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.