What’s in the mystery box? [JJ Abrams secret]

What’s in the mystery box? [JJ Abrams secret]

Have you ever watched J.J. Abrams’ TED Talk? I’ll include a link at the end of the article. I found it this morning.  I clicked on a Google News headline along the lines of “The most shocking thing about J.J. Abrams’ choice to reveal the new cast list for Star Wars...
A marketing lesson from early Christians…

A marketing lesson from early Christians…

I am NOT going to tell you what or how to believe… However, I’m reading a fascinating and quite controversial book.  It’s from historian and ex-Evangelical Christian Bart D. Ehrman.  And it analyzes the history of early Christianity, and its rise to being the dominant...
The 3F formula to beat procrastination…

The 3F formula to beat procrastination…

I’m as bad of a procrastinator as anyone else… In college, I used to wait until the night before a big paper was due.  I’d walk to the computer lab on campus.  I’d sit down, and proceed to bang on they keyboard. By the break of dawn, I’d cranked out the paper. It was...
How to title books and other products to maximize sales

How to title books and other products to maximize sales

We’re not supposed to judge a book by its cover — but we do… I know, I know.  It’s not literal.  Except when it is.  But the saying is a saying for a reason. As human beings, we make snap judgments.  It’s wired.  It’s how our brains work.  We have millions of years’...
I know your darkest secret… [video]

I know your darkest secret… [video]

I know something about you that you probably don’t want me to know… I was into psychology for the understanding long before I was into it for the marketing and persuasion.  And yet, some of the deepest truths about how our minds work can be immensely valuable in both...
How to Pitch Anything in 20 Minutes, according to Oren Klaff

How to Pitch Anything in 20 Minutes, according to Oren Klaff

I don’t often get the book after I’ve gone through the audiobook… I find that my ADHD sticks with audiobooks a lot better — after all, I can let the book be my distraction while mowing, doing the dishes, working out, or whatever. But sometimes a book is so good — in...
The “typical” day of a top copywriter…

The “typical” day of a top copywriter…

I don’t have a typical day… That’s part of the appeal of being a freelance copywriter and independent consultant, and doing your own thing. That said, I DO have times where I’m being maximally-effective.  And other times when I’m not.  That’s what we’ll dive into...
The next level of Unique Selling Proposition… [video]

The next level of Unique Selling Proposition… [video]

There’s one fundamental question behind the Unique Selling Proposition… “Why should I, your perfect prospect, choose to do business with you, over every other option available to me — including solving my problem myself, going with a competitor, or choosing to do...
This mindset will ruin your sales results…  [fix it]

This mindset will ruin your sales results… [fix it]

You’re broke and you need this sale… You need the commission.  You need the money.  You’ve got bills to pay — they’re already late.  You need the cash — yesterday. And so you bring your A-game.  Your hustle.  You give your pitch everything you’ve got. You know it’s...
Declare your personal independence…

Declare your personal independence…

Happy early Independence Day… I could go with a historical and social analysis of the whole Fourth of July celebration here in the States, and probably suck the fun out of this whole issue. But instead of doing that, I’m sharing an article I wrote for AWAI in 2011,...