Story Power Blog
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…
I Nearly Ignored This Awesome Advice…
Last month, I launched a free video e-course called “How to Write Emails that Sell.” Seven videos, delivered by email, one per day, over seven days. To promote the course, I shared one of the videos in an email I sent to you and on this LinkedIn post. I got lots of positive feedback for that…
Why This Letter Generated More Than $2 Billion in Sales…
A few years ago, my friend skipped his high school reunion because he was between jobs. He didn’t want to face his classmates while down on his luck. I get it. He dreaded that “what are you up to?” conversation. He didn’t want to tell his story of dreams deferred. He wanted to be the…
Monday Mash-Up ~ Vol. 2, Ep. 24
Recommended Reading12 Business Lessons from Mel Brooks Mel Brooks was born on this day in 1926. Here’s a Fast Company article from several years back with 12 lessons Brooks discovered over his legendary career. These are valuable lessons for anyone managing a business. Recommended ResourceVelocity Jam Helps You Establish High-Value Connections on LinkedIn If you want to expand your…
This LinkedIn Pickup Line Fell Flat
My brother, Mike, got a LinkedIn request the other day from a guy who wrote this: “Love to Connect. I just got a radar that detects high-performance humans. Damn thing won’t stop going off since I saw your profile.” That’s some fancy-schmancy, make-believe radar. Mike wasn’t impressed. No connection for you, Radar Man. I shared…
7 Secrets to Write Emails that Sell
Good Morning: I’ve launched a new video e-course called 7 Secrets to Write Emails that Sell. It’s 7 short videos, one per day, delivered to your inbox over 7 days. Here’s what we cover: How to come up with great ideas for irresistible emails. The key to overcome writers block so you can knock out your…
Monday Mash-Up ~ Vol. 2, Ep. 23
Recommended Reading / ListeningThe Daily Stoic: Ancient Wisdom for the Modern Age I’m a big fan of Ryan Holiday’s The Daily Stoic. I subscribe to his emails. I read his book. I listen to his podcast. The website describes stoicism as, “…a philosophy designed to make us more resilient, happier, more virtuous and more wise–and as a result, better…
Why Simple Words Sell More Than Big Ones
Have you ever been in a conversation with someone who peppers their speech with big, fancy words — just to show the world how smart they are? Yeah. I run into that person a lot. And, I have to admit (gulp!) I used to be that guy. I used to love big, fancy words —…
Summit Starts Tomorrow. I Speak Friday…
Hi — I conducted a group coaching call earlier today, and one of my clients suggested she doesn’t have the “gift” needed to market her business with ease. It’s not a gift we’re born with, I told her. You master marketing and grow your business by learning from the masters. The masters make it look…
Why You Don’t Need a Muse to Master Marketing
There’s a movie I like called The Muse. Albert Brooks plays a screenwriter named Steven Phillips who has lost his “edge.” Everyone says he’s past his prime. So Steven gets a Muse. Not a figurative muse. A literal muse — as in a real-life Greek goddess, a daughter of Zeus. Her name is Sarah Little (Sharon…
Monday Mash-Up ~ Vol. 2, Ep. 22
Six-Figure Summit: Priceless Presentations and the Price is Right + Theresa Carrington, founder of Ten By Three + Marketoonist Mocks the “Next Big Thing” + Suzanne Somers Answer Big Questions + Happy Flag Day + From Harriet Beecher Stowe
I Met a Remarkable Woman
I met a remarkable woman yesterday. Her name is Sarah Walugembe. She lives in Uganda. Her mom left her when she was two months old. Her dad died a few years later. She married when she was 14. She thought marriage was her ticket to a better life. But her husband was a bad man.…
How Do You Get People to Open Your Emails?
Last month, I sent an email encouraging subscribers to answer a few questions: Why do you subscribe to my list and open these emails? What do you hope to learn/accomplish here? Any marketing questions/challenges you’d like me to address in future emails? I got a ton of great feedback and questions, including this one from…
Old Codger Secrets for Marketing Success
Over dinner the other night, my pals and I had one of those “back-in-the-day” conversations. Back in the day, we said, people couldn’t stream music on their phones or computers. We had to buy vinyl records (big as a dinner plate) and play them on bulky record players. If you scratched the record (easy to…
Monday Mash-Up ~ Vol. 2, Ep. 21
Six-Figure Summit: Priceless Presentations and the Price is Right + Affordable Microphones for Better Audio + Fallingwater, Frank Lloyd Wright’s Masterwork + Want More Customers? Solve Their Problems + From Frank Lloyd Wright
Never Say “Sorry” For This…
When I was in high school, no one visited the guidance counselor. I mean NO ONE. He was a creepy hippy-turned-teacher who sat alone in his third-floor office, waiting for someone to show up and ask for help. We students thought asking for help was an act of surrender. A sign of weakness. An admission…
I Fought The Law And The Law Lost
Happy National Speak in Sentences Day. Party on! Oops. “Party on” is not a complete sentence! My bad. Oops, I did it again. LOL! Darn it! I meant, “I am now laughing out loud.” That’s better, at least according to the “Speak In Sentences” police. I hear from them occasionally. “Your emails and blog posts…
Memorial Day Mash-Up
Former POW Hal Kushner + Tim O’Brien The Things They Carried + National Memorial Day Concert + Eastwood’s Iwo Jima Double-Feature
Quick Question…
Hi – Last week I sent an email about the welcome message I send to new subscribers. I later realized the questions I ask new subscribers are relevant to longtime subscribers, too. So I’m reaching out to ask… Why do you subscribe to my list and open these emails? What do you hope to learn/accomplish here? Any…
How Tim Ferriss Named “The 4-Hour Workweek”
After his book The 4-Hour Workweek became an international bestseller, Tim Ferriss told an interviewer he wanted to name the book The 3-Hour Workweek… …But, Ferriss quipped, “My publisher thought ‘3-Hour Workweek’ was unrealistic.” Ha! I’ve read the The 4-Hour Workweek a few times. It’s loaded with valuable lessons. But the most valuable lesson is one not even in the…
Monday Mash-Up ~ Vol. 2, Ep. 19
Cathy Sexton Overcome Email Overload + Class Action Park + Why Storytelling is So Important in the Digital Era + Chris Voss Never Split the Difference + From Bob Dylan
How I Evolved From Procrastinator to Implementer
I recently noticed a new signature section at the bottom of emails from Dave Dee, one of my favorite marketing experts. The section described several ways prospective clients can connect and do business with him. Not a hard pitch, just a short catalog of available opportunities. I liked it so I asked Dave about it…
Her Email Was Great. So I Swiped It.
Last week, I subscribed to a great email newsletter by Ann Handley. I immediately received a thank you email from Ann that’s so good, I swiped it for my own biz. In that email she: Thanked me for subscribing. Told me what she will send and when. Shared some examples of archived emails. Shared simple instructions to…
Monday Mash-Up ~ Vol. 2, Ep. 18
Two Masters Discuss the Power of Storytelling + Writing Tips from 15 Greats + LinkedIn Master Chats with the Copywriting Great + The New Edition of Robert Cialdini’s Classic + Jeannette Rankin Gives You The Green Light
Video: The Key to Powerful, Business-building Storytelling
I had a blast visiting with the great Dr. Pelè on his Profitable Happiness Podcast. In this short clip, Dr. Pelè asks me to “help us understand the power of storytelling…” So that’s what I do. In < 5 minutes, I describe the wrong way and the right way to describe your business when prospecting and…
Priceless Marketing Lessons From Soggy Sweat
Here’s a fun fact that could win you a bar bet: Mississippi was the one-and-only state to continue prohibiting alcohol after the 18th Amendment repealed federal prohibition in 1933. Prohibition continued in “The Magnolia State” until 1966. Another fun fact: A guy named Noah “Soggy” Sweat (you can’t make this stuff up) delivered the most…
Monday Mash-Up ~ Vol. 2, Ep. 17
Guy Raz’s How I Built This podcast + Bring Him Back Home (Nelson Mandela) + The 5 Biggest Email Marketing Mistakes That Are Costing You + Prosecuting Evil: The Extraordinary World of Ben Ferencz + Nelson Mandela said
Warning: Don’t Do This Unless You Want to Damage Your Brand
My friend Ted Prodromou reached out to an old friend on LinkedIn the other day. He just wanted to say, “Hello” and catch up. The friend replied instantly… …with an automated message… …that said, “Subscribe to my YouTube channel.” That’s it. Nothing else. No “Glad to hear from you, Ted.” No personal comments. Just an…
Why do Prospects Hire You?
Before he became a famous and wealthy editor of Ladies’ Home Journal, Edward Bok was just another depression-era kid trying to scrape together some money for his ill mother. He was standing outside of a bakery, watching as the baker put cakes and cookies in the window display. The baker asked young Edward, “Don’t they look…
Monday Mash-Up ~ Vol. 2, Ep. 16
Marketing Lessons from Apple + Jason Bateman and Will Arnett Smartless Podcast + Seth Godin’s Blog + TEDx Talk The Magical Science of Storytelling + Great Advice from Bing Crosby
How My Hungry Dog Can Help Your Business Grow
My dog, Moose, likes to spend most of his time standing still as a statue, staring at the treetops. That’s where the squirrels are. In the treetops. Moose stands in the backyard. Staring and staring and staring. Waiting for one squirrel, just one, to fall from a tree so he can pounce. I’ve never seen…
How to Tell the Difference Between a Winning and Losing Headline
In the 1920’s, a copywriter named Max Sackheim wrote an advertisement for a book entitled, “How to Master Good English in 15 Minutes a Day,” by Sherwin Cody. It was one of the most successful direct response advertisements ever written. The publisher hired other copywriters to try and outdo Sackheim’s. But every time they tested…
Monday Mash-Up ~ Vol. 2, Ep. 15
Tyler Perry Rejects Hate + Daniel Levis “Interviews” John Caples + Carol Burnett Shares Her Favorites + A Call for Calls to Action + Marcus Auerlius on LIfe and Death
The Right and Wrong Way to Win Prospects’ Trust
Stephanie Michelle was hunting for a job, and she wanted an edge. So she dished out $29.95 for a 7.5 ml vial of “Liquid Trust.” The product description on Amazon says Liquid Trust “can help people gain the trust of others.” Great for sales people, job hunters, and anyone else who wants others to “feel…
How to Keep Avengers from Attacking You
I’ve been thinking about revenge. A movie made me think it. A movie called “Promising Young Woman” that I saw last weekend. It tells the story of a 30-year-old Cassie, who exacts revenge on men who mistreat women. I won’t give away the details. I’ll say only that the movie made me cringe and laugh…
Monday Mash-Up ~ Vol. 2, Ep. 14
Kevin Roose book “Futureproof: 9 Rules for Humans in the Age of Automation” + Emotional Advertising Works Better + Dan Ariely Predictably Irrational
Why Project Managers Make Great Marketers
Yesterday, I ran a group training for my Story Generator VIP members. I showed them how to boil down storytelling to a simple process of gathering the building blocks and then assembling them. “We don’t write copy,” I told the VIPs. “We assemble it.” When you learn the simple process (the gathering), the “hard part”…
Marketing Lessons From a Lovesick Teenager
When I was a lovesick teenage boy, I listened to one song more than any other: “Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood” by the Animals. It usually worked like this: I had a crush on a girl. She didn’t have a crush on me. That made me sad. I’d come home from school, close my bedroom…
Monday Mash-Up ~ Vol. 2, Ep. 13
Ken Burns on Earnest Hemingway + Hemingway on How to Become a Great Writer + Natalie Hemby Time-Honored Tradition + Clara Barton on Danger, Fear, and Courage
Don’t Take My Word For it, But Believe This…
First a music recommendation and then a business lesson… I’m a big fan of Aaron Lee Tasjan. I recommend all of his albums, including his new one “Tasjan! Tasjan! Tasjan!”Maybe you’ve heard of him. Maybe you haven’t.Maybe my recommendation influences you. Maybe it doesn’t. But don’t take my word for it. Check this out… That’s this…
How They Got 28x Return Selling a Pile of Junk
Joshua and Rob bought 100 little thrift store objects because they wanted to prove a point. They wanted to show that one person’s thrift store junk is another person’s treasure… …if you can attach emotional significance to the object. So, Joshua Glenn and Rob Walker enlisted 100 creative writers, assigned one of the objects to…
A Great Subject Line and Why it Didn’t Work…
When a top-notch copywriter forwards to me an example of great marketing, I pay attention. My buddy Adam is one of the best copywriters I know. And yesterday, he forwarded to me a subject line that caught his eye. The subject line: “MIT Device Cuts Power Bills By 65%” Adam said, “That’s about as good…
The One Word That Can be The Difference Between Success and Failure
I nearly no-showed for a meeting with a new LinkedIn connection last week. The connection, Terri, sent me a message to tell me she was waiting in the Zoom room. I had forgotten our meeting. I was eating lunch, oblivious, when Terri’s message arrived. I joined the Zoom room, tail between my legs, apologizing, embarrassed.…