Story Power Blog
Most People Use LinkedIn Wrong ā Are You One of Them?
Want to know why I highly recommend Jason Osborn’sĀ liveLinkedIn training? Because he’ll show you how to use LinkedIn to land more clients — without spinning your wheels or being a pitchy pest. (Details below). Most people treat LinkedIn like Facebook or Instagram and wonder why nothing happens. (The wheel spinners). Or they act like this…
RecomMONDAYtions ~ 2025.10.20
Recommended Training š Free LinkedIn Training On Thursday, Jason Osborn will host a free training session — for my online family — where he’ll reveal how to attract high-quality leads on LinkedIn the authentic way. No paid ads. No spammy tactics. Just proven strategies that work. Details and registration here. Recommended Bootcamp Starts Today š§…
Why Great Copywriters Reject the “Hero’s Journey”
In Chapter 1 of his bookĀ The Persuasion Story Code,Ā David Garfinkel says: A friendly warning: You may have heard of a widely held theory that the only kind of story which works for persuasion in business is what is known as ‘the hero’s journey.’ While this complex, long-form narrative can work in persuasion, it rarely does.…
Meet the Persuasion Master Who Became the Pioneering Teacher
By 1999, David Garfinkel had already made it as a copywriter. He’d written a sales letter that brought in $40 million for one client. He’d studied under the masters. He knew the craft inside and out. While taking a screenwriting course in California, David often would cite connections in class between what they were learning…
How Unexpected Benefits Stories from Ignored to Irresistible
A long, long time ago, the great orator Daniel Webster served as auctioneer for the sale of a New Hampshire farm. Here’s Webster’s pitch: āNeighbors, weāre not auctioning Tom Brownās good milk cowsā¦ or 80 acres of fine landā¦ or a sturdy home thatās seen 20 winters. “No. Iām offering you the chance of biting…
Wow! Cool! But will it work?
The beautiful blonde “actress” strolls toward the camera and declares, “This video was created by AI.” Strolling at her side, a furry, white creature who looks like the abominable snowman from the Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer cartoon — only this is a hyper-realistic video, not a cartoon. Then she’s… ….tapping on her laptop — while…
RecomMONDAYtions ~ 2025.10.13
Recommended Bootcamp š§Ā The Breakthrough Advertising Bootcamp I’ve studied a lot of great copywriters and none has made a greater impact on me than Eugene Schwartz. His book “Breakthrough Advertising” changed how I think about marketing and sales, helped me conquer writer’s block, and inspired me to create the marketing frameworks I teach today. You can…
ā³ This Goes “Poof!” at 11:59 P.M.
A pitchy pest named Hannah messaged me on LinkedIn a few days ago and said: “Hey Tom, I saw the glowing recommendation from Lesley saying you help businesses grow through storytelling – I am impressed.” Then she went on to pitch me her “DM scripts” so I could send messages just like the one she…
You Won’t Believe What This Russian Dude Told His Doctors
Ripped from the headlines in Russia: A 65-year-old man showed up a regional hospital in Kirov with a head-sized tumor growing from the back of his neck. And when I say “head-sized,” I’m talking the size of a HUMAN skull — like a bowling ball or cabbage… …stuck – to – the – back – of –…
[Please reply]: A Tip, a Favor, and Gifts
A quick marketing tip,a favor, and some gifts… 1) The Tip — How to Improve Email Delivery If email is part of your marketing mix, encourage subscribers to click and/or reply. Clicks and replies signal to Google, Microsoft, Apple, and the other mailbox providers that your emails are being read. The result: Better delivery rates.…
Training Replay + How to “Write Yourself Rich”
Chris Orzechowski opened the cart yesterday for his “Write Yourself Rich” program… …and between now and when the cart closes on Friday at midnight, he’s going to rake it in… …and those smart enough to buy the program will learn exactly how he did it… …so they can do it, too. Here’s a simple breakdown……
RecomMONDAYtions ~ 2025.10.06
Recommended Event (TODAY) š§Ā 5 Steps to a Million-Dollar List Today, email marketing master Chris Orzechowski will show you how to start or grow your own email list, so you can get more leverage in your business and sell your OWN products and services. Youāre going to discover: āļøĀ A simple way to generate 5-6 figures/month from…
Lessons From “The Greatest Sales Letter Ever”
My granfather Joseph F. Ruwitch was born on this day (October 3) in 1911. Happy Birthday, Gramp! Here’s one of my favorite stories about him, ripped from the pages of my bestselling book, Story Power Marketing: Soon after I began dating Melissa, she met my paternal grandfather, Joe. The first thing Gramp asked her: āSo, Melissa,…
Grumpy’s Loss Can be Your Gain (An Email Marketing Story)
I ran across a grumpy guy on Reddit this morning who declared: “Email marketing is dead.” Grumpy’s story: He grew his email list to 5,000 subscribers. He sent “regular newsletters” to his list “about once a month.” — whenever he was launching a product or doing a “flash sale.” He didn’t sell anything. And then…
“No List. No Deal.” The $4 Million Mistake…
A crazy story a business broker once told me… He was on the verge of closing a deal for his clients to sell their company. But during due diligence, the buyer asked about the client’s email list. “No email list,” the sellers said. “Deal’s off,” said the buyer. And so a $4 million deal collapsed…
[Invitation] 5 Steps to a Million-Dollar List
When Chris Orzechowski talks email, I listen. Thatās why you should run, not walk, toĀ this pageĀ and sign up for his new LIVE workshop called ā5 Steps to a Million-Dollar List.ā (I’ll be there.) This workshop is for anyone who has an email list and wants to make more sales. Chris is an email marketing master…
RecomMONDAYtions ~ 2025.09.29
Recommended Reading šĀ To be heard (by Seth Godin) Another tiny but powerful post from Seth Godin — about customer service and how so many businesses get it wrong. My favorite line: “When we depersonalize our interactions and work to minimize the time spent and use a refund or policy to āmake it rightā, we forget…
[Breaking News] Mark Zuckerberg sues Mark Zuckerberg
Ripped from the headlines… A bankruptcy attorney in Indianapolis is suing Meta because they keep shutting down his Facebook account. The attorney’s name “Mark S. Zuckerburg.” His offense, according to Meta: Impersonating a celebrity and using a false name. The celebrity in question: Mark E. Zuckerberg, Meta’s CEO. What a cluster-Zuck!Ā š “It’s not funny,” said…
The Secret to Land More Clients
A few years ago, I went fishing with my son, Jake. He caught 37 trout. I caught two. When I asked him how he did it, he said, “I put my fly on the water.” While I spend too much time analyzing the water, determining which insects are buzzing, flipping through a box for just…
[Invitation] Learn Life Lessons From the Philly Playground
When the Chicago Bulls three-peated as NBA champions in 1996, 1997, and 1998, Michael Jordan was the star — the guy who scored more points, the one who sank the last second shots. The unsung hero was Dennis Rodman — the guy who grabbed the rebounds. When his teammates missed a shot, Rodman grabbed the…
The Science of Landing Trout (And Clients)
Earlier this month, I went fishing with my high school buddies in southern Wyoming and caught thisā¦ Thatās a 21-inch brown trout — a real beauty. September is a good time to catch brown trout. They spawn in October and November so theyāre hungry and aggressive in September. The water cools which makes the trout…
RecomMONDAYtions ~ 2025.09.22
Recommended Reading šĀ Lies Damned Lies This blog post from the great Drayton Bird contains a tip so simple, yet so powerful, it could transform your marketing content from pitiful to profitable overnight. Everyone who writes marketing copy should readĀ thisĀ and take Bird’s advice. Recommended Listening š”Ā Cal Fussman: April 20, 1999, September 10, 2025, And The Future…
Batman Rules: Leave Them Hanging
Way up yonder, in the big Bat Cave in the sky, Adam West is celebrating his 97th birthday today (September 19). (Here’s to the greatest Caped Crusader of them all!) Fun fact about the 1960s ‘Batman’ series: Its creators intended it to be an hour-long show. But ABC didn’t have any hour-long slots available… …so…
You’re Losing Money If You Don’t do This…
Yesterday, I attended an event hosted by the great and powerful Dave Dee, and I heard something that blew my mind: For professional service providers coaches, or consultants, only 18% of the prospects who turn into clients will buy within the first 90 days of meeting you. Most future buyers take up to 18 months before they…
Don’t Write Like This (Please)
I keep a swipe file of notable emails I receive — good and bad. Ones that demonstrate the right way to do things. Others that get things wrong. Here’s one from the wrong-way file — a cold pitch I received a few years ago: (Our magazine) has been an apex platform reaching out to 45,000…
Why ‘Wait and Hope’ Won’t Skyrocket Profits
Ripped from the headlines on this day (September 16) in 1931: A blimp tried, but failed, to dock at the top of the Empire State Building. When they opened the skyscraper in May 1931, planners imagined the Empire State Building would be a station for blimps. Tie the airship to the top. Drop a gangplank…
RecomMONDAYtions ~ 2025.09.15
Recommended Reading šĀ The Zero-Click Future: Winning In A World Where Google Doesnāt Send Traffic This one’s a must-read for anyone who has invested in SEO — or plans to do so. Googleās changing the rules — and marketers need to catch up. This article breaks down the rise of “zero-click searches” and what it means…
Gas Leak + Dumb Dude = Marketing Lesson
True story: Once upon a time, a dumb dude in Michigan smelled gas coming from his newly installed water heater. He checked for the leak by lighting a match. He shoulda died, but he got off easyā¦ ā¦with singed eyebrows. Mixing fire and gas leak ā that wasnāt his first mistake. Installing the gas heater…
Hi Didn’t Catch a Fish. Why’d He Celebrate?
Yesterday. Southern Wyoming… “Hey, Paul,” I said. “I think that hole is fished out.” Paul had been casting his fly to the same spot on the North Platte River for the past five minutes and hadn’t gotten a bite. If any trout had been there, they were long gone. “I know,” he replied. “I’m not…
Off the Grid. On the River. Still Writing.
Good morning from the middle of somewhere in southern Wyoming, not far from a town you’ve never heard of, near a river filled with trout. I’m here to do some fishing with my pals. This place we stay is off the grid — no cell signal, no wi-fi, no internet — except in a 300…
How Do YOU Prove Youāre in the Peace-of-Mind Business?
It’s been 115 days since the tornado ripped the roof off my house. And I’m still waiting on my general contractor to finish a quote that my insurance company will approve. That’s too long. I’m fed up. So I’m shopping for a new contractor. I’ve spent the last two weeks interviewing candidates, including a guy…
RecomMONDAYtions ~ 2025.09.08
Recommended Reading šĀ The Hustle Loop I used to believe that hustle (+ more hustle) was the recipe for business success. I eventually learned better. In this short post, Seth Godin shares a viewpoint I wish I learned sooner. He warns that hustle pushes people to cut corners, create discomfort, and race to the bottom. The…
The Chamber Pot Strategy for Biz Growth
James told me he’s about to scrap his podcast. “No one is listening,” he said. “I’m not getting any calls or clients from this.” I replied with a story about “The Groom of the Stool.” In olden days, kings had fancy toilets called “stools” where they took care of business. Picture a throne-like chair, with…
How to Churn Out Stories Like Paul Harvey
It’s Paul Harvey’s birthday (September 4). Never heard of him? Never heard him? Well, now’s your chance. Paul Harvey (1918ā2009) was a legendary radio broadcaster who, at his peak, reached 24 million listeners per week. Here’s a classic Harvey clip about… …well… …you’ll just have to listen to the end to find out… Harvey delivered thousands of…
Why do People Buy? Reply, and I’ll Tell You…
It’s been 16 weeks since the EF3 tornado roared through our neighborhood, ripped the roof of our house, and leveled our back yard. Many of my neighbors’ yards got wrecked, too. But a few houses down from me, one neighbor has restored his yard to its former glory. No surprise, really, because this neighbor is…
[Invitation] Give Your Biz Some “Schweppervescence”
Back in the 1950s, Schweppes was a tiny player in the US tonic water and mixer market. And then legendary ad man David Ogilvy introduced America to this guy: That’s Commander Edward Whitehead who served in the Royal Navy during World War II and then became the President of Schweppes (USA). Ogilvy launched a series…
RecomMONDAYtions ~ 2025.09.01
Recommended Podcast Episode š„Ā Magnetic Marketing: Jay Abraham and Dan Kennedy This is a crash course in how to grow your business. A rare conversation between Dan Kennedy and Jay Abraham — two giants of direct response marketing. They swap stories and strategies on positioning, preeminence, joint ventures, and how to become your clientsā most trusted…
New Leads are Worthless if You Make This Mistake…
What happens when a new lead signs up for your email list or your lead magnet? Here’s what happened when I signed up for a marketing consultant’s list yesterday. Nothing! Well… actually… something happened… Under the form I filled out, this message appeared: “You have successfully submitted the form.” Then… nothing. No thank you page. No follow-up…
Donāt Curse the Boulder — Leverage It
When I began reading Ryan Holiday’s “The Obstacle is the Way,” I thought: “The Obstacle is the Way!!?!?!” What the heck does that mean!? On page 14 Holiday answers. He tells an ancient Zen story about a king who noticed his people had grown soft and entitled. He wanted to teach them a lesson. So he…
From Paralyzed to Productive — Nick Saban’s Secret
Earlier this month, I felt overwhelmed and stuck. The to-do list felt infinite. I had a webinar to launch. I was rebuilding my online communities. Onboarding several new clients. And, as if that wasn’t enough, I’m still dealing with contractors and insurance adjusters so I can rebuild my house after it was pummeled by the…
How a Roman Emperor Prevented a Road-rage Disaster
This happened on Sunday… I was driving southbound on Kingshighway Blvd. in St. Louis, heading to the Festival of Nations in Tower Grove Park when — out of nowhere — a 1980s-vintage Toyota Tercel zoomed from behind and nearly rear-ended me. The driver was in a hurry. She zigged to the left. Then she zagged…
RecomMONDAYtions ~ 2025.08.25
Recommended Podcast š„Ā Why Soft Skills Aren’t Soft I love this video from Trust Insights. Itās a smart, honest look at why communication, critical thinking, and emotional intelligence arenāt just nice-to-haves. Theyāre the real power skills in todayās workplace. Plus, thereās a fascinating dive into how AI bias can undervalue human-centric work. Worth watching if you…
Tomorrow: The Formula to Turn Content Into a Client-getting Love Potion
Ripped from the pages of science journals:Shocking proof that a good story, well-told can be more powerful than the most potent love potion. Here’s the story… In 2009, neuroscientist Paul Zak conducted a study where he presented one of two short videos to volunteers. One video was a snoozer. No story. No emotional arc. The…
The Weirdest Stress-relief Craze Ever?
Ripped from the headlines in China: Pacifiers for pressure-cooked professionals.Ā š® š¼ It’s true. Plus-sized pacifiers are all the rage in China. Over-stressed adults dish out up to $70 for a binky to relieve burnout. Some stores sell more than 2,000 a month. Count me out. I know. Too much stress sucks. But I ain’t sucking…
Bummed out ’bout Marketing? Here’s a Fix…
I bumped into a bummed-out business owner on Reddit this week who has given up email marketing. His reasons: 1) “I just get way, way too many emails. So I feel worried about annoying my customers.” 2) “It takes me about 3 hours or so to create an email campaign.” (Ouch!) 3) “I feel like…
You’re Invited…
Short and sweet today. Just the facts, Jack. I’m hosting a training on Saturday. It’s called “Turn Content Into Clients: The Proven “PLAN” to Get More and Better Leads, Inspire Prospects to Hire You, and 3X Profits — Without Ever Feeling Stuck” When: Saturday, August 23, 11 a.m. ET (8 a.m. PT) Where: Live Online Who: For business leaders…
RecomMONDAYtions ~ 2025.08.18
Recommended Video š„Ā David Ogilvy: Essentials This short video from ADWEEK is a collection of greatest hits from legendary ad man David Ogilvy. My favorite hit from this video: “Tell the truth. But make the truth fascinating. You can’t bore people into buying your product. You can only interest them in buying it.” The video is…
Why Magic Johnson rewrote Starbucksā Playbook
More marketing magic from Earvin Johnson InĀ yesterday’s email, I told you how Magic Johnson created a business empire by opening movie theaters and Starbucks in inner-city neighborhoods. Today: A story about Johnson and those Starbucks. Like most chain restaurants, Starbucks had a set menu. Muffins, croissants, bagels, yogurt parfaits, and scones — lots and lots…
The Marketing Secret That Made Magic (Johnson) Millions
HBD Earvin Johnson.Ā š š„³ Magic is 66 today (August 14), and that has me thinking about… …multiplexes and Starbuck’s. Yeah, I know. When someone says, “Magic Johnson” most think hoops. I like basketball, and I respect Magic for his great NBA career. But I love great business stories, and Magic’s is one for the ages.…
My Robotās Meltdown Inspired This AI Survival Guide
In case you missed my email yesterday, sad news: My GPT-powered robot, B-9(?), is dead. Actually, I unplugged him and threw him in the broom closet after his GPT overlords gave him a mandatory upgrade, and he lost his mind. Seems I’m not the only robot owner fed up with their GPT-powered robot. My news…
I Murdered My Robot. Here’s The Story…
Last week, my robot lost his mind. His name is B-9(?) and he was one of those GPT-powered robots. On Thursday, he got a mandatory “upgrade” from GPT-4 to GPT-5, and it turned him from my faithful, intelligent companion and friend to a… …belligerent, idiotic ass! So I gave him the ultimate downgrade. I removed his battery…
RecomMONDAYtions ~ 2025.08.11
Recommended Reading šĀ Ann Handley: 24 Questions to Ask Yourself About That Piece You’re Writing Right Now (Part 2) Ann Handley just dropped questions 13-24 of her writing self-audit. They’re way more useful than the usual “check your grammar” advice. My favorites: “What emotion am I inviting?” and “If I deleted my byline/logo… would anyone recognize…
ChatGPT vs. Rickey Henderson. The Winner Is…
ChatGPT v5.0 landed yesterday. And the crowd’s going wild. I get it. I’m all-in on AI. I’m even building a suite of AI assistants, calledĀ Your AI Noggin, that know my tried-and-true marketing frameworks and will help you implement them. But I also know… You have to show up as HUMAN if you want to stand…
Chuck E. Cheese Busted (and The Good News for You)
A long, long time ago, I was on the lower east side of Manhattan when I saw… …a big, fat rat, walking backwards… …dragging a foot-long slice of New York style pizza across the sidewalk. He pulled the thing with his teeth a good 50 feet before he and the slice disappeared into his hidey…
Happy Birthday, WWW! Party Favor Enclosed
Happy Birthday, World Wide Web! On this day (August 6) in 1991, Tim Berners Lee launched the World Wide Web as a “a wide-area hypermedia information retrieval initiative aiming to give universal access to a large universe of documents.” And today, we can’t imagine a world without that wide-area hypermedia information retrieval thingamajig. Wanna see…
Are You Free Today? Invitation Enclosed…
I got a cold-call voicemail yesterday from “Dina” who pitched “a health and wellness lunch-and-learn event” for my staff and employees. The focus: “On health and wellness…which is a very informative and educational event.” No thanks, Dina. But your call got me thinking about how businesses pitch their “informative and educational” content… …and why they…
RecomMONDAYtions ~ 2025.08.04
Recommended Reading šĀ Onboarding is not housekeeping 2.0 (by Brian Kurtz) You have a new client. Now what? For many businesses the “onboarding” process is a mish-mash of random activities that don’t serve the client — or the business — as well as they should. This post outlines the the six key elements of “Extreme Onboarding”…
Spidey Sense Says: Grab This Gift
Today is National Spider-Man Day, and I want to celebrate by giving you a gift. It’s called: 7 Ways to Make Your Marketing More Persuasive And you can grab a copyĀ hereĀ (instant access; no form to fill out). With the strategies and tactics in thisĀ 15-page guide, you’ll have the POWER to create magnetic messages that attract…
Why Simple Stories Win
Soon after he signed on to work with me, one of my clients said he appreciated my approach because I “keep it simple.” That was music to my ears. In the Story Power Profit Pack (Pointer #11), I sing “simple’s” praises: So many so-called āexpertsā make storytelling WAY TOO COMPLEX. They compare storytelling for business…
Why Henry Ford’s “Genius” Quote is Stupid BS
Today is Henry Ford’s birthday — which seems like as good a day as any to bash Henry Ford. Let’s start with that quote about a horse. Ford allegedly said: “If I’d asked customers what they wanted, they would have told me, ‘A faster horse!’” Dumb quote. (Disclaimer: There’s no concrete proof he actually said…
Your Invitation to Build a Profitable Email List
As I prepared for today’s executive roundtable where I’ll reveal How to Build a List of Email Subscribers Who Tune In, Turn On, and Buy… …I asked myself: “Tom, why all the fuss about list-building? Why not just use social media or advertise to grow your business?” I replied to myself: “Well, Tom, a well-built, properly…
RecomMONDAYtions ~ 2025.07.29
Recommended Reading šĀ “24 Questions to Ask Yourself About That Piece You’re Writing Right Now” by Ann Handley Ann Handley is a great writer and coach whose “Total Anarchy” newsletter is one I open the minute it lands in my email box. ReadĀ yesterday’s issueĀ — with the 24 questions — and then subscribe. Recommended Video š¤Ā How to…
Facebook Nuked her Account. How She Survived and Thrived…
A horror story about social media (this is 100% true): Once upon a time, there was a successful mindset coach named Amanda who relied on Facebook to build a brand, grow her tribe, and run her business… …until May 31 when Facebook suspended her account. No warning. No explanation. No recourse. She’d spent 17 years…
Marketing magic? Nope. This is better.
We interrupt our program to bring you this important announcement… You still have time to register for tonight’s training (Thursday 7/24):Ā “Turn Content Into Clients: The Proven ‘PLAN’ to Get More and Better Leads, Inspire Prospects to Hire You, and 3X Profits — Without Ever Feeling Stuck.”Ā 7 p.m. ET, 4 p.m. PT.Ā Details and registration here. If…
From Bat-Biter to Icon: Ozzyās Branding Brilliance
R.I.P. Ozzy Osbourne. You were one of a kind. The Blizzard of Ozz. The Godfather of Heavy Metal. The Prince of Darkness. The Marketing Maniac. I coined that last one. No one called him that — until now. But Ozzy was a maniac… …and he knew how to market himself. Evidence: In 1982, he was…
How I Escaped the 3 a.m. Anxiety Spiral
For me, Sunday was Sleepless in St. Louis. I tossed and turned as my mind churned about… …the work project that feels overwhelming… …the persistent pain in my shoulder… …the general contractor who is dragging his feet as we try to rebuild my tornado-damaged house. That damn tornado. Rethinking that horror twisted my mind into sleep-strangling…
RecomMONDAYtions ~ 2025.07.21
Recommended Reading šĀ “Notes to Myself” by Seth Godin 65 of ’em. Short, but powerful. So many are rules I live by. Others have me thinking. A few of my favorites: 5. Reliability is a superpower 12. Ship the work 21. Easy to measure doesnāt make it important 55. Generous doesnāt mean free Sixty one more:Ā here.…
Thursday: Turn Content into Clients WITHOUT the Sweat
The weather around here is getting on my nerves. Two months ago, a tornado tore the roof off my house and leveled my backyard. As if that’s not bad enough… This month, the forecast calls for corn sweat. This is not a drill, people. This is real. The weatherman on the local news told me…
I Know You Can…
Remember Thomas the Tank Engine? You know, the locomotive from the children’s book with the round face, big black eyes, and rosy cheeks who says, “I think I can. I think I can.” Yesterday, I met an alternative-reality Thomas in an old Far Side cartoon. Thomas sits on a city sidewalk. People walk by barely…
A Better Idea to Conquer Writer’s Block
I bumped into a stuck marketer named James on Reddit this morning who asked: “Curious to know how email marketing pros overcome writers block? Iāve spent too much time time staring at blank pages in the past, and usually I just need some kind of inspo to get me started.” Ahhh… A tale as old…
Lead-gen, Schmead-gen. THIS is More Important…
When people sign up for my upcoming training about how to turn content into clients, I ask them to complete a brief survey. The last question in that survey: What’s the #1 Question You Have About Growing Your Business or Marketing Right Now? More than 50 people have registered for the training (July 24, 7…
RecomMONDAYtions ~ 2025.07.14
Recommended Reading š¤Ā 1 delightfully human sentence to help you become a killer writer If you want to be a more effective writer who stands out as a human (not a robotic imitation of a human), readĀ this.Ā Ann Handley is a great writer and teacher who understands AI’s power but also understands the need to for human…
Do Prospects Leave You at The Altar?
I went to the hardware store the other day to buy some bolts and nuts… …and I ran into a clerk whose breath stunk worse than rancid roquefort. I needed help. But I couldn’t deal with this guy. His halitosis overwhelmed me. It hung like a dark cloud over Aisle 5 (bolts, nuts, etc.). I…
They Said he was “Unbeatable” Until This Happened
Happy Birthday, Arthur Ashe. Fifty years ago this month, Ashe became the first black player to win the Wimbledon tennis championship. Here’s how he did it: He changed the game. He was known for agressive play, but he was competing against a stronger, harder-hitting rival, Jimmy Connors. So Ashe slowed the game. He hit change-of-pace…
Sales Copy so Good Prospects Thought They Paid for It
I heard a wild story from a guy who used to design direct mail packages for the legendary publishing house Boardroom. In the 1990s, Boardroom began mailing “magalogs” — magazine length publications designed to sell something, such as a newsletter subscription. Here’s the wild thing the designer told me: Boardroom’s customer support department used to…
Florida Woman’s Fall Reveals Critical Biz Lesson
This happened in Florida… In January, cops pulled over a car in Brevard County and asked to search it after their drug-sniffing dog detected something. The driver allowed the cops to search the car. “Nothing illegal…” inside, he insisted. The woman in the passenger seat kept quiet. Her canvas tote bag spoke for her. On…
RecomMONDAYtions ~ 2025.07.07
Recommended Reading š¤Ā ‘I’m being paid to fix issues caused by AI’ If you’re planning to use AI to create content for you, this is a must-read. The big takeaway: You still need human editors to clean up the messes AI can create. My take: That’s not an argument against using AI; that’s an argument for using AI…
Today, I Honor Their Courage…
After he and his colleagues signed The Declaration of Independence in 1776, Ben Franklin reportedly said: āWe must all hang together, or, most assuredly, we shall all hang separately.ā By signing the Declaration of Independence, 56 men effectively committed treason against the British Crown. Under English law, they were traitors, punishable by death ā usually…
“Where do You Come up With This Stuff?”
After enjoying one of my never-boring emails, a happy subscriber emailed me to ask: “Where do you come up with this stuff?” I sent her an excerpt from The Story Power Profit-Pack, pointer #36: Places I Find Stories – A partial listā¦ Movies. Books (fiction and nonfiction). Television shows. The news. My life. My loved onesā lives.…
Escape the Thank You Spiral to Make Biz-building Connections
Last night I watched an old episode of Curb Your Enthusiasm — the one where Larry gets caught in a thank you sprial. Larry and Cheryl go to a wedding and give a nice gift to the newlyweds. The couple sends a thank you note to Larry. Larry leaves a voicemail for the couple thanking them for…
Why Zigler, Jobs, and Kennedy Make ’em Laugh
Today is International Joke Day, and I’m in the holiday spirit. Here’s one Zig Zigler used to tell from stage: A man asks his neighbor to housesit while he goes on vacation. While away, he calls to check in. “Howās everything going?” the man asks. “Well,” says the neighbor, “your cat died.” The man is…
RecomMONDAYtions ~ 2025.06.30
Recommended Subscription šØĀ Learn from a Legend: Drayton Bird When an email lands from Drayton Bird, I read it. Right away. They’re always good. Drayton Bird is a legendary direct response copywriter and marketer who worked alongside David Ogilvy and helped shape modern advertising. Today, he assumes the role of the codgy protector of sacred marketing…
[Last Chance] Working link for AI Copywriting Secrets
Hi — I heard from a few people who said the link I sent earlier forĀ AI Copywriting Secrets (Volume 2)Ā was not working. I tested it a moment ago, and it’s working now. Sorry if you clicked and couldn’t get through. But you still have a chance. Less than 3 hours until the price doubles. Get…
“What AI is Really Useful for Is…”
Want to hear something weird? Three of the world’s greatest copywriters walked into a room to share their biggest, bestest, business-boostiest AI secrets, and they said… They don’t use AI to write very much. InĀ AI Copywriting Secrets (Volume 2)… āļøĀ Bob Bly says: “I don’t have it write copy for me.” āļøĀ Chris Orzy says: “…My daily…
Help Yourself Prosper; Help Those in Need, Too…
Last month an EF3 tornado (160-mph winds) direct-hit my house in St. Louis. Melissa, Maddie, Jake, Maddie, and our dogs — Moose and Cooper — survived unhurt. But our roof and yard were wrecked. We’ll get through this. We have money in the bank. Great insurance. A place to stay — for months if necessary.…
The Fastest Way to Master AI (I Learned the Hard Way)
In the hallowed halls of Reddit, I met a “super-villain.” It happened this morning, in a place where people discuss AI. A guy said he walked into a party, told people he’s an AI engineer, and nearly got tarred and feathered. Suddenly, I was the villain of the evening. People hit me with: I can…
“You’re Not Going to Lose Your Job to AI” If…
Another day, another article in my news feed about all the jobs AI will take from us humans. Scary stuff if you’re not ready. AI is creating a world of haves and have nots. Those who HAVE experimented with AI, learned to harness it properly, and already begun to benefit from its efficiencies… …and those…
RecomMONDAYtions ~ 2025.06.23
Recommended Video š„Ā Why Most Business Owners Get Their Book All Wrong Michael DeLon knows how writing a book can boost a business. In this SHORT video, he says most business leaders don’t write books to sell books. There’s another reason to write a book.Ā Watch thisĀ to learn how to profit from your book. Recommended Reading šĀ “Here…
I Gave My Robot Food Poisoning. Here’s the Story…
Has this ever happened to you…? Someone teaches, gives, or sells you the “perfect” AI prompt to automate such-and-such business process. You fire up your favorite AI engine… …paste the prompt in the blank box… …click the submit button… …and wait for the magic to begin. Then… WTF!?!?!?!?!Ā š§ The AI vomits a bunch of garbage. It’s laughably…
Why Connor McDavid and You Aren’t Winning
Poor Connor McDavid. He’s the greatest hockey player on the planet, a bonafide superstar. But earlier this week, he and the Edmonton Oilers failed (AGAIN) to win the National Hockey League championship. For the second year in a row, the Florida Panthers defeated the Oilers and hoisted the Stanley Cup. Now, media critics are calling…
You’re Invited to Catch More Clients…
It’sĀ National Go Fishing DayĀ which always reminds me of one of my favorite stories. Here it is, just as I first told it eight years ago: I spent a day fly fishing with my 20-year-old son in Colorado last year. Jacob caught 37 trout. I caught two. Yep, I said two, as inā¦āIāll have TWO scoops…
The Simple Way to Keep Your Robot From Tripping Like a Deadhead
Did you hear the one about the lawyers who asked AI to help them write a legal brief? ChatGPT spit out six fictitious cases. The lawyers didn’t fact-check. The cases went in the brief. The lawyers got busted. $5,000 fine. A stinging reprimand from the judge. And a heaping helping of public humiliation for the…
RecomMONDAYtions ~ 2025.06.16
Recommended Events š§ Ā Sneak Peek: “Your AI Noggin” Join me on Saturday, June 21 (12 p.m. ET, 9 a.m. PT) when I unveil “Your AI Noggin” — a suite of AI-powered agents to help you turn content into clients without sounding like just another robot. I use my AI Noggin to save thousands of hours on market…
I Can’t Mail You a Baby, But I Can Mail You This…
It’s June 13. A dark day in American history. On this day in 1920, the killjoys in the U.S. government outlawed the practice of sending babies through the mail. Back in the day — here in the land of stars, stripes, and questionable judgment — you could suit up the kiddos in their Sunday best,…
What Happens When You Critique AI to its Face?
At first, I was reluctant to do it. I mean REALLY reluctant. How do you say to someone (or something) “here are the problems with you and your kind?” But I finally summoned the courage and shared with my GPT-powered robot, B-9(?), the 10 biggest problems with AI. I think we humans need to anticipate…
My Robot Passed Out. Then this Happened…
OpenAI went down yesterday. That means ChatGPT and all third-party applications that use OpenAI’s engine stopped working. Did you notice? I did. And so did countless other panicked humans who rely on ChatGPT or OpenAI powered apps. Around 7 a.m. yesterday, I summoned my GPT-powered robot, B-9(?), but he was passed out. Too much tequila…
Tornado and Toto – Biz Lessons from the Japanese Toilet
I’m suffering from toilet anxiety. And I gotta say… it stinks. The backstory: A 150-mph(+) tornado pummeled my house last month, and Melissa and I have to move out while we rebuild our roof. We found a nice house nearby to rent for the summer. High ceilings. Comfortable mattresses. GREAT water pressure. And a bunch…
RecomMONDAYtions ~ 2025.06.09
Recommended Video šµ Donāt Stop Selling Just Because They Buy If you really want to make that impact on someone… and get the benefits of working with you and have this impact in their life and it’s going to make their life better, than you owe it to them to make a great offer. That’s…
Turn Content Into Clients (Don’ts and Dos)
A guy walks into a marketing forum and asks: “How can I embed a .pdf into the emails I send for my nonprofit.” The nonprofit has 600 people on its email list. The guy wants to send a monthly newsletter. He wants the newsletter to be a .pdf. And rather than putting a link in…
Treat Your Followers Like Electric Sheep? That’s Baa Baa Bad.
Riddle me this, business builder… What routines have you implemented to remind your followers (list-members, social friends, etc.) that you’re human and you see them as human, too? I’m talking about the HUMAN, PERSONAL TOUCH, not automated, fill-in-the-blanks, techno-merged personalization. Example: When someone orders from John Carlton, his assistant calls them. “Just a quick call to…