The Ray Edwards Show

April 2023
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Sun, 31 December 2023

This week I'm giving you a simple, 5-step process to help make 2024 the best year your business has ever had. Of course, I said "simple"...not easy.

The toughest pill for most business owners to swallow is this: You probably need to stop doing 20-50% of what you're doing right now.

In other words, take a look at 2023 and figure out what things gave you the least ROI. What things took the most of your resources and returned anything less than "worth it".

That's the prep work...Listen to get my 5-step plan.

Key Insights

Stop doing the things that don't produce a good return on your time and efforts
Plan Your Year
Plan your time off (commit!)
Plan for the things you can't control (holidays, etc.)
Plan your content schedule
Plan your promotional schedule
Setup accountability and guidance for you as the leader (e.g. a coach or mentor)

Links

The Copywriting Academy Live 2024 - As a listener of my podcast, you have earned a free invitation to experience my flagship training, live, with no investment other than your time and attention. The Copywriting Academy Live happens January 3-6, 2024. If that date has not yet passed, I strongly advise you check this out.

Video and Transcript

https://www.rayedwards.com/646

How You Can Help

Subscribe to the show in Apple Podcasts or on Spotify, and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will definitely mention you on this show.

Questions or comments?

Connect with Ray on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram

Visit Ray's community on Facebook – This is a friendly group of writers, entrepreneurs, and coaches who share ideas and helpful advice.

Direct download: REP646.mp3
Category:Podcast -- posted at: 3:00pm PDT

Thu, 21 December 2023

The Magic Word That Will Change Your Life

In this week's episode, I'm talking about a single, magic word that has the power to reduce your stress and give you more time to do the things that matter to you.

What is this "Magic Word" ?

"No"

People seem to have no issue asking for our time, our attention, our money, etc. But for some reason, we often feel bad about saying no. It makes us feel like we're not doing our part, or being negative, or a bad person. "No" is just a response. It's neither good nor bad, but learning to use it can have a huge impact on your life.

Key Insights

Saying "no" doesn't mean you're a negative person with a negative attitude...it's just a response
No need to make up excuses. This is a complete sentence: "No."
Using the word "because" in your response can lead to less pushback
Saying No to things you don't want to do gives you more time to say yes to the things you do want to do

Video And Transcript

https://www.rayedwards.com/645

Links

The Copywriting Academy Live: Kick off 2024 with radical change and massive progress. Join me for The Copywriting Academy Live virtual event, January 3-5. We'll get your copy finished and ready-for-launch, plus you'll master some incredible tools that will make you more productive than ever before.

How You Can Help

Direct download: REP645.mp3
Category:Podcast -- posted at: 3:00pm PDT

Thu, 14 December 2023

Why People Don't Change

It's almost that time of year...

Time to declare big changes for 2024! And then abandon those declarations in a few short weeks.

I'm not trying to be negative, but the reality is: It's hard to make significant changes in ourselves. Only 3% of people stick to their big resolutions. But why?

That's what we'll take a look at in this week's episode. Change is possible...and it can be much easier than you think.

Key Insights

Change happens when the pain of not changing is greater than the difficulty of making the change.
The fear of not changing is often overshadowed by immediate gratification, making it difficult for people to prioritize long-term consequences over short-term pleasure.
To change, you need to make the future pain of not changing more real than the current pleasure.
People don't change unless they associate significant pain with not changing and take ownership of their ability to change.
Some people can learn to love pain through conscious choice and association with pleasure.
Choose activities that you enjoy to make change easier.
Enjoy the process of pushing yourself to achieve your goals, not just the end result.

5 Steps For Real Change

Decide what it is you want to do
Get clear on why it's important to you
Figure out how you're going to get to the outcome
Associate massive pleasure to the process of getting there
Associate massive pain to not doing the process

Links

The Copywriting Academy Live - Kick off 2024 with radical change and massive progress. Join me for The Copywriting Academy Live virtual event, January 3-5. We'll get your copy finished and ready-for-launch, plus you'll master some incredible tools that will make you more productive than ever before.

Video And Transcript

https://www.rayedwards.com/644

How You Can Help

Direct download: REP644.mp3
Category:Podcast -- posted at: 3:00am PDT

Sat, 9 December 2023

PASTOR Masterclass

The P.A.S.T.O.R. Framework® is the formula I use to craft every piece of sales copy I write. It is also the most "borrowed" piece of knowledge that I've ever taught. I've seen it shared in countless blog posts, videos, and forums around the net (often without proper attribution, but that's okay...I guess).

The thing is, to really use this formula effectively, you need to learn a little more than just what each letter of the acronym stands for. This week, I'm diving deeper into each step of the process with a P.A.S.T.O.R. "mini" Masterclass.

Listen carefully, put these concepts to work, and you WILL sell more of your stuff.

Key Insights

A review of the PASTOR Framework®
Diving Deeper ... Talk to your "Right-Fit" client
KNOW Your Person as well as possible, then talk to THEM, not to a group - Describe THEIR problem
Describe the Pain as they perceive it
What's going to happen if the problem (the Pain) goes unsolved?
Show them what's possible when the problem is solved
Tell them the story of Why they should listen to
Describe your experience...tell the story of how you discovered the solution
Show the transformation that happened for you (AND share the stories of others when you have them)
Paint the picture of possibility - What would their life look like once your product has solved their problem
Always focus on the benefits - Even if the offer
Reframe the objections as questions...and answer them
What are the reasons they should act Right NOW?
Explain the cost of waiting
Don't forget to actually ASK for the Sale

Video and Transcript

https://www.rayedwards.com/643

Links

Direct download: REP643.mp3
Category:Podcast -- posted at: 4:00pm PDT

Wed, 22 November 2023

Writer's Block!!??

I have previously claimed that Writer's Block does not exist. That was true for me at least...until recently.

What happened? How could my seemingly endless well of ideas and words suddenly run dry?

This week I'm sharing the cause, and the cure.

Key Insights

Expressing my gratitude for you in this season of thanks
Suddenly self-conscious
Age is NOT a handicap in this arena. There is value in your wisdom
Accept who you are and embrace your imperfections
Be a source of positivity online and in the world
Your influence and impact will live longer than you

Links

How To Write Copy That Sells - Get your FREE copy of my bestselling book (just pay shipping)

YouTube and Transcript

https://www.rayedwards.com/642

How You Can Help

Direct download: REP642.mp3
Category:Podcast -- posted at: 3:00am PDT

Fri, 17 November 2023

Your Shadow Brand

Building your business and your brand requires a particular set of skills. I want to talk about those skills (one in particular), but also issue a reminder about your other brand...the one built by others. Your shadow brand. What is it, and how do you manage it?

Key Insights

What's the best, must-have skill for creating cash flow and building wealth?
AI has made it easier to build a business with less human help, but at a certain level you must start hiring people.
The harder you work, the more money you make... Not True - That philosophy can destroy you
To achieve true wealth, you must create assets that generate income
You must learn to communicate strategically and influentially
Use your writing to build your personal brand - Do not just hand this job over to AI...use AI as a helper, not an author
How to take control of your Shadow Brand (make it intentional)
Build a personal brand based on the Real You
Embrace your Authentic Self - keep your quirks intact to build a personal brand that people connect with and recognize
Copywriting is the number one skill when it comes to building your brand (Everything is copy)
A.I. can help make you more productive, but you MUST understand the fundamental principles of good copy in order to use it correctly

Links

Transcript and Video

rayedwards.com/641

How You Can Help

Direct download: REP641.mp3
Category:Podcast -- posted at: 10:00am PDT

Sun, 5 November 2023

Tiny List Brings MASSIVE Profit - with Nick Pollard

"People Pleasing" is NOT the way to build a brand. You might build a BIG list that way, but you won't build a QUALITY one.

Your list, your followers, your subscribers...They need to know the real you if you want to build a meaningful connection. (You know, the kind that brings in revenue for your business.) Your message must align with your brand.

My guest this week is known as "the People Displeaser" (a.k.a. Nick Pollard), and he has done exactly that.

Nick and I will discuss his journey, and how being authentic with his audience has helped him build a list of actively engaged, loyal followers.

Key Insights

Nick Pollard's recent video on TikTok has over 1.8 million views (and climbing)...but why "that" one?
Don't worry about the size of your email list, focus on the depth of your relationship with your subscribers.
Maintaining a high list engagement with a 50% open rate, even without marketing to them, shows the importance of having a targeted and interested audience.
Nick's engagement with his audience's list is HUGE. That's a result of building a strong connection with his audience which paves the way for successful marketing.
The key to building engagement with your audience is being honest and authentic from the start.
Nick had rapid list growth, going from 1,500 to over 11,000 subscribers, thanks to a little bit of luck, and a viral video.
The content that performs the best is when the creator is being authentic.
Nick believes that high engagement on social media comes from sharing only what truly matters and resonates with the audience, rather than bombarding them with irrelevant content. (Don't force it!)

Video and Transcript

https://www.rayedwards.com/640

Links

NickPollard.com - How to Stop Being a People-Pleaser, Quit Lying to Yourself About How Miserable You Are, And Finally Build a Life of Freedom Where You Don’t Come In Last Place.
CopyCrew.net - Unlimited Copywriting for online business. Fast, effective, and 100% Guaranteed. A copywriting subscription to grow your business.

How You Can Help

Direct download: REP640b.mp3
Category:Podcast -- posted at: 8:00pm PDT

Sun, 29 October 2023

Be a Word-Nerd - The Psychology of Good Copywriting

Check out this incredible conversation I had with my fellow word-nerd, Molly Rouse-DiCioccio.

Molly has an amazing insight as to (as she puts it) "why people do stuff". Once you understand the psychology of your audience, the right words become obvious.

And, of course, if you're a copywriter that can "connect", you can charge appropriately (6-figures in the case of the project we discussed), and are free to work from wherever.

Molly's fascination with human behavior and psychology drives her passion for marketing and helping people with marketing psychology, influence, persuasion, and mental triggers
The importance of copywriting skills (and where to learn them)
How Molly used the PASTOR formula to write a proposal that secured a $120,000 deal
Language is powerful! Mastering it is important not just in copywriting, but also in ALL communication
"It's better not to speak at all unless what you're going to say expresses compassion, inspiration, or mutual benefit."
Mind your mental state: Don't write when you're angry
AI is a powerful tool to give you a start, but human understanding of how words are perceived and the psychological impact is still crucial.

Links

WhyPeopleDoStuff.com What makes people listen to you?
To trust you? Buy from you? Contact you?
What makes YOU stand out more than anyone else? - Check out Molly's site to answer those questions.
Start Your Own Writing Business - Check out some free training, and a special offer from Ray.

Watch the Video and get the Transcript

https://www.rayedwards.com/638

How You Can Help

Subscribe to the show in Apple Podcasts or on Spotify, and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will definitely mention you on this show.

Questions or comments?

Connect with Ray on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram

Visit Ray's community on Facebook – This is a friendly group of writers, entrepreneurs, and coaches who share ideas and helpful advice.

Direct download: REP638.mp3
Category:Podcast -- posted at: 9:00am PDT

Wed, 18 October 2023

From Part-Time Copywriter to Empire Builder

Amanda Foust is a shining example of someone who turned their passion into a profitable business. Her love of writing inspired her to learn a skill that she's used to build TWO successful businesses — Copywriting.

She'll explain how important copywriting has been in BOTH of her businesses (including the one that has nothing to do with writing). Because, as she puts it, "I just don't know how you sell otherwise."

Key Insights

Thank God for teachers
Understanding the importance of framing and presentation in copywriting is crucial for success
Focus on finding "the whos" (the right people) to help, rather than getting caught up in the details.
Amanda became a certified, high-performance coach after being inspired by receiving coaching in college.
Give us some numbers...Amanda talks about the growth of her company, Homegrown, going from part-time work to achieving six-figure earnings and retiring their husband within five years
Knowing how to write good copy (or partnering with someone who can) is crucial for success
AI-generated copy still needs human help to be more than mediocre
Coaches help people navigate imposter syndrome, loneliness, and lack of clarity by focusing on time management, productivity, and finding meaning in their work
Creating a community for learning is more effective than just offering a course
AI For Copywriters can help improve your marketing and learn to use AI as a tool to amplifiy your own voice, not replace it

Links

https://www.rayedwards.com/637

How You Can Help

Direct download: REP637.mp3
Category:Podcast -- posted at: 9:00am PDT

Wed, 11 October 2023

From Zero Dollars to $300,000 in One Year

Many entrepreneurs start their journey out of necessity. An unforeseen set of circumstances gives them the push, and then it's sink or swim.

My guest this week was facing some major family and financial challenges. She fought through the fear and built a successful, 6-figure business in less than a year...That's a story worth paying attention to.

Listen and learn from my conversation with Anita Anello.

Key Insights

Anita's career success and achievements left her feeling unfulfilled, questioning if there was more to life than just titles, money, and accolades, emphasizing the need for a deeper sense of purpose and fulfillment.
Be impeccable with your word and build a reputation of reliability and trustworthiness.
Everything Is Copy - Anita discovered the importance of copywriting through the idea that "everything that we say and do is all copy."
Build your business around the deep desires in your heart and be rewarded with freedom.
Anita's passion lies in helping other successful women of faith who have reached a pinnacle in their careers and have a God-sized idea inside of them, guiding them towards fulfilling their potential.
Creating a movement of women who champion each other, meet each other where they're at, and have no tolerance for complainers or those who don't take responsibility for their lives.
Anita and her husband were able to pay off over $40,000 of debt in just a four-month period, demonstrating their commitment to financial stability.
Anita's journey of finding work-life balance and being present for her kids while still making money and pursuing her interests is inspiring.
"Being a person of Integrity is one of my core values...whatever you say you're going to do, that's it because all I have are my words."
Anita's list of necessities for her family's survival and thriving included not just financial aspects, but also time, health, and other non-monetary factors.
Overcoming challenges and declaring one's accomplishments can empower individuals to walk confidently in their journey, leaving a ripple effect for generations to come.

Links

TheRippleAffect.net - The place to connect with Anita Anello, and "Turn Your Corporate Skills into a Consulting Business You Love"

Video and Transcript

rayedwards.com/636

How You Can Help

Direct download: REP636.mp3
Category:Podcast -- posted at: 9:00am PDT

Wed, 20 September 2023

Using A.I. to Grow Your Business - with Matt Wolfe

Ever have that dream of waking up and finding that your most recent video got hundreds of thousands of views while you were sleeping? I have. I have yet to experience this personally, but that's exactly what happened to my guest, Matt Wolfe.

In this conversation with Matt, we'll talk about his sudden boom (9 years after launching his channel) - What caused it? How have things changed? What opportunities has it made possible?

Matt is a passionate student of A.I. and it shows in his videos. We'll discuss the importance of creating the content you're passionate about, what role A.I. (and humans) play in the future of content creation, and why Matt thinks the human brain is not yet obsolete.

[00:00] Matt and I discuss his popularity increase after chat GPT became public, his journey of creating videos, gaining traction, and finding success with AI-related content.
Overnight success? Hardly. Matt started his YouTube channel in 2009, focusing on WordPress and teaching people how to build websites
Matt discovered that his videos about AI gained more popularity than his marketing content, leading him to shift his channel's focus. One of his A.I videos has now hit 1.2 million views.
[04:36] Matt shares his 14-year journey to success and how he is monetizing his business.
Matt created his website, futuretools.io, to organize and access useful tools he discovered. This site now serves as an A.I. resource for thousands of visitors each day.
Lots of copycat sites have emerged since Matt's launch of futuretools.io, but that doesn't bother him. He originally built this site as a resource for himself and not as a business model.
Matt sees himself as an enthusiastic user of AI technology rather than pretending to be an expert. He believes (and I agree) that has played an important role in his success.
Matt's revenue streams include: affiliate links, featured listings, sponsorships, a weekly newsletter, a YouTube channel, and a podcast.
[12:35] Will A.I. take over content creation? Matt believes that real people creating content on YouTube will always win because the audience connects with a genuine creator.
[19:46] Creating authentic and passionate content that resonates with you is more valuable than focusing on data-driven strategies, spammy content, or trying to please the algorithm or audience.
Be real...Let your personality shine through in your content. Focus on creating content that excites and interests you.
[22:56] Use AI as a tool to enhance content creation
Feedly is an AI-powered RSS feed reader that allows users to find and filter articles and news on specific topics.
[27:54] What about AI's potential to create fake content and undermine the credibility of video and photographic evidence
What does Matt think about AI replacing jobs?
[33:19] Do we still need people? Of course. But not for everything...
AI will potentially replace manual labor jobs, but humans will adapt and find new ways to add value.
[36:47] Where to find Matt...and when do we get the new podcast?

Links

futuretools.io : Matt's site that "Collects & Organizes All The Best AI Tools So YOU Too Can Become Superhuman!"
Matt's YouTube Channel : Definitely worth subbing and binging

How You Can Help

Get The Transcript and Video

https://www.rayedwards.com/635

Direct download: REP635.mp3
Category:Podcast -- posted at: 9:59am PDT

Mon, 28 August 2023

The 1 High-Value Skill to Rule Them All

I can think of no more valuable skill than the one that conveys the importance, uniqueness, value, and necessity of everything else you have to offer - Copywriting.

Feel free to try and convince me otherwise...but guess what skill you'll need to do that?

Copywriting is fundamental to any business because it's how you communicate who you are and why people need you. Any transaction begins with communication, and the quality of that communication dictates everything that comes after.

This week's episode is about recognizing that EVERYTHING is copy - Not just sales pages and ads. Social media posts, emails, videos, podcasts...even conversations are copy. Use the techniques and triggers that have been used for millennia to improve ALL of your interactions.

You'll also learn how you and I can be "study buddies", working through Jeff Walker's Product Launch Formula together. I've bought PLF every year since 2005 because it works, and it gets better every iteration.

We'll soon be launching the updated, AI version of Copywriting Academy using PLF blueprints. Listen to find out how you can get a behind-the-scenes look at our launch, step by step.

Key Insights

The one high-value skill to rule them all: Copywriting
AI does NOT eliminate the need for human copywriters
Everything is copy - not just sales pages and ads
Jeff Walker's Product Launch Formula changed everything in 2005
Get free access to the PLF Masterclass Here
Emails require stellar copywriting skills to get opens and responses
Social Media Posts are copy - Treat them as such. Be intentional!
Your website builds trust and drives conversions, and...it's copy.
In-Person interactions can be "Conversational Copy"
Get PLF using my link, and we'll go through it together
Soon, we'll be launching the updated, AI version of Copywriting Academy. Get behind-the-scenes access to my own, PLF-Powered launch, step by step. A "vlogumentary" that shows you how my team and I put PLF to work.

Links

Direct download: REP634.mp3
Category:Podcast -- posted at: 8:00am PDT

Tue, 22 August 2023

From Words to Sales: Copywriting Tactics That Amplify Your Business and Foster Connections

This week we review the fundamental differences between marketing and selling, and how to properly execute both.

Plus, I introduce you to two of my students, Jason and Melanie Crane. We'll talk about their entrepreneurial journey as a husband and wife team, they're challenges, and how you can achieve success without sacrificing your marriage.

I'll also tell you how you can learn the same fundamental sales system that we use for each and every product and service we sell (Product Launch Formula), absolutely free of charge.

Key Insights

Marketing and Selling are NOT the same thing
Marketing is where you connect with your audience and let them buy in to your worldview, philosophies, and ideas - Marketing is preparing your audience to buy from you.
The offer is critical. Get it right, or nothing else works. It must be made irresistible to the audience.
Building a list through lead magnets and email marketing allows for sequential communication and increased chances of making a successful sales offer.
Building a relationship with customers and being perceived as a helper, rather than someone trying to sell, can amplify your business and foster connections.
Sacrificing personal relationships for the sake of success can lead to negative consequences and the breakdown of marriages.
Creating or joining a Mastermind group can provide a supportive and motivating environment for personal and professional growth.
Being part of a supportive community can be transformational in achieving your goals and overcoming challenges.
Making the process of improving a marriage fun (even integrating dance in Jason and Melanie's case) can help engage both partners and create a positive experience.

Links

Free PLF Masterclass - Get the fundamentals of Product Launch Formula, taught by its creator, Jeff Walker. This is my sales system. It's what my company uses every time we launch a new product or service. If you want to sell online, this is the way. These free Masterclass videos are only available for a few days, so get them while you can
BAM Prosperity - Visit Jason and Melanie's site to learn more about how to build a business without sacrificing your personal relationships

How You Can Help

Direct download: REP633.mp3
Category:Podcast -- posted at: 10:00am PDT

Mon, 14 August 2023

Content Marketing: How Much Is TOO Much

A lot of people are asking this question when it comes to "Content Marketing":

How much is too much?

At what point do you saturate your readers, listeners and viewers with so much knowledge that they are no longer interested in buying what you're selling?

In this week's episode, I'll give you a solid answer to that question...free of charge.

Key Insights

Giving away valuable content for free in content marketing can help build trust with potential customers and lead to future sales.
The success of a marketing strategy can be measured not just by immediate revenue, but also by its ability to position your brand in the marketplace and generate long-term results.
People often don't do what they know because they either don't know how to do it, don't like doing it, or find it too overwhelming. That presents an opportunity for content marketers to provide guidance and support in the form of courses, coaching, and other revenue-generating services.
7 steps do doing this right
Step 1 - Know your audience and the problem they want to solve
Step 2 - Give the FULL Answer
Step 3 - Teach your whole process
Step 4 - Illustrate the value - Show what your process is worth when you put it to work
Step 5 - Ask your audience, "Why aren't you doing this?"
Step 6 - Offer to do it with them.
Step 7 - Repeat
Providing valuable knowledge and illustrating the value of your process can help build trust and demonstrate the worth of your content.
In my latest book, Read This Or Die, I share how I used my skills as a marketer and copywriter to write a sales campaign that helped me overcome the symptoms of Parkinson's disease and change my life.
Marketing is about changing mindsets and sharing your beliefs, values, and worldview, not selling products or services.
Next week, we'll talk about the selling process

Links

Direct download: REP632.mp3
Category:Podcast -- posted at: 7:00am PDT

Thu, 27 July 2023

7 Reasons You Need A YouTube Podcast Now

My weekly podcast has been my #1 source for new clients since the beginning of my business. Why? Because it has helped me to build a connection with the right people. Listeners get a dose of my knowledge and personality and then decide whether they should move on, or stay for more.

Those who aren't a fit for my style get naturally filtered out. So, the podcast doesn't just get me more clients - It gets me better clients...My right-fit clients.

This week, we're talking about the golden opportunity you have that didn't exist when I was getting started: YouTube.

I've got 7 compelling reasons why you should start your YouTube channel, NOW.

Key Insights

Putting your own podcast on YouTube is a great way to build a loyal following and attract high-paying clients, as it allows you to create an emotional bond and forge connections with your audience.
YouTube is the number one podcasting platform and has invested heavily in video podcasts, making it the ideal platform for connecting with clients and customers.
New viewers can discover your show organically, so don't miss out on the opportunity to build an audience by consistently creating content.
Having a YouTube video podcast can provide opportunities for lateral marketing and niche audience targeting.
A YouTube video podcast allows you to reach new clients in different genres.
YouTube is now offering a complete ecosystem with ad-free videos, music, and podcasts, giving creators the opportunity to attract new viewers and listeners and potentially earn ad revenue.
Get a complete Video Podcasting for Copywriters course at https://www.rayedwards.com/vidpod

Links

Video Podcasting for Copywriters - This is the top-of-market course lead by the great Diana Gladney

Video and Transcript

https://www.rayedwards.com/631

How You Can Help

Direct download: REP631.mp3
Category:Podcast -- posted at: 1:00pm PDT

Sat, 22 July 2023

From Unknown to Iconic: The Marketing Journey of Revel 77 Coffee

In this economic reality, you must bring your A-Game when it comes to marketing.

No more outdated websites...No more ignoring your "Shadow Brand", or your reputation on social media. You must strive to be Iconic in your market.

This week, we're talking about how my son and I are marketing the local coffee shop we co-own together, Revel 77.

Key Insights

The importance of stepping up your marketing game in the current economic reality and moving away from ugly marketing strategies.
Ugly websites no longer sell, as the competition now includes big players like Disney and AI technology, but this also means more opportunities for those who can create high-quality content.
Your website is not enough to attract customers, you need to provide a valuable experience and build trust before asking for a purchase.
Your online reputation, or "Shadow brand," is crucial for attracting customers, so it's important to provide the information they need to make a favorable decision about your business.
Revel 77 Coffee in Spokane, WA enjoys having control over their coffee product by roasting it themselves, allowing them to tailor it to their customers' preferences.
Build a sophisticated website and marketing hub to capture traffic and cater to the specific audience of your coffee shop, ensuring customer satisfaction and differentiation from competitors like Starbucks.
You must think about sales copy, photography, video, writing, and your brand, but the good news is you can watch us do it with our own business.
Revel 77 Coffee in Spokane, WA roasts their own beans, and if you want to order their delicious Morning Muse roast, click the link in the description.

Links

Direct download: REP630.mp3
Category:Podcast -- posted at: 5:00am PDT

Fri, 14 July 2023

Start Your 1-Person Business Now

This week, I'm laying some groundwork for an upcoming series about building your own 1-person business.

A 1-person business isn't new territory for me - I ran a successful one for many years before I started building my team... BUT - The tools that are available now (specifically the AI-Powered ones) have made doing this on-your-own incredibly easy. You can now build your business by yourself, without neglecting every other aspect of your life...And it's AMAZING.

Let's talk about what's possible... And why YOU CAN (and SHOULD) do it NOW.

Key Insights

Building a one-person business that allows you to work only with people you want to work with, and on your own schedule, is not just a dream, it can be a reality.
The internet is "The Great Leveler", removing all barriers and providing equal opportunities for success.
Optimists generally have better lives, with more money, freedom, happiness, and better relationships, while pessimists have a more realistic vision but often end up less happy, wealthy, and with lesser relationships.
The internet removes gatekeepers and allows anyone, regardless of age, to create a million-dollar business.
The internet has leveled the playing field, allowing anyone to start a business and connect with potential customers, regardless of their social status or background.
Understanding that you are the brand allows you to be your authentic self and stand out in a way that is unduplicable.
There is an audience out of the 8 billion people on this planet that can only resonate with your unique perspective and personality, so be authentic and comfortable in being yourself.
Don't worry about the market being saturated, there is still room for you to start your 1-person business.

Links

Read This Or Die: Persuading Yourself To A Better Life - Click to find out how you can get a free gift when you order my new book: A 6-part mini-course where I personally walk you through the life-changing process outlined in the book.
ClarityScribe - The most powerful AI-Powered copywriting tool on the planet. Try it for free (no credit card required)

How You Can Help

Direct download: REP629.mp3
Category:Podcast -- posted at: 3:00pm PDT

Thu, 6 July 2023

Personal Brand: Are You More Than Your Niche?

In this episode of The Ray Edwards Show, we ponder on the balance between niching down and maintaining personal authenticity in a brand.

While specialized services and products offer a greater focus, personal charisma gives your brand its unique charm.

But which one should prevail? Let’s find out.

Key Points

Defining your personal brand does not mean you have to stick to one specific niche.
While services should be hyper-focused on a niche, personalities should be diverse.
Ambition and products being pushed by vendors often cause the overwhelm and confusion in branding.
Everybody has their unique thing to sell, but none of them should dictate your brand’s direction.
To succeed, your business and personality need to resonate with each other authentically.
Implement a strategy, set goals, and use the necessary tools for effective branding.
Also, consider having a guide and companions to help you along the way, but remember that it will take time.
Always keep being true to yourself and share your true passions with your audience.

Links

Video And Transcript

https://www.rayedwards.com/628

How You Can Help

Direct download: REP628.mp3
Category:Podcast -- posted at: 3:00am PDT

Sat, 1 July 2023

Copywriting Q&A With Ray

This week is another Q&A with Ray episode where I offer my answers to these questions:

How do I get more people to open my emails?
Can I use copywriting on social media without seeming sleazy?
Are old-school sales pages dead?

Those are some great questions, to which I believe I have some helpful answers.

If you would like to win a free, signed copy of my new book, Read This Or Die: Persuading Yourself to a Better Life, check out the link below to get the code I mention in the podcast.

I'll be doing more prizes in future episodes, so make sure you're subscribed to my YouTube channel for an even better chance to win.

[00:00] Intro - More Q&A
[00:22] Question 1: How do I get more people to open my emails?
[03:25] Question 2: Can I use copywriting on social media to make sales (without seeming sleazy)?
[05:37] Question 3: Are old-school sales pages dead?
[07:51] Win a free, signed copy of Read This Or Die: Persuading Yourself to a Better Life

Links

Read This Or Die - Learn more about my new book, Read This Or Die: Persuading Yourself to a Better Life

Get the Video and Transcript

https://rayedwards.com/627

How You Can Help

Direct download: REP627.mp3
Category:Podcast -- posted at: 12:45pm PDT

Thu, 22 June 2023

Change Your Thinking & Create Magic

In case you're not familiar with Lee Cockerell, here's a quick snippet from his bio:

Lee Cockerell is the former Executive Vice President of Operations for the Walt Disney World® Resort. “As the Senior Operating Executive for ten years Lee led a team of 40,000 Cast Members and was responsible for the operations of 20 resort hotels, 4 theme parks, 2 water parks, a shopping & entertainment village and the ESPN sports and recreation complex in addition to the ancillary operations which supported the number one vacation destination in the world.”

When it comes to team-building and leadership techniques, Lee has one of the best resumés on the planet.

A few weeks ago, I received a note from Lee saying that he had read my new book, Read This Or Die, and enjoyed it so much that he purchased multiple copies to send to friends and family. To receive a note like that from someone I respect and admire was both humbling, and inspiring.

Lee also extended me the honor of being a guest on his Creating Disney Magic podcast (linked below), which is where this week's audio comes from.

[00:00] Intro/explanation
[00:14] Welcome back to the show
[00:45] How Read This Or Die impacted Lee
[02:39] The missing chapter
[04:11] It's about the reader's challenges...not Ray's
[05:44] Changing your input/output
[06:55] Your wife's review (The Cranial-Rectral Extraction Method)
[10:04] No need to wait for disaster
[12:42] A lesson in brain science
[13:48] A trip to Galaxy's Edge
[15:25] More about "The letter"

Links

Creating Disney Magic Podcast - Lee Cockerell shares his wisdom and experience from his time as the Executive Vice President of Operations for Walt Disney World. Along with host Jody Maberry, Lee discusses how you can apply lessons in leadership, management, and customer service to create magic in your organization.

LeeCockerell.com - The best place to get in touch with Lee. Learn more about his training, speaking, and mastermind group.

How You Can Help

Direct download: REP626.mp3
Category:Podcast -- posted at: 1:00pm PDT

Wed, 7 June 2023

The AI-Powered Secrets of a Million-Dollar Copywriter

In this Episode of the Ray Edwards Show, I'm going to show you exactly how I'm using AI every week in my workflow. How I am using AI in my business to make more money with less work, and produce better copy (meaning copy that converts better). And how you can do the same thing.

This episode is specifically made for business owners who want to write copy for their own business. Even if your business is a copywriting business – there is plenty of opportunity for all of us. These are the days of limitless opportunity.

But you certainly don't have to be a copywriter-for-hire to use this same workflow. This will work for any online business, including personal brands, authors, speakers, coaches, and course creators.

[00:00] My workflow for creating this podcast (and who this will work for)
[03:13] Step 1 - Research the topic most on the minds of my viewers/listeners
[04:17] Step 2 - Put my research into a working document
[04:35] Step 3 - Write my "Human Generated" outline of the episode
[05:10] Step 4 - Run my text through ClarityScribe
[06:31] Step 5 - Read the A.I. generated text out loud (seriously...do this)
[07:56] Step 6 - Record the video version for YouTube
[10:03] Step 7 - Polish up the video (See link below for TimeBolt)
[11:47] Step 8 - Run the audio through ClarityScribe's Podcast module
[12:18] Step 9 - Put the video through Opus Video AI (link below)
[12:55] Step 10 - Load Podcast post on YouTube, the blog, and socials
[13:27] Step 11 - Launch The Video

Links

ClairtyScribe - The ultimate copywriting A.I. not only generates copy for my podcast, but also parses the finished audio to create show notes, a verbatim transcript, social posts, and emails.

TimeBolt - This is what I use to "clean up" my videos. Removing any dead spaces, bad takes, and various stumbles. (affiliate link)

VidIQ - I use this software to analyze my channel and get the insights necessary to keep my content focused, and relevant to what my audience expects. (affiliate link)

Opus Clip - This incredible software will analyze your long form videos and create sharable highlights.

Jeff Walker - The inventor of the "Product Launch Formula" coaching program. You can find many of these principles and techniques in his book, called Launch!

My Content Creation Checklist - A summary of the process described in this episode in pdf format

How You Can Help

Get The Transcript and Video

https://www.rayedwards.com/625

Direct download: REP625.mp3
Category:Podcast -- posted at: 3:00pm PDT

Wed, 31 May 2023

Connecting to the Pain

I was recently interviewed for the Marketer of the Day Podcast, hosted by Robert Plank.

In this episode, we dig into some core marketing principles that I use and teach, and discuss how they relate to the system covered in my new book, Read This Or Die.

00:00 Intro
00:43 Nerves
01:48 Ray's Unique Selling Position
03:15 What's something unique that you've written copy for?
04:58 Where do people fall short in the copywriting process?
07:23 The importance of storytelling
09:38 "Well, you've got it...Now what?" (The pain of Parkinson's Disease)
12:03 The missing chapter
12:40 DBS
13:51 Any surprises?
16:17 Are you exploiting this?
17:54 Copywriting's role in the life-changing process
20:37 Have I missed anything?
24:00 Where do they go?
24:26 On that quote...

Links

Read This Or Die - Click to order your copy of Read This Or Die, and claim your free, 6-video mini-course that I created to accompany the book.

Marketer of the Day with Robert Plank - Get Daily Insights from the Top Internet Marketers & Entrepreneurs Around the World. Thank you to Robert for granting me permission to use this week's audio.

How You Can Help

Get The Transcript

https://www.rayedwards.com/624

Direct download: REP624.mp3
Category:Podcast -- posted at: 9:30am PDT

Mon, 22 May 2023

How to Spill Your Guts: A Conversation With My Collaborator

This week, my friend and coauthor of Read This Or Die, Jeff Goins, joins me on the show for an in-depth conversation about the book, the collaboration, and the writing process.

[00:00] Intro - A Face For Radio
[03:50] Getting familiar with your own book
[07:15] Where is your Vulnerability-Meter?
[10:59] Describe our working relationship?
[12:08] Am I your first?
[14:56] What do you want the reader to get from this book?
[15:43] Wakeup call from my wife...
[17:00] How real change happens
[19:34] The sales letter of the same name
[24:49] Did you trust the process?
[28:08] The 3 Rays
[31:43] Why the denial?
[37:40] Facing the hard truth
[39:18] The ideal outcome for the reader

Links

Click Here to order your copy of Read This Or Die: Persuading Yourself to a Better Life

Get The Transcript and Video

https://www.rayedwards.com/623

How You Can Help

Direct download: REP623.mp3
Category:Podcast -- posted at: 3:30pm PDT

Fri, 19 May 2023

Rebuilding Life from Rock Bottom

I was recently interviewed on The Cliff Ravenscraft Show about my new book, Read This or Die.

Since this book is, by necessity, so deeply personal, this interview was equally personal and somewhat challenging to get through. However, I felt that it encapsulated the message of the book so well, I asked for Cliff's permission to use the audio on my own show.

My sincere thanks to Cliff Ravenscraft (a.k.a. The Mindset Answer Man) for making this episode possible. If you're not familiar with Cliff's work, I recommend you take a look at the links below.

Links

Read This Or Die: Persuading Yourself To A Better Life - The book releases on May 23, 2023. If you're reading this before that date, you can still claim a valuable free gift for pre-ordering your copy.

Cliff Ravenscraft - This is the main site for the Mindset Answer Man, Cliff Ravenscraft. I am a huge fan of Cliff's work, his outlook on life, and his passion for helping others. You'll find Cliff's notes (hah!) on this episode at this link.

How You Can Help

Get The Transcript

https://www.rayedwards.com/622

Direct download: RE622b.mp3
Category:Podcast -- posted at: 3:00pm PDT

Sat, 13 May 2023

A Glimpse Behind The Scenes

This episode is definitely "off the cuff", but does have a clear inspiration. I've been listening to more intimate, less polished podcasts and started kicking around the idea of doing a secondary, more intimate, less polished podcast of my own.

I hope to gauge my audience's interest in such a thing based on feedback from this episode...then proceed as planned regardless of the results.

Have a comment to share about this idea? See the contact info near the bottom of this post.

Links

Train With Cliff Podcast - This is one of the inspirations I mentioned in the episode - definitely worth checking out.

How You Can Help

Subscribe to the show in Apple Podcasts or on Spotify, and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will definitely mention you on this show.

Questions or comments?

Connect with Ray on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram

Visit Ray's community on Facebook – This is a friendly group of writers, entrepreneurs, and coaches who share ideas and helpful advice.

Direct download: REP621.mp3
Category:Podcast -- posted at: 4:00pm PDT

Mon, 24 April 2023

How to Upgrade Your Clients

This week, I have a potentially unpopular answer to a very popular question: How do I upgrade my clients?

The serial-refunders, the constant complainers, the manipulators...and of course, people who are downright rude to you and your team. How do you avoid them? Even more to the point: How do you get the kind of clients you actually want?

[00:00] How do I upgrade my clients?
[00:46] You're not going to like this answer, but...
[01:48] My $5,000 problem
[03:08] What your company avatar should look like
[04:13] It starts at the top (with you and me)

How You Can Help?

Get The Transcript And Video

https://www.rayedwards.com/620

Direct download: REP620.mp3
Category:Podcast -- posted at: 3:00am PDT

Mon, 17 April 2023

How Much Is Too Much?

How much "Authenticity" is too much? How much of your personal life should you share with your clients or followers?

The answer depends on what kind of clients you want to attract, and that's what I'm talking about in this week's episode.

[00:00] How much is too much?
[00:23] Are you business deals transactional?
[00:50] Or are they relational?
[01:47] A real dilema
[02:48] Here's the difference
[03:40] My advice: Charge more, Work less
[04:14] You set a higher price, AND...
[05:17] I'm rebuilding my business to be E.P.I.C.
[06:21] The truth about scalability
[07:19] How to build an E.P.I.C. business of your own
[08:36] I'm seriously considering this

Links

Interested in building your own Easy, Profitable, Interesting, and Carefree (EPIC) business? Send an email to ray@rayedwards.com with the subject "Epic Business" and let's chat.

How You Can Help

Transcript and Video

https://rayedwards.com/619

Direct download: REP619.mp3
Category:Podcast -- posted at: 3:00am PDT

Tue, 11 April 2023

I Am Quitting This

A friend of mine recently gave me a not-so-subtle reminder that I am blessed to have a schedule full of things that I have chosen to do. She did this on the heels of me explaining to her how busy I was... "I have to spend 3 days in a studio recording my audio book, I've got to prepare for two upcoming workshops, I have to fly to Orlando for a mastermind meeting," and so on.

She reminded me that I was complaining about things that many people are praying for.

I am blessed to have a publisher who believes in my new book and has allowed me to record in my own voice.

I am blessed to have people willing to travel to Spokane to learn from me.

I am blessed to be part of a Mastermind group that allows me to learn from people I admire.

Same schedule...Different perspective.

That's what this week's episode is all about.

[00:00] I'm quitting...
[01:02] What's wrong with saying I'm busy?
[01:37] Be impeccable with your word
[02:40] My wakeup call
[03:46] Complaining about blessings
[06:29] My energy, my fault
[07:08] Read This Or Die

Links

Copywriting As A Million Dollar Business Workshop - There's still a chance to join me for one of these upcoming, life-changing, empire-building workshops. Click the link for details and availability.

Read This Or Die - Find my new book wherever books are sold, or even better, click the link and get a free video course that goes along with it.

How You Can Help

Get The Transcript And Video

https://www.rayedwards.com/618

Direct download: REP618.mp3
Category:Podcast -- posted at: 3:00am PDT

Tue, 4 April 2023

Will ChatGPT Spell the End for Copywriters?

You might be thinking, "Why the 180, Ray? Haven't you been pitching A.I. as an incredible new tool? Aren't you marketing your own copywriting A.I.?"

I still believe A.I. is an incredible tool - And yes, I'm very pleased with my company's A.I. software - BUT, as I said when I first started in this business, you must be more than just a copywriter.

That was true then, but now...it's absolutely critical.

If you're counting on copywriting alone, you're not only eligible for a quick replacement, you're also doing a disservice to your clients (the ones you'll likely be losing soon).

[01:01] “The amount of money we receive will always be in a direct ratio to the demand for what we do, our ability to do it, and the difficulty in replacing us.” - Earl Nightingale
[01:45] It's already happening...as predicted
[02:10] Our Copywriting A.I. (ClarityScribe)
[02:37] You MUST be more than a copywriter to compete with other copywriters
[04:07] Understanding the context
[05:17] To be competent you must study (the right people)
[05:49] Understanding the history of this business
[06:53] My point: Understand the whole process
[08:21] Find a "working" mentor

Links

Copywriting as a Million Dollar Business - Join me live in Spokane for this life-changing workshop - In person (this month) and virtual (next month) options available while they last.

Lex Fridman Podcast - "Conversations about the nature of intelligence, consciousness, love, and power."

ClarityScribe - The A.I. software my company has developed specifically for copywriting.

Bob Bly - Brilliant copywriter!

Digital Course Academy - If your goal is to create a digital course, here's where to start.

Membership Experience - Want to create a membership experience that makes people stick around month after month? Stu can teach you how.

How You Can Help

Get The Transcript

https://www.rayedwards.com/617

Direct download: REP617.mp3
Category:Podcast -- posted at: 1:00pm PDT

Sun, 2 April 2023

I Need Your Help - "Read This or Die"

I'm humbly and blatantly asking for your help in promoting my new book, Read This or Die.

This week's podcast explains why I'm so passionate about the book, how it helped save my life, and why I believe it will help others who are searching for answers to seemingly insurmountable problems.

[00:00] What is my new book?
[01:51] Am I cured?
[02:41] What's in it for the reader?
[03:11] Preorder and get the course
[03:44] More than a million views
[04:33] Why I'm asking for help
[05:17] My Podcast A-List

Links

Read This Or Die - Click to preorder your copy of my new book today and get a free 6-part video mini-course to help walk you through the process that saved my life.

How You Can Help

Get The Transcript

https://rayedwards.com/616

Direct download: REP616.mp3
Category:Podcast -- posted at: 6:15pm PDT

Fri, 24 March 2023

The Copywriting Job That Saved My Life

My Parkinson's symptoms are not something I can hide. I can't keep them under control just because I'm in public, or on a Zoom meeting, or on a stage...They are something I share with everyone I meet, whether I want to or not.

But my diagnosis was the genesis of other struggles. The kind that can be hidden. Struggles we feel we must endure alone; perhaps because we've convinced ourselves that no one else will care, or understand...or because we're ashamed, or sometimes because we don't really even understand our own problems.

For me, I came to the realization that my symptoms (the ones the world could see) were not the true cause of my fear and uncertainty for my future. My biggest struggles were internal. Once I understood that, I knew I could make real, lasting change. I knew I could improve my life in spite of my doctors telling me that it would only get worse.

My affliction may be incurable, but the way I think is certainly not. That is something I can change...Something that can be cured. But how?

That's what this week's episode is all about.

Links

Read This or Die: Persuading Yourself to a Better Life - Preorder your copy today and receive a free, 6 video mini-course.

How You Can Help

Get The Transcript

https://rayedwards.com/615

Direct download: REP615.mp3
Category:Podcast -- posted at: 9:00am PDT

Sat, 18 March 2023

Destiny Calling

Most people are stuck in "The Loop" because somehow they think they’re going to get a different result in their life by doing the same thing they’ve been doing, only doing it harder and faster.

The Loop gives no rewards for effort. No matter how hard you work at it, you always end up back at the same place. You only break out of The Loop by making intensely different decisions. By taking a completely different path. That's the message of this week's podcast

Getting out of The Loop requires you to step outside of your comfort zone. This is almost always uncomfortable, and all growth comes outside your comfort zone. The comfort zone is where dreams go to die.

Receiving a diagnosis of Parkinson's Disease initially threw me into a dark, scary loop. Breaking out of that loop required effort and some new tactics (which I documented in my upcoming book, Read This or Die), but in the end, I broke free from it.

To be able to experience it in the future, you must be able to imagine it now.
This is true anytime you’re trying to create a new reality for your future.
Whether it be a new career or new business, or a new relationship, or living in a new city, or a different home…

If you want something radically different in your future, you have to do something radically different in your present. And that can be scary.
I can promise the first steps will probably not be easy. But you don’t need “easy”. You just need “worth it”.

What big, scary, uncomfortable decision have even thinking about lately? If it keeps coming to mind, it is likely the one decision you need to make in order to change your life. The one decision you need to create that new life you really want.

Most of us are quite skilled at thinking about the scary decisions, and coming up with all the things that might go wrong. I suggest a different experiment this time around… I encourage you ask yourself, “What if this went incredibly right?”
What would that make possible?

Links

Read This or Die - Pre-order Ray's new book, "Read This Or Die" and get a free video mini-course, valued at $197

How You Can Help

Get The Transcript

https://rayedwards.com/614

Direct download: REP614.mp3
Category:Podcast -- posted at: 10:00pm PDT

Sat, 11 March 2023

Earn 200x More Money Per Client as a Copywriter

The latest earnings statistics still show an obvious gender bias in Corporate America, but why do we so often see this same phenomenon in the entrepreneurial space? How can women, running their own businesses and setting their own rates, be getting paid less than their male counterparts?

That's one of the big questions I had for this week's guest, Dawn Apuan. She is a successful entrepreneur who does amazing work, and charges accordingly.

Tune in as we explore the costly practice of undervaluing one's self - and how women are seemingly more susceptible to it.

Links

DawnApuan.com
Dawn on Instagram

How You Can Help

Get The Transcript And Video

https://rayedwards.com/613

Direct download: REP613.mp3
Category:Podcast -- posted at: 3:00am PDT

Fri, 3 March 2023

How I Work as a Million-Dollar Writer

For those who have wondered, this post will explain what I work on and how I function as a “million-dollar writer.” It is my hope this will stimulate you into taking the required steps to earn significantly more income than you do now. After I spell out how I manage to create a million dollars in revenue, I'll give you a simple 3-step roadmap to increase your own income.

(By the way, even though I am describing the life of a writer, virtually all of what I'm about to share will work for any freelancer or business owner.)

Links

My Copywriting As A Million Dollar Business April Workshop - Want to work on building your business together, live and in person? There are a few seats remaining for my upcoming workshop this April. These seats will sell out - Click Here For Details and Availability.

Read This or Die - Click to preorder my soon-to-be-released book, Read This or Die.

Notes From This Episode

This subject seems slightly impolite to write about. Like many, I was taught from my earliest years that it is impolite to talk about politics, religion, or money. I routinely violate all three of these directives, however, so this is not new territory for me. Let’s begin…

I am not writing to boost my own ego. I am writing to answer a very frequently-asked question: “How does a writer make a million dollars?”

This is a great question, because the industry income average for freelance writers is just under $5,000 per year.

When someone asks me how, as a writer, I make a million dollars, they may not actually express it, but what they really want to know is: “How does a guy who writes ad copy, who has never published a book I've even heard of… how does that guy make a million dollars?”

And of course, ultimately, the real question burning in their heart is: “Could I do that? Or even half that?” That’s what people really want to know and that’s what I want to share with you.

Before I get to the tactical stuff like:

• How do you get paid?
• What are your rates?
• How do you get clients?

It’s imperative that I share 3 Prosperity Principles for Writers.

PROSPERITY PRINCIPLE #1: YOU MUST DISCOVER YOURSELF

Many writers and other creatives have a not-so-secret fantasy. They labor intensely for years on a masterpiece, hoping that an influential publisher or literary agent will “discover” them, and they'll be catapulted to fame and fortune.

That's a nice fantasy, but with one problem: it doesn't happen that way. It never does, or at least almost never. Okay, rarely it happens. But you're more likely to be struck by lightning on the same day you win the Powerball, than you are to be “discovered” in this way.

You must discover yourself!

You must identify what makes you different, what “special sauce” you add to this common craft (writing) that makes you a distinctly differently voice on a common subject. In what way are you a player with a unique, unduplicable advantage? We spend 3 full days answering this question definitively in our Dreamstorm Workshops, using our Core Thesis Process; obviously, if you don't already know the answer to this question, you'll need to spend some time on it,

PROSPERITY PRINCIPLE #2: YOU MUST PROMOTE YOURSELF

To succeed, dear Reader, you must realize you are not actually in the “writing business.” You are in the business of You, Incorporated.

It is your unique personality, and the fascinating persona you share with the world, that shapes how that world sees you. Done right, this can make you an irresistible character to whom people are attracted as their chosen and trusted authority. Done wrong, this can break the ties between you and your readers.

Specifically, instead of promoting and advertising your highly-developed craftsmanship as a writer, you must be in the business of promoting you. You cannot rely on word-of-mouth, or critical acclaim, or impersonal ad campaigns. You must conscientiously promote yourself, and intentionally craft the way customers perceive you.

If you have interest in knowing HOW it is I do all this, and want to see the detailed steps I take, let me know your interest in the comment section. Enough interest expressed will generate a new post on this “Implementation” phase. But for now, on to…

PROSPERITY PRINCIPLE #3: YOU MUST GET OVER YOURSELF

You might be disappointed to learn that your dream of being a purely creative being whose hands are never “sullied” by crass commercialism or “manipulative” marketing are mere fantasy. This may be hard to swallow, but you need to get over yourself in this regard.

So, let me get the disappointing stuff out of the way right upfront:

1. This approach may require a readjustment of what you think of as “craft.” The kind of writing I do is very specific: direct response copy. This is copy meant to result in a sale. It’s copy that moves the reader to buy. Personally, I find the craft of writing sales copy to be endlessly fascinating and fun. While you may not choose to write sales copy (arguably the most lucrative kind of writing available to the average writer), you may also have to spend a little less time writing poems about the secret lives of elves.

2. My approach is not an “instant income” strategy. This whole system of “writing as a business” has taken me a few years to figure out and build up. I am able to pass on some hard-won lessons (like those in this post), which I believe may considerably shorten your learning curve. You can go faster than I did. But it’s still not instant. And I'm constantly learning new things. You and I are very much works in progress.

3. There is more than one way to achieve a million-dollar income as a writer. For instance, there is a writer (whose name you would not recognize) who writes 3-4 books a year and gets paid $300,000 – $400,000 for each book. He's a ghostwriter. You’d be shocked to learn how many New York Times best-selling books with famous names on the covers were actually written by this one ghostwriter. Another writer I know raked in a million dollars last year writing content, white papers, and annual reports for big corporations. As I said, my way is not the only way. But it is worth noting that though the kinds of writing differ, the basic ideas I share here apply to every wealthy writer I know.

4. In my experience, a million-dollar writing business means you're selling more than “just” writing. You will probably find it necessary to offer products and services that are not strictly writing (but which you would not be able to sell without your foundational work as a writer). It's the rare writer who can merely write and cash checks (our ghostwriter friend notwithstanding). I'll dive more deeply into this in the next section.

5. This whole endeavor requires me to use a four-letter word that will shock and offend some people. But I feel the use of this word is required to communicate the force of my argument. The four-letter word is: w-o-r-k. Work! Ya gotta put in the effort!

This is a glimpse “behind the curtain,” and you may or may not like what you see. Then again you may find it encouraging to know there is a proven path to prosperity as a writer, and you don't need a fat contract from a big publisher to pull this off. You can simply decide, and then go do it.

“The miracle of the seed and the soil is not available by affirmation; it is only available by labor … the greatest form of maturity is at harvest time. That is when we must learn to reap without complaint if the amounts are small and to reap without apology if the amounts are big … you must either get good at sowing in the spring or begging in the fall. The soil says: don't bring me your need, bring me your seed.” — Jim Rohn

HOW I GET PAID

The first thing to know is I “fudged” a little on my income – it wasn’t really $1 million last year. The actual number is closer to $1.2 million.

The second thing to know is I didn’t get to keep most of it. Where did it go? A lot of places:

• The IRS and the State of Washington got their portions, of course.
• Then there are payroll taxes, Social Security, etc.
• Employee salaries.
• Affiliate commissions.
• Vendors and independent contractors.
• Other business expenses.
• There are the medical expenses related to my little neurological disorder.
• Plus we finished paying off all consumer debt, which at its height topped $400,000.(I’m actually embarrassed by this. I learned a lot through the mistakes which landed me in so much debt – perhaps I’ll share more about that journey in a future post.)

So, you can forget asking me for a loan. I didn’t sock a million into the bank. But I’m not complaining – the Edwards household did, and still does, quite well.

With all that out of the way… here’s where the money actually comes from. How I get paid.

Product Sales

Product sales are far-and-away our biggest source of revenue. These include high-ticket items ($1,000 and up) sold mostly via PLF-style launches, advertising, purchased solo email campaigns, and organic website traffic.

“Day with Ray”

Consulting This is where I meet with a single client (or their team). I require this meeting before Private Client Copy Engagement. The “Day With Ray” costs $15,000 if you come to me in Spokane, WA, or $20,000 plus private air charter if I come to you. What do we do in such a meeting? It depends on the client (everyone is different, so there is no template for this). I grill the client for the first hour or so, and generally this will lead to a discovery of the 1-3 most powerful “levers” we can pull in their business to increase revenue and profits, while providing the business owner with less stress and more peace of mind.

Private Client Copy Engagement

After a long period of protesting that I was no longer writing for clients, I am finally giving in to market demand. I am accepting a very few assignments wherein I personally run the copy project and write the copy. This is prohibitively expensive for the client, and if you have to ask, you can't afford it. Also, I require that all Private Clients pass a rigorous application process, and agree to my admittedly unreasonable demands (100% compliance with my advice, 100% commitment to running my copy as written, 100% commitment to testing and tracking, payment of a percentage of gross sales to be made quarterly, and acceptance of my total lack of availability for “chummy chats,” psychological counseling, and babysitting sessions). I charge a minimum of $150,000 payable up front. Maximum four clients per year, booked well in advance.

Royalties

These are payments on gross sales of Private Client projects. They also include royalties on co-created projects and revenue share deals. This is becoming a more significant percentage of my company revenue. Please do not contact us looking for me to do your marketing for free and offering me a percentage. I only do these deals when I know the person well, know the company and market well, and when it is my idea.

Group Coaching

Group coaching has been lacking in my portfolio of services until recently. Experiments thus far show it to be fun and profitable, as well as extraordinarily valuable to participants. These are online groups of up to 20 people at a time, who receive coaching and feedback from me once per week for a finite period (usually 6-12 weeks).

Workshops

I host a few small group workshops that focus on a single theme or outcome each year. Participants pay a premium fee ($5,000 – $10,000) and must qualify through application. These consist typically of three intense and productive days that can significantly alter the course of the client's business and life for the better.

Private Masterminds

Small group Mastermind Alliances involve a strict application process, membership requirements, and required compliance to meeting attendance and participation.

Affiliate Commissions

We generate commissions through the recommendation of products and services we ourselves use. This accounts for about 7% of our company revenue each year, but nearly 18% of our annual profit. Why is it so profitable? All we do is promote the product. We don’t actually do any work, creation, or customer support.

REIC Membership

This is our newest offering. Members receive a printed newsletter each month with my best (and freshest) thinking, a monthly video training, a live Q&A once per month, and more. We are launching this in September 2017. Those methods fairly well sum up how I earn my income.

HOW I GET CLIENTS

My marketing system is not immediately obvious to most. It is complex, carefully thought out, and rigorously tested. I am constantly experimenting. Every “thing” we do is designed to point to all the other “things” we do.

Client Attraction vs. Client Pursuit

Client attraction is foundational. Long ago I decided I did not wish to “chase” business, but prefer instead to let business chase me. So, I have carefully designed a ubiquitous system for attracting a steady flow of possible clients and customers from many different streams. This adds up to a large flow of potential business at various levels of engagement and investment, all swimming (upstream if necessary) to me. Some of the “pools” from which I attract business include:

• Podcasting. This is one of the most intimate mediums available. Podcast listeners have me literally “in their head” for an hour per week (or more, if they binge-listen… and many do just that from our library of nearly 300 episodes). This is a curiously powerful medium. Numerous customers have listened to 1-3 episodes and proceeded directly to a $5,000 – $10,000 purchase.

• YouTube channel. This is a new, experimental marketing tool for me. I have been enjoying playing around with the possibilities, and have now settled on a strategy going forward. Look for a slight shift in focus on my YouTube channel in the coming weeks. The goal, as with all third-party media, is to move people off third-party properties like YouTube (and Facebook, and Twitter, etc.) and onto my email list.

• Social media. While many claim direct money making power through social media, my approach is to use it to attract and build a bond and relationship with my tribe, and then move them from social media to the media I own, i.e., my email list.

• Printed newsletter. Already mentioned once, this is not only a product but also a marketing tool. Since the largest primary segment of my audience is made up of writers (meaning, presumably, they’re also readers), having a print newsletter is vitally important. Print media carries more impact than electronic media. This is not something I'm guessing at. According to this Millward Brown study, brain scans demonstrated the same message presented to the human subject printed on paper lights up more areas of the brain than the electronic equivalent. More areas of the brain lighting up equals more engagement.

• Speaking. This is a way that I accomplish a number of objectives: for instance, I like to travel. I want to travel to exotic places. So, I have a speaking engagement next month in Hong Kong, primarily because I've never been there. This will also afford me the opportunity, as do all speaking engagements, to establish personal contact with a new group of people, perhaps add them to my mailing list, and maybe generate a few clients along the way. Speaking automatically grants you a certain amount of gravitas and authority. As far as generating clients, this is an indirect benefit of speaking. I do not hock or pitch my services from the stage. I do, however, strategically communicate that I am available to be hired by the right people, and that I have products available for people who are not ready to hire me. Perhaps I'll write more about this at a later time.

• Books. Both physical and Kindle versions of my books are available. I currently have three books that are relevant to my business as a copywriter and marketer, and by the end of next year I plan to have no less than 10. The current books are How to Write Copy That Sells, Moneywords, and Just Get Started. These books generate a certain kind of prospect or client. They are engineered to do so, and also provide valuable content. And, as with speaking, having a book in hand conveys on the author a certain amount of authority and credibility which cannot be gained in any other way.

• Guest posts/appearances. From time to time I guest-post on the blogs of other people. I also appear on other people's podcasts as a guest interview. Once upon a time, I did this indiscriminately and would post or appear anywhere asked. The demands on my time have become so overwhelming I now have to choose more carefully. Each decision whether to appear on a podcast or write a guest post is a tactical decision designed to support my overall business strategy. For more on my thinking about this, see this book with my friend Tom Schwab, Podcast Guest Profits.

That, in a nutshell, is how I get new clients. I admit it is condensed and leaves out a lot of details. The subject deserves a book of its own. The above will get you started and will have to do until I write that book.

HOW I RUN MY WRITING BUSINESS

This is not an exhaustive description of methodologies and practices for running a business, but a brief overview of some key principles that I believe help keep my business lean and growing.

Minimal staff. Once upon a time, I wanted no staff at all. This came after having been responsible for hundreds of people in my corporate position in radio broadcasting. But I finally realized I was limiting my growth by not hiring employees for my personal writing business. So now we have a few full-time employees and a number of independent contractors. We try to keep the staff as minimal as possible, but no smaller than needed. I have seen more than one friend destroy their own business by over-hiring. I'm determined not to make this mistake.

Remote workers. Rather than limit my pool of prospective employees to people who live in my hometown, we simply look for the best people for the job. This means we have hired staff from all over the place. In the US, we have workers on our team in Tennessee, Colorado, California, and elsewhere. For more on how to orchestrate a remote workforce (because there are some unique challenges), I highly recommend the book Remote: Office Not Required, by Jason Fried.

Employees vs. Contractors. I am not offering legal, accounting, or other professional advice. You should seek the services of a qualified professional to answer those questions. I can tell you that in my experience there is a difference between an employee and contractor in terms of mental attitude and dedication to the job. This is not to say that contractors don’t have a place. In my work as a freelance copywriter, I am, after all, an independent contractor. However, the person who is a full-time employee in your company can devote 100% of their working efforts to you. You must see that makes a difference. I'm not saying one is better than the other; I'm saying there's a place for both.

Client Selection. Anytime I'm going to be personally interacting with clients, such as on a copywriting or marketing project, I use a selection process. The prospective client will have to convince me that I want them as a client. This may sound arrogant, but it is not meant to be so. It actually serves all parties concerned. If I do not have good chemistry with the client, if our working styles do not match, or if we have mismatched expectations, that is a recipe for discord and upset. Contentious, negative, or sketchy people do not make the list. And if they do somehow sneak in, once we discover these fatal flaws, they are invited to go elsewhere. Immediately.

PRIORITIZING PRODUCTIVITY

I place priority on stewarding my most valuable non-renewable resource – time – as if it is treasure. Because it is treasure. Thus productivity gets priority.

My Morning Success Ritual. This is vital to my most productive days. While I don't manage to get this all in every day, I'm getting better at it. My goal between is to achieve 95%+ compliance with this ritual every day. The days when I follow this MSR, starting the minute my feet hit the floor out of bed, are invariably my best days (most productive, most joyous, most satisfying). Probably because the most important things were done first – like prayer, reading, meditating, journaling, exercise, etc. And they are done when I'm still in the “NDZ”: No Distraction Zone (meaning no email, no voicemail, no phone calls, etc.)

Writing. The first thing I must do each day after my MSR is complete (and after I have showered, driven to the office, etc.) is WRITING. I am primarily a writer. You can always tell who the writers are – they’re the ones who are writing. This is my #1 Revenue Producing Activity (RPA). At this point my phone is off, I have still not checked email, not checked voicemail, etc. Still in the NDZ. I write for a large block of time at the beginning of the day — often 4 hours. NOTHING gets to interrupt the writing — including (especially) the clients for whom I may be writing.

Fortress of Solitude. This is the most important and perhaps the most controversial piece of advice I can give you. You must construct for yourself a “fortress of solitude”. While I do not pretend to be Superman, I do take inspiration from the Man of Steel's secret hideaway. The Fortress of Solitude is the place Superman goes to be in absolute solitude. A place of silent contemplation. This is the place he goes to think, to learn, to plan, to rejuvenate. Some of the ways in which I've done this are:

I never answer incoming business calls. They’re always screened, dealt with, and if I really need to speak with the person a call is set for Call Day.

I have only one day per month that I make phone appointments (Call Day). I make all phone appointments on that day. If that date cannot work for a person seeking a phone conversation with me, my assistant will schedule them for the next month. I schedule all my interviews on one day per month, grouped together so that I can take care of this task all in a single day.

My daily schedule is relatively free from appointments. This creates large blocks of time for me to do what I do best, and what is most important for generating revenue in my business: writing, creating content, and recording (either audio or video). For more details on why I resort to these extreme measures, please see No B.S. Time Management for Entrepreneurs, by Dan Kennedy.

Rest. In order to deliver the very best work to my clients and partners, and to still leave room in my schedule for rejuvenation (sleep, family time, time with God, and time to just plain relax)… I have to guard my time vigorously. And I have to be on guard against what Dan Kennedy calls “Time Vampires”. They will suck the life out of you.

I Don’t Check Email, and I Only Get One Email Each Day. My auto-check feature in Apple Mail is turned OFF. I only get email when I press the “Check Mail” button. I check it once per day, Monday thru Thursday. Usually around 4 pm Pacific. All my email is screened by my assistant, who compiles the relatively few messages I must read or respond to. She sends those to me in a single email at the end of each day. This is one of my policies that tends to be unpopular with those who are “urgency addicts”, and who want me to have a constant email discussion about all manner of things with them. I refuse to sacrifice my highest valued commodity (time) for the sake of what usually amounts to trivia. I suggest you adopt the same policy.

I Avoid Meetings Like the Plague They Are. Any meeting that lasts longer than 15 minutes is probably too long. Not always, but most of the time. Any project that requires multiple meetings each week is probably in trouble. Long meetings = inefficiency at best, and postponement of the inevitable at worst. (As a sidebar: frequent short meetings are just a disguised way of having long meetings. HEAR ME: if you have “meeting-itis”, either you just want an excuse to talk about work instead of doing it, or something is wrong with the project … something another meeting won't solve).

Phone Meetings / Conversations. Same as in person meetings, only worse. Conversations and phone meetings should be 15 minutes or less and have a predetermined purpose and ending time. These all take place on aforementioned Call Day.

Instant Messenger. Any Flavor. (I’m looking at you, Slack). Just say no. The only time I use it is when I have SCHEDULED events on Skype or Zoom (usually interviews). I am NEVER “just available” to be interrupted. (If I was, that would mean that I was either doing something unimportant or that I was doing NOTHING. If I'm doing something unimportant… WHY? And if I'm doing NOTHING, it's a PLANNED nothing and it's important that this not be interrupted!).

I HATE TEXT MESSAGES. The end.

Office Hours. Yes, I have an office outside my home. I lease currently. I'm considering buying an office building. I keep regular business hours most of the time: Mon – Thurs, 8 am – 5 pm Pacific.

By the way, my office phone is answered by a LIVE HUMAN (not some stupid voicemail torture device) Monday – Saturday, 8 am – 6 pm Pacific time. Why do I have the phone covered even when I am out of the office? Because other members of my team keep different hours… and because emergencies DO happen, and I like to be available if a TRUE emergency arises. My phone team knows how to reach me in those cases.

WHY THE EMPHASIS ON NOT BEING INTERRUPTED?
Interruptions cost you dearly.

As a writer, I know that allowing myself to be interrupted by a client or vendor (“Hey Ray – got a minute to talk about the new logo?”) can seem harmless… but it isn't. That interruption costs me (a) the state of “flow” I was in while working, maybe impossible to recover, (b) the time of the interruption itself, and (c) the time it takes me to get back into the “zone” with what I was working on… minimum 20 minutes, maybe longer.

I can't afford to let that happen.

My clients and customers can't afford for me to let that happen.

I once had a client who loved to call me at 11 pm at night and talk for two hours. I tried to tell him I worked set hours and was available at those times, but he didn't seem to understand. When our first project was finished, I fired him. His dysfunction did not automatically become my problem. Be warned – people will WASTE your time if you let them. Will you let them? Be polite, be loving… but don't be a victim.

In the end, if you guard your time, you are being most respectful of other people. Think about it: if you allow yourself to be interrupted, or your time wasted when you should have been doing something else… who suffers? Your clients. Your customers. Your family (“Sorry honey, I have to stay late because I wasted 2 hours today listening to the web team make excuses…”).

You're not serving anyone by being a poor steward of your time.

WHAT TO DO NEXT

Here’s the 3-step plan I promised you to help increase your own income. It’s quite simple:

1. Choose just one of the practices I listed above – the one that excites you the most.
2. Put that practice to work in your own business, and use it until it begins to produce results.
3. Now pick a new practice, add it to your daily/weekly/monthly routine, and repeat the process. (Don’t stop doing the new “thing” you started in Step 1. Keep doing all the activities, and as you add them one by one, you will likely see a corresponding surge in income. I am not promising you any income results, just sharing what has worked for me. Your mileage may vary.)

If this post has struck a chord with you, please let me know in the comments, and ask any specific questions you have. I’ll endeavor to answer as transparently as possible.

Finally, if you did find this post useful, I pray that you put it into action. So, here's my question for you: What ideas from this post will you implement and what results do you hope to see?

How You Can Help

Get the Transcript and Video

https://rayedwards.com/612

Direct download: REP612.mp3
Category:Podcast -- posted at: 3:30pm PDT

Tue, 28 February 2023

The Stand-Up Comic's Secret To Great Copy

Kevin Rogers spent years on the road doing stand-up comedy. Now he makes his living as a direct-response copywriter. I had a chat with Kevin about his journey from playing comedy clubs with the likes of Chris Rock and Billy Gardell, to writing launch promotions for high-dollar clients.

There are many parallels between comedy and copy. Tune in as I explore them with someone who's been successful at both.

Direct download: REP611.mp3
Category:Podcast -- posted at: 9:00am PDT

Wed, 22 February 2023

How To Grow Your List Without Ads

Is it necessary to drop a bunch of cash on social media ads in order to get targeted names on your list? Absolutely not.

Buying ads isn't as complicated as some would lead you to believe. In fact, I may even offer some guidance on how to do it the right way in a future episode, but I think it's wise to start with the resources you already have at your disposal; specifically, your website.

This week, I want to clearly define the purpose of your website, the purpose of your list, AND how those things work together to aid in the purpose of your business - making sales.

[00:20] Grow your list with your existing traffic
[00:42] Rule #1: The purpose of your website is to grow your email list
[01:55] Example 1: My site
[03:02] Example 2: Ben Settle
[03:28] Example 3: Tim Ferris
[04:08] Rule #2: The purpose of your list is to sell stuff to the people on the list
[04:57] Rule #3: The best way to make sales is to email the people on your list...every day
[05:36] What about Spam complaints?
[06:10] What do you say in your emails?
[06:31] The Story Formula (Hook, Story, Lesson)

Links

BenSettle.com - Want to up your email game? Pay attention to this man.

Tim Ferriss - I've been a fan for many years. This is another great example of a site that's focused on getting you opted in.

How You Can Help

Questions or comments?

Connect with Ray on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram

Visit Ray's community on Facebook – This is a friendly group of writers, entrepreneurs, and coaches who share ideas and helpful advice.

Get The Transcript

https://rayedwards.com/610

Direct download: REP610.mp3
Category:Podcast -- posted at: 12:00pm PDT

Mon, 13 February 2023

Mind Your Mindset - With Megan Hyatt Miller

Megan Hyatt Miller is coauthor of the book, Mind Your Mindset, which she wrote with her father, Michael Hyatt. She is also the President and CEO of Full Focus.

Megan is a perfect example of balancing business success with a successful personal life. It's seemingly a rare story - But, does it have to be?

Listen to find out how to retrain your narrator, overcome the fears that are holding you back, and maintain a healthy margin between your business and personal life.

[00:00] Intro - Who is Megan Hyatt Miller?
[00:56] What was the genesis book
[02:52] The fear that could have ruined everything
[06:02] The stories we tell ourselves
[09:21] The science of mindset
[11:53] Training your narrator
[13:42] Give me a real example
[18:32] It's not all business
[20:46] You can't solve a problem you don't think you have
[24:09] Maybe you can have it all
[26:40] The self-coaching tool
[29:27] What's the goal with this book?
[30:30] Where to get it

LINKS

Mind Your Mindset - Click to get your copy of Mind Your Mindset: The Science That Shows Success Starts With Your Thinking. This affiliate link includes 3 incredible bonuses for my listeners and viewers:

Mind Your Mindset audiobook ($26.99 value)
Self-Coacher Desk Tool ($9.99 value) — 50% off with promo code.
Mind Your Mindset Reading Guide ($19 value)

How You Can Help

Get The Transcript

https://rayedwards.com/609

Direct download: REP609.mp3
Category:Podcast -- posted at: 12:00pm PDT

Fri, 10 February 2023

These 7 Questions Built A Million Dollar Empire

I've got 7 questions that every entrepreneur, every content creator, every personal brand, every business that does business on the internet, must be able to answer in order to succeed.

And I'm no exception. I want you to understand how things have changed, and how my company has responded to meet those changes head on (and why YOU should, too).

I felt this information was urgent enough to warrant a special, bonus episode for this week.

[00:00] Intro (this may be a mistake)
[01:27] Work
[01:34] 7 Questions every entrepreneur must answer
[01:51] Question 1: Are you prepared for ...?
[03:00] Question 2: Do you have a systematic (repeatable) approach for marketing?
[03:25] Question 3: Is your business a leach?
[03:39] Question 4: Are you already using A.I. in your business?
[03:53] Question 5: Are you creating 50-100 pieces of content each day?
[04:11] Question 6: Is your Shadow Brand killing your business online?
[04:37] Question 7: Is your marketing dynamically controlled by A.I.?
[05:11] What qualifies me to give you this advice?
[07:15] Here's what I've learned over decades of doing this
[09:54] I blame Gary V.
[12:33] The abundance mindset
[13:33] Over a million views
[14:39] But...I've tried that
[16:54] The problem *most* people have
[18:56] Your competition just got better
[21:17] This is not a trend...
[24:47] 20:1
[27:30] What else we're doing
[30:20] Elysium Writer
[35:09] If there's ONE thing to improve in your business, it's this...

Watch This Episode on Youtube

https://youtu.be/H-HkZxEv4tU

Links

Click Funnels - This is the system we have used to build multiple, 7-figure sales funnels. (affiliate link which does not affect the price you pay)

ElysiumWriter.ai - Members of our coaching program have early access to this powerful A.I. which has been designed with my own, proprietary framework to deliver incredible copy that converts.

How You Can Help

Direct download: REP608.mp3
Category:Podcast -- posted at: 12:00pm PDT

Tue, 7 February 2023

Questions From Your Future

"If I only knew then what I know now." Who hasn't had that thought?

Since time travel is not yet an option, this week we'll examine something more practical:

What would your future self be asking you now?

In this episode, I have 5 questions that can help you become the future self you want to be.

[00:00] Intro
[00:17] If you could go back in time to talk to your younger self, what would you say?
[02:04] Discipline is Destiny (Ryan Holiday)
[02:53] If we know what to do, why don't we change?
[03:57] Change can happen in an instant
[06:02] Read This or Die
[06:53] Question 1: What is your average day like?
[12:17] Question 2: Who do you spend the most time with?
[16:42] Question 3: What is your fuel?
[20:38] Question 4: What do you think about the most?
[23:00] Question 5: What is the story of your life?

Links

Read This or Die - Ray Edwards (Available for Pre-Order now!)

Discipline is Destiny - Ryan Holiday

Mind Your Mindset - Michael Hyatt and Megan Hyatt Miller

How You Can Help

Questions or Comments?

Connect with Ray on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram

Visit Ray's community on Facebook – This is a friendly group of writers, entrepreneurs, and coaches who share ideas and helpful advice.

Transcript and Video

https://rayedwards.com/607

Direct download: REP607.mp3
Category:Podcast -- posted at: 10:00am PDT

Sat, 4 February 2023

Overcoming "The Resistance"

Learn how to overcome "The Resistance" - The things that are slowing your productivity, raising your anxiety, and ruining your carefully crafted work plan.

Three simple, life-changing steps are waiting for you in this week's episode.

[00:00] - What do I mean by "the resistance" (friction)
[01:52] - Eliminate Self-Created Resistance
[06:37] - Permission Based Resistance
[11:16] - Externally Produced Resistance

Links

TextExpander - If you have to type it more than once, templatize it

The War of Art - by Steven Pressfield. I highly recommend you read this book (at least) once.

How You Can Help

Subscribe to the show in iTunes and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will definitely mention you on this show. We are also on Stitcher.com, so if you prefer Stitcher, please subscribe there.

Connect with Ray on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram

Visit Ray's community on Facebook – This is a friendly group of writers, entrepreneurs, and coaches who share ideas and helpful advice.

Get The Transcript

https://rayedwards.com/606

Direct download: REP606.mp3
Category:Podcast -- posted at: 2:00pm PDT

Wed, 25 January 2023

How to Become the Possible You

Is it possible to intentionally become the person you wish to be? The best version of yourself you can imagine?

It's not only possible, it's how it's done...with intention, and commitment.

This week, we'll talk about what it takes to become "the possible you".

• [00:18] Abandoning resolutions
• [00:51] Set impossible goals
• [02:10] But, I don't know how to do that
• [03:01] What you've been doing doesn't work
• [04:25] You have to believe you deserve it
• [05:54] Construct your new identity
• [07:31] What is your identity?
• [11:31] Operating as your future self
• [13:50] Expect (and see) miracles
• [16:40] About my DBS
• [18:30] Mastermind meetings
• [20:11] No amount of money will ...
• [21:15] Some tasks to help you succeed

Links

- Be Your Future Self Now: The Science of Intentional Transformation Dr. Benjamin Hardy and Hay House

- Mind Your Mindset Michael Hyatt and Megan Hyatt Miller

- Dr. Joe Dispenza

- The Gap and The Gain: The High Achievers' Guide to Happiness, Confidence, and Success Dan Sullivan and Dr. Benjamin Hardy

How You Can Help

Get The Transcript

https://rayedwards.com/605

Direct download: REP605.mp3
Category:Podcast -- posted at: 9:00am PDT

Fri, 20 January 2023

Dabbling in Discipline

Have you ever tried to make a significant change in your life? Something that requires effort and commitment? Have you ever failed to achieve that change?

Most of us would answer yes to that question (the honest people), but what if I told you there is a real reason why this happens? A universal truth that applies to any major change in your life, be it fitness, finance, productivity, etc.

The fact is, you can't just "Dabble in Discipline", you must Move in Mastery.

I'll explain exactly what I mean by that in this week's episode.

• [00:12] We usually know what to do, but don't do what we know
• [00:43] Dabbling in discipline
• [02:12] How you do anything, is how you...
• [03:25] So, what can you do about it? (Hustle mode)
• [04:52] Productivity Porn
• [05:14] The 80/20 Rule
• [09:06] In summary...
• [09:33] How to Move The Needle this weekend

Links

The Sales Page In A Weekend Challenge - This starts within hours of the release of this podcast, so if you're fortunate enough to be here early, get signed up now!

You'll learn how to use the latest A.I. to generate the foundation of a good sales page, then how to go from good to GREAT - Get a high-performing, professional grade, money-making sales page completed this weekend!

How You Can Help

Get The Transcript

https://rayedwards.com/604

Direct download: REP604.mp3
Category:Podcast -- posted at: 5:00pm PDT

Fri, 13 January 2023

Secrets From the Yoda of YouTube - An Interview With Sean Cannell

Some say that YouTube is unfriendly territory for newcomers, but have you really missed the boat? Is it too late to build an income-generating channel? My guest this week, Sean Cannell, says "saturation is a myth". YouTube still rewards great content for those who have the right recipe...and he's got the facts, figures, and cases studies to back it up.

Listen to this inspiring interview with someone who has over 1,000,000 subscribers, 100,000,000 video views, coauthored the book YouTube Secrets, and who has coached numerous clients in building their own, successful YouTube channels.

[00:00] Who is Sean Cannell?
[01:12] The dangers of comparison
[04:30] YouTube Secrets
[05:21] Psychology and Community
[11:15] How did you grow your company?
[20:00] Let's hear the vanity numbers
[22:30] Is YouTube still the place to start?
[31:35] It takes courage! Where do you get that?
[41:45] How do we deal with negative people in our lives?
[51:05] Saturation is a myth - Supply and Demand is real
[57:58] How to find Sean

LINKS

Think Media on YouTube - Start here for incredible free content to get things going

Video Ranking Academy - Ready to level up? Join Sean Cannell's Video Ranking Academy. Use this private link to get the best price.

YouTube Secrets- Get the brand new 2nd edition of this Must-Read book for any aspiring YouTuber.

How You Can Help

Get The Transcript

https://rayedwards.com/603

Direct download: REP603a.mp3
Category:Podcast -- posted at: 9:30pm PDT

Fri, 6 January 2023

How to Get 10X Results This Year

Every year people make resolutions or set goals for the coming year. Most will abandon all these aspirations before the month of January is over. Why does this happen?

Because their “resolutions” and “goals” were nothing but WISHES. And wishing doesn’t make it so. What makes things happen? DECISIONS and COMMITMENTS.

In this episode, I'll give you 5 Decisions That Can MULTIPLY your RESULTS 10X This Year.

[00:00] Intro- The problem with resolutions with goals

[00:50] 1. DECIDE to learn from and value the past. Past especially the “FAILURES”. If you don’t have any failures from last year, you probably didn’t try anything very ambitious. And if you do have failures, don’t let that get you down. Because having failures means you have data from which you can learn.

[01:17] 2. DECIDE to change your Emotional “Thermostat”. Raise your emotional standards. This ONE SINGLE DECISION can change your life. When you raise the vibration of energy you carry, you increase The amount of charisma and influence you possess, the respect you command, and the results you produce.

[01:58] 3. DECIDE WHO you want to be in the future, and measure progress ruthlessly. To go where you’ve never been, you have to so things you’ve never done. To break the habit of being “just me” and seeking to be extraordinary.

[02:30] 4. DECIDE to get Focused, Remove BLOCKS, and experience BOTH kinds of FLOW: ”Deep Flow” and “Recovery Flow”

[05:39] 5. DECIDE to CLARIFY your values, your purpose, mission, vision, and goals so that all is in alignment , all can be Systemized, and all can be optimized. The Molders of Meaning and Life are the WORDS we use, and the STORIES we tell with these words - CHANGE YOUR WORDS, CHANGE YOUR WORLD.

Links

My Exclusive 3-Day Live Event - Are you tired of setting goals that you never seem to achieve? Are you ready to take your business to the next level, but not sure how to get there?

Then join us for our exclusive three-day workshop in Spokane, Washington, where you'll learn how to design your destiny using our proven and tested method for clarifying, committing to, and constructing a plan for getting 10 times the results this year.

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https://rayedwards.com/602

Direct download: REP602.mp3
Category:Podcast -- posted at: 3:00am PDT