Episodes

How much "Authenticity" is too much? How much of your personal life should you share with your clients or followers? The answer depends on what kind of clients you want to attract, and that's what I'm talking about in this week's episode. [00:00] How much is too much? [00:23] Are you business deals transactional? [00:50] Or are they relational? [01:47] A real dilema [02:48] Here's the difference [03:40] My advice: Charge more, Work less [04:14] You set a higher price, AND... [05:17] I'm rebuil...

A friend of mine recently gave me a not-so-subtle reminder that I am blessed to have a schedule full of things that I have chosen to do. She did this on the heels of me explaining to her how busy I was... "I have to spend 3 days in a studio recording my audio book, I've got to prepare for two upcoming workshops, I have to fly to Orlando for a mastermind meeting," and so on. She reminded me that I was complaining about things that many people are praying for. I am blessed to have a publisher wh...

You might be thinking, "Why the 180, Ray? Haven't you been pitching A.I. as an incredible new tool? Aren't you marketing your own copywriting A.I.?" I still believe A.I. is an incredible tool - And yes, I'm very pleased with my company's A.I. software - BUT, as I said when I first started in this business, you must be more than just a copywriter. That was true then, but now...it's absolutely critical. If you're counting on copywriting alone, you're not only eligible for a quick replacement, y...

I'm humbly and blatantly asking for your help in promoting my new book, Read This or Die. This week's podcast explains why I'm so passionate about the book, how it helped save my life, and why I believe it will help others who are searching for answers to seemingly insurmountable problems. [00:00] What is my new book? [01:51] Am I cured? [02:41] What's in it for the reader? [03:11] Preorder and get the course [03:44] More than a million views [04:33] Why I'm asking for help [05:17] My Podcast ...

My Parkinson's symptoms are not something I can hide. I can't keep them under control just because I'm in public, or on a Zoom meeting, or on a stage...They are something I share with everyone I meet, whether I want to or not. But my diagnosis was the genesis of other struggles. The kind that can be hidden. Struggles we feel we must endure alone; perhaps because we've convinced ourselves that no one else will care, or understand...or because we're ashamed, or sometimes because we don't really e...

Most people are stuck in "The Loop" because somehow they think they're going to get a different result in their life by doing the same thing they've been doing, only doing it harder and faster. The Loop gives no rewards for effort. No matter how hard you work at it, you always end up back at the same place. You only break out of The Loop by making intensely different decisions. By taking a completely different path. That's the message of this week's podcast Getting out of The Loop requires you...

The latest earnings statistics still show an obvious gender bias in Corporate America, but why do we so often see this same phenomenon in the entrepreneurial space? How can women, running their own businesses and setting their own rates, be getting paid less than their male counterparts? That's one of the big questions I had for this week's guest, Dawn Apuan. She is a successful entrepreneur who does amazing work, and charges accordingly. Tune in as we explore the costly practice of undervalui...

For those who have wondered, this post will explain what I work on and how I function as a "million-dollar writer." It is my hope this will stimulate you into taking the required steps to earn significantly more income than you do now. After I spell out how I manage to create a million dollars in revenue, I'll give you a simple 3-step roadmap to increase your own income. (By the way, even though I am describing the life of a writer, virtually all of what I'm about to share will work for any fre...

Kevin Rogers spent years on the road doing stand-up comedy. Now he makes his living as a direct-response copywriter. I had a chat with Kevin about his journey from playing comedy clubs with the likes of Chris Rock and Billy Gardell, to writing launch promotions for high-dollar clients. There are many parallels between comedy and copy. Tune in as I explore them with someone who's been successful at both.

Is it necessary to drop a bunch of cash on social media ads in order to get targeted names on your list? Absolutely not. Buying ads isn't as complicated as some would lead you to believe. In fact, I may even offer some guidance on how to do it the right way in a future episode, but I think it's wise to start with the resources you already have at your disposal; specifically, your website. This week, I want to clearly define the purpose of your website, the purpose of your list, AND how those t...

Megan Hyatt Miller is coauthor of the book, Mind Your Mindset, which she wrote with her father, Michael Hyatt. She is also the President and CEO of Full Focus. Megan is a perfect example of balancing business success with a successful personal life. It's seemingly a rare story - But, does it have to be? Listen to find out how to retrain your narrator, overcome the fears that are holding you back, and maintain a healthy margin between your business and personal life. [00:00] Intro - Who is Meg...

I've got 7 questions that every entrepreneur, every content creator, every personal brand, every business that does business on the internet, must be able to answer in order to succeed. And I'm no exception. I want you to understand how things have changed, and how my company has responded to meet those changes head on (and why YOU should, too). I felt this information was urgent enough to warrant a special, bonus episode for this week. [00:00] Intro (this may be a mistake) [01:27] Work [01:...

"If I only knew then what I know now." Who hasn't had that thought? Since time travel is not yet an option, this week we'll examine something more practical: What would your future self be asking you now? In this episode, I have 5 questions that can help you become the future self you want to be. [00:00] Intro [00:17] If you could go back in time to talk to your younger self, what would you say? [02:04] Discipline is Destiny (Ryan Holiday) [02:53] If we know what to do, why don't we change? [...

Learn how to overcome "The Resistance" - The things that are slowing your productivity, raising your anxiety, and ruining your carefully crafted work plan. Three simple, life-changing steps are waiting for you in this week's episode. [00:00] - What do I mean by "the resistance" (friction) [01:52] - Eliminate Self-Created Resistance [06:37] - Permission Based Resistance [11:16] - Externally Produced Resistance Links TextExpander - If you have to type it more than once, templatize it The War o...

Is it possible to intentionally become the person you wish to be? The best version of yourself you can imagine? It's not only possible, it's how it's done...with intention, and commitment. This week, we'll talk about what it takes to become "the possible you". • [00:18] Abandoning resolutions • [00:51] Set impossible goals • [02:10] But, I don't know how to do that • [03:01] What you've been doing doesn't work • [04:25] You have to believe you deserve it • [05:54] Construct your new identity ...

Have you ever tried to make a significant change in your life? Something that requires effort and commitment? Have you ever failed to achieve that change? Most of us would answer yes to that question (the honest people), but what if I told you there is a real reason why this happens? A universal truth that applies to any major change in your life, be it fitness, finance, productivity, etc. The fact is, you can't just "Dabble in Discipline", you must Move in Mastery. I'll explain exactly what ...

Some say that YouTube is unfriendly territory for newcomers, but have you really missed the boat? Is it too late to build an income-generating channel? My guest this week, Sean Cannell, says "saturation is a myth". YouTube still rewards great content for those who have the right recipe...and he's got the facts, figures, and cases studies to back it up. Listen to this inspiring interview with someone who has over 1,000,000 subscribers, 100,000,000 video views, coauthored the book YouTube Secrets...

Every year people make resolutions or set goals for the coming year. Most will abandon all these aspirations before the month of January is over. Why does this happen? Because their "resolutions" and "goals" were nothing but WISHES. And wishing doesn't make it so. What makes things happen? DECISIONS and COMMITMENTS. In this episode, I'll give you 5 Decisions That Can MULTIPLY your RESULTS 10X This Year. [00:00] Intro- The problem with resolutions with goals [00:50] 1. DECIDE to learn from an...

This week's episode was recorded Christmas morning, 2022. I wanted to have a comfortable, intimate setting to relay some positive thoughts and exercises for the new year, so I chose to record at my kitchen table. My premise is this: We can't be happy all the time, that's a delusion and an unrealistic expectation...BUT, we can have much less time being unhappy than we currently do - by a long shot. There are ways you can manage your emotions and get some control over what makes you joyful. As w...

OpenAI's ChatGPT software is producing such impressive, original copy, it has many copywriters concerned for their future. I understand the concern, but that doesn't change the fact that it's here, and it's getting better every day. Earlier this week I taught a class on how copywriters can use this new technology to increase their productivity to levels never before possible...To easily add 10k a month to their bottom line by serving more clients. This class was seen by some as promoting the ...

The entrepreneurial journey is full of highs and lows…and yes, I acknowledge that the same could be said of any job - BUT, it's somehow different when you're running the show. There is potential for higher highs, lower lows, and you're ultimately responsible for all of them. In this episode (taken from The Cliff Ravenscraft Show) Cliff and I discuss how to deal with this reality from the perspective of a business owner...How to achieve equanimity and maintain a positive attitude at least 99% o...

Having to constantly chase down new leads is an exhausting and stressful way to keep revenue flowing. Wouldn't it be better to have new clients seek you out? To attract new business instead of chasing after it? There are several ways to make this happen without a huge (or even a small) advertising budget. This week's episode features a segment from 2013 entitled "How to Attract Business". It's been almost a decade since I first suggested these tactics and they're all still valid. In fact, I s...

This week, I invite you to tune out the continual stream of fear mongering and "doom and gloom" stories, and consider this: By every measurable statistic, life on Earth is better now than it ever has been. Yes, we still have problems that need solving... No, we're not perfect...but we're better than ever. This week, I'm giving you 5 reasons why now is the best time to be alive. [00:22] My premise: Things are better, and can get better still. [04:35] Why pessimists are fools, and optimists hav...

This week, I'm covering 10 rules for living a richer life, whether you're a writer or not. A rich life is not limited to (but can certainly include) money. My goal is a "richer life" - as in, a more satisfying experience on this planet. These are thoughts which I have adopted as beliefs. They have served me well, and will continue to do so as I strive to be better at following them. Try them for yourself, and I am certain you will see positive changes and ultimately, a richer life. [00:00] Intro...