Ray Edwards Show

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 time; it also requires, to some degree, an investment of money. For instance, you might cut back on vacation spending, forgo the latest Apple gizmo, and give up other luxuries, so you can invest those extra dollars in order to outsource work for the business. You’re trading luxuries for the leverage you need to reach your goal. Trade fringe time for full-time status. Most of us have “fringe time” that mostly goes to waste – or at least that is filled with activities that don’t have any lasting value. Think about your own “fringe time” and how you currently fill it. Are you willing to trade your fringe time now for full-time status in your own business in the future? If you are willing to make these trade-offs, you can find the time to get your business off the ground even if you’re a “spare-time startup” – and you can leave the security of your job with income already rolling from the business. Question: What are some things you need to “trade” to help make your start-up business successful? 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 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 Cliff Ravenscraft Smart Passive Income, by Pat Flynn 48 Days, by Dan Miller The School of Greatness, by Lewis Howes Mac Power Users, by David Sparks and Katie Floyd Online Marketing Made Easy, by Amy Porterfield Bethel Church Sermon of the Week, by Bethel Church in Redding, CA The Portfolio Life, Jeff Goins Social Media Marketing Podcast, Michael Stelzner 10 Fresh New Podcasts To Check Out (These Are Your Shows I'm Just Trying Out Or I Listen to Selectively) The Charged Life, Brendon Burchard The Tim Ferriss Show, Tim Ferriss Fizzle, by Corbett Barr, Chase Reeves, and Caleb Wojcik Social Media Examiner Show (different than #10 above, this is a daily 10-minute show) The 1-Day Business Breakthrough, by Chris Ducker and Pat Flynn Radiolab from WNYC The Dave Ramsey Show The Chalene Show, Chalene Johnson This American Life, by Ira Glass Ask Pat, by Pat Flynn 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 are the top podcasts you would recommend that others check out?

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 “Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers.” Psalm 1:1-3 Minister to everyone, but take care who you give access to your heart. Feature Presentation: 10 Life-Changing Habits To Adopt Now Habits are the tiny hinges that swing the big doors of your life – either opening or shutting them. Habits control the tiny, incremental behaviors that shape our lives. “Sow a thought, reap an action; sow an action, reap a habit; sow a habit, reap a character; sow a character, reap a destiny.†– Stephen R. Covey, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People It's the small things we do every day that have the big effect down the road. “You will never change your life until you change something you do daily. The secret of your success is found in your daily routine.†– Darren Hardy, The Compound Effect 10 Life-Changing Habits To Adopt Now Rituals. Gratitude. Forgiveness. Exercise. Food. Responsibility. Journal. Generosity. Overdeliver. Notes. I use The Habit List app to track my daily habit practice. Resources Mentioned In The Show Click Here to get your “Hour of Power” poster. Permission to Prosper Conference Limited-Time Discount Registration The Power of Habit by Charles Duhigg The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen R. Covey The Compound Effect by Darren Hardy Omnifocus Video Field Guide by MacSparky (David Sparks) 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. Question: What habits will you adopt to uplevel your life?  Click here to leave your comments.

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 tell people that classic copywriting formulas will always work, because human psychology does not change. At the basis of that statement is I believe deep truth. However it can also be misleading. If you assume that old-fashioned headline templates, for instance will work as well today as they once did, you may be in for a rude awakening. If you believe that the old school, hard-core, hard-sell, carnival barker style of writing copy still works as well as it did even a year ago, you are definitely in for a rude awakening. As I've discovered through my own business, and working with clients on theirs, there is a new elegance required to writing powerful, persuasive copy. This is just one example of a new trend that does not cancel out a time-tested principle, but doesn't fact require a reinterpretation of that principle through fresh linens. You will be much better prepared for doing business in 2015 if you keep the following seven landscape changing trends in mind. Ignore them at your peril. 7 Trends To Watch For in 2015 The continued rise of high-quality video for the purposes of marketing and selling. The meteoric, explosive growth of podcasting as a marketing channel, and the end of “old school marketing” inside podcasts. The dramatically higher bar that has been set for content marketing to be successful. A major shift away from “homebrew” website solutions, and the shift toward turnkey systems. The crucial importance of the power of proper association. The “thinning of the herd” that will eliminate the shallow, the con artists, and the opportunity seekers… and create an extraordinary advantage for those who are genuine original thinkers, strong personalities, and world changers. The absolute necessity of being more than “10% better” than your competition; the absolute necessity of creating your own category. Resources Mentioned In The Show Permission to Prosper Conference Limited-Time Discount Registration Personal Capital Just Get Started  book by Ray Edwards Money Words book by Ray Edwards Writing Riches book by Ray Edwards Danna Demetre's website 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. Question: What are your thoughts on today's episode?  Click here to leave your comments.

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 movement, is at the root of most Parkinson's symptoms. It just so happens that dopamine also controls mood. Thus, there may be more of a direct physiological element in my individual case. But even this is in dispute amongst experts. I have taken anti-depressants, under the close supervision of a medical professional. So if you need to do this, please do not accept any shame or condemnation for doing so. God always does the healing, whether through the laying on of hands by a believer… or the laying on of hands by a doctor. Or the blessing of intellect that allows the creation of medicines that heal. The Role Of Psychology and Psychiatry In Treating Depression If you seek counseling of any kind, I strongly recommend working with a Christian counselor, and finding one who does not have some perverse “theology of suffering”. Unless you want to suffer and believe it is “for a reason”. I have in the past sought out professional help with depression. Even when I went to see a medical professional, I sought one who was a believer, because the baseline theological premises one begins with influence the final practical outcome conclusions one forms. Even in medicine. 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 feelings of depression?  Click here to leave your comments.