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Mastermind Roundtable: AI, Storytelling, Authenticity, and Building Superfans My guests for this podcast: → Mike Stelzner | https://www.socialmediaexaminer.com/ → Pat Flynn |  https://patflynn.com/ → Mark Mason | https://markmason.com/ → Leslie Samuel | https://iamlesliesamuel.com/ → Cliff Ravenscraft | https://www.cliffravenscraft.com/ Ray Edwards hosts a mastermind-style discussion with Cliff Ravenscraft, Mike Stelzner, Mark Mason, Leslie Samuel, and Pat Flynn about the current online business market and how AI is reshaping discovery, content, and connection. Each offers a one-word market description: evolving (Cliff), tumultuous (Mike), opportunity (Leslie), narrowing channels through an AI lens (Mark), and story-driven (Pat). Pat explains growing his Card Party Pokémon event from 1,500 to 10,000 attendees without ads by building community, creating remarkable experiences, featuring other creators, and leveraging social conversation that fuels search. The group emphasizes that human connection, authenticity, and storytelling matter more as AI answers informational queries. Mike shares his daily short-form docu-series “Press Start: The Road to 3,000” to rebuild Social Media Marketing World attendance and improve through repetition. Cliff discusses reinvention via finding one’s zone of genius and validating before pivoting. Mark highlights persistent AI agents with memory that can execute tasks and compound results.   00:00 Meet the Mastermind 01:58 One Word Market Pulse 06:38 Pat on Card Party Growth 09:28 Search and Superfans 11:05 Human Face Wins 13:49 Mike's Daily Docuseries 17:15 Mark on Search Panic 20:28 Cliff on Reinvention 25:10 Pat on Serving First 29:44 AI Agents Opportunity 33:41 Rapid Fire AI Examples 35:24 Wrap Up and Links     CONNECT ON SOCIAL → instagram | http://instagram.com/rayedwards → facebook | http://facebook.com/rayedwardsonline → twitter | http://twitter.com/rayedwards → tiktok | http://tiktok.com/therayedwards → linkedin | http://linkedin.com/in/therayedwards   LISTEN TO THE AUDIO PODCAST 🎧 The Ray Edwards Podcast | https://rayedwardspodcast.com   Subscribe for all the new videos from Ray | https://www.youtube.com/user/RayEdwardsTV?sub_confirmation=1 - My NEW book: Read This or Die! Persuade Yourself to a Better Life | https://amzn.to/40X32s8   My COPYWRITING Book: How to Write Copy That Sells | http://amzn.to/2BSgrc9     W A T C H  M O R E   HOW PROSPERITY HELPS EVERYONE: https://youtu.be/NhDLNJjxfkY   5 REASONS YOU AREN'T GETTING THINGS DONE: https://youtu.be/ztREI-7Jn5k   HOW TO GET OUT OF OVERWHELM https://youtu.be/EOD7sdBP-Ws ___   S N A I L M A I L Ray Edwards Ray Edwards International, Inc 2910 E 57th Ave Ste 5 PMB 330 Spokane, WA 99223   Inquiries | [email protected] ___   W E L C O M E   Welcome to the Ray Edwards YouTube Channel, the channel dedicated to helping you write the words that sell more of your products, services, and ideas.   My name is Ray Edwards, and I'm the author of How to Write Copy That Sells. I'm also an internationally-recognized public speaker, entrepreneur and marketing strategist.   Discover more details at https://rayedwards.com/about/ Subscribe to this YouTube Channel for regular videos: https://www.youtube.com/user/RayEdwardsTV?sub_confirmation=1 - DISCLOSURE:   Thank you for trusting me to bring you truthful and reliable opinions on any products I recommend. I always disclose affiliate or sponsored information - to be safe, just assume I stand to benefit from any recommendations I make. As a friend, you permit me to earn a small commission if you make a purchase through my affiliate/referral links. This doesn't affect you in any way in the checkout process (unless I've arranged a discount for you). Thank you for supporting this channel!

The Boredom Trap: Why You Quit Right Before It Works I sat down with Robert Plank — longtime podcaster, host of Marketer of the Day, and a man with more than 1,600 episodes behind him — to talk about why podcasting still works as a growth strategy for thought leaders, and why most people abandon it right about the time it starts paying. I include myself in that indictment. We also got practical about using AI without surrendering your voice, and how a podcast quietly builds relationships, referrals, and opportunities that no ad campaign can buy.Robert's "Done For You Podcasting" Service: https://www.dfypodcast.com/ Timestamps 00:00 — I introduce Robert Plank and his podcasting mission 02:14 — Why podcasting is still the best place to start a platform 03:08 — Why interviews feel more alive than solo monologues 04:20 — The boredom trap, and why your audience is always behind you 05:47 — Consistency, routines, and showing up on schedule 08:08 — Changing tactics without abandoning your strategy 09:05 — Why AI-generated content so often feels fake 10:54 — What good AI-assisted filmmaking and writing can look like 12:09 — Human judgment, cleanup, and the "AI pass" 13:36 — Using AI drafts while protecting your own voice 14:37 — Why you still have to review the output 15:48 — What 1,600+ episodes actually teach you 16:16 — The structure that makes interviews easier and better 18:40 — The relationship value that lives outside the interview 19:22 — Using podcasting to land one client instead of chasing vanity metrics 20:49 — Pre-calls, post-calls, and deliberate follow-up 22:33 — Why podcast relationships turn into real opportunities 24:13 — Shallow interviews versus true connection 25:28 — Letting referrals happen instead of forcing the sale 26:26 — What to do if your last podcast attempt flopped 27:05 — Why podcasting is easier now than it's ever been 28:02 — Reconnecting with old contacts and preserving good conversations 30:03 — Why recording video is worth it even with a simple setup 31:41 — How video deepens relationships over time 32:28 — The discipline of actually listening to your guest 33:54 — Why good banter makes a show worth hearing 34:11 — Robert's done-for-you podcasting service 35:24 — What his team handles behind the scenes 36:09 — My closing endorsement of Robert Quote I keep coming back to "Failure is the opportunity to begin again more intelligently." — Henry Ford What I'd do with this Treat your podcast as a relationship-building tool, not a broadcast channel. Hold your core strategy steady long enough to actually see results. If you use AI, review and refine it until it sounds like a human wrote it — because one should have. Build a simple interview structure so your guest relaxes and the conversation stays on the rails. Follow up after the episode. The real value usually shows up after you stop recording. Repurpose every recording into video, audio, clips, and posts. One conversation, many assets. Reach back out to people you've lost touch with. A podcast is a great excuse to revive a relationship worth having.

In this episode, Michael Hyatt shares how AI is transforming productivity and leadership, emphasizing the importance of working according to your design and becoming an AI architect to enhance capacity and fulfillment. Key Topics AI as a tool for productivity and fulfillment Training AI to work for you, not against you Using AI to analyze websites and improve conversions Personality assessments and the MAPS profile Aligning work with your natural wiring and passions The concept of the desire zone and drudgery zone Building startups with AI on a bootstrap budget The importance of working according to your design Chapters 00:00 Introduction and guest background 00:31 Michael Hyatt's life philosophy and sabbatical practice 01:41 AI as a tool for increasing productivity and human flourishing 02:58 Training AI to handle routine tasks and email management 04:33 Using Claude AI for workflow automation and website optimization 06:57 Training AI to respond in your voice and style 08:55 AI's impact on team capacity and leadership 11:02 Displacement fears and the opportunity to become an AI user 11:58 Starting with AI: experimentation and startup opportunities 13:56 AI transforming business operations and outsourcing 16:02 Reflective thinking and AI analysis of websites 17:01 Creating and building websites with AI 18:52 AI in digital marketing and the newsletter offering 20:29 New project: The MAPS profile for personality assessment 22:00 Understanding yourself through AI-driven personality synthesis 24:02 Using personality insights to improve team dynamics 26:02 Working according to your design and the desire zone 28:04 Conclusion: working in your strength and fulfillment

In this episode, Raleigh Norton shares his incredible story of a skydiving accident (just a few months ago!), the lessons learned from adversity, and how intentional mindset shifts can transform your life and business. Discover insights on mastering craft, the importance of a clear 'why,' and navigating AI's impact on creativity.  00:00 The Skydiving Incident: A Life-Changing Experience 06:16 Lessons Learned from Adversity12:50 Raleigh Norton's Journey: From Hawaii to Scaling.com19:56 The Importance of a Proper 'Why' in Business 27:29 Transformative Mindsets: Learning from Life's Challenges 37:17 Transforming Challenges into Opportunities 38:05 Navigating the AI Landscape 39:58 AI's Dual Nature: Shadow and Light 44:38 The Role of Human Creativity in an AI World 50:19 Mastering Craft in the Age of AI 57:23 Building in Doses: The Path to Mastery 01:05:08 Believing in Your Potential CONNECT ON SOCIAL → instagram |   / rayedwards    → facebook |   / rayedwardsonline    → twitter |   / rayedwards   → tiktok | http://tiktok.com/therayedwards → linkedin |   / therayedwards    THE AUDIO PODCAST 🎧 The Ray Edwards Podcast |https://rayedwardspodcast.com  Subscribe for all the new videos from Ray | https://www.youtube.com/user/RayEdwar...  - My NEW book: Read This or Die! Persuade Yourself to a Better Life | https://amzn.to/40X32s8 My COPYWRITING Book: How to Write Copy That Sells | http://amzn.to/2BSgrc9 W A T C H M O R E HOW PROSPERITY HELPS EVERYONE:    • How Prosperity Helps Everyone   5 REASONS YOU AREN'T GETTING THINGS DONE:    • 5 Reasons You Aren't Getting Things Done   HOW TO GET OUT OF OVERWHELM    • How to Get Out of Overwhelm

Join Ray Edwards and Joe Barton as they explore faith, entrepreneurship, health, and the transformative power of trusting God through life's challenges. And yes - the $30M sales letter will be revealed! (Or is it - the $100M sales letter???). Discover how faith influences business decisions, health journeys, and personal growth in this inspiring conversation. CHAPTERS 01:14 Meet Joe Barton: A Journey of Faith and Family 03:02 The Birth of Barton Publishing and Its Success 06:08 From Ladybugs to Kidney Stones: The Start of a Business 09:01 Faith and Entrepreneurship: A Divine Connection 11:52 Health Challenges and Personal Growth 1 4:54 Childhood Context: A Story of Healing and Faith 23:41 The Impact of Family and Faith on Business 26:33 Current Business Landscape and Future Aspirations 30:35 Navigating Affiliate Marketing and E-commerce Challenges 33:52 The Impact of Advertising Changes on Business 38:19 Facing Financial Hardships and Tough Decisions 40:37 Shifting Perspectives on Business and Life 49:02 The Responsibilities of Wealth and Generosity 54:04 Building Temple: A New Venture in Health and Faith   Barton Publishing - https://bartonpublishing.com/ Build Templ: Let Your Training Be Worship - https://buildtempl.com/   CONNECT WITH JOE BARTON ON SOCIAL → LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/joebarton → Twitter - https://twitter.com/joebarton → Website - https://www.joebarton.com   CONNECT WITH RAY ON SOCIAL → instagram | http://instagram.com/rayedwards → facebook | http://facebook.com/rayedwardsonline → twitter | http://twitter.com/rayedwards → tiktok | http://tiktok.com/therayedwards → linkedin | http://linkedin.com/in/therayedwards  LISTEN TO THE AUDIO PODCAST 🎧 The Ray Edwards Podcast | https://rayedwardspodcast.com Subscribe for all the new videos from Ray | https://www.youtube.com/user/RayEdwardsTV?sub_confirmation=1 - My NEW book: Read This or Die! Persuade Yourself to a Better Life | https://amzn.to/40X32s8 My COPYWRITING Book: How to Write Copy That Sells | http://amzn.to/2BSgrc9 W A T C H M O R E HOW PROSPERITY HELPS EVERYONE: https://youtu.be/NhDLNJjxfkY 5 REASONS YOU AREN'T GETTING THINGS DONE: https://youtu.be/ztREI-7Jn5k HOW TO GET OUT OF OVERWHELM https://youtu.be/EOD7sdBP-Ws ___ S N A I L M A I L Ray Edwards Ray Edwards International, Inc 2910 E 57th Ave Ste 5 PMB 330 Spokane, WA 99223 Inquiries | [email protected] ___ W E L C O M E Welcome to the Ray Edwards Podcast and YouTube Channel. We are here to help you write the "words that sell". Sell more of your products, services, and ideas. My name is Ray Edwards, and I'm the author of How to Write Copy That Sells. I'm also an internationally-recognized public speaker, entrepreneur and marketing strategist. Discover more details at https://rayedwards.com/about/ Subscribe to my YouTube Channel for regular (FREE) videos: https://www.youtube.com/user/RayEdwardsTV?sub_confirmation=1 - DISCLOSURE: Thank you for trusting me to bring you truthful and reliable opinions on any products I recommend. I always disclose affiliate or sponsored information - to be safe, just assume I stand to benefit from any recommendations I make. As a friend, you permit me to earn a small commission if you make a purchase through my affiliate/referral links. This doesn't affect you in any way in the checkout process (unless I've arranged a discount for you). Thank you for supporting this channel!

How Going Broke Made Me Rich A while back, I lost everything. Not "everything" the way people say it after a rough quarter. I mean I opened my banking app one day and saw a number with no digits in front of the decimal. Zero. The kind of zero that makes you sit very still for a minute. I'd been earning a million dollars a year. And then I wasn't earning anything at all. Here's the strange part, and it's the reason for this post and the episode it goes with: losing it might be the best thing that ever happened to me. If you've ever been afraid of losing what you've built — or you're in the middle of losing it right now — stay with me. "The recent unpleasantness" I've started calling it that, with a little wink, "the recent unpleasantness" (what's that movie? Anyone know?). It began with Parkinson's. Then the pandemic, which was not a gentle season for anyone running a business. Then shoulder surgery. Then brain surgery — and I want you to notice I just dropped "brain surgery" in next to "shoulder surgery" like I was listing errands. Add a few business decisions I'd love to have back, some personal ones I'd file in the same drawer, medical bills that arrived looking like phone numbers, and overhead that had grown to the size of a small kingdom. Underneath all of it, quietly, a crisis of faith. Not a wobble. A genuine dark night of the soul, the kind St. John of the Cross wrote about, where God seems to have left the room and shut the door, and you stand in the dark wondering if any of it was ever real.  At the bottom of it, I declared bankruptcy. I'm not telling you this to perform my suffering. I'm not complaining. We're rebuilding, and I'm a new man — by the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and I mean that as plainly as I can say it. So here's the question I had to ask myself. When I say going broke made me rich, is that just a clever line? A copywriter's sleight of hand? Or can a man say a thing like that and be telling the truth? It's true. Here's how. What was actually load-bearing When you get stripped all the way down, you find out what was holding the house up. I'd built a life with a lot of stuff in it. Income. Status. A reputation in my corner of the marketing world. The comfort of knowing the bills were handled and then some. None of that is wrong. I'm not here to tell you money is the problem and poverty is the cure — that's a sermon people preach when they've never actually been broke, and it's nonsense. What happened was simpler. Everything that wasn't essential got taken away, and I was left holding only what was. And the list of things that are truly essential turns out to be far shorter than the list of things I'd convinced myself I couldn't live without. Corrie Ten Boom said it better than I can: you don't learn that Jesus is all you need until the day He's all you have.  I used to read that as a needlepoint-pillow kind of line. Then I lived it, and it stopped being a pillow and became the floor I was standing on. Because when you've got nothing left but God, you find out fast whether God is enough. He is. Not because I read it somewhere — because I tested it against the wall, with nothing to fall back on, and it held. What grew in the low place I spent a lot of that season on my knees. I mean that literally, not as a figure of speech. Some mornings I was flat on my face on the floor, talking to God. Sometimes not even talking. Just there. Out of words, out of plans, out of the energy it takes to keep pretending you've got it handled. And in that low place, things grew that had never had room before. Real humility — the kind that comes from running out of options and realizing you were never as in control as you thought. A habit of seeking God's will before a decision instead of after, when I just needed Him to bless what I'd already chosen. A patience I did not previously possess; ask anyone who knew me in the old days. I became a better husband, a better parent, a better friend, a better follower of Jesus. Not better than you, or anybody — better than the man I used to be. That's the only fair comparison there is. And the new one is a better creature. A reborn one. That's not a marketing claim. It's a report from the field. A different kind of builder I'm rebuilding the business now, with a few good people helping me, and it's going well. But it's going well in a completely different way. Before, I built fast and big. I added overhead like it was a hobby. If something looked like it might work, I threw money and people at it and sorted the details later. This time it's slow, methodical, almost annoyingly careful. Not because I've gotten timid — because I've become a different kind of business person. The fast-and-big version of me was running on a need to prove something, to be impressive, to outrun a fear I couldn't have named at the time. That guy got retired during the unpleasantness, and the fellow who replaced him builds differently. Going back through my old courses and trainings as part of the rebuild, I found most of it was sound. Well-built. Stuff I can stand behind. I'll say that carefully, because there's a version of it that's just bragging in modest clothing. I'm not proud of the work. I'm pleased by it — and there's a difference. Proud takes credit and puffs up. Pleased just looks at the thing honestly and notices the foundation's still square. The shortcut Here's where I land the plane. Some of us are slow students. I'll put myself first in that line. Apparently I'm the kind of student who needs the painful version of the lesson — going broke financially, physically, spiritually, getting taken all the way down to the studs before I'll finally surrender to God's will. That's how I learned it. The hard way. The expensive way. It doesn't have to be that way for you. You could skip all of it and go straight to the mercy seat. Straight to surrender and humility and trust, and find the freedom there before the tragedy ever shows up. The lesson is available without the tuition I paid. I had to lose everything to learn God was enough. You could simply decide He's enough today — on a perfectly ordinary Tuesday, business intact, bank balance healthy, nothing dramatic happening at all. Surrender now, while it's a choice, instead of later, when it's the only option left. That's the shortcut, and it's a real one. So if everything's going fine and you've been holding God at arm's length because you don't feel like you need Him at the moment — go to your knees anyway. Not out of crisis. Out of wisdom. Get there the easy way. And if you're in the dark right now, door shut, God seemingly gone from the room, hear this from somebody who's been exactly where you are: He hasn't left. It feels like it. I know. But the floor is still there in the dark. I found it. It held me. It'll hold you. Going broke made me rich. I mean that every way it can be meant. I lost the money and found the things money was always a substitute for, and knowing what I know now, I wouldn't trade back. This is the written companion to this week's episode of The Ray Edwards Show. If it landed, go listen to the full conversation — and then go do the thing only you can do. And remember whose you are.

The last few years handed me a stack of things I never ordered — Parkinson's, brain surgery, a pandemic, and financial pressure I've talked about openly in older episodes and on YouTube. In this brand-new, unedited, "live-to-drive" relaunch of The Ray Edwards Show, I'm not going to rehash the wounds.  I'm going to do something more useful: I'm going to hand you the scars. Because the scars, as I've come to see it, are the curriculum. And what I learned in that fire has rewired everything I teach about building a business in this strange, contracting, AI-rewired moment — including why nearly every entrepreneur I meet is trying to build a personal brand in exactly the wrong order.. Here's a peek at what you'll discover when you press play: The tight little phrase I now use to describe my current state of freedom — and the brutal price I paid over the last few years to earn the right to say it. The disease: "out-of-sequentialism". You probably have it -- becuase it's quietly killing almost every coach, consultant, and creator online right now (my friend Armand Morin gave it the name) — and the embarrassingly simple test that tells you in 30 seconds whether you've got it. The Tony Robbins example about a dog and a kid named Johnny — and what it reveals about why your message isn't landing, no matter how much copy you rewrite. The dollar-store habit I credit with saving more of my best ideas than any AI tool, app, or "second brain" system ever has — and the three reasons it still humiliates your phone in 2026. (Hint: Alex Mandossian was right.) The single Bible verse I call "the entire permission slip" you need to stop hiding your gift from the marketplace — and how to read it without the religious baggage that's kept you small for years. Why "the ultimate sacrifice" wasn't REALLY the ultimate sacrifice — and the surprisingly mercenary reason Jesus did what he did, according to the Book of Hebrews. (Some pastors will not love this segment. I'm at peace with that.) The Casey Neistat number proves you don't need to be famous, funded, or follow-rich to build a business that buys back your life. (He started $200,000 in debt. With a camcorder.) The difference between Mission and Vision — confused by 95% of the entrepreneurs I've coached — and the single reason their goals never compound into anything bigger than a to-do list. The deceptively simple Destiny Formula that turns vague mission statements into something you can actually wake up and execute on Monday morning. Why "fair" does not mean "equal" — and how getting this one distinction wrong will keep you stuck in quiet resentment for the rest of your business career. The "interruptibility test" I use to decide whether a business is actually worth building — and why most "successful" entrepreneurs fail it without realizing it. A coffee shop in Spokane called Revel 77 — and the one thing it does that quietly destroys generic competitors without ever undercutting them on price. (You can steal this for any business, in any niche, this week.) Why marketing is NOT what you think it is — and the three-word definition that makes it 10x easier to do, even if you've never written a sales letter in your life. The Earl Nightingale "fireplace" line that exposes why most entrepreneurs are quietly broke. (You've made this exact mistake. Probably this week.) The reverse-engineering math that turns a $104,000 income goal into one doable, repeatable weekly task — no hype, no hustle-bro nonsense, no hopium. Why "lead magnets are dead" is one of the dumbest things being said online right now — and the value-first sequence that still prints money in 2026 (and will print more of it in 2027). The three traits every piece of marketing must have to spread on its own. The War of Art has all three. Your Best Year Ever has all three. Yours probably has one — at best. The "modern elder" our culture has discarded — and why being over 50 may be your single biggest unfair advantage in the AI era. (At 60, I'm making the case.) The four questions you must answer about your customer — in this exact order — before you write a single piece of sales copy, run a single ad, or post a single piece of content. The one phase that, when skipped, makes every other phase collapse — and the surprisingly philosophical question you must answer to nail it. (Most entrepreneurs would rather do anything than sit with this question. That's the tell.) What "destiny" actually means, etymologically — and why you can change yours today, even if today turns out to be the only day you have left. Press play. Pull out the pen and notebook I'll tell you to grab anyway. And get ready to find out exactly which phase you've been skipping. 🎧 Listen now → [The Ray Edwards Show, Episode 686] 📄 Grab the free companion report that walks through all five phases in detail: rayedwards.com/5pillars

A.I. has stripped all value from generic content. Content is not only abundant, it's become practically infinite and worthless. So, where does that leave us mere mortals?   There are 5 things you have that you might not recognize as assets, but they absolutely are. This week, I'll give you the breakdown of 5 things that you have that AI can never replicate. Key Insights Seth Godin's Talking Dog metaphor Don't Dismiss the Miracle ... and don't give it everything Nate B Jones: When AI makes building free, the question becomes "Do I own something structural that AI cannot replicate?" When AI makes everything abundant, the scarce things become infinitely more valuable Content, code, images, research, first drafts...essentially free and infinite What things can AI not manufacture or copy  Trust: AI cannot manufacture the trust you've built with your audience Context: Providing AI with your body of work can help it replicate your thinking Distribution: Content is not scarce. The value of generic content is 0. Your list (email, podcast, customers) - the direct lines you control are extremely valuable Your Taste: AI has no point of view. Your ability to look at 100 options and know which one is right is something you've built through years of experience Accountability: Somebody has to be responsible. Your name carries weight. My "Personal Knowledge Architecture" - Keep your context, notes, and knowledge organizedGet on the waiting list! This week: AI Accelerator Summit- Get your Free Ticket Here Links Seth Godin - The "Talking Dog" Nate B Jones - Insightful strategist The AI Accelerator Summit (Starts 4/15!): Grab your FREE ticket and join me an 14 of my most respected, successful colleagues as we break down how AI is changing our businesses. If you want to skip the hype and get down to the brass tacks of what tools some of the top entrepreneurs are using, this is where you want to be! How You Can Help Subscribe to the show in Apple Podcasts or on Spotify, and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will definitely mention you on this show. Questions or comments? Connect with Ray on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram Visit Ray's community on Facebook – This is a friendly group of writers, entrepreneurs, and coaches who share ideas and helpful advice.

I've coached a lot of people to "start making videos". It's an essential part of building your brand and attracting the right people. Putting your personality on display will weed out those you don't click with and strengthen the bonds with your fans. ​ ​That's all true, but the fact is...Not everyone can physically do this. As a person living with Parkinson's, I have windows of time where my body is willing to cooperate with me and do what I need it to. Some days those windows are very short...Other days they're nonexistent.  ​ ​There are millions of people with physical and mental challenges that make it difficult or impossible to be on camera. This week, I want to prove to you that you're not out of the game because of these limitations. You have options!  ​ Key Insights The notion that the only pathway to success for a content creator is through a lens is false If you have a condition (ADHD, Parkinson's, Anxiety) that makes it hard or impossible to be on camera, AI has given you options This is not "cheating" Be open and transparent. This will enhance your credibility with your audience Romans 8:28 "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose" Your physical limitations do not disqualify you from participating The gatekeepers are gone. AI has kicked the gate wide open! Life is not happening to you…it's happening For you. Links AI Accelerator Summit - Happening next week! (4/15-4/17) Join Ray Edwards, Bryan & Noelle Switalski, and 14 World-Class Experts for 3 Days That Could Change How You Work Forever. This live event is 100% FREE: Get your ticket here! Video And Transcript How You Can Help Subscribe to the show in Apple Podcasts or on Spotify, and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will definitely mention you on this show. Questions or comments? Connect with Ray on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram Visit Ray's community on Facebook – This is a friendly group of writers, entrepreneurs, and coaches who share ideas and helpful advice.

Imagine you have a disease that is consuming your mobility...your speech. All of the tools you're accustomed to using to communicate with others are taken from you. Perhaps only months ago you were known as a compelling storyteller...a charismatic figure who could light up the room with charming wit. Now a disease has reduced you to blinking once for yes and twice for no. It's a horrible thought, but for some it's an unstoppable reality. ​ ​A.I. is changing this. It's on the verge of freeing many people from this isolation, and that is AMAZING! ​ ​This week, Sean and I catch up on life in the coffee biz, discuss the importance of honesty and transparency, and highlight some of the former science fiction that AI is making possible. ​ ​Incredible things are happening right now. Things that this nerdy kid who was raised on Star Trek never thought he'd live to see...but here we are. In the business world, AI is empowering entrepreneurs to achieve feats that traditionally require teams of high-dollar experts. Not anymore. The playing field is more level than it has ever been in modern times. It's not too late to be one of the "early adopters" who skyrockets to success by mastering a few tools.  Don't get sucked into the Luddite, fear-mongering click bait. Focus on the positive impacts this new technology is making and learn how to use it to improve your life and the lives of others. FYI: That is exactly what the AI Accelerator Summit is all about - Successful entrepreneurs showing you how their businesses have been propelled by a few tools that are available to all of us. This is a FREE live event, not to be missed. You don't have to buy a seat,  but you do need to claim your free ticket: Click Here to grab a spot.    Key Insights  An update on Sean's business  Stuff you probably didn't know about coffee  Flavor descriptions…real or marketing?  Spiritual Foundations: Do not lie!  White lies are still lies  Try to not tell a single lie for an entire week  Whatever you achieve by lying, you can only keep by lying  Can you be honest without being brutal?  Be honest with your customers even if it costs you the sale  The "digital me" we're using in marketing (and disclosing that fact)  If you're using AI, be up front!  The "Cynicism Tax"  Consumer fears of AI deception  What AI is making possible for those of us with physical challenges  Neuralink - Incredible new AI-powered technology gives ALS patient his voice back  The AI Accelerator Summit - Free, 3-day event where you will learn from 14 incredible entrepreneurs how they are using AI to accelerate their business Links     The AI Accelerator Summit - April 15th-17th  Incredible Neuralink Technology allows ALS patient to speak again  AI Accelerator Summit Trailer featuring my Digital Clone How You Can Help Subscribe to the show in Apple Podcasts or on Spotify, and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will definitely mention you on this show. Questions or comments? Connect with Ray on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram Visit Ray's community on Facebook – This is a friendly group of writers, entrepreneurs, and coaches who share ideas and helpful advice.

At some point in your life you've probably thought something like, "I wish there were two of me to get all of this done!" This week, I'm sharing some material I created for our upcoming AI Accelerator Summit. Why? Because even if you don't attend the summit (you absolutely should), this valuable little snippet will explain why you should be exploring this arena and putting these new tools to work, AND why you shouldn't be focusing on all the negative fear mongering, but instead think about the positive ways you can impact your life and the lives of those around you. Key Insights Don't miss the AI Accelerator Summit April 15th-17th Which AI? Surround yourself with like minded proponents of AI The BIG Change - This has simplified everything Use AI to create leverage (not more work!) The "trust recession" - Be AUTHENTIC and HONEST The "Human Spark" - AI never had it, never will Don't lose your voice AI is a powerful partner that can help you organize your thoughts Links The AI Accelerator Summit - April 15th-17th. 14 World-Class Experts for 3 Days That Could Change How You Work Forever How You Can Help Subscribe to the show in Apple Podcasts or on Spotify, and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will definitely mention you on this show. Questions or comments? Connect with Ray on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram Visit Ray's community on Facebook – This is a friendly group of writers, entrepreneurs, and coaches who share ideas and helpful advice.

Dear writing pros, Are you afraid that using AI is simply feeding the monster that will ultimately eat your career?  This week, I'm looking to change your mind by reminding you of what you have that AI doesn't. By this time tomorrow, you can be more productive, 10x's faster, and a hero to your clients - All while staying irreplaceable. ​ Key Insights Kris's fears about AI:  - AI might not be as good, but it can be good enough - "Brain atrophy" - But...there have always been people who don't want to think for themselves Courses - Why they're not dead and why YOU still matter Win 1: Use AI as your Research and Ideation Engine  - Use AI to generate fresh ideas - Use AI to "stress test" those new ideas ("What's wrong with this plan? Where can it go wrong")- Use AI to study your competition Win 2: Use AI as your First Draft Accelerator  - Three ways to protect your voice when using AI:      - Inject your stories and personal experiences     - Your specific opinions and convictions (especially the ones you're afraid to share)     - Inject your own phrases and vocabulary Win 3: Use AI as a content multiplier - This concept is so powerful, it's built in to our own custom AI  - One content piece becomes 5+ pieces customized for the platforms where you're present. AI Summit: Incredible roster of successful entrepreneurs teaching you the ways they're using AI to save time and make more audio FREE - Starts April 15th Links ​AI Summit - Click Here to Join Us on April 15th (FREE) How You Can Help Subscribe to the show in Apple Podcasts or on Spotify, and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will definitely mention you on this show. Questions or comments? Connect with Ray on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram Visit Ray's community on Facebook – This is a friendly group of writers, entrepreneurs, and coaches who share ideas and helpful advice.

Despite my best efforts to prune the doom and gloom from my feed, the algorithm still serves me plenty of worst-case, "out there" scenarios regarding AI. No doubt many are concerned and perhaps discouraged by this fluff. So, how do you embrace the new stuff in a way that is useful and exciting? This week, I'm giving you three recommendations for AI-powered tools that will improve your business in ways you may not have considered. Key Takeaways Still "doom and gloom" in my feed despite my best efforts (If it bleeds it leads) "Sow your seed in the morning, and at evening let your hands not be idle" - Ecclesiastes 11:6 "We suffer more in imagination than in reality," a principle from Stoic philosopher Seneca Anxiety is high (the news of the day) AI is changing the marketplace regardless of how you feel about it The repetitive work is drying up AI is *not* 100% reliable...and it may never be Are you a technological optimist? The three fastest, easiest, and most profitable ways to use AI in your business 1: AI Powered scheduling and coordinating 2: Automate followup and customer care 3: AI enhanced offers and sales copy What Ray is using (not affiliate links) Use Motion AI Scheduling Membership.io Kajabi Links AI Summit - This upcoming virtual summit features some of the most respected and successful entrepreneurs on the planet. This is your chance to hear the real-world stories about how AI is being used to help grow their empires. Get the Full Lineup and Your Free Ticket Today! How You Can Help Subscribe to the show in Apple Podcasts or on Spotify, and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will definitely mention you on this show. Questions or comments? Connect with Ray on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram Visit Ray's community on Facebook – This is a friendly group of writers, entrepreneurs, and coaches who share ideas and helpful advice.

Entrepreneurs are never in "total control" of their business. There are too many external factors that will dictate the tactics you employ. ​But there are 3 fundamental principles..."Levers" you can control that will increase your revenue. ​ ​This week, Sean and I are breaking down what these "levers" are, and how to pull them for rapid growth without an army of employees or a huge ad budget. ​ Key Insights   Sean's philosophical football commentary Spiritual Foundations: What does "prosperity" mean to you? The 3 Levers that Control Your Revenue You're never in full control of your business (remember government shutdowns?) Lever 1: More new customers New customers are expensive to acquire Get better ad targeting Referrals Joint ventures Content Marketing Check out TicToc's new "Hyper-Local Focus" Make sure your tactics match your brand Lever 2: Higher Frequency of Purchase Make special offers to your existing customers Find a retainer deal if it's a fit Shameless plug for Revel 77 coffee Lever 3: Higher Prices Higher ticket per customer Offer add ons A tiny Tangent about Super Sizing Offer more stuff related to what you're known for Using AI to push all 3 levers AI Summit coming soon: Learn from successful, ethical business owners who are using AI to grow their business (FREE!) Embrace the new tools, or go live in a shed in the woods Links AI Summit - How are some of the top entrepreneurs using AI in there business? How are they thriving while others are getting steamrolled? We have an incredible lineup of speakers ready to answer those questions. Click Here For The Lineup And Your Free Ticket Got a comment? - Click Here to record and send it to us! How You Can Help Subscribe to the show in Apple Podcasts or on Spotify, and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will definitely mention you on this show. Questions or comments? Connect with Ray on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram Visit Ray's community on Facebook – This is a friendly group of writers, entrepreneurs, and coaches who share ideas and helpful advice.

First off, I'm happy to announce Sean has returned! This week, we're talking about a framework can do the work (and produce the results) of a $30,000 per month agency. Make no mistake, this framework includes A.I., but it's not "just" a.i. It turns out the "new tech" works best when you marry it to some "old techniques"​. Spiritual Foundations - Let's talk about Psalm 37:4 Take delight in the Lord, ​ and he will give you the desires of your heart. ​Does this mean that the faithful followers get everything they want? Would truly taking delight in the Lord change your desires? Feature Presentation ​ AI's role in business Where to start with all of this new stuff What can it really do for you? (and, what you must still do for yourself) A simple, modern marketing framework that works for any business AIDA - Attention, interest, desire, action  The "infomercial" formula. Cheesy, but effective. How would it work for a coffee shop? What's on tap for next week How You Can Help Subscribe to the show in Apple Podcasts or on Spotify, and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will definitely mention you on this show. Questions or comments? Connect with Ray on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram Visit Ray's community on Facebook – This is a friendly group of writers, entrepreneurs, and coaches who share ideas and helpful advice.