Ray Edwards Show

Is your business built like a diving board – with only one support underneath? Or is it built like the Parthenon, which has stood for thousands of years because of its strength? The 7 Pillars of Competitve Advantage for Your Business Why we should always be thankful, no matter what comes our way. How to get your business out of the red and into the black – fast! (for less than $20) And much, much more. Links From the Show Jeff Walker's book, Launch! How To 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, Google+, or LinkedIn.   Get The Transcript Click here to get the transcript now.  Transcripts provided by SuccessTranscripts – a great solution if you need your podcast, sermon, speech, or other audio transcribed.  

Today we interview Cliff Ravenscraft, the Podcast Answer Man. Cliff explains… How to know if podcasting is for you. Why most people don't succeed with podcasting, and how you can avoide their fate. The very good reasons why now is the perfect time to start a podcast. And much, much more. Links From the Show Cliff Ravenscraft, the Podcast Answer Man Dan Miller Michael Hyatt Pursuing a Balanced Life GSPN Cliff's Podcasting A to Z Course (NOTE: get $500 off by entering the promo code "RAYSENTME" when purchase) Cliff's free Podcasting Blueprint webinar this Friday, October 23, 2015. How to Get Promoted on the Show 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. If you don't already get the email newsletter, sign up for that and get the new free video: "3 Keys to Change the World and Make Your Business Grow." Connect with Ray on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, or LinkedIn. How to Get Featured on the Show Send an email to support [@] rayedwards.com (take out the brackets and make it a real email address).. disguising our email address like this on the webpage helps us cut down on spam. Sorry for the hassle. Blame the spammers. In your email, tell us a little about how you "made the leap" to entrepreneurialism, what (if any) influence I (Ray) have had on your business, and any other propaganda you think will help your case. We can't say yes to every application, but I promise we do read and consider every application. Get The Transcript Click here to get the transcript now. Transcripts provided by SuccessTranscripts – a great solution if you need your podcast, sermon, speech, or other audio transcribed.  

Today's show is another "special edition", where we will dive deep into the mechanics of how to build a remarkable business. In this episode, you'll get… The "secret system" for explosive business growth. The difference between your "talents and skills" and your anointing, and why you should care. A simple way to find out your anointing, if you don't know already. The 5 essential components that must be part of your strategic plan. 7 reasons why you must master this system now – today. What your real job is… and it's bigger than you think. Links From the Show Your free copywriting mini-course and templates. How to Get Promoted on the Show 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. If you don't already get the email newsletter, sign up for that and get the new free video: "3 Keys to Change the World and Make Your Business Grow." Connect with Ray on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, or LinkedIn. How to Get Featured on the Show Send an email to support [@] rayedwards.com (take out the brackets and make it a real email address).. disguising our email address like this on the webpage helps us cut down on spam. Sorry for the hassle. Blame the spammers. In your email, tell us a little about how you "made the leap" to entrepreneurialism, what (if any) influence I (Ray) have had on your business, and any other propaganda you think will help your case. We can't say yes to every application, but I promise we do read and consider every application. Get The Transcript Click here to get the transcript now. Transcripts provided by SuccessTranscripts – a great solution if you need your podcast, sermon, speech, or other audio transcribed.  

Yes, this is the second podcast this week – consider it a free bonus, included with your regular subscription. No extra charge. I am a professional copywriter, and I teach copywriting to entrepreneurs who want to increase their sales and profits fast. This week, I'm answering the top 10 questions I am most frequently asked about the art and science of copywriting. During this show you'll also discover… If God just "showers us with His favor", does that mean we don't need to do any work at all? How to get a free online "mini-course" in writing copy that sells. What Ray would do with a million "extra" dollars. Links From the Show Your free copywriting mini-course and templates. The Apple website. How to Get Promoted on the Show 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. If you don't already get the email newsletter, sign up for that and get the new free video: "3 Keys to Change the World and Make Your Business Grow." Connect with Ray on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, or LinkedIn. How to Get Featured on the Show Send an email to support [@] rayedwards.com (take out the brackets and make it a real email address).. disguising our email address like this on the webpage helps us cut down on spam. Sorry for the hassle. Blame the spammers. In your email, tell us a little about how you "made the leap" to entrepreneurialism, what (if any) influence I (Ray) have had on your business, and any other propaganda you think will help your case. We can't say yes to every application, but I promise we do read and consider every application. Get The Transcript Click here to get the transcript now. Transcripts provided by SuccessTranscripts – a great solution if you need your podcast, sermon, speech, or other audio transcribed.  

What if I told you the greatest persuasion secret known to humanity could be summed up in a single sentence? And that it is so dangerously powerful, we almost deleted this episode? It's true. During this show you'll also discover… Why does God bless us? What do we have to do? The healthiest way of eating known to humans. Another success story interview, this time with Bob Burg, the author of The Go Giver. Links From the Show About the benefits of a ketogenic diet: Keto Clarity Ketogenic Cookbook   Blair Warren's (apparently defunct) website The One-Sentence Persuasion Course Bob Burg's website The Go-Giver, Expanded Edition book How to Get Promoted on the Show 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. If you don't already get the email newsletter, sign up for that and get the new free video: "3 Keys to Change the World and Make Your Business Grow." Connect with Ray on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, or LinkedIn. How to Get Featured on the Show Send an email to support [@] rayedwards.com (take out the brackets and make it a real email address).. disguising our email address like this on the webpage helps us cut down on spam. Sorry for the hassle. Blame the spammers. In your email, tell us a little about how you "made the leap" to entrepreneurialism, what (if any) influence I (Ray) have had on your business, and any other propaganda you think will help your case. We can't say yes to every application, but I promise we do read and consider every application. Get The Transcript Click here to get the transcript now. Transcripts provided by SuccessTranscripts – a great solution if you need your podcast, sermon, speech, or other audio transcribed.  

  There are 5 bedrock truths that all great copywriters know. After hearing this episode, you will know them too. During this show you'll also discover… How to build faith and always be receiving answers to prayer. The best deal on a second monitor – ever. An interview with New York Times best-selling author Michael Port. Links From the Show   DuetDisplay app Michael Port's website Steal the Show book by Michael Port Free Copywriting Training Free Copywriting Training How to Get Promoted on the Show 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. If you don't already get the email newsletter, sign up for that and get the new free video: "3 Keys to Change the World and Make Your Business Grow." Connect with Ray on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, or LinkedIn. How to Get Featured on the Show Send an email to support [@] rayedwards.com (take out the brackets and make it a real email address).. disguising our email address like this on the webpage helps us cut down on spam. Sorry for the hassle. Blame the spammers. In your email, tell us a little about how you "made the leap" to entrepreneurialism, what (if any) influence I (Ray) have had on your business, and any other propaganda you think will help your case. We can't say yes to every application, but I promise we do read and consider every application. Get The Transcript Click here to get the transcript now. Transcripts provided by SuccessTranscripts – a great solution if you need your podcast, sermon, speech, or other audio transcribed.  

I believe that for most businesses, the most valuable skill you can learn is writing copy. It can make the difference between profit or bankruptcy. During this show you'll also discover… The #1 barrier to hearing God's voice. An indispensable tool for evoking emotions in your writing. Success story from student and regency member Marshall Bone. Links From the Show The Emotion Thesaurus by Angela Ackerman and Becca Puglisi Marshall Bone's website How to Get Promoted on the Show 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. If you don't already get the email newsletter, sign up for that and get the new free video: "3 Keys to Change the World and Make Your Business Grow." Connect with Ray on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, or LinkedIn. How to Get Featured on the Show Send an email to support [@] rayedwards.com (take out the brackets and make it a real email address).. disguising our email address like this on the webpage helps us cut down on spam. Sorry for the hassle. Blame the spammers. In your email, tell us a little about how you "made the leap" to entrepreneurialism, what (if any) influence I (Ray) have had on your business, and any other propaganda you think will help your case. We can't say yes to every application, but I promise we do read and consider every application. Get The Transcript Click here to get the transcript now. Transcripts provided by SuccessTranscripts – a great solution if you need your podcast, sermon, speech, or other audio transcribed.  

In this show, I'll share the daily practice that leads to prosperity – and is guaranteed to spare you a life of poverty, fear, and depression. We'll explore the  7 pillars of this practice – what they are, and how to practice them every day. During this show you'll also discover… A very inexpensive podcast gear setup (start a show for less than $100). Why you are hard-wired to seek happiness and joy.. Another success story interview, this time with student and Regency member Kirk Bowman, on how to increase the value you bring to your customers… and how to get paid more for it. Links From the Show The Dangerous Duty of Delight, by John Piper. Bossjock app. ATR2100 microphone. Auphonic app for better audio. CLiff Ravenscraft's Podcasting A to Z Class, final session at this price. Kirk Bowman's website, The Art of Value.   How to Get Promoted on the Show 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. If you don't already get the email newsletter, sign up for that and get the new free video: "3 Keys to Change the World and Make Your Business Grow." Connect with Ray on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, or LinkedIn. How to Get Featured on the Show Send an email to support [@] rayedwards.com (take out the brackets and make it a real email address).. disguising our email address like this on the webpage helps us cut down on spam. Sorry for the hassle. Blame the spammers. In your email, tell us a little about how you "made the leap" to entrepreneurialism, what (if any) influence I (Ray) have had on your business, and any other propaganda you think will help your case. We can't say yes to every application, but I promise we do read and consider every application. Get The Transcript Click here to get the transcript now. Transcripts provided by SuccessTranscripts – a great solution if you need your podcast, sermon, speech, or other audio transcribed.  

If you ever feel like you get one area of your life working well, only to find a fire breaking out in some other part of your life… if you feel you are "doing okay" but still don't feel that sense of happiness, or success, or fulfillment you're after… this episodes is just for you! We'll explore the  4 Levels of Living That Bring Fulfillment and Success – what they are, and how to experience them every day. During this show you'll also discover… Soon… You could be INVINCIBLE! Where to find gifts that make people think you're Tony Stark (or Bruce Wayne). A good reason to come to Spokane to shop or have coffee. Another success story interview with student and Regency member Brian Holmes, on how to break free from the unseen forces that hold you back from success and happiness. The Creed of the Unbeatable Man by Ray Edwards NOTE: The following is 100% supported by Scripture. All Scripture references are linked to the Scriptural source of that idea or statement. I'm providing these as a resource, not as an invitation to debate. -Ray When the world would beat me down, when the adversary comes against me, when the darkness seems overwhelming… when the mantle of mediocrity settles on my shoulders and seeks to weigh me down, when the grey and rainy skies won't relent… when the arrows pierce my armor, the bloodshed seems like a tide, and the odds seem overwhelmingly stacked against me [a] … in these times I will remember: There is One who is unbeatable, his name is Jesus, and I am a co-heir to his legacy. [b] Before the world was, he existed and in fact made the world for his purposes. [c] I know that in this world I will have trouble, but I take courage, because he has overcome the world. [d] He is never surprised, discouraged, alarmed, or afraid. [e] He sits at the right hand of his Father, God Almighty, and as Jesus is in heaven, so am I in this world. [f] In him I am free. [g] His Spirit, the same Spirit that raised him from the dead… that healed the sick, cleansed the lepers, caused demons to flee, and set right everything that has ever gone wrong or ever will… that same Spirit lives in me. [h] The Spirit of God leads me into all truth [i], sets me free [j], and reminds me that through Jesus I am 100% righteous and worthy to receive God's love.[k] I am a saint and not a sinner [l], I am the light of the world, the city on a hill, the salt of the earth [m]… redeemed, restored, renewed, raised to life [n] … victorious, powerful, rich, healed, saved, delivered [o]... growing in wisdom and favor with men and with God [p]… an heir to the promises of Abraham and his descendants [q]… a son and a friend of God…[r] Through the finished work of the cross, I am protected, favored, loved, and approved… weighed and found worthy. [s] I am beyond the reach of sickness, death, judgment, and condemnation. [t] I may have trouble, but trouble never has me. [u] I am unpunishable, unashamed, and unafraid. [v] I am unbeatable. [w] And so are you. [x] Links From the Show Atticus Coffee & Gifts, Spokane, WA Boo Radley's, Spokane, WA The Grommet The cool keyring Ray bought from The Grommet Huckberry (check out their "opt-in" strategy – opt in, or you don't get to see anything.) Brian Holmes's website for Strategic Living. The Strategic Living Podcast The Ties That Bind Online Course Shin Ohtake's Max Workouts (key to Ray losing 50 pounds so far this year!) John Lee Dumas's Entrepreneur on Fire Podcast Pat Flynn's Smart Passive Income Podcast Cliff Ravenscraft's Podcast Answer Man Podcast Heaven in Business Conference at Bethel Church in Redding, CA Perry Marshall's website Evolution 2.0 by Perry Marshall Dan Sullivan Seneca the Younger Zig Ziglar How to Get Promoted on the Show 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. If you don't already get the email newsletter, sign up for that and get the new free video: "3 Keys to Change the World and Make Your Business Grow." Connect with Ray on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, or LinkedIn. How to Get Featured on the Show Send an email to support [@] rayedwards.com (take out the brackets and make it a real email address).. disguising our email address like this on the webpage helps us cut down on spam. Sorry for the hassle. Blame the spammers. In your email, tell us a little about how you "made the leap" to entrepreneurialism, what (if any) influence I (Ray) have had on your business, and any other propaganda you think will help your case. We can't say yes to every application, but I promise we do read and consider every application. Get The Transcript Click here to get the transcript now. Transcripts provided by SuccessTranscripts – a great solution if you need your podcast, sermon, speech, or other audio transcribed.  

"What do I do if I don't have a product to sell?" This is a very common question we hear, and today we'll answer it. In fact, it's possible to go from idea to income in less than a week. During this episode you'll also discover: Who Let The Dogs Out (hint… it was you!) How to raise a computer from the dead The 10 day challenge we're inviting you to try, that can change your life! Links From the Show Michael Hyatt's podcast on negativity. Caffeine app for Mac that keeps your computer awake. Mike Kim's Website Mike Kim's Pivot Course How to Get Promoted on the Show 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. If you don't already get the email newsletter, sign up for that and get the new free video: "3 Keys to Change the World and Make Your Business Grow." Connect with Ray on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, or LinkedIn. How to Get Featured on the Show Send an email to support [@] rayedwards.com (take out the brackets and make it a real email address).. disguising our email address like this on the webpage helps us cut down on spam. Sorry for the hassle. Blame the spammers. In your email, tell us a little about how you "made the leap" to entrepreneurialism, what (if any) influence I (Ray) have had on your business, and any other propaganda you think will help your case. We can't say yes to every application, but I promise we do read and consider every application. Get The Transcript Click here to get the transcript now. Transcripts provided by SuccessTranscripts – a great solution if you need your podcast, sermon, speech, or other audio transcribed.  

There are 5 Murderous "Profit Poachers" that are on a merciless mission: to kill your business. The good news? Simply knowing about them can stop the cash-killers in their tracks. During this episode you'll discover: A simple app that increases the life of your Apple laptop battery. The lessons we can learn from Ananias and Sapphira… and why they had it right about money! "The 5 Profit Poachers That Murder Your Business" (And How to Stop Them In Their Tracks) The Paul B. Evans secret to preposterous productivity (without doing too much). How to get booked as a speaker, and make a better than decent living. Why you don't need a "speaker packet" or a "demo reel"… and might even be better off without one. How to get your work finished each day before 8am. How Paul creates content in minutes, not hours. The secrets of packing for a 7-day business trip -carrying everything in only a single backpack. How you can make an appearance on this show, and promote your business or website! Links From the Show The story of Ananias and Saphirra "What's Up With That?" bit from SNL The FruitJuice App Paul B Evans Website, Facebook, and his Million Dollar Keynote Training (only useful if you want to actually make big money from your speaking career… have more impact when you speak… or simply banish "stage fright" forever!) And finally, what the heck was Ray saying about "Li'l Sweet"? It's from a Diet Dr. Pepper ad (don't drink soda, it's bad for you… but the commercial is weirdly hilarious): How to Get Promoted on the Show 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. If you don't already get the email newsletter, sign up for that and get the new free video: "3 Keys to Change the World and Make Your Business Grow." Connect with Ray on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, or LinkedIn. How to Get Featured on the Show Send an email to support [@] rayedwards.com (take out the brackets and make it a real email address).. disguising our email address like this on the webpage helps us cut down on spam. Sorry for the hassle. Blame the spammers. In your email, tell us a little about how you "made the leap" to entrepreneurialism, what (if any) influence I (Ray) have had on your business, and any other propaganda you think will help your case. We can't say yes to every application, but I promise we do read and consider every application. Get The Transcript Click here to get the transcript now. Transcripts provided by SuccessTranscripts – a great solution if you need your podcast, sermon, speech, or other audio transcribed.  

It can be hard to say "NO".  Here are 3 powerful ways to say "NO" pleasantly. Find Out How To Say No Pleasantly. Did You Know God Forgives But He Also Forgets? Can We Ask A Big Favor? Subscribe to the show in iTunes and give us a rating and review. Go ahead and subscribe now, and give us your star rating and review on iTunes. We will definitely mention you on this show. We are also BACK on Stitcher.com, so if you prefer Stitcher, please subscribe there. If you don't already get the email newsletter, sign up for that and get the new free video: "3 Keys to Change the World and Make Your Business Grow." Connect with me on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, or LinkedIn. Get The Transcript Click here to get the transcript now. Transcripts provided by SuccessTranscripts – a great solution if you need your podcast, sermon, speech, or other audio transcribed.  

Let's face it, we all make stupid mistakes. Learn to recover after making a "BIG MESS". How To Recover From Stupid Mistakes. The Holy Spirit Wants To Guide You Into Victory   Can We Ask A Big Favor? Subscribe to the show in iTunes and give us a rating and review. Go ahead and subscribe now, and give us your star rating and review on iTunes. We will definitely mention you on this show. We are also BACK on Stitcher.com, so if you prefer Stitcher, please subscribe there. If you don't already get the email newsletter, sign up for that and get the new free video: "3 Keys to Change the World and Make Your Business Grow." Connect with me on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, or LinkedIn. Get The Transcript Click here to get the transcript now. Transcripts provided by SuccessTranscripts – a great solution if you need your podcast, sermon, speech, or other audio transcribed.  

Do you have a morning routine? Learn 7 ways you can Supercharge yours now. Learn 7 Ways To Supercharge Your Morning. Make It Your Goal To Seek God's Wisdom Can We Ask A Big Favor? Subscribe to the show in iTunes and give us a rating and review. Go ahead and subscribe now, and give us your star rating and review on iTunes. We will definitely mention you on this show. We are also BACK on Stitcher.com, so if you prefer Stitcher, please subscribe there. If you don't already get the email newsletter, sign up for that and get the new free video: "3 Keys to Change the World and Make Your Business Grow." Connect with me on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, or LinkedIn. Get The Transcript Click here to get the transcript now. Transcripts provided by SuccessTranscripts – a great solution if you need your podcast, sermon, speech, or other audio transcribed.  

Did you know that Discomfort Determines Destiny? Learn the 3 Ways now. How Discomfort Determines Destiny Be Patient With God's Promises and Do Not Lose Hope In Him Can We Ask A Big Favor? Subscribe to the show in iTunes and give us a rating and review. Go ahead and subscribe now, and give us your star rating and review on iTunes. We will definitely mention you on this show. We are also BACK on Stitcher.com, so if you prefer Stitcher, please subscribe there. If you don't already get the email newsletter, sign up for that and get the new free video: "3 Keys to Change the World and Make Your Business Grow." Connect with me on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, or LinkedIn. Get The Transcript Click here to get the transcript now. Transcripts provided by SuccessTranscripts – a great solution if you need your podcast, sermon, speech, or other audio transcribed.  

Are you miserable a lot of the time? Chances are you in more in control of that feeling than you realize. Here's what to do about it. The Method To Stop Making Yourself Miserable Are You Stressing Out Over God Delivering His Promises Can We Ask A Big Favor? Subscribe to the show in iTunes and give us a rating and review. Go ahead and subscribe now, and give us your star rating and review on iTunes. We will definitely mention you on this show. We are also BACK on Stitcher.com, so if you prefer Stitcher, please subscribe there. If you don't already get the email newsletter, sign up for that and get the new free video: "3 Keys to Change the World and Make Your Business Grow." Connect with me on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, or LinkedIn. Get The Transcript Click here to get the transcript now. Transcripts provided by SuccessTranscripts – a great solution if you need your podcast, sermon, speech, or other audio transcribed.  

Do you ever have that feeling of being totally overwhelmed? Well, in today's podcast, we go into a system for getting out of overwhelm that anyone can apply immediately. The 5 Steps To Getting Out Of Overwhelm. Do You Have Enough Faith Can We Ask A Big Favor? Subscribe to the show in iTunes and give us a rating and review. Go ahead and subscribe now, and give us your star rating and review on iTunes. We will definitely mention you on this show. We are also BACK on Stitcher.com, so if you prefer Stitcher, please subscribe there. If you don't already get the email newsletter, sign up for that and get the new free video: "3 Keys to Change the World and Make Your Business Grow." Connect with me on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, or LinkedIn. Get The Transcript Click here to get the transcript now. Transcripts provided by SuccessTranscripts – a great solution if you need your podcast, sermon, speech, or other audio transcribed.  

173What is a lie exactly? I have written elsewhere that "Lies… are simply falsehoods perpetrated upon us for the purpose of robbing us of something." Yet we lie to ourselves every day. Why would we do that? And of what are we robbing ourselves? The 5 Destructive Lies You Tell Yourself The 5 Liberating Truths That Will Set You Free The Most-Quoted Bible Verse in Hell Resources Mentioned In This Episode Ray's previous post about lies. Francis Frangipane. The Lord of the Rings. The Bible.  Archive of Podcast Episodes Can We Ask A Big Favor? Subscribe to the show in iTunes and give us a rating and review. Go ahead and subscribe now, and give us your star rating and review on iTunes. We will definitely mention you on this show. We are also BACK on Stitcher.com, so if you prefer Stitcher, please subscribe there. If you don't already get the email newsletter, sign up for that and get the new free video: "3 Keys to Change the World and Make Your Business Grow." Connect with me on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, or LinkedIn. Get The Transcript Click here to get the transcript. Transcripts provided by SuccessTranscripts – a great solution if you need your podcast, sermon, speech, or other audio transcribed.  

Today's episode is Part 2 of a two-part interview with best-selling author Frank Viola. I had great fun with this conversation, and if you are a writer (or want to be one), I think you'll learn a lot from it. I get to "grill" Frank about questions writers always want to know about other writers… Why do you write? How do  you write? Are you a "word count guy" or are you a "time at keyboard" guy? How do you get published? And we pick up where we left off… Frank was going off on a bit of a "rant".. Resources Mentioned In This Episode Frank Viola's website. The "Christ Is All" podcast. The definitive guide to Frank Viola's books. Frank Viola's list of the Best 100 Christian Books. The Buzz Seminar Course. (I get paid a commission if you buy this – just sayin'.) Can I Ask A Big Favor? Subscribe to the show in iTunes and give us a rating and review. Go ahead and subscribe now, and give us your star rating and review on iTunes. We will definitely mention you on this show. We are also BACK on Stitcher.com, so if you prefer Stitcher, please subscribe there. If you don't already get the email newsletter, sign up for that and get the new free video: "3 Keys to Change the World and Make Your Business Grow." Connect with me on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, or LinkedIn. Get The Transcript Click here to get the transcript. Transcripts provided by SuccessTranscripts – a great solution if you need your podcast, sermon, speech, or other audio transcribed.  

Today's episode is Part 1 of a two-part interview with best-selling author Frank Viola. Frank has long been one my favorite authors, and in this episode I get to "grill" him about questions writers always want to know about other writers… Why do you write? How do  you write? Are you a "word count guy" or are you a "time at keyboard" guy? How do you get published? And so much more… Resources Mentioned In This Episode Frank Viola's website. The "Christ Is All" podcast. The definitive guide to Frank Viola's books. Frank Viola's list of the Best 100 Christian Books. The Buzz Seminar Course. (I get paid a commission if you buy this – just sayin'.) Can I Ask A Big Favor? Subscribe to the show in iTunes and give us a rating and review. Go ahead and subscribe now, and give us your star rating and review on iTunes. We will definitely mention you on this show. We are also BACK on Stitcher.com, so if you prefer Stitcher, please subscribe there. If you don't already get the email newsletter, sign up for that and get the new free video: "3 Keys to Change the World and Make Your Business Grow." Connect with me on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, or LinkedIn. Get The Transcript Click here to get the transcript. Transcripts provided by SuccessTranscripts – a great solution if you need your podcast, sermon, speech, or other audio transcribed.  

It often feels as though we're faced with the choice to either win or lose. What if you could always win?   Regardless of the outcome, whether you are winning or losing is mostly a matter of your own choice. In this show, I'll give you "The 828 Tool" for always winning. Other reasons to listen: How to have more peace. How to use your computer power supply to become more productive. Spiritual Foundations Don't Let Your Heart Be Troubled Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you… Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. John 14:27   Tip Of the Week How to use your computer power supply to become more productive. Feature Presentation: How to Always Win The challenge: more and more we feel as if we're losing. Higher standards Instant comparison More scores to keep More information Always on Never enough Impossible false standards It isn't about living the perfect life – it's about understanding the perfection of life. And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. – Romans 8:28 If that's too "churchy" for you, this wisdom is recognized by great  thinkers in different ways. "Every adversity, every failure, every heartache carries with it the seed of an equal or greater benefit." – Napoleon Hill "One who gains strength by overcoming obstacles possesses the only strength which can overcome adversity." – Albert Schweitzer "If you are pained by external things, it is not they that disturb you, but your own judgement of them. And it is in your power to wipe out that judgment now." – Marcus Aurelius So how can you see the good in adversity? How can you transform the obstacle from being in the way to being the way? Use The 828 Tool.  Click here to download the tool now, for free. Use The 828 Tool and share your results. Can I Ask A Big Favor? Subscribe to the show in iTunes and give us a rating and review. Go ahead and subscribe now, and give us your star rating and review on iTunes. We will definitely mention you on this show. We are also BACK on Stitcher.com, so if you prefer Stitcher, please subscribe there. If you don't already get the email newsletter, sign up for that and get the new free video: "3 Keys to Change the World and Make Your Business Grow." Connect with me on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, or LinkedIn. Get The Transcript Click here to get the transcript. Transcripts provided by SuccessTranscripts – a great solution if you need your podcast, sermon, speech, or other audio transcribed.  

Writers love apps. We can waste countless hours testing and researching them. Before apps, it was pens, paper, and especially notebooks. The truth is, the tools we use are not nearly as important as the act of writing. The only indispensable pen, notebook, or app is the one that you will use to do actual writing. In this show, I'll share my personal 7 indispensable writing apps. Other reasons to listen: How to know God's not angry with you. An app that changes your negative thinking into positive thinking. Spiritual Foundations God's Not Angry With You One of my ancestors, Jonathan Edwards, is famous for a sermon called "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God." This is a mischaracterization of God that pervades the church. God is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow. If you don't understand the Bible through the lens of covenant and context, you can't understand it at all. God's unchanging attitude toward you is love and mercy. Remember you are a saint in the arms of a happy God! Tip Of the Week WinStreak is an app that is the brainchild of Dan Sullivan of Strategic Coach. According to Dan & the app's website: We live in a world where there's a lot of negative information. WinStreak is a simple tool for making sure that, at the end of every day, you feel positive about your accomplishments and excited for the next day. At the end of each day, regardless of what happened, record what your biggest "wins" were. Then, plan what your biggest wins will be for tomorrow. This will keep you focused on your goals while recognizing and celebrating your achievements—or wins—along the way. It's that easy. Even if you experience setbacks, disappointments, or obstacles during the day, you know you'll always have wins from today and have a plan to accomplish more wins tomorrow. Tracking your progress in terms of wins will undoubtedly maximize your productivity and kick-start your motivation. The way you interpret your days is entirely up to you. Would you rather see your days as wins or as losses? It's a phenomenal breakthrough to realize that you're in control of the story of your life. The premise it's based on is simple: Life is a game, and we can set it up every day so we're always winning. Our experience is that making this kind of thinking a habit actually leads to people being more effective, fun to be around, and enjoyable to work with. The app is free, and you can get the full impact in less than five minutes per day. Grab the app and get on a Winstreak! Feature Presentation: 7 Indispensable Apps For Writers Scrivener. Scrivener is a powerful content-generation tool for writers that allows you to concentrate on composing and structuring long and difficult documents. TextExpander. Type more with less effort! TextExpander saves your fingers and your keyboard, expanding custom keyboard shortcuts into frequently-used text and pictures. Drafts. Drafts is a different kind of note taking app. In Drafts, text comes first – open the app and get a new, blank draft. Get your text down quickly, then act on it with powerful actions. Evernote. For everything you do, Evernote is the workspace to get it done. Byword. Simple and efficient text editing for Mac, iPhone and iPad. Microsoft Word. Bloated, buggy, and necessary. Pages. Pages for Mac is a powerful word processor that gives you everything you need to create documents that look beautiful. What writing apps do you find indispensable? Can I Ask A Big Favor? Subscribe to the show in iTunes and give us a rating and review. Go ahead and subscribe now, and give us your star rating and review on iTunes. We will definitely mention you on this show. We are also BACK on Stitcher.com, so if you prefer Stitcher, please subscribe there. If you don't already get the email newsletter, sign up for that and get the new free video: "3 Keys to Change the World and Make Your Business Grow." Connect with me on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, or LinkedIn. Get The Transcript Click here to get the transcript. Transcripts provided by SuccessTranscripts – a great solution if you need your podcast, sermon, speech, or other audio transcribed.  

"So, what do you do every day? What's typical  day like in your life?" I am asked this question, or something similar, often enough that I thought it might be worth answering in a podcast episode. This show is entitled, "A Day in the Life of Ray". Other reasons to listen: How to see more good days than bad, from now on. A service that allows you to easily build beautiful process documentation for your business and your team. An encore presentation of the Masterclass, "How To Write A Sales Page That Rakes In $10 Million". How to get promoted on this show to my audience.     Spiritual Foundations No More Bad Days Recently I've seen two friends go through a battle with cancer, and I saw first hand how we are in control of our response to what happens to us. Regardless of your circumstances, whether you have a good day or a bad day is really up to you Shakespeare wrote in Hamlet that, "there is nothing either good or bad, but thinking makes it so." Proverbs 23:7 says, "For as he thinks within himself, so he is." (NASB) There are 3 keys to stepping into a life with no more bad days. Key #1: Set Up a Rule You Can Always Meet In Order to Have a Good Day. Tony Robbins tells the story of two different gentlemen who attended one of his exclusive seminars in Fiji. One gentleman was a billionaire, a high achiever. The other was successful in many ways, but not someone with extraordinary income. Tony noticed that the billionaire seemed to be miserable, while the more average gentleman seemed to be extraordinarily happy. So Tony asked each man what was required in order for him to have a good day. The billionaire gave a long list of requirements that had to be met, including the amount of time he exercised, his target heart rate, his perfect diet, achieving certain financial milestones in his business, certain processes that had to happen correctly without fail, and a long list of things that must happen in order for him to have a good day. When Tony asked the gentleman who was a more moderate financial success about his rule for having a good day, the man replied with a big smile: "It's simple. Every day above ground is a good day." You get to set up the rule for what makes a good day. Why not make it one you can meet? Key #2: Change the Way You Interpret What Happens to You. The lens we used to look at the world tends to control what we see. There is the story that is told about to traveling salesmen, each of whom had a conversation with the same farmer at the corner of his field near the road. The first asked him, "Hey! What kind of people live around here?" The farmer replied, "Well, what kind of people did you find in the last place you visited?" The salesman grimaced and said, "A bunch of dishonest, ornery, inhospitable scoundrels." The farmer nodded, and said, "I expect you'll find the same sort of people around here." The next day, a different traveling salesman encountered that same farmer at the corner of his field. This new salesman had a big smile on his face and said, "Hello! What a beautiful day, and what a beautiful farm you have! I wonder if I might ask you, what sort of people will I find around here?" Farmer grinned, and asked, "what sort of people did you find in the last place you visited?" "A lot of generous, happy, open hearted and welcoming people. That place was a real joy to visit!" The farmer smiled, and said, "I expect you'll find the same sort of people around here." What we expect informs our interpretation of what we experience. The environment inside our heads controls the environment outside our heads. What we think about tends to be what we experience. Key #3: Have Biblical Hope. The word "hope" means something different in the Bible than what we typically mean by the word hope in our culture. In modern culture, "hope" is a wishy-washy, half in, half out milquetoast way of thinking. If we say we "hope" something will happen in a certain way, what we are really saying is, in effect, "I wish it would happen this way, but I know it probably won't." On the other hand, typical hope can be defined as "the positive expectation of good things." That's why our life of faith is referred to as "hope that does not disappoint". And there are plenty of reasons to believe this hope of the Bible is for real. In the book of Romans, we are told that God makes "all things work for the good of those who love Him." Jesus exhorted us not to worry about things we need in everyday life, but to trust that our Father in heaven is a good father, and he knows how to take care of his children, and that he will always give us what is best for us. Sometimes we may not be able to see how that is true, because we don't have his perspective. Just as a child might be upset when a parent roughly grabs them by the arms, yanks them off the ground, and throws them to the ground. The child may believe this was mean and cruel behavior, not realizing that their father just ya

Social media marketing is here, it's here to stay, and it's bigger than ever. But who can keep up with the trends, the new networks, and the shifting sands of strategy and tactics? How do you know what to spend your time on, and what's a waste? Who could possibly sort through this mass of possible opportunities or pitfalls? You- that's who! All you really need is the 2015 Social Media Marketing Industry Report. In today's episode, I'll tell you where to get it, why it's important, what to look for, and how you can use this valuable piece of marketing intelligence to catapult your social media marketing forward in the remaining half of the year! Other reasons to keep listening include: How to write a $10 Million sales page… Why you can have hope no matter how big your challenges… And your last chance to get a free training video on how to start, run, and grow a business that changes the world. Spiritual Foundations You Lose Nothing Because God Restores Everything No matter what situation you find yourself in, you can be assured that God sees you, cares for you, and will provide for you… and beyond that, he will restore what the enemy has stolen, and set you up better than you were before! In the Old Testament, God protected Hagar and her son Ishmael when she was cast out from Abraham's house. Hagar called Him "the God who sees me". While Job was severely tested, God did restore everything he lost and more. When Joseph was sold into slavery by his brothers, unknown to them he rose to rule over all of Egypt. He was not bitter, but said, "What you intended for evil, God intended for good, so that I could save your lives and many others." And in Romans 8:28 the Apostle Paul tells us "And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good…" So remember, no matter what may come your way, God is for you and not against you, he will restore you to better than you were before. His grace is bigger than any setback, problem, or circumstance, even the ones that seem impossible. He sees you. He restores and heals. What the enemy intends for your evil, God will repurpose for your good. And He makes ALL THINGS work together for your good! Tip Of the Week Would you like to know how to write a $10 Million sales page? I'm going to show you just that next Tuesday, June 2, 2015 in a special free Masterclass. This is a live training, so I'm sorry – if you're listening to this after June 2, 2015, this opportunity has already passed you by. That's why it's a good idea to listen to the podcast every week, and subscribe to my email newsletter! We only have 1,000 seats available for this Masterclass, so register now at https://rayedwards.com/masterclass. Feature Presentation: The State of Social Media Marketing The 2015 Social Media Marketing Industry Report is out. The purpose of the report is to show how marketers are using social media to grow their businesses. The report is authored by Michael Stelzner, the founder of Social Media Examiner. It's their 7th annual report, 52 pages, and over 80 charts. It's all easy to understand and digest, and Mike takes the time to point out the "not-so-obvious" findings. Over 3,700 marketers responded to the survey that produced this report, and I don't know of any other source from which you can get this kind of data. Why This Report Is Of Value To You I highly recommend you get the report for yourself and start digesting it. Most of your peers will probably ignore it… and of those who download it, most will not read it… and of those who do read it, only a small, single-digit percentage of them will actually take the time to understand it and reason through the implications. Place yourself in that small minority, and you give yourself an enormous success advantage you can start capitalizing on immediately. I'll give you a top line taste of what can be gained from this report in moment, but let me echo some advice form the report itself. This information is for you regardless of your experience level with social media marketing. If you're experienced with social media, compare yourself against other marketers, see which platforms they're looking at next and determine whether you're achieving the same benefits as your more experienced peers. If you're a beginner (or really any level), take a look at the time commitment, benefits and platforms that your peers are using. • The time commitment: The report examines the weekly hours marketers invest in their social media efforts. This analysis will be helpful for marketers just getting started or those seeking support staff. • The benefits of social media marketing: This section of the study reveals all of the major advantages marketers are achieving with their social media efforts. It also looks at how weekly time invested and years of experience affect the results. • Most-used social media platforms: Discover which platforms marketers are using and how their usage will change this year. The report als

Have you heard the phrase, "Information is power?" Well, it's not true. It's not even close to being true. The idea that "information is power" is misleading, and causes many people to create roadblocks to their own success. And it's about more than just the distinction that "information applied is power" – even that variation has problems. I'll explain how to transform the lead of "information" into the gold of "transformation" in this episode. Spiritual Foundations You Have Everything You Need Steve was a coaching client who had everything going for him. He was a web designer with extraordinary talent, a great reputation, and a constant stream of people who wanted to do business with him. But Steve didn't feel successful. One day he told me, "Ray, everybody thinks I'm a success, but I feel like a total failure. I haven't hit any of my goals this year, I'm feeling discouraged, and I'm not even sure my heart is in my work any more." I asked him, "Steve, how can you say that? You're extremely talented and succesful." "That's just it, Ray. I don't even know if that's true. My work seems mediocre to me, when I compare it to (and here he named another well-know designer.)" Suddenly, a light came on in my head. "Steve, it sure seems like you're aware of a lot things you don't have… your goal weight, your goal income, your dream house, the talent that so-and-so has…" "Exactly!" "What about what you do have?" I said. He snorted. "Yeah, I know, Ray. I should count my blessings." I smiled. "That's a good idea," I said, "But not what I was going to say." He seemed curious, so I pressed on. I quoted this to him: "The LORD is my shepherd, I lack nothing.'" ~ Psalm 23:1 (NIV) He skepticism returned. "Yeah, but I don't have…" and he proceeded to make list of all the things he wanted, but didn't have. I interrupted him gently,"So is the Scripture right, or are you right?" He stopped talking. I had thrown him a curve ball. I knew what he was thinking: he believed Scripture, but his experience wasn't matching up to it. I said, "God is saying that from His perspective, you don't lack a thing." Steve said nothing. "So if you lack nothing, what do you have, Steve? The Scripture also contains the answer for that. "All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work." ~ 2 Timothy 3:16–17 (ESV) Steve said, "I know that's true. So why am I so miserable?" "Because you keep declaring what you DON'T have! That's what your focus is on. And what we focus on tends to grow. As you focus on lack, you begin finding more and more of it in your life." "So what do I do to to change that?" he asked. I told Steve this… "Steve, God has given you everything you need to live the destiny you were created for. And He did create you to fulfill a great destiny! And the power to access that destiny is in God's Word." "A good place to start is by watching your self-talk. What are you saying to yourself all day long? If what you're saying is, 'Look at all the things I don't have. Time, money, peace, love, security…' Then you will find that to be what you experience." "But Psalm 23:1 says you 'lack nothing.'" "What if you replaced all your victim thinking, and victim-oriented self-talk ,with the Word of God over your life? Paul wrote to Timothy that Scripture is provided so 'that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.' So say to your self: 'The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing! I am complete! I am equipped for every good work!'" "In Romans 8:28 it says, '…we know that all things work together for good of those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.' So if it's not good yet, it's not done yet!" I told Steve that every time one of these negative thoughts came to his mind, he should not speak it out loud, but should declare the truth of what God says about him. And that he should do so out loud, in a strong voice, as if he meant it. We worked on his coaching plan for the next month, he promised to do as I suggested, and said he would report back on our next call (in 30 days.) In less than 10 days, I got a call from Steve. "Ray I'm so excited I couldn't wait to tell you what's happened! I began doing just was we agreed, and in just a few days things started changing. I started to have more confidence. I started waking up in the morning in a good mood. Two new clients signed on at the highest rates I have ever been paid. And I am much more happy now that I'm not constantly thinking about what I don't have!" What worked for Steve can work for you, too. Stop telling yourself stories about what you don't have. Remember that your words have power to change reality. So speak the truth of the Scripture out loud. Put it into your words, but base it on God's Word. He has promised us we lack nothing, we are equipped for every good work, we have everythi

The single most important thing you can do to boost your social media engagement is right better headlines. If you don't get the click, you certainly don't get engagement. Old-fashioned headline templates are no longer enough. You need a smarter, stickier strategy. In today's episode I give you a sample from our brand-new copywriting course-I'll share five amazing tricks for perfect social media headlines. Tip Of the Week COPYWRITING COURSE NOTE: You may be wondering, "Hey Ray, where's that link to your copywriting course?" Well, this episode was recorded a few weeks ago… and this week I got a nasty case of laryngitis that really threw us off schedule. As soon as I get my voice back, we will open up the course. Sorry 'bout the delay! Spiritual Foundations No Other Gospel But This In the New Testament, the apostle Paul continuously refers to the gospel as "the gospel of grace" or "the gospel of peace". In fact, he had to defend himself against those who accused him of preaching "too much grace". These people wanted to put God's church back under the law, just to "keep things in balance". Paul was so persecuted about this that he had to offer a defense for his grace teaching in the book of Romans. Many accused him of promoting a gospel that would cause licentiousness… Or license to sin. To which Paul responded: "What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it?" Romans 6:1-2 Interestingly, the very Gospel that Paul preached, the "Gospel of Grace", is the one seen by many in the church today as the aberration. Paul warned against this, both in his day and for our day: But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. (Galatians 1:8 NKJV) These days, many persecute those who preach the gospel of grace using the same verse. Ironically it was against the very same kind of "anti-grace" people that Paul originally wrote this verse. My point: there is only one gospel, and that is the gospel of the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. The radical, scandalous, wipes the slate clean, your sins are forgiven once and for all, past present and future, liberating gospel of grace. If you're not being persecuted for the same things which Paul is persecuted and criticized about, perhaps you're not preaching the same gospel Paul was preaching. Feature Presentation: 5 Tricks For Perfect Social Media Headlines Use Numbers Keep It Short Use the "Rubberneck Effect" Shocking Juxtapositions Promises, Promises Will you put these headline tricks to work, and post a link to your most shared Social Media content? May I Ask A Favor? Subscribe to the show in iTunes and give us a rating and review. Go ahead and subscribe now, and give us your star rating and review on iTunes. We will definitely mention you on this show. We are also BACK on Stitcher.com, so if you prefer Stitcher, please subscribe there. If you don't already get the email newsletter, sign up for that and get the new free video: "3 Keys to Change the World and Make Your Business Grow." Connect with me on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, or LinkedIn. Get The Transcript Click here to get the transcript.Transcripts provided by SuccessTranscripts – a great solution if you need your podcast, sermon, speech, or other audio transcribed.  

Want to know the secret to writing well? Write a lot. Want to know the secret to writing a lot? Write fast. Not only does writing fast help you write better, it also allows you to make more money (if your income is dependent upon your writing). In this episode… The O.D.E.S.S.A. Secret To Writing 10X Faster (And Better) Tip Of the Week Today we are releasing the first in a free video series called, "Magic Words That Make You Rich" (hat tip to  Ted Nicholas). You can watch the first video by clicking here, or in the image below. In it, I will share the secrets of writing captivating headlines… plus the master framework I use to write copy for my world-famous clients. You can start using it yourself, today. Spiritual Foundations No Ifs Ands Or Buts Do you believe that God is all-powerful? Do you believe that Jesus Christ has saved you and made you his own? Do you believe his promises to heal you, to prosper you, to bless you? Do you? I find that many believers seem to have a lot of "ifs, ands, or buts" when it comes to what they believe God can and will do for them. "Yes, I believe God can heal me, if he wants to." "Yes, I believe God will restore my family, and it will take a lot of work on our part to make it happen." "Yes, I believe the gifts of the Holy Spirit are for today, but only for a few people and only in extraordinary circumstances." These beliefs sound reasonable. But they carry an inherent flaw, and that is they are not biblical. Let's explore.. God can, "if" he wants to. In the book of Exodus, God gave us one of his names: "I Am the Lord Who Heals You." When asked if he was willing to heal, Jesus said, "I am willing." When asked if he was able, the Lord said, "all things are possible for the one who believes." When it comes to God "and" something else to intervene in our lives, God's grace  (his unmerited favor) "is sufficient". We don't need to add anything to it. Our part is simply to receive. When it comes to God and "butts", there are no "gotcha" clauses. Jesus Christ is "the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow". He said "come to me, you who are weary and heavy laden"… He said we will "lay our hands on the sick, and they will recover"… He said we "are the righteousness of God"… And that our faith "has been counted to us as righteousness". We all have the same Holy Spirit, the same father God, the same elder brother, Jesus Christ. God causes all things to work together for the good of those who love him, and who are called according to his purposes. That's you, and that's me. No ifs, ands, or buts. Feature Presentation: The O.D.E.S.S.A. Secret To Writing 10X Faster (And Better) Want to write 10 times faster, and write better in the process? Use the following steps of the  O.D.E.S.S.A. method to speed up your writing, and improve its quality at the same time. Outline Dictate Edit Share Speak Apply Will you try the O.D.E.S.S.A. method, and report back here with your results? Include a link to what you wrote! May I Ask A Favor? Subscribe to the show in iTunes and give us a rating and review. Go ahead and subscribe now, and give us your star rating and review on iTunes. We will definitely mention you on this show. We are also BACK on Stitcher.com, so if you prefer Stitcher, please subscribe there. If you don't already get the email newsletter, sign up for that and get the new free video: "3 Keys to Change the World and Make Your Business Grow." Connect with me on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, or LinkedIn. Get The Transcript Click here to get the transcript.Transcripts provided by SuccessTranscripts – a great solution if you need your podcast, sermon, speech, or other audio transcribed.  

Have you ever written a blog post, one you thought was going to be brilliant, only to read it afterward and realize it falls flat? Have you ever gone back through your library of past posts, and occasionally wondered, "How did I write something this boring? If so, don't despair. I think all of us who write experience this phenomenon. The good news is you can resurrect "dead" blog posts. In this episode, I will describe 5 quick ways you can jumpstart  a dead blog post. Tip Of the Week The Grommet. Grommets are products with purpose invented by people with stories. Find something thoughtful, inspiring, innovative, or useful. NOTE: Next week, we start releasing free material as we get ready to open up our copywriting course! To get on the VIP Early Bird Notification list, so you don't miss anything, click here. Spiritual Foundations The Reckless, Dangerous, and Rebellious Prosperity Gospel I'm always a little amused when I hear a criticism leveled and those of us who believe God intended man to prosper and be in good health, especially when it sounds like this: "Oh, so you believe in the prosperity gospel?" The term itself is used with derision. Another form of this question is, "Don't tell me you're one of those 'health and wealth gospel' believers?" I always want to reply, "Would you prefer a sickness and poverty gospel? Do you think Jesus came not to give us life, and life more abundantly, but rather sickness, and death more quickly?" Of course, I don't reply this way because I do understand that most people who say these things are speaking out of true conviction. They believe their criticism of the so-called "prosperity gospel" is valid, that the "prosperity gospel" distorts the truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ. I do agree that the gospel of prosperity and health is reckless, dangerous, and even rebellious. It represents the reckless love of God for us as humans and his children. It is dangerous to the spirit of religion, the same spirit that led the Jewish leaders of Christ's day to nail him to a cross. It is rebellious, in the same way the Romans felt this rabble-rouser Jesus was rebellious. The gospel of prosperity, of health, of wealth, and peace for all mankind is dangerous and rebellious … against the system of the world. And that is exactly why we must embrace it. That is why the Apostle John wrote, "I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers. " (3 John 1:1) One of the most damning criticisms of the prosperity gospel is: what are we to make of people who live in Third World countries, who have no real chance of prosperity? If God really wants everyone to prosper, how could he allow such conditions to exist? I suspect that His response would be, "How can you? I left you in charge." Ultimately, when the full Kingdom is consummated on the earth, every injustice will be set right, every person who is lost anything will be repaid seven times what they lost, and all of us will be made whole, well, and will lack nothing. That Kingdom reality is already here, but not in its fullness, and our current assignment is to bring more of that Kingdom reality to all those around us, and to every place we go. It doesn't matter that it makes us uncomfortable, it is still our assignment. Jesus modeled for us the behavior of a person in full relationship with the Father, and with the Holy Spirit. He healed every person who came to him for healing. He paid his bills-for the first part of his life by working at a trade and having a business, in the years of his ministry he paid his taxes by finding money in the mouth of a fish. If I suggested that you pay your taxes in a similar way, because you have faith in God, I would be branded as some sort of heretical "prosperity preacher". So be it. Here's what I know: Scripture says that we are to be in good health, and to prosper in all things, even as our soul prospers. I believe it all starts with "soul prosperity"; with our mind, will, and emotions being in perfect alignment with those of the Lord. This is only possible through the indwelling life of the Holy Spirit. The more we can experience that reality, the more the reality of material wealth, and physical health, will be ours. So don't be discouraged by criticisms about the "prosperity gospel". And don't be discouraged by the fact that you don't see everything you want to see in this regard-yet. Know that God's promises are true, he never lies, he is never late, he never fails to deliver. You are blessed immeasurably by the Creator of the universe. You are promised there will come a day when you will live in your perfected body the way it was intended to be originally, that you will suffer no illness, that you will not weep any longer, and there will be no lack of money, food, love, safety, or anything else you need. If that isn't true health and wealth, and I don't know what is. Feature Presentation: 5 Ways To Jumpstart Your Dead Blog Posts Yo

On March 27, my friend Michael Hyatt started a firestorm with a blog post entitled, How Much Business Is Your Profanity Costing You?  One of the most heated debates I've witnessed online ensued. Many people offered the rationale that their profanity was either a way of bonding with their audience, or of using an NLP technique known as a "pattern interrupt" (allegedly getting immediate attention and thus making communication more effective). I think most of the discussion missed Michael's most important point. I'm amazed that almost all of the hundreds of people who vented their opinion completely failed to see the most powerful business-based argument Michael put on the table. In today's show, I'll be Captain Obvious and show what you may have missed – plus I'll give you 5 reasons why your cussing isn't making you cool, it's costing you cash. Tip Of the Week Grammarly. Grammarly makes you a better writer by finding and correcting up to 10× more mistakes than your word processor. Get VIP Early-Bird Access To The Copywriting Formula! Our long-awaited Copywriting Course, The Copywriting Formula, will be released in a very short time – in fact, you'll have access to some great freebies from the course itself in just a couple of weeks. To get on the Early Bird Notification list, click here now. Spiritual Foundations Think (and Speak) On These Things What does the Scripture say about cussing? Well, first let's dispel a myth: the commandment that says we should not "take the Lord's name in vain" is not about cussing! However, that doesn't mean the Bible has nothing to say on this subject. "Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthyâ€"meditate on these things." (Philippians 4:8) Then there is this instruction from the Apostle Paul: "Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving." (Ephesians 5:4) And this verse is particularly instructive: "Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers." (Ephesians 4:29)   Feature Presentation: 5 Reasons Cussing Is Costing You Cash On March 27, my friend Michael Hyatt started a firestorm with a blog post entitled, How Much Business Is Your Profanity Costing You? One of the most heated debates I've witnessed online ensued. Many people offered the rationale that their profanity was either a way of bonding with their audience, or of using an NLP technique known as a "pattern interrupt" (allegedly getting immediate attention and thus making communication more effective). I think most of the discussion missed Michael's most important point. In his post, Michael gave these 3 reasons to cut the cussing: Profanity alienates people. Profanity hurts your brand. Profanity doesn't work. But the most obvious potential loss, which most people who read the article missed, was this sentence: "I don’t always feel comfortable directing my audience to do the same. It’s just not worth offending them." In other words, your profanity might prevent Michael from recommending you to his 525,057 readers. Another friend, Joel Comm, wrote a splendid article on this subject some time ago, about professional speakers cursing from the stage. Joel said, "If you are disrespectful of your audience, the impact of your message is going to be diminished." I was so pleased that Michael started this public discourse on what I feel is an important subject. I was inspired to add my own thoughts. Here are my "5 Reasons Cussing Is Costing You Cash". None of them are "moralizing" – I covered that already in Spiritual Foundations – all are pragmatic. Cussing costs you promotional opportunities from major influencers. Cussing costs you personal recommendations from many more individuals. They may not be major influencers like Michael Hyatt, John Maxwell, Dave Ramsey, or Joel Comm… but if each person influences a circle of 250 people, and you have thousands in your audience… what is that costing you? Constant, dramatic cussing erodes trust with most people. It's a simple logical equation for most: if you're willing to say such vile things in your professional life, what are you like on a personal basis? When the spotlight is not on you? When you're not being watched? Cussing distracts people from the value of what you bring to the world. Instead of considering the purchase of your book, seminar, or training materials. the discussion becomes one about why you use the F-word so much. Is that really the kind of "pattern interrupt" you want to perform? Cussing will cause some people to actively oppose the purchase or use of your books, live events, and materials. You may never know how deep

We often hear success stories of people who go from "rags to riches". We usually hear about the struggles they had when they started. What is uncommon is to hear about the struggles they still endure, and how they are overcoming them in the present moment. I'm very excited about today's show, which is mostly a recording of a conversation between me and my friend Cliff Ravenscraft, also known as The Podcast AnswerMan. During this totally unscripted, off-the-cuff interview, you'll discover: How the TV show Lost helped Cliff become a leading voice in the world of podcasting. How investing in one specific training program changed the entire vector of Cliff's life, and career. Why success on the outside may not be an indicator of success on the inside (Cliff opens up and tells of his most recent struggle, and the incredible way he is gaining victory.) The story of a prayer that brought a miraculous answer in the most unexpected place, and literally transformed Cliff's life in the moment. How "selfies" can actually be selfless. Two books you absolutely must read if you want to change your physical health once and for all (and chances are you've never heard of either of them). Plus, a whole lot more wisdom from the man who helps so many take their lives "to the Next Level." Tip Of the Week Periscope. A competitor to the similar app Meerkat, Periscope turns your mobile phone into a TV broadcast studio – in your pocket. I've been playing with this ever since I was at Social Media Marketing World. I really think this is a revolutionary technology and we have only begun to see the ramifications it carries for the future. Jump in and play, the water is fine. Spiritual Foundations The Secret of How to Lack Nothing "The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing." Psalm 23 I'm learning the deep lesson that if we believe God's Word is true, it literally means we lack nothing in this present moment. That is sometimes hard to accept, especially if we are sick, in pain, experiencing a broken relationship or home, have lost our job, or any of the myriad of hurtful challenges we deal with in day-to-day life. Yet God's word says that we "lack nothing". How can this be? God sees things from a different perspective than we do. He sees the whole picture. What may look like lack to us, he knows to be a temporary situation. God knows that He will ultimately tip the scales of justice in our favor, and that anything we feel we have lost will be restored to us. God is good, all the time, no matter what. Ground your faith in the bedrock of that confession. Know that God is your friend. Believe it or not, that is the message of the book of Job. How do we practice this idea that we lack nothing, especially when our circumstances tell us that we may lack everything? I believe the key is gratitude. You Can't Pay The Bills With Gratitude… Or Can You? When Jesus fed the 5,000 with only a little bread and a little fish, he prayed. But he did not ask for a miracle, groaning and pleading with his Father in Heaven. Scripture says he "gave thanks" and then had the disciples distribute the bread to the thousands of people present. I don't think it's an accident that we're told he "gave thanks". He expressed gratitude for what he had and he stepped into an aspect of the Kingdom that allowed miraculous provision to flow from a seemingly insufficient supply. That's how the Kingdom works. Your level of prosperity will equal exactly the level of your gratitude. So give thanks for what you do have, and give no attention to what you feel might be lacking in this moment. Because you, my friend, lack nothing. Feature Presentation: How Cliff Ravenscraft Transformed His Life I actually had a page full of questions I was going to ask Cliff during our interview. I did ask the first question, but from there, the interview took on a life of its own. And I'm so glad it did. You will enjoy and be blessed by Cliff's story, as I was. Have you ever experience a miraculous answer to prayer like Cliff did? I hope you'll share that story. May I Ask A Favor? Subscribe to the show in iTunes and give us a rating and review. Go ahead and subscribe now, and give us your star rating and review on iTunes. We will definitely mention you on this show. We are also BACK on Stitcher.com, so if you prefer Stitcher, please subscribe there. If you don't already get the email newsletter, sign up for that and get the new free video: "3 Keys to Change the World and Make Your Business Grow." Connect with me on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, or LinkedIn. Get The Transcript Click here to get the transcript. Transcripts provided by SuccessTranscripts – a great solution if you need your podcast, sermon, speech, or other audio transcribed.  

You're smart. You never believed the people who said "there's no money in Social Media". You thought the people who said Social was all about "pictures of what people had for lunch" or "videos about cats" were missing the point. Yes, those things are popular on Social Media… and it's also true that Social Media is a vital marketing medium that can bring big rewards, monetary and otherwise when done right. Just ask Taylor Swift, Oreo, the folks behind the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge, or even President Barack Obama. Just knowing Social Media Marketing is important, however, is not enough. You must know how to do it right – or at least how to not do it wrong. Today's episode will address what I consider to be the 5 Social Media Marketing Mistakes you are most likely making right now… and how to fix them. Tip Of the Week I have not one, but three tips for you this week! Tip #1: Smart Podcast Player First, I'm very excited about the new podcast player we are using on our website. You know, that little "play" button you click to hear audio on the web, such as listening to podcast episode? Up until now we were using a very primitive podcast player. But we just switched the Pat Flynn's Smart Podcast Player. Pat created the player for his own enormously popular podcast. Here's what he says about it: I created this custom player with my team because I wanted a better listening experience for my audience. They deserve the best. After sharing the player with my audience, I received hundreds of requests from other podcasters who wanted to use the player too, and so the Smart Podcast Player was born. You put an immense amount of time and care into creating your podcast; the player you use should reflect that. My team and I have put the same attention and care into building the Smart Podcast Player. I know that you (and your listeners) will love it. Some of the features and benefits: Works with any feed, from any host, anywhere. Looks amazing the design is clean and modern, and you can customize it to match your site perfectly. Lets your listeners explore, discover, and share. The Smart Podcast Player has an interactive library that allows your listeners to explore past episodes in your backlist without interrupting the episode that's playing. The player also empowers your listeners to search your backlist by tag, download their favorite episodes in MP3 format, and share episodes with their friends. Your library of episodes updates automatically anytime you publish a new episode to your feed. All metadata is available, episode description included. Your listeners can control the speed of the currently playing episode just like they enjoy doing when they use today's latest podcast mobile apps. It's also got rave reviews from podcasters like John Lee Dumas, Michael Hyatt, and Jaime Tardy of the Eventual Millionaire podcast. And this one is a big deal that I think doesn't get enough emphasis: there's a direct "Subscribe In iTunes" button on the player. The number of subscribers plays a big role in how your show ranks on iTunes. And now your podcast player can encourage those subscriptions, as in the picture you see below (you can actually click that picture and subscribe to this podcast… go ahead… I'll wait…) You can see the entire library of The Ray Edwards Show in the Smart Podcast Player, so you can see it in action, by clicking here. And once you've decided you can't live without the player, check it out at SmartPodcastPlayer.com Tip #2: Twitter Power 3.0 You may know Joel Comm as a New York Times Best-Selling author, and as a top social media influencer. I know him as the guy who convinced me to write and publish my first book, Writing Riches. Much of my success is tied to that book. It was published because of Joel's encouragement and advice. We have been good friends for many years now. I don't know Dave Taylor, but I have benefitted from his work at AskDaveTaylor.com many, many times (just as millions of others have). Joel and Dave just launched their co-authored book, Twitter Power 3.0, and I recommend you click here and buy your copy now. Twitter Power (the previous version) is already the world's top-selling book on the subject of Twitter. It was endorsed by Tony Robbins (who, by the way, has 2.58 million followers on Twitter). This newly updated super-guide, Twitter Power 3.0 will show smart businesses and entrepreneurs how to use Twitter to massively grow their reach. And this new, improved, cutting-edge book is endorsed by none other than Guy Kawasaki, who says, "This book will give you a big head start toward mastering Twitter from two people who already have." The book is also endorsed and praised by Robert Scoble, Mari Smith, Chris Brogan, Jay Baer, John Lee Dumas, Michael Stelzner, Kim Garst, and other top social media influencers. Look, you don't need anyone's expensive "Twitter Course" or "coaching" – you can dominate your market on Twitter simply following the advice

Cash is the oxygen that lets your business breathe. And just like oxygen, when there is none available it's all you can think about because you need it to survive. Sometimes your business just needs a fast infusion of cash, and today I'll show you 3 ways to get cash quick. Best of all, they are legal, moral, and ethical! Tip Of the Week I have a new friend, and I love him. His name is Edgar. Let me explain. Most of our social media updates go to waste. They're only seen by a fraction of our total audience, falling victim to things like time of day, mysterious algorithms and other factors that are beyond our control. Fewer and fewer people see our social media updates. To keep up, we're forced to publish more frequently, just to stay engaged with our audiences. This can make social media marketing a real burden, one that grows heavier each day… and one that offers diminishing returns. Edgar to the rescue! No longer do you publish your updates just once and then watch them sink beneath the waves of obscurity, missed by most and forgotten by all (even you) within hours of publication. Edgar catalogs your social updates into a library that grows over time. You curate the library, and Edgar republishes those updates on a schedule you set. He publishes only what you want, and only when you want it done. What happens once Edgar publishes all of the updates in a category (like "My Blog Posts," for instance)? He just pulls more updates from your library. You can handcraft each update and even write several fresh updates that point to the same resource, blog post or podcast episode. Your social media posts don't go to waste. Your "old" posts can become new again. And you have time to catch up on the latest episodes of The Walking Dead and Game of Thrones. You can read a whole stack of 44 cool Social Media Marketing tips like this in this article at Social Media Examiner. Spiritual Foundations The Bible says that where sin abounds, grace abounds much more. (Romans 5:20) But grace is about more than the forgiveness of sins. Check this out: "And the Child grew and became strong in spirit, filled with wisdom; and the grace of God was upon Him." Luke 2:40 Jesus did not sin. (2 Corinthians 5:21) So why and how was God's grace was upon Jesus? There must be some way a human can abound in God's grace even when he has not sinned. The word "grace" is first mentioned in the Bible in Genesis 6:8, which says that "Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord". Noah's name means "rest". So the verse is literally saying that rest found grace. Grace was upon Jesus because He lived a life of rest, and trust in His Father. He said, "The Son can do nothing of Himself. He can do only what He sees His Father doing." (John 5:19) Grace comes upon us when we rest and trust God. But what if nothing happens? Honestly, if after you have given the matter to Jesus and nothing happens, what can you do? If Jesus Himself can't do anything about it, do you think you can? But here's the truth: once the problem is handed over to Jesus, He can and will do a perfect work of taking care of it for you! So live a life of rest. Have this attitude and tell the Lord, "I just rest in You Lord and I trust You." Feature Presentation: The Fastest Path to Cash Sometimes your business just needs a fast infusion of cash, and today I'll show you 3 ways to get cash quick. Best of all, they are legal, moral, and ethical! Provide a service. Consult. Do a combination for more leverage. Where do you find these customers? Your employer or past employers. Your customers or past customers. People you know, or people they know. Question: Which path to fast cash could you take this week – and will you? How You Can Help Subscribe to the show in iTunes and give us a rating and review. Go ahead and subscribe now, and give us your star rating and review on iTunes. We will definitely mention you on this show. If you don't already get the email newsletter, sign up for that and get the new free video: "3 Keys to Change the World and Make Your Business Grow." Connect with me on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, or LinkedIn. Get The Transcript Click here to get the transcript. Transcripts provided by SuccessTranscripts – a great solution if you need your podcast, sermon, speech, or other audio transcribed.  

Many people struggle with getting their online business rolling because they never get around to creating their product. They think it has to be hard and take a long time. But I don't think either of those things are true. In fact, today I'll share 3 easy ways you can create products fast! Tip Of the Week How to read an extra book each month – audiobooks! I use Audible.com to read an extra book a month – some months two books! 3 reasons why this is a good idea: It makes use of what tony Robbins calls "N.E.T" time… meaning No Extra Time. It keeps your mind engaged when it would otherwise be idle. You read an extra 12 books this year! Try it and see for yourself. Spiritual Foundations To receive from the Lord, all we need is to hold the correct beliefs. How do we do this? So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ. Romans 10:17 So what is the "word of Christ"? Let's get an example: And a great crowd followed him and thronged about him. And there was a woman who had had a discharge of blood for twelve years, and who had suffered much under many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was no better but rather grew worse. She had heard the reports about Jesus and came up behind him in the crowd and touched his garment. For she said, "If I touch even his garments, I will be made well." And immediately the flow of blood dried up, and she felt in her body that she was healed of her disease. And Jesus, perceiving in himself that power had gone out from him, immediately turned about in the crowd and said, "Who touched my garments?" And his disciples said to him, "You see the crowd pressing around you, and yet you say, 'Who touched me?'" And he looked around to see who had done it. But the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came in fear and trembling and fell down before him and told him the whole truth. And he said to her, "Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace, and be healed of your disease." Mar 5:24-34 Worth noting: This woman violated Jewish law (being in public while unclean, touching the Teacher, touching a man). She had tried many times already to be healed. She had merely "heard the reports about Jesus" and she said, "If I touch even his garments, I will be made well." What did she hear about him? She drew something from Jesus that others around him did not draw! Feature Presentation: 3 Easy Ways to Create Products Fast Not every product you make can or should be your magnum opus. Here are 3 easy ways to create products fast. Teach what you know. Use audio, video, or screen capture. Report on what others know. Do audio or video interviews. Get transcripts. Make summaries and checklists. Curate the best teaching of the top experts. Read, interview, organize, synthesize. Cite sources, give credit. Sell using paypal or gumroad. Question: What's and easy product you could create in the next 7 days? How You Can Help Subscribe to the show in iTunes and give us a rating and review. Go ahead and subscribe now, and give us your star rating and review on iTunes. We will definitely mention you on this show. If you don't already get the email newsletter, sign up for that and get the new free video: "3 Keys to Change the World and Make Your Business Grow." Connect with me on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, or LinkedIn. Get The Transcript Click here to get the transcript. Transcripts provided by SuccessTranscripts – a great solution if you need your podcast, sermon, speech, or other audio transcribed.  

It can be hard to find time to build your business, especially if you have a full-time job. "Moonlighting" to build your business can lead to burnout, problems with your current employer, or the failure of your spare-time startup. I found I had to make five specific trade-offs to make it work. I believe anyone who is leaving a full-time job to pursue their own business can do the same, if you're willing to make these same five trade-offs. Tip Of the Week The easiest way to develop a new habit is to make it as automatic as possible. I suggest making it the first thing you do when you wake up. That's how I have developed my gratitude and meditation practice over the last month. Spiritual Foundations Sometimes we feel as though God might be too busy to pay attention to us as an individual. After all, we are one out of billions. We think that way because we are constricted by time and place. God is not limited by these factors. Even when Jesus was in His earthly body, and thus willingly limited in the same ways we are, Jesus always took time for individuals. Think about it. Jesus was traveling when he took time out to minister to the demon-possessed man from a distant area, the country of the Gadarenes. On his way there, He had time to minister to his disciples and show them he could calm the stormy sea. When He and the disciples returned to Galilee, a man named Jairus came to the Lord for help. His 12-year-old daughter was dying and he came to ask Jesus to come heal her. On His way there, Jesus was stopped by the woman who had been tormented by a bleeding condition for 12 years, and Jesus took time to stop and heal her. While He stopped for the woman, Jairus's daughter died, and the report came that Jesus was too late. Jesus reasured Jairus, "Do not be afraid; only believe, and she will be made well." (Luke 8:49–50) He took the time to walk the rest of the way to Jairus' house and raised the little girl from the dead. Now, Jesus is not limited by time or space. He can be and is everywhere at once. And He always hears when we call. Even when He is busy. Even when it seems too late. He will always come through for you! Success Story: Matt McWilliams This is an interview featuring a success story from Matt McWilliams. Feature Presentation: Five Trade-Offs Help Build Your Business Faster It can be hard to find time to build your business, especially if you have a full-time job. "Moonlighting" to build your business can lead to burnout, problems with your current employer, or the failure of your spare-time startup. This is familiar territory for me – I built my marketing and copywriting business while working a full-time job in the demanding world of broadcast radio. In 2005, I was an executive with a regional broadcast company, traveling virtually every week, and responsible for the programming and marketing of dozens of radio stations all across the Northwest United States. Even though I had a cushy radio job, I could see the handwriting on the wall for an industry faced with increasing competition, decreasing audience, and shrinking revenue. It was time to get out. I decided to start my own business. In order to make the transition from full-time employee to full-time entrepreneur, I needed to build  my business income up before I left the corporate job – and I had to do it without stealing time form my "day job". I found I had to make five specific trade-offs to make it work. I believe anyone who is leaving a full-time job to pursue their own business can do the same, if you're willing to make these same five trade-offs. The Five Trade-Offs Trade short-term pain for long-term gain. Let's face it: you're going to be working harder for a while. That meant, for me, getting up earlier in the morning and going to bed later at night. In the short term, the extra work was painful. But the freedom I gained from making this trade was well worth the pain. Trade activities that are tension-relieving for those that are goal-achieving. In the old days, when I was just a "company man" workin' the job, I often blew off steam by watching lots of TV, going to the movies, and spending weekends at the lake, hiking, or just hanging around the house. Those activities were tension-relieving, but I traded them for activities that were goal-achieving. This meant time previously spent on recreation was now devoted to writing copy,  creating products, and marketing my services. Trade hours now for days later. I soon realized that I was trading extra hours in the present day for days of freedom in the future. This realization helped keep me motivated. I keep telling myself that having all my days in the future free to do as I please was worth giving up some of my hours in the short-term. Trade luxuries for leverage. If you don't have enough time to build  your business as quickly as you'd like, you may want to hire some help. Outsource some work, for instance. Building a business requires more than and investment of t

I have written quite a bit about productivity, and done more than a few podcasts on the subject of getting things done. Today, I am taking a departure from the normal recommendations about being productive-including my own. On today's show, I will share five surprising productivity "hacks"- shortcuts that make you more productive. But shortcuts you may be shocked to hear coming from me. Tip of the Week This week's tip I actually picked up from my good friend Pat Flynn. Recently, I was listening to Pat's Smart Passive Income Podcast, and heard him talk about two apps that intrigued me. I've been using them now for a couple of weeks, and found them to be remarkably helpful. Calm. This app is a "meditation app". Yes, I know what you are thinking. Do we need an app for meditating? I think the answer is yes. Having tried a number of such apps, this is the only one that consistently helps me guide my brain into a calmer, less fragmented, and more anxiety-free state. Calm supplies you with a series of "environments", or soundscapes, that in and of themselves have a calming effect. Some of the choices include gentle rain, wind on a mountain meadow, the ocean, etc. But the app is more than a white noise generator. It also supplies a series of guided meditations that help still your mind and assist you in focusing on the here and now. This is an app that actually helps you with the practice of mindfulness. And for my Christian brothers and sisters who worry about what they may perceive to be "Eastern religious" practices, I can assure you that the guided meditations I have worked through so far have nothing to do with religion of any kind. These meditations are more about being present in this moment, and not getting caught up in thinking about things that are not happening right here, right now (the source of most of our anxiety and depression). I upgraded to the premium version, and considerate money well invested. SleepCycle. This app monitors the depth of your sleep by using the accelerometer in your iPhone. The theory is, the app detects how much you are moving in your bed at night. If you're moving a lot, you are either awake or in "light sleep". If you are in deep, sound sleep, you won't be moving at all. Sleep cycle takes your target wake-up time, and watches you carefully to see when you are in light sleep, and only then will it give a soft gentle alarm to wake you. Waking when you are in light sleep leaves you feeling refreshed, alert, and energetic. This hass been very helpful to me, and using the app has increased my overall sleep time to an average of almost 6 1/2 hours. Spiritual Foundations What does it mean to repent? I submit it's not what you think. "Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind…" Romans 12:2 Feature Presentation: Five Surprising Productivity Hacks And now we come to the five surprising productivity hacks. Today I present some counterintuitive, but highly effective, productivity hacks. You may be surprised to hear these coming from me, but I have been experimenting with different practices of late, and found that each of these recommendations have helped me be more productive in real terms: in other words, getting useful stuff done that I want to accomplish. Read fiction. Goof off. Watch television. Multitask. Put Your Shoulder to the Wheel. What about you? What are your unconventional or surprising productivity hacks that go against the grain of the modern school of productivity? I'd love to see you share those below. How You Can Help Subscribe to the show in iTunes and give us a rating and review. Go ahead and subscribe now, and give us your star rating and review on iTunes. We will definitely mention you on this show. If you don't already get the email newsletter, sign up for that and get the new free video: "3 Keys to Change the World and Make Your Business Grow." Connect with me on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, or LinkedIn. Get The Transcript Click here to get the transcript. Transcripts provided by SuccessTranscripts – a great solution if you need your podcast, sermon, speech, or other audio transcribed.  

Does this sound like you? You hear people talk about "finding their passion" and "discovering your calling", but you don't seem to be able to find yours.  You want to do work that matters, and enjoy the process – but you don't know how. The secret, as suggested by Jeff Goins in his new book The Art of Work is to find the intersection between what you care about and the needs of the world. (And, by the way, you can get a free copy of The Art of Work for a limited time here.) Today's podcast is a conversation with Jeff Goins, and we dig deeply into these matters, and we talk about how you can abandon the status quo and live a life that matters. Interview: Jeff Goins on Finding Your Calling and The Art of Work If you have struggled with finding the work that really gets you fired up, and that makes a difference in the world, you'll get a lot out of this conversation. Resources Mentioned In The Show Jeff Goins' blog Get a free copy of The Art of Work How You Can Help Subscribe to the show in iTunes and give us a rating and review. Go ahead and subscribe now, and give us your star rating and review on iTunes. We will definitely mention you on this show. If you don't already get the email newsletter, sign up for that and get the new free video: "3 Keys to Change the World and Make Your Business Grow." Connect with me on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, or LinkedIn. Get The Transcript Click here to get the transcript. Transcripts provided by SuccessTranscripts – a great solution if you need your podcast, sermon, speech, or other audio transcribed.  

The time comes for all of us when we have to make big life transitions. In fact, it comes many times over the years… going off to college, getting married, starting a family, starting a business or new job. And there are other big transitions, too, the ones we don't enjoy so much. These can include serious illness, broken marriages, the death of a loved one – and many more unpleasant challenges we'd rather not face. In today's episode, I share surprising conversation with Brian Holmes about how to navigate these times of transition – the good ones and the not-so-good ones, too. Interview: Brian Holmes on How to Navigate Big Life Transitions This is a powerful interview, especially if you are facing any big "sea changes" in your life. Resources Mentioned In The Show Brian Holmes website Ties That Bind How You Can Help Subscribe to the show in iTunes and give us a rating and review. Go ahead and subscribe now, and give us your star rating and review on iTunes. We will definitely mention you on this show. If you don't already get the email newsletter, sign up for that and get the new free video: "3 Keys to Change the World and Make Your Business Grow." Connect with me on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, or LinkedIn. Get The Transcript Click here to get the transcript. Transcripts provided by SuccessTranscripts – a great solution if you need your podcast, sermon, speech, or other audio transcribed.  

I think we can all agree, if you get your writing published on Huffington Post, The Good Men Project, or Entrepreneur.com, that would probably be a good thing, yes? It turns out it may not be all that hard to do… In today's episode, I interview the Amazing Kimanzi Constable, and that's just one of the many fascinating lessons you will learn. Spiritual Foundations: How to Get God to Bless Your Work Commit your work to the Lord,     and your plans will be established. Proverbs 16:3 Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ. Colossians 3:23-24 Some people think they are facing a difficulty because God is punishing them for some sin – and that is ridiculous. Interview: How to Get Featured on Big Sites Like Huffington Post This is my interview with Kimanzi Constable. Listen. Learn. Repeat. How You Can Help Subscribe to the show in iTunes and give us a rating and review. Go ahead and subscribe now, and give us your star rating and review on iTunes. We will definitely mention you on this show. If you don't already get the email newsletter, sign up for that and get the new free video: "3 Keys to Change the World and Make Your Business Grow." Connect with me on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, or LinkedIn. Get The Transcript Click here to get the transcript. Transcripts provided by SuccessTranscripts – a great solution if you need your podcast, sermon, speech, or other audio transcribed.  

Study entrepreneurs, and you'll find some great behaviors to emulate. Just as useful: study the things they don't do! In today's episode, I'll share 10 Things Successful Entrepreneurs Don't Do. Other Reasons To Keep Listening How to learn a language for free. No, God is not punishing you for some sin! How to get a great design for your website – a conversation with my designer. That's all coming up in today's episode… Tip of the Week: DuoLingo is the way to learn a language for free. Snarky Nomad has a fabulous review. Spiritual Foundations: God Is Not Punishing You For Some Sin! In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace. Ephesians 1:7 Some people think they are facing a difficulty because God is punishing them for some sin – and that is ridiculous. Interview: How to Work With a Designer In which I interview my designer, Jason Clement of Red Letter Design. Feature Presentation: 10 Things Successful Entrepreneurs Don't Do Think the world owes them anything. Settle. Fear risk. Take no for an answer. Blame their failure on others. Give up. One thing. Look for obstacles. Think "realistically". Expect their friends and family to understand.Notes. Resources Mentioned In The Show DuoLingo App Snarky Nomad Red Letter Design How You Can Help Subscribe to the show in iTunes and give us a rating and review. Go ahead and subscribe now, and give us your star rating and review on iTunes. We will definitely mention you on this show. If you don't already get the email newsletter, sign up for that and get the new free video: "3 Keys to Change the World and Make Your Business Grow." Connect with me on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, or LinkedIn. Get The Transcript Click here to get the transcript. Transcripts provided by SuccessTranscripts – a great solution if you need your podcast, sermon, speech, or other audio transcribed.  

Donald Miller is one of the most influential Christian writers of our day. His books evoke strong reactions, and for many they strike a chord like no work before. His new book, Scary Close, is available today, and in this interview we discuss how he came to write it, and why the message of this book is so important. Get the book and other neat stuff at Donald Miller's website. You can also buy it at Amazon. How You Can Help Subscribe to the show in iTunes and give us a rating and review. People who have done so, and given us five-star reviews: Go ahead and subscribe now, and give us your star rating and review on iTunes. We will definitely mention you on this show. If you don't already get the email newsletter, sign up for that and get the new free video: "3 Keys to Change the World and Make Your Business Grow." Connect with me on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, or LinkedIn. Get The Transcript Click here to get the transcript. Transcripts provided by SuccessTranscripts – a great solution if you need your podcast, sermon, speech, or other audio transcribed. Question: What part of the act do you need to drop?  Click here to leave your comments.

Now that you are marketing your products and services online, you have instant global reach. But there's one problem: your marketing now stands shoulder to shoulder with Coke, Ford, the NFL, Oprah, and every other major brand that's online. How do you compete? In this session I'm sharing a conversation with Marshall Wayne, who is breaking new ground for Platform-Builders and Solo Pros… using something I like to think of as "Cinematic Marketing". And the good news is, it doesn't have to cost a fortune. Other Reasons To Keep Listening You'll discover the new alarm clock app I'm using on my iPhone that improves my sleep and increase my energy level upon awakening. How you can be free of guilt and shame. I'll share how you can get your own show promoted on this podcast! That's all coming up in today's episode… Tip(s) of the Week: I'm using the Rise Alarm Clock App for iPhone and loving it.  Rise is a beautifully simple alarm app. It's a work of art that wakes you up. No annoying clutter. Reach out and move the interface; Set and sleep. Not your typical alarm sounds. Wake up in the woods if you want, or pick a song from iTunes. Dock it and stare at the beautiful, large clock for day or night with multiple backgrounds (portrait or landscape) Create your own alarm labels for as many scheduled wake-up times as you need. *with IAP From the lock screen: Shake it like a Polaroid picture to snooze or turn off the alarm. Let SleepTunes help you fall (asleep) by making a sleepy playlist with a shut-off timer. Click here to learn more and get Rise for your iPhone. Spiritual Foundations: How We Can Be Free of Guilt and Shame You probably already know this, but I believe that Grace is not a doctrine that is part of the Gospel – I believe it is the Gospel. The Good News is way better than you think.  For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.)" Romans 5:17 For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God." 2 Corinthians 5:21 For I will be merciful toward their iniquities, and I will remember their sins no more." Hebrews 8:12 Keep in mind that when Jesus died on the cross, He paid the price for all your sins, and at that moment all of them were in the future. And He wiped them all clean. That means all your sins – even the ones you haven't committed yet – are forgiven, and God isn't even aware of them! God takes our sins – past, present, and future, and dumps them in the sea and puts up a sign that says 'No Fishing Allowed'." Corrie Ten Boom   Feature Presentation: How To Create An Iconic Personal Brand, With Marshall Wayne Marshall Wayne is a photographer and videographer who helps people created iconic personal brands. Resources Mentioned In The Show Marshall Wayne's website. The Icon Engineering System. The Agency Declassified. How You Can Help Subscribe to the show in iTunes and give us a rating and review. Go ahead and subscribe now, and give us your star rating and review on iTunes. We will definitely mention you on this show. If you don't already get the email newsletter, sign up for that and get the new free video: "3 Keys to Change the World and Make Your Business Grow." Connect with me on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, or LinkedIn. Get The Transcript Click here to get the transcript. Transcripts provided by SuccessTranscripts – a great solution if you need your podcast, sermon, speech, or other audio transcribed.

How do you start a company with just an idea, a few volunteers, and no budget… and in less than 5 years have a web media property with 15 million readers? That's what Michael Stelzner did with Social Media Examiner, and in today's episode we'll share a conversation with Michael about how he did it. And how you could, too! In this conversation, we'll discover together: Why the smartest promotional strategy might be not promoting. The best way to differentiate yourself from your competitors. Michael's method for launching new projects and products. And his personal Social Media Marketing strategy. Announcements: On Friday, we'll release the first in a series of free video trainings on how to sell more of whatever you sell… without being a salesperson. I've got some powerful frameworks to share that will more of your emails opened, more of your content read and shared, and more of your products and services sold. We're moving podcast publication day to Tuesdays. Success Stories I'm still looking to share your success stories and good news. So if you've got a business triumph, spiritual victory, a story of God's miraculous intervention in your life or your business… I want to hear about it. Click this link to record a voicemail about your success story or testimony. Spiritual Foundations: What I Learned From My Wife About Joy If you've lost your joy, there's an easy way to retrace your steps and find it again. "But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you."Matthew 6:33 "For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit." Romans 14:17 The Kingdom of God is peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. Feature Presentation: A Conversation With Michael Stelzner, Founder of Social Media Examiner In this conversation, we'll discover together: Why the smartest promotional strategy might be not promoting. The best way to differentiate yourself from your competitors. Michael's method for launching new projects and products. And his personal Social Media Marketing strategy. How You Can Help Subscribe to the show in iTunes and give us a rating and review. People who have done so, and given us five-star reviews: Travis Greenlee, who calls the show "The best marketing and leadership training on iTunes." Shari Miller says she gets "Practical, awesome, useful ideas. This is one amazing podcast!" Adrienne Olson says: "Listened once, fan for life!" Go ahead and subscribe now, and give us your star rating and review on iTunes. We will definitely mention you on this show. If you don't already get the email newsletter, sign up for that and get the new free video: "3 Keys to Change the World and Make Your Business Grow." Connect with me on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, or LinkedIn. Get The Transcript Click here to get the transcript. Transcripts provided by SuccessTranscripts – a great solution if you need your podcast, sermon, speech, or other audio transcribed. What's your approach to social media marketing?

I listen to lots of podcasts. And while I have a few core podcasts I don't ever miss, I am constantly trying new shows out, looking for fresh voices I can put into my listening rotation. In today's episode, I'll share my listening strategy: how I selected my "A" shows, which I never miss, how I select my "B" shows, which I selectively listen to, and how I decide what new shows to sample. And of course I will give you my list of 10 fresh new shows you should check out. Other Reasons To Keep Listening A book you can read this afternoon that will boost the success you enjoy starting tonight. What to do about being disappointed with God. How you can get promoted on my show, and get exposure for your website. That's all coming up in today's episode… Announcements: Next week, we'll release the first in a series of free video trainings on how to write powerful sales copy that sells your products and services… without feeling like a sleazy salesperson. I've decided to open the "insider only" invitation to our upcoming event Permission to Prosper to podcast listeners and subscribers. After all, you're insiders too! Click here for the details, but do it quickly. Success Stories I'm looking to share your success stories and good news. So if you've got a business triumph, spiritual victory, a story of God's miraculous intervention in your life or your business… I want to hear about it. Click this link to record a voicemail about your success story or testimony. Tip of the Week: I just re-read The Go-Giver by Bob Burg and John David Mann. This book is a quick read, but it can radically shift your level of success immediately. Even better, the tactics are not faddish, but are rather based on timeless principles. While implementing what you read may not put money in your bank account tomorrow, I do believe you will feel more wealthy within 24 hours of reading it (if you put the principles into practice). It's engaging, fun to read, and has a strong spiritual foundation (while not being tied to any one religion). To say more would be to reduce the impact of the book – just get it and read it. Or re-read it. You won't be sorry. Click here to buy this book from Amazon. Spiritual Foundations: What to do about being disappointed with God. Do you ever feel let down by God? How do you deal with that? Give ear to my prayer, O God, and hide not yourself from my plea for mercy! Attend to me, and answer me; I am restless in my complaint and I moan, because of the noise of the enemy, because of the oppression of the wicked. For they drop trouble upon me, and in anger they bear a grudge against me. My heart is in anguish within me; the terrors of death have fallen upon me. Fear and trembling come upon me, and horror overwhelms me. And I say, "Oh, that I had wings like a dove! I would fly away and be at rest; yes, I would wander far away; I would lodge in the wilderness; Selah I would hurry to find a shelter from the raging wind and tempest." Destroy, O Lord, divide their tongues; for I see violence and strife in the city. Day and night they go around it on its walls, and iniquity and trouble are within it; ruin is in its midst; oppression and fraud do not depart from its marketplace. For it is not an enemy who taunts me— then I could bear it; it is not an adversary who deals insolently with me— then I could hide from him. But it is you, a man, my equal, my companion, my familiar friend. We used to take sweet counsel together; within God's house we walked in the throng. Let death steal over them; let them go down to Sheol alive; for evil is in their dwelling place and in their heart. But I call to God, and the Lord will save me. Evening and morning and at noon I utter my complaint and moan, and he hears my voice. He redeems my soul in safety from the battle that I wage, for many are arrayed against me. God will give ear and humble them, he who is enthroned from of old, Selah because they do not change and do not fear God. My companion stretched out his hand against his friends; he violated his covenant. His speech was smooth as butter, yet war was in his heart; his words were softer than oil, yet they were drawn swords. Cast your burden on the Lord, and he will sustain you; he will never permit the righteous to be moved. But you, O God, will cast them down into the pit of destruction; men of blood and treachery shall not live out half their days. But I will trust in you. Psalm 55 Pour out your complaint to the Lord, but remember He will ultimately bring you the justice you seek. Feature Presentation: 10 Fresh New Podcasts You Should Check Out I'm a lifetime learner, and one of my favorite ways to learn is through podcasts. I am fairly systematic about my listening – I have 3 tiers, or "rotations": A – 10 podcasts I never miss. B – 10 podcasts I listen to selectively. C – 10-15 shows I am checking out, and sampling. 10 Podcasts I Never Miss This Is Your Life, by Michael Hyatt and Michele Cushatt Podcast Answerman, by

A young woman has quit smoking, been promoted at work, and run a marathon. An untested CEO takes over one of America's biggest companies and focuses on just one behavior pattern in the company, and very soon Alcoa is at the top of the Dow Jones. A marketer at Procter & Gamble notices a seemingly insignificant pattern while studying videos of how people make their beds. As a result, the company makes a small shift in advertising and Febreze goes from being one of the company's biggest flops to earning a billion dollars a year. What do all three cases have in common? Reporter and best-selling author Charles Duhigg believes that in each case, the success came from a shift in the patterns that shape our very lives – our habits. Habits do form our destiny, but we can consciously choose our habits. That shift – a change in your key habits – can help you transform your relationships, your finances, your health, your business, and your life. In today's episode, I'll suggest 10 life-changing habits to adopt now. And I'll give you the tools, tactics, and battle plan to help make those habits stick. Other Reasons To Keep Listening You'll discover the best book I know of on the subject of habits, why they are so powerful, and how to change them. I'll attempt an answer to the question: "Is it right for Christians to choose to 'upgrade' their peer group in order to be more successful, or is that a selfish, sinful pursuit?" You'll get a direct link to the best $10 training on Omnifocus you'll find anywhere. That's all coming up in today's episode… Announcements: Next week, we'll release the first in a series of free video trainings on how to write powerful sales copy that sells your products and services… without feeling like a sleazy salesperson. Our Regency Mastermind Round One Membership filled up almost instantly. News about Round Two is coming soon. We're also working on a plan for a group mentoring plan for newbies… this will be a community that should be affordable for almost anyone. We will unveil our plans in the very near future. I've decided to open the "insider only" invitation to our upcoming event Permission to Prosper to podcast listeners and subscribers. After all, you're insiders too! Click here for the details, but do it quickly. Success Stories I'm looking to share your success stories and good news. So if you've got a business triumph, spiritual victory, a story of God's miraculous intervention in your life or your business… I want to hear about it. Click this link to record a voicemail about your success story or testimony. Tip(s) of the Week: "In The Power of Habit, award-winning New York Times business reporter Charles Duhigg takes us to the thrilling edge of scientific discoveries that explain why habits exist and how they can be changed." So reads the copy on Duhigg's website. He goes on to describe his book this way: "Along the way we learn why some people and companies struggle to change, despite years of trying, while others seem to remake themselves overnight. We visit laboratories where neuroscientists explore how habits work and where, exactly, they reside in our brains. We discover how the right habits were crucial to the success of Olympic swimmer Michael Phelps, Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz, and civil-rights hero Martin Luther King, Jr. We go inside Procter & Gamble, Target superstores, Rick Warren’s Saddleback Church, NFL locker rooms, and the nation’s largest hospitals and see how implementing so-called keystone habits can earn billions and mean the difference between failure and success, life and death." "At its core, The Power of Habit contains an exhilarating argument: The key to exercising regularly, losing weight, raising exceptional children, becoming more productive, building revolutionary companies and social movements, and achieving success is understanding how habits work." Click here to buy this book from Amazon. Omnifocus Video Field Guide Are you an Omnifocus user and GTD practitioner? Then you're going to love David Sparks's new Omnifocus Video Field Guide. David says: "The OmniFocus Video Field Guide is a screencast, not a book. A lot of people have asked me to write a book about OmniFocus but instead I made this 2.5 hour video that takes you, soup to nuts, through the Omni Group's supremely bad-ass task manager. The screencast can turn an OmniFocus novice into a task-managing ninja." Spiritual Foundations: Is it right for Christians to 'upgrade' their peer group in order to be more successful? When we talk about being "intentional about your peer group", seeking out relationships with people more successful than you, and eliminating  or limiting the access to you that negative people have, are we being selfish or sinful? "Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm."Proverbs 13:20 "Bl

As we begin a new year, it's popular for many bloggers and podcasters to make "predictions" about the new year. I prefer not making predictions (unless I feel inspired to do so), but I will point out 7 crucial trends to watch for in 2015. I believe these trends represent some fundamental shifts in the way business is done online, and the way you will continue to build your platform in the new year Other Reasons To Keep Listening I will reveal one of  the apps I'm using to help me meet my financial goals in 2015. We will tackle the question, "if God is always good, then why do bad things happen to good people?" I'll also share how you can get a plug or mention, or even an appearance on this show. That's all coming up in today's episode… Announcements: Our Regency Mastermind Round One Membership filled up almost instantly. Stay tuned for news about round 2. We're also working on a plan for a group mentoring plan for newbies… this will be a community that should be affordable for almost anyone. News to come soon. I've decided to open the "insider only" invitation to our upcoming event Permission to Prosper to podcast listeners and subscribers. After all, you're insiders too! Click here for the details, but do it quickly. Success Stories I'm looking to share your success stories and good news. So if you've got a business triumph, spiritual victory, a story of God's miraculous intervention in your life or your business… I want to hear about it. Click this link to record a voicemail about your success story or testimony. This week's success story comes from Danna Demetre. Tip of the Week: I have some pretty huge financial goals for 2015. One of the main tools I am using for course corrections and double checking my progress is a free app called Personal Capital. Using this app, I can see what is happening with all my accounts at a glance, and see an instant, up-to-date calculation of my net worth. Brilliant. According to their website, Personal Capital provides "award-winning tools provide an in-depth view of your finances and help you eliminate excessive fees. Plus, our advanced analytics and expert advisors are on hand to give you a personalized investment strategy. So you and your money can have a little fun of your own." Sign up now for free. Spiritual Foundations: If God Is Always Good, Why Do Bad Things Happen? This is not a new question. It's been dealt with by many great theologians, and I don't count myself as one of them. But I do know this: we really have one basic decision to make. Is God good, and can he be trusted? And it really is a decision. If you're looking for a mathematical formula to prove it one way or another, I predict you will be disappointed. Personally, after I decided to settle this question in my heart once and for all, everything else became very clear to me. Even the subject of "mystery." Here are three explanations that might help us understand why bad things happen to God's people. This is not heaven. We live in a fallen world, where the influence of the enemy still creates chaos and attempts to unravel the things which God has woven into place. The victory has been one by Jesus on the cross, and we live in an era when it is slowly but implacably being enforced by us, his "kingdom of priests". We cannot see the whole picture. Put another way, we simply don't know everything. It's possible that if we did, many things that we viewed now as injustices or the failure of God to keep his promises would actually be seen as the opposite. Think of it this way: your child may not understand why you are forcing them to undergo a painful and traumatic medical procedure. You, on the other hand, know that it's necessary for the doctor to remove the child's appendix so that they might live and not be killed by the very poison that conveys their system. A crude example, but perhaps illustrative. Romans 8:38 assures us that God makes all things work for the good of those who love him, and who are called according to his purposes. If you are a follower of Christ, that includes you. And please note that it doesn't mean that God is not directly causative in whatever evil may befall you, but that he can, will, and does turn what was intended for evil to ultimately prove good for you. I understand that all these answers may feel empty in the face of a devastating problem, such as a broken marriage, a cancer diagnosis, the sudden unexpected death of a child, or some other brutal and horrible experience that you may be undergoing right now. It is in these places that the importance of the decision I mentioned earlier becomes obvious. The time to make the decision that God is always good, and that he can be trusted, is before the crisis occurs. The time to exercise the faith for that belief is before you desperately need it. Feature Presentation: 7 Trends To Watch For In 2015 Don't make the mistake of letting what you know get in the way of what you need to learn. I often tel

Have you ever suffered from depression or anxiety? Depression is a major problem in the world today. By the year 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that depression will be the number two cause of "lost years of healthy life" worldwide. This time of year feelings of depression are common. Most people suffer in silence. And in this episode I will share my own battle with depression, and give you my recipe for defeating this debilitating and deadly disease. Tip of the Week: Moodtracker. Enter daily a choice of three moods and have the option to input notes as well. You can see a twoweek calendar view from the main page, or a full month view calendar from the Calendar view. Also, export your notes to email so you can bring in your notes to your next doctor's visit or keep for your reference. Spiritual Foundations: Depression Is Always a Spiritual Battle Depression is always a spiritual matter at the root – but don't let condemnation creep in. Whoever has no rule over his own spirit is like a city broken down, without walls. Proverbs 25:28 Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a desire fulfilled is a tree of life. Proverbs 13:12 Decide to use the opportunity to glorify God. The deeper your depression, the more expressive your worship should be. Read the Psalms until you hear your voice – then camp there for a while. Feature Presentation: How To Overcome Depression Depression is a major problem in the world today. By the year 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that depression will be the number two cause of "lost years of healthy life" worldwide. Of the estimated 17.5 million Americans who are affected by some form of depression, 9.2 million have major or clinical depression. Two-thirds of people suffering from depression do not seek necessary treatment. 80% of all people with clinical depression who have received treatment significantly improve their lives. The economic cost of depression is estimated at $30.4 billion a year but the cost in human suffering cannot be estimated. Women experience depression about twice as often as men. People who are not depressed don't commit suicide. I've battled depression myself, and I know it is not an easy thing to deal with. I have tried just about every solution available to fight depression. I feel it is important to resist this force, which is more than a mere "feeling" – it is an enemy that will devour your life and the lives of those around you. But there is hope. And I'm going to share my own battle plan and recipe for overcoming depression. First Things First: Does God Want Me To Be Depressed? First and foremost, let me state very clearly: I don't think depression or anxiety are ever from the Lord. Ever. End of discussion. God can and does use bad things and turns them ultimately to our good-but that is his work in redeeming an imperfect creation from the curse mankind placed it under. It is not him abusing his children in order to "teach them something". The theology here is very deep: Good things come from God. Bad things come from Satan. Children understand this. It takes adults make it complicated. Ray's 9-Step Anti-Depression Recipe Prayer daily, as a conversation with God. Practice the awareness of God's Presence. Journaling daily (I use Day One, and a template of questions that I answer each day. I store the template as a TextExpander snippet). Read 5 Psalms and 1 chapter of Proverbs daily (in addition to normal Bible reading/study) Vigorous Exercise 6 days per week (while listening to powerful, positive UPBEAT worship music – ie, no "I've written an ode to my problems" type songs) Daily declarations (speaking out loud the promises of the word, see the book above) Paleo Diet to regulate blood sugar and neurochemistry Supplementation (especially Vitamin D and B-Complex) Tracking mood daily (use MoodTracker App) Additional Resources For Battling Depression Here is a list of resources that have been very useful to me. I Declare: 31 Promises to Speak Over Your Life – Joel Osteen Declarations: Unlocking Your Future – Steve Backlund Strengthen Yourself In The Lord – Bill Johnson The Power of Right Believing – Joseph Prince Philips goLITE BLU Light Therapy Device Final Thoughts On Overcoming Depression No discussion of this topic would be complete without mentioning antidepressant medications. As a last resort, I can tell you that antidepressant medications can be useful. But I strongly believe this is only after you have exhausted every other possible answer. There are peer-reviewed, controlled studies that demonstrate vigorous exercise is just as effective as antidepressants in most patients. The possible exception to this rule is that you may have an actual physiological problem in your brain. In my case, because I was been diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease, I have empirical evidence that my neurological systems are flawed. Specifically, the production and delivery of dopamine, which controls moveme

We often treat the future as if it's a mystery. As if we don't have a say in it, or any control if it. And while there is some truth  in that, there is a deeper truth also. We get to choose how we see the future, and the choice we make has a profound influence over the outcome we experience. This episode shows you 5 powerful ways to see the road ahead.     Tip of the Week: I may have finally found an app to replace Cardmunch – the iPhone app I previously used to process business cards I received at conferences. The new app is called Card Reader, and it's made by Full Contact. The maker claims is "the easiest way to scan business cards into Google Contacts, iPhone Contacts, & 250+ other apps." The advantage Card Reader has over other card scanners is simple, and powerful: the business cards you scan into it are transcribed by real live humans, not by an OCR algorithm. If you'd like to be the one-in-a-million who actually does something with all those business cards you collect, give Card Reader a try. Plus, Full Contact will unify, synch, and keep up-to-date all the contacts in your Google, Facebook, Twitter, and Contacts. Spiritual Foundations: Grace Is Not A Doctrine "Grace", to most Christians, is a doctrine. A part of the overall gospel of Jesus Christ. But that's not the case. Grace is not a "doctrine" or a "part of" the gospel. It is the gospel itself, in its entirety. For if, because of one man's trespass, death reigned through that one man, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ. Romans 5:17 We tell new Christians they " are saved by grace through faith". That salvation is a "free gift". Then, once they have nought our sales pitch, we begin telling them how they have to "clean up their act". But performance-based Christianity is a modern invention, not a biblical principle. We don't "behave our way" into to the life of the Spirit. Many churches teach that we must stop serving the "desires of the flesh" so that we can then walk more by the Spirit… but the Bible says the exact opposite. But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.  For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do.  But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. Galatians 5:16-18 When we walk by the Spirit, we will naturally be freed from the power of sin. How then, do we "walk by the Spirit"? Here are some good ways to start: By becoming Christ-conscious instead of sin-conscious. Read the Scripture and look for Christ and His grace. Recalling, meditating on, and speaking out loud the testimony of what He has done. Talk to God, and listen what He says to you (through His word, other people, "coincidences", the "still small voice", a sense of his presence., etc.) Listen to and soak up anointed teaching, preaching, and worship music. Doing these things will help you walk by the Spirit… and your transformed behavior will flow from you naturally. Feature Presentation: 5 Powerful Ways To See The Road Ahead Here are 5 powerful ways to see the road ahead – transforming your thinking, and conforming it to these frameworks, can have a powerful impact on the future you actually experience. Possible. Don't allow your thoughts to rehearse all the possible ways things might go wrong. Instead, meditate n great detail on exactly how things could go right. Provident. Remember that the Universe is the creation of a benevolent God who wants only the best for you. and even when chaos intervenes and things go wrong, it can ultimately work in your favor (Romans 8:28). Peaceful. Peace has very little to do with what is happening around us, and everything to do with what is happening within us. Powerful. The agency in your life belongs to you. You are a "powerful person" – meaning you are not a victim of circumstances, bad luck, or other people's poor choices. Prepared. God has prepared a specific, beneficial, fulfilling destiny for you, and you must remember this, even when you feel you can't see it. Even if you don't fancy yourself a believer, I have a suggestion. Believe your future has been prepared for you anyway. Which belief will allow you to proceed with more confidence, clarity, and control: the belief that life is a random game of chance with no rhyme or reason… or the belief that a force greater than you is looking out for you, and constantly adjusting the odds in your favor? Which believe will make you more calm, proactive, flexible, and give you access to your own personal levels of highest performance?   Get The Transcript Click here to get the transcript. Transcripts provided by SuccessTranscripts – a great solution if you need your podcast, sermon, speech, or other audio transcribed. Ques

This is a special episode where I'm taking the time to answer a ton of questions from listeners and readers. I really enjoy these kinds of shows, and this one is no exception. By the way, I am looking for success stories to start sharing on every episode. If you have a success story to share, click here and record it using Speakpipe. Keep your success story short and powerful (2 minutes or less is best). We're looking for ways you've  been blessed by this show, whether is was financially, in your business or work, spiritually, or miraculous healing or provision! Tip of the Week: Michael Hyatt has just released his brand new course, called 5 Years To Your Best Year Ever. If you want to set goals that you actually achieve, and make resolutions that really stick… this course is the way to do it. I did last year's version, and got some astonishing results. For instance, my family paid off $103,012  in debt, and I personally lost 35.2 pounds of fat! I'm excited to participate in this year's version of the course. I'm asking my personal Mastermind, the Regency Group, to invest in the course so we can all go through it together. I want you to get the benefit of this course, too. Right now you can get it at the Early Bird Discount price. Don't wait – do it now, get access to the entire course, and start crafting the plan for your best year ever. Please keep in mind, I'm a paid affiliate for this program and earn a commission if you purchase through this link. This does not affect your price. However… If it makes you uncomfortable that I receive a commission, and you wonder about my motivations, then purchase through the link that will deny me any commission. Use that link, and I won't make a dime. I want you to benefit from this course regardless of whether I make any money. Spiritual Foundations: The Peculiar Problem Of Doubt Doubt is something most believers struggle with. There was the man who lacked belief, who said to Jesus, "I believe. Help my unbelief." Thomas doubted the resurrected Christ was real until he could press his fingers in the nail-holes left by the Lords ttorturouscrucifixion. Peter had a clue, when he said to Jesus across the raging storm at sea, "Lord if it is you, call me to come to you." And because of that request, Pete walked on the water. There are 3 steps that will help us banish the peculiar problem of doubt: Acknowledge it when it is real, but refuse to feed it. Like Thomas, prove the truth to ourselves. The best way is the testimony. Like Peter, ask Jesus to give us faith for the impossible, and then be crazy enough to brave the waves! Feature Presentation: Ask Me Anything In this episode I answer a bunch of listener questions! Next Week:  "The Road Ahead" Episode Get The Transcript Click here to get the transcript. Transcripts provided by SuccessTranscripts – a great solution if you need your podcast, sermon, speech, or other audio transcribed. Question: Have you ever struggled with doubt? How did you overcome it? Click here to leave your comments.

It's the time of year when we all start to think about making resolutions and setting goals for the new year… and we're either happy about it, or cynical. This week Michael Hyatt is my guest, and he offers a fresh perspective on setting goals. By the way, if you haven't seen the fabulous free video training Michael is giving away on how to make 2015 "your best year ever", click here right now and get access to those videos! Tip of the Week: Blinkist is a great little app that lets you access concise book summaries on your iPhone or iPad. Want to mentor with me in 2015? Click here to register for a pre-application Webinar Monday, December 8, at 7pm Eastern. Spiritual Foundations: The God of Our Goals "Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established.." Proverbs 16:3 As we set goals for the coming year, it's important to include God in the process, for these 3 reasons: Calling Character Charisma When our Calling, Character, and Charisma are activated by the presence of God, our plans will be established indeed! Feature Presentation: Michael Hyatt on Goal Setting and Your Best Year Ever This is a spectacular interview with Michael Hyatt on how to set goals for the new year (or any time). NOTE: enroll in Michael's course by clicking this link to get into the accountability group I mentioned in the episode. Next Week:  The "Ask Me Anything" Episode Get The Transcript Click here for the transcript. Transcripts provided by SuccessTranscripts – a great solution if you need your podcast, sermon, speech, or other audio transcribed. Question: How will you apply the power of copywriting in your business or career? Click here to leave your comments.

Some people think "copywriting" – the art and science of writing sales copy – is dead and gone. Killed by social media. The truth is copywriting is alive and well. and more important than ever to you and your business. You must master this. Tip of the Week: For a long time, I stopped taking handwritten notes. I found it tedious, and I found I seldom referred to them again. Plus I was so worried about catching every little detail, just taking t he notes was a stressful experience. Then I discovered Sketchnotes. Now I look forward to taking notes. I highly recommend you try this, even if you think you can't draw. Get the book, and check out the website of Mike Rohde. He's the leader of the Sketchnotes movement. He did the illustrations for REWORK. You can watch a video demo of this "Sketchnoting" thing in action here. Have fun. Spiritual Foundations: Grace For Each Day "Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble." Matthew 6:34 The Israelites were in the desert, and God provided food for them each morning called manna. God commanded them to collect only enough for that day – if they took more, or kept any, the next day it was filled with worms and it stank. The manna in the Old Testament is a picture of God's grace, and he was showing us that He gives you enough grace for today, and you can't try and save it up for tomorrow. And that's okay, because there will always be a new supply of fresh grace every day. Worrying about what you will do tomorrow, being afraid and anxious, ruins today and doesn't help tomorrow in the least. Rest in the fact that God is trustworthy, and keeps his word. Rest in the new grace God has given you today. And remember… it's always today. Feature Presentation: 3 Reasons Why You Must Master Copywriting There are 3 reasons why you must master the art and science of copywriting, no matter what your business or job. Human psychology does not change. Sales copy may look different, but it still works the same. Sales copy allows you to create money-generating assets out of thin air. Next Week:  The "Ask Me Anything" Episode Get The Transcript Click here to get the transcript. Transcripts provided by SuccessTranscripts – a great solution if you need your podcast, sermon, speech, or other audio transcribed. Question: How will you apply the power of copywriting in your business or career? Click here to leave your comments.