EP30: Are You Funny?

EP30: Are You Funny?

A fabulous wrap-up show for the podcast. Dealing with the good and awful aspects of using – or avoiding – humor in your marketing efforts. Plus, a deep dive into what makes someone funny... with a mini-course on helping even unfunny marketers find a groove that can open up entirely new ways to nurture real relationships with clients and customers. This is a nearly complete seminar on being a crack-up, and using humor to bring people into your world while making your contacts with them bristle with smooth connections and influential prowess. A near-perfect show to end the series on. Thanks for sharing the ride with us!

EP29: Reinventing Your Life Into Something Awesome

The guys reveal the genesis of their transformations and journeys to becoming who they are today... ... and it's riveting stuff. John's story goes back to his grandfather, who was an entrepreneur who got crushed by the Great Depression... yet somehow instilled the core sense of working for yourself into his grandkids (without even meeting them). Kevin's adventures leading to Copy Chief (and then abruptly leading away from it) are a modern parable for anyone seeking to dominate a niche. And Daniel's quest for a simple and lean operation is a complete model for anyone seeking to go it (almost) alone in the brave new digital world. You'll also learn about the different types of entrepreneurs out there: Cutthroats, collaboratives, and agents of chaos. (Yes, you already have, or soon will, deal with all three during your career... so it's nice to see how each type operates, and what to watch out for if you wanna survive the experience. Cuz it's capitalism at its finest.) So much good stuff here. Insights to who you're sharing space with online, plus how to avoid burnout , and dealing with the loneliness of going solo. Everyone's life has ups and downs, and occasional stumbles off the main path... ... but only a few discover the proven ways to actually craft your future so it's exactly what you want. Clues and specific tactics abound here. Great stuff...

EP28: How'd You Get My Address And Why Are You Sending Me Lumpy Envelopes?

Very fun episode here – Kevin received a large, mysterious and very lumpy envelope in the mail... and wanted to open it live on the podcast to see what wonders were inside. Very interesting insights from the three professionals, with John's long history in direct mail marketing, Kevin learning about copy from old school guys raised on mail, and Daniel having no idea that direct mail still existed (just kidding – but only John ever worked in the medium). The surprises inside are one thing. But the savage commentary afterward was one of the most vicious dissections of an ad you'll ever witness. It was gruesome (and deserved). And boy, are you gonna be happy you watched it unfold. This show became a one-stop complete seminar on how to target audiences with real power, grab their attention quickly, and drag them kicking and screaming deep into your pitch... ... while applying everything in your Bag O' Tricks to win your prospects over and get them to throw money at you gleefully. Direct mail is the grizzled parent of all marketing done today by email and websites. Everything that worked to make direct mail so potent a few decades ago still brings home the bacon, no matter what medium you're using. Essential show here. Plus, you'll laugh your butt off, as usual...

EP27: Slick Propaganda, Slimy Manipulation, and Honest Persuasion Walk Into A Bar

The guys explore the roles of controversy in swaying public opinion, how deepfakes will demolish trust in society, and how data collection will affect things in the near future. Yet not all is dystopian doom: Yes, astroturf movements, strategic manipulation, and the perceived lack of privacy online threaten society's core... ... but by looking ahead – particularly how forward-thinking people are raising their kids – we see visions of unprecedented freedom and prosperity available for those willing to fight for it. It's a brave new world, but it doesn't have to be a bad science fiction tale. Hope and dreams still abide.

EP26: Garage Bands, Mastering Japanese, Sustainable Career Paths, and Biker-Bar Life Lessons

John wants you to know how his teen years spent in rock bands transformed his shy ass into an adventure-seeking gonzo writer... and why this kind of experience is so critical for long successful careers in business. What's more, the guys go deep on: * Defining "success" with personal goals, and skipping the nonsense of external standards * Why it's important to understand how much conversational fluency differs from native fluency in language (and why this matters when you're training your brain) * How email marketing swamps social media when it comes to building crucial relationships with customer bases * How to goose your creative output and murder burnout early And more: Making conscious choices about which opportunities to grab and which to run away from screaming... sampling the "big fish in a small pond" lifestyle to see if it's a better fit for you than going after whales... and balancing your day job against passion projects (and why both might break your heart and your bank account). So much good stuff. Learn from the masters, and then go grab your destiny...