Story Power Blog
Why That Email Signup Raffle Will Backfire
I spotted the following this morning on one of my favorite online marketing forums: “I have a trade show coming up. I want to take advantage of the traffic and grow my email list. The best thing I can think of is an email sign up raffle…What is the best way to approach this?” …
Monday Mash-Up ~ 2022.02.28
Before It Happened + Donna Loughlin on the Story Power Marketing Show + Sleep Better with Light-Blocking Stickers + 6 Grammar Rules You Can Break + …from John Steinbeck
The Dirty Little Secret About the “Best Content Money Can Buy”
A couple of days ago, I told you about a sad-sack business owner who decided “email doesn’t work” because it hasn’t worked for her. She was hunting for a content delivery channel that works. I wrote to her and said the problem might be her content, not the delivery channel. I’ve been doing this for…
Why Hunting For a Better Marketing Tool is a Waste of Time
Breaking news: If you want to convert leads to clients… Email doesn’t work. Neither does text. Same goes for video So says a frustrated consultant who posted a cry for help on Facebook “20 years in business, I don’t remember ever it being this hard to connect with prospects. Text and email, videos, and articles…
Monday Mash-Up ~ 2022.02.21
Four Leadership Lessons from Abraham Lincoln + The Go-Giver Marriage + Maxine Cunningham and I Discuss the Power of One-to-Ones + Six Strategies To Stop Procrastinating + Abraham Lincoln
The Mindset You Need to Build a Gold-Medal Business
Last night, I stayed up late to watch women’s Olympic hockey – the gold medal match between the USA and Canada. Canada won 3-2, powered by two goals from captain Marie-Philip Poulin. This was Poulin’s fourth Olympic gold-medal game. She’s the only hockey player ever (woman or man) to score in four Olympic gold-medal games.…
Master Copywriters’ Simple Formula to Captivate Prospects…
I read some great advice last week from my friend Jack Turk, “The World’s Fastest Copywriter.” If you want prospects to pay attention to you — your webinar, your sales letter, your landing page, your emails — you must do as the great Dan Kennedy does… Say interesting things in interesting ways. That sums up…
Monday Mash-Up ~ 2022.02.14
How a Hotel Owner Discovered the Story to Skyrocket Sales + How to Build a Bliss Station + How to Communicate with Humans + A Book About Cults & More + Frederick Douglass
Marketing Lessons From the Prince of Denmark
Picture this: Your dad, the King, is sleeping in the castle garden. His brother creeps into the garden, kills Dad by pouring poison in his ear, marries the Queen, and takes the throne. So it went for Prince Hamlet of Denmark – at least in William Shakespeare’s version of the story. At first, Hamlet thought…
You Know The One About “the company you keep?” What do you think?
I love it when high-quality people call B.S. on me… …hold me accountable… …get me out of my rut… …share a perspective I hadn’t considered… …inspire me to implement, not dawdle… …encourage me to be my best… …and then guide me to be even better. And I love to offer peers all of the above. …
Monday Mash-Up ~ 2022.02.07
The Hidden Danger in Copying Successful People + Do You Talk At or Converse With Your Prospects + The Art, Drama and Power of Olympic Competition + Why I Noodle, Doodle, and Jot + re: Creativity
A Unique Chance to Create Dangerously Entertaining Content
My favorite Alfred Hitchcock movie is The Trouble With Harry. It’s not a thriller or murder mystery… …although there is a dead body. The dead guy is Harry. He’s lying flat on his back in the woods in Vermont, with a bullet hole in his head, dead as a bug on a windshield. The movie is…
Ashamed to Sell? Nuh-uh. Here’s the Key…
There’s this bloke down under named Daniel Throssell who fills my inbox with entertaining (and informative) story-powered emails every day. I’d like to tell you about a pair of emails he sent last month… …because they’re so spot on… …and so relevant to anyone who has ever struggled with selling their services. Last month, Daniel…
Monday Mash-Up 2022.01.31
Train Your Brain To Become a Learning Machine + PickMyBrain.world + Doreen Downing on the Story Power Marketing Show + The Giant Hand Of Vyrnwy + The Voyage of Discovery
Willie Nelson and The Power of Creative Content
A few days ago, I began reading a book called Keep Going by Austin Kleon. On the very first page, Kleon shares a quote from Willie Nelson. The quote keeps rattling around in my brain: “I think I need to keep being creative, not to prove anything but because it makes me happy just to do it……
My Shameful Trip Down the Social Media Rabbit Hole
I read a GREAT thing yesterday. It’s from Austin Kleon’s book Steal Like an Artist… “You’re going to see a lot of stupid stuff out there and you’re going to feel like you need to correct it. One time I was up late on my laptop and my wife yelled at me, ‘Quit picking fights on…
Monday Mash-Up ~ 2022.01.24
Show, Don’t Tell + InnovaBuzz with Jürgen Strauss + Jon Keel on the Story Power Marketing Show + A Book to Keep You From Getting Spread Too Thin + From Essentialism…
The Second-Greatest Thing I’ve Ever Done in the Shower…
Remember that time you were in the shower… …and a great idea popped into your head… …and by the time you stepped out of the shower… …the idea was GONE! That used to happen to me all the time. But no longer. Earlier this week, I got me some AquaNotes! (Thanks, Todd Cherches, for telling…
When Content Inspiration Strikes, Will You be Ready?
Paul McCartney says his song “Yesterday” came to him in a dream. Shazam! The song popped into his head while he was sleeping. He wrote it down when he woke. I’ve never had a song, email, or anything else I create appear to me in a dream. Bad luck for me, I guess. But that…
Monday Mash-Up – 2022.01.17
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. + The Power of Visual Thinking + My Favorite New Podcast: Storytime with Seth Rogen + The Sales-Generating Power of Being Helpful + The Courier
Why the World Needs Another Friggin Podcast
A few weeks before I launched my podcast, The Story Power Marketing Show, I shared some of the details with my pal Adam and asked for his feedback. He liked the podcast graphic, introduction, and other details. And then he wrote (with a wink and a smile), “Because…just what the world needs…another friggin’ podcast!” Yeah, I used…
So Many Stories to Create. So Few Ideas. How to Fix That…
Yesterday, I heard “storytelling expert” on a podcast say, “businesses need to get their STORY right.” I hear that a lot. Story. Singular. As in ONE story. As if storytelling for business is about getting ONE story right, and then you’re done. But that’s not how it works. If you want to break through the…
Monday Mash-Up ~ 2022.02.10
John Carlton on Quality vs. Quantity + How to Get Paid What You Deserve + The Author of Overdeliver Reflects on the Value He Brings + The Art of Noticing + re: The Thrill of Noticing
How to Generate Great Content Ideas Without Hurting Yourself
Beth subscribes to my email list, and yesterday she signed up for my upcoming How-to-Generate-Content-Ideas workshop. She wants some help. When she registered for the workshop, I asked, “How do you come up with content ideas now?” Beth’s reply: LOL… is this a trick question?!?!? I sprint from a dead stop into a chain link…
Quick Question
No story today. Just a quick heads-up and question… I’m planning to host a free, hour-long workshop later this month (date TBD) to reveal how to create more interesting and entertaining content (emails, blogs, social posts, etc.) without getting stuck. I’ll focus on how to generate a flood of great ideas so you can kiss…
There’s a Holiday for THIS!? It’s True
In case it slipped your mind, a reminder: Today is National Spaghetti Day Yes, today! You didn’t know? Me neither, until I consulted HolidaysCalendar.com. Because of that site, I never miss a big holiday like this one. More on that in a moment, but first… …in honor of the big day, I’d like to…
Monday Mash-Up ~ 2021.01.03
The Secret To Better Habits in 2022 + reMarkable 2 Lives Up to Its Name + Seth Godin Does It Again + Schmigadoon! is a hoot! + Hope for the Year Ahead
How Joyce Saved Her Family From a Deadly Twister
Just before the twister hit, Joyce walked out to her pickup truck to roll up the windows. It was November 15, 1988, and the high temperature in Davisville, MO was 70F that day – 15 degrees above normal. Rain was falling. The wind was beginning to whip. Joyce, her husband Jim, and their daughter Shannon…
Monday Mash-Up ~ Vol. 2, Ep. 47
A Little-Used Strategy to Book More Clients — Without Paying + How to Create a Life You LOVE in 2022 + The Story of Content Will Spark Ideas for Your Biz + Wise Words from Carrie Fisher
Home For The Holidays and Other Blessings…
The wonders of technology. My wife, Melissa, and I spent yesterday checking the “Find My Friends” app on our iPhones, tracking the missing piece in our family’s home-for-the-holidays puzzle Our son Jake hit the road early, with his dog Cooper in tow, to drive from his home in Fort Collins to ours in St. Louis.…
How to Crank Out Client-attracting Content — The Easy Way
Last week, Ben Settle promoted his book Breakneck Content for sale at a 20% discount. The book is all about how to crank out business-building content. As usual, Ben cranked out tons of emails to promote the sale – at least one per day, sometimes more. I already have the book so I wasn’t shopping. But…
Monday Mash-Up ~ Vol. 2, Ep. 46
How to Answer Sales Objections + The Power of Sacred Time + My Octopus Teacher and the Habit of Noticing + The Power of Dishing Out Compliments + Daniel Pink Says the Future Belongs to Storytellers
The #1 Quote of All Time? Could Be…
Here’s a quote that caught my eye. “It’s the start that stops most people.” Michael Senoff, who interviews marketing experts and then sells the recordings, shared that one in an email earlier this week. He attributed it to his mentor and “greatest story collector,” Rob Gilbert. He called it the “#1 QUOTE OF ALL TIME.”…
How This One Little Question 3x’d Sales
Over the weekend, I went to one of those big-box stores that camps a “greeter” by the front door. As I marched past him, he barely lifted his eyes from his phone as he mumbled, “‘mornin.” Some greeting! Made me think of the great marketing consultant Jay Abraham and a story he told about a…
Monday Mash-Up ~ Vol. 2, Ep. 45
A System for Scoring + How to Launch a Gifting Program to Wow Prospects and Clients + Why Your Free Consultation Offer Sucks (And How To Fix It!) + An Ode to John Prine + John Prine Wrote and Sang This…
How NOT to “Suck on Sour Anxiety for The Rest of Your Days”
There’s an old legend about the great mystery writer John D. McDonald. When he was just getting started, he heard writers don’t get “good” until after they write their 10th novel. That seemed like a long road to get to “good…” So…he put it in gear and wrote 10 novels in ONE year. In no…
Curling Fans Screwed by “Secks” Toys
Bad news for American curling fans. Big laughs for the rest of us. And a great marketing lesson for good measure… There’s a company in the Netherlands that makes “toys.” The kind of toys not suitable for children… …or prudes. “Adult” toys. (Wink, wink.) Anyhow, this toy company paid someone to put their logos on…
Monday Mash-Up ~ Vol. 2, Ep. 44
Angry Mother-of-Bride Delivers Important Mindset Lesson + James Clear: How to Get 1% Better Every Day + Marketing Legend Reveals 7 Copywriting Sins + #ReadThis #ImproveSocialReach + Gail Sheehy on Growth
How Musicians And Marketers Become Masters
Last month, I saw Richard Thompson at the Sheldon Concert Hall in St. Louis. He’s one of my favorites. A great singer and songwriter and — maybe — the best guitarist I’ve ever heard. During the concert, I turned to my friend John and said: “Close your eyes and listen. It sounds like he has a separate…
Famous Marketing Expert BS’d Me (and others) so I Ripped Him…
Ryan Deiss is one of the most intelligent and successful digital marketing strategists in the galaxy… …and now I’m going to rip him. After you read the story, let me know what you think. I’m interested to hear your thoughts. The story began yesterday morning when Ryan sent me one of those Cyber Monday promotions…
Monday Mash-Up ~ Vol. 2, Ep. 43
Jack Turk on the Story Power Marketing Show + 25 Types of Humor to Tickle Your Funny Bone (+ Examples) + Get Back Reveals The Beatles Creative Process + LinkedIn Marketing for Introverts + George Harrison
The #1 Quality That Helps Hockey Pros and A-List Copywriters Succeed
I’m about to tell you a story about a hockey game. Not a hockey fan? No worries. Stick with me. The story is not really about sports. It’s about marketing and mindset. Last night, I went with my son, Jake, to a hockey game. Here in St. Louis, we love the St. Louis Blues. The…
Monday Mash-Up ~ Vol. 2, Ep. 42
Dan Sullivan Dispenses Marketing Wisdom + Ted Prodromou and Brian Kurtz + Marketing Lessons from Mark Twain + How a Minor Leaguer Became MVP of the NHL All-Star Game + Dan Sullivan
The Surprising Truth About Pickle-flavored Lip Balm
Looking for the perfect stocking-stuffer for a loved one who has everything? Here’s an idea: Pickle Lip Balm. Yeah, you heard me right. Pickle Lip Balm is a real thing. You can buy a gherkin-sized tube of Mr. Pickle’s World-Famous Pickle Lip Balm on Amazon for the low, low price of $11.95. Warning: You may not like…
A-List Copywriter: How to Create Great Content Without Getting Stuck
Yesterday, I interviewed A-List copywriter Jack Turk for an upcoming episode of my podcast, The Story Power Marketing Show. Wow! Jack delivered the goods! So many gold nuggets about how to create great, client-attracting content without getting stuck. I’ll let you know when the episode goes live (later this week). For now, a sneak peek… We…
Fwd: Monday Mash-Up ~ Vol. 2, Ep. 41
Recommended ListeningGuy Kawasaki and Seth Godin Guy Kawasaki and Seth Godin are two of my marketing heroes. And in this episode of Kawasaki’s “Remarkable People” podcast, they’re together talking about the current state of marketing. This is one of those podcast episodes that I’ll replay many times. Recommended ViewingA Familiar and Funny Customer Service Nightmare Here’s…
If You Had The Best Product In The World…
If you had the best product in the world, how would you market it? I spotted that question on a marketing forum last week… …and I was sad — but not surprised — to see the responses. Every single response focused on tools and tactics. “I would personally advertise it through Google advertisements, PPC. I…
How C.S. Lewis & J.R.R. Tolkien Collaborated Despite Conflict
I just started reading a book called “Bandersnatch.” It’s about the writers C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien and their relationship as colleagues and competitors. In the 1930s and 40s, Lewis and Tolkien were members of a literary club called The Inklings at Oxford University. Members critiqued one another’s works-in-progress. “Bandersnatch” explores how Lewis and Tolkien…
Monday Mash-Up ~ Vol. 2, Ep. 40
Ann Handley re: Inviting Subscribers to Share Your Stuff + Mind-Mapping to Get Unstuck + A Better Way to Write a Cold Email + Glen Campbell’s Farewell Tour and Battle with Alzheimer’s + Try a Little Kindness
I Got This Super-creepy Email. Here Are Some Lessons…
Wow… Sometimes I can’t believe the garbage that lands in my inbox. I got this one last week from a guy named Joon: Hey Tom, I don’t want to sound weird, but I was creeping your LinkedIn profile and wanted to reach out. Thought I’d see if you’re open to hopping on a call. Put…
How to Cure Writer’s Block to Create Client-Attracting Content
A small business owner asked me recently if I could help her cure writer’s block. She wanted to create client-attracting stories. But every time she sat at her computer to write an email, blog, or social post, she’d freeze. She’d stare at that blinking cursor and think, “Now what!?” She was frustrated. She was confused.…
Monday Mash-Up ~ Vol. 2, Ep. 39
The Promises and Perils of Artificial Intelligence + A Blood-and-Gore Story with Big Business Lessons + Business Lessons from Tim Cook + Which Media Work Best? A Fascinating and Funny Look… + From Tim Cook, re: Steve Jobs
Business-Building Wisdom from The Youngest Baseball Manager
I live in St. Louis, Missouri, USA where baseball is a big deal. Earlier this week, the St. Louis Cardinals tapped Oliver “OIi” Marmol to manage the club. He’s 35. That makes him the youngest manager in Major League Baseball. He’s younger than a few of the players he’ll manage. So, naturally, reporters asked Oli…
The Stunning Story of My Trip to Facebook Prison
I’m not a hating kind of guy. But… I HATE Facebook. Lots of reasons. But here’s the latest… A few months ago, I set up a Facebook business account so I could run ads to promote Story Power Marketing. I logged in the other day to set up a new user. But I couldn’t manage…
Monday Mash-Up ~ Vol. 2, Ep. 38
An Apple App to Control Procrastinating Impulses + Harnessing the Creative Power Within You + Headline Advice – Separating The Good and Bad Advice + Marketing Lessons from Horror Films + From Pablo Picasso
Maya Angelou’s Priceless Marketing Wisdom
Maya Angelou once said, “People will forget what you said. People will forget what you did. But people will never forget how you made them feel.” She was a civil rights activist and poet — not a marketing consultant. She didn’t say that to help you and me grow our businesses. But take her words…
Why Your Marketing Might be a Cliche
A few months ago, I met with an employment coach who helps unhappy workers find a job to fit their passions and skills. When they come to her, they’re scared. They’re frustrated. They’re anxious. They’re unfocused. They’re unsure of themselves. She works with clients to TRANSFORM… From scared to courageous. Frustrated to satisfied. Anxious to…
I Pull Back The Curtain to Reveal…
Remember that scene in “The Wizard of Oz” when Toto pulls back the curtain so Dorothy and her pals discover the “Wizard of Oz” is merely a man? I’m thinking about that scene for two reasons: 1) After I send this email, I’m hopping in my car with my wife to follow the gray concrete…
3 Most Important Storytelling Keys
I just released a new on-demand micro-training (12 minutes): The 3 Most Important Storytelling Keys toCaptivate Prospects and Inspire Them to Buy —Without Pitching and Prodding You can watch the whole thing in less time than it takes to down your second cup of coffee. Click the big button below to watch now. And after you watch,…
Monday Mash-Up ~ Vol. 2, Ep. 37
Great Content for Leaders (and Marketers) + Great Calls to Action + Automations to Save Time and Connect with Leads + User-Generated Content Tips + From Samantha Melhorn
Why You Should Implement the Proven Thing, Not Chase the “Next Big Thing”
Soon after I began the shelter-from-home thing back in 2020, a friend invited me to join Clubhouse. It was a new app that allowed people to converse in audio chat rooms. He said it was THE NEXT BIG THING. I didn’t sign up right away. But I kept hearing the Clubhouse BUZZ… ….The usual stuff…
You Won’t Believe What This Top Executive is Willing to Do For The Team…
Last week, I toured EPCOT at Walt Disney World with my friend Vance Morris who used to work there and now is the planet’s leading expert on how to “Disnify” your business. As a surprise, Vance invited his pal Dave to share some insider secrets about how Disney World operates today. Dave is a top-dog at Disney.…
Monday Mash-Up ~ Vol. 2, Ep. 36
A Great Example of a Story-Powered Marketing Video + Brandi Carlile + Find Your Voice, Change Your Life + Best Live Chat for Your Website + The Power of Being Different…
Why Disney’s Magic-Makers Have Systems for Everything
Remember that time you parked in a giant lot, and when it was time to return to your car, you couldn’t remember where it was? You wandered around the parking lot like a lost lamb — your fury rising like lava — until you stumbled upon your vehicle. How’d I know about that?! Come on,…
How a Thriving Copywriter Went From Easy Street to Skid Row
Sad story… I crossed paths recently with a full time copywriter who’s stuck on skid row. His top client accounted for 80% of the copywriter’s revenue. And then the top client opted for a cheaper option. Poof! There went 80% of the copywriter’s revenue. Now the copywriter is posting to public forums, saying he can’t…
Monday Mash-Up ~ Vol. 2, Ep. 35
Save Your Favorite Things from The Internet in One Place + How a Psychotherapist Transformed His Marketing To Sell More + “There’s always been a rainbow hangin’ over your head…”
Why You Need to Clean Up Your Stinkin’ Thinkin’
Back when he was a star catcher for the New York Yankees, Yogi Berra told a young teammate, “90% of the game is half mental.” OK, maybe Yogi wasn’t as good at math as he was at catching, throwing, and hitting. But he had a point. To succeed in baseball, you need mental focus and…
How to Eliminate Guesswork and Catch a Big One…
I just returned from a week in southern Wyoming where I gathered with high school buddies for some R&R and fishing. The first day on the North Platte River I stood knee-deep in the icy water. The only sounds: The rolling river, the occasional screech of a red-tailed hawk, and the “chirp-chirp” of grasshoppers… …and…
Monday Mash-Up ~ Vol. 2, Ep. 34
Ogilvy on Advertising + “The Moment with Brian Koppelman” + An Ogilvy Cheat-Sheet + Why You Shouldn’t Worry About Open Rates + My Favorite David Ogilvy Quote
The Importance of Building Human Connections…
I launched my new podcast, The Story Power Marketing Show, back in July. We’re up to eight episodes. Last week’s is a good one. It’s all about being HUMAN. The episode title: “Act Like a Human, Not a Humorless Robot (with Dr. Heather Walker)” The more human you are in your business, the more HUMAN…
Monday Mash-Up ~ Vol. 2, Ep. 33
Making “Intentional Connections” in a Remote Working World + What We Can Learn from Introverts + Decisive by the Heath + 5 Storytelling Secerts + Wise Words from the Guy Who Built THE Chocolate Factory
Bruce Springsteen’s Ode to Fallen Heroes
I usually don’t send emails on Saturday’s. But I make an exception today. In addition to Story Power Marketing, I run a thing called (ware)HOUSE Concerts — a venue in St. Louis where (before the virus) we would host intimate concerts in a space that can best be described as a warehouse turned into an oversized living…
Client-Attracting Secrets from the Storytelling Hall of Fame
Major League Baseball inducted three players into the Hall of Fame yesterday — including one of my childhood heroes Ted Simmons. So yesterday seemed like a good day for me to release my new e-book that features …5 legendary ads from the Storytelling Hall of Fame. The e-book title: 5 Storytelling Secretsto Help You Captivate Prospectsand…
Cautionary Tale: How to Waste Money and Repel Prospects
I came across this quote from Bill Gates the other day that makes a ton of sense: The first rule of any technology used in a business is that automation applied to an efficient operation will magnify the efficiency. The second is that automation applied to an inefficient operation will magnify the inefficiency. For 19…
Why I Dumped This Rotten Trickster…
I got an email the other day with the subject line that said, “Receipt for P’pal payment…” It came from a marketer named Victory Akpos. I bought software from him last month. I couldn’t understand why Victory sent a receipt now, weeks after my purchase. I worried that, maybe, I accidentally signed up for something…
How Intention and Action Lead to Beautiful Creations
My friend Caren Libby posted a beautiful photograph on LinkedIn last week — a meadow with Black-Eyed Susans in full bloom. (That’s the photo above.) In her post, Caren wrote, “I stumbled across this lovely burst of blossoms in the John F. Kennedy trail in Forest Park.” I loved the post, and I shared it.…
Monday Mash-Up ~ Vol. 2, Ep. 32
Sign up for Daniel Throssell’s Emails + Why you think you’re right — even if you’re wrong + (ware)HOUSE Concerts Song of the Day + The Difference Between Simple and Easy + Antoine de St. Exupery, author of The Little Prince, said…
Loads of Leads Won’t Always Help. Here’s Why…
I met last week with a business owner who was hungry to get new leads. As I dove deeper with him, I learned he has NO idea how to nurture those leads. His plan: Pitch them immediately and pitch them hard. He’s one of those “Pleased to meet you. Will you marry me?” types. The…
Monday Mash-Up ~ Vol. 2, Ep. 31
How Tim Ferriss Faces His Fear to Thrive in High-Stress Environments + Lessons from a Guy Who Had a Drunk Bartender Point a Gun at Him… + Kobe Bryant: Storytelling and the Awareness of Fear + The Marketoonist on Brand Loyalty + Seneca on the Stories we Tell Ourselves
What Would You Do If The Stories And Music Stopped
My friend Les Landes shared with me a story about stories. I’d like to share it with you. It comes from the author Neil Gaiman who said: “My cousin Helen…was in the Warsaw ghetto during World War II. She and a bunch of the girls in the ghetto had to do sewing each day. And…
Tired of Chasing Leads? [Live Demo]
I rarely send promotions on behalf of other marketers (I see too many others pitching stuff that they don’t even seem to vet). But I’m making an exception for my friend Michael DeLon, who’s the real deal. He’s offering a great training that I recommend. I recommend it only because I know it will help……
How are B2B vs. B2C Marketing Different? You May Be Surprised…
I crossed paths the other day with a struggling marketer who said, “I’m having trouble distinguishing B2B copy from B2C copy and I feel so dumb.” No need to feel dumb, I thought. That’s a common question. How does marketing and copy change when selling to businesses (B2B) versus consumers (B2C)? Another marketer chimed in…
Monday Mash-Up ~ Vol. 2, Ep. 30
Marketing Lessons from the Gettysburg Address + “If You Want to Win the Game, You Have to Stay in the Game” + Powerful Business Lessons from a Master Fly Fisherman + Rest in Peace, Nanci + Keep Track of the Inspiration
How an Impulse Buy Led to a Legendary Business
While on vacation in 1986, a future legend bought a coat in Jackson, Wyoming that changed his life. John wasn’t a legend yet. He was a sales consultant, vacationing in cowboy country. The coat was a full-length “duster.” The kind of coat real cowboys wear. John saw the coat, hanging in the back of Schaefer…
New Podcast: The Story Power Marketing Show
Hi Ryan, My new podcast is live. It’s called The Story Power Marketing Show. Please check it out. You can listen on Apple, Google, Spotify and anywhere else you get podcasts. (See below for subscription links for all the major providers). You also can visit StoryPowerMarketing.show to view episode videos, get downloadable audio, and review show notes.…
Monday Mash-Up ~ Vol. 2, Ep. 29
Marketing Lessons from the Grateful Dead + A Random Act of Kindness at Trader Joe’s + The Me You Cannot See + Great Business Tips from Jeff Walker + Jerry Garcia said…
The Client-Attracting Power of Radical Empathy
In a recent Monday Mash-Up, I told you about the author Cheryl Strayed and the advice columns she wrote under the pen name “Sugar.” Her friend and fellow author Steve Almond described Strayed’s Sugar columns as “radical empathy.” I can’t get that phrase out of my mind. Radical empathy. Powerful business storytelling is all about radical…
How to Turn a Claim from Questionable to Rock-Solid Believable
I’ve been helping one of my coaching clients Richard polish a print advertisement for his kitchen and bath remodeling business. Here’s the last line of the ad: “That’s why our average review on Facebook and Google is 4.92 stars out of 5.” You may be wondering… ”Why 4.92?” Here’s why: Because 4.92 is the EXACT…
Monday Mash-Up ~ Vol. 2, Ep. 28
Tiny Beautiful Things + Would you swap a Patek Philippe watch for a cartoon of a Bored Ape? + Otter.ai for Transcriptions + Copywriters Podcast + James Baldwin
“The Most Profound Advice…” From a Bestselling Author
In a recent Monday Mash-Up, I shared Tim Ferriss’ podcast interview with Annie Lamott. Her book Bird by Bird is one of my favorites about writing. In the interview, Annie tells Tim how she came up with the book title. This story alone is a priceless lesson for writers — especially those struggling to get it…
How to Conquer Stage Fright
Powerful storytellers embrace and conquer stage fright. Take Darden Smith. He’s a singer-songwriter who has released 15 critically acclaimed albums and performed around the globe — including a concert in February 2019 at the venue I run, (ware)HOUSE Concerts in St. Louis. He’s an author, too, who wrote a book I love called The Habit of…
Monday Mash-Up ~ Vol. 2, Ep. 27
Travis Linville + 8 Tips For Staying Creative In Your Content Marketing + How a Video Streaming Giant Has Changed Storytelling + The Fine Line Between Awareness and Noise
Do This to Delight and Connect With Your Audience…
I heard a speechwriter describe why her boss — the First Lady of the United States — connected so well with audiences. “She would have things that she’d want to tell the audience,” the speechwriter said. “She wanted to make sure that she was honoring their stories. She’s always wants to learn about her audiences (“What…
How Business is Like Skydiving…
In 2017, I jumped from an airplane 15,000 feet above New Zealand… …on purpose. Here’s a picture at the moment of truth. Those are MY legs, hanging out of the airplane, 2.84 miles above Lake Wanaka. Here’s another picture… …after I jumped, freefalling at about 200 feet per second. The plan: Freefall for 60 seconds,…
Monday Mash-Up ~ Vol. 2, Ep. 26
Anne Lamott on The Tim Ferriss Show + Steel Fear by Brandon Webb and John David Mann + The Neurobiology of Great Business Writing + Wise Humor re: “The Next Big Thing” + Winston Churchill on Faith and Victory
Now You Can Watch This Valuable Training Whenever You Want…
I’ve heard from so many people who couldn’t attend my live training at the times I’ve offered it. So I’m now offering a replay of the training that you can watch whenever you want — 24/7. It’s called “How to Harness The Magnetic Power of Storytelling to Captivate Prospects and Inspire Them to Act… So You Can…
Why Great Creators Noodle, Doodle, and Jot
I listened recently to my friend Dan Rubright describe how he created a song. Dan’s a great jazz guitarist and composer who appeared on the Songs Out Loud podcast and dissected his tune “Prepare for Departure.” This podcast blew me away — not just because I love great music… …but because I love to create… …and I help…
Monday Mash-Up ~ Vol. 2, Ep. 25
A Jazz Guitarist and Composer Discusses the Creative Process + Business Lessons From Henry David Thoreau + Spreeder — A Tool to Help You Speed Read + Lessons Learned from Hanging Out with Millionaires + Desiderius Erasmus…
How I Developed The Habit of Noticing
When Instagram was new, I opened an account and thought… …now what!? I wasn’t into selfies. Instagram marketing wasn’t a thing yet. I didn’t know what to photograph or why. Then I decided to look for interesting images that surrounded me. I was at home so I looked for interesting stuff in my house. I…
How Yoga Can Help You Become a Better Storyteller
I attended a yoga class last week. First time ever. I worked muscles and tendons that hadn’t stretched since the Reagan administration. Some of those muscles protested mildly. Others screamed, “You’ve got to be kidding me!” Our instructor, Jessica, asked us to bend at the waist and touch the ground. She spotted me in my…