Story Power Blog

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I Nearly Ignored This Awesome Advice…

By Tom Ruwitch | July 1, 2021

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…

By Tom Ruwitch | June 29, 2021

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

By Tom Ruwitch | June 28, 2021

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

By Tom Ruwitch | June 24, 2021

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…

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7 Secrets to Write Emails that Sell

By Tom Ruwitch | June 22, 2021

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

By Tom Ruwitch | June 21, 2021

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…

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Why Simple Words Sell More Than Big Ones

By Tom Ruwitch | June 17, 2021

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 —…

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Summit Starts Tomorrow. I Speak Friday…

By Tom Ruwitch | June 16, 2021

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…

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Why You Don’t Need a Muse to Master Marketing

By Tom Ruwitch | June 15, 2021

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…

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Monday Mash-Up ~ Vol. 2, Ep. 22

By Tom Ruwitch | June 14, 2021

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

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I Met a Remarkable Woman

By Tom Ruwitch | June 14, 2021

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.…

Close-up of a smartphone screen showing the Mail app icon with a red notification badge displaying the number 2, indicating two unread emails. Other app icons are partially visible on either side.

How Do You Get People to Open Your Emails?

By Tom Ruwitch | June 10, 2021

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…

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Old Codger Secrets for Marketing Success

By Tom Ruwitch | June 8, 2021

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…

A modern house sits above a waterfall surrounded by lush green trees. Text on the image reads “FALLINGWATER, Mill Run, PA.” A play button overlay is centered on the image.

Monday Mash-Up ~ Vol. 2, Ep. 21

By Tom Ruwitch | June 7, 2021

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

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Never Say “Sorry” For This…

By Tom Ruwitch | June 3, 2021

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…

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I Fought The Law And The Law Lost

By Tom Ruwitch | June 1, 2021

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

By Tom Ruwitch | May 31, 2021

Former POW Hal Kushner + Tim O’Brien The Things They Carried + National Memorial Day Concert + Eastwood’s Iwo Jima Double-Feature

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Quick Question…

By Tom Ruwitch | May 27, 2021

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…

Book cover with orange background and red text that reads, The 4-Hour Workweek.

How Tim Ferriss Named “The 4-Hour Workweek”

By Tom Ruwitch | May 25, 2021

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…

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Monday Mash-Up ~ Vol. 2, Ep. 19

By Tom Ruwitch | May 24, 2021

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

A person sits with a laptop on their lap and holds a smartphone, browsing messages or social media. The screen of both devices is visible. An orange notebook is on the couch nearby.

How I Evolved From Procrastinator to Implementer

By Tom Ruwitch | May 20, 2021

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…

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Her Email Was Great. So I Swiped It.

By Tom Ruwitch | May 18, 2021

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…

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Monday Mash-Up ~ Vol. 2, Ep. 18

By Tom Ruwitch | May 17, 2021

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

Two men, Tom Ruwitch and Dr. Pelè, are smiling during a video call interview. Tom is on the left in a hoodie on a porch, while Dr. Pelè, wearing a hat and t-shirt, is on the right in an indoor office with bookshelves.

Video: The Key to Powerful, Business-building Storytelling

By Tom Ruwitch | May 13, 2021

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…

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Priceless Marketing Lessons From Soggy Sweat

By Tom Ruwitch | May 11, 2021

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…

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Monday Mash-Up ~ Vol. 2, Ep. 17

By Tom Ruwitch | May 10, 2021

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

By Tom Ruwitch | May 6, 2021

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…

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Why do Prospects Hire You?

By Tom Ruwitch | May 4, 2021

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…

A man in a suit speaks on stage against a purple background, wearing a headset microphone. A play button icon is overlaid in the center of the image, indicating a video.

Monday Mash-Up ~ Vol. 2, Ep. 16

By Tom Ruwitch | May 3, 2021

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

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How My Hungry Dog Can Help Your Business Grow

By Tom Ruwitch | April 29, 2021

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…

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How to Tell the Difference Between a Winning and Losing Headline

By Tom Ruwitch | April 27, 2021

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…

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Monday Mash-Up ~ Vol. 2, Ep. 15

By Tom Ruwitch | April 26, 2021

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

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The Right and Wrong Way to Win Prospects’ Trust

By Tom Ruwitch | April 22, 2021

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…

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How to Keep Avengers from Attacking You

By Tom Ruwitch | April 20, 2021

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…

Book cover with the title Predictably Irrational in large white text, half in orange and half upside down in blue. Subtitle below reads, The Hidden Forces That Shape Our Decisions.

Monday Mash-Up ~ Vol. 2, Ep. 14

By Tom Ruwitch | April 19, 2021

Kevin Roose book “Futureproof: 9 Rules for Humans in the Age of Automation” + Emotional Advertising Works Better + Dan Ariely Predictably Irrational

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Why Project Managers Make Great Marketers

By Tom Ruwitch | April 16, 2021

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”…

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Marketing Lessons From a Lovesick Teenager

By Tom Ruwitch | April 13, 2021

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

By Tom Ruwitch | April 12, 2021

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

A music chart listing the top 10 Americana albums for the week of April 6, 2021, with artists, album titles, record labels, and chart positions shown in a table format.

Don’t Take My Word For it, But Believe This…

By Tom Ruwitch | April 8, 2021

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…

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How They Got 28x Return Selling a Pile of Junk

By Tom Ruwitch | April 6, 2021

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…

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A Great Subject Line and Why it Didn’t Work…

By Tom Ruwitch | April 1, 2021

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…

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The One Word That Can be The Difference Between Success and Failure

By Tom Ruwitch | March 30, 2021

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.…

Four women sing into microphones in a recording studio, each wearing headphones. The text reads “The Highwomen” and “‘Crowded Table.’” A video play button is centered in the image.

Monday Mash-Up ~ Vol. 2, Ep. 11

By Tom Ruwitch | March 29, 2021

Apple’s great “Bounce” advertisement + Scott Ginsberg Prolific + Mastering Fear — A Navy Seal’s Guide by Brandon Webb and John David Mann + The Highwomen “Crowded Table” + Cy Young Preaches Patience

A man in a suit appears to be floating or falling beside tall city buildings while wearing AirPods. Text reads: AirPods with wireless charging.

How Apple Captivates Prospects and How You Can, Too

By Tom Ruwitch | March 25, 2021

In the most recent Monday Mash-Up, I shared with you this ad from Apple which I love: Great visual storytelling. Great special effects. But as great as the “Jump” ad is, it’s not the greatest I’ve seen from Apple. This one, named “Bounce,” is even better: When Apple released this ad in 2019, I showed the ad…

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Computers Are Smart But They Can’t Beat You At This…

By Tom Ruwitch | March 23, 2021

In 1987, world chess champion Garry Kasparov declared, “No computer can ever beat me.” That was the year I graduated from college, ready to make my mark. I was cocky as Kasparov. Supremely confident in my abilities. A problem solver. A go-getter. Ten years later, an IBM super-computer called “Deep Blue” whipped Kasparov in a…

Monday Mash-Up ~ Vol. 2, Ep. 10

By Tom Ruwitch | March 22, 2021

Daniel Levis Why Facts Tell and Stories Sell + One Night in Miami + Sara Bareilles: Goodbye Yellowbrick Road + William Shatner

A stapler on a tray labeled EXPENSE THIS is shown next to a cheeseburger on a tray labeled EAT THIS, both against a pink background.

This Made Me Laugh…

By Tom Ruwitch | March 18, 2021

Last month, a burger joint in Toronto added a new section to its Ubereats and Doordash delivery menus… …with items named after office supplies. You can order a “Basic Steel Stapler” (actually a Fortune Burger). Throw in a side of “Braided HDMI Cable” (Classic Fries). Want parmesan on those fries? Then order the “USB Wired…

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You’re Invited…

By Tom Ruwitch | March 16, 2021

You’re Invited… I’m hosting a free, online training on Thursday. How to Harness The Magnetic Power of Storytelling to Captivate Prospects and Inspire Them to Act… So You Can Get More Clients Quickly and Easily I dug an old pair of shoes out of the attic and shot a new video to tell you all about it. …

Monday Mash-Up ~ Vol. 2, Ep. 9

By Tom Ruwitch | March 15, 2021

Most Powerful Marketing Advice Nobody Wants to Hear + Fred Miller on Zoom Backgrounds + How One Magic Phrase Can Power-Up Your Business Story + James Taylor: American Standard + Roman Emperor Julius Caesar

Black-and-white image of a newspaper-style advertisement with lengthy text promising to reveal a secret method for making $4,000 a day from home, featuring bold headlines and smaller descriptive details in multiple columns.

How Hardcore Conservatives and Hippies Found Common Ground

By Tom Ruwitch | March 11, 2021

This is a story about how hardcore, ultra-conservatives found common ground with a bunch of hippies. I know that seems unlikely these days, but it happened not that long ago. And this happening is loaded with business lessons. Our story begins soon after the turn of the millennium, in 2002, when the Internet was just…

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How Steve Jobs Cracked ’em Up and Why It Matters

By Tom Ruwitch | March 9, 2021

Steve Jobs introduced the iPhone during his keynote address at the Macworld conference in San Francisco, January 2007. Standing on stage, in his bluejeans and that black, mock turtleneck, Jobs whipped the crowd into a frenzy by confirming the Apple phone was here. And then it was time to reveal it. Three minutes into the…

Monday Mash-Up ~ Vol. 2, Ep. 8

By Tom Ruwitch | March 8, 2021

John David Mann’s “How to Write Good” + How to Hold Back a River of Lava — Or Not + John Eyres on Goal Setting + The Reckless Electric

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My Birthday & My Dad

By Tom Ruwitch | March 7, 2021

I don’t usually write to you on Sundays. But I’m making an exception today because it’s my birthday, and I’d like to tell you a story… …about my dad. His name was Wally Ruwitch. When he was 50 years old he was diagnosed with Stage 4 colon cancer. I was 24 then, working as a…

A tray on a bed holds two glasses of champagne, a silver ice bucket with a bottle inside, and chocolate-covered strawberries and brownies, with white pillows and a beige cushion in the background.

How a Hotel Discovered the Story to Skyrocket Sales

By Tom Ruwitch | March 4, 2021

I heard a great story the other day about a hotel owner who raked in more revenue by thinking differently about what he sells. This story is not just for bigwigs with hotels on Boardwalk and Park Place. This applies to YOU and me and anyone else who wants to… …delight customers… ….forge stronger relationships…

Cover of the book Oh, the THINKS you can Think! by Dr. Seuss, featuring colorful creatures marching in a circle around a blue, bean-shaped outline with the title inside.

Dr. Seuss Inspired This…

By Tom Ruwitch | March 2, 2021

Theodor Geisel was born on this day in 1904. You know him as Dr. Seuss. In honor of his birthday, I wrote a little something. Not as good as he used to do, but maybe worth a minute of your reading time… When I earned a diploma, I got many a gift. A watch. And a…

Two men are having a video call. The man on the left is in a room with sloped ceilings and brick walls, wearing a blue shirt. The man on the right is in front of bookshelves, smiling, and wearing a dark sweater.

Monday Mash-Up ~ Vol. 2, Ep. 7

By Tom Ruwitch | March 1, 2021

Michael DeLon and Me + The Lost History of Yellowstone + Jane Fonda on Storytelling and Empathy + Free Training to Harness the Magnetic Power of Stories

A woman dramatically leans back in a diner booth while a man sits across from her, watching. Other diners and staff in the background look on. Sandwiches and condiments are on the table.

How Meg Ryan’s Most Famous Scene Can Help You Sell

By Tom Ruwitch | February 25, 2021

Remember the famous, “I can tell if she’s faking…” scene in When Harry Met Sally? Harry (Billy Crystal) insists his partners have never…ummm…faked it. Sally (Meg Ryan) says women fake it all the time. Harry’s not buying it. So Sally proves the point by… …putting down her turkey sandwich and… …well… …faking it… …enthusiastically… …right there…

Chloé Zhao on the cover of New York Magazine, February 15–28, 2021 issue, wearing a dark textured coat against a light background with magazine headlines at the top.

Which of These Are You?

By Tom Ruwitch | February 23, 2021

In yesterday’s Monday Mash-Up, I shared this this article about the director Chloé Zhao. Her new movie, Nomadland, is getting a lot of Oscar buzz. And she’s getting lots of attention. Well deserved, I believe. The article has several great business lessons. Here’s one… Zhao met her husband, cinematographer Joshua James Richards, when they were film students at…

A person wearing a gray hoodie stands outdoors in front of an RV, with a desert landscape and mountains in the background under a clear blue sky.

Monday Mash-Up ~ Vol. 2, Ep. 6

By Tom Ruwitch | February 22, 2021

Let’s Work on Our Connections + Nomadland is a Haunting, Powerful Movie + The Story Behind Chloé Zhao’s Storytelling

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How Huck Finn Can Help You Grow Your Business

By Tom Ruwitch | February 18, 2021

I was thinking this morning about Huck Finn and his friend Jim, the runaway slave. Mark Twain published The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn on this day in 1885. I first read it ialmost 100 years later when I was a junior in high school. And for two years after college, I was an English teacher who taught…

How to Make LinkedIn Cold-Callers Flee

By Tom Ruwitch | February 16, 2021

I get slammed by cold-call LinkedIn connection requests. They usually start with something like this… “I visited your website and was really impressed…” or “I read your profile, and we seem to have a lot in common…” or “It looks like you do some great work…” My favorites are the ones that make it seem…

Monday Mash-Up ~ Vol. 2, Ep. 5

By Tom Ruwitch | February 15, 2021

Tips for Producing Better Content + Valentine’s Song List + Dr. Pele “Combining Your Business And Passion To Create Profitable Happiness” + Books and Emails by James Clear + A Movie about the Great Quincy Jones + Wise words from James Clear

Cartoon-style image of a woman with a serious expression and money in her pocket. A thought bubble reads: “Marketing is NOT an investment. It’s a cost.” Above, text says: “A fatal business mistake…”.

Would You Pass on a Dollar to Save a Nickel?

By Tom Ruwitch | February 11, 2021

A business coach called me because she wanted to find a better lead generation service. She helps clients find connections on LinkedIn and turn those connections into customers. She’d been using a third-party service that worked well… TOO well, she said. One of her clients had to pause the service because it generated more leads…

A black silhouette of a fairytale-style castle stands against a blue background with a pattern of evenly spaced lighter blue dots.

How Walt Disney Built the Happiest Place on Earth

By Tom Ruwitch | February 9, 2021

Back in the early fifties, when he was trying to build a park like no other, Walt Disney needed to raise some dough. Disneyland was going to cost him $17 million to build. That’s equal to around $165 million today. Walt and his company had done pretty well. But not THAT well so… …he launched…

An older woman with short gray hair, wearing a red jacket, smiles while holding a large camera with a telephoto lens against a blue dotted background.

Monday Mash-Up ~ Vol. 2, Ep. 4

By Tom Ruwitch | February 8, 2021

Marian Brickner’s 100-Page Book + Ted Prodromou’s Secret to Success + Due Tramonti (Two Sunsets) by Ludovico Einaudi + Powerful Words from Alice Walker

A cartoon man in glasses and a fedora smiles widely. A speech bubble next to him says, I HAVE JUST THE TICKET FOR YOU. The background is green with a dotted comic book pattern.

Bill Murray Hates This and So Do Your Prospects…

By Tom Ruwitch | February 4, 2021

Happy (Belated) Groundhog Day. Silly holiday. GREAT movie. I love the scenes with Ned Ryerson. He’s the insurance salesman who went to high school with Phil (Bill Murray’s character). Groundhog Day after Groundhog Day (see the movie if you don’t know what I mean), Ned accosts Phil on the street and pitches insurance. “Have you…

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How Eddie Murphy’s Fear Can Make You Better

By Tom Ruwitch | February 2, 2021

I used to think Eddie Murphy was fearless. I mean think of him at his peak… He was a badass. A comedy legend. Full of bluster. The coolest cat in town. This guy: Fearful? No way! Then, I saw him on a 2019 episode of Jerry Seinfeld’s Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee and… Eddie said…

A smiling man in a hat is shown in a comic-style illustration with a speech bubble that reads, TURN YOUR PASSION INTO PROFITABLE HAPPINESS against a blue polka dot background.

Monday Mash-Up, Vol. 2, Ep. 3

By Tom Ruwitch | February 1, 2021

Dr. Pelè aThe Profitable Happiness™ Podcast + The Tim Ferriss Show + Downton Abbey The English Game + Taylor Swift

A cartoon-style image of a smiling delivery person in a blue uniform holding a paper bag of groceries, with a thought bubble that says, I hope I get a good review.

Why Happy Customers Don’t Show You The Love

By Tom Ruwitch | January 28, 2021

For the last few months, my wife and I have skipped trips to the store and ordered groceries for home delivery. You know… the pandemic and all. Here in St. Louis, Missouri, USA, we have several options. We prefer one called Shipt. Why? Because the shoppers communicate well with us and consistently delight us. We…

Illustration of a baseball player in a blue and white uniform with the number 44, swinging a bat against a dotted light blue background.

Henry Aaron. Immortal. Inspiration.

By Tom Ruwitch | January 26, 2021

I was 9 years old when Henry Aaron broke Babe Ruth’s career home run record. I watched him hit number 715 on TV with my brother and my dad. We celebrated the feat. I didn’t have a clue what he’d gone through. Even some of his teammates now say they didn’t know… …He received tons…

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The Return of the Monday Mash-Up, Vol. 2, Ep. 1

By Tom Ruwitch | January 25, 2021

Ted Prodromou Ginger or Mary Ann? + Steve Jobs by Walter Isaacson + Free Photos + Music to Write By + Words to Live By

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A Fan, A Hall of Famer, and A Wink… Business Lessons from the Ballpark

By Tom Ruwitch | January 21, 2021

Marketing master Gary Vaynerchuk shared a story on LinkedIn the other day that I have to share with you. He describes going to his first baseball game with his mom and uncle in 1985 when he was a kid. Superstar outfielder Rickey Henderson catches a fly ball to end an inning and (Gary V takes…

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Al Franken Messed With My Mind and Then I Got Over It

By Tom Ruwitch | January 19, 2021

When I was a younger business person, I never thought much about mindset. Meditation? Not for me. Visualization? No, thanks. Self-affirmation? Not a chance. I think it was Stuart Smalley’s fault. Remember him? He was a recurring character on Saturday Night Live in the 1990s. Al Franken played the part before he left SNL to…

Scrabble tiles spelling “HOCUS POCUS” on a knitted cream blanket with white pumpkins, dried leaves, and pampas grass arranged in a cozy autumn setting.

How to Know Exactly What Prospects Want — Without Hocus Pocus

By Tom Ruwitch | January 14, 2021

Remember that movie with Mel Gibson playing a male chauvinist pig who magically acquires the superpower to “hear” women’s thoughts? I just heard a real-life version of that story. Both the real-life and Hollywood versions reveal a ton about marketing. The real-life story features a marketing guy named Ben Settle who, like Gibson’s character, has…

John Lennon’s Song for Social Media

By Tom Ruwitch | January 12, 2021

Imagine there’s no Facebook. It’s easy if you try. No tweets……or REtweets. Pinterest? Say goodbye. You may say I’m a dreamer. But… …Really… …Imagine a world without social media. Then what? What would you do next? How would you connect with prospects? What would you say? Without memes… …without some pithy <280-character comment… …without likes and shares? What if…

Large white letters spelling HOLLYWOOD stand on a dry, grassy hillside with some trees and a tall radio tower on the right against a bright blue sky.

Why Nicole Kidman Did This for Tom Cruise…

By Tom Ruwitch | January 7, 2021

Back in the 1990s, Nicole Kidman and Tom Cruise were Hollywood’s IT couple. A fairy-tale marriage. Three movies together — including a really creepy one called “Eyes Wide Shut” and this: When their love was shining brightly, Nicole dished out a few dozen bucks to the International Star Registry. She chose a twinkly little star…

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A Less Complicated Way to Power up Business Growth

By Tom Ruwitch | January 5, 2021

Happy National Screenwriters Day. (Yeah, that’s a thing). Last night, to get into the holiday spirit, I picked up my copy of “Story – Substance, Structure, Style, and the Principles of Screenwriting” by Robert McKee. Great book — especially if you want to be a screenwriter. Marketers swear by it, too… …especially ones who understand…

A hand holds a smartphone displaying a music player app with an album cover featuring blue and white abstract art. The song Peace by Borrtex is playing, with play, pause, and volume controls visible.

Hard Times Come Again No More

By Tom Ruwitch | January 1, 2021

Back in April, I made a Spotify playlist for my 23-year-old daughter, Maddie. She lived on High Street in Denver. I named the playlist “Shelter in Place on High Street – Volume 1.” In the letter I sent with the playlist, I wrote, “…sharing music is sharing love. It’s about connecting.” I imagined she and…

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How TV’s Greatest Host Can Help You Be a Great Marketer

By Tom Ruwitch | December 22, 2020

I was browsing through some of my favorite old marketing training discs the other day and came across one by Dave Dee… …whom I still listen to today. Back in 2007 Dave offered some unconventional advice about how to write better emails: Watch Regis Philbin on television, Dave advised. I don’t recall what I thought about…

Why This Superpower Skirmish Could Kill Your Biz…

By Tom Ruwitch | December 17, 2020

The war between the Superpowers has begun. Not a traditional war with guns and tanks and airplanes, mind you. This is a war between two digital Superpowers — Facebook and Apple. Apple fired the first shot when it announced recently that iPhone owners will soon have to give explicit permission before apps can track their…

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Here’s Why Google Outage Didn’t Crush My Spirit…

By Tom Ruwitch | December 15, 2020

I woke yesterday at 5 a.m. because I had to finish a proposal that I’d promised to send to a prospect by start-of-business Monday. I was knocking it out steadily when… …Google broke. You probably heard the news: Around 5:30 a.m. CST, Google suffered a worldwide outage. Google Drive stalled. Gmail gave out. YouTube tanked. …

Two people are working at a desk with a laptop displaying colorful code on the screen. One person types on the keyboard, while the other looks on. Two monitors and a smartphone are also visible on the desk.

The #1 Quality That All Great Marketers Have

By Tom Ruwitch | December 10, 2020

My business is growing so I’m hiring. Last night I posted a job opening for a software developer to assist with several projects. I described the projects, but only in vague terms. Applications flooded my inbox. Most applicants told me they had EVERYTHING it takes to tackle the projects. One applicant, Noah, said this: “Let’s discuss more…

A person holds a smartphone displaying an email inbox, while a Lenovo laptop screen shows social media images. A small green plant and a blue surface are visible in the background.

Beware of These Make-Me-Gag Marketing Pitches…

By Tom Ruwitch | December 8, 2020

I was eating breakfast the other morning and nearly choked. It wasn’t the spinach and salsa omelette that did it (although that jalapeno salsa made me sweat a little). No, it was the email that landed in my inbox… …with yet another breathless, over-hyped, meaningless statistic… …about yet another can’t-miss digital marketing channel. Here’s the…

A bowl filled with fresh strawberries sits next to a glass of strawberry smoothie on a wooden surface. One strawberry rests beside the glass and another is perched on its rim.

This Milkshake Mishap Reveals Mucho About Marketing…

By Tom Ruwitch | December 3, 2020

When my daughter suggested last night that we order delivery from Shake Shack… …rather than have yet another night of leftover turkey for dinner… …I thought, “That’s the greatest idea EVER!” Red meat, topped with bacon and orange cheese. Yum. But what really had my mouth watering was the thought of that shake… …that sweet,…

A bright red door with a rectangular mail slot in the center. The mail slot has a label that reads No junk mail. Shadows are partially cast across the door.

This Email Made Me Laugh — For The Wrong Reasons…

By Tom Ruwitch | December 1, 2020

Every so often, I browse my junk email folder to see what the spammers are up to. I always come across something that makes me roll my eyes and chuckle… …like this one from a lender: Subject line: Equipment Financing That’s it. No website address. No call to action. No benefits. No story. No nothing…

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Deliberate Gratitude

By Tom Ruwitch | November 26, 2020

A few years ago, I regularly posted “Gratitude Snippets” on Facebook. They were short posts. Expressions of appreciation for people and things… …a beautiful day… …a restaurant server who went the extra mile… …a mail carrier who braved snow and rain to make the delivery… …a song that brightened my mood… …a colleague who offered…

A billboard shows a smiling young woman with long blonde hair wearing a gray face mask. The sign reads, BEST TIME EVER TO GET BRACES! and advertises Smile at the World Orthodontics with their website.

I Love This Billboard…

By Tom Ruwitch | November 24, 2020

For three years, I never opened my mouth when I smiled. That was from 1978 through 1980. Those were the Braces Years, the period when my mouth was full of metal hardware and my parents’ checking account was shrinking. It’s tough being a 13- to 16-year-old — especially when your pearly whites are covered with stainless…

A person stands with their back to the camera, gripping metal bars on a window, while a bird flies outside against a bright sky. The scene is in black and white, evoking a sense of longing or confinement.

How to Attract Attention – The Jesus Way

By Tom Ruwitch | November 17, 2020

Here’s a parable about parables… …with a lesson that can help you attract attention for your marketing messages and inspire people to act. In the Bible’s Gospel of Luke, someone asks Jesus, “…who is my neighbor?” Jesus answers with the story of a “certain man” who was traveling from Jerusalem to Jericho and “fell among…

Henry Ford Was Full of It & Why That Matters For Your Business

By Tom Ruwitch | November 12, 2020

A couple of days ago, I asked what you think of this Henry Ford quote: “If I’d asked customers what they wanted, they would have told me, ‘A faster horse!’” A bunch of subscribers told me Ford was a visionary who saw something his prospects did not. One told me: “…Ford wasn’t concerned or focused with finding out what people wanted. He…

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For People Who Want to Write Better Headlines But Aren’t Sure How…

By Tom Ruwitch | November 5, 2020

Once upon a time, I tried to cook a batch of paella. It didn’t go well. The mussels were chewy. The chicken was dry. The rice was a sticky mess. So frustrating! I fancy myself a decent cook. But decent doesn’t cut it when you strive to master a complicated dish. Today, aspiring home chefs can…

A hand-drawn figure thinks, shown by thought bubbles, about the question “What is ‘Copywriting’?” written in a rectangular speech bubble. The heading above reads, “What Is Copywriting and What Is Its Purpose?”.

Read This If You Want to Write Copy That Readers Love

By Tom Ruwitch | November 3, 2020

Short and sweet today. If you want to write emails that recipients are happy to open… …that they read from top-to-bottom… …that inspires them to act… Read this great article by copywriter Neville Medhora.

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My Kids Made It Rain… and So Can You

By Tom Ruwitch | October 29, 2020

It’s raining here in St. Louis, MO, USA… …which reminds me of the time my twin kiddos summoned a drought-ending thunderstorm with a rain dance. We were at my inlaw’s farm in central Missouri. It was bone dry for weeks. But (finally!), we adults could smell and feel the rain coming. As the wind picked…

A smiling couple sits close together on a couch in front of a fireplace. The words “Tonight’s the Night” appear in bold letters across the bottom of the image.

How 1 Pic and 3 Words Transform A Boring Log Into a Romantic Tale

By Tom Ruwitch | October 27, 2020

My friend Cabanne Howard (a great marketing strategist) sent this picture to me the other day… It’s a closeup of this Duraflame log… Cabanne thinks it’s a great example of story-powered marketing. And she’s right. Feeble marketing focuses on features. Better marketing focuses on benefits. The best marketing — story-powered marketing — promises transformations. A Duraflame log features sawdust…

Two people sit side by side on a couch, both pointing at the screen of an open laptop on a dark table, viewed from above. The laptop is displaying a blue-toned image or program.

A Tale of Two Posts: One Inspiring, The Other a Yawner

By Tom Ruwitch | October 22, 2020

Here’s a tale of two blog posts — both covering the same topic: Why your business needs a customer support playbook and how to implement one. In one corner we have a treatise. Here’s how it starts: Building and managing a help desk in your organization can either become a triumphant, effective tool or end…

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When Having a Bad Day, Consider Adolphe Sax’s Story…

By Tom Ruwitch | October 20, 2020

Last week, I had one of those days when nothing went right. It made me grumpy. And as I grumped around, I focused more on feeling sorry for myself and less on staying focused and productive. That made it worse. I got past it, but it made me think about how easy it is to…

A person sits on a couch holding and reading A Storytelling Workbook for Beginners. A notebook, pen, glasses, and earbuds are on the coffee table in front of them.

How to Make Your Business Story More Interesting

By Tom Ruwitch | October 15, 2020

I heard from a business owner who wants to power up his story to grow sales… …but he fears he doesn’t have a compelling story to tell. “My story isn’t interesting,” he said. I hear that a lot. Business people assume storytelling should be about themselves. They rack their brains for an inspiring origin story.…

A clipboard with a paper titled Find Domain Names listing tips, a pen, and part of a laptop keyboard on a marble surface. The paper includes bullet points about brainstorming, keywords, extensions, and trademarks.

Here’s a Surefire Way to Blow 35 Grand

By Tom Ruwitch | October 13, 2020

I came across this gem of a headline in an online marketing forum this week: “I’m buying a domain name for $35,000.” The guy who posted it explained: “We presently use the domain with ‘the’ prefix for our product, so it looks like https://the___.com But going to go bolder way and buy the name without…

A model of a human brain and a white plastic neuron structure are displayed on a gray surface, showing anatomical details of the brain and a nerve cell for educational purposes.

40 Years Later, I Still Remember This…

By Tom Ruwitch | October 8, 2020

I was cleaning out a closet the other day and found an old biology textbook. As I paged through it, I was struck (stunned, saddened) by how little I remembered. Then I got to the chapter about animal biology… …and my memory clicked: “Kids prefer cheese over fried green spinach.” That’s the little story I…