RecomMONDAYtions ~ 2025.12.15
Recommended Tools
📈 Sales Ready Organization (SRO) Assessment
If you’re thinking about how to bring more predictability and profit into your business, my friend Christopher Filipiak has a smart tool called the Sales Ready Organization (SRO) Assessment.
I took it myself and I’m already using what it revealed to guide my 2026 planning.
In just a few minutes, it pinpoints where your sales system is working, where momentum is leaking, and what steps to take next to create steady, reliable revenue.
It’s straightforward, practical, and it’s helping CEOs build stronger, more profitable companies.
You can take the SRO Assessment here.
Recommended Video
🎥 Do You Have a Strategy for Your Life?
December is a time when we often plan for the year ahead.
We develop the strategies for our business.
We set revenue targets.
We map projects.
We polish goals.
But how often do we step back and ask a tougher question?
Do we have a strategy for our life?
In this thoughtful TEDx talk, Karen Dillon shares a simple but unsettling insight: real strategy isn’t what you say matters—it’s where your time and energy actually go. Through a powerful personal story, she shows how everyday choices quietly shape the life you end up living.
If you’re doing year-end planning, this is a smart pause button.
Worth watching before you lock in next year’s plans.
Podcast (The Story Power Marketing Show)
📡 How to Craft Stories That Persuade and Sell (with David Garfinkel)
David Garfinkel has helped copywriters and businesses in more than 100 industries increase profits. His book “Breakthrough Copywriting” is a #1 Bestseller on Amazon. Way back in 2004, he created and published the first widely used set of Copywriting Templates.
Since 1993, he’s written sales letters that have brought in as much as $40 million to one business. These days, his main client work is coaching professional copywriters, business owners, and in-house copywriters for organizations.
In this episode, David discusses his book “The Persuasion Story Code” and explains why short, simple persuasion stories are more powerful than lengthy, dramatic tales. He breaks down the six categories and 25 types of persuasion stories that can be used in marketing and sales to build trust, overcome objections, and close deals. He and Tom also touch on the role of AI in storytelling and how to train AI to write persuasive stories effectively.
Tune in for a masterclass in copywriting.
DISCUSSED IN THIS EPISODE
~03:19 The Power of Persuasion Stories
~04:51 Understanding the Persuasion Story Code
~07:59 The Impact of Short Stories in Business
~15:35 Analyzing Famous Persuasion Stories
~22:00 Finding Your Own Persuasion Stories
~25:59 Understanding the Essence of a Story
~27:02 Real-World Examples of Persuasion Stories
~28:05 The Role of Subtlety in Storytelling
~29:54 Dramatic Impact in Movies vs. Persuasion Stories
~31:30 Effective Storytelling Techniques
~36:01 The Power of Status in Persuasion
~38:41 AI in Copywriting: Challenges and Strategies
~42:03 The Limitations of AI in Creativity
~43:15 Harnessing AI for Better Copywriting
~50:06 Final Thoughts and Resources
FULL EPISODE VIDEO: vimeo.com/1145066407
LISTEN ON: Apple | Spotify | Amazon
Recommended Book
This is the book David Garfinkel and I discuss on “The Story Power Marketing Show.” Grab a copy on Amazon or download the first two chapters for free here.
Rest in Peace, Rob Reiner
📺 60 Minutes Archive: “This is Rob Reiner”
Just two months ago, Leslie Stahl interviewed Rob Reiner on “60 Minutes.” Yesterday, Reiner and his wife, Michelle Singer, were found dead in their home — victims of an apparent murder.
The list of Rob Reiner movies I love is long:
- The Princess Bride
- This is Spinal Tap
- When Harry Met Sally
- Stand By Me
- A Few Good Men
- Misery…
…and so many more.
Here’s that 60 Minutes interview in which Reiner reflects on his work — including the new Spinal Tap sequel.
Words to Ponder
“The most important thing is that you be a good person and you live by the golden rule of do unto others. If you live by that, that’s all I care about.”
– Rob Reiner
Don't go away yet..
p.s. Coaches, authors, and consultants hire me to power-up their creative content and storytelling to captivate prospects, stand-out and book more business.
Whenever you're ready, here are several ways I can help you become a storytelling stand-out so you'll land more clients without pitching and prodding:
1) Get the Story Power Profit Pack -- 52 Strategies, Tips, and Tactics to Transform Your Content from Ignored to Adored.
2) Watch the free, 7-minute Micro-Training: “The 3 Most Important Storytelling Keys to Captivate Prospects and Inspire Them to Act -- Without Pitching and Prodding.”
3) Become a Story Power VIP: Master how to discover, assemble, and deliver business-building stories. Twice-monthly live masterclasses. Members-only content. One-on-one feedback and consulting sessions. And more… If you'd like to learn more about our VIP program, just reply to this email and put "Story Power VIP" in the subject line. I’ll contact you with more details.
4) Work with me one-on-one: If you’re interested in working directly with me -- to discover, assemble, and deliver powerful, business-building stories -- simply reply to this email and change the subject line to "Private Client." Tell me a little about yourself, your business, and what you'd like to accomplish, and I'll reply to discuss options.
5) Invite me to speak at an event: I can tailor a presentation that meets the specific needs of your organization. Informative. Entertaining. Virtual or live. Potential for continuing education credits when applicable for your group. If interested, reply to this email and change the subject line to “Speaking Engagement.” I’ll circle back to discuss the possibilities.
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