PeteGodfrey.com » Business Success

How to Regain Control Of Your Life And Replace Distractions With Focused Concentration

Pete Godfrey — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 01:22:43 +0000

FOREWORD: YUCK! What a title! Looks like work doesn’t it?

And I won’t lie; this is a heavy, thought-provoking post all about reality; the reality of the world we live in, and what we can do with this reality to ensure a successful life.

I won’t be giving much advice either; more like throwing out a few ideas… like throwing a cat in amongst the pigeons it snaps you awake, gets you thinking, but more importantly, gets you thinking and acting more strategically and with more clarity and purpose.

So I’ll go light on my opinions here and just share with you some important facts on the world we live in and how, instead of technology making us more effective and productive, it has made us dumber, with attention spans of teenage X-Box addicts on a high-sugar diet; forever distracted and unable to focus for more than a few seconds at a time.

Let’s be clear on one thing. Your ability to focus is THE critical key to living a successful life; whatever successful means to you. (A good parent, a great teacher, a super-rich entrepreneur; whatever, it all comes down to focus.)

And some of what I am about to say may be confronting.

Some people won’t wanna hear it and they’ll simply tune out. Like new dads who choose not to hear the baby crying at 2 o’clock in the morning, but can hear the kick-off whistle for the footy on TV while outside in the backyard, some folks have selected hearing. They filter out anything that gets them to think; anything that challenges their beliefs and anything that questions their point of view.

This brings up two points.

First, you can’t please everyone and you shouldn’t even try.

Second, as your coach and mentor, I take my job seriously… and, I take the somewhat unorthodox view that there are times when I have to give you what you need, not just what you want.

Many times, what you need is bitter-tasting, and I have the habit of NOT adding any sugar to make it all sweet. So be it. I won’t be watering down my views to spare the feelings of a few. That would only devalue this blog for those who can handle the truth.

We’re all adults here aren’t we?!!

And look, this isn’t about me it’s about you. Whether you develop certain success behaviours or not, has no impact on my finances.

On yours, most certainly.

On mine, not at all.

I’ve immersed myself in this subject over several years; digesting dozens of books, many blogs and essays and surveys and studies, to condense the subject down into an easily digestible article you can chomp your way through in a few minutes.

And I’ve battled my own way through distractions over the years. I’ve fought for clarity just like anyone else. I’ve wrestled control of my thoughts and have come back even stronger, with laser-like focus.

So I’ve done the hard work for you… and… I’ve got a lot to share. All I can do now is give it to you straight and damn the consequences. This way, you get what you need; and I can sleep with a clear conscious knowing I have done my job.

Okay, enough preamble, let’s get started…

Unpleasant Truths About
The World We Live In

Plugged in: We live in a face-paced world where folks are continually plugged into the grid. Fact is; recent studies prove all of this plugging in is making us dumber; not smarter.

Research studies are proving that we humans are being neurologically re-programmed because of our high-reliance on technology, making us unable to think and concentrate and focus for more than a few seconds at a time. Some of these reports make shocking reading. Consider this:

An average day for many people consists of checking emails hundreds of times, being ever- present on social media sites such as Facebook, logging in to dozens of websites, a constant stream of text-ing, glued to their I-Phone as if it were another appendage. With so much incoming data, there is no time for self; no time to think, to concentrate, to get clear on what they want to achieve.

Many confuse activity for achievement.

“When we constantly multitask to get things done, we’re not multitasking, we’re rapidly shifting attention. And this rapid shifting kills the mind’s ability to create meaningful and powerful forms of output.” Scott Scheper, from his book How to Get Focused. He went on to say, “The key to developing flow (focus) centres on blocking out distractions and keeping the mind serene.”

And here’s what Daniel Sieberg had to say in his book The Digital Diet. “I’ve come to realise that sometime in the last decade we’ve transitioned from being a culture that uses technology to being one that is completely absorbed by it.” Interesting to note, Daniel is a young guy who was formerly the science and technology correspondent for CBS and CNN. I urge you to grab this book and devour it and begin your Digital Detox.

Short attention spans: There’s no doubt about it, attention spans are shrinking. Have you noticed with TV these days, they are constantly recapping? After every commercial they recap what went down before. Sure I understand this is so folks can join the show at any time and not miss a thing, but it’s also to remind those folks who have been there from the start what they have seen. Folks are easily bored and are easily distracted and they crave constant stimulation, so they’re not really paying attention to the TV show in front of them and they have to be constantly reminded of what’s gone on before.

Mob mentality; peer pressure: There is definite pressure on entrepreneurs to be plugged into social media sites such as Facebook and those who don’t are considered old fashioned and out of touch.

What amazes me is that many folks (and I know dozens of them), normally sane, rational people with a good dose of marketing sense, seem to turn into something totally different when online using Facebook.

Their speech changes.

They say “LOL” a lot; it’s like they’re back at high school.

Now this would be fine if they were teenagers or in their twenties; trouble is; I’ve observed many who are my age or older, regressing back to speech patterns that weren’t even around in their youth, but are now part of their vocabulary.

Is this a desperate bid to reclaim their youth?

Not sure.

What I do know is the mob is generally wrong.

To Paraphrase Earl Nightingale: “If you’re stuck for a winning formula, do the opposite of whatever everyone else is doing. Because the majority are often wrong.” So what I (and many of my colleagues and clients) have noticed is the willingness of many to succumb to peer pressure, to neuter their real thoughts so they fit in, and even change the way they speak so they appear hip (I’m showing my age here by using that word) and switched on to this new media.

As I told you at the start I won’t be doin’ any preaching … so I’ll refrain. Because the point is not about me giving you my opinion here, the point is it takes courage to stick to your convictions, to stay true to your values in the face of the mob mentality that says that being different is wrong, out of date, and oh so last century.

The point is fads come and go but your values are for life.

It takes courage to dig your heels in and stand your ground and many find it easier to bend in the breeze and many times that breeze ain’t a gale, just a gentle puff of air is enough for them to change their course.

Voyeuristic intentions: Okay, that’s a line out of the old Rocky Horror Picture Show; but nevertheless, we are becoming a voyeuristic society. Folks are damned interested in what everyone else is doing… and they love to tell you about it and give you their opinion. I once wrote this comment on Facebook and man did it get some responses: “Back in the old days, you know, before The Internet, iPads and X-Box, folks never aired their dirty laundry in public … and then along came facebook…”

OUCH!

Sure did get a reaction.

News, reality and entertainment; a very blurred line: We’re assaulted by news these days and the line between news and entertainment is constantly getting blurred. With so many channels of media to choose from, all regurgitating the same content, from those reporting for CNN to the young guy in his Mum’s basement, getting the facts, getting quality news is getting harder by the minute.

When I was hanging out with Ted Nicholas recently on the Gold Coast, he mentioned his frustration with the lack of quality newspapers with quality content here in Australia.

Celebrity beats credibility: If you are selling to anyone under 40, keep in mind that celebrity trumps credibility any day. For over 40s, years in business and your experience still means something and you can use this as your point of difference and build the trust factor by mentioning your experience and track record. For those under 40, especially those under 30, credibility doesn’t mean a thing. Are you famous? Have you got a cool YouTube video? That’s what they care about.

Living a successful, focused-driven life in the 21^st century

Okay, we are facing many problems is today’s world and chances are it’s cutting into your productivity. But there is a lot of good happening as well…and, like it or not, we need technology to operate our businesses.

Fact is, we’ve never lived in such exciting times. Never had so many opportunities to get rich and live the life of our dreams. However, as you’ve seen it’s a two-edged sword.

Okay, as promised, I went easy on the old advice and opinion in this article. And I’m definitely not here to judge. I merely wanted to give you some food for thought.

In future posts, I’ll give you a detailed summary of the things I’ve been doing to not only reclaim my focus and productivity, but to reclaim my peace of mind amongst the hustle. And peace of mind is such a wonderful thing and I wonder how many folks actually get to experience it.

In his book The Digital Diet, Daniel Sieberg has a series of questions to ask yourself to see if you are suffering from tech-addiction.

One of them is a beauty.

Here it is: “Have you ever felt something hasn’t really happened until you post it on Facebook or tweet about it?”

For many, this sharing of every life experience is an obsession. Instead of being in the moment, sucking up every last bit of enjoyment from the experience, they have to tune out from life and plug into the digital world and let everyone know what a great time they are having.

I always wonder why if they are having such a great time they have to interrupt that great experience and broadcast it around the globe.

Maybe I’m missing something?

I doubt it.

By the way, an old mentor took me aside years ago and gave me some great advice. He said to make your money in the dark. Meaning, you do not have to let folks know how much you are making or how you are doing it.

This new obsession with sharing every success, every thought; every tiny annoyance is juvenile at best; detrimental to your financial security at worst.

Okay, I’ve given you something to chew on until next week. It’s up to you what actions if any you will take.

But it begs the questions:

How much should you reveal on Social Media? How much do you want to reveal? It seems for many folks there is no limit to what they will share online. You need to think strategically about this.

Also, how is your concentration? How’s your focus? Be honest with yourself. If you’re lacking in this department, the good news is concentration and focus is a learned skill and you can become a lean, mean focused machine any time you want. It’ll take a bit of practice, some discipline, but the rewards are worth it. In future, I’ll write about this important subject.

POST SCRIPT: If you’re young, don’t start thinking this is the ramblings of an old, mid-40s dinosaur. This affects all of us… and judging by some of my recent coaching calls with mid-20s members, younger members are becoming aware of this problem and are looking for ways to beat their addiction and learn how to focus. I’ll enjoy getting your thoughts on this article.

P.P.S. This post was adapted from a recent newsletter article. If you enjoyed it, you’ll love my newsletter http://www.emotionaladwritingletter.comRelated Posts:

Opportunities Are Everywhere

Pete Godfrey — Sun, 23 Oct 2011 23:45:49 +0000

I remember reading that line in a book back in the mid nineties when I was still out of control and beating my head against a wall.

I won’t repeat my reaction here… let’s just say I thought it was fine for this rich guy to say that, but what about me?

Anyway, it wasn’t until I changed my attitude that I realised just how true those words really were.

These days, it’s become a mantra for me; deeply ingrained… I couldn’t live any other way. I’m switched on to opportunities; like a bloodhound on the scent of an escaped prisoner, I hunt down opportunities with a determination bordering on obsession, the thrill of the hunt edging me on and pushing me forward.

So what about you? Are you alert for opportunities? Is your mind flipped to this way of thinking? Well here’s something that will help, no matter where you stand.

Here’s something BIG that could be worth a fortune to you and it’s only through experience that you get this knowledge… they don’t tell you about this stuff in books or on facebook.

Listen up: In business, when you keep your eyes opened and keep your eyes on the numbers, you may get two breakthroughs.

Media
Market

Media example: I have a client in Sydney specialising in children’s behavioural problems. Advertising is expensive and we were looking for a media breakthrough. We found Sydney’s Child magazine and this has been a big breakthrough for her, effectively slashing her advertising rates while honing in on a captive, targeted and highly motivated audience.

Market examples: Okay, here are a few market examples to get you thinking like a marketer, thinking like an opportunity-focused entrepreneur.

1: A client of Dan Kennedy’s offers Russian Brides to American men. After painstakingly going through his client list he realised many of his clients were long-haul truck drivers. Think about this! How can he use this information? Can you see what a goldmine this is for him?

2: I’ve got a client in the beauty industry and upon heavy questioning from me, he realised there is a subsection of his clientele that just laps up his services. I can’t give it away here what that subsection is… however; to get this lesson you don’t need to know. Just think about how important this is to him and his marketing. He can now actively seek these women out and make targeted, emotional offers to them with pinpoint accuracy, hitting the hot buttons that are already stirring inside this market.

3: I’ve recently come across a great market for my copywriting training. And if I wasn’t so busy, I’d target them now. (It’s on my to-do list.) The only way I discovered this was by keeping an eye on my members and customers, who they were, what they did for a crust. It’s why I take care of all my white mail even though some days this takes 30 or more minutes… I wanna know what’s going on, what’s being said.

Think!

This is GOLD.

This forces you to think like a marketer!

Look, I thoroughly believe for any product or services there is a passionate subsection of your market, a sweet-spot that when found and targeted can open the cash flow floodgates. So might pay to back up a little, read the above again and think about your own business. What media and market breakthroughs aren’t you capitalising on?

Here’s another BIG POINT: A lot of times, we can get myopic, our money making antennas are only raised for opportunities inside our own niche. But opportunities are everywhere… that’s why you’ve got to always be awake, keep your eyes and ears opened. Back in my working days, I used to get all of my jobs from the pub. I’d be there drinking, but also keeping my ears opened for job opportunities. And basically, nothing has really changed… I still hear about some good deals over a beer or two.

SIDE NOTE: A BIG lesson I got by working with a very savvy client is always try to maximise your winners. Analyse your winners and see why they are working.

According to my client, the two BIG areas to look to for improvement and what you should be looking for are…

Media breakthrough
Copy breakthrough

Love to hear your thoughts on this article… and I trust you can see the value of what I’ve revealed. See you next time, cheers Pete.Related Posts:

Getting The Money!

Pete Godfrey — Tue, 23 Aug 2011 23:52:06 +0000

“Guy hands you a light envelope,
it’s just the beginning.”
From the Sopranos

Okay, I’ve been watching a few Sopranos reruns of late; purely for educational purposes.

But that line above hit home.

A guy owes you say 2 grand, and gives you only 1,500, chances are, the situation is only going to get worse.

It’s the same in business.

If your clients are getting late paying you, or are paying only a partial payment and crying poor, you’ll soon find yourself in cash flow hell; chasing down money when your time should be spent elsewhere.

And this is where your mindset comes into play.

You’ve got to be tough and have absolute conviction in the fees you charge.

Clients will cry poor.

Clients will try to get a special deal.

But you’ve got to stand firm.

I never forget years ago a client cried poor so I cut him a deal on my fees. When I met him in Sydney, he pulls up in his brand new BMW, and the rocks hanging from his fingers could buy you an around the world trip on some fancy cruise liner with plenty of change.

It was a lesson I never forgot.

POST SCRIPT: This post adapted from a recent newsletter article. Now while I can’t and won’t share most newsletter content here (my members pay for the info), I did get a bit of feedback on this article, so I thought ‘what the hell?’. I’ll share it with you here. Love to hear your comments.Related Posts:

How to Finish What You Start

Pete Godfrey — Thu, 04 Aug 2011 01:45:59 +0000

NOTE: Below is an updated post adapted from a recent newsletter article. Now while I can’t and won’t share most newsletter content here, this article caused a ton of feedback from my subscribers, so I knew this was a problem with us entrepreneurs, and I just had to share it with you here.

It’s a great feeling when you complete a project.

For me, there’s nothing like the feeling I get after a productive day as I sit out on my deck, a glass of red wine in hand, and think about how much I’ve accomplished. I feel in control, satisfied, and I imagine what the results will be when my work goes out into the marketplace.

I’m sure you know exactly what I’m saying. I’m sure you’ve experienced those days when you are in control and in the flow and projects get finished with regular monotony.

But it’s not always like this is it?

You know the feeling; you get an idea for a project and get all excited about it and you jump in and get started but before long your energy wanes and you give up on the damn thing.

For many, this becomes a habit.

They become very good at getting ideas but terrible at finishing the job.

The good news, if this is you and you are aware of the problem, you’ve got it half way beat. That’s because awareness of the problem is the first step. The second step is actually doing something about it to fix the situation.

And that’s what this post is all about… I’m giving you 7 ways to help you finish what you start.

#1 Get clear on your personality type: Some folks are good at getting ideas and some folks are good at getting the job done. For most of us, we’re a combination of the two. So it’s important you establish which camp you belong to. For me, I’m good at getting the big idea… and… I’m also good at seeing all the little details of a project that are important to get the job done. However, the best place for me is getting the idea and then delegating the parts I don’t wanna do. I stick with my core skills and delegate the rest.

#2 Pick the right project to begin with: This flows on from the point above. It’s important you do work that interests you… that you do work that you are good at and work that inspires you. Delegate and or outsource the rest.

#3 Quick start/ Build momentum: Get busy. It’s important you get busy, mapping out your idea and taking action. Momentum builds energy; and energy is what you need to finish any project.

#4 Avoid distractions: Get real clear on what you are doing and forget what everyone else is doing. Unplug. Don’t talk about your ideas just do them.

#5 Focus/full attention: Give your project your full attention in the time allotted. Sure you’ve got other things on that need your attention; but when you assign a time slot for your project forget about the other things that need doing and focus solely on the project at hand.

#6 Chunk it down: One big reason why folks don’t get their projects finished is they get overwhelmed with all the stuff that needs doing. By chunking down your project into bite-sized morsels, by creating a to-do list, you’ll instantly see the project is doable and you won’t feel so overwhelmed.

#7 Visualise the rewards for completion: Imagine you have finished the project and it’s a winner. How will you feel? How will you celebrate? For me, I’m a rewards kinda guy. Like when I finish a big copy project, I make sure I reward myself. Nothing too extravagant… maybe a night out with Elita, or a quick weekend away to our favourite holiday spot… and throughout the project I’ll visualise this reward, and really feel what it’s gonna be like. It keeps me fired up and gives me the energy to complete.

BONUS TIP Get clear on your why: Why is finishing this project important? What will it mean to get the job done right and on time? It’s very important you get real clear on why you are doing the project and what it will mean to you when you are finished.

Anyway, trust this helps in some small way.

Love to hear your comments.

Cheers,

Pete Godfrey

Word Wizard

Direct from the tropical north where today the winter’s sky is so blue it hurts your eyes.

P.S. If you enjoy this blog, chances are you’ll enjoy my monthly printed newsletter that gets posted to your door each month like clockwork. I’m not going to bug you on this… I mean, this is a blog, not a damn sales letter. I just want to point out there’s a ton of free bonuses on offer when you grab my newsletter… and one bonus in particular will blow you away. My generosity even surprises me sometimes.

Related Posts:

Guarding Your Time For Maximum Productivity

Pete Godfrey — Tue, 26 Jul 2011 00:08:45 +0000

Here’s The Undeniable TRUTH: How easy you let yourself be distracted each day will ultimately determine how successful you become and how much money you make. That being the case, you must fiercely guard your productivity and do NOT let other people’s dramas or agendas get in your way of achieving what you set out to do.

This morning I’ve got a lot on my plate and nothing short of an apocalyptic event will side track me from getting the job done.

For example, here’s a partial to-do-list for me today.

This blog post.
A tele-seminar with a client.
2 client calls.
Newsletter (I’ve allocated one hour on this, more time tomorrow but if I don’t start now I’ll get behind.)
Sales letter and video script for our Masters of Conversions launch. (I’ve got one hour on this, more tomorrow.)
Masters of Conversion strategy call with Alexi Neocleous.
Two hours of sharpening the saw: New books and newsletters arrived yesterday. It’s my intention to get stuck into them later on in the day. (This will be used as a reward when I get the work done… the old carrot-dangling-in-front-of-donkey’s-nose-style works for me.)

Plus, there are plenty of little things to keep me busy today.

Point is:

I’m not taking any unscheduled calls.
I am not checking emails every minute.
I am not going to let any damn thing stop me from achieving what I’ve set out to do today.

Frankly, I’m not concerned if this offends a few. My mind is not on the few. My mind is clearly focused on my agenda and my agenda only.

What about you?

Are you filled with fierce determination to accomplish your goals today?

Did you spring outta bed this morning with a clearly defined roadmap on what you want to accomplish today?

You see, if you let other people distract you and keep you sidetracked from hitting your daily goals, YOU ARE NEVER IN CHARGE OF YOUR DESTINY!

Get this: I spent too many damn years in the wilderness… just letting life happen to me. Too many years just stumbling around, letting life take me wherever it led me, out of control, helpless yet refusing to acknowledge help, angry but without a clear vision of where the anger originated. Too many years letting other people control my life.

I made a conscious decision more than 12 years ago to wrestle control over my slothful ways and shape my own damn destiny. This has led to an almost manic obsession to be my own creator.

This means…

Never letting others control my day
A fierce protection of my time and how I spend it
A determination NEVER to get caught up in other people’s DRAMAS
Laser like focus as to what IS important to me and my family, and what’s a distraction, maybe even an enemy

As I say at my seminars: Anything that robs you of your productivity, anything that STOPS the money flowing your way is EVIL and should be banished immediately, without hesitation; as if ripping a band-aid off in one swift movement to avoid prolonging the pain, EVIL must be banished just as quickly with the same determination.

By the way, never before in 6 years of publishing my newsletter have I had so much feedback… most of it from my Wizard on Wealth article entitled: How to Regain Control Of Your Life And Replace Distractions With Focused Concentration. (The 4 questions I asked on page 5 got the most response.) It’s a heavy, thought-provoking article all about reality; the reality of the world we live in, and what we can do with this reality to ensure a successful life. It was a confronting read.

But all this feedback proves my point.

We’ve got to get very clear on OUR objectives.

Very clear whether we are being busy or being effective.

Love to hear your thoughts on this.Related Posts:

Direct Mail Sucks!

Pete Godfrey — Thu, 21 Jul 2011 02:51:12 +0000

Direct Mail Doesn’t Work! If I had a dollar for every time I’ve heard this B.S statement, I’d have enough money to buy myself a fancy dinner with wine included. It’s one of those statements we on the inside of Direct Response hear weekly.

Those who believe Direct Mail doesn’t work generally fall into two categories.

One, they haven’t tried it, so it’s new to them so they automatically deny the possibility of it working.

And two, those who have tried Direct Mail and failed because they left out crucial elements in the marketing equation. Instead of blaming themselves, they blame the media… much less confronting and no looking in the mirror is required.

Look, this is like baking a cake without any flour and then being mystified and pissed off when instead of a cake; you’re left with a clump of goo. Not only that, you start bitching and moaning that baking cakes don’t work.

Sounds silly right?

But it’s the same damn thing. You see when you dig a little deeper it’s obvious what went wrong.

They tried shortcutting a tried and true formula;
making up their own recipe as they went along.

Anyway, as always there’s a lesson in this here ramble that does concern you and your business profits. In fact, I can feel a BIG lesson coming on, bubbling away in the depths of this Wizard’s illustrious brain, ready to unleash itself on you, my trusted reader.

Okay, phew, I’m back… here’s something to take on board:

Copy doesn’t live in isolation. You’ve gotta get your strategy right first to give your copy the chance it deserves to be successful.

That’s where being a marketer, being a great sales person comes into play. To be a great marketer, you don’t have to be a great copywriter. However, if you wanna be a great copywriter, you better make damn sure you got your marketing chops honed to a razor’s edge.

Case in point: I had feedback from a Member recently telling me Direct Mail doesn’t work; that it’s a waste of money.

Upon quizzing this member I found out she made many rookie mistakes that slashed her response. There are several lessons for you here; so pay attention, there’s money to be made. Okay, she made many mistakes that space doesn’t allow me to elaborate upon; however here’s a big mistake and how to rectify this appalling situation.

SIDE NOTE: Keep reading to find out this great strategy to doubling your Direct Mail profits…but also… this strategy is a perfect fit for product launches as well… and I’ll show you how we are using it for our upcoming Masters of Conversion launch.

MISTAKE : It was a one shot mailing. There was no set-up preceding the mailing and no follow up after the mailing.

Here’s what I found out. She had never mailed her customers before so her relationship was weak. Now, picture the scene. Her customers haven’t heard a thing from her since they had last seen her in her retail shop. There had been no follow up, no thank you, no effort in continuing the relationship. Now along comes this member’s one-off mailing and she expects outrageous results. Amazing! As I keep saying, folks have unrealistic expectations!

HERE’S THE STRATEGY TO FIX THIS: When you have little or no relationship with your Tribe, or maybe you haven’t contacted them for a while, do a set-up mailing first before you begin a promotion.

Basically a friendly “we’re still here” and “we miss you” kinda letter will do. It doesn’t have to be world class; just get the damn thing mailed. (This could be a full-on reactivation letter as well; however, a softer, lower-key letter will do much better in setting up the upcoming promotion.)

The lesson here is simple and it comes down to
thinking like your customer, not like a seller.

If you haven’t contacted your list for a while and you go straight for the jugular, that is, straight into a sales pitch, good chance your response will be low. Best off to set the mailing up before hand.

It’s the same online. Sometimes I get all caught up in the real world, I forget I’ve got a few thousand people on my online list who haven’t heard from me. So to get back into their good books, I send an email or two each week for a few weeks just to let them know I’m still around. Usually it’s a story with a lesson… and many times I get a stack of emails back saying how much they missed my emails and thanks for sharing some more good stuff. This lets me know I’m doing the right thing. This lets me know I have a solid relationship with my list. Now doing this is just good manners, but it is also savvy marketing.

So I suppose the big lesson here is to have empathy for your customers. Put yourself in their shoes for a change. Build a relationship and don’t just treat them as if all they are is a source of income.

This is where true success lies.

PS: You can use this strategy for online launches as well. Check out the video below. It’s a teaser video for our upcoming Masters of Conversion Super Conference launch. Its sole purpose is to build a bit of buzz and lay the groundwork for what’s to come.

PPS: If you liked the video, can I ask a small favour? If you are on facebook could you please share this video with your friends. It’s simple all you have to do is click like button below. Thanks

Haemorrhoids?

Pete Godfrey — Fri, 24 Jun 2011 01:17:21 +0000

And some say short headlines don’t work.

The headline above ran successfully for years in many different publications. Just goes to show the right word CAN and DOES get attention.

I mean, if you were suffering from haemorrhoids and you saw that headline, chances are, you’d stop what you were doing and pay attention wouldn’t ya?

So don’t buy into any of the dogma about headlines and how they have to be a certain length. The important thing is to get your headline right, so it gets attention and compels the reader to read the rest of your ad. BIGGER isn’t always better ya know…

Okay, now that you’ve got haemorrhoids on the brain, let’s shift gears…

It’s amusing and scary how little people know about things concerning them; how little they invest to educate themselves on subjects that would ultimately enrich their lives. It reminds me of a conversation with a woman the other day who is about to launch a coaching group for a certain business niche. Out of genuine curiosity, I asked about who she studies; who are her mentors?

By the way, this is a question I ask all of my colleagues; I wanna know if I’m missing something, I wanna know if there’s something I should be reading. And because I surround myself with a diverse and sharp-minded group of people, I usually get a couple of recommendations… and if they sell me on it, giving me good reasons why I should get it, usually I’ll go and order the book or course or whatever it is; waiting for the box to arrive like a 7 year-old kid on Xmas Eve.

Anyway, I was surprised by the limited number of people this “Coach” could name.

V-E-R-Y surprised to hear Dan Kennedy isn’t one of them… seeing as Kennedy practically invented the group coaching model many moons ago, you’d think maybe, just maybe, she might wanna see how to do the whole coaching thing right.

And I was slightly amused she doesn’t get my newsletter and therefore does NOT get the accumulated wisdom of ten years of in-the-trenches-work, and a dozen years of continuous study and thorough immersion.

But really, on reflection, I wasn’t really that surprised.

Many folks do just enough to be dangerous.

And that’s okay if they just hurt themselves. Trouble is, you don’t want to be the one following their advice.

The lessons here are obvious…

One, school is never out for the pro. I’ve seen too many “I’m too smart for the room” folks fall on their own swords over the years, right up to the very end blissfully ignorant of their own short comings, believing their own PR, incredulous when the shit hits the fan and their house of cards come tumbling down.

It’s important for us as entrepreneurs to seek out the right kinds of information, the right kinds of advice; and be forever child-like in our appreciation for change, for new information, for growth.

After all, you do NOT want to know just enough to be dangerous; that’s dangerous for you and your long-term wealth accumulation, but also dangerous to those who hang around you.

Two, be very careful on who you follow, who is giving you advice. Frankly, I don’t pay much attention to those who “teach” but do not “do”. And I find it hard to listen to the instant online Gurus who have had one success with one particular technique and who now sell their “experience” to gullible folks looking for the magic pill.

I want to know those I study are doing what they teach… and have been doing it for a lot of years.

Sustained success is what I’m looking for. Not a flash in the pan; but genuine longevity in the field they teach.

It’s the same in sports; take football as an example. Every year you get the new star; a bright light that for one brief seasons eclipses even the most powerful and well-known stars. But the next season they are injured, or off their game, and they struggle to get back to the top.

It’s the same in any field of endeavour.

Folks come and go.

True pros sustain their success over many years.

So the guy’s and girls I study are doing what they are teaching and they’ve been doing it for a lot of years. That’s where I get my info; that’s who I spend my money on.

What about you?

Love you to hear your thoughts on this… Cheers, PeteRelated Posts:

The Amazing Power of the Dear Abby Principle

Pete Godfrey — Tue, 24 May 2011 03:48:59 +0000

Remember the Dear Abby Column?

People would write in with deep, provoking questions like:

“I’m not sure about marrying my boyfriend. He slept with my sister and now Mum and him are getting real friendly. He says he’ll stop. Should I trust him Abby?”

Without a trace of sarcasm and keeping a poker face, Abby would answer even the most childish and ignorant questions.

It was an addictive column for the masses.

They got their questions answered.

They could hand over responsibility.

You see, most people fear the decisions they make; many of them have a history of making bad decisions. That’s why the Dear Abby Column was so popular. That’s why the Dear Abby Principle is so powerful.

Years ago I saw the power of the Dear Abby Principle up close and I was hooked. I sat in as a guest at a high priced consulting day hosted by well-known marketing guru Mal Emery. I was Mal’s guest, not the client’s, so my job was to observe and only occasionally contribute. Anyway, the client asked him a direct question, one that carried the weight of the client’s company on its shoulders; a question that if answered correctly, would ultimately save the client’s business.

Without hesitation, Mal said: “This is what you have to do.”

It was a big lesson for me; seeing how my friend handled this situation. Most would be cautious, carefully sitting on the fence covered in shades of grey.

But people don’t want that! They are uncertain enough as it is!

They will not throw money at you if you dance around a question like a politician two days out from Election Day.

No.

People demand black and whites answers. They pay for certainty. Below are 3 points taken from my Last Ever Copywriting & Marketing Master Class; the subject was on handling clients.

Clients will throw money at you if they see you are confident.

Every one craves certainty; give it to your clients.

Never show weakness, always be certain. (Language: “This is what needs to be done.”)

The power of the Dear Abby Principle is simply: People want to be told what to do.

How do you apply this in normal, everyday business?

Well here’s a story that illustrates my point.

Last year my daughter Chloe got it in her head that she wanted some Hermit Crabs. “There so cute Daddy,” she pleaded, looking at me with those big brown eyes. I made a mental note that YES, drama classes were working. Anyway, next minute, we found ourselves in our neighbourhood pet shop where I enquired about Hermit Crabs. I made it obvious I didn’t have a clue, I just wanted the crabs and… what else would I need?

First the sales girl grabbed a small fish tank. Then she added fine sand (you can’t just use normal sand you know), then she added in a couple of half coconut shells with pretty pictures painted on them, threw in a round ball-like object (Hermit crabs love their football), grabbed a packet of special hermit Crab food, threw in a packet of powder that makes normal tap water turn into some kinda Hermit Crab-friendly elixir, then placed two crabs inside.

I didn’t get much change from a $100. (Think about what happened here; how can you apply this?)

2^nd Example: Dan Kennedy taught me a big lesson which boosted my copywriting fees almost overnight. I followed his advice, and instead of just accepting assignments from clients, I would tell them what the assignment should be. Instead of just writing their ad, I wrote the whole damn marketing system. They accepted because I told them too… the advice coming from a position of power, not need.

POST SCRIPT: I’m sure you are smart enough to realise the power of what was revealed here. This one should definitely be placed on the top-shelf in your marketing armoury. And please don’t sit there and say it won’t work because you’re not a consultant or you don’t run a pet shop. THINK! That’s all it takes. In all markets, all businesses, people crave certainty; people want to be told what to do. Tell them!

OH COME ON! YOU WANT MORE? Okay, if you’re in retail, say Men’s fashion. Sell the shirt, tie and the suit. Choose the shoes for the customer. Throw in the socks. Tell them what’s needed; what to buy. Selling cosmetics?… no worries. “Yes you do need this eyeliner but without our hydrating foundation the look is lost. Plus, this lipstick really goes with it, and a nice blush will really compliment your wonderful skin.”

DISCLAIMER: (Legal Speak) For those readers who use cosmetics, the author apologises in advance. In no way should the line above be construed as professional make-up advice. The author has limited knowledge of the application of make-up and the line was used for demonstration purposes only.

The point is to take charge and tell your customers what to do; what they need. Folks crave certainty in an uncertain world. No more examples, that’s it.Related Posts:

What Suzi Quatro, Good Manners, And YOUR Business Have In Common

Pete Godfrey — Wed, 11 May 2011 00:10:38 +0000

Okay, I may be showing my age here, but if you’re over forty and listened to Rock music as a kid, chances are, you’ve heard of Suzi Quatro.

Suzi’s the quintessential “Rock Chick” and she’s still performing today at the ripe old age of 60.

Anyway, Suzi had a song called: Your mama won’t like me. The song went something like this:

So don’t take me home baby… cause your mama won’t like me.

Ah, classic Rock lyrics there.

I had the same trouble growing up myself.

A few of my friends’ parents didn’t like the idea of their precious children hanging around young Pete Godfrey… might lead them astray. But one thing always saved me… my manners.

I remember my mum telling me about a conversation she had with one of my mate’s mothers. Apparently she told mum: “Look, we all know Pete’s no angel, but his manners are exceptional. He’s welcomed at my place any time.”

So, what’s this reminiscing got to do with you and your business?

Well, just about everything.

That’s because good old fashioned manners seem to be a dying commodity in this high-tech 21^st century. People are becoming rude, self-centred, hiding behind a computer spewing poison into the ether. It only takes a quick glance at Facebook to confirm how rude folks are behaving.

But get this: Even today, good manners can take you places. Good manners can build a BOOMING business, get you networking with high achievers, and gives you the moral foundation to build a successful life.

Manners are your key to wealth!

It’s a lesson I’ve been freely sharing with my kids over the years. But not lecturing them on it. I don’t sit them down on the bed, one hand on my hip and the other hand demonstrating the lesson with a pointed finger.

No, nothing like that.

Just in casual conversation.

Telling them stories.

Teaching them in a fun way.

I suggest if you have children you do the same; because I know I’ll be doing it with my kids.

And, I would love to hear your take on this.

See ya next week,

Pete Word Wizard Godfrey

P.S. This post has been updated from a recent newsletter article.Related Posts:

Are you a TRUE Believer?

Pete Godfrey — Wed, 20 Apr 2011 00:37:49 +0000

Many times, folks get in their own way.

Good things come to them but they have the uncanny ability to stuff things up. When success is in easy reach of their fingers, they pull their hands away.

Why is this?

Many reasons.

It’s a question that I have pondered many times over the years. A question that has seen me read hundreds of books on the subject; go to the seminars, debate this question over wine with sharp-minded friends.

It SHOULD interest you as well if living a successful life, in ALL areas of your life, is important to you.

It’s a good question.

Why do folks fail so near the finishing line?

A good question like this begets many questions that need to be answered. If you think you may be suffering from this “fear of success” or whatever you want to call it, the questions below and my comments will help.

PERSONAL NOTE: Coming from a working class background and with a 20 or more year track record as a classical underachiever, I had a perverse way of stuffing up good things that came my way. It was only through extensive self-appraisal, the reading of dozens and dozens of books, that I was able to get rid of all the crap inside my head. (Most of it anyway.) This self-sabotaging behaviour is more common than you think. I’ve had many private conversations with clients, some of whom you’d know; who look extremely successful but have low self-images; many secretly feel guilty about their success.

Do you believe you will be financially successful? If you don’t really believe in your gut, that you can be successful, if you can’t see it and feel it, it makes it harder for you to achieve it.

Do you see yourself as a successful person now? Look, if you’re not successful now but you want to be and you’re working on yourself and your skills to be successful, then you should start feeling successful NOW, not later. You’ve got to feel successful because you are actively involved with shaping your own destiny. Fewer than 5% of the population do this!

Fewer than 5% of the population actually endeavour to improve themselves and add value to themselves. If you do, you damn well should see yourself as successful.

Do you think you deserve to be rich? Man, I’m going to write a book on this one. Some folks are hung up on money and when they get it, they spend it because they feel guilty. See Lotto winners for numerous examples. To be RICH, you have to think RICH. Believe in yourself that you deserve to be rich. Hey, why not you? RICH people aren’t smarter than the masses. They just think differently and get more done.

Do you realise success takes work? Folks who get caught up with the latest “attraction-fad”, who think if they think good thoughts they’ll get rich; are in 99.9% of the cases, left bitterly disappointment. Success is messy and it takes work. (You think I’m not working here?)

Do you feel superior to the masses? This one makes some people cringe. It’s very rarely spoken about. But here it is. Most successful people I know have a secret, unspoken feeling of superiority to the masses. And why shouldn’t they feel this way? They don’t bitch and moan, they get on with it. They don’t sit around wasting time, they move. They create jobs, move forward, help charities, improve themselves, push forward, put up with the bull shit of regulations, rules, taxation, staff, and on it goes. Of course they should feel superior! But here’s the thing, you’ve got to keep it to yourself. You can’t say it out loud. But you can sure damn well feel it… and you should!

Okay, I’m going to talk about this subject a bit more in the coming weeks on this blog. And in this month’s newsletter, in The Wizard On Wealth Section, I’ve written an article called “Charlie Sheen Implodes” that tackles this subject in detail. I talk about how and why some folks self-sabotage when success starts coming their way. I also talk about how I have opened doors for people, effectively fast-tracking their journey, and how it pains me when some do not reach their full potential, but slip back into anonymity.

Here’s how I summed it up in the newsletter…

“You see in life, doors can be opened for you so you get to your destination quicker, easier, and without all the fuss and angst of finding the right key for yourself. This can shave years and years off your journey so you get to your destination in record time. But here’s what I want you to get:

You’ve still got to be the right person to get through the door, and once through, you have to be the right person to remain in such an exclusive room.”

Okay, there’s more coming in future weeks. For now, I’m outta here as I’m half way through a BIG launch for a client plus multiple deadlines are looming on the horizon.

I’d love to hear your comments.

See you next week, Pete.

NOTE: Parts of this article taken from my FREE Gift Bonus Pack available FREE to all new subscribers to my newsletter.