RecomMONDAYtions ~ 2026.10.26
Recommended Reading
Is Email Marketing Dead? No, But…
Every few months somebody declares email marketing dead. Megan Braverman says the people asking are grading email on the wrong test.
They expect a newsletter to close deals on its own. When it doesn’t, they call it a failure. But in professional services, people hire you after they’ve seen you again and again. Her line: “Marketing in professional services is cumulative, not transactional.”
So email’s job is to keep you credible and familiar. It’s a channel you own. No algorithm decides who sees it. And it gives your other work a second life, whether that’s a podcast interview or a speaking gig.
She also lists the ways firms waste it. Sending everything to everyone. Writing nothing but self-promotion. Tracking the numbers and never acting on them.
If you’ve wondered whether your email is worth the effort, read this first.
Read: Is Email Marketing Dead? No, But…
Podcast (The Story Power Marketing Show)
How to Turn Your Business Into a Joy Engine (with Russell Nohelty)
You can build a business that works and still dread opening your laptop in the morning. Russell Nohelty has seen it plenty. He’s coached creators who hit their numbers and still felt miserable.
Russell is a USA Today bestselling author with more than 75 books and over 20 years of running creative businesses. He came up with an idea he calls the happy capitalist.
His argument is simple. You’re running a business, so stop treating money as the opposite of the good you do for people. We talk about why your marketing should follow the people who say yes, how to help undecided buyers decide, and how to find the objections that keep them stuck. He also walks through his seven-step Easeful Joy Loop and what he calls a Good Chaos Engine, a way to draw the right buyers to you without leaning on social media.
DISCUSSED IN THIS EPISODE
~00:54 — Meet Russell Nohelty
~02:01 — Origin of a “Hapitalist”
~03:08 — Money Without Happiness
~09:39 — Getting Comfortable Selling
~11:03 — Why Everyone Loves Marketing
~13:30 — The Story Power “Three Es”
~15:57 — Blocks, Objections and Decisions
~22:20 — Magnetizing Right People
~22:58 — Easeful Joy Loop Framework
~28:21 — Good Chaos Engine Offers
~30:06 — Where to Find Russell
~31:22 — Fishmonger Mindset Closing
~33:19 — Wrap Up and Resources
LISTEN ON: Apple | Spotify | Amazon
Recommended Viewing
The Curse of Knowledge
The more you know about copywriting, the easier it is to sound like a copywriter.
A-list copywriter David Deutsch calls it the curse of knowledge. You learn the moves that work. You see them used over and over. So you lean on them. And somewhere along the way you lose the honest, real voice that people without all that training have to rely on.
His fix is to go back to talking like yourself. He says people will respond to that and send you money. Then add a little of the copywriting stuff on top.
It’s under three minutes. Watch it before you write your next email.
Why Being Yourself Is Your Biggest Business Advantage
Chase Jarvis launched CreativeLive and The Best Camera app. In this interview with Evan Carmichael, he pushes back on the idea that creativity belongs to artists. He says everyone is creative, and that it pays off in business, not just in art.
He describes his own brand in three words: creativity, authenticity, community. And he says the reason you have core values is to guide your decisions.
My favorite line from the episode: “You can’t stand out and fit in at the same time.”
Fair warning: It runs about an hour and 20 minutes. Start it and see if it hooks you.
Watch: Why Being Yourself Is Your Biggest Business Advantage
Recommended Podcast
Are We Adapting to a Broken Internet or Helping Break It? (with Rand Fishkin)
For years the deal online was simple. Make something good, get found, get the visit. Rand Fishkin says that deal is breaking.
Google answers questions right on the results page. AI tools summarize your work without sending anyone your way. And attribution gives the credit to whatever captured the demand, like a Google ad, instead of the podcast or article that created it.
Rand is the CEO and cofounder of SparkToro, and he and Amanda Natividad have a book coming called Zero Click Marketing. His advice is to find where your audience pays attention and create for that place, instead of counting on people to click through to you.
He also thinks this could bring back brand building and creative risk. That’s good news if you’d rather be memorable than optimized.
Rachel Truair hosts. It’s from The Prompt, Demandbase’s podcast.
Listen: Are We Adapting to a Broken Internet or Helping Break It?
Words to Ponder
“Make it simple. Make it memorable. Make it inviting to look at. Make it fun to read.”
— Leo Burnett
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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