If you were asked, “What is the top priority in your business,” how would you answer? I’m sure you would say things like: Keeping my clients/customers/students happyGetting new business from new people (new customer acquisition)Creating new products or services (innovation)Commitment to positive cash flow and profit marginFulfilling on your mission I know you can think of ...

A little over a year ago, while recovering from my stroke, a song kept playing in my head from the Broadway show Hamilton. It came back to me again in recent weeks with the release of the movie. It is titled “Why do you write like you are running out of time?”  (The link above has ...

During a hot seat on our weekly Titans Xclerator call (they are now weekly instead of monthly—an over delivery as a “benefit” of COVID!), the member had a revelation. And the ripple effects of his epiphany went way beyond what he was talking about—which led to a discussion about many other issues. I want to share ...

I received an order for Breakthrough Advertising a few weeks ago from a chap in the U.K. He then sent me an email telling me how thankful he was that I had brought this all-time classic back to life (because he thought it was out of print). We got into a lively email correspondence from this ...

The legendary newscaster Hugh Downs died this past week at 99 years old…and it was the fullest 99 years of anyone I have ever known. And while I only met him for the first time when he was a sprightly 84, I felt like I knew him forever because he was so generous with ...

These are turbulent times—maybe the most turbulent times in our lives—yet there is also a calm about it if we take time being mindful about everything around us—and not jump to action (or inaction). I don’t have to tell you about COVID 19, the tension and protests in the streets, or the economy—it’s obvious ...

According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, here is the definition of reciprocation: 1a: a mutual exchange. 1b: a return in kind or of like value. What I don’t like about this definition is that it implies that reciprocation has a “price”—that is, the exchange between two parities needs  to be “mutual” and even “a return in kind ...

What does it mean to make an “ask from nowhere?” Let me define the term first: It’s when you ask someone for their time, their expertise, or try to sell them something with no relationship established…or you simply want to “pick their brain.” My friend Joe Polish says “when they want to pick your ...

I was an English major in college. “What are you going to do with THAT!”  my parents asked as they threatened to pull me out of college during my sophomore year. Thinking on my feet I said: “I guess I will learn to read and write.” I have admitted previously that while I am not a ...

It’s been a fascinating couple of weeks…and despite still being home most of the time, I feel more connected to the outside world than ever before.  Zoom is one reason. (I know I should have bought stock in that company.) But it’s also how starved everyone is for connection, knowledge, idea exchanges…and doing business. ...

When we do hot seats within Titans Xcelerator, or when I am on a rare consulting call, much of the time the conversation at some point morphs into “what do you offer that no one else offers?” It’s a pretty simple question but many marketers, copywriters and entrepreneurs don’t spend enough time going deep on this question. ...

I turn 62 this week which is a good time to think back 40 years when I was 22…thinking about all of the friends, colleagues and soon-to-be mentors from a charmed career for which I am grateful…and wondering, “How did I gather so many friends, colleagues and mentors.” I wasn’t collecting them to just ...

My Mom turned 95 last week. We had a socially distanced birthday party for her, complete with 4 sweet potatoes, 3 cans of sardines, 2 bags of  prunes (pitted of course) and a small cake that unfortunately we couldn’t enjoy with her (but it was the thought that counted). Obviously doing her shopping was ...

I often tell people, and I have told you before, that I haven’t invented anything…rather, I am a good messenger for concepts, knowledge and eternal truths of direct response marketing to my online family (and those in my masterminds) who might not be aware of what came before…and how it can impact the future. And I’m ...

You know how some people, whether you have met them in person or not, still seem to be your friend, mentor or coach from afar? It’s clearly not because of how you interacted with them (since you never met them). Are you following so far? 🙂 It’s because of what they stood for throughout ...

Dan Sullivan (the top coach for entrepreneurs in the world) and Joe Polish (the top connector for marketers in the world) came up with “the five ways we get paid” many years ago–and like many of you, I have tried to live by these principles my entire career. I will maintain that right now—with ...

“Advertising people who ignore research are as dangerous as generals who ignore decodes of enemy signals”                                                                                     -David Ogilvy Please don’t interpret Ogilvy’s warning about ignoring research as “paralysis by analysis.” Research is critical but it also needs to be used with other things in your arsenal. And no matter how long we are ...

Once upon a time, a powerful emperor advertised for a new “Chief Samurai.”Only three applied for the job:1. A Japanese Samurai2. A Chinese Samurai3. A Jewish Samurai “Demonstrate your skills!” commanded the Emperor. The Japanese samurai stepped forward, opened a tiny box, and released a fly.He drew his samurai sword and…Swish!–the fly fell to the ...

I don’t have to tell you that we’ve got some “issues” these days…and I don’t take them lightly. But rather than lament and complain, I reached out to every Titans Mastermind member over the last two weeks, one-on-one, to hear about how they are dealing with the situation—listening to their innovative ideas and brainstorming many other ...

With all the chaos around us, I want to take a quick break and share a video I recorded with the “email master” (and self-proclaimed hermit) Ben Settle. Ben and I are very different yet we find the more we interact, the more we have in common. On the “different side” I’m not unsubscribing ...