The Ray Edwards Show – How to Start, Run, and Grow y19x

A "Stressless”, "Fearless” life - Eliminating all fear and stress from life ain’t gonna happen, BUT it is definitely possible to reduce the amounts of both...to "stress less", and "fear less". This week, I’m giving you the 5 keys to do just that…​ ​ Purpose What is your overall mission in life? What is the reason you're driven to get out of bed each day? If you don’t know your purpose, that’s okay. It will evolve and change over time, but defining a reason is important. Pick one. I believe our mission is to become the person God made us to be. Yours may of course be different, but will likely be some version of being the best you can - physically, spiritually, and financially. Gratitude Gratitude is a weapon! When you consciously acknowledge the things you’re grateful for, you can overpower stress and fear. Gratitude is an incredibly powerful emotion and it’s important to know the things you’re grateful for so you can wield this weapon at will. Talk to Yourself More Than You Listen to YourselfOur thoughts can drift into territory that brings us down and can quickly spiral into catastrophic thinking if left unchecked. Be conscious of the thoughts you think…don’t let them run on autopilot. Become the programmer - Don’t run the program written by others. Growth and ContributionIn nature, you’re either growing or dying…there’s no middle ground. It is important to continue to grow as a human being and maintain a mindset (like the one described by Carol Dweck in the book, Mindset) that is conducive to that growth. According to Tony Robbins (and now accepted by many trained psychologists as truth), there are 6 basic needs that all humans must fulfil: Certainty: assurance you can avoid pain and gain pleasure Uncertainty/Variety: the need for the unknown, change, new stimuli Significance: feeling unique, important, special or needed Connection/Love: a strong feeling of closeness or union with someone or something Growth: an expansion of capacity, capability or understanding Contribution: a sense of service and focus on helping, giving to and ing others The Combined Fulfilment of the Need for Connection and LoveWhy these two? The needs that Tony laid out are “basic necessities”...one is no more important than the other, BUT I believe focusing on these two as your “go to” needs, will give you the most satisfaction, reward, and positivity. Video and Transcript https://rayedwards.com/669 Links Mindset: by Carol Dweck. An excellent book that I highly recommend (not an link...just a good book) The 6 Human Needs - Read more about them on Tony Robbins' official blog How You Can Help Subscribe to the show in Apple Podcasts or on Spotify, and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will definitely mention you on this show. Questions or comments? Connect with Ray on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram Visit Ray's community on Facebook – This is a friendly group of writers, entrepreneurs, and coaches who share ideas and helpful advice.

As you may know, I am quite the tech nerd. I enjoy checking out the latest AI gizmos, searching for things that are actually useful, productivity boosters (which I really need after wasting so much time playing with said gizmos).  ​ ​One of the more interesting tools I've found is Google's NotebookLM. You feed it a document and it generates a "podcast" about the contents using two artificial hosts. Since Black Friday is coming up, I decided I would test it using a blog post I wrote a couple of years ago that encouraged service-based businesses to do a Black Friday promotion. Was it successful" turns cringe into excitement Humans like Calendar Events (we have expectations) Smart marketers ride the wave the conversation that's already happening Online businesses have more flexibility than retail stores Your fans expect a deal on Black Friday...Let 'em have it Transcript https://www.rayedwards.com/668 Links ​NotebookLM: Check out the tool I used to generate this content ​The Creator Economy: Here's the original content that I fed into the AI How You Can Help Subscribe to the show in Apple Podcasts or on Spotify, and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will definitely mention you on this show. Questions or comments? Connect with Ray on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram Visit Ray's community on Facebook – This is a friendly group of writers, entrepreneurs, and coaches who share ideas and helpful advice.

I know not everyone who listens to my podcast is over 50, but God willing, someday you will be, so stick with me. ​ ​50 doesn't seem old these days (depending on who you're asking), but for many of us, it's when our bodies begin to show a little wear and tear. In our twenties, we might pull a muscle if we lift something too heavy...In our 50's, that same injury could be caused by a sneeze. ​ ​My point is, some of the freedom we earn by being entrepreneurs becomes more of a necessity than a luxury. For instance, in the past few years, I have had a couple of surgeries that required substantial recovery time. I'm not sure how an employer could have accommodated my needs (not wishes...needs).  ​ ​There are some other advantages to this digital-business lifestyle (especially for the 50+ crowd) that I'll dive into in this week's episode.  Key Insights Has this come without challenges? Nope.​ ​Weather could interrupt my business, but not destroy it Monthly recurring revenue (the joy of not starting at $0 each month) All I need to do business is a laptop and access to the internet Video and Transcript https://www.rayedwards.com/667 Links ​Charity Navigator: Looking to donate to hurricane relief efforts? Check out what these organizations are doing to help victims of hurricane Helene How You Can Help Subscribe to the show in Apple Podcasts or on Spotify, and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will definitely mention you on this show. Questions or comments? Connect with Ray on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram Visit Ray's community on Facebook – This is a friendly group of writers, entrepreneurs, and coaches who share ideas and helpful advice.

Even with the often overwhelming amount of skills required to run a successful business, I still maintain that Writing is the one to rule them all...but, why? Before I answer, let me point out the fact that I'm calling this a "skill", not a "talent". Talents are innate, whereas skills can be learned. This is an important distinction to note because it is a common misconception that great writers are born, not made.  I do agree that this skill is easier to develop for some, tougher for others, but nonetheless, whatever your starting point, you can intentionally improve your ability to write persuasively, and THAT is an incredible skill to possess. Listen and I'll explain it all in less than 5 minutes. Key Insights ​Why am I sure that Writing is the most important skill? ​Writing is the engine that drives your business Robert Caro's book The Power Broker is an incredible example of writing skill (and care, and dedication) Having the "Gift of Gab", or ability to drop witty quips on social, is not the same as persuasive writing Share valuable information that intentionally leads people to your product or service Improve your skills next week (9/23) at the free Words Into Wealth Challenge Get people to pay you to help them by helping them first. Develop this skill and it will pay you back for the rest of your life VIP tickets for the challenge are available for only $47 - Click Here To Get Yours Video And Transcript https://www.rayedwards.com/666 Links The Words Into Wealth Challenge starts Monday, 9/23. I guarantee this will improve your ability to write persuasively, and I'll show you how to use AI to multiply your productivity while maintaining your creativity, personality, and voice (that's the part that nearly everyone is getting wrong). The Challenge is 100% Free, but I am offering a VIP upgrade for only $47. VIP's get an extra hour with me each day, live via Zoom, to get ALL of their specific questions answered. Even at this low price, I'm still offering a money-back guarantee. Details Here. ​The Power Broker: The amazing Pulitzer Prize-winning book by Robert Caro. Check it out Here How You Can Help Subscribe to the show in Apple Podcasts or on Spotify, and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will definitely mention you on this show. Questions or comments? Connect with Ray on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram Visit Ray's community on Facebook – This is a friendly group of writers, entrepreneurs, and coaches who share ideas and helpful advice.

What would you do if you found yourself over $100 Million in debt at the age of 62? Would you just wait to die, and let the living deal with the aftermath...Or would you start digging yourself out of the hole? ​In this episode, I want to share the story of Karl Eller. It's a quick story with a powerful message about possibilities, and not giving up. It's also a great reminder about the thing we mostly see as a handicap, age, and how it can give us an incredible power - Experience. Key Insights Karl started work at an outdoor advertising company​ ​After learning and building for 16 years, he sold his company to Gannett - the company that owned USA Today He spent 3 years running Columbia Pictures While looking for something to do, Karl and a small group of investors decide to get into the convenient store business He built Circle K to be the 2nd biggest chain of convenient stores in the world, second only to 7-11 Circle K began losing money, eventually costing Karl his entire personal fortune (over $500m), and leaving him $100M in debt. Karl headed back to Arizona where he purchased a small outdoor advertising company In 5 years, he was able to sell that company to Clear Channel Communications for over a billion dollars Video And Transcript https://www.rayedwards.com/665 Links Karl Eller on Wikipedia How You Can Help Subscribe to the show in Apple Podcasts or on Spotify, and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will definitely mention you on this show. Questions or comments? Connect with Ray on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram Visit Ray's community on Facebook – This is a friendly group of writers, entrepreneurs, and coaches who share ideas and helpful advice.

I've known this week's guest for many years...Long enough to have seen her go from financial struggle, to now having a day's revenue that sures what used to be her annual income. How did she do it? One of the big "secrets" involves a struggle that I see in nearly every class I teach, or mastermind I participate in: Facing the fear of "high-ticket offers". Most people seem to have settled on an arbitrary number that defines the value of their product or service as they see it. Any significant amount above that number seems impossible. They'll sell products for less than a hundred bucks with the hopes of maybe selling something special for $500 (or whatever arbitrary number they have chosen). Anything higher than their magic number causes panic. I can almost hear the objections: "But Ray, I don't have anything that I could offer for more than $500. That's a primo price for me." That's what you have decided, but Anita has some ideas that may change your mind. Key Insights When a medical emergency put the primary earner out of commission, Anita had to make a change​ Understand the value ladder, prioritize high ticket offers, and focus on delivering results to attract high ticket clients and build a successful business (pretty much the inverse of what most people are doing) Hard work isn't the key to making more (thank God...we only have so many hours in a day) Understand the 4 levels of wealth Focus on level three and level four activities for wealth creation, create high ticket offers, have fun in business, and understand terminology in online communities to maximize success and avoid financial issues Focus on serving your past self, acknowledge progress, invest in self-education, surround yourself with high-level thinkers for personal and business growth Learn how to target millionaires, create high ticket offers, and attract the right buyers to build a successful business and attract clients with higher expectations. Learn how to use copywriting and entrepreneurial skills to create high ticket offers and virtual events Collaborate with partners to expand your audience Craft engaging content that leads to buying decisions. Video And Transcript https://www.rayedwards.com/664 Links Elite Entrepreneurs Events Masterclass - Come Anita and me for this FREE masterclass and discover how to Unlock 6 & 7 Figure Months (and then days) with High-Ticket Offers & Virtual Events VIP Upgrade for Elite Entrepreneurs Events Masterclass - If you're ing us for the masterclass, I strongly suggest you us in the VIP room. This gives you the chance to interact, ask questions, and get answers! (only $47) How You Can Help Subscribe to the show in Apple Podcasts or on Spotify, and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will definitely mention you on this show. Questions or comments? Connect with Ray on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram Visit Ray's community on Facebook – This is a friendly group of writers, entrepreneurs, and coaches who share ideas and helpful advice.

Some businesses seem to be stuck on the Struggle Bus. They putter along as far as they can go until...Poof. The ride is over. The business is no more.  ​ ​Why is this? How can it be so easy for some and seemingly impossible for others? ​ ​I believe there are 5 things you must recognize and control if you want to ditch the struggle and enjoy success - And that's what I'm sharing with you on this week's episode. 5 Momentum Makers That Move Mountains ​Mindset - This is not some new-aged hooey. Your mindset determines who you are, and who you are capable of becoming. You must nurture it if you want to be successful (and have the ability to enjoy that success) ​Mastery of a High Value Skill - Commit to the path of Mastery - Be hard to replace! Mechanism - What is the "tool set" you use to get the work done. Marketing - Marketing is NOT selling or promotion. Marketing is the act of intentionally influencing the beliefs of your niche through content that you create, that aligns with your offers Money - The result of amplifying the problem you solve for your people, and the pain you relieve. Video and Transcript https://www.rayedwards.com/663 Links ​Words Into Wealth Challenge: Discover How Words Create Wealth, Changing Your Words Can Change Your Income, and How Using AI the Right Way Can Help You Do It 100X Faster. This Challenge beings Monday, 7/29. Click Here for the full schedule and details. How You Can Help Subscribe to the show in Apple Podcasts or on Spotify, and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will definitely mention you on this show. Questions or comments? Connect with Ray on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram Visit Ray's community on Facebook – This is a friendly group of writers, entrepreneurs, and coaches who share ideas and helpful advice.

I've certified many copywriters who hold degrees in professions not associated with writing – Physicians, attorneys, engineers... In fact, I've had relatively few students with any professional writing experience. If you've ever thought about trading your current career for a writing career, but the transition seemed impossible, my guest this week may inspire you to follow your heart. Camille Pardo abandoned her "draining" teaching career to pursue a profitable ion – Copywriting. Camille has had this ion for writing since childhood, but those around her encouraged her to choose a career that was more practical. That's understandable since the odds of your child being the next J. K. Rowling are slim to none. Why not point them in a direction that leads to a more practical and sustainable career" How Camille can help you improve your emails (link below) Video And Transcript  https://www.rayedwards.com/662 Links Become a Certified Copywriter - Ready to start your own writing journey? My accelerated Certification Program is the fastest way to a profitable new career in writing. Great copywriters are in demand! Learn how to properly use the latest AI tech to enhance your productivity. Plus, get a chance to experience my private Mastermind, live in Spokane, WA (details here) - This opportunity disappears 7/4/24, so don't wait! Camille's 7-Step Guide to Writing Better Emails - Want more opens? More clicks? Camille's guide is easy-to-follow and full of excellent advice. Grab it now! How You Can Help Subscribe to the show in Apple Podcasts or on Spotify, and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will definitely mention you on this show. Questions or comments? Connect with Ray on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram Visit Ray's community on Facebook – This is a friendly group of writers, entrepreneurs, and coaches who share ideas and helpful advice.  

Who are you, and why are you here? That’s the question my podcast guest, Graham Cochrane, is helping us answer today. “Most of us,” Says Graham, “are living a life crafted by other people: family, social media, societal expectations, etc. We’ve conformed to the patterns of everyone around us without even meaning to.” Graham shows how to truly create YOUR life of freedom, joy, and meaning—on your , not someone else’s. During this conversation, he walks us through his simple five-part framework, and you will discover how to create the life you’ve always wanted. Key Insights Wake up from the world’s sleepy autopilot way of living Leave behind a legacy that others will want to emulate Stick to a set of values as you navigate the big decisions in life Determine what your ideal life looks like (in your work, business, relationships, finances, health)--and chart a path to get there Dismantle harmful mental scripts and limiting beliefs that have kept you stuck (potentially for years) Figure out what your dreams really are (or perhaps dream for the first time) Video and Transcript Links Rebel: Find Yourself by Not Following the Crowd - The book from Graham Cochrane. Like I said, this guy is the real deal and I can't wait to get my hands on this book. There are some great reasons to preorder - Check Them Out Here How You Can Help Subscribe to the show in Apple Podcasts or on Spotify, and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will definitely mention you on this show. Questions or comments? Connect with Ray on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram Visit Ray's community on Facebook – This is a friendly group of writers, entrepreneurs, and coaches who share ideas and helpful advice.

Many technological advances come with a healthy dose of fear, and that has definitely been the case with AI - especially with writers and artists. "Why would someone pay me when they can just ask an AI to generate something for them at virtually no cost?" This week, I have an answer...one that gives me the right to gloat a bit. Since the beginning of the A.I. craze, I have maintained that A.I. is a tool...An extremely powerful tool that works best when wielded by a skilled artist. On this episode, you'll hear about an "A.I. Artist" who is making $1,500 an hour using this tool - and he's completely upfront about who (or what) is doing the heavy lifting. Key Insights ​​A.I. will help us, not hurt us (IF we use it correctly) ​My earlier email from the Daily Ray (details below) ​Use A.I. as your "Unfair Advantage" ​The article about the titular artist (linked below) ​Why didn't the company just use the same tools the artist used? ​"We don't care how he makes it. We only care that the end enjoys our game." (let that soak in)​ ​Sign up for our free workshop about building your writing business  Transcript and Video https://www.rayedwards.com/660 Links ​Yahoo News Article: On which this episode was based ​Writing Business Roap: This FREE Online Class is hosted by Ray Edwards, who writes and creates marketing campaigns for top leaders like Michael Hyatt, Amy Porterfield, Stu McLaren, Donald Miller, Jeff Walker, Tony Robbins, and many more. Ray will “pull back the curtain” and reveal how to run your own writing business, based on the proven systems and tools that he uses himself. now and get a free BONUS report: 10 Copywriting Packages You Can Sell to Clients (and pricing strategy & suggestions) ​The Daily Ray: Every day, my goal is to send you something that you're glad you took the time to read. Subscribe at the bottom of this page (No spam...unsubscribe anytime if you're not a fan) How You Can Help Subscribe to the show in Apple Podcasts or on Spotify, and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will definitely mention you on this show. Questions or comments? Connect with Ray on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram Visit Ray's community on Facebook – This is a friendly group of writers, entrepreneurs, and coaches who share ideas and helpful advice.

Economic "Tough Times" are here, but not yet fully here. What can you do to protect yourself and your business? I've got some wisdom to share from someone who's been through tough economic times before...Me. ​ This week, I'll give you the 7 moves you should make right now to not just survive, but thrive in this economy. ​ I make no claims to be a financial expert, and I'm not handing out any investment advice or the like. What I'm sharing today are 7 things that I'm doing to prepare for a tougher economy which seems to be looming ahead. Some of these are so simple that you may be tempted to skip them...don't. I'm doing everything I can to make sure that my business continues to thrive while weathering any storms that lie ahead, including each and every one of these steps: Recognize the season - For the world, for you, and for your business Check the Basics of your business - Know the state of your List, Traffic, Conversion, and Retention Gather Your Assets - Get an accurate read of what your assets really are​ Go - Shift to offers for clients ​Be Essential - Put yourself in your client's shoes...could you live without you, or would you get cut? ​See the Opportunity in Adversity - Sounds bad, but it's not. People struggling need help. Provide them the help that you are able to render. ​Guard Your Mind - Disconnect from the news, the social sewers, and as much negativity as possible. Be conscious of what you're feeding your brain. Worry solves nothing. Click Here For The Video and Transcript Links The One Person, $1-Millon Virtual Workshop: Registration closes soon for this unique, three-day virtual workshop meticulously designed for coaches and consultants, online educators, hip owners, or budding entrepreneurs like you. We're here to guide you in scaling your business to a One-Person $1-Million per year operation, without the need for additional employees or stress.​ How You Can Help Subscribe to the show in Apple Podcasts or on Spotify, and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will definitely mention you on this show. Questions or comments? Connect with Ray on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram Visit Ray's community on Facebook – This is a friendly group of writers, entrepreneurs, and coaches who share ideas and helpful advice.

I want to talk to you about the incredible power of writing. The power of storytelling. And how it can help you connect with your divine purpose. Yes, even if the writing you do is marketing or sales copy. That’s the subject of this week’s podcast episode. In the podcast, I propose the idea that we writers are, in a sense, prophets. And as prophets, we are tasked with spreading a message of love, hope, and purpose to the world … through our work. I know it’s a little “out there” - but it’s short. Books that inspired me to become a writer (a storyteller) Writers create Worlds We should transport our readers, viewers, and listeners to somewhere good I literally copied people's work...but not to steal - to learn Regardless of the business you're in, you're telling a story Writing is not a job...it's a noble calling Whatever you're writing, do it as an act of devotion Your words have power Transcript and Video https://www.rayedwards.com/658 How You Can Help Subscribe to the show in Apple Podcasts or on Spotify, and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will definitely mention you on this show. Questions or comments? Connect with Ray on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram Visit Ray's community on Facebook – This is a friendly group of writers, entrepreneurs, and coaches who share ideas and helpful advice.

Let me preface this by acknowledging that most people (myself included) cannot instantly, and completely "disconnect" for two weeks. In my case, I had a full two years of notice, and it still wasn't easy. ​ ​Back in 2022, my wife and I decided to actually take the trip we'd been talking about taking for decades: A trip to the Netherlands. We purchased a non-refundable, non-transferable, two-week package for the two of us. I was committed. No turning back.  ​ ​Like any driven entrepreneur, I had concerns about how well my business would run without me. 14 days of being off-the-radar...How could I possibly plan for every scenario? How could I deal with all of the "what if's" that were consuming my thoughts? Short answer...I couldn't. I had to trust that my business, my team, and my normal life, would all be waiting for me when I returned. And, guess what...I'm back, everything is intact, and I am much improved. ​ ​I (and probably you, to some degree) have an addiction to staying connected. For the first week of our trip, I had to stifle my little bouts of anxiety until I could completely let go, and be fully present with my wife, her family, the amazing people I met, and my unusual surroundings. My memories of this adventure are clear – unclouded by "doom scrolling", work check-ins, and phone calls.  ​ This internet-free clarity allowed me to jot down a few observations that I thought were worthy of sharing. That's what I have for you on this week's episode. 5 Things I Learned After Being Unplugged For 14 Days ​Endless striving does not produce more freedom - It produces more bondage ​The best, intentional marketing campaign is simply to help people ​The best way to get a bigger vision of the world is to "get out in it" ​Recreation re-creates us ​Writers will save the world Transcript of this Episode rayedwards.com/657 Listen to get the complete breakdown of each of these observations. I'll be back next week with another fresh episode. How You Can Help Subscribe to the show in Apple Podcasts or on Spotify, and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will definitely mention you on this show. Questions or comments? Connect with Ray on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram Visit Ray's community on Facebook – This is a friendly group of writers, entrepreneurs, and coaches who share ideas and helpful advice.

This week's episode is Part 3 of my Writer's Rewind Series, and it's all about why your copy isn't performing the way you think it should. There's a reason it isn't converting, and most likely, it's one (or more) of the 5 reasons I'm about to give you. ​ Listen to learn what they are, and how to fix them. 5 Reasons Your Copy Is Failing Failure to understand the "P" in the P.A.S.T.O.R. Framework Not doing enough research Not dealing with competing solutions Your not getting the offer right Not enough editing, revising and rewriting your copy Transcript of This Episode: https://www.rayedwards.com/656 How You Can Help Subscribe to the show in iTunes and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will definitely mention you on this show. We are also on Stitcher.com, so if you prefer Stitcher, please subscribe there. Connect with Ray on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram Visit Ray's community on Facebook – This is a friendly group of writers, entrepreneurs, and coaches who share ideas and helpful advice.

This is part 2 of the "Writer's Rewind" series. I'm devoting this month to covering some of the fundamentals of great copy, and in the case of this week's episode, why copy itself is so fundamentally important to the success of your business, regardless of what that business is. ​ ​This episode was originally released almost a decade ago (the day I celebrated my 50th birthday). I must it, I was pleased that none of this content is "outdated". All the reasons I gave  to my claim are no less true today than they were then.  Five Reasons Why Copywriting is the Most Important Skill For Any Business ​ It costs nothing, but returns can be huge ​It can generate instant cash infusions ​Copy builds stabilized income streams ​Write once, profit indefinitely ​Copy provides strategic positioning Links ​The hip Experience - Part 2 of Stu McLaren's once-a-year training workshop is happening later today (4/8/24). If you're seeing this on that day, count yourself lucky and grab your free seat. This is must-see training for anyone who is interested in creating recurring revenue for their business. It's live at 3 p.m. Eastern, and I highly recommend watching the live stream if possible. Stu typically has  "bonus content" that doesn't make the replay, but if the replay is all you can get, take it! Get the transcript for this episode How You Can Help Subscribe to the show in Apple Podcasts or on Spotify, and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will definitely mention you on this show. Questions or comments? Connect with Ray on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram Visit Ray's community on Facebook – This is a friendly group of writers, entrepreneurs, and coaches who share ideas and helpful advice.

This week’s podcast is a refresher on the core basics of writing persuasive copy (and everything is copy — it’s not ONLY sales pages and emails).  If you can write effective sales copy, you can literally write your own paycheck. There really should be no such thing as a “broke copywriter”. And there should be no such thing as a business owner or entrepreneur who is NOT a copywriter. By definition, good copywriters can create money out of thin air. So this leads to a very important question: why does copy so often fail? Fear not, Grasshopper. I have the answer… There are universal psychological triggers that help you sell more effectively. Certainly, there are universal principles to writing persuasive sales copy. After all, as John E. Kennedy taught us, copywriting is mere “salesmanship in print”. You can hardly “swing a cat” these days without hitting a copywriter who has a “formula” for writing copy. Most of these formulas are actually quite good. BUT… The formula I'm going to share with you today is intentionally based on these universal principles (which many of the cocky young yellow belts in the copywriting dojo are not even aware of). Thus … back to you “PASTOR-ing” your customers. ​Most people associate the term “pastor” with the preacher at church. While this is certainly true in most cases, the original meaning of the word “pastor” was actually “to shepherd”. And what does the shepherd do" is for RESPONSE I’ll promise you this: If you apply the mindset of being a shepherd to your readers, and you follow the sequence of the P.A.S.T.O.R formula, my prediction is you will experience more sales, more profits, and more happy customers… more often. Links Read This Or Die - Click to check out my new book, Read This Or Die, where I show you the sales letter I wrote to myself (that saved my life.)​ Complete Transcript - Visit the show notes page for a complete transcript of this episode How You Can Help Subscribe to the show in Apple Podcasts or on Spotify, and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will definitely mention you on this show. Questions or comments? Connect with Ray on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram Visit Ray's community on Facebook – This is a friendly group of writers, entrepreneurs, and coaches who share ideas and helpful advice.

Who else wants to reduce your financial stress and create a stable source of income from your business? This is the way: shift to a hip-based business model. I know what you might be thinking: “Geez, Uncle Ray… that sounds complicated, and anyways… ain’t everybody sick of all the subscriptions?” My answers are: it doesn't have to be complicated, and I can prove it to you. And yes, we are all tired of subscriptions… except for the ones we love. The ones you will only cancel when someone pries them from your cold, dead fingers. Like my Chewy.com subscription (my pugs LOVE their Chewy.com treats)... or my Paramount+ (because.. Star Trek: Strange New Worlds). You and I need to wise up, and start building recurring revenue streams NOW - cause the coming year is gonna get all kinds of crazy. ​My guest this week is the world’s #1 expert in creating recurring revenue for virtually ANY business, Stu McLaren. ​ ​Key Insights Why recurring revenue should be the goal of any business or entrepreneur (duh!) The "death" of TicToc in the US? What would happen to the nearly 7,000,000 businesses that depend on it? Every business has vulnerabilities - a hip with stable, recurring revenue gives you the ultimate insurance policy The 4 types of hips - Product based (e.g. Dollar Shave Club). Service based (e.g. car washes, massage therapy) Knowledge based (helping people solve an ongoing problem, or master a skill. e.g. guitar training) Community based (uniting people with common interests) Two things that make your stay: Consumption and Results ​If you think your business doesn't fit this model, it's time to shift your mindset. Ask yourself, "How can I continue to serve my customers?" Stu's live, once-a-year hip training starts April 4th. (Link below) Video And Transcript https://www.rayedwards.com/653 Links The hip Experience: This is Stu McLaren's live, once-a-year training and it's absolutely free to attend. If recurring revenue is what you're after, but have no idea where to start - This is where to start! ​ How You Can Help Subscribe to the show in Apple Podcasts or on Spotify, and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will definitely mention you on this show. Questions or comments? Connect with Ray on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram Visit Ray's community on Facebook – This is a friendly group of writers, entrepreneurs, and coaches who share ideas and helpful advice.

On last week's episode, I boldly declared, "Writing gets you everything you want." This week, I'm giving you some proof of how that has been true in my life. ​You may already be thinking, "But Ray, you're a writer...of course writing has been important in your career." The thing is, the proof I'm offering today has nothing to do with writing jobs. I wasn't hired to be a writer, but my writing is what got me hired, kept me working, got me promotions, and many other opportunities I would not have gotten otherwise. Okay, enough of the preamble, let's get to the proof... Key Insights Where I came from (and why I didn't want to stay there) ​My early marketing lessons - promoting family businesses ​Writing increased my value in the radio business - it made me less expendable ​Clients loved me because I wrote ads that made them money ​My pitch for a six-figure job was written with the same sales-letter tactics I use today ​My writing made me a sought-after talent in my industry ​My long (50+ pages) pitch for a job with Citadel Broadcasting made me more than a half million dollars in personal income (not bad for a non-writing job) ​My writing has allowed me to meet, learn from, and even teach many of my mentors ​Subscribe to The Daily Ray for valuable tips, interesting observations, and occasional offers Video And Transcript https://www.rayedwards.com/652 Links Subscribe to The Daily Ray   How You Can Help Subscribe to the show in Apple Podcasts or on Spotify, and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will definitely mention you on this show. Questions or comments? Connect with Ray on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram Visit Ray's community on Facebook – This is a friendly group of writers, entrepreneurs, and coaches who share ideas and helpful advice.  

This week, I'm answering some of the most common questions I'm receiving from listeners, viewers, and readers. Since they keep coming up (some for many years), I feel that my answers will be helpful to more than just those who took the time to ask. ​ ​If I missed anything (or Heaven forbid, you disagree), feel free to leave a comment, or reach out to @rayedwards.com. Key Insights ​What do I do in this economy". That's why most of the time, I teach those plans in an interactive format (like my workshop) so I can answer the questions that help attendees translate what they learn into their plan. If you could only give me 1 piece of advice to guide me through building my own business, what would it be? - Writing is the way to get everything you want in life. I'm not exclusively talking about copywriting. Tune in for my complete breakdown of why that's my answer.   Video And Transcript https://www.rayedwards.com/651   How You Can Help Subscribe to the show in Apple Podcasts or on Spotify, and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will definitely mention you on this show. Questions or comments? Connect with Ray on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram Visit Ray's community on Facebook – This is a friendly group of writers, entrepreneurs, and coaches who share ideas and helpful advice.​

You create content to build an audience...not the other way around! ​This week, I'm proposing that you create your content for an audience of one, and my guest, Jody Maberry, is living proof that this strategy works. ​ ​There are only two ingredients to this recipe: ​ Do content that you're ionate about. Show Up. ​It's as simple as that. And, if you have any doubts about your abilities or my advice, perhaps Jody's story will boost your confidence in both. ​ Key Insights You don't need a big audience to launch ​Jody started his podcast for park rangers with an audience of zero Read Kevin Kelly's book: 1,000 True Fans (linked below) Jody built another podcast literally for 1 specific person Do consistent production about content you're ionate about Don't concern yourself with audience size - be consistent. Show up! Youtube And Transcript https://www.rayedwards.com/650 Links ​1,000 True Fans: An excellent book by Kevin Kelly JodyMaberry.com: Visit to learn more about today's guest, Jody Maberry In The Front Row: Jody's podcast that was literally created for 1 person (his son) ​Dry Creek Wrangler on YouTube: A great example of how ionate content beats fancy production (even if he's not your cup of tea, check out his number of subscribers) How You Can Help Subscribe to the show in Apple Podcasts or on Spotify, and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will definitely mention you on this show. Questions or comments? Connect with Ray on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram Visit Ray's community on Facebook – This is a friendly group of writers, entrepreneurs, and coaches who share ideas and helpful advice.