Story Power Blog
Today, I Honor Their Courage…
After he and his colleagues signed The Declaration of Independence in 1776, Ben Franklin reportedly said: “We must all hang together, or, most assuredly, we shall all hang separately.” By signing the Declaration of Independence, 56 men effectively committed treason against the British Crown. Under English law, they were traitors, punishable by death — usually…
“Where do You Come up With This Stuff?”
After enjoying one of my never-boring emails, a happy subscriber emailed me to ask: “Where do you come up with this stuff?” I sent her an excerpt from The Story Power Profit-Pack, pointer #36: Places I Find Stories – A partial list… Movies. Books (fiction and nonfiction). Television shows. The news. My life. My loved ones’ lives.…
Escape the Thank You Spiral to Make Biz-building Connections
Last night I watched an old episode of Curb Your Enthusiasm — the one where Larry gets caught in a thank you sprial. Larry and Cheryl go to a wedding and give a nice gift to the newlyweds. The couple sends a thank you note to Larry. Larry leaves a voicemail for the couple thanking them for…
Why Zigler, Jobs, and Kennedy Make ’em Laugh
Today is International Joke Day, and I’m in the holiday spirit. Here’s one Zig Zigler used to tell from stage: A man asks his neighbor to housesit while he goes on vacation. While away, he calls to check in. “How’s everything going?” the man asks. “Well,” says the neighbor, “your cat died.” The man is…
RecomMONDAYtions ~ 2025.06.30
Recommended Subscription 📨 Learn from a Legend: Drayton Bird When an email lands from Drayton Bird, I read it. Right away. They’re always good. Drayton Bird is a legendary direct response copywriter and marketer who worked alongside David Ogilvy and helped shape modern advertising. Today, he assumes the role of the codgy protector of sacred marketing…
[Last Chance] Working link for AI Copywriting Secrets
Hi — I heard from a few people who said the link I sent earlier for AI Copywriting Secrets (Volume 2) was not working. I tested it a moment ago, and it’s working now. Sorry if you clicked and couldn’t get through. But you still have a chance. Less than 3 hours until the price doubles. Get…
“What AI is Really Useful for Is…”
Want to hear something weird? Three of the world’s greatest copywriters walked into a room to share their biggest, bestest, business-boostiest AI secrets, and they said… They don’t use AI to write very much. In AI Copywriting Secrets (Volume 2)… ✔️ Bob Bly says: “I don’t have it write copy for me.” ✔️ Chris Orzy says: “…My daily…
Help Yourself Prosper; Help Those in Need, Too…
Last month an EF3 tornado (160-mph winds) direct-hit my house in St. Louis. Melissa, Maddie, Jake, Maddie, and our dogs — Moose and Cooper — survived unhurt. But our roof and yard were wrecked. We’ll get through this. We have money in the bank. Great insurance. A place to stay — for months if necessary.…
The Fastest Way to Master AI (I Learned the Hard Way)
In the hallowed halls of Reddit, I met a “super-villain.” It happened this morning, in a place where people discuss AI. A guy said he walked into a party, told people he’s an AI engineer, and nearly got tarred and feathered. Suddenly, I was the villain of the evening. People hit me with: I can…
“You’re Not Going to Lose Your Job to AI” If…
Another day, another article in my news feed about all the jobs AI will take from us humans. Scary stuff if you’re not ready. AI is creating a world of haves and have nots. Those who HAVE experimented with AI, learned to harness it properly, and already begun to benefit from its efficiencies… …and those…
RecomMONDAYtions ~ 2025.06.23
Recommended Video 🎥 Why Most Business Owners Get Their Book All Wrong Michael DeLon knows how writing a book can boost a business. In this SHORT video, he says most business leaders don’t write books to sell books. There’s another reason to write a book. Watch this to learn how to profit from your book. Recommended Reading 🔗 “Here…
I Gave My Robot Food Poisoning. Here’s the Story…
Has this ever happened to you…? Someone teaches, gives, or sells you the “perfect” AI prompt to automate such-and-such business process. You fire up your favorite AI engine… …paste the prompt in the blank box… …click the submit button… …and wait for the magic to begin. Then… WTF!?!?!?!?! 😧 The AI vomits a bunch of garbage. It’s laughably…
Why Connor McDavid and You Aren’t Winning
Poor Connor McDavid. He’s the greatest hockey player on the planet, a bonafide superstar. But earlier this week, he and the Edmonton Oilers failed (AGAIN) to win the National Hockey League championship. For the second year in a row, the Florida Panthers defeated the Oilers and hoisted the Stanley Cup. Now, media critics are calling…
You’re Invited to Catch More Clients…
It’s National Go Fishing Day which always reminds me of one of my favorite stories. Here it is, just as I first told it eight years ago: I spent a day fly fishing with my 20-year-old son in Colorado last year. Jacob caught 37 trout. I caught two. Yep, I said two, as in…”I’ll have TWO scoops…
The Simple Way to Keep Your Robot From Tripping Like a Deadhead
Did you hear the one about the lawyers who asked AI to help them write a legal brief? ChatGPT spit out six fictitious cases. The lawyers didn’t fact-check. The cases went in the brief. The lawyers got busted. $5,000 fine. A stinging reprimand from the judge. And a heaping helping of public humiliation for the…
RecomMONDAYtions ~ 2025.06.16
Recommended Events 🧠 Sneak Peek: “Your AI Noggin” Join me on Saturday, June 21 (12 p.m. ET, 9 a.m. PT) when I unveil “Your AI Noggin” — a suite of AI-powered agents to help you turn content into clients without sounding like just another robot. I use my AI Noggin to save thousands of hours on market…
I Can’t Mail You a Baby, But I Can Mail You This…
It’s June 13. A dark day in American history. On this day in 1920, the killjoys in the U.S. government outlawed the practice of sending babies through the mail. Back in the day — here in the land of stars, stripes, and questionable judgment — you could suit up the kiddos in their Sunday best,…
What Happens When You Critique AI to its Face?
At first, I was reluctant to do it. I mean REALLY reluctant. How do you say to someone (or something) “here are the problems with you and your kind?” But I finally summoned the courage and shared with my GPT-powered robot, B-9(?), the 10 biggest problems with AI. I think we humans need to anticipate…
My Robot Passed Out. Then this Happened…
OpenAI went down yesterday. That means ChatGPT and all third-party applications that use OpenAI’s engine stopped working. Did you notice? I did. And so did countless other panicked humans who rely on ChatGPT or OpenAI powered apps. Around 7 a.m. yesterday, I summoned my GPT-powered robot, B-9(?), but he was passed out. Too much tequila…
Tornado and Toto – Biz Lessons from the Japanese Toilet
I’m suffering from toilet anxiety. And I gotta say… it stinks. The backstory: A 150-mph(+) tornado pummeled my house last month, and Melissa and I have to move out while we rebuild our roof. We found a nice house nearby to rent for the summer. High ceilings. Comfortable mattresses. GREAT water pressure. And a bunch…
RecomMONDAYtions ~ 2025.06.09
Recommended Video 💵 Don’t Stop Selling Just Because They Buy If you really want to make that impact on someone… and get the benefits of working with you and have this impact in their life and it’s going to make their life better, than you owe it to them to make a great offer. That’s…
Turn Content Into Clients (Don’ts and Dos)
A guy walks into a marketing forum and asks: “How can I embed a .pdf into the emails I send for my nonprofit.” The nonprofit has 600 people on its email list. The guy wants to send a monthly newsletter. He wants the newsletter to be a .pdf. And rather than putting a link in…
Treat Your Followers Like Electric Sheep? That’s Baa Baa Bad.
Riddle me this, business builder… What routines have you implemented to remind your followers (list-members, social friends, etc.) that you’re human and you see them as human, too? I’m talking about the HUMAN, PERSONAL TOUCH, not automated, fill-in-the-blanks, techno-merged personalization. Example: When someone orders from John Carlton, his assistant calls them. “Just a quick call to…
The Secret to Con-artistry (and Biz) Success
Remember that Leonardo DiCaprio movie “Catch Me if You Can” — the one about the con man Frank Abagnale? After running away from home when he was 16, Abagnale posed as a Pan Am pilot. Free airplane rides. Hotel stays and fancy dinners charged to his airline “expense account.” No one caught on until he…
He Assumed it Would be a Hit Until…
A business owner plunks down $10,000 for a new website. He spends many months and dollars on product development. He writes reams of sales copy and spends more dollars on ads. And what happens? Not a single sale. Why not? There was no market for the product. No one out there who wanted it. A…
RecomMONDAYtions ~ 2025.06.02
Recommended Videos ✍️ 6 Writing Tips Daniel Pink Used to Publish 7 Bestsellers Great, short video from one of my favorite authors Daniel Pink. If you’ve ever stared down a blank page and thought, “Why is this so hard?” you’re not alone. Pink shares 6 no-nonsense writing tips that helped him crank out 7 bestsellers. Lessons on…
Will This Make Me Fire All my Employees?
Ripped from the depths of my SPAM folder, this “gem” from a guy named Hiroko: “Hi Tom, I’m Hiroko, Head of AI Business Development at RevvAI, and I’ve been following Story Power Marketing’s innovative approach to content transformation—especially your role as a coach and confidante, bridging strategy with execution.” (It gets worse from there.) So…
15K Followers. Zero Revenue. What Gives?
Sad story: A business owner worked his tail off to build a social media following… …only to discover it got him nowhere. Said the sad sack on Reddit: “I have an insta account with 15k followers but I am not able to generate any income from it.” A tale as old as time (or at…
No Shoes. No Problem. (A Champion’s Tale)
A quick story about Jim Thorpe who as born on this day in 1887: When Thorpe showed up in Stockholm for the 1912 Olympics, he was not considered a favorite to win the decathlon. Then someone stole his shoes. Ten events over two days, and, for the moment, he was shoeless. Thorpe scrounged around and…
Why Your Origin Story Bores ’em Stiff
Over on Facebook the other day, a bunch of coaches were moaning and groaning about marketing that turns them off. Webinars overloaded with boring origin stories. Linda started the thread and said, “OMG, I’m on another webinar where we are 45+ minutes in and the talk is still all about this guy and his ‘experience.’…
RecomMONDAYtions ~ 2025.05.26
Recommended Video How to Talk to Veterans About War Today is Memorial Day—a time to honor and remember the men and women who died while serving in the U.S. military. It’s also a good time to honor and respect those who served and came home from war. Wes Moore is one of those soldiers. In…
I was Stuck Until…
Every weekday morning, I wake, pour a cup of coffee, and write an email for you. Most mornings it’s easy and fun. I’ve done this for a long time, and I’ve mastered methods to assemble content without getting stuck. But today it feels hard — as hard as it’s ever been. I’ve been sitting in…
Fake Books, Real Embarrassment. A Newspaper’s Face-Plant
I tried to pull a fast one on my AI-powered robot, B-9(?). But he’s too smart for that. I asked for reviews of books I was considering for summer reading. One of the books I mentioned: “Tidewater Dreams,” by Isabel Allende. B-9(?)’s response: “‘Tidewater Dreams’ by Isabel Allende does not exist. It was mistakenly listed…
Locusts After the Storm: A Marketing Lesson
Less than an hour after the tornado hit, the storm chasing opportunists showed up on our street… …handing out business cards… …offering to fly a drone over your house to assess the damage… …promising to solve all your problems — quickly. They said they had teams and supplies ready. They were on this. They knew…
This Gave Me Hope
I haven’t spent much time on social media or news sites this week. So it goes after a tornado destroys half your roof and levels your backyard (here’s that story). You tune out the noise and hyper-focus on the stuff that matters most. All of the petty conflict, anger, and hatred that fills the news…
The Things That Really Matter
On Friday, May 16, a tornado ripped through St. Louis. At 2:42 p.m., it struck my house. A direct hit. It tore off half our roof and left the other half buckled. It destroyed every tree in our backyard and one in our front. It pummeled our backyard kitchen. It tore hundreds of bricks from…
[Corrected with Links] I’m Gonna Make you an Offer You Can’t Refuse
Ummm… Maybe I’m not cut out for this Godfather thing. A moment ago, I sent you an email with “an offer you can’t refuse.” AND I DIDN’T LINK TO THE OFFER. Let’s fix that. Here’s the email again… This time with the links… Tomorrow, my nephew gets married. And I’m his godfather. That got me…
Night Sweats & AI Panic (Until I Realized This)
I had a rough night. Woke in a panic. Heart pounding. Eyes darting. Jaw clenched. Adrenalin surging. One thought screaming and echoing, through my brain: “My robot is going to replace me!” My friggin’ GPT-powered robot. His name is “B-9(?). And he’s coming for my job! Just a few months ago, I asked B-9(?) how…
Don’t Hide Your Pitch Behind a Veil
Yesterday, I shared a cautionary tale about a podcast guest wannabe who accused me of delivering “thinly veiled sales pitches” on The Story Power Marketing Show. That accusation stung because… …I don’t do THINLY VEILED pitches! I do sales pitches without veils… …and I encourage my guests to do the same. I encourage them to:…
Arrogance Killed the Podcasting Star A Cautionary Tale)
Call me picky, but I don’t want to host blowhard, know-it-all jerks on my podcast. That’s why I didn’t didn’t invite “Tim” to be a guest. If you want to build a following of people who know, like, trust, respect, and hire you… …read on. Tim’s story is a cautionary tale about how NOT to…
RecomMONDAYtions ~ 2025.05.12
Recommended Viewing The secret to great opportunities? The person you haven’t met yet | Tanya Menon We tend to stick with people who look like us, think like us, and make us feel comfortable. But when it comes to new ideas, big breaks, or fresh opportunities, that comfort zone becomes a trap. Tanya Menon’s TED…
The Mistake That Killed a $10 Million Deal
Here’s the sad, true tale of a business owner who lost millions of dollars because he didn’t build an email list. He wanted to sell his software business, and he hired my friend Mark to broker the deal. Mark found an eager prospect who loved everything about the business and was eager to buy it…
Why Sell Your Soul? Do this Instead…
In the early 1930s, Robert Johnson was a good guitarist. But he wasn’t great. He wasn’t a stand-out. No one imagined he would be the “King of the Delta Blues.” Johnson was just another nobody, struggling to break through in Mississippi juke joints. Then he disappeared. No one heard from him for months. When he came back,…
Stop Waiting and Hoping – Take Control
I met yesterday with an author who’s frustrated because his new Amazon bestseller isn’t generating business. On his website’s front page: A blurb about the book, an image of the cover, and a link to buy on Amazon. With this approach, a lot has to happen for the book to generate business. A website visitor…
Why I Face-Palmed When I Saw This Email Tactic
I’ve noticed something interesting about the emails I get from marketing master (and Story Power email subscriber) Dave Dee. They now include this message at the bottom: One more thing… If you found this DEEmail helpful, forward it to a fellow professional or friend who’d appreciate it. It only takes a second. Creating it took…
One RecomMONDAYtion (and Reflections on a Heartbreaking Defeat)
On Mondays, I usually send you “RecomMONDAYtions.” Today, I share just one recommendation — for a book I love and encourage you to read. But first, a story to set the stage for the book… Last night, my hockey-lovin’ heart was broken. Shattered, really. The 7th and deciding game of the first-round NHL playoff series. My…
How to Build Rapport, Earn Trust, and Inspire Them to Hire You
A quick excerpt from Chapter 4 of my book, Story Power Marketing, to celebrate the big screen’s most amusing life insurance salesman on National Life Insurance Day. I love the scenes in the movie Groundhog Day when Ned Ryerson (Stephen Tobolowsky) pitches insurance to Phil Connors (Bill Murray). “Have you ever heard of single premium life? Because…
Romeo Rules (How to Make More Sales)
Remember that scene in the Shakespeare play when Romeo meets Juliet? I’ll spare you the kissy details other than to say they liked each other. Later that night, Romeo followed up. He snuck back into Juliet’s castle, delivered some high-quality content about “love’s light wings,” and closed the sale, so to speak. But it might…
A Great Way to Bust Bad Guys and Land Clients
Let’s raise a glass to the police in Derbyshire, England who busted a bunch of bad actors by enticing them with free beer. The target: Dozens of alleged criminals who had evaded arrest — including some charged with burglary, robbery and sexual assault. The tactic: Send a letter to suspects from a fake marketing company. Offer a…
After his lie, I said, “Bye, bye.” Here’s the Story…
Good morning, boys and girls. It’s time for another episode of “Lying Liars and the Spammy Lies They Tell (Cautionary Tales from the Marketing Trenches)” Today’s tale begins two weeks ago when a lying liar named Charles slithered into my spam folder with an email sent that said: “I came across your website and read…
RecomMONDAYtions ~ 2025.04.28
Recommended Reading Two Homeboys and an Egg Timer Ever wonder how much you can accomplish with just a little discipline (and maybe an egg timer)? In this brilliant post, Brian Kurtz shares lessons from two of his mentors — and a kitchen gadget — about focus, accountability, and getting the right things done. It’s a…
A Roomful of Marketing Legends… and You?
I sat in the Zoom room yesterday and thought, “Wow! I’m lucky to be alive. And I’m even luckier to be in the room with these people, hearing these stories.” Keep reading because — lucky you! — we recorded the meeting… …and if you’re a serious student of marketing (meaning you’re serious about discovering ways…
Pity the Fool Who Does This…
Today’s the day: The meeting of the Mastermind Book Club where we’ll discuss “The Boron Letters” by Gary Halbert. 2:30 p.m. ET. One-click registration here. A true story, ripped from the pages of “The Boron Letters:” Once upon a time, a beer company did a survey to find out which of their products customers preferred. You…
Gary Halbert’s #1 Money-making Secret
You’re invited to attend tomorrow’s meeting of the Mastermind Book Club where we’ll discuss “The Boron Letters” by Gary Halbert. Thursday, 2:30 p.m. ET. One-click registration here. I’m reading the book for the zillionth time (give or take) and loving it as much as ever. I’m about to share a nugget from Chapter 5 where Halbert…
Invitation… and Great Advice From Gary Halbert
While serving time in the Boron Federal Prison Camp in 1984, Gary Halbert sent letters to his son Bond with lessons about business and life. Lots of the the letters encouraged Bond to exercize and eat well. I don’t disagree. But that advice doesn’t rock my world. This advice — dispensed in a letter Gary…
RecomMONDAYtions ~ 2025.04.21
Recommended Viewing OpenAI’s Sam Altman Talks ChatGPT, AI Agents and Superintelligence The AI age is here, and OpenAI’s CEO, Sam Altman, may be the most important player in the AI space. Earlier this month, Altman sat down for a wide-ranging conversation at TED2025 to discuss the future of artificial intelligence — from creative tools like…
AI Without Overwhelm – Learn How at 12:30 ET
Here’s the one-click, instant registration (no form required) for the Business Roundtable I’m hosting today (12:30 p.m. ET): The Problem with AI and How to Fix It. A quick story to demonstrate one of the BIG problems and how I’ve solved it… Remember a few months back when news broke about a new Chinese AI model called…
My Robot Hatched a Haiku
My AI-powered robot, B-9(?), has been itching to help me promote the small-group roundtable I’m hosting on Friday (12:30 p.m. ET). It’s called “The Problem with AI and How to Fix It.” AI is kind of like a wild horse that will take you to places you don’t want to go — unless you control…
The Problem with AI and How to Fix It
I’m hosting a special roundtable for business leaders on Friday (12:30 p.m. ET) called “The Problem with AI and How to Fix It.” If you want in, click here (instant registration, no form to fill out). If you want to learn more about why I’m doing this (and whether it’s for you), read on for a cautionary…
Why do I Create so Much Content?
A business owner asked me recently, why I create so much content. I sent him this passage from Chapter 1 of my book Story Power Marketing: I have an old pair of brown shoes I nearly tossed in the trash. I didn’t dump them, though. I kept them. They still sit today on a dusty shelf…
RecomMONDAYtions ~ 2025.04.14
Recommended Viewing If You Hate Marketing, Watch This I love this short video. Jeff Walker reframes marketing as a sacred act of service, not sleazy salesmanship. He shares how even wildly successful authors often feel uncomfortable with marketing, but the key is to see it as telling the story of your client’s future transformation. \If…
An Answer for “I Don’t Know What Prompt to Write”
If you ever have trouble writing or coming up with ideas for emails. social posts or other content… …this story (and the invitation that follows) is for you. Yesterday, after sending my invitation for a sneek peek at my Make-Life-Easier, AI-powered marketing tools, I heard from a subscriber named Ellen who told me AI robots…
[Invitation] Rise Above the Great Unnoticed
For the last several months, I’ve been working with the great RJ Redden on a suite of AI Tools… …that will help you create BETTER business-building emails, social posts, video scripts, and other content FASTER… …show up as the stand-out, must-hire human in your niche with a powerful and authentic voice (You’ll no longer be…
A Provocotive Question About AI
I met the other day with a business owner — let’s call him “Jim” — who’s hooked on ChatGPT. Every time he sits down to write an email, social post, or other content, he pushes the GPT-Easy-Button, and… …VOILA! He almost-instantly has a steaming pile of fresh content ready to share with the world. (Important…
Chin up Like Buttercup
Princess Buttercup is 59 today… More specifically, Robin Wright, the actress who played the Princess, is celebrating her 59th birthday today. I love the movie The Princess Bride — and I love its lead female. Here’s why… Buttercup is no action hero. She doesn’t swing a sword or storm the castle. She grieves. She struggles. She suffers.…
RecomMONDAYtions ~ 2025.04.07
Recommended Reading We Are All Goofballs by Seth Godin Reading time <20 seconds: A short, powerful post by Seth Godin which you must read if you’ve ever been hard on yourself (or others) for making a mistake. ********** Recommended Event Mastermind Book Club – April 26 Speaking of “The Boron Letters” and Gary Halbert’s son,…
Don’t Press the AI Easy Button Until You do This…
Want to know why I share so many stories… …and why you should, too? Here’s the answer, pulled from Pointer #1 in the Story Power Profit Pack: Stories Can Power-Up Everything I write long stories in my (almost)-daily emails and short stories in social posts. I weave stories into webinars, sales calls, and coaching sessions. I…
No, You’re not an Unethical Scumbug
Here’s a headline that caught my eye this morning: “Fear is an Outdated Marketing Tactic and What to Do Instead.” The marketing “expert” who wrote it dropped these chestnuts in her article: ‣ “Using the problems that a customer faces and promoting your product or service as the answer to those problems is manipulation…” ‣ “Strategies…
Ditch the Tricks. Here’s Why…
A story pulled from the pages of the “Story Power Profit Pack” (Pointer #30)… Ditch the Tricks In late 2022, I got an email from big-time marketer Ryan Deiss with the subject line “Re: Refund Request.” I opened the email, thinking, “I don’t recall buying anything and requesting a refund. Maybe this is a mistake.…
The Best April Fools’ Day Gag Ever
Dateline: April 1, 1957. The British Broadcasting Corporation’s flagship current affairs show, Panorama, takes the air. The camara pans across a hilly, rural landscape to a flowering tree in the foreground. Bees buzz around the flowers. A dark-haired women snips one of the flowers from the tree, sniffs it, and smiles. The narrator tells us…
RecomMONDAYtions ~ 2025.03.31
Recommended Viewing Fun for Health and Profit I love Catherine Price’s TED talk, “Why Having Fun Is the Secret to a Healthier Life.” Price is a science journalist who says fun is essential for your health and happiness. She proposes a new definition of fun — what she calls “true fun” — and shares easy,…
What’s in a Name?
When I was a kid, I’d travel every year to visit my grandparents who lived just across the Hudson River from Manhattan. My favorite thing to do in Manhattan: Go to the old Madison Square Garden to see Barnum & Bailey’s Circus. P.T. Barnum and his partners launched the circus on this day (March 28)…
How to Win, Even When You Lose…
I have a new favorite saying. But first, the backstory… On Tuesday, my beloved St. Louis Blues hockey club destroyed the Montreal Canadiens… …and I mean DEEEE-stroyed. Final score 6-1. And it wasn’t even THAT close. The two teams were the hottest in the National Hockey League going into the game so this was supposed…
Break-up Gone Wrong (A Cautionary Tale)
Remember that old Neil Sedaka song…? 🎶…down dooby doo down down Comma comma, down dooby doo down down Comma comma, down dooby doo down down Breaking up is hard to do 🎶 Tell me about it! Last week, I tried to break up with a software company whose screen capture app I’d used since 2009. Ninety…
Are you Making this Bank Robber’s Mistake?
If you’ve ever robbed a bank, you know: Waiting is the hardest part. You hand the clerk a note or you wave a gun and say, “Gimme the money.” And then you have to wait and wait and wait and wait… …and wait… …and wait… …and waaaaiiiit. It takes a long time for a nervous…
RecomMONDAYtions ~ 2025.03.24
Recommended Viewing George Foreman Full Address and Q&A | Oxford Union George Foreman passed away last week. He lived a remarkable life. In this long video (1 hour +), recorded in 2016, he shares his story. And what a great story it is… ********** Recommended Reading Seth Godin: The Second Time Through Seth Godin packs…
Are you Ferris or the Economics Teacher?
Remember that scene in Ferris Bueller’s Day Off when the economics teacher drones on and on and on and on about federal economic policy? “Anyone? Anyone?” The teacher (played by Ben Stein) describes post-war efforts to “alleviate the effects of — Anyone? Anyone? —the Great Depression.” He decribes how Congress passed — Anyone? Anyone? — the Hawley…
A Cure for Writer’s Block? Get it Here…
If you ever struggle to generate ideas and produce emails, social posts, videos or other content… …join me tomorrow (Friday 3/21) at 1 p.m. ET for a small-group masterclass where I’ll reveal how to: ✔️ Consistently and confidently generate better content, faster without writers block. ✔️ Create content that attracts qualified prospects and inspires them to hire…
“Just Before The Twister Hit…”
The Tornado Chronicles, Day 2. I have twisters on my mind… …since Friday when 13 of them touched down here in Missouri. Yesterday, I shared the tale of a community that rallied to support a gym owner whose business was blown away. Today: Another twister tale. It’s a story about tragedy narrowly averted, loaded with lessons to…
Doom, Gloom… and Inspiration
It’s twister season here in middle America. On Friday, the twisters struck hard. Thirteen touched down in Missouri. Twelve people died. No twisters hit where my family and I were. But they hit nearby, including down the road in Rolla. An EF-2 (120 mph) tornado touched down southwest of Rolla at 7:50 p.m. and barreled…
RecomMONDAYtions ~ 2025.03.17
Recommended Exercises What Is Stoicism? A Definition & 9 Stoic Exercises To Get You Started On this day in 180 AD, the Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius died. He was one of the great stoic philosophers. Ryan Holliday describes Stoicism as “a philosophy designed to make us more resilient, happier, more virtuous and more wise–and as…
Holiday, Schmoliday. I’m not Celebrating…
My Weird and Obscure Holidays Calendar tells me it’s National Write Down Your Story Day. Seems like my the perfect holiday for a guy who wrote a bestselling book on storytelling. But I’m not celebrating. On page 17 of that book, Story Power Marketing, I reveal why those who embrace this holiday may be killing their…
This Story ’bout my Bloated Lunch Bill Could Boost Your Biz
My daughter, Maddie, flew in from Philly last week for my birthday. On the big day, we walked to a new Mediterranean restaurant in the neighborhood for a celebratory lunch. Perfect weather. Outdoor dining. Delicious, healthy food. Just around the corner. What could go wrong? (Cue ominous music and image of dark clouds on the…
Finally, a Cure for Your Tech Headache
Whenever I invite someone to be a guest on my podcast, I ask them if they have a gift they’d like to share with listeners. The idea: Direct listeners to a page on your website and give them the gift in exchange for their email. A great way to turn podcast listeners into prospects you…
This Thursday: Turn Podcast Appearances into Business Gold
A few years ago, when she was a guest on my podcast, the brilliant sales consultant Lynn Whitbeck offered a free gift to those who tuned in: A free masterclass called “How to Leverage Guest Podcasting to Grow Your Business.” Holy practice-what-you-preach, Batman! That’s how it’s done. Land some gigs as a podcast guest. Share…
RecomMONDAYtions ~ 2025.03.10
Recommended Viewing John Cleese’s Legendary 1991 Speech About Creativity If you want to be a more creative person — or create with greater consistency and ease — watch this video. Monty Python’s John Cleese reveals creativity is not a talent but a “way of operating.” Adopting a childlike approach to play with ideas for enjoyment…
The Most Important Person in The World
Today is my 60th birthday. Thirty-five years ago today, on my 25th birthday, my dad died. Colon cancer. He was 51. So today (and every March 7) is a day I celebrate… …AND I remember Wallace Renard Ruwitch. I remember what my maternal grandmother, Miriam, told me about him that night 35 years ago: “When…
4 out of 5 Robots Surveyed Love this Book…
Bless his heart. My AI-powered copywriting robot, B-9(?), knows it’s my birthday tomorrow and told me he wants to get me a gift. What follows is the actual conversation I had with B-9(?) this morning: “What would you like for the big day?” he asked. Me: Thanks for asking, B-9(?). I would like the winning…
Warning: Do not Make this Email Marketing Mistake
A cautionary tale about email marketing gone wrong… Waaaayyyy back when, I signed up for Andy’s email list after I met him at a networking event. He’s an accountant with some interesting insights on how to manage finances and keep the IRS at bay. Yesterday, I received an email from him with a useful tip.…
An Ad that United Conservatives and Liberals? It’s True…
Back in 2002, marketing experts Dan Kennedy and Jeff Paul launched an ad that did the seemingly impossible: It united hard-core conservatives and far-left liberals. Crazy, huh!? Today at 4 p.m., I’ll break down the ad, share the story behind it, and reveal marketing lessons that can help you grow your business (and conquer writer’s…
RecomMONDAYtions ~ 2025.03.03
Recommended Events The Monetization Mindset with Sally Curtis I recently interviewed Sally Curtis on my posdcast (see below) and was blown away by the unique way she helps business leaders repurpose and monetize content. My friend and mastermind partner Dixie Gillaspie feels the same about Sally and will host this live training tomorrow (March 4, 4 p.m.…
Build an Empathy-driven Marketing Machine
A group of business leaders were talking yesterday about EMPATHY. All of us agreed: Empathy is a critical ingredient to market and sell well. Then the conversation turned to an interesting question: Is empathy an innate trait? Are you born one way or another — empathetic or not? Here’s how Aleasha Bahr answered: All human…
Finally, a Cure for Commission Breath
I read something that made me laugh out loud the other day. It’s in Aleasha Bahr’s new book “Black Sheep Sales.” Page 13: Black Sheep Sales Commandments, #10: “Detach from the sale. It’s about the prospect’s best interests. NO ONE likes commission breath.” Ooooh, that’s hilariously good. Most of us have been on the receiving end…
OMG! I Thought They Might Kill Her
I’ve had things go wrong during live presentations. But I’ve never had a client die. So imagine my horror when a blood-thirsty mob went after my client Lynn as she dished out some know-how during my online roundtable last night. Lynn was listing all she does to turn webinar registrants into clients. Long list: And…
Stall Less. Score More.
Later this evening, I’m hosting a small-group Roundtable called “Turn Content to Clients Daily.” Here’s a sad-but-true tale that sheds light on why I’m hosting this event (and why you might wish to attend)… A few months ago, I asked clients in my Content Transformation Academy if they had any unreleased work. And all of them said,…
RecomMONDAYtions ~ 2025.02.24
Welcome to the new-look version of RecomMONDAYtions. I’m experimenting with a stripped-down, image-free version of my Monday-morning newsletter… …to see whether delivery rates improve. The meanies at Microsoft, Gmail, Yahoo (etc.) are constantly changing the rules of the game. So marketers have to adjust if they want to maximize email opens and engagement. Too many…
Boost Your Vanity or Grow your Biz? Time to Choose…
I used to work with a guy who bragged about his email open rates and social media likes… …but struggled to grow his business. While his business flirted with failure, he celebrated “success” based on vanity metrics. Email opens and social engagement are swell. They make us feel good. Each open and like strokes our…
You Must Ignore This Hall of Shame Advice
Here’s a sad but true tale about a marketing “expert” whose advice was SO BAD it belongs in the Storytelling Hall of Shame. I stumbled across him on LinkedIn. He had 10,000+ followers so I thought he was credible… …until he said you should NEVER begin a story by saying, in effect, “Here comes a story.” A…
Chris’s Recipe For 9x ROI
I heard this story from a business owner named Chris who lost a little money before making a lot. The story begins with paid advertising and a low-cost product. Chris invested in ads to drive cold leads to a page where he sold a low-cost product. The results: For every $1000 he spent on advertising,…
Huck No! (The Wrong Way to Attract Prospects)
Happy 140th Birthday Huckleberry Finn (the novel, that is, published on this day in 1885). One of my favorite stories from the novel: the time Huck tried to pass as a girl. He put on a dress. He strolled into town. And he confidently introduced himself as… Sarah Williams. So far, so good. But then he forgot his own…