I've got 7 questions that every entrepreneur, every content creator, every personal brand, every business that does business on the internet, must be able to answer in order to succeed. And I'm no exception. I want you to understand how things have changed, and how my company has responded to meet those changes head on (and why YOU should, too). I felt this information was urgent enough to warrant a special, bonus episode for this week. [00:00] Intro (this may be a mistake) [01:27] Work [01:34] ...
Feb 10, 2023•40 min•Ep 608•Transcript available on Metacast "If I only knew then what I know now." Who hasn't had that thought? Since time travel is not yet an option, this week we'll examine something more practical: What would your future self be asking you now? In this episode, I have 5 questions that can help you become the future self you want to be. [00:00] Intro [00:17] If you could go back in time to talk to your younger self, what would you say? [02:04] Discipline is Destiny (Ryan Holiday) [02:53] If we know what to do, why don't we change? [03:...
Feb 07, 2023•31 min•Ep 607•Transcript available on Metacast Learn how to overcome "The Resistance" - The things that are slowing your productivity, raising your anxiety, and ruining your carefully crafted work plan. Three simple, life-changing steps are waiting for you in this week's episode. [00:00] - What do I mean by "the resistance" (friction) [01:52] - Eliminate Self-Created Resistance [06:37] - Permission Based Resistance [11:16] - Externally Produced Resistance Links TextExpander - If you have to type it more than once, templatize it The War of Ar...
Feb 04, 2023•15 min•Ep 606•Transcript available on Metacast Is it possible to intentionally become the person you wish to be? The best version of yourself you can imagine? It's not only possible, it's how it's done... with intention, and commitment . This week, we'll talk about what it takes to become "the possible you". • [00:18] Abandoning resolutions • [00:51] Set impossible goals • [02:10] But, I don't know how to do that • [03:01] What you've been doing doesn't work • [04:25] You have to believe you deserve it • [05:54] Construct your new identity •...
Jan 25, 2023•24 min•Ep 605•Transcript available on Metacast Have you ever tried to make a significant change in your life? Something that requires effort and commitment? Have you ever failed to achieve that change? Most of us would answer yes to that question (the honest people), but what if I told you there is a real reason why this happens? A universal truth that applies to any major change in your life, be it fitness, finance, productivity, etc. The fact is, you can't just "Dabble in Discipline", you must Move in Mastery. I'll explain exactly what I m...
Jan 21, 2023•11 min•Ep 604•Transcript available on Metacast Some say that YouTube is unfriendly territory for newcomers, but have you really missed the boat? Is it too late to build an income-generating channel? My guest this week, Sean Cannell, says "saturation is a myth". YouTube still rewards great content for those who have the right recipe...and he's got the facts, figures, and cases studies to back it up. Listen to this inspiring interview with someone who has over 1,000,000 subscribers, 100,000,000 video views, coauthored the book YouTube Secrets,...
Jan 14, 2023•1 hr•Ep 603•Transcript available on Metacast Every year people make resolutions or set goals for the coming year. Most will abandon all these aspirations before the month of January is over. Why does this happen? Because their “resolutions” and “goals” were nothing but WISHES. And wishing doesn’t make it so. What makes things happen? DECISIONS and COMMITMENTS. In this episode, I'll give you 5 Decisions That Can MULTIPLY your RESULTS 10X This Year. [00:00] Intro- The problem with resolutions with goals [00:50] 1. DECIDE to learn from and va...
Jan 06, 2023•9 min•Ep 602•Transcript available on Metacast This week's episode was recorded Christmas morning, 2022. I wanted to have a comfortable, intimate setting to relay some positive thoughts and exercises for the new year, so I chose to record at my kitchen table. My premise is this: We can't be happy all the time, that's a delusion and an unrealistic expectation...BUT, we can have much less time being unhappy than we currently do - by a long shot. There are ways you can manage your emotions and get some control over what makes you joyful. As we ...
Dec 30, 2022•13 min•Transcript available on Metacast OpenAI's ChatGPT software is producing such impressive, original copy, it has many copywriters concerned for their future. I understand the concern, but that doesn't change the fact that it's here, and it's getting better every day. Earlier this week I taught a class on how copywriters can use this new technology to increase their productivity to levels never before possible...To easily add 10k a month to their bottom line by serving more clients. This class was seen by some as promoting the ver...
Dec 24, 2022•24 min•Ep 600•Transcript available on Metacast The entrepreneurial journey is full of highs and lows…and yes, I acknowledge that the same could be said of any job - BUT, it’s somehow different when you’re running the show. There is potential for higher highs, lower lows, and you're ultimately responsible for all of them. In this episode (taken from The Cliff Ravenscraft Show) Cliff and I discuss how to deal with this reality from the perspective of a business owner...How to achieve equanimity and maintain a positive attitude at least 99% of ...
Dec 12, 2022•1 hr 2 min•Ep 599•Transcript available on Metacast Having to constantly chase down new leads is an exhausting and stressful way to keep revenue flowing. Wouldn't it be better to have new clients seek you out? To attract new business instead of chasing after it? There are several ways to make this happen without a huge (or even a small) advertising budget. This week's episode features a segment from 2013 entitled "How to Attract Business". It's been almost a decade since I first suggested these tactics and they're all still valid. In fact, I stil...
Dec 05, 2022•19 min•Ep 598•Transcript available on Metacast This week, I invite you to tune out the continual stream of fear mongering and "doom and gloom" stories, and consider this: By every measurable statistic, life on Earth is better now than it ever has been. Yes, we still have problems that need solving... No, we're not perfect...but we're better than ever. This week, I'm giving you 5 reasons why now is the best time to be alive. [00:22] My premise: Things are better, and can get better still. [04:35] Why pessimists are fools, and optimists have a...
Nov 30, 2022•30 min•Ep 597•Transcript available on Metacast This week, I'm covering 10 rules for living a richer life, whether you're a writer or not. A rich life is not limited to (but can certainly include) money. My goal is a "richer life" - as in, a more satisfying experience on this planet. These are thoughts which I have adopted as beliefs. They have served me well, and will continue to do so as I strive to be better at following them. Try them for yourself, and I am certain you will see positive changes and ultimately, a richer life. [00:00] Intro...
Nov 22, 2022•16 min•Ep 596•Transcript available on Metacast What do you do when your copy isn't converting the way you think it should? Trust me, the best copywriters in the world write the occasional dud...You put it out there, and it just falls flat. There are 5 common reasons your copy isn't converting, and on this week's episode, I'll explain how you can fix them all. [00:52] Reason 1 : Failure to understand the "P" in the P.A.S.T.O.R. Framework [02:01] Reason 2: Not doing enough research [02:46] Reason 3: Not dealing with competing solutions [03:49]...
Nov 14, 2022•7 min•Ep 595•Transcript available on Metacast Now is not the time to hide in a bunker...waiting for the impending economic doom we hear about every day. What you should be doing is turning your knowledge and skills into a business built around your own personal brand. That's what we're talking about in this week's episode. [00:00] Intro - Turning your knowledge, wisdom, and experience into a business [01:27] There's a storm coming...Batten down the hatches? [02:29] Being a personal brand [03:55] How we're transitioning at Ray Edwards Intern...
Nov 11, 2022•17 min•Ep 594•Transcript available on Metacast A couple of weeks ago, we did an episode devoted to the copywriting purists in the audience...A copywriting Q&A. That episode generated a lot of positive feedback, so this week, we're doing another round of questions submitted by some of our listeners. If you are (or want to be) a copywriter, I think you'll find some worthwhile knowledge inside. If you have a question, leave a comment below. I'm not sure when the next Q&A episode will be, but it largely depends on the quality and quantity of que...
Nov 02, 2022•17 min•Ep 593•Transcript available on Metacast It was such a pleasure to welcome my son, Sean, back to the show. When the pandemic hit, it quickly became apparent that Sean would need to devote more time to our bricks and mortar coffee shop that we purchased together in 2017. In this weeks episode, I want Sean to explain what it was like to keep the business afloat amidst the shutdowns and restricted operations we faced here in the state of Washington. We both learned some valuable, life and mindset-altering lessons and I think some of those...
Oct 25, 2022•51 min•Ep 592•Transcript available on Metacast Are you making progress toward being the person you wish you were? Most of us have more than one area of our lives we would like to improve, and most of us even know what we need to do to get there (or at least, get closer). So what's the hold up? You're about to find out. This week, I want to talk about our greatest addiction. It's not drugs, food, or anything of the sort, but it's real, and it is probably the source of your stagnation. The good news? It's fixable. Click below to listen. [00:00...
Oct 18, 2022•27 min•Transcript available on Metacast This week, I'm getting back to the core of what I teach by answering questions submitted by copywriters. I encourage you to leave any questions of your own (or corrections/additions to the answers I gave) in the comments on this page . [00:00] Intro [00:56] Question 1 - Should I be worried about A.I. taking my clients? [05:01] Question 2 - Do I need to use contracts? [07:30] Question 3 - Did I write this, or did I steal this? [10:40] Question 4 - What's the best formula for a subject line? Links...
Oct 15, 2022•15 min•Ep 590•Transcript available on Metacast The term "quiet quitting" predates the pandemic by more than a decade, but has become commonplace since 2020. So, what is it? Quiet Quitting is when you decide to the absolute bare minimum of what is required to keep getting a paycheck...No more aspirations of "moving up the ladder", just "acting your wage", as they say. When the pandemic forced so much of the workforce to work from home, outside of the constant supervision of the traditional workplace, it became a lot easier to quietly quit. Th...
Oct 08, 2022•14 min•Ep 589•Transcript available on Metacast That is the question that keeps coming up: “Is Ray retiring?” It’s my own fault. It’s because I said (in yesterday's email) that “this is your last chance to work with me personally.” For 98% of those reading this email that remains true, but I am absolutely not “retiring“. And I AM NOT shrinking the goals for my company. Quite the contrary, we have significantly increased our goals . My reasons for continued growth , and scaling up, are very different than they were three years ago, however. Li...
Sep 30, 2022•36 min•Ep 588•Transcript available on Metacast This week's entire episode is devoted to an incredible tool for copywriters (although, I'm quite certain it was not built exclusively for us) - Notion. Notion is one of those things I was "sort of" familiar with... I knew it was some sort of workspace management system, but I had no idea how much it could be tailored to copywriting and content creation until I got a look at how Cliff Ravenscraft was using it. I'm not easily impressed these days, and I certainly don't feel the need to learn a new...
Sep 20, 2022•51 min•Ep 587•Transcript available on Metacast If you're not familiar with Jennifer Allwood, let me introduce her with this quote from her site, JenniferAllwood.com : I teach Christian women how to build a business online using social media, top-notch strategy and a proven framework all while keeping their faith and family top priority https://jenniferallwood.com I've admired Jennifer's work for some time now, so when I was asked to be a guest speaker in her private mastermind group, I was honored. For those who ask for episodes that are "al...
Sep 13, 2022•57 min•Ep 586•Transcript available on Metacast That is an intentionally provocative title, but I assure you it's not clickbait. Give me a quick 7 minutes and I'll explain why I believe the answer to that title question is an emphatic, "Yes!" A Note About This Episode: The audio from this week's podcast comes from a recently released YouTube video of the same title. If you prefer video, you'll find it here . [00:12] Intro ... Are you serious? [00:53] Do you own a business...or a job? [01:49] What's a true marketing system? [02:21] The simple ...
Sep 06, 2022•8 min•Ep 585•Transcript available on Metacast Listen to this week’s podcast to learn how Click Funnels (and the upcoming Funnel Hacking Live) actually saved me from brain surgery. My neurologist was telling me it was time to give in and have the brain surgery … but my heart was telling me a different story. To go to the event, I had to say NO to brain surgery - and to do that, I had to actually get better. [00:00] Intro - Is it true? [08:34] How does this relate to you? [10:14] Are you stuck in the loop? [12:11] Here's an example [12:41] Yo...
Aug 30, 2022•17 min•Ep 584•Transcript available on Metacast Let's start this week's encouraging podcast with some discouraging facts from our friends at the Bureau of Labor Statistics: 22% of business startups fail in the first year 50% of new businesses fail within the first five years 97% of online businesses fail within the first five years Did you catch that last one? Ouch! I've been doing business online for nearly two decades. Is it just luck that I've beaten the nearly insurmountable odds? I don't think so. This week, I want to share 7 Power Belie...
Aug 23, 2022•18 min•Ep 583•Transcript available on Metacast If you're a new copywriter, or perhaps find yourself in a slump, your immediate question is likely: How do I get clients, now? This week, I'm sharing some methods that have consistently worked for me and I'm certain can work for you as well. Bonus - These client-getting methods are not exclusive to copywriting! [smart_track_player url="https://traffic.libsyn.com/secure/rayedwards/REP582.mp3" artist="Ray Edwards", title="Get Clients Now" background="default"] [00:00] Intro [00:48] Method Number 1...
Aug 18, 2022•24 min•Ep 582•Transcript available on Metacast When I say, "change your words, change your world", it isn't just for the sake of marketing - it's a fact. This week's episode is about the importance of language. From the way we express ourselves in person and online, to our most private internal dialogue, the words we choose are critical. They truly shape our view of reality. Quick note: Much of this content was inspired by an interview with Robin Arzón I heard on Rich Roll's podcast (linked below). I highly recommend you add it to your must-...
Aug 09, 2022•14 min•Ep 581•Transcript available on Metacast No matter how bad things get, there are almost always things you can do to improve yourself and your situation. This week, I'm giving you 14, easy to understand rules that will help you do exactly that. Disclaimer : "Easy to understand" doesn't always mean easy to follow, but my belief is that if you make the effort, you will be rewarded. If you attempt some or all of these rules, I would love to hear about your results. How has your life changed? I will read and respond to every comment, so ple...
Aug 06, 2022•33 min•Ep 580•Transcript available on Metacast This week's podcast comes from a meeting I hosted recently entitled, "Ask Ray Anything". The original intent of this meeting was to answer questions related to my Accelerated Certification Program , but I made the last-minute decision to make it a complete free-for-all...A true, "Ask Ray Anything" meeting. The end result: A lot of great Q&A that I felt would benefit more people if I shared it here. [00:00] Intro / What is the purpose of this meeting? [02:58] Why the world NEEDS you right now [03...
Jul 26, 2022•46 min•Ep 579•Transcript available on Metacast 
