I was all set to write a blog post this week about my trip to Italy and how I was thrilled with the marketing community there—they were attentive, smart and ready to implement. But that will be for another day. There is an elephant in the room (or as I like to say, a

Being stuck in the Cleveland airport for five hours sounds like a place no one would ever want to be. And a very snowy and cold Cleveland to boot.  (As if being stuck in Cleveland alone wasn’t enough!) That was me six years ago this week. I could have been melancholy with only a

We have it easy in the U.S.–becoming an entrepreneur is the American dream and always encouraged. And most of us realize that marketing isn’t everything, it’s the only thing. But in most other countries around the world this is not the case. I’m still in Italy this week so I want to share another

I am currently in Italy speaking at a conference where Dan Kennedy was supposed to be appearing…and due to his illness (he’s getting better every day!), the organizers thought they would get five speakers to replace him…and I am one of them. A tall order even for five experienced marketers… It will take all five of

The first time I entered your in box with this Sunday missive (if you have been part of my online family from the start) was on Valentine’s Day 2014. It featured a quote from speaking coach Sean Stephenson, thinking this weekly blog would simply be a “quote of the week” (which fortunately or unfortunately,

A year ago I wrote “The view from above ground” shortly before my stroke…little did I know I would be in that position myself a couple of months later. I’m glad I am still here…but I have thought a lot about the difference between living and dying this past year…and specifically what we leave

Shortly after leaving Boardroom in 2015, I was offered an opportunity to co-write and edit a book with my friend Craig Simpson. I was already considering my own book (which became Overdeliverin 2019)–but when Craig told me about what he was planning, I couldn’t say no…it was too good to pass up: “We are going

“Never use jargon words like re-conceptualize, demassification,        attitudinally, judgmentally; they are hallmarks of a pretentious ass”                                                                                             -David Ogilvy There are times you can use words like the ones above…but you better be sure your audience uses them in their daily language too. And the reverse is true: Find the sweet

When I was a senior in college, I was in the Honors Program in English (and that’s not “English as a second language”) 🙂 I’m both proud of that and a little embarrassed…because I was far from a scholar in English (or any) literature…and while most of the students in the class were doing their senior

If you have never heard this expression “clicks on a dial” before it’s one I realize I’ve been “living” for 30+ years. I believe we all experience this phenomenon to some extent, especially once we have some knowledge in a particular area—with varying degrees of proficiency. But make no mistake about it…we all have

Cold traffic is a term I hear at least once a day and I think I finally figured out what it means: “Outside lists who have no idea who you are.” Am I close? And whether it’s an outside list or cold traffic, selling to them is clearly more challenging than writing and selling

I hope you got all your Christmas cards out on time …because if you didn’t, you might as well save them for next year. At least until July. Or anytime during the year… You don’t need Christmas (or any holiday for that matter) to think about those people in your life that you love…also

Someone recently introduced me as the “O.G of direct marketing” and I didn’t know what that meant…I’m still learning the nomenclature of popular culture I guess. Did you know that term? If you did, why didn’t you tell me years ago? I depend on you for this kind of information! 🙂 If you don’t know, it

Those of you who purchased my book Overdeliver in audio form have had nice things to say about it…and I will assume that if you have horrible things to say, you are keeping those comments to yourself. Everyone in our online family clearly has parents with good parenting skills, teaching you that if you have nothing

In the last chapter of my book Overdeliver, which is titled Playing the Long Game, I begin with a quote from my mentor Marty Edelston: “Life is Long.” I’ve used that quote throughout my career (and in these posts in the past)—and whenever someone says “Life is Short.” I also use it—and you can too–whenever you give up

Thanksgiving is not the time for “resolutions” (that’s for the New Year)…but it seems to be the time when everyone makes “declarations” of thankfulness, love of family (and friends)… and gratefulness. But will those declarations last as long as your new year’s resolution to lose 10 pounds as you reach for that second piece

“Oh, no, Pumbaa. No. We’re going way back… to before the beginning.”                                                                                                  –Timon in The Lion King From Chapter 2 of Overdeliver, Build a Business for a Lifetime Playing the Long Game in Direct Response Marketing…entitled “Original Source” (re-formatted and edited for this post): Every lesson I learned throughout my career at Boardroom, and everything I’ve done