ground.

This is the sound of a revolution.

If You’re Receiving This Message, You Are The Resistance

If this resonates with you, if you want to be part of this revolution, I invite you to stick with me.

As dark as some people think tomorrow looks, we have a different view.

We believe the future is pregnant with promise, and we are committed to taking back tomorrow from the “gloom and doomers”.

So how can you join in?

First, and absolutely of most importance, make sure you are following Jesus. Accept Him as your Lord (your Master) and as your Savior. It’s not complex. All that is required:

If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

Romans 10:9

Next, if what I’ve said here seems to draw you toward it, then this is your place!

Subscribe to this blog, if you haven’t already.

Our values are reflected in the articles we publish, the podcasts we produce, the information products and books we make available.

I just got word that my new book has been accepted by the publisher, and we have an event scheduled for April 8-10. Both are called Permission to Prosper.

My teaching and materials reflect the principles of helping you build wealth from a foundation of Kingdom principles – for Kingdom purposes.

We will be together on the journey of true prosperity.

And like John, the beloved disciple of Jesus, I want you to prosper, even as your soul prospers.

I look forward to contributing to your success.

We have some exciting things in store for you.

In the meantime…

May you prosper wildly, and may you be radically blessed.

Question:    Have you struggled with any of the issues brought up in this podcast? Click here to leave your comments.

Why do I still invest the time and money to attend seminars, even though many people would think I don't have to? I have at least five good reasons why, and in this episode I will share them with you.

Announcements:

Conferences where I will be attending and/or speaking:

• SCORRE Conference, October 14-17
• Platform Conference, November 3-5

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.

Tip Of The Week

How to rescue your time… with an app, of course!

Spiritual Foundations

After all these years, I'm still attending seminars and workshops… here are 5 reasons why…

1. To remain a student.
2. To be productively uncomfortable.
3. To connect with clients, customers, and friends.
4. To make JV connections.
5. To buy.

This week we heard from:

• Jeff Brown, Read to Lead Podcast
• Walter Montero
• Paul Potter
• Adam Collier
• Greg Gilbert

Question:   Why do you attend seminars? Click here to leave your comments.

For many bloggers, it's the number one topic of discussion: how to get more traffic to your blog.  Having a bigger number of visitors doesn't necessarily mean you have a more profitable business, but let's face it; we all want more traffic.

In this episode, I'll explain how  to get more traffic to your blog.

Announcements:

Conferences where I will be attending and/or speaking:

• NAMS Conference, August 9-11
• SCORRE Conference, October 14-17
• Platform Conference, November 3-5

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.

Tip Of The Week

This week I share the value of inconveniently scheduled entertainment.

Spiritual Foundations

“But now even more the report about him went abroad, and great crowds gathered to hear him and to be healed of their infirmities. But he would withdraw to desolate places and pray.”
Luke 5:15-16

Feature Segment: How To  Get More Blog Traffic

Success as a blogger cannot be measured by subscriber numbers alone. That doesn't mean we don't count the number of subscribers. How do you get more traffic to your blog? Here are seven tips…

1. Write 3 to 5 “Pillar Posts”.
2. Post Consistently And Frequently.
3. Comment On High Traffic Blogs.
4. Write Guest Posts For High-Traffic Blogs. See this post by Jeff Goins about guest posting.
5. Link To Other Blogs in Your Posts.
6. Encourage Commenting on Your Blog.
7. Use Social Media to Promote Your Blog Posts.

Question:   What tactics do you use to get more traffic to your blog? Click here to leave your comments.

It's all the rage: “content marketing”. But if you think just giving away lots of great content for free is going to make you money, you haven't thought the matter through. Chances are you're making one of the three big content marketing mistakes.

St. John's Cathedral in Spokane, WA, taken with my iPhone.

In this episode, I'll explain how to create content that actually makes sales.

Announcements:

Conferences where I will be attending and/or speaking:

• NAMS Conference, August 9-11
• SCORRE Conference, October 14-17
• Platform Conference, November 3-5

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.

Tip Of The Week

I've been enjoying the challenge of trying to take great photographs using just my iPhone. Turns out this is a very popular hobby. Two great resources, if you're interested in giving it a try, are iPhone Photography and the ProCamera App. I also like 100 Cameras In 1.

Spiritual Foundations

“So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”
Romans 10:17

What we put into our brains makes a difference in our life, and that includes our spirit life. I'm not big on rules, so I'm not going to tell you there are things you should or should not listen to or watch. But I will suggest you might want to be careful what you put inside yourself.

Anything that you are going to listen to, or watch, needs to pass through a filter. Here's a good one: is this helpful? Is it healing? Is it hopeful? Is it loving?

If the answer to the above questions is “no”, you might want to reconsider whose word you listening to, and what the consequences might be.

Feature Segment: How To Create Content That Sells

Content really does sell, but if you give away the store, you go broke fast. The key is you must create content that encourages a buying decision.

The three big “content marketing” mistakes:

1. Creating mediocre content.
2. Creating content that completely satisfies your customer's needs.
3. Creating content without being intentional.

Keys to creating content that sells.

1. Your best material is your best marketing.
2. Create content that is “useful, but incomplete” (thanks Jimmy D Brown).
3. Be strategic about the content you create.
4. Create products that get results, while laying the foundation for new purchases.

Question:  What content  marketing strategies have brought you the best results? Click here to leave your comments.

Over the last few weeks, I've had the opportunity to talk on the phone with a number of consulting clients. I was startled to hear virtually the same phrase come out of each of their mouths: “I need clarity on what I'm supposed to be doing, and help focusing on it.”

Why do we feel we lack clarity? And why do we have trouble focusing? Most importantly, how can we get clear and focused? I've got an answer for you in today's episode.

Announcements:

Conferences where I will be attending and/or speaking:

• JV Alert, July 26-28
• NAMS Conference, August 9-11
• SCORRE Conference, October 14-17
• Platform Conference, November 3-5

Want To Be On Next Week's Show?

My topic for next week's show is “Creating Content That Sells”. If you have a question on that topic, you can ask by visiting my voicemail page (just click here to leave a message). This is a great way to promote your own website. First, make sure you have a great question, and then start off by saying your name and your website. If your question is used on the show, we will even include a link back to your site in the show notes.

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.

Call in your questions or comments to our new, fancy “request line” at (509) 713-2679 or click here to leave a message on my Voicemail Page

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.

Tip Of The Week

GoodReader for iPad allows you to markup PDF documents using a stylus. This is great for editing, proofreading, and notetaking.

Lifestyle Business Segment

Featuring Stu McLaren of Wishlist Products and Rhino Support. This week:  creating more meaning in your work.

Spiritual Foundations

“Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”
Romans 8:1

Have you ever made a big mistake, and been filled with regret? Recently I made a major decision without consulting my wife. I gave the appearance of consulting her, by writing a highly persuasive, highly logical justification of my decision and presenting it to her and asking, in essence, “you agree with me don't you?” In other words, I blindsided and bulldozed her. How she supposed to respond? I hurt her feelings. The decision may have been right, that the way I presented it was all wrong. I felt like a creep. How could I do that to the person I loved most in the world?

Pause… that feeling that I experienced, right there, is called condemnation. It's the feeling that we need to be punished for something we have done. My example is just one from real-life. You could substitute your own. Maybe you have had an angry thought, shaded the truth, cut the corners on the business deal, delivered less than your best, spoken words in anger, had a lustful or greedy thought, been inpatient or intolerant of a family member… I'm sure you can come up with your own examples. The Bible calls these things sin (which means to “fall short of the target”), and left on our own, our sin condemns us.

But, as those who follow Christ, our sins have been forgiven. Past, present, and future. Condemnation is a tool of Satan uses against us to disempower us. If he can get us thinking, “what kind of Christian are you anyway? If people knew what you are really like, they would be shocked…” Then he can get us to become isolated from others, and ineffective in our calling and our mission.

There is now no condemnation… it's in the present tense. The next time you feel tempted to do something you know is wrong, repeat this verse out loud. Use it as a “fighter verse”. It's the Word of God, and the Bible tells us that even the Angels “heed the voice of His word”. That His word “will not return to Him void” (in other words, it will not be ineffective).

And if you realize after the fact that you've done something wrong, remind yourself of the same thing… there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.  As Pastor Joseph Prince writes:

The power of Jesus to overcome every temptation kicks in when you remain conscious that even at the point of temptation, Jesus is still with you and that you are righteous in Him apart from your works (Romans 4:6)! When you do that, you reject the condemnation for the temptation that you are facing. You are now able to rest in your righteous identity in Christ apart from your works, and release the power of Christ in you to rise above the temptation.

Feature Segment: How To Get Clarity And Focus

1. Know your reason WHY.
2. Think through WHAT outcome you want.
3. Plan HOW to achieve the outcome.
4. Have SMARTER goals (Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, Time-Bound, Evaluate, Re-Evaluate… November 1981 issue of Management Review by George T. Doran.)
5. Build systems that run without you.
6. Create margin.
7. Sharpen the saw.

Resources Mentioned In This Episode

• Michael Hyatt's free ebook, Creating Your Personal Lifeplan
• Work the System by Sam Carpenter
• Margin by Richard Swensen
• 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Dr. Stephen R. Covey

Question: How do you get clarity and focus? Click here to leave your comments.

When I am interviewed, one question that comes up regularly is: “Ray, if you are starting your business today how would you do it?”  I think the implication is things are different today than when I started, and thus a different approach is required. But is that true? In this week's episode I'll answer the question, how would I start over today?

Announcements:

Conferences where I will be attending and/or speaking:

• JV Alert, July 26-28
• NAMS Conference, August 9-11
• SCORRE Conference, October 14-17
• Platform Conference, November 3-5

Want To Be On Next Week's Show?

My topic for next week's show is “How To Get Clarity And Focus”. If you have a question on that topic, you can ask by visiting my voicemail page (just click here to leave a message). This is a great way to promote your own website. First, make sure you have a great question, and then start off by saying your name and your website. If your question is used on the show, we will even include a link back to your site in the show notes.

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.

Call in your questions or comments to our new, fancy “request line” at (509) 713-2679 or click here to leave a message on my Voicemail Page

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.

Tip Of The Week

Changing things up a bit, this week's Tip of the week is actually a hat tip to three of my favorite podcasts.

• This Is Your Life by Michael Hyatt
• Podcast Answer Man by Cliff Ravenscraft
• 48 Days by Dan Miller

Lifestyle Business Segment

Featuring Stu McLaren of Wishlist Products and Rhino Support. this week: the value of taking risks.

Spiritual Foundations

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.”
2 Corinthians 5:17

Who are you, and why are you here? These are big questions, but the answers are vital to building a sustainable business on a firm foundation.

1. You are a child of God.
2. You are here to establish his will “on earth, as it is in heaven.”
3. Once you are in submission  to the great commission, you can understand your mission.

Feature Segment: How I Would Start Over Today

1. Discover my own unique ability.
2. Find the intersection of my unique ability, the desires of my marketplace, and what they're willing to pay for.
3. Build a platform and a listening station.
4. Create a unique solution for an identifiable group of people with money.
5. Build a marketing system to bring that offer to my people.

Question: how would you start over today? What questions do you have about starting up for the first time? Click here to leave your comments.

Just yesterday I was on the phone with a client. She had just finished describing her business to me. She wants to sell a product that teaches women how to help their husbands break an addiction to pornography. “I guess what I'm wondering,” she said, “is this a ministry or business? Is there really a way to make money doing this?”

In other words, she was asking if it's possible to monetize her particular message. This is a common question. Almost everybody wonders about it at some point, and almost everybody thinks their businesses “different”. If you're listening to the show, I believe it is definitely possible for you to monetize your message. To do well while doing good. And today I will tell you exactly what you need to do for that to happen.

Announcements:

• JV Alert, July 26-28
• NAMS Conference, August 9-11
• SCORRE Conference, October 14-17
• Platform Conference, November 3-5

Tip Of The Week

This weeks tip explains how I use the Kindle reader app on my iPad, plus Evernote, to do research for my books and articles.

Spiritual Foundations

This weekend like to share something written by Kris Vallotton.  It's about the importance of setting boundaries. This is a crucial skill needed by anyone in this business of ours.

“It's really important to set boundaries with people. If you don't learn to set boundaries in your life, other people will superimpose their priorities and values on you. The people who hate the fact that you're setting boundaries are the very ones who need them the most! Some people view boundaries as unloving or harsh. They think that you should run to every emergency, let people violate your values, and never say no to anyone or else you are not being loving. Jesus loved people and yet he had no problem confronting them. Personally, I'm tired of marshmallow Believers. Doormat Don and Molly meek need to get some courage and leave the powerless, victim camp of spineless Christianity.”

“It's funny, when I share things like this on my Facebook page people think I'm venting or I'm in a bad mood. I don't need to be in a bad mood to set boundaries, I've had to learn to live with them or die without them. No public figure could survive very long without setting boundaries. For example, it's common for people to talk to me while I'm in a bathroom stall or even slide a book under the stall for me to autograph. Often people will follow me out to my car after a 12 hour day of ministry to take a picture with me. All these people mean well, and it is really nice to be loved. But it takes a toll on you and soon you find yourself exhausted; not wanting to be around people. So you finally learn to set boundaries and risk being misunderstood. But it's better to be misunderstood and fruitful, than to be burnout, broke down, and useless.”

I urge you to take some time this week to think about what your boundaries are, and perhaps identify places in your life where a lack of boundaries is depleting your personal  resources.  You can't help anyone else if you're in the process of drowning.

Feature Segment: How To Monetize Your Message

How can you monetize any message? It's actually fairly simple.

First, in order to monetize your message, you must become the message your mission deserves.

Second, there are four strategic components to the monetization process:

1. Big Mission
2. Big Idea
3. Big Invitation
4. Big Offer

Third, in the Big Offer phase of your monetization plan, there are four subcomponents that must be present:

1. Community
2. Copy
3. Content
4. Call to Action

Want To Be On Next Week's Show?

My topic for next week's show is “How Would Ray Start Today?”. If you have a question on that topic, you can ask by visiting my voicemail page (just click here to leave a message). This is a great way to promote your own website. First, make sure you have a great question, and then start off by saying your name and your website. If your question is used on the show, will even include a link back to your site in the show notes.

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.

Call in your questions or comments to our new, fancy “request line” at (509) 713-2679 or click here to leave a message on my Voicemail Page

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.

One of the most common questions I get is this: “Ray, how do you create your podcast each week?” In this week's episode, I'll give the most complete answer ever. And I'll walk you through my workflow for creating this podcast.

The official “studio” of the Ray Edwards Show.

Announcements:

• JV Alert, July 26-28
• NAMS Conference, August 9-11
• SCORRE Conference, October 14-17
• Platform Conference, November 3-5

Tip Of The Week

The Eagle Creek Tarmac 22 is my new carry-on, along with Eagle Creek Pack It Cubes. Allows me to travel with just one bag for a 3-day conference. Thanks to Chris Brogan and Michael Hyatt for the tip.

Packing Pro. This app is my new method of choice for a packing checklist.

Spiritual Foundations

Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
Matthew 11:28

A few nights ago, I had serious trouble sleeping. I lay awake staring at the ceiling, reviewing the many responsibilities and tasks that lay before me the next day. Although I was weary, I could not rest. Finally, I spoke aloud to Jesus, and gave him my list of things I was worried about. He took my list, and I fell asleep.

Sometimes we just need to take the promises of the Bible at face value. We don't need to understand the Greek, or have an exegetical analysis performed by a trained theologian.

If you know Jesus, he has promised to give you rest. Whatever you're dealing with, whether it's financial, emotional, physical, or anything else, he sees you. He's already promised to give you rest. To take over your heavy burden. You can just ask. He will give you peace.

Feature Segment: How I Create My Podcast

First things first. Just about everything I learned about podcasting, I learned from Cliff Ravenscraft. He is the Podcast Answer Man. I will share how I create my podcast, but for the detailed tutorials and instruction you need on the subject, I recommend Cliff's material without reservation.

Ray's  Podcast Gear

• Mixer: Behringer Xenix X1222 USB
• Microphone: Heil PR40
• Digital audio recorder: Zoom Handy Recorder H2
• Digital hybrid: JK Audio Innkeeper 1X
• Audio processor: Multicom Pro-XL MDX4600
• Headphones: Audio Technica ATH – M30
• Magic bullet: iMic USB audio interface
• Website platform: WordPress
• Podcasting plug-in: Blubrry Powerpress
• Software: Adobe Audition, Creative Cloud; ID3 Editor; SoundByte
• Media server: Libsyn
• Computer: MacBook Air, 13 inch, 500 GB SSD
• Odds and ends: many different cables, Brother labeler for cables, great degree of patience, Cliff Ravenscraft podcast training to remove need for patience

Ray's Podcast Workflow

1. Decide on topic
2. Fill in SCORRE template
3. Fill-in podcast Show Prep template
4. Assemble audio clips
5. Records show “live” to digital audio recorder
6. Transfer show from SD card to MacBook Air
7. Process audio using Adobe audition
8. Export audio of show to MP3 format
9. Use ID3 tag software to tag MP3 file
10. Upload MP3 file to Libsyn
11. Add media link to post
12. Preview post and double check all links, copy, and the audio file
13. Schedule show for publication

Want To Be On Next Week's Show?

My topic for next week's show is “Monetizing Your Message”. If you have a question on that topic, you can ask by visiting my voicemail page (just click here to leave a message). This is a great way to promote your own website. First, make sure you have a great question, and then start off by saying your name and your website. If your question is used on the show, will even include a link back to your site in the show notes.

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.

Call in your questions or comments to our new, fancy “request line” at (509) 713-2679 or click here to leave a message on my Voicemail Page

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.

This week I'm going to pull back the curtain and share what I believe have been my seven against business mistakes, and what you can learn from them.

Announcements:

• JV Alert, July 26-28
• NAMS Conference, August 9-11
• SCORRE Conference, October 14-17
• Platform Conference, November 3-5

Tip Of The Week

Apple Voice Memos is a fantastic recording studio in your pocket.

Spiritual Foundations

But as it is, Christ has obtained a ministry that is as much more excellent than the old as the covenant he mediates is better, since it is enacted on better promises.
Hebrews 8:6

Sometimes when trials come our way, we think God is giving us a test. Or that he is “shaping our character”. I have heard people say things like, “It wasn't until I got cancer that my family came together. So I know that was God's plan for my life.” Often, people in these situations will cite the book of Job as support for this position. Let me be clear: God is not the author of evil. And cancer is evil.

Many will point to the book of Job, or other places in the Old Testament, and say, “See, this is where God was judging a person… sending a spirit of sickness on a person… causing evil things to happen to a person or nation.” And then they will quote Scripture to say that God is “the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow.”

Such thinking misses the point. Yes, God is the same. But his covenant has changed. God has always been merciful. He has always been good. He has always been the healer, the restorer, the protector. The old covenant was given because God's people demanded it. It is not what he wanted for the, but they stood their ground in the desert and demanded that Moses go up and bring them back the law.

The book of Job is a book of bad theology, presented as bad theology. Job's friends, the ones who sat around and speculated about why God sent tragedy Job's way (as punishment for sin, to shape his character, etc.) got it wrong. God himself said so in the book.

Jesus, Scripture tells us, is the perfect mirror representation of the Father. Anything that you think about the Father, but which contradicts what you see demonstrated in the life of Jesus, is simply wrong. Jesus healed every person who came to him. He was merciful. He was joyful. And he never once imparted cancer, poverty, divorce, tragedy, or accidents to anyone in order to teach them a lesson. Does God make all things work together for good? Yes. Can he use any situation in our lives as an opportunity for us to learn and grow? Yes.

And keep in mind that he clearly promises us, among other things, divine health, divine wealth, peace… In fact he promises us that we will “prosper in all things, even as your soul prospers.”

Feature Segment: My Biggest Business Mistakes

Many business coaches and mentors are happy to tell you about their successes. Most are not so quick to share stories of their failures, because they worry that this will diminish their positioning in your eyes. The problem is: it's from failure that we may learn some of our most valuable lessons. Today, I'm going to share what I consider to be seven of my biggest business mistakes, what I learned from them, and what I feel you can take away from them as well.

   Ray's Seven Biggest Business Mistakes

1. Not starting soon enough. How I hesitated to strike out on my own.
2. Going into debt. The borrower is slave to the lender.
3. Accepting clients I knew were a bad fit. The “Client Who Ate My Calendar” story
4. Failing to establish clear boundaries. “No, I can't take your call at 11pm on Saturday/”
5. Moving too slowly. Ideas lose fire as the clock ticks.
6. Failure to focus. Dispersing your forces weakens your impact.
7. Lacking simultaneous execution. Just so I can contradict #6…

Want To Be On Next Week's Show?

My topic for next week's show is “How I Create My Podcast”. If you have a question on that topic, you can ask by visiting my voicemail page (just click here to leave a message). This is a great way to promote your own website. First, make sure you have a great question, and then start off by saying your name and your website. If your question is used on the show, will even include a link back to your site in the show notes.

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.

Call in your questions or comments to our new, fancy “request line” at (509) 713-2679 or click here to leave a message on my Voicemail Page

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 you could run a company with no office, no staff, no inventory and no overhead? You can, and that is what this week's show is about.

Announcements:

• Wisdom Thesis Workshop coming up, June 25-28
• JV Alert, July 26-28
• NAMS Conference, August 9-11
• SCORRE Conference, October 14-17
• Platform Conference, November 3-5

Tip Of The Week

NextIssue.com features a nap that allows you to read all your favorite magazines on your iPad for just $14.99 a month.

Genius Scan turns your iPhone into a pocket scanner. It enables you to quickly scan documents on the go and email the scans as JPEG or PDF.

Spiritual Foundations

And of His fullness we have all received, and grace for grace.
John 1:16

If you are in a place where you feel the demands made on you are too much, I've got good news. You can stop working so hard, and watch God step in and supply everything you need. I frequently feel the demands of life. There are many expectations from clients, readers, listeners, and that's just on the business side of my life. If I let myself get caught up in thinking about the demands placed on me, it can feel like a heavy load. It's in these times that I turn to Jesus and simply tell him, “this is now your problem.” I know that sounds crass. But hear me out.

Recently, I returned from about three weeks of continuous air travel, conference speaking, and intense activity. The day after I got back home, I was scheduled to meet with a small group of entrepreneurs that I mentor in our church. As I drove to the meeting, really unprepared, I said to the Lord, “God, I can't do this. I have nothing for them. I surrender this to you, and I can't wait to see how you're going to handle it.”

As always, God showed up. He gave me just the right words to say, and more importantly he gave me just the right heart to hear what was on the minds of the people at the meeting. We had deeply rewarding time together. I was just as much nourished and refreshed as anyone else at the meeting. That's the kind of thing that happens when you set down the burden and leave it up to the Lord to carry it.

When we are able to receive the abundance of God's grace, to give up on all of the work were trying to do, and simply rest in God's favor… The weight of demand is lifted from our shoulders and we are carried on the river of God's unlimited supply.

Feature Segment: How to Run a Virtual Company

Today, it is  stopno longer necessary to make a huge capital investment to run a company. There are many startups and even established businesses that generate millions of dollars in revenue each year-without having a building, employees, or even inventory. How do you run such a “virtual company”? And if the idea intrigues you, how do you transition from being a traditional business to “going virtual”?

  The Virtual Company 10 Point Plan

1. Run an “8020 analysis” on your business
2. Get rid of the building
3. Eliminate your employees
4. Build a business system
5. Own nothing, control everything
6. Use proven tools: base camp, Google apps, GoToMeeting, Skype,  etc.
7. Use off-the-shelf software solutions
8. Realize you are an information marketing business
9. Focus on direct response marketing only
10. Commit to becoming a business owner and not just an operator.

 “Great business owners get rich. Great business operators just get tired.”
Keith Cunningham

Want To Be On Next Week's Show?

My topic for next week's show is “My Biggest Business Mistakes and What You Can Learn From Them”. If you have a question on that topic, you can ask by visiting my voicemail page (just click here to leave a message). This is a great way to promote your own website. First, make sure you have a great question, and then start off by saying your name and your website. If your question is used on the show, will even include a link back to your site in the show notes.

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.

Call in your questions or comments to our new, fancy “request line” at (509) 713-2679 or click here to leave a message on my Voicemail Page

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 you could reduce the hours you spend working by 50%, and yet still be three times as productive? What if you could do that starting tomorrow? You can. And that's what today show is all about-how to triple your productivity tomorrow.

Announcements:

• Wisdom Thesis Workshop coming up, June 25-28
• NAMS Conference, August 9-11
• Platform Conference, November 3-5

Tip Of The Week

Adobe Creative Cloud. Once upon a time, owning just Photoshop was a $500 investment. Now you can get every Adobe makes for about $50. Maybe less.

Spiritual Foundations

Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm.
Proverbs 13:20 (ESV)

For a couple of years I worked in the insurance business. I was very young, and I was the newest agent in the office. Al, the seasoned gray-headed veteran of the business, decided to take me under his wing.

“You'll get a lot of raw raw from management,” Al told me one day, “but I can show you how things really work around here. And you can make a lot of money.”

Pretty soon, I had begun to hang around Al and his buddies more often than not, and had begun to adapt their attitude. Cynical, jaded, laced with lots of sarcastic comments.

One day my manager, Frank, took me to lunch. As we were eating, he casually remarked, “I'm not sure hanging out without is in your best interest.”

“But he's just trying to help me,” I said. I was a bit naïve in those days. “And after all, he's got 30 years of experience with this company.”

Frank chuckled.

“No, Ray,” he said. “He's got one year of experience, and he's repeated it 30 times.”

Frank's comment had a real impact on me, because I instantly knew he was telling the truth. The next day, I decided to have my morning coffee with one of the younger agents in the office named Richard. Richard had been with the company only five years, but he was the top salesman in the office. Al's group of buddies regarded Richard with disdain, and now I knew why.

Who we hang out with, and whose wisdom we listen to, determines the kind of person we will become.

Feature Segment: Triple Your Productivity Tomorrow

Have you ever noticed that when you're going on vacation, the week before you leave is incredibly productive? Somehow you managed to get a couple of weeks ahead on your work, a couple of weeks ahead on all of your bill paying and chores around the house, you get your itinerary planned for the two week shall be on vacation, plus you get all the packing in preparation for the trip finished. How do you do that?

If you could harness that “magic”, you'd probably be three times as productive as you normally are. The good news is, I believe any of us can do exactly that. And on this show, I'm giving you a blueprint for how to wake up three times as productive tomorrow morning. Let's get started.

  The 3X Productivity Blueprintt

1. Do a mind sweep
2. Identify tomorrow's “must do's”
3. Put those on your task list, in order of priority
4. Store your mind sweep safely
5. Review tomorrow's appointments
6. Plan the time required to accomplish “must do's”
7. Go to bed early; get up early
8. First thing tomorrow, drink 16 ounces of water
9. Take time to connect with your creator, and your purpose
10. Exercise for 30 minutes
11. Arrive at work one hour earlier than normal
12. Focus on live number one from your list
13. Continue until complete; moved to next item
14. Short circuit interruptions today
15. Take a break, moved to the rest of your list
16. Deal with backlog
17. Have your “got a minutes”
18. Get to inbox zero
19. Deal with loose ends
20. Delegate everything left over
21. Make tomorrow's task list, plan tomorrow's schedule

Simply repeat this procedure every day from now on.

Want To Be On Next Week's Show?

My topic for next week's show is “How to Run a Virtual Company”. If you have a question on that topic, you can ask by visiting my voicemail page (just click here to leave a message). This is a great way to promote your own website. First, make sure you have a great question, and then start off by saying your name and your website. If your question is used on the show, will even include a link back to your site in the show notes.

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.

Call in your questions or comments to our new, fancy “request line” at (509) 713-2679 or click here to leave a message on my Voicemail Page

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.

Imagine starting and running a business that has no office, no employees, no inventory, no overhead, and potential revenue in the millions of dollars. Every day you work from wherever you want-maybe one day from your house, maybe the next day from Starbucks, maybe the next day from the deck of a cruise ship.

 Sound like a cheesy Internet ad? Maybe. But it's also reality for a lot of people I know. And it can be reality for you. That's what today show is all about-how to be a “minimalist entrepreneur”.  The idea for this week show sprang from a series of blog posts written by my friend Ryan Lee. If you haven't read those posts, I highly recommend them.

Announcements:

• Wisdom Thesis Workshop coming up, June 25-28
• NAMS Conference, August 9-11
• Platform Conference, November 3-5

Tip Of The Week

BaseCamp Mobile App for IOS. While there have been many attempts to create a mobile app that allows you to access your Basecamp account, this is the official 37 signals app. And it works flawlessly, just as you would expect.

Spiritual Foundations

Put it in writing, because it is not yet time for it to come true. But the time is coming quickly, and what I show you will come true. It may seem slow in coming, but wait for it; it will certainly take place, and it will not be delayed. Habakkuk 2:3 (GNB)

Does it ever seem that God  is answering your prayer by saying “no”?

Let's assume that what you're asking for in prayer is consistent with God's will, as it is revealed in the Bible.

And let's assume that you even feel, for one reason or another, that you have heard from God in this area and that you felt his answer was yes. Yet the thing you're praying for doesn't seem to come through.

Just remember what Robert Schuller said: “God's delays are not God's denials.”

Sometimes God answers our prayer for an oak tree by delivering us just exactly that. An oak tree. That's called a miracle. Other times, he delivers us an acorn, and we have to cultivate it and care for it as it grows.

And while you are waiting for the fulfillment of your prayer, you might ask God who he wants to be to you, in that interval.

“Don't try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do its work so you become mature and well-developed.” (James 1:4, Msg)

Feature Segment: The Minimalist Entrepreneur

Matthew is a friendly, unassuming, and very likable guy. But he doesn't have a job. He started his own business a couple of years ago, has no employees, has no inventory or storefront, and runs that business from his laptop. He sometimes works from Starbucks, sometimes from home, in sometimes uses a tiny office he rented a few months ago. In that office it's just him, and the bare minimum of furniture required, and a lot of quiet. And in that quiet, Matthew rakes in an average of $150,000… Per month.

Now Matthew is a real person, a friend of mine, and I've changed his name just to protect his privacy. He is a minimalist entrepreneur.

I too am a minimalist entrepreneur. In the old days, before the Internet, starting a company that brings in the kind of revenue our company does what it meant a huge capital investment. Perhaps a dozen employees. A lot of overhead, and a great deal of risk. But today, because of the leverage offered by the Internet, I have a global business that I operate mostly from my laptop. And while there are a dozen or so people who make my company run, all but one of them are virtual workers, scattered all over the globe.

You, too, can operate a minimalist enterprise. In this episode, how explain the advantages of doing this, and provide a basic outline of how to pull it off.

 Advantages Of The Minimalist Entrepreneur

1. Zero startup cost
2. Close to zero operational cost
3. Peace of mind
4. Low stress
5. Big payoff

 The Minimalist Entrepreneur Blueprint

1.  Strategy over tactics.
2. No facility.
3. No employees.
4. No inventory.
5. Minimal fixed expense.
6. Virtualize the enterprise.
7. Systemize the enterprise.
8. Globalize the enterprise.
9. Fight feature creep.
10. Define culture.
11. Don't lose money.

Want To Be On Next Week's Show?

My topic for next week's show is “How to Triple Your Productivity Tomorrow”. If you have a question on that topic, you can ask by visiting my voicemail page (just click here to leave a message). This is a great way to promote your own website. First, make sure you have a great question, and then start off by saying your name and your website. If your question is used on the show, will even include a link back to your site in the show notes.

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.

Call in your questions or comments to our new, fancy “request line” at (509) 713-2679 or click here to leave a message on my Voicemail Page

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.

A spiritual business or job gives you excitement and a sense of purpose. It makes getting out of bed every day a real joy! Any job can be a spiritual job. This episode will show you how!

Coming up on this week's podcast episode:

• Magic words that change your life.
• How to know God is on your side.
• Plus, our feature presentation…  How to  Turn Your Business Around

Tip Of The Week

What you say is what you experience. Change your language

Spiritual Foundations

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
Jeremiah 29:11

Is God really on your side? How can you know for sure?

Feature Segment: How to Have a Spiritual Business

Peter Drucker shared a story of three stonecutters who were asked what they were doing. The first said, ‘I am making a living.’ The second kept on working while he said, ‘I am doing the best job of stonecutting in the entire country.’ The third one looked up with a visionary gleam in his eyes and said, ‘I am building a cathedral.’ These workers were building the Sagrada Familia in Barcelona. That third man had found the secret of spiritual business.

The difference between the first and third men is vast. The third is fulfilled, fueled by passion and meaning. Yet they have the same job.

How can you have the same experience, no matter what your job might be?

Inverted Life Pyramid

1. Faith
2. Fitness
3. Family
4. Finance

7 Tactics For a Spiritual Business

1. Know what you believe.
2. Know why you believe.
3. Do no meaningless work.
4. Speak no meaningless talk.
5. Create massive value.
6. Practice forgiveness.
7. Profit!

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.

Call in your questions or comments to our new, fancy “request line” at (509) 713-2679 or click here to leave a message on my Voicemail Page

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 do you do if business is not so good? Do you blow a pile of money on standard media advertising, like radio and newspaper, and hope for the best?  Do you drain your retirement account savings to keep the business afloat? Do you close down the shop, and stick a sign in the window that says, “the economy did it”?

Or do you use a proven, reliable formula to turn your business around? Seems to me that last idea is the best. And that's what this week's episode is all about. How to turn your business around, in any economy.

Please subscribe (and leave a review) in iTunes. This helps new people discover the podcast.

On this week's podcast episode:

• The power of storytelling to grow your business.
• Why your level of faith doesn't matter.
• Plus, our feature presentation…  How to  Turn Your Business Around

Tip Of The Week

You can change the quality of your life by changing the quality of your stories. Decide how you want your life to be, and tell that story. Even before it's a fact.

Spiritual Foundations

All things are possible for one who believes.
Mark 9:23

Most modern Christians have been taught this verse means if we have more faith, that all things are possible. In other words, if we can believe, God will intervene on our behalf. He will bring our miracle. If we can't believe, then were out of luck and God is not going to help us.

I don't think that's what this verse means at all. Let's look at it in context, and let's also look at how the original language (Greek) is structured.

First, what's the context of this verse? A boy is brought to Jesus who is possessed by a demon. The boys father says to Jesus, “if you can do anything, have compassion on us.” Jesus points out that the family, and even his own disciples, have very little or no faith. He calls them “faithless”. Then he goes on to say, ” If you can! all things are possible for one who believes.” So just from the context of the story, it seems that Jesus is talking about himself when he says all things are possible for the one who believes. He's the only one present who has any faith.

Pastor Joseph Prince points out that if you study the Greek structure of the verse, it’s actually saying, “Can you believe that all things are possible to him who is always believing?”

it's not about how much faith you have. It's not about what you believe, it's about who you believe. Believe Jesus, whose faith is always constant. If you can believe that all things are possible for Jesus… That he makes all things possible for you.

Have faith in the one whose faith is perfect on your behalf.

Feature Segment: How to  Turn Your Business Around

Business success, in any economy, consists of about 20% technical skills, and 80% psychology. What you believe about your business, your ability to generate profit, and what is possible determines whether or not you will be successful. You can't ignore reality, but you can intentionally influence it.

Four Required Steps to Turning Your Business Around

1. Decide it's possible
2. See the situation as it is
3. See the situation better than it is
4. Do what is required to make it the way you see it

Nine Business Saving Tactics

1. Contact previous customers
2. Improve the physical environment
3. Improve the sales conversation
4. Generate referrals
5. Generate fresh leads
6. Follow-up relentlessly
7. Measure everything
8. Control expenses
9. Increase marketing

Want To Be On Next Week's Show?

My topic for next week's show is “How to Have a Spiritual Business”. If you have a question on that topic, you can ask by visiting my voicemail page (just click here to leave a message). This is a great way to promote your own website. First, make sure you have a great question, and then start off by saying your name and your website. If your question is used on the show, will even include a link back to your site in the show notes.

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.

Call in your questions or comments to our new, fancy “request line” at (509) 713-2679 or click here to leave a message on my Voicemail Page

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 you could  become smarter as little as 24 hours? What if you could remember more, come up with more ideas, and think more quickly than ever before?

This is eminently possible, and I've got the “get smarter recipe” coming up in today's episode.

Please subscribe (and leave a review) in iTunes. This helps new people discover the podcast.

On this week's podcast episode:

•  A new process for better copy.
•  When you feel separated from God… what to do.
• Plus, our feature presentation…  How to be smarter!

Tip Of The Week

Read Copy Logic for a new and better system of improving sales copy. This simple book lays out a system for improving the results you get from your sales copy. And copywriters will love it.

When this book was first recommended to me, I was skeptical. It sounded like a book about how to critique copy. I have written lots of copy for clients, and endured many “critique” sessions. Usually, those critique sessions result in weaker copy. They are often a vehicle to stroke the client's ego. Rarely do they result in better sales copy.

This book is different. It lays out a step-by-step, easy-to-follow system for improving your sales copy that is both humane and effective. And nobody gets their ego wounded or inflated. Every piece of copy I turn out from now on will go through the Copy Logic system. It just makes sense. And you can't argue with the million-dollar results it has produced.

Spiritual Foundations

I was talking with a friend of mine, we began to speak of God. My friend said, “I don't think I'm on such good terms with God right now. I'm not sure he would answer any of my prayers.” This made me very sad, because it is the result of poor understanding of the Bible. Too many of us have this picture of a “fire and brimstone” kind of God. In reality God is all loving, and he himself has declared that he will not hold our sins against us.

For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more.
Hebrews 8:12

Thoughts that make us feel condemned or cut off from God don't come from heaven. Those kinds of thoughts come from the devil himself. You may call him the adversary, or the enemy, or even “the resistance”. Whatever you name him, he's real, and he would like nothing better than to cut you off from your father in heaven.

Once you have accepted the gift that Jesus offers-full payment for all your sin-the deal is done. There's no more need to confess, or to keep a running list of your sins. Why would you keep a list that God has promised to forget? Be conscious of the fact that he himself has made you perfect, and watch his blessing flow into your life.

Feature Segment: How to Be Smarter

The first proposal I make is that you are neither “smart” nor “stupid”-but you can easily enter into either state. The real question becomes, how do you optimize yourself to be in “smart” state more often, and to be in “high smart” most of the time?

“Inner Game versus Outer Game Of Intelligence”

Nine Ways to Be Smarter Tomorrow

1. Sleep Better
2. Drink More Water
3. Eat Only Plants
4. Breathe More
5. Move More
6. Ask Better Questions
7. Increase Inputs
8. Write Down Your Ideas
9. Become a Noticer

Want To Be On Next Week's Show?

My topic for next week's show is “How to Turn Your Business Around”. If you have a question on that topic, you can ask by visiting my voicemail page (just click here to leave a message). This is a great way to promote your own website. First, make sure you have a great question, and then start off by saying your name and your website. If your question is used on the show, will even include a link back to your site in the show notes.

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.

Call in your questions or comments to our new, fancy “request line” at (509) 713-2679 or click here to leave a message on my Voicemail Page

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 instead of chasing after business, you could have business chasing after you? That's exactly what happens for me, and in this week's episode am going to tell you how to build a system that helps you attract business.

May I ask for your help? Please subscribe (and leave a review) in iTunes. This helps new people discover the podcast.

Here are some other reasons to keep listening to this week's podcast episode:

•  What are your success rituals?
•  My update on “The One Thing”.
• Plus, our feature presentation…  How to Attract Business

Tip Of The Week

From The ONE Thing by Gary Keller, Jay Papasan…

“What’s the ONE Thing you can do this week such that by doing it everything else would be easier or unnecessary?”

So how is this working out for me? Listen to the podcast audio to find out.

Spiritual Foundations

Recently, I was reading a book called Business for the Glory of God. I began to wonder, just what is the “glory of God”? Guess what? There is an answer, and it is important for us to know it.

Moses said, “Please show me your glory.” And he said, “I will make all my goodness pass before you and will proclaim before you my name ‘The Lord.’ And I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show mercy on whom I will show mercy.
Exodus 33:18-19

God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.
Romans 5:5

Do you not know that youare God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in you?
1 Co 3:16

The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me.
John 17:22-23

Feature Segment: How to Attract Business

1. Value
2. Positioning & Authority
3. Hub & Spoke
4. Traffic, Lead, Conversion Systems
5. Path

I am conducting a webinar training that details how to do all this two days from now. Click here for details.

Want To Be On Next Week's Show?

My topic for next week's show is “How to Be Smarter”. If you have a question on that topic, you can ask by visiting my voicemail page (just click here to leave a message). This is a great way to promote your own website. First, make sure you have a great question, and then start off by saying your name and your website. If your question is used on the show, will even include a link back to your site in the show notes.

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.

Call in your questions or comments to our new, fancy “request line” at (509) 713-2679 or click here to leave a message on my Voicemail Page

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 you could consult with God himself about your business? What if you could ask him questions, and get divinely inspired answers? What if you could ask God to introduce you to key people, or even to send you business? I believe all these things are possible, and in fact I practice them in my own business. And today, I'm going to show you exactly how you can do the same.

I would consider it a great favor if you subscribe (and leave a review) in iTunes. This helps new people discover the podcast.

Here are some other reasons to keep listening to this week's podcast episode:

•  An update on the “five things” productivity tactic (hint: five is too many).
•  An alternative to BaseCamp that works.
• Plus, our feature presentation… How to Consult With God

Tip Of The Week

Update on “5 Things”… it's now “1 Thing”. From The ONE Thing by Gary Keller, Jay Papasan…

“What’s the ONE Thing you can do this week such that by doing it everything else would be easier or unnecessary?”

While I do love (and use) BaseCamp, I am trying out a new tool for managing projects that could be even simpler. Meet BizPad.

Spiritual Foundations

If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.
James 1:5

Sometimes we think God is only interested in “spiritual things”. That he has no interest in the material world, and neither should we.

This is not a Judeo-Christian idea. It is an idea that sprouts from Greek thinking, and specifically is at the root of a heresy known as Gnosticism. The Gnostics believed, among many things, that the material world was evil and that only the spiritual world could be pure and unsullied. This led them to believing that Jesus was a ghost, and not an actual man.

The truth is from the beginning God wanted to partner with human beings to comp is his purposes. This is why Adam and Eve were put in charge of the garden. They were given assignment, and this was before the fall. So work, and the material world, are not evil, and are not results of the fall.

What's my point?

When God created the world, he looked at his creation and said it was good. We should relax and enjoy the fact that we can have fun while working, that we are interested in what we do, and celebrate the fact that God made us the way he did. I think he enjoys what we enjoy. And thus, I think he's interested in every aspect of our lives. That he longs to give input, supply answers, and help us out. Just as we long to do the same for our own children.

 When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come.
John 16:13

Feature Segment: How to Consult With God

If you separate God from any part of your life, you are not having the full experience of God, nor of that part of your life. Business is no exception.

These days, if I am asked if I personally have a consultant for my business, my answer is yes. I have the very best consultant available. God.

Now, most people probably assume that I mean I run my business according to godly principles. Principles that I find in Scripture, or that I am taught by pastors and teachers. While this is true (to the best of my ability, and as God enables me), this is not really what I mean.

Or rather, it is not all that I mean.

I mean that I consult with my father in heaven every day about my business. I’m in constant dialogue with him about what things to work on, what to write, even how to solve specific challenges and problems I encounter along the way.

So how do you do it? How do you ask God for answers? How do you ask him for help? Here are five steps I have found useful

1. Know that God is interested, willing, and able. From Scripture we know that he has even counted the number of hairs on your head. We know that one man came to Jesus with the problem and said Jesus could heal him “if he was willing”… And another man came to Jesus and asked for help, “if you are able”… And the answer Jesus gave to both was yes. He was willing, he was able. He healed everyone who came to him.
2. Realize that you are qualified for God’s help. Jesus stepped into the gap between us and God. He solved the “sin problem” once and for all. So just place your faith in him, and know that you don’t have to “clean up your act” or “make amends” before he will be willing to help you.
3. Be intentional about what you are asking. If you are asking for an answer, be specific in your question. If you are asking for help, be specific in your request. I suggest writing down what you are asking for.
4. Offer thanks immediately. In Philippians we are told to make our requests known to God, with “prayer and thanksgiving”. Notice how many times Jesus thanked his father… before the miracle happened. There is a unique opportunity to thank God after your request has been made and before you've seen the answer with your eyes.
5. Expect and look for the answer. Whether you have asked God for an idea, a connection with a person, or just a miraculous infusion of money, so you can meet payroll… be looking for the answer. Have hope.

What if God doesn’t answer?

Or what if he says no?

First, I think the number of times God says “no” is much lower than we believe it is. For instance, when we pray for physical healing, it is clear from reading Scripture that it is always God’s will for us to be healed. He paid a high price so that this could be the case. So if the healing doesn’t come, there is some answer other than the one that puts God in the position of being a liar.

I believe that when we pray, something always happens. Always.

Maybe we don’t see it, maybe we don’t see it yet, or maybe it comes in a form that we don’t recognize.

It’s helpful to remember that God’s delays are not necessarily his denials.

A useful question that has helped me navigate these waters is one I learned from Graham Cook. When faced with a difficult situation, and no apparent answer from God, I ask him, “Who does God want to be for me in this situation?”

I have received some of the deepest answers to my own prayers by asking God that question.

You can ask for God’s help, for answers, and even for direct assistance. And he will answer you. Try it.

Listener Questions

We heard from these listeners this week:

• Sonya Ramsey asks  how to avoid making your business into an idol.
• Anette Bone wants to know how we can be sure we are in God's will.
• Summer Alexander asks if the changes she made to her business were really God-inspired.
• Mary Rose Macguire wonders if she's really hearing God's voice, or her own.
• Pam McCall has a great testimony of God's provision for one of her clients.
• Laura Viviana when you ask God for something, but it hasn't come yet, how do you deal with it?
• Rich Bradfield  asks how we keep ourselves an alignment with what God is doing.
• Tony Policci  asks how we pose a question to God and get a specific answer.
• Laura McClellan  wonders how we know when we are motivated by profit, as opposed to being motivated by the spirit.
• Ilene Saidel asks for my favorite scripture to pray for new customers.

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)

One gives freely, yet grows all the richer;
another withholds what he should give, and only suffers want.
 Whoever brings blessing will be enriched,
and one who waters will himself be watered.
 The people curse him who holds back grain,
but a blessing is on the head of him who sells it.
(Proverbs 11:24-26)

Want To Be On Next Week's Show?

My topic for next week's show is “How to Attract Business”. If you have a question on that topic, you can ask by visiting my voicemail page (just click here to leave a message). This is a great way to promote your own website. First, make sure you have a great question, and then start off by saying your name and your website. If your question is used on the show, will even include a link back to your site in the show notes.

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.

Call in your questions or comments to our new, fancy “request line” at (509) 713-2679 or click here to leave a message on my Voicemail Page

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.

Hosting your own live event can be risky. I posted about this recently, and I posted my reasons for hosting live events anyway. Now, I'm offering five crucial steps you must be aware of if you want to successfully market your own live event. Ignoring the steps could mean the loss of a lot of money, sleep, and peace of mind.

Here's what else is up in this week's podcast episode:

• The “five things” approach to productivity.
• The Word that heals.
• Plus, our feature presentation… 5 Crucial Steps To Marketing Live Events

Tip Of The Week

The curious case of Dr. Canoe, props to Alex and Robert, and the simplest productivity tool I know.

Spiritual Foundations

He sent out his word and healed them,
and delivered them from their destruction.
Psalm 107:20

As Christians, we sometimes fall into using the Bible as a talisman. We hold it like a good luck charm. We pull it out in times of trouble.

The power of the Bible-God's word-is released only when you receive it as truth, and then speak it out loud.

When God wanted to save the world what did he do? He sent the word.

When God wanted to heal his people, the Bible says he sent his word.

There is no “your part” that you need to do to receive God's goodness, except this: you must receive it. We help ourselves receive it when we confess it out loud.

Feature Segment: 5 Crucial Steps To Marketing Live Events

The biggest risk you take when you sponsor a live event is the most obvious one: the risk that nobody will show up.

The next biggest risk is not so obvious, but perhaps more commonplace. This is the risk that people will show up, the event will be great, and you will lose money like crazy. Here are five crucial steps you can take to ensure against both of these problems.

1. Be intentional about the model.
2. Identify your attendees carefully.
3. Remember the 5P's.
4. Watch them chickens.
5. Market early, market often, and market using different media.

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.

Call in your questions or comments to our new, fancy “request line” at (509) 713-2679 or click here to leave a message on my Voicemail Page

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.

Maybe the best way to grow your business if to do less. I'm not encouraging laziness, but rather suggesting something very different. It's time to speed up… by slowing down.

Here's what else is up in this week's podcast episode:

• Scrivener is my new writing tool of choice.
• The value of comrades in arms.
• Stu McLaren is back from a dog sled adventure with a talk on sprinting.
• Plus, our feature presentation… 5 Ways To Simplify Your Business

Tip Of The Week

Scrivener is a powerful content-generation tool for writers that allows you to concentrate on composing and structuring long and difficult documents. While it gives you complete control of the formatting, its focus is on helping you get to the end of that awkward first draft.

Spiritual Foundations

But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God… For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified.
Hebrews 10:12,14

It's about time we stopped confessing our sins. Why are we so caught up in the idea that we need to remind God of something he has said he has forgotten?

You don't need to become more conscious of your sin. You already know when you sin.

What we need to become conscious of is our righteousness.

Being conscious of how imperfect we are is not humility. It's a failure to understand what Christ has extra done for us.

In fact, the Bible tells us that being conscious of our sins means we haven't “evil conscience” (Hebrews 10:22).

God sees us without spot, without imperfection, and he sees us wearing his own robes of righteousness. We are righteous, not because of anything we have done, but because of what he has done.

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 sprinters vs. marathoners.

Feature Segment: 5 Ways To Simplify Your Business

From last week's podcast, here are 3 good reasons to simplifying your business.

1. Simplifying helps you to focus more on the most profitable elements of your business.
2. Simplifying helps you get paid more for what you sell.
3. Simplifying helps your customers feel as if they are clear on what you do.

The question this raised was, how do we do that? Here are five ways to simplify your business.

1. Eliminate 80% of what you are doing.
2. Renegotiate your agreements.
3. Increase output, decrease input.
4. Build intentional constraints into your schedule.
5. Ruthlessly practice “The Art of No”.

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.

Call in your questions or comments to our new, fancy “request line” at (509) 713-2679 or click here to leave a message on my Voicemail Page

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.

Hosting a seminar can be expensive, risky, stressful, and the source of many potential headaches. So why on earth would you want to host your own seminar?

I can think of 5 good reasons. And in this episode we'll examine them.

Here's what else is up in this week's podcast episode:

• In favor of simplification of your business.
• How can God help me in my business?
• Stu McLaren is back and has some thoughts on progress.
• Plus, our feature presentation… 5 Great Reasons To Host a Seminar

Tip Of The Week

There are 3 good reasons to simplifying your business.

1. Simplifying helps you to focus more on the most profitable elements of your business.
2. Simplifying helps you get paid more for what you sell.
3. Simplifying helps your customers feel as if they are clear on what you do.

Spiritual Foundations

What's the most concrete way God can help you in your business?

When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come.
John 16:13

How does God answer or speak to us? Some ways…

• His written Word.
• Strong impressions.
• Other people.
• Coincidence and circumstances.
• The audible Voice.
• Dreams and visions.

The quickest way to get an answer from God is to (1) ask and then (2) listen. Try it!

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 progress.

Feature Segment: 5 Great Reasons To Host a Seminar

I have hosted quite a few of my own events over the years. This past week, I just completed my most ambitious seminar to date. It included a crew for running the administrative side of the seminar, and audiovisual team that handled all of the video, music, microphones, lighting, etc. Several guest speakers. Getting people to show up for the seminar. And a host of other details. It was mega stressful. I also felt compelled to do it, and I'm not sorry for a minute.

After having been through this taxing experience more than once, one might ask me the question, “why on earth would you put yourself through this, Ray?”

I can think of at least five good reasons why it's great to do your own seminars.

1. It's a great way to create a product.
2. It's a great way to offer higher end programs for sale.
3. It's a great way to crystallize your thinking.
4. It's a great way to network and bond.
5. It's a great way to expand your thinking.

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.

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

1. This weekend is the 3-Day Live Intensive,  April 5-7 in Phoenix. Get your ticket right now – click here.
2. 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

1. Time is almost up on the 3-Day Live Intensive,  April 5-7 in Phoenix. Get your ticket right now – click here.
2. Special paid webinar next Tuesday, called “2 Hour Copy”. Learn more here.
3. 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.

1. 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.

2. 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.

3. 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

1. 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.

2. 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

1. The clock is running out on the 3-Day Live Intensive,  April 5-7 in Phoenix. Get your ticket right now – click here.
2. 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”:

1. Your talent, skill, or knowledge
2. What other people are interested in
3. 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

1. My  conference, the 3-Day Live Intensive, is April 5-7 in Phoenix. Get your early-bird ticket discount right now – click here.
2. What happened to Spiritual Foundations Podcast?
3. 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

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.

1.  See it for what it is.
2. Remember God’s plan for you (Jer 29:11 and Romans 8:28)
3. Ask good questions – questions that lead to helpful answers.
4. Be careful what you think, see, and say.
5. Notice what works; do more of that.
6. Notice what doesn’t work; stop doing that.
7. Live in the now. Avoid depression and anxiety.
8. Move your body every day.
9. Put good fuel in the machine.
10. 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

1. My  conference, the 3-Day Live Intensive, is April 5-7 in Phoenix. Get your early-bird ticket discount right now – click here.
2. We still have a contest running in celebration of next week's 52nd episode of this podcast.  More details here.
3. What happened to Stu McLaren?
4. What happened to Spiritual Foundations Podcast?
5. 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!
6. 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

1. 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)

2. 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.
3. 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”.

1. Don't worry about things you can’t control.
2. Don't worry about things you can control (since you control them, what is there to worry about?)
3. Don't worry about what other people think of you (see number 1).
4. Don't worry about the past (nothing you can do to change it).
5. Don't worry about the future (see number 2).
6. Don't worry about the unknown (um…  since you can’t know it… what are you worrying about?).
7. Don't worry about how you might respond to any challenge (you’ll only know when you face it).

3 Tactics That Fight Worry

1. Exercise
2. Meditation
3. 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

1. Blubrry podcast player plugin.
2. Learn How To Podcast and Podcasting A-Z by Cliff Ravenscraft
3. 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

1. My  conference, the 3-Day Live Intensive, is April 5-7 in Phoenix. Get your early-bird ticket discount right now – click here.
2. Be sure you refer to my notes from the Platform Conference – one of the most value laden conferences I have ever attended.
3. 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.

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. 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.
6. 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.
7. 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.
8. 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.
9. 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.
10. 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

1. My own conference, the 3-Day Live Intensive, is April 5-7 in Phoenix. Get your early-bird ticket discount right now – click here.
2. 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

1. My own conference, the 3-Day Live Intensive, is April 5-7 in Phoenix. Get your early-bird ticket discount right now – click here.
2. 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

1. I’m attending the Platform Conference in Nashville. It is nearly sold out.  Get a ticket while you can!
2. I was written up by Eric T Wagner on Forbes.com recently. You can check out the article here.
3. 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.

What if your marketing worked like a machine – automatic, tireless, regardless of whether you show up today or not, and with predictable results? Today's podcast shows you how.

In this week's podcast episode:

• How to market like a machine.
• A “move it to the top of the stack” book recommendation.
• Is it okay for Christians to be rich?

Tip Of The Week

Move this book to the top of your reading stack. Work the System by Sam Carpenter.

We must study the mechanical minutia of our tasks if we are to excel. This means observing: looking down and analyzing the sub-systems of our lives…to see our selves as mechanical devices that can be made to be super-efficient. The next step is to spend the majority of our time perfecting each of our sub-systems, one by one.

Here’s a happy thought: Study and then perfect your systems as a main focus and you’ll find yourself in select company and therefore flying faster and higher than a huge percentage of the competition. Make More. Work Less.

Lots of people work hard to become expert at what they do, but what great heights will be achieved by becoming expert at a flawed process?

Sam Carpenter

Spiritual Foundations

Is it okay for Christians to be rich?

But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
Matthew 6:33

Feature Segment: How to Market Like a Machine

No business can survive without a systematic approach to marketing.

“Systematic” means well-defined, carefully followed procedures that produce predictable results.

A true Marketing System consists of the following things: predictable processes that produce large quantities of good prospects, clients, and customers for your business. Your marketing system must provide these prospects efficiently (without a lot of hands-on work from you) and affordably (as in, it costs less to get a customer than the revenue that customer produces).

Violate any one of these rules and you're in trouble, one step away from the Taco Delmar Phenomena.

Here are the components of a good Marketing System:

1. Product Success Formula: TG + CDP/HAS(YCS )+ THM + WTS
2. Media that is efficient, affordable, they already use
3. A compelling message
4. An irresistable free offer
5. Multi-step automated short-term follow up systems
6. Multi-step long term follow up
7. Tested conversion process

Special Announcements

1. I’m attending the Platform Conference in Nashville. It is nearly sold out.  Get a ticket while you can!
2. I was written up by Eric T Wagner on Forbes.com this week. You can check out the article here.
3. 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

How strong is your marketing system? Share your ideas and tactics below in the comments.

I recently wrote here on the blog about some new productivity “tweaks” with which I have been experimenting. Today's podcast is a report on the results.

In this week's podcast episode:

• A “field report” on my latest productivity experiments.
• An alternative to mindmaps.
• How to get free of those “guilty feelings”.
• Stu McLaren on hiring the right people.

Tip Of The Week

Not into mind mapping, but wish there was an easy way to outline your ideas? You have got to try Workflowy. It was made for the purpose.

Spiritual Foundations

Are you plagued by feelings of guilt, about regrets over what you should have done in a certain situation? Don't be…

There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death.
Romans 8:1-2

When Jesus came and paid the price for sin, that included all of our sins. Past, present, and future. That means is far as he is concerned, we have nothing to regret. A “guilty conscience” is not the work of our father in heaven, but is the work of the enemy-the devil. See Hebrews 9:14.

Lifestyle Business

Stu McLaren has wisdom to share on the subject of hiring-and on not being cheap.

Feature Segment: Results of My Productivity Experiments

Recently, I wrote on my blog a post about a new plan for improved productivity in 2013. I thought it might be useful to share the results so far. Works and all.

Here are the plans I wrote about, and a report on my observations

Productivity Philosophy.  If you are not familiar with the GTD philosophy, I encourage you to read David Allen's seminal work on stress-free productivity. A great augmentation to the GTD material is one of my favorite new podcasts and websites, Erik Fisher's “Beyond the To-Do List”. At this point, I would give myself a “brown belt” when it comes to GTD. My biggest challenge is keeping my inboxes to zero, and limiting those inboxes to the smallest number possible.

Planning. In keeping with my adherence to GTD, my planning is fairly simple. I have a weekly review session on Fridays, during which I collect all the inputs that have accumulated over the past week, and one by one clear them from my inbox.  So far I've done a pretty good job of keeping on top of my weekly reviews. I'd say I am at about 90% on this one.

Disciplined Tracking.  For business activities, I am developing a dashboard for my company in Excel to keep track of key metrics. Frankly, I've gotten so caught up in looking for the perfect dashboard, I haven't really started using one yet. That will change within the next three days, as I am forcing myself to pick some kind of tracking system. Even if it is  3 x 5 cards.

Productivity Tools. In the past, I have been a “tool junkie”. I have actually managed to not look at any new productivity tools since the beginning of the year. That may not sound like a big deal to you, but it's a big deal to me.

Boundaries. This year, I am resolved to stick to my regimen of only answering email once a day, and the same for phone calls. I also intend to be “off the grid” three days a week for both email and phone calls. Still my biggest challenge. My name is Ray Edwards, and I am a recovering “yes man”.

Guarding My Heart and Mind. Toxic thoughts and emotions destroy us. Toxic thinking limits our potential for accomplishment. Toxic emotions limit our potential for happiness and fulfillment. In the new year, I will not allow negative thinking, language, images, or emotions to pierce the boundary of my sight or hearing. While I have improved in this area, I still have work today. Have watched a couple of things on television that, in retrospect, were a bit dark and cynical and viewpoint. It isn't possible to watch things like this and walk away unaffected.

Task Batching. I perform best when I batch similar tasks together and do them all at once. This is going pretty well for me, because it is exit become a habit of mine over the last few years.

Focus Blocks. “Focus blocks” are clearly defined blocks of time that I use to focus on one single task.  I can tell you this. It seems that making a declaration about a new habit is a surefire way to become a lightning rod for challenges and resistance to that habit.

Digital Fasting. I am a digital junkie. I love Facebook, Twitter, Google+, email, RSS feeds… you get the idea. That's why it's important to me to completely unplug frequently. My goal is to be completely free of email, voice mail, and Internet consumption… 100% free… at least one day a week. I have done pretty well, but frankly no where near 100%. This Sunday, I'm shooting for 100%.

Sabbath. One day each week, my intention is to be at complete rest. Same answer as the previous section.

The Positive No. I mentioned earlier that it is difficult for me to say “no” to people. This year, my default response to every request made of me will be, at least initially, “no”. I had a few chances to practice this, but I still wouldn't counted as one of my core disciplines. Yet.

Income Producing Activity Hours. I have identified the activities which are most likely to result in producing revenue for my company: speaking, writing, marketing and advertising, and creating new material or trainings. There are a few other income-producing activities, such as networking, sales calls, and developing JV relationships. I am creating carefully protected and intricately planned “focus blocks” for these activities. These are among the first activities to be scheduled in my calendar. This one has worked out surprisingly well so far.

Writing Time. This is in my top tier of income producing activities. It is also in my top tier of spiritually fulfilling activities. Therefore, this is one of my very highest priorities, and will be one of my most protected assets in the new year.

30 Day Challenges. I love new ideas, and I love trying them out. So much so, that I have tended, in the past, to try out many different ideas in a single week. Therefore, in the new year, each month I plan to adopt one “30 Day Challenge”. A single new habit, activity, or discipline. I will post each month's 30 day challenge publicly, and at the end of the 30 days report on my experience. . Hardest one of all for me to keep. My Challenge this month was to journal daily. We're on day 16 of the month, and I've written in my journal four days

My plan going forward is to become more disciplined about my new habits, and not to simply give up. That's the mistake I think most people make when it comes to resolutions, or adopting any new discipline.

Special Announcements

1. I’m attending the Platform Conference in Nashville. It is nearly sold out. The purpose of the conference: to help you “get noticed in a noisy world.” It’s being put on by Michael Hyatt and Ken Davis. My friends Stu McLaren and Carrie Wilkerson are speaking. I’m also looking forward to meeting  Jeff Goins, Cliff Ravenscraft, Pat Flynn, John Saddington, Michele Cushatt, and Andrew Buckman. Unlike most conferences, there’s not a single speaker I’m not excited to hear and to meet. Get a ticket while you can!
2. I was written up by Eric T Wagner on Forbes.com this week. You can check out the article here.

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 you doing to be more productive in the new year? And how are your New Year's resolutions coming along? Share your ideas and tactics below in the comments.

Ever have a day where you feel like you just didn't get anything done? Now imagine getting entire day's work done in two hours. Sound impossible? You won't feel that way after you listen to today's podcast.

In this week's podcast episode:

• How to do a days work in two hours.
• A counterintuitive marketing book recommendation.
• How (and why) it's possible to achieve effortless success.
• Stu McLaren on the importance of being intentional.

And a few surprises, too…

Tip Of The Week

This week I have a rather counterintuitive book recommendation. One of the best marketing books I've ever read (twice now) is Rick Warren's The Purpose-Driven Church.

Spiritual Foundations

As new creations in Christ, we are supposed to be “at rest”. Our life is not supposed to be about striving and working hard, but about receiving. Yes, I am saying that God will do a lot more for us than we could ever do for ourselves. And that he actually wants it to be that way.

There remains therefore a rest for the people of God. For he who has entered His rest has himself also ceased from his works as God did from His. Let us therefore be diligent to enter that rest…
Hebrews 4:9-11

This is a promise from God, and it echoes the Old Testament story of the promised land. In ancient Israel, there was an actual land that the people were given as a promise from God.This land was, in God's own words, to include houses that had already been built, vineyards that had already been planted, and wells that had already been dug. Everything was already done for the children of Israel. As believers under the provisions of the new covenant, our “promised land” is to simply rest in what Christ accomplished for us at the cross. In the passage from Hebrews, we learned that God desires that we would enjoy His rest. That we would be blessed, provided for, and healed as we receive from him. Through no efforts of our own.

Lifestyle Business

Stu McLaren shares his thoughts on the importance of being intentional.

Feature Segment: How to Get a Day's Work Done In 2 Hours

Here's the overall checklist for doing a days work in two hours. There are 3 phases to this method: Plan, Prepare, Perform. For a detailed explanation… listen to the podcast!

Plan

• Make your “List of Three”, “Fantastic Five”, and your “Weird Time List”.

Prepare

• Wake up one hour earlier.
• Have a quiet time.

Perform

• Work on your “List of Three” before you do anything else.
• Use the “F.I.T.” Method.
• Take a 10 minute break, and move immediately to the “Fantastic Five”.
• Now take a 30 minute break, and go about your day as usual. Relax.
• Use your “Weird Time List” to “grout your day”.

Special Announcements

1. I’m attending the Platform Conference in Nashville. It is nearly sold out. The purpose of the conference: to help you “get noticed in a noisy world.” It’s being put on by Michael Hyatt and Ken Davis. My friends Stu McLaren and Carrie Wilkerson are speaking. I’m also looking forward to meeting  Jeff Goins, Cliff Ravenscraft, Pat Flynn, John Saddington, Michele Cushatt, and Andrew Buckman. Unlike most conferences, there’s not a single speaker I’m not excited to hear and to meet. Get a ticket while you can!
2. Our exclusive Las Vegas workshop is more than half-full. If you're interested in participating, you will need to contact my office immediately.
3. Tomorrow I will make a special announcement about a brand-new event.

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 tips can you offer that would help get an entire day's work done in just two hours? Share your ideas and tactics below in the comments.

Today I want to share five weird tactics that, when used correctly, almost guarantee more success.

In this week's podcast episode:

• The five weird tactics.
• The power of the uncommon conversation.
• My first book recommendation of the new year.

That’s all coming up…

Tip Of The Week

For refreshing, unusual, and inspiring look at the writing life I recommend Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott.

Spiritual Foundations

Speaking plainly is a shocking and radical way of communicating.

Jesus said you should “let your yes mean yes, and your no me no.”  Speaking the truth so plainly is disarming and incredibly persuasive. Try it.

Feature Segment: 5 Weird Tactics Make The New Year Your Best Year Ever

1. Do less.
2. Say no.
3. Stop multitasking.
4. Stop setting goals.
5. Pray

Special Announcements

1. I’m attending the Platform Conference in Nashville. If you do business online, you MUST attend this conference that helps you “get noticed in a noisy world.” It’s being put on by Michael Hyatt and Ken Davis. My friends Stu McLaren and Carrie Wilkerson are speaking. I’m also looking forward to meeting  Jeff Goins, Cliff Ravenscraft, Pat Flynn, John Saddington, Michele Cushatt, and Andrew Buckman. Unlike most conferences, there’s not a single speaker I’m not excited to hear and to meet. Get a ticket while you can!
2. Our exclusive Las Vegas workshop is more than half-full. If you're interested in participating, you will need to contact my office immediately.
3. Next week I will make a special announcement about a brand-new event.

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 find the podcast on Stitcher by clicking the logo:

Call in your questions or comments to our new, fancy “request line” at (509) 713-2679