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Feb
13

True Blood and Entrepreneurial Vampires

By | Entrepreneur, Entrepreneurial Spirits, Success, Time management and productivity

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I admit it…

…I recently got hooked on True Blood.

I have watched the first season, and it is fantastic!

Between the darkness, the characters, the blood and the fantastic story lines they use… I am a fan.

Much like Sons of Anarchy that I wrote about before.
http://blog.smallbusinesscopywriter.com/biker-babes-and-bad-ass-story-success/

For far too many years, the shows that were playing on late-night television were awful. No creativity. Copy-and-paste plot lines. Crap characters.

Every once in a while one would pop up that was ok… but most stunk up the bloody screen.

Something shifted and the writers and creatives are cranking out some genuinely good shows.

Considering I am not much of a tv guy, it pains me to admit I am taken in by some of these new series.

Like True Blood.

The story of Vampires and Humans co-existing on earth.

The story of how the vampires feed, and convert humans to vampires.

The stories of some very unusual personal powers that some of the humans have… bordering on as scary of a power as fangs are.

And Anna Paquin is just hot in this show!  

She makes True Blood shine.

I also LOVE the names they have created for the show. “Fangbangers” is one I love!  This is the name of the humans who love to get bit and banged by the vampires.  It’s a whole subculture of humans that take great pleasure in this.

Creating unique names like this is a skill and art in itself.

One you should be practicing!

It makes book titles more interesting.

Subject lines.

Headlines.

Product names.

Even dog names.  My daughters and I have a game we play at the dog park.  We go around and create new names for each dog we see, based on how they look and their personality.

We have a blast doing this… and it is teaching my girls how fun it can be to create names like this and to use their creativity in all kinds of innovative ways.

Try it.

True Blood also makes me think of a few other things that relate to you and I.

…and our ability to shine in our own businesses.

The first thing us humans need to be weary of… Time Vampires.  They are everywhere!  Those innocent looking phone calls or emails that drain you of a precious hour out of your day.  It may not seem like much to the person calling, but each hour sitting on the phone is a significant chunk of real, money-making, work not getting done.

Be very, very careful of the time vampires.

Avoid them like the plague if possible, and cut off their blood supply (your time) at the pass.  “I have another call in 10 minutes” usually repels them like garlic.

Also be very careful of the entrepreneurial spirit vampires.

They are the ones who try and suck the passion out of your entrepreneurial drive.

They try and make you believe that going back to a job is the most honorable thing a mere mortal can do.

They do everything in their evil power to suck you dry and make you feel completely drained…

…energy-less and ready to sink deep into the deep dark hallows of depression.

Been there, done that… got the bumper sticker.

Avoid it.

Do whatever it takes.

My mission this year is change.

BIG CHANGE.

Positive change.

Forward change.

…And I have made many changes already.

But they weren’t easy to do.

Nor will they ever be.

BIG CHANGE takes guts.  It takes ‘testicular fortitude’ as one friend says.

Few can do well on change…

…but the new era of entrepreneurs THRIVE on change.

Care to join me in a whole new world?

One where YOU are in control… and one where YOU know what types of garlic, sunlight, or wooden stakes it takes to slaughter the vampires in your life.

You in?

Good.

Start with the biggest areas of your life that need change right now.

List them out.

Pick one.

GET IT DONE.

No more excuses.

Just do it.

Fight the fear and do it.

Deal with the tears that may come…

…and move forward faster.

I am there at your side right along the way.

Promise.

Let me know how it goes and what I can do to help.

Troy

PS: One of the greatest things I personally did to help myself make the necessary changes at a faster pace was to start writing more.

There is a therapeutic quality to writing that can propel your business forward at breakneck speed.

But again, it takes guts to do and motivation to start.

If you want to start now… get the Story Selling Home Study and I will also give you my 31k club training series.  For the next 31 days I will fire you up and get you writing more often, with greater profits as your goal. http://www.storysellingtips.com

The 31k club has transformed many lives of those who went through the Story Selling Coaching.  Now you get it free with the Story Selling Home Study course! http://www.storysellingtips.com

Feb
01

One month down…11 to go

By | Entrepreneur, Entrepreneurial Spirits

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We are already one month into the year and time is of the essence to kick it off with a BANG.

2011 jolted past us kicking and screaming along the way.

Riots happened.
Occupiers happened.

People spoke out about what was troubling them.

…and little was done to fix any of it.

So will 2012 be yet another year like 2011 where there is lots of wanting, wishing and screaming…

…or will you get something useful done this year?

Something grandiose.

That BIG HAIRY AUDACIOUS GOAL of yours… finally comes to fruition.

Yes, now is time for reflection of what went right and wrong in the prior 12 months…

…it is also the time to STOP looking backwards and start planning your new course of action.

2012 is the year of taking MASSIVE action.

Your chance to rewrite history.

Your chance to make some heads turn.

Maybe its that book you’ve always wanted to bring out.

…or that new product you’ve always wanted to get out there.

…or taking the plunge from part time to full time entrepreneur.

Whatever your goals are… make THEM BHAGs!

2012 marks my 10th year in business (March is officially my 10 year anniversary so we will do some fun things leading up to the  date).

My goals for this year are bigger, bolder, and more audacious than every before.

I have a new team member in place whose sole purpose is to help me stay focused on writing, and to help me make them time to help as many people as I can through their marketing (hi Tracie! everyone, meet Tracie – the awesomest VA out there!).

One new book is launching in Beruary 2012, a collaboration with 13 other entrepreneurs…

…Entrepreneurial Spirit Sauce: Proven recipes for success that feed your ideal business lifestyle.

2 more will come in this year.

Including more videos from me.

More chances to learn from the same masters I credit with my own decade-long success story.

More help cutting through all the BS out there and helping you zone in on what DOES work online and offline.

More ways for you to make a bigger impact with less work.

2012 is about more opportunities, greater opportunities, and MASSIVE implementation of everything needed to take advantage of the opportunities at hand.

I would love to hear your comments on 2012.

What you want to accomplish.

What you missed out on this past year, that you refuse to let pass you by again.

Some of my goals for the year:
- 3 books released
- 2nd Degree Black Belt in Tae Kwon Do
- Triple my business revenues
- Triple the number of people I help through my posts, articles and products/services
- More time helping my daughters in school
- More time off on the beach

What’s your BIG GOALS?

Think big…

…and act fast!

We are already 8.3% through the year – time cannot be a wasted here!

Troy

PS: The Story Selling Home Study Coaching program
http://www.storysellingtips.com should be ready by Friday and is
an incredible way to introduce your clients and prospects to your
backstories… where your real money will be made.

Jan
30

The true power of raw emotions in your writing

By | Copywriting, Entrepreneur, Entrepreneurial Spirits, Writing

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The past couple weeks have been rough for me.

Some very personal things happening that I won’t get into right now.

But what I do want to talk about is emotion.

Pure emotions that strip you down to the core.

The kinds guys don’t like to talk about…

…but girls typically freely share.

Ya, those ones.

Those are the ones I have been going through lately.

They drain me.

But the inspire me too.

Some of my best writing happens when I am in that raw emotional state that I love to hide from others.

Words flow through me unlike any other time.

I don’t know where those words come from… but they sure feel good to put down on the paper.

Tapping into those emotions is one of those secrets of the best marketing campaigns in the world.

When you can feel the tears well up when you read “In Memory of Blue” on the Saddleback Leather Site
(http://www.sbackleather.com).

That memoir he wrote on his dog blue is THE MOST DISCUSSED PAGE on his blog.  He gets DOZENS of comments, emails, and Facebook posts about that page.

Much like my “Ode to Entrepreneurs” article I sent out last week
http://blog.smallbusinesscopywriter.com/an-ode-to-entrepreneurs-3/…

              …I wrote that in a raw emotional state that truly made me blank out the actual writing of that article.

When I was finished, I shook my head and realized I had just written something without thinking.

It came from the heart.

…and people are commenting on it daily.

YOU need to tap into those emotions.

Find something, anything, to get yourself fired up and in that unprotected state.

Then pour your words onto the screen or pad of paper.

Magic happens there.

Miracles too.

Find it, nurture it, and feed it.

Emotions are the KEY to fantastic marketing.

Dig yours out and let them free.

…as tough as that is for guys like me.

Try it, please.

Troy

PS: Telling a great story is an excellent way to start re-discovering your emotions.  Finding the stories that make you cry, or laugh hysterically, is a learnable art and craft.  It makes your emails shine and your website magnetic.

The home study version of the Story Selling Coaching Class is ready this week…  Get yours through this link

https://responsivedm.infusionsoft.com/app/manageCart/addProduct?productId=274

(for full details of everything you get – minus the actual live coaching – go to http://www.storysellingtips.com)

Jan
24

Ok, let’s talk about what makes you weird

By | Entrepreneur, Entrepreneurial Spirits, Story Selling, Success

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Let’s talk about your….

Eccentricities.

Quirks.

Bizarre behaviours.

Unusual beginnings and family ties.

The first step is admitting we all have them.

The second step is to get them out there!

Leveraging your personal stories in business is a touch-and-go thing. You can’t get too caught up in it.  You can’t share some things far too intimate that you wouldn’t share with your best friend.

But you need to seriously get some eccentricities built into your marketing.

It’s why people read and love Harry Potter books (each character in the story line has certain things about them that make them off-the-wall and unusual).

It’s why people watch Regis every day, and have done so for decades (his opening monologue is full of his daily life-doings and mishaps).

It’s why people watched and were hooked on Oprah’s show.  Who doesn’t know about her problems with relationships (including the present one that has been front and center for a long time… I had lunch with Stedman 7 years ago… seemed like a very nice guy :O)

It’s why reality shows are all the rage!

These so-called reality stars are usually a bunch of yee haws with more quirks than personality.

They have jaded histories.

They have tempers.

They have drinking problems.

They have serious people issues.

Whatever their issue is… people love it and watch just for that.

Weaving stories about your own quicks and traits into your marketing will be the best darned thing you could EVER do.

Think about the things (and write them down) that have made you who you are today.

- hobbies
- passions
- eccentricities
- secrets
- quirks
- dare devil tendencies
- self-destructive tendencies
- unusual past jobs
- present day friends or family with unusual stories or family members

Each and every one of these is a GREAT starting point for your story-based marketing campaign.

But you have to get your list down, PICK ONE, and write about it.  Find a way to tie it into your business and or promotion.

And just see what happens.

The more you do it, the more people will love you for it.

Do it on a regular basis and they become a raving fan, and a Regis-like watcher that sticks with you through thick and thin.

Try it.

Please!

Troy

PS: If you are interested in the Story Selling Coaching system, but aren’t willing to invest $495 in the one-on-one coaching program, I have another option for you.  I am just getting the transcripts done of the past coaching class and am willing to give you a VERY SPECIAL Powerful Personalities special.

You get the 31k Club series of writing lessons as well as the audios and transcripts of the last 6-session coaching series.  For only $99.

If you want in, either Paypal me the $99 (US or CDN – they are almost the same right now), or you can reply back and I will send you a private link.  This has never been offered again and may never be again – I will see if you like the idea or not.  The material is gold when used – worth many, many times the investment.

Let me know your thoughts (paypal to this same email troy@smallbusinesscopywriter.com)

Jan
20

An ode to entrepreneurs

By | Entrepreneur, Entrepreneurial Spirits

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This is for you if you’re an entrepreneur (or one in the making) …

We are the dreamers.
The visionaries.
The doers.

We are your neighbors.
Your friends.
Or your family.

We pursue our dreams, rather than letting them die a slow death.
We’ve learned to ignore the negative people in our lives.

We know we are different.
And we relish in it.

We are unemployable.

We are good people.

We are writers.
Artists.
Technicians.
Directors and creatives.

We have a disdain for bureaucracy and red tape.

We love to build and enjoy our creations.

We are most definitely off the wall.
…Yet the most sane of them all.

We are passionate about our trade.
Yet we realize most people would never leave the ‘security’ of a job to live their dreams like we do.

We are the biggest employers out there.
We stick to it, amidst economic turmoil and media frenzied trash talking.

Thank the entrepreneurs that you know.
Tell them to keep on plugging and building.

Embrace the entrepreneurial spirit.
We are the future.

Troy

PS: My new Entrepreneurial Spirit Sauce book is just off the presses!  14 great entrepreneurs
put their heart and soul into this book and I am looking forward to sharing their stories with you.
Watch for it next week.

Jan
19

Don’t be shy… everyone does it

By | Entrepreneur, Entrepreneurial Spirits, Success

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The truth is…

Some people hide it.

Others flaunt it.

But the fact is, everyone I have always met in life wants better for themselves.

You may love the life you live right now.

…your health
…your relationships
…your spiritual beliefs
…and your present wealth

But there is something I would bet you have always wanted.

Something you have kept secret.

Maybe you have shared it with your friends, family or lovers.

The fact is…

…there is absolutely nothing wrong with wanting more abundance in your life!

Despite all the negative nonsense in the media about wealth… or the occupiers wanting to rid the world of evil people who are successful… or the poor who want to steal from the rich…

…desiring wealth is a VERY good thing.

If it wasn’t for entrepreneurs who go after their dreams and do everything in their power to create wealth and abundance (through products that please people and a company that supports people and their families)…

…the world would be a very dismal place.

Entrepreneurs are the unsung heroes of the economy.

People like you and I that drag economies back from the brink.

And people like you and I (and John, who I want you to see in this video) that create breakthroughs others can aspire to.

FIRST: you should want to do good things with your wealth once you get it.  Help the underprivileged (on your own terms – no one else’s).  Support charities.  Whatever your do-good dream is… you should want it.

…the key – want it.

The one thing you need to do first before helping others with your new found wealth?

Help yourself.

This is the BIG second more of us need to understand.

John Paul Dejoria is one of the co-founders of the Paul Mitchell hair care products empire.

…a VERY WEALTHY MAN.

In this video (a must watch) – he reveals his strategies for wealth creation and distribution to those in need.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tZUxodNRjQU

He shares a number of lessons in this interview with Barbara Walters.

But he never once apologies for being a billionaire.

He is proud of what he has built.

As a teen, he is fortunate to even make it out alive.

But he did and he went big.

WATCH THIS – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tZUxodNRjQU

With the media and governments telling many of us how evil we are for desiring wealth, messages like this are a MUST for entrepreneurs who want to go big.

If a guy who lived in his car with his son can go on to become a billionaire…

…anyone can.

You may not want billions… but millions sure would change things wouldn’t it?

Watch that video and let me know your thoughts.

Troy

PS: It’s an 8 minute video – watch it.  He turned $700 into a mega-empire.  You can too. Keep your head high and be proud of your desire to do and be more in this world.

PPS: At 5:55 through the end there are some very powerful insights you need to hear.  Listen as his wife explains what the worst part of being a billionaire is.  Funny.

And the last 30 seconds of the video reaffirms my beliefs on the stupidity behind the “Tax the rich higher nonsense out there”.

…as well as his fantastic initiatives to educate those who want more in life…vs giving them handouts that will soon be pissed away.

Harsh, but true.

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