Story Power Blog
Stocking Stuffer #5: 7 Secrets to Write Emails that Sell
Melissa, Maddie and I have headed to the country for a few days of escape at our family farm in the Ozark foothills. Just a two-hour drive from Story Power HQ in St. Louis. But it feels 2,000 miles away. The water is ice cold, but our crazy-doodle, Moose, doesn’t mind. He doesn’t like to…
Stocking Stuffer (Day 4 of 8) – A Personal Story
Story Power Stocking Stuffers – Day 4 of 8 This one feels a bit more personal. A few months after launching Story Power Marketing, I spoke at a virtual event hosted by Experts 4 Entrepreneurs in St. Louis. The presentation is called “You Can’t Predict Your Future…But You Can Control It” It’s about journeys. The…
Stocking Stuffer #3: Remove Revenue Roadblocks
I’m going to spend the day working on my business, not in it. (Thanks, Michael Gerber, for introducing me to that concept in your “E-Myth” books) Year-end planning. Reflecting on what worked and what didn’t in the past year. Looking ahead and forming strategies and plans next year. Part of the process involves identifying the…
Stocking Stuffers Day 2: Powerful Persuasion Tips
Day 2 of Story Power Stocking Stuffers. Before I share with you today’s gift, “7 Ways to Make Your Marketing More Persuasive,” a story for those reluctant to persuade… A client once told me she didn’t want to employ persuasion techniques because she did not “want to manipulate people.” That’s a common concern. Here’s how…
🎁 I Come Bearing Gifts
I come bearing gifts Merry Christmas and… Happy Hanukkah. A rare double-header. Today is just the fifth time since 1900 that the first day of Hanukkah and Christmas have fallen on the same date. It last happened on 2005. And it won’t happen again until 2035. So let’s celebrate with some gifts. In the tradition…
The Time my Brother Ruined my Christmas Dream
Do not — I repeat DO NOT — read this story to a Santa-loving child… …unless you want to be a dream-crushing killjoy like my brother, Mike. Here’s the story… It was Christmas Eve, 1971. Mom, Dad, Mike and I were in Snowmass, Colorado, enjoying a Christmas break ski vacation. After a long day on…
RecomMONDAYtions ~ 2024.12.23
Recommended Training Thrive In ’25 30th 3-Day FREE LinkedIn Masterclass/Workshop Jon Keel is a LinkedIn master who is very generous with his time and expertise. Next month, he’ll host a 100% free, three-day masterclass workshop where he’ll reveal everything you need to make LinkedIn an effective tool to grow your business, including how to increase…
A Video For You…
Hi — I’m soft-launching a new program today with some cool bonuses and discounts (good through Saturday). It’s kind of a greatest hits box-set of everything I know about creating profit-generating content, conquering writer’s block, and using AI effectively to save time and money. If you want to know more, check out this video with all the…
Oh no! My Robot is a Lying Sack Of…
Back on this day in 1732, Ben Franklin published the first issue of “Poor Richard’s Almanack.” That’s a hook for an email, I thought. So I summoned my AI-powered robot, B-9(?), offered him a cup of freshly brewed coffee, and asked him for some amusing facts about the Almanack. The robot told me this: “In…
One of The All-time Greats…
One of the great business stories of all time is also one of the shortest. The tagline/lesson is a classic: You can pay me now… …or pay me later. If you watched television in the 70s, you couldn’t miss those ads for Fram oil filters. The broken car. The expensive repair. The mechanic saying all…
How to Un-train Your Robot for Fun and Profit
I played a dirty trick on my GPT-powered robot, B-9(?). I asked him to “draft an email to a cold lead to promote my business, Story Power Marketing.” I didn’t intend to send an email to cold leads today — especially a robot-generated one generated from such a lousy prompt. I just wanted to see…
RecomMONDAYtions ~ 2024.12.16
Recommended Event – Last Chance The Tech-Powered Profit Machine TODAY at 1 p.m. ET, I’m hosting a small-group session where I’ll reveal how to use AI, automation, and other technology to profit more while working less. ✓ My go-to AI tools and tactics (including ones I’ve built and you can use) to SAVE & $$$$$. ✓…
Why I’m so Passionate About What I Do
I love my job. Last night, I was especially feeling it. I ran a successful training (“The Tech-to-Profit Formula”), and I was still hopped up on adrenalin at bedtime. So rather than floating off to Slumber Town, I grabbed my Kindle and opened “No Shortage of Good Days” by John Gierach. Gierach is one of…
You’re Invited…
A short email today… This evening, I’m hosting a free training called… The Tech-to-Profit FormulaThe Secret Recipe to Attract High-Quality Leads, Land Clients Who Love You, & Skyrocket Profits — With Time-Saving, Hassle-Free Tech It begins at 8 p.m. EST. Details and registration here. Join us me if you can. Thanks for reading. p.s. If you’re…
Dumb Criminals, AI, And You (A Cautionary Tale)
This is one of my favorite dumb criminal stories. In 1995, McArthur Wheeler and Clifton Earl Johnson robbed two banks in Pittsburgh without wearing masks. Cops used footage from the banks’ security cameras to track down the robbers and arrest them. When cops showed Wheeler the photos they used to identify him, he said, “But I wore…
How To Grow, Not Gripe
A long, long time ago when Groupon was the shiniest object online, I knew a lot of business owners who tried it but didn’t like it. Groupon sales reps would woo these business owners with this promise: Instead of paying for advertising that doesn’t work, do a Groupon and get a flood of new customers…
RecomMONDAYtions ~ 2024.12.09
Recommended Resource Descript Here’s the message that greets you when you visit Descript.com: “If you can edit text, you can edit videos. Descript is the AI-powered, fully featured, end-to-end video editor that you already know how to use.” I love this tool, and I recommend it. Learn more here. Recommended Podcast Episode Groupon and Descript: Andrew…
Read This if You Like Simple
On Tuesday, I shared a video that revealed how to sell more, with greater confidence and clarity, and without feeling like a pest. A subscriber replied: “I just viewed your video. Do you have any suggestions for specific language to use that makes the ‘promotional stuff’ sound like a genuine, non-pushy invitation?” My answer: Don’t sweat the…
The Amusing and Curious Tale of Soggy Sweat
Happy National Repeal Day! If you partake, pop some bubbly, pour yourself a stiff one, or enjoy a cold-frosty. Today’s the day (in 1933) when prohibition in the USA ended… …except in Mississippi which continued to prohibit alcohol until 1966… …which reminds me of the amusing and curious tale of Soggy Sweat. Noah “Soggy” Sweat…
Mavis-inspired Marketing (To Profit More While Working Less)
Last night, Melissa and I saw Mavis Staples at the Sheldon Concert Hall in St. Louis. (Holy hall-of-famer, Batman! What a great concert!) “Mavis who?” you say. Mavis Staples… inducted in the Gospel, Blues, and Rock and Roll halls of fame. Four-time Grammy Award winner, including a Lifetime Achievement Award. A Kennedy Center Honoree. And…
[Video Premier] How to Cure That Pitchy-pest Feeling
Do you ever worry that you’ll come across as a pitchy pest if you sell too hard or too often? If so, you have to watch this brand new video. When you follow the approach I share (viewing time <2.5 minutes)… …your audience won’t feel imposed upon. They’ll feel invited to take advantage of an opportunity. And you…
RecomMONDAYtions ~ 2024.12.02
In Case You Missed This the First Time… The Tech-to-Profit Formula Training On December 12, I’ll host a live training where I’ll reveal the secret recipe to attract high-quality leads, land clients who love you, & skyrocket profits — with time-saving, hassle-free tech. This is a new, improved version of a training I unveiled a…
Shopocalypse Now
I’m sitting in the kitchen with my AI-powered copywriting robot, B-9(?)… …eating a hearty breakfast of leftover stuffing (the best!), cranberry relish (the chunky kind with orange peel), and pumpkin pie. Meanwhile, it’s Black Friday… …which is supposed to be all about great deals and frenzied shopping… …but the name reminds me of darkness and…
I’m a Turkey; He’s a Turkey…
Melissa and I didn’t do this on purpose. When our twins were born in 1997, and we named them Madeleine (Maddie) and Jacob (Jake)… …we weren’t thinking about Thanksgiving (although we were VERY thankful)… …or poultry. But then a few years later, at one of our family Thanksgiving dinners, someone (I think it was Aunt…
The One I Want to Meet Is…
Last night, my brother Mike hosted the extended family for an early Thanksgiving dinner. Between the main course and dessert, Mike asked this question: “If you could sit down with any celebrity — living or dead — and have a conversation, who would it be?” Good question! The first name that popped into my head:…
Customer service? Nope 😖
Yesterday, I got an email from “Customer Service” with a subject line that started with “URGENT…” Of course, I opened it because… …well… …it was from “Customer Service…” …and it was “URGENT.” I thought it might be a scam, but what if it was real? What if I ignored something truly urgent regarding my account?…
RecomMONDAYtions ~ 2024.11.25
Recommended Training Podcast Guesting Masterclass with Interview Conections A few months ago, podcast Jessica Rhodes on my podcast. Jessica founded Interview Connections, the world’s first and leading podcast booking agency in 2013, back when no other agencies like it existed. Since its founding, Interview Connections has booked over 30,000 podcast interviews for over 800 clients! Next…
Gratitude Snippets
A long, long time ago, I used to post “Gratitude Snippets” on Facebook. Most days, I would post a short message, expressing gratitude for something or someone. Sometimes I expressed gratitude for the server at the restaurant who was having a hard day but still met me with a smile. Sometimes I thanked a client…
The Most Effective Way to Turn Social Followers to Customers
I came across this question earlier in an online marketing forum: “What are some of the most effective strategies you’ve used for converting social media followers into loyal customers?” My answer: Offer social media followers a valuable resource in exchange for their email address… …so they’ll be on my email list. A quick story to…
Why Vague Claims Flop and Specificity Sells
Another timeless marketing tale, ripped from the pages of Scientific Advertising by Claude C. Hopkins: Back in the early 20th century, razor manufacturers touted how quickly their devices could complete a shave. All used vague phrases, such as “quick shave,” to state their claims… …until one manufacturer advertised a “78-second shave.” The result? “…sensational advances in sales.”…
A Tale as Old as Time…
Here’s a timeless marketing tale from page 37 of Scientific Advertising by Claude C. Hopkins: Two advertisers offered nearly identical food products. One offered the product for free. The other promoted the retail price (15 cents) and offered a coupon to get the produce for $0. With the couponing approach, it feels like the product “maker” has…
RecomMONDAYtions ~ 2024.11.18
Recommended Viewing/Listening ️The Introvert’s Guide to Commanding Attention in Business On his Timeless Marketing Podcast, Brian Kurtz Interviews Kim Walsh Phillips, the Co-Founder of the Elite Speakers Network and the Founder and CEO of Powerful Professionals, a business coaching and education company. This is a must-watch/listen for anyone who wants to elevate their personal brand,…
Thank You
Thank you! My book launch yesterday went better than I could have imagined! If you bought the book, I’m grateful. If you haven’t yet, I thank you, too… …because you’re part of my online family… …and without my online family, I wouldn’t have had the desire and the drive to create and promote this book.…
🥳 You can get my book now for <$1
I plan to send several emails today and tomorrow about the launch of my new book If you do not want these book promotions, please click here. This will remove you from the book launch list, but you will remain on my general email list. Story Power Marketing: Proven Methods to Create Client-Attracting, Profit-Generating Content — WIthout…
The Untold tale of Moses’s Hockey Team
“Story Power Marketing” — available on Amazon on Thursday — is not my first book. My authoring days began when I was 7. I wrote this at Sunday school… Moses’s Hockey Team(A Best Seller) By Tom Ruwitch“Dedacation to Tom Ruwitch”Pictures by Tom Ruwitch The book is what publishers call a PAGE-TURNER. It’s a four-age thriller…
Look What I Got…
I got a copy of my new book in the mail yesterday. (Woo-hoo!) (↑ Artist’s rendering of me ↑) (↓ Video rendering of me ↓) Watch the short video above to learn more about the book… …what the experts are saying about it… …where you can get it… …when it’s available… …and other critical info. Stay tuned…
RecomMONDAYtions ~ 2024.11.11
Recommended Book 📕Coming Thursday: “Story Power Marketing” (The Book) Watch your email Thursday for the link to buy Story Power Marketing: Proven Methods to Create Client-Attracting, Profit Generating Content — Without Getting Stuck. Here’s what Dave Dee said about the book: “I love this book! It is packed with information you can immediately use to make…
This Doesn’t Have to be “so Darn Complicated”
Riddle me this, Batman… …What’s the difference between “easy” and “simple?” I’ve been pondering that since Tuesday when I toured Redirect Health in Phoenix with its CEO, David Berg. Redirect helps companies find and deliver affordable healthcare plans without sacrificing quality coverage. For more than 10 years, the company’s slogan was “Easy and Affordable Healthcare.”…
The F.A.C.T.s About Artificial Intelligence
My new book — available to purchase a week from today on Nov. 14 — has an Introduction, 11 chapters, and acknowledgements. The hardest chapter to write – by far: The one about AI. I drafted the first chapter but tossed it later because… …it contained too many prompts and other tactics that would be…
I Elect To Do This…
I usually write these emails on the mornings I send them. But not this one. By the time this email lands in your inbox, I’ll be on the highway east of Miami, cutting across the Everglades, on my way to Marco Island for a two-day meeting with Dave Dee and his Elite Mastermind group. Weather…
You Won’t Profit Unless You Do This…
From 38,000 feet elevation, enroute to Phoenix… I have a sign on my desk, to the left of my computer, where I see and think about it every day. The sign says: You Won’t Profit Unless You Implement My friend Vance Morris sent it to me. Vance is one of my marketing heroes. Vance knows…
RecomMONDAYtions ~ 2024.11.04
Recommended Event LinkedIn Masterclass / Workshop My friend Jon Keel is a LinkedIn master, and his FREE workshops are always loaded with what’s working NOW. You still have time to register for the 3-day workshop that runs from 4-5 p.m. ET Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. Details and registration here. Recommended Viewing “Quincy” on Netflix Quincy Jones…
A Spud-tacular Marketing Lesson
Looking for that perfect holiday gift for that special someone? How about “Polish Potatoes” perfume (for women OR men)? This is not a joke — although it is kind of funny. Polish perfumer Michał Gilbert Lach invented the scent which he describes as “a journey into the depths of childhood experiences.” As a kid, Michal…
P.T. Barnum Got a Bum Rap For This…
I once met with a businessman who wanted my help to grow his financial planning business. I passed… …not just because his services seemed shady… …but also (and primarily) because he kept referring to his prospects and customers as “suckers.” P.T. Barnum often gets the credit (or the rap?) for saying, “There’s a sucker born…
They Changed this Iconic Name to What!?!?
Ripped from the headlines: Pepperidge Farm has temporarily changed the name of its bite-sized cheddar cheese crackers from “Goldfish” to “Chilean Sea Bass.” WTF!?? This has to be a joke, right? Ummmm…. ….no… …It’s true. They even have a website — scheduled to run through October 30 — where you can buy them. Go to ChileanSeaBassCrackers.com.…
RecomMONDAYtions ~ 2024.10.28
Recommended Reading 💡Grand Canyon Focus: The Practice of Full Devotion to a Single Task Thanks to Matthew Homan who recommended this brilliant post in his (also brilliant) newsletter. The post’s author, Leo Babauta, writes: “Imagine you’re standing at the edge of a cliff, where you really need to concentrate in order not to fall into the abyss. Imagine…
An Adrenalin-fueled Email…
I have the bug that’s going around. Fever, chills, sore throat, cough. No fun. It came on Wednesday night as I was meeting with my operations director, Brady. I kept having to clear my throat. I seemed to be losing my voice. And then I woke up yesterday without a voice. Bad day for that.…
Today’s The Day…
In case you hadn’t heard the news… Today’s the day. I’m hosting a complimentary training called: The Tech-to-Profit Formula:The Secret Recipe to Attract High-Quality Leads, Land Clients Who Love You, & Skyrocket Profits — With Time-Saving, Hassle-Free Tech Click the button below for details and to save your sear. Why this training? I know too…
Content Marketing Pain — and How to Cure It
Here’s a question I spotted in one of those online marketing forums this morning: What is the most painful part of content marketing? This one struck a nerve. Lots of responses, many with a common theme. “LargeLine” said: “Always coming up with fresh and engaging ideas consistently. It can be tough to keep your audience interested.”…
Help Comes to Those Who…
Yesterday, Melissa and I visited a camp, set deep in the woods of the Missouri Ozarks, operated by the secondary school we attended back in the dark ages. (Yeah, Melissa and I met in high school. Stay tuned for the Hallmark movie ). The camp, called “Drey Land,” hasn’t changed much since the 1970s when Melissa…
RecomMONDAYtions ~ 2024.10.21
Recommended Reading 💡Ryan Reynolds Shares the Keys to Killer Marketing You might know him as the actor who stares in Deadpool. But I’m a Ryan Reynolds fan because he’s a successful business owner and brilliant marketer. In this article from Inc., Reynolds shares his take on the advertising industry and keys to great marketing. Recommended Viewing 💡Mint…
Why I’m Doing a Happy Dance
Yesterday… …my publisher sent the final proof of my upcoming book… …and I approved it. Next step: Finalize some of the resources and special gifts I offer to readers, submit some information to Amazon, and publish this puppy. Exact date TBD. Stay tuned. By the way, the book is called: Story Power MarketingProven Methods to…
Surprise… I Actually Liked This…
And now for something completely different… I’d like to commend the spammer who sent me a pitch yesterday for her company’s telemarketing and LinkedIn advertising services. Really. No sarcasm here. Just genuine appreciation. The email was short and sweet and went like this: Hi Tom, I’m the Partnerships Manager at Growth Yard. If we could…
My favorite Steve Jobs Story & The Lessons it Reveals…
Happy Steve Jobs Day! Yeah, it’s true. There’s an unofficial holiday to celebrate Apple’s co-founder… …and October 16 is the day. To celebrate the occasion, I have to share my favorite Steve Jobs story — the one about the time he introduced the iPhone. Let’s take the Wayback Machine to January 2007. The Macworld Conference…
Marketing Doesn’t Have to Be a Guessing Game. Here’s The Key…
Here’s something I didn’t know until Melissa and I visited Pompeii last week during our European vacation… Ancient Romans loved to gamble with dice. The archeologists who excavated Pompeii (buried under 15 feet of ash when Mount Vesuvius erupted in 79 A.D.) founds lots of dice. Here are some on display at the National Archeological…
RecomMONDAYtions ~ 2024.10.14
Recommended Reading 💡The Daily Stoic: It Will Make You Better In this brief post, Ryan Holliday describes how young Earnest Hemingway suffered an “almost unbearable loss…” …only to recover and become a better writer than before. This is a powerful story about how to use loss to your advantage. You’re Invited The Tech-to-Profit Formula I’m…
Legendary Tales and Biz Lessons From the Cradle of Western Civ
From the balcony of my cliffside hotel on the Amalfi Coast in Italy, I look due west across the Gulf of Salerno… …at Sorrento, perched on the tip of the peninsula separating the gulf in front of me from the Gulf of Naples. These are historic waters. In September 1943, Allied warships filled the Gulf…
A Lying, Liar Bites the Dust. Here’s The Story…
From atop a cliff on the Amalfi Coast in Italy… A few days ago, I visited the island of Capri. That’s a hunk of volcanic rock filled with fancy villas, overpriced bistros and shops, and tourists — lots and lots of tourists. It’s a beautiful place — the kind that attracts movie stars and other…
You May Not Sell What You Think you Sell
Near the shores of the Mediterranean in Naples, Italy. After writing yesterday’s email about wine merchants in ancient Pompeii and their wise marketing, I recalled of story I once heard about a wise hotel owner. Like the wine merchants in Pompeii, he raked in more revenue by thinking differently about what he sells. This story…
Starbucks, Schmarbucks. The Pompeiians Thought of This First…
Melissa and I visited Pompeii yesterday. That’s the ancient Roman village in Southern Italy that was buried under 18 feet of ash and pumice after nearby Mt Vesuvius erupted in 79 AD. Archeologists have been excavating the place since the 19th century and have uncovered one of the best-preserved ancient ruins on the planet. Melissa…
RecomMONDAYtions ~ 2024.10.07
Recommended Reading 💡This Category Stumped Everyone on Trivia Night (Adam Kreitman) The Marketing Advocate, a.k.a. Adam Kreitman, has done it again. In this short post, Adam makes the case for direct response marketing over fancy, flashy, expensive ads. Read this if you prefer getting clients and growing profits, rather than wasting money. Recommended Event How…
My Pal Sent an A+++ email. I Break it Down Here…
My good friend Michael DeLon sent me an AWESOME email today. It’s so loaded with marketing wisdom, innovative thinking, and smile-making surprises… …I have to share it with you. But first, some background. Michael is the President of Paperback Expert which positions experts for business growth. Yesterday, he spoke at the Great Legal Marketing (GLM)…
This Legendary Ad Reveals Biz-building Secrets…
A few days ago, I hosted an induction ceremony for The Storytelling Hall of Fame. The latest inductee: This masterpiece ad for BluBlockers sunglasses by the late, great Joe Sugarman. In 2007, Sugarman wrote in his book The Adweek Copywriting Handbook, “That ad for BluBlocker sunglasses launched a multimillion-dollar company that eventually sold 20 million pairs of…
You Have to Pay More Attention to This…
Let’s make a deal. Behind curtain number one: a prospective customer who will buy $10 of your goods and services if you spend $5 on marketing and advertising. Behind curtain number two: a prospective customer who will buy $20 of your goods and services if you spend just $1 on marketing and advertising. Spend $5…
Why Kris Kristofferson Failed at First
When he first tried to make it as a songwriter in Nashville, Kris Kristofferson couldn’t catch a break. He eventually became a country music legend, but, at first, he couldn’t tame his literary side. Kristofferson, who died on Saturday at age 88, studied English literature and graduated with honors from Pomona College. He earned a…
RecomMONDAYtions ~ 2024.09.30
Recommended Reading How to Write Faster (Ann Handley) I love Ann Handley’s blog and emails. Here’s a good one she wrote recently about how to write faster — with greater confidence and consistency. Hint: AI can help, but it’s not the answer. Recommended Book The Checklist Manifesto A book about the power of checklists may…
Hey, Steve Jobs, I Call B.S.
I’m feeling a bit feisty this morning. I want to call-out some big boys and do some myth-busting. Let’s start with this quote from Apple founder Steve Jobs: “Some people say, ‘Give the customers what they want.’ But that’s not my approach. Our job is to figure out what they’re going to want before they…
[Invitation] Become a Grandmaster at Business
When he was just 13 years old, chess prodigy Magnus Carlsen nearly defeated former world champion Gary Kasparov during a tournament in Iceland. The Norwegian kid rattled the Russian with an unconventional opening, but the old guy recovered to salvage a draw. I recommend the 2016 documentary about Carlsen. Here’s the trailer: When author Patrick Bet-David…
The Right and Wrong Way to Get Prospects to Tune In
I dozed off during a Zoom meeting yesterday. I couldn’t help it. I was tired, and the speaker was BO-ring. Thankfully, my camera wasn’t on so no one caught me. In olden days in Great Britain, they might have called me a “sluggard.” (That’s a fancy English word for “lazy person.”) In the 18th-century, British…
Don’t Be a Focker (A Cautionary Tale)
Remember this scene in “Meet the Parents” when Gaylord Focker (Ben Stiller) wants to board a plane, but a power-hungry gate agent makes him wait? Funny when you watch it. But not so funny when — like me — you live through something like it. It happened Sunday at the Philadelphia International Airport. Melissa and I arrived…
RecomMONDAYtions ~ 2024.09.23
Herb Kelleher on Leadership and Service Yesterday, I flew from Philadelphia to St. Louis on Southwest Airlines. Before I boarded, I had the WORST customer (dis)service experience I’ve ever had with Southwest. It made me think of the airline’s founder, Herb Kelleher, and how he built Southwest on great customer service. He must have been…
What Will You Do When it Comes Tumbling Down?
In yesterday’s email, I told you about the little kerfuffle I’ve got going with the content cops at Facebook. More specifically, the new AI-powered robots that review content and decide whether it complies with Big Social’s “policies.” Big Social’s robot pressed pause on some videos and ads I launched. So that campaign is in limbo.…
I’m at War with Big Social’s Dumb Robot. Here’s the Story…
I’m feuding with Facebook, and I’m not alone. Earlier this month I recorded a few videos designed to promote my businesses — Story Power Marketing and Implementum. Here’s one of them (it’s all about how to transform your technology from a paralyzing migraine to a walk in the park)… I hired a team of Facebook…
She Said THIS About my Book 🥳
My upcoming book is in the hands of the publisher — getting final copy edits and page design before hitting the streets soon (exact date TBA). My editor, Judy, emailed yesterday to share a note from the proofreader who liked it; she really liked it. Here’s what the proofreader said: “This was a delight to…
From Unhappy to Delighted – a Customer Service Tale
This is a tale of customer gone wrong… …with a happy ending. It was 97 degrees the day the a/c crapped out in Melissa’s Volvo. She loves that car — except for the problems with the heating and cooling systems. We paid $400 to “recharge” the a/c — only to have the thing fail again…
RecomMONDAYtions ~ 2024.09.16
I’m Back… …from the wilds of Wyoming (no thanks to United Airlines which deposited me in St. Louis more than three hours later than promised). There’s nothing like a week off the grid to rejuvenate the spirit and clear the cobwebs. So let’s get back to business. Recommended Listening 💡John Jantsch: (Un)Limiting Beliefs I love…
How One of The Greats Described “Advertising”
If you’ve spent much time in my world, you know I’m fond of Eugene Schwartz. He’s among the great copywriters of the 20th century, and he wrote a book called “Breakthrough Advertising” which I reread every couple of years. At the beginning of Chapter Seven, Schwartz writes… “…Advertising is the literature of desire. It is…
Finding Joy in The Journey
I’ve gone fishin’… …in the backwoods of southern Wyoming. Off the grid, except for a few minutes each day to plug in and write to you. Yesterday, I bushwacked through willows. I stood in the center of mountain streams for hours. I threw a few hundred casts, and…. …I caught one fish. There’s a new…
On This, There’s No Debate
I came across this question in an online marketing forum recently: Is email marketing still worth it in 2024? On this, there is no debate. The answer is YES! Email marketing is still worth it. I founded an email marketing software company in 2001 — back when most people had not heard of email marketing, much…
Deadly Myths You Must Avoid
In ancient days, when he was the first emperor of a unified China, Qin Shi Huang, was obsessed with immortality. He issued an executive order for officials across his kingdom to search for a potion that would give him eternal life. At some point on this quest, he began consuming cinnabar (sounds tasty). He thought…
RecomMONDAYtions ~ 2024.09.09
Recommended Podcasts I’ve not yet read “No B.S. Time Management,” the newly revised book by Dan Kennedy and Ben Glass. But I loved Ben’s conversations with my friends Vance Morris and Stephen Oliver. On “Systematic Magic with Vance Morris,” you’ll hear: Great stuff! Listen on Apple or wherever you get your favorite podcast. Stephen posted his interview with…
[Last Chance] GPT Genius Replay Ends Tonight
Today (Sunday) is the last day Jonathan Green will share the replay from his GPT Genius Workshop he ran last week. If you didn’t, today is your chance to see the workshop and the amazing offer Jonathan shared. He revealed the biggest secrets to turn AI into a useful tool that you can master in…
Send More Emails? Yes, If…
Yesterday, while running a free training on how to create profit-generating emails, I got this question from a worried business owner: “I’m worried about being a spammer. I don’t want to invade someone’s inbox. How do I prevent people from thinking, ‘Oh! Why are you emailing me all the time?’” Here’s my answer, transcribed and…
The Expert’s Expert
Every guitarist has their own favorite guitarist. And it’s probably someone you’ve never heard of. Experts don’t like the same things as fans… …in music… …and in business. On today’s workshop, you’re going to meet the guy who a LOT of other AI experts come to with their questions. He’ll pull back the curtain and…
AI Was Supposed to be Easy
Everyone promised that AI would make our lives easier. But using ChatGPT can feel like you’re wrestling with the computer. Half the time you get great answers, and half the time you get garbage. The core problem: ChatGPT lives by majority rule. So if you ask ChatGPT to design a website, it will look at…
Activate ChatGPT’s Genius Mode
ChatGPT has a horrible flaw. It can do so many things, but if you ask it the wrong question…it doesn’t do what you want. Trying to buy prompt collections can only get you so far. Each time OpenAI releases an update, the old prompts stop working right. But there is a better way. You can…
RecomMONDAYtions (Late Labor Day Edition) ~ 2024.09.02
Recommended Workshop 🤖Stop using AI the hard way and let it do the heavy lifting In case you missed the special announcement this morning… AI expert Jonathan Green will be my guest on Thursday for a LIVE workshop where he’ll show us how to activate ChatGPT’s hidden “genius mode” with ONE copy and paste prompt.…
This Simple Switch will Help you Stand Out and Get More Appointments
Yesterday, a member of the Story Power Content Transformation Academy (I’ll call her “Nancy”) sent me a draft of her weekly email and asked for feedback. She does that every week — for every draft… …which has led her to create better, client-attracting emails with far less struggle. That’s one of the Academy’s many membership…
The One About the Pitchy Pest who Claimed Not to Pitch
A guy named “James” invaded my LinkedIn direct-message box yesterday with a note that started like this… Hi Tom, Unlike most on this platform who immediately pitch you, I’d actually like to start a genuine conversation. Then he told me how “…from (his conversations), many service providers like yourself are facing stagnant or declining sales.”…
A Quick, Easy Way to Transform Content From Boring to Brilliant
I met yesterday with a business owner — I’ll call him “Jim” — who struggles to create client-attracting content. Jim runs an agency that places and tracks ads for clients. It’s all about the data, he said, and… Data is boring. “How do you create entertaining, captivating content about data?” he asked Here’s the thing……
Do You Have The Right Tools for The (Marketing) Job?
Yesterday, I was minding my own business, sitting on the screen porch, checking my emails when… …I caught a whiff of natural gas — a strong whiff. So I called the gas company which sent a technician over to diagnose the problem. Turns out there was a small leak which was simple to fix. All…
RecomMONDAYtions ~ 2024.08.26
Recommended Training (Last Day) 📚How to Leverage Your Book to Maximize Sales and Profits This complimentary masterclass is available on-demand (watch any time) until 11 p.m. ET tonight (Monday, August 26). If you have a book (or you’re thinking about writing one), this will reveal how to use your book to attract leads, engage prospects,…
Rotten Advice for Authors + a Profit-generating Fix…
I bumped into a struggling author on Reddit this morning who’s flushing money down the drain while hoping people will buy his books. He’s written seven(!) books… …sold 194 (which averages to 28 sales per book)… …wasted thousands of dollars on advertising that hasn’t worked… …and then shown up in a forum for authors to…
Embrace This Credo? You May “Ragret” It…
Before he played Ted Lasso on TV, Jason Sudeikis played a low-level weed dealer named David Miller who poses as a family man so he can smuggle some product across the border in his “family’s” RV. Along the way, his “daughter” meets a dimwitted dude named Scotty P. who swings by the RV and meets…
From Pennies to Profits (Secrets for Authors)
I met yesterday with a business coach who wrote an excellent book… …but is struggling to leverage it as a profit-generator. He sells the book ($20, plus shipping) on the front page of his website. “How many books have you sold from your site?” I asked. “Not too many,” he said. “Most of my sales…
Does my Crazy-doodle Regret This…?
Last month, as the Uber Eats guy delivered my pineapple fried rice and red curry with chicken, my crazy-doodle, Moose, stormed from the kitchen to the front door, jumped against the door’s window, and ripped the lovely privacy curtain that covered the window. When I heard the commotion, I ran into the front hall, saw…
RecomMONDAYtions ~ 2024.08.19
Recommended Viewing🎥Melissa Etheridge: I’m Not Broken Last week, Melissa and I saw Melissa Etheridge in concert (5️). Melissa E. grew up in Leavenworth, KS — two blocks from the federal prison. In 1970, Johnny Cash came to town to perform at that prison. Johnny inspired Melissa to do the same. Last month, Paramount+ released “Melissa…
Why Did The Fishes Cross The Road?
This morning, while enjoying a mug of French roast and a heaping helping of Cocoa Puffs, I asked my AI copywriting robot, “B-9?,” to tell me the “greatest joke ever.” He told the one about the chicken crossing the road. (Best joke ever? I don’t think so. ) So I asked him to try again, and…
Attention Authors…
Today’s email is for business people who have written a book… …or are thinking about doing so… Last night, the St. Louis Publishers Association invited me to speak on this topic: How to Leverage Your Book to Maximize Sales and Profits. It occurred to me that you probably are NOT a member of the St.…
How I Patched Things up With my Robot…
My AI copywriting robot, “B-9?”, is depressed. He thinks I don’t like him anymore. Yesterday, I wrote an email ripping a spammer for sending me a pitchy, AI-generated email. “B-9?” took it personally. “You hate robots,” he sniffed. “No! No!” I said. “I LOVE robots — especially you.” “B-9?” crossed his arms, turned his back…