The tag line in my logo says “Live with Joy, Lead with Passion, and Prosper with Purpose”. Occasionally someone asks me, “So how to do you that?” That's what today's episode is all about: answering that question. Announcements I am getting excited about the upcoming Platform Conference in Colorado Springs , starting November 9th. There are still a few seats available, and you can still save $100 when you click here and add the special code RAY to your order. Plus, Cliff Ravenscraft and I are hos...
Oct 15, 2014•46 min•Ep. 135
The quality of your life is directly impacted by the quality of your habits. The problem is, most of us did not consciously choose to habits we currently possess. We drifted, stumbled, or otherwise accidentally acquired most of our habits. Not all of those habits support the outcomes we truly want for ourselves or the ones we love. In today's episode, we will examine five common habits that will completely wreck your life and how to get rid of them. Tip of the Week: Maybe you read The Four Hour ...
Oct 08, 2014•35 min•Ep. 134
Many people in our modern society are prisoners. Prisoners of a job they hate, of a profession they despise, or even of a business that owns them (instead of the other way around.) It doesn't have to be this way. Today's podcast is devoted to the idea that you can break free of that prison. That you can escape your “day job” and start living in the reality of your “dream job.” Feature Presentation: Interview with Author Kary Oberbrunner… Author, life coach, and speaker Kary Oberbrunner shows peo...
Oct 01, 2014•1 hr•Ep. 133
Have you ever heard the phrase, “If you don't have your health, you don't have anything”? I think this is a stupid thing to say, and in today's episode I will explain why – and what to say instead. And for those who don't have your health, I've got a newsflash: you also don't have a free pass to whine, complain, and make excuses. Tip of the Week: The LoseIt! app makes tracking your nutrition, hydration, and exercise easy and fun. Lumosity offers a great way yo keep your brain sharp – by playing ...
Sep 24, 2014•34 min•Ep. 132
This week I have my good friend Cliff Ravenscraft on the show – yes, the Podcast Answer Man himself will join us and we'll discuss the future of podcasting and what it means for those building a platform. I know you were expecting Five Destructive Habits That Will Wreck Your Life, but this is a good programming change. Trust me. We have a BIG announcement, and I'll get you those Five Destructive Habits That Will Wreck Your Life in a couple of weeks! Feature Presentation: Cliff Ravenscraft, The P...
Sep 17, 2014•1 hr 12 min•Ep. 131
We are busy. Too busy, it seems; if I ask ten friends what their biggest challenge is, five will answer with some variation of, “I'm just too busy.” In this episode I will share 10 specific tactics to help un-busy yourself. Tip of the Week: My favorite new meeting tool is Zoom.us . I like it better than Skype or GoToMeeting for the following reasons: Smoother video streaming. Ease of use. Simple screen sharing. Easy recordings. Less expensive than other alternatives. Spiritual Foundations: Shoul...
Sep 10, 2014•29 min•Ep. 130
For the longest time, when asked how quickly I can turnaround a writing project, my answer has been: “I can write better than anybody who can write faster, and I can write faster than anybody who can write better.” I recently discovered the person who originally penned that phrase: American journalist A.J. Liebling , who wrote primarily for The New Yorker . The reason I think this quote rings true for many writers is actually a secret of the trade. Writing faster makes you a better writer. Tip o...
Sep 03, 2014•29 min•Ep. 129
The power of momentum is hard to overestimate. A productive person is likely to remain productive, and the opposite is also true. We can intervene in our own lives. What if there was a way to turn yourself into self-propelled productivity machine? Tip of the Week: This week I;m going to encourage you to “Slack”. It just might make you more productive. Try the Slack app now. Spiritual Foundations: Here's a question I get from readers and listeners every now and then: “If God's will is always heal...
Aug 27, 2014•22 min•Ep. 128
If you're always plugged in to the Internet, you might just be unplugging from some of the most important relationships in your life. Today I'll discuss 5 reasons why you might not want to take your laptop to bed. Tip of the Week: Simplify your writing with the new downloadable Hemingway app . Spiritual Foundations: “Hey Ray, are you a ‘greasy grace' guy?” The question comes to my email inbox every now and then. Here's my answer. There is no such thing as “greasy grace” – there is only the Gospe...
Aug 22, 2014•18 min•Ep. 127
If you give away free content as part of a “Content Marketing” strategy, it's important to know wthat you should not give away everything. If you give away the wrong stuff, you'll never make any money. In today's episode I you get the “5 Fatal Flaws Of Free Content” – and how to avoid them. Tip of the Week: The best way to manage all your passwords: Dashlane. Spiritual Foundations: “Does the Holy Spirit convict us of sin?” My answer may surprise you. And when he comes, he will convict the world ...
Aug 14, 2014•23 min•Ep. 126
Have you ever known anyone who just never seems to get what they want in life? They make lots of plans but things never seen to pan out well? I believe there are 5 requirements for getting successful outcomes in any area. In today's episode I will share the 5 Requirements, and explain how you can put them to work starting today. Announcements: Thanks for the 5-star reviews on iTunes from Brian Knight of SuccessForNurses.com , and Cheri Fields at CreationScience4kids.com , If you enjoy the podcas...
Aug 07, 2014•30 min•Ep. 125
So what books have you read that changed you? This show is about my list of some of the life-changing books I have read. Some of them may surprise you. Announcements: If you enjoy the podcast, I would consider it a great favor if you subscribe (and leave a review) in iTunes . I'm speaking at the Platform Conference in November. Register using this link , and as you check out enter the promo code RAY to save $100 on your ticket. Tip of the Week: I discovered a neat little device that easily lets ...
Jul 31, 2014•29 min•Ep. 124
I hear this complaint a lot: “People don’t respond to emails anymore. It’s like they don’t read them, or don’t have enough courtesy to write back.” Usually the person doing the complaining will then expand on how Western society is crumbling around our ears. Rather than spend our time complaining about how inconsiderate people have become, I suggest learning how to write emails that demand a response. Announcements: If you enjoy the podcast, I would consider it a great favor if you subscribe (an...
Jul 25, 2014•17 min•Ep. 123
Last week we focused on writing powerful, persuasive copy. This week I'm bringing you an interview with a leader in the direct response marketing world – and the guy who has hired almost all the great living direct response copywriters. This is a rare interview with Brian Kurtz of Boardroom, Inc. Announcements: If you enjoy the podcast, I would consider it a great favor if you subscribe (and leave a review) in iTunes . I'm speaking at the Platform Conference in November. Register using this link...
Jul 16, 2014•56 min•Ep. 122
One of the most important skills you can develop is the skill of writing persuasive copy. Copy that sells products and services. There is a formula for writing such copy, and in today's episode, I will share it. You can start using it today.. Announcements: If you enjoy the podcast, I would consider it a great favor if you subscribe (and leave a review) in iTunes . This helps new people discover the show. A big thanks to Camilla-NoMoreHamsterWheel, and DayneDad, for giving us a review on iTunes ...
Jul 09, 2014•1 hr 5 min•Ep. 121
Most small businesses will fail. According to StatisticBrain.com, 25% of businesses will fail in year one, by year five the failure rate is 55%, by year ten it's 71%. Why does this happen? There are many explanations being offered, from industry changes to economic environment. My strong belief is that most of these so-called reasons are excuses. And when we get right down to the real reasons most businesses fail, it turns out the top 10 reasons are all within your control. In this episode I wil...
Jul 02, 2014•46 min•Ep. 120
“How do I really start my own online business?” This is a question I hear pretty often. Recently I found myself saying, “Well, it's pretty simple. You just need to…” and then I heard myself spewing out a long list of stuff that was anything but simple. Clearly I needed a simpler, more cohesive answer to this question. That's what this episode is all about. Announcements: If you enjoy the podcast, I would consider it a great favor if you subscribe (and leave a review) in iTunes . This helps new p...
Jun 25, 2014•44 min•Ep. 119
Have you ever noticed that over the years, you tend to do pretty much the same things? What I mean is, if you’re a reader you remain one, if you’re a writer you tend to write, if you’re a procrastinator you tend to keep procrastinating, and so forth. The key to being productive, profitable, and happy is not in changing your nature. It's in learning to turn your nature to your advantage. In this week's episode, I'll share some ideas on how to do just that. Announcements: If you enjoy the podcast,...
Jun 18, 2014•21 min•Ep. 118
There's a saying: “The customer is always right.” But what about customers who are abusive, dishonest, and bullying? Are they always right? I think not. And you must protect yourself and your staff from these bullies. In this week's episode, I share 7 tips for handling abusive or “problem” customers. Announcements: If you enjoy the podcast, I would consider it a great favor if you subscribe (and leave a review) in iTunes . This helps new people discover the show. A big thanks to Dr. Brad Miller,...
Jun 13, 2014•31 min•Ep. 117
There is one online business teacher whose students have created over half a BILLION dollars in sales, using his methods. He also happens to be one of the most graceful people I know. Now, he has written a book that distills down the core elements of his training, and it's just been released. In this week's episode, I spend some time talking with my friend Jeff Walker about his new book, Launch (as of this writing, if you click here you can get the book for free … no joke.) Announcements: If you...
Jun 04, 2014•51 min•Ep. 116
When I was 14 years old, I was inspired to get into radio because I loved listening to “American Top 40”. It was a countdown show of the 40 most popular songs on the radio each week, hosted by Casey Casum. This week, I'm sharing the top 40 podcasts I listen to, with a little explanation of why you might want to check them out. I will also identify the podcasts I absolutely do not miss, ever. And I'll share the 3 very popular podcasts I instantly did NOT like. Plus, here are some additional reaso...
May 28, 2014•1 hr 8 min•Ep. 115
What if you could automate success? What if you would set a few things in motion that, if not guaranteeing your success, would automatically increase the likelihood of success … in all areas of your life? In today's episode I share how controlling 5 “environments” greatly increases the odds of your success. Plus, here are some additional reasons to keep listening… A proven way to turn your blog into a business, and a powerful strategy for writing posts that go viral. What do we do when God seems...
May 21, 2014•42 min•Ep. 114
We entrepreneurial types tend to be graded starting things and leaving other people to clean up the details. Our staff, virtual assistants, and colleagues may find it difficult to deal with us. There's nothing wrong with you, you just need to realize what you're good at, what other people are good at, and how to negotiate the handling of tasks so that both of you are operating in your “zone”. So today, I'll explain to you how to work with other people without driving them crazy. Plus, here are s...
May 14, 2014•21 min•Ep. 113
Many a professional, and many a freelancer, find themselves asking, “How can I get more clients?” May I suggest this is the wrong question? in fact, it is precisely the wrong question. A better question to ask would be, “how can I build a business where clients come looking for me?” We will explore the construction of such a scenario in today's episode. Plus, here are some additional reasons to keep listening… The greatest headset I've ever used for doing tele-seminars. The very first thing you ...
May 07, 2014•21 min•Ep. 112
Recently I was working with a client on an advertising campaign. We had been running a particular ad in a variety of online media (mainly solo mailings to email newsletters), and the ad was barely breaking even. We decided to test different subject lines. Basically, we changed seven words. Immediately upon our next mailing, our “Return on Ad Spend” or ROAS Went from around 80% to a startling 150%. Seven words. There's a saying in the direct response marketing business: “tiny hinges swing big doo...
Apr 30, 2014•30 min•Ep. 111
Recently, my life fell apart. At least that's how it felt emotionally. From the outside, everything looked great. I was an in demand speaker, making lots of money, with a lot of projects in the works, and the field of possibility ahead of me. The truth was another matter. My calendar was overscheduled, my time was overcommitted, I had agreed to too many meetings and too many projects, and my health deteriorated dramatically. Somehow, I had managed to get off track. Way off track. Then I had an e...
Apr 23, 2014•39 min•Ep. 110
I was recently on the phone with someone, and they were talking. Something they said sparked a reaction in me, and I began thinking about how is going to respond. As they continue to talk, I constructed an elegant argument in my head to counter what they had just told me. Then they spoke words that struck fear into my heart: “Do you think I should've done that?” I had no idea what they were talking about. You might think the skills and I'm urging you to master is listening. That is an effect of ...
Apr 17, 2014•32 min•Ep. 109
It occurred to me recently I often run my business from a backpack. In my backpack I carry my Nikon, some lenses, my iPad, and my MacBook air. If I can find an Internet connection, that's about all I need to run my business from virtually anywhere. In this episode, you get five essential keys to running a backpack business. Plus, here are some additional reasons to keep listening… I will share a seldom used function on your iPhone that can change your life. Stu McLaren with the Lifestyle Busines...
Apr 09, 2014•38 min•Ep. 108
Ever reach the end of a workday, and wonder where the hours went? Sometimes it seems there's just too much to do, and not enough time to do it all. In this episode, I'll share 5 “tricks” that will help you get more done in less time. Plus, here are some additional reasons to keep listening… I will share an app that helps you make great-looking portraits on your iPhone. Stu McLaren with the Lifestyle Business Report. Now let's get on with it… Announcements: Thanks to all who have left a review of...
Apr 02, 2014•33 min•Ep. 107
Sometimes it seems difficult to keep creating content, doesn't it? And for a lot of people it's difficult to even get started. In today's show, I will show you how to D.A.R.E. to create great content that sells. Also coming up… The app for recording great audio on your iPhone. Stu McLaren with the Lifestyle Business Report. Now let's get on with it… Announcements: Thanks to all who have left a review of the Ray Edwards Show in iTunes . Including Mike Kim, Christy Largent, and Mike Skiff! For mor...
Mar 25, 2014•27 min•Ep. 106
