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 Samurai 2. A Chinese Samurai 3. 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 ...

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 ...

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 ...