How I Finally Made A Success Of My Business - And How You Can Do The Same

In october 2006 I decided I'd had enough.

I'd had enough of working for other people and making them the kind of money I could only dream about.

I'd had enough of people looking over my shoulders constantly to ensure they squeezed every drop of blood for the pittance they paid me... even though I worked my butt off.

In fact, in one job my manager actually told me if all the other guys together did half as much work as I did by myself, he'd be a happy bunny. There were eight other people in the team.

Did that satisfy the bosses of the company?

Does spiderman really exist? (Okay, I only used that because I'm a die-hard comic book fan. But you know what I mean).

Anyway, in October 2006 I decided I was going to be self-employed. I was going my own way.

So I called up the relevant government department and told them so.

And I've been self-employed ever since.

Although I think the term self 'unemployed' would be more suitable.

You see, I tried to learn how to make money on the internet. I bought one course after another.

Each time the promise was:

1. I had to spend money to make money


2. "Our course is the best one. And you'll definitely make money with it"

Three years and about $50,000.00 later (no typo), all I had to show for myself was a huge debt, with no ability to pay it back.

I was desperate.

Then, in October 2008 Drayton Bird held his first course in Direct and Digital Marketing through EADIM (European Academy of Direct and Interactive Marketing).

The cost was 3,000 Euros. I couldn't afford it.

So I ended up wasting more money trying to learn more stuff that was no good And getting even deeper in debt on my credit cards.

(funny how we can't afford to pay for something sensible, but can afford to get even more in debt, huh?).

Then in August 2009 I decided enough really was enough.

I borrowed the money from my brother and enrolled on that year's EADIM course.

Was it worth it?

It was the single best investment I've made in all these years of struggling.

In fact, I made back my investment at least 5 times since. And more.

I was so enthusiastic about this course that Drayton Bird himself sent me an email and offered me the chance to work with him.

The result?

Check out this site: www.directmarketingcourse.com

I had a big hand in that copy.

This is what Ross Bowring, a fellow copywriter on the Warrior Forum, said of the copy on this site...

"Rezbi... Bravo! And I've never said "Bravo" to anyone before (!) That's a very nicely written letter. Skillfully communicates benefits with no hype whatsoever. Read the whole thing. Never usually do that. Mightily impressed."

And this is what Drayton said of the same...

Enthusiasm without knowledge is useless. Rezbi is one of those rare and valuable people - a genuine enthusiast who studies. He was hugely valuable to me in working on the promotion for EADIM. The (very complex) landing page is a good example of his work, a great joint effort!

All I can say is this - I got the opportunity to work on this, and on others, as a direct result of going on that course last year. It is, in my opinion, the best course on direct and digital marketing that exists today.

And, if ANYONE is really serious about their career, online or offline - no matter which industry they are in - they would be jumping to get on this course.

Now my question is: How serious are you?

Don't waste any more time or money. Get on this course and - finally - start making a success of your business and career.

If nothing else, at least go and check out the site to see how much I've accomplished as a result of doing this course. And how much you could, too: www.directmarketingcourse.com

Oh, I nearly forgot... if you book before the end of the year, you also get a HUGE 34% discount.

And, if you can't afford that measly sum, you can even pay by monthly installments.

Check it out: www.directmarketingcourse.com

Best,
Rezbi

Direct Response Marketing - How It Differs From Other Marketing Disciplines

What Is Direct Response Marketing?

Since even a mature business like advertising is not clearly understood by many of its practitioners you can hardly be surprised that few understand what direct marketing is.

Indeed, whilst preparing this article, I saw that, in a survey of 133 leading American direct marketers, no clear agreement on what the business is emerged.

When the phrase direct marketing comes up, most people, in my experience, immediately think of the medium of direct mail.

Others think of direct marketing as a method of selling, like off -the-page selling.

Others confuse it with a channel of distribution, like mail order.

Producing a definition as simple as ‘Salesmanship in print’ for advertising proved an insuperable task for the industry’s pundits. So much so that (in what I can only assume was a moment of despair) Direct Marketing magazine – then the industry’s leading American organ – summoned not one, but three experts to do so.

The result of their labours was placed at the beginning of every issue of the magazine.

It occupied two half pages, featuring one of those gloriously complicated flow charts which always throw me into a state of utter confusion.

You may consider the need for a simple definition unimportant; indeed, few people using direct marketing bother to speculate on what it really is.

But I consider it crucial.

Imagine spending millions of pounds without clearly understanding what you are spending them on.

Not an imaginary scenario, I assure you.

In fact, not long ago, I recall a debate taking place with a leading automobile company, which we shall call Ford for the sake of argument, covering many countries and multifarious marketing problems.

Was direct marketing an advertising activity?

In that case the people in charge of advertising should make the decision.

Was it ‘below the line’? In which case that company’s policy meant that a different department, usually concerned with purchasing everything down to stationery, would deal with it.

I will not go into detail, save to say that in the end different decisions were made in different countries for different reasons – most to do with these varying views of direct marketing.

This is obviously stupid.

And it is not likely to become any more intelligent if everybody involved has to understand and memorise a long, illustrated definition before they start work.

Moreover, the pool of understanding has been muddied further by the fact that many practitioners are not even agreed that direct marketing ought to be called direct marketing.

As a result, combined with the desire to give brand names to particular companies’ approaches to the business, all sorts of names have cropped up: terms such as ‘curriculum marketing’, ‘dialogue marketing’, ‘personal marketing’, ‘database marketing’ and – currently the most fashionable one – ‘customer relationship marketing’.

But the most common term remains direct marketing.

It is certainly the one I propose to stick to.

Nevertheless, these terms do reveal important facts about the nature of the business.

Certainly direct marketing revolves around the building and exploitation of a database – though there is more to it than that.

Equally, building a relationship is one of our objectives – but only one.

The approach is personal; and in the process of building  a relationship, you can guide your prospect through a curriculum whereby you learn more about them and they learn more about you.

But my simple definition of direct marketing is: ‘any advertising activity which creates and exploits a direct relationship between you and your prospect or customer as an individual’.

If you and I can agree that we ought to call direct marketing ‘direct marketing’, and you accept my simple definition, then you will immediately appreciate that a wide range of activities is encompassed.

I am sure you have been stopped by people standing on street corners with questionnaires bearing such inane queries as: ‘Are you able to save as much money as you’d like?’ If you are not careful, these will lead to a visit from an insurance salesman.

Clearly these people are engaged in direct marketing: they are making a direct contact and trying to initiate a relationship with you as an individual.

In the same way, somebody who offers you a leaflet inviting you to go into your local hamburger joint and win a prize; or the ad for the introduction agency offering love everlasting; the note in the shop window selling a used ghetto blaster; the ad suggesting you apply for shares in British Telecom; the leaflet coming through your door in praise of your local Conservative Party candidate – they’re all direct marketing.

In fact the most popular section in many papers – the classified section – is nothing but direct marketing.

And almost everything that happens on the internet involves direct marketing.

Perhaps it is worth stating here what I believe to be the differences between direct marketing and some of the other communications tools. (This is not made any easier by the fact that in the case of sales promotion, people are no more agreed about what they do than are direct marketers.)

How Does Direct Marketing Differ From Other Disciplines Like Advertising?

• Advertising usually speaks to people en masse, not as individuals. Although today the vast majority of ads do allow people to respond, especially by going to a website, advertising does not usually aim above all for an immediate response. It seeks  to influence customers so that they choose your brand when they reach the point of decision – the shop, for instance.


• Sales promotion is normally designed to get action at the point of sale. Often it uses the same methods as direct marketing. It can also generate lists. But rarely is there a continuing effort to build a lasting relationship with  respondents by exploiting the full possibilities of a database.


• Public relations employs media controlled by others to create a favourable climate of opinion. It too can create a database, for instance of replies to editorials, which are usually of very good quality.


• Packaging protects and draws attention to the product. It can also strengthen people’s belief in your product, reassure them, make offers, and collect names cheaply for the database.


• Experiential marketing, a fashionable new name for what used to be called events, certainly creates opportunities for building relationships, although few are doing this with it. Certainly practitioners in all disciplines are  increasingly aware of the potential of the direct relationship, but very few appreciate its full possibilities.

The above is an excerpt taken from Drayton Bird's book, 'Commonsense Direct & Digital Marketing'.

To discover how direct and digital marketing can -- and most probably will -- make a difference to your business, click here.

Best,
Rezbi
www.directmarketingcourse.com
www.hotbuttoncopywriting.com
www.commonsensedirectmarketing.com

P.S. I just found a great article by Seth Godin where he also talks about the difference between direct marketing vs. mass market thinking. You can read that article here.

Why Marketing Is Like Teenage Sex

"You know what marketing is like? It's like teenage sex. Everyone says they're doing it. Not many are. The ones that do, do it very badly..."

In October 2008 I went to my first ever seminar.

It was Ken McCarthy's System Intensive which he'd brought over to the U.K. for the first time.

I remember before Ken brought the System Intensive here I kept chasing him about it. I'm not saying it's because of me he finally acquiesced, but I like to think it is.

There is one thing I do know I definitely had a hand in, however, and that was to introduce Ken McCarthy and Drayton Bird to each other.

As a result of that introduction, Ken asked Drayton to speak at this seminar.

Now picture this:

I never wanted to go to any seminars because I always figured they'd be a waste of time and money.

With Ken's being the exception at the time.

Now I had the opportunity to attend his System Intensive, and meet my marketing mentor (he didn't know he was at the time) for the first time.

You see, I'd studied Drayton's work for the past couple of decades and never thought I'd get to meet him.

But here I was, communicating with him almost daily, via email, and introducing him to the pioneer of internet marketing.

And meeting both in person.

Anyway, after that long intro. I hope I haven't put you to sleep, because the best is in the videos.

This is the seminar I was at. Check them out and get a small taste of why he's been called "one of the top 50 individuals who’ve shaped today’s marketing"

Oh, and he's a really funny guy. You'll see what I mean.

Once you've finished watching them, zoom over to http://directanddigitalmarketing.com/draytonbirdcommonsense/ and get a load more free videos and articles

Best,
Rezbi

Mobile Traffic Domination

Mobile Marketing The Future Of Making Money @ Yahoo! Video

Mobile marketing is the future. And of all the products I've seen, this one stands out.

And the cost is a fraction of some others I could mention.

Click Here:

Mobile Traffic Domination

What Do The Different Terms On The Web Mean?

Don't know your CPC from your CTR, or your SEO from your RSS?

Fear not; it's very likely you're not as alone as you may think.

Being a bit of dummy, I've decided to put together a list of terms even I can understand.

And if I can understand, I can almost assure you can, too.

Leaving out the absolute basic terms such as www, ISP and URL, I'll list the less basic terms here:

• Web 2.0 This the basically the name given to all the different technologies and trends being bandied about on the net.
• RSS Short for Really Simple Syndication, this is an internet technology which allows you to receive notification of updates to a site without having to constantly visit it.
• Blog Short for weblog, this is a personal online journal where you can put down your thoughts… like an online diary open to the world.
• Cookie A small text file sent to a user's computer by a website so the user can be used recognised if he visits that site again.
• Podcasting Simply put, this is series of audio or video files made available to users to view or listen to, particularly via mobile devices.
• Spam Commercial email sent out to users without them asking for it.
• Keyword A word users can type into a search engine to find certain products or services.
• SEO Search Engine Optimization is the process of making a site more visible on the internet, hence making it easier to find by user, such as by using relevant keywords.
• CPC Cost Per Click A way to pay for online advertising by being charged only when someone clicks on your advert.
• CTR Click Through Rate The number of people who click on a link when they see it.
• ROI Return On Investment How much profits are made or how much loss is avoided on a product or service.
• Social networking Various sites on the internet which allow people to get in touch, make friends and generally 'socialise' online.

Hopefully, this short list will make things a little easier on the web, but let me know if there's anything else you feel should be on there.

Confessions of A Self Made Direct Marketing Multi-Millionaire. The Jim Straw Interview - Part 1

Jim Straw has been in business since before most of us were born.

He's the guy Dan Kennedy called, "… one of the 'quiet giants,' a fellow I've watched and learned from since I was in short pants …"

Rather than give a long drawn-out introduction, I'm going to let my guest tell you about himself and why you should listen to what he has to say, so we'll get straight to it.

Rezbi: Let’s begin by having you tell us a little bit about your background, your family life, childhood, growing up.

Jim Straw: As the eldest son of a farmer/aircraft worker, born in Oklahoma and reared on farms in Oklahoma, Missouri, and Kansas, I began my long, successful career in business at the age of nine; when I sold my first cans of Cloverleaf Salve and copies of "GRIT" newspaper. Even at that early age, I had the unique talent of recognizing an opportunity, implementing a plan, and making a profit.

My career has progressed through direct selling, service contracting, wholesale merchandising, entertainment (he was a professional Trumpet player, vocalist & Radio Announcer), freight forwarding, import/export, retail merchandising, warehousing, real estate, electronics manufacturing, finder's fees, closeout merchandising, financial brokerage, business consulting, steel fabrication, gold & coal mining, offshore banking, mailorder, writing, and publishing.

Over the past 37 years, I have written well over 700 books, booklets, manuals, reports, courses and articles about doing business — all based on my own personal, hands-on experience. My writings are "specific" methods, techniques and approaches to doing business that anyone can use to start or expand their business.

As a mailorder marketer…with over 700,000 customers worldwide … I have sold over four-hundred million dollars ($400,000,000) worth of products and services by mail. Everything from Beauty Supplies to Heavy Equipment … Burglar Alarms to Sleeping Bags … Fishing Lures to Women's Wigs … Automobiles to Wheelchairs … Investment Opportunities to Seafood … Consulting Services to "How To" Courses.

As a member of "Mensa," with a lifetime of proven success in marketing, I identify myself as a "Marketing Genius."

REZBI: Care to elaborate a little on the background of your parents and any siblings?

JIM STRAW: Not much to tell. My parents were middle class working people. Gainfully empolyed all their lives. They instilled in me and my siblings a sound work ethic.

As my Daddy once told me, "There are 3 way to make money. Steal it. Beg for it. Or, work for it. If you steal or beg, I'll beat the hell out of you." My only option was to work for it.

I had 2 brothers and 2 sisters … all younger.

Of the 5, I am the only one to venture into business. My Mother often asked my Wife, "When is Jim going go get a job." — When I told her I had bought a bank, her response was, "Don't be silly. People don't own banks."

REZBI: That's a very funny story about you father… and sage "advice" as far as I'm concerned. Also, you can't blame your mother for thinking like that… I mean, how many people DO buy banks?
Tell me about your background in education. Did you have any formal education/qualifications and, if so, how much?

JIM STRAW: I graduated from High School. Went off to college with a double major; Music and Mathematics.

Quit college my sophomore year when the Dean of Men discovered that I owned and operated a couple businesses off-campus and was making more money than the tenured professors. His advise was for me to "Go do what you are already doing and hire those we graduate."

REZBI: Gosh. Sounds like the Dean had a wise head on his shoulders. Certainly not constrained by academic bigotry (if that makes sense).
What were those couple of businesses you were operating at the time?

JIM STRAW: I owned a doughnut shop 1 block off-campus and the RevereWare sales territory.

REZBI: From the sounds of things, would it be safe to say you were pretty successful with those?

JIM STRAW: Musta been. The Dean of Men said I was making more that the professors.

REZBI: Would you say you were self-taught in business or were there many influences in your life?

JIM STRAW: Self-taught … spending thousands of hours in the public library - and - listening to old business men who enjoyed talking with a young entrepreneur.

REZBI: Who did you read and converse with? Anyone in particular?
Or, better stated, who would you say influenced you most in print?

JIM STRAW: I didn't read any particular author. I just read everything and anything I could find about doing business.

Unfortunately, most beginners fail to study the fundamentals of business. They are forever disappointed because business doesn't work the way they have imagined it, or, worse yet, the way some con-man told them it did.

REZBI: Have to agree with you there — I fell into the same trap myself… more than once… and it cost me literally thousands.

Now, would I be correct in assuming you've never been employed by someone else? That you've always worked for yourself?

JIM STRAW: In my younger years, I often held "jobs" while looking for opportunities or to support my start-ups.

I've worked as a shoe salesman in a shoe store; backup musician (trumpet player); jowl cutter in a meat packing plant; wrangler on a number of ranches; dredger in an oil tank farm; radio announcer/disc jockey; and a wide variety of other sales jobs.

Of course, I've always been employed by my thousands of customers.

REZBI: Looks like you've had quite a varied working life. A lot like myself.

I suppose that can be good, especially in something like copywriting, which I've noticed you're very good at.

In fact, that would be an understatement.

Would you say your background has made you a better marketer and copywriter?

JIM STRAW: Not really. I just write as if I were talking directly to you.

REZBI: Would you say your writing has improved over the years through experience, or was it always up to that standard?
And, if you feel it has improved, in what way?

JIM STRAW: Of course it has improved. Anything you can do today, you will do better the more you do it.

I have learned to anticipate what my readers may be asking themselves and answer their questions before they ask them.

REZBI: Okay, Jim, let's get down to the nitty gritty.

With the life and successes you've had, there just HAS to be more.

I mean, let's face it, the average Joe would fill a mountain of books if he put his entire life in print.

You, obviously, are not average.

I mean, how many people in the world just buy banks?

Dan Kennedy, of all people, has called you:

"one of the 'quiet giants… a fellow I've watched and learned from since I was in short pants …"

You don't get an endorsement like that by having an ordinary life.

Tell us something you've never mentioned before, something funny, something amazing… something our readers can really get their teeth into.

I don't know, maybe the President called you for advice and you blew him off because you were too busy… anything.

JIM STRAW: As I told Dan, "If I had known he was watching in short pants, I would have pointed and giggled."

Hmmm … something I have never mentioned before? — Well, I am ambidextrous. I do almost everthing as well with my Left hand as I do with my Right hand. — Does that count?

Beyond that, I type over 140 words per minute … with proper (or improper) capitalization and punctuation.

REZBI: Okay, I guess I should have been more clear (didn't realise you were a funny guy )… I kinda meant something in business. Something our readers might find amazing, amusing and maybe even useful.

Tell us how you went about buying huge businesses, etc., such as a bank.

JIM STRAW: Okay … now I get it.

Back in the early 80s I went to New York City to discuss some business ideas with some other entrepreneurs. — I was early and found myself in a magnificent office building before anyone had arrived in their offices.

Attempting to light a cigarette … it was legal back then … I discovered that my lighter was out of fluid and I had no matches. The only person in the building was the janitor, so I asked him for a light and he obliged. — After lighting my cigarette, the janitor decided to join me in a smoke and we struck up a conversation.

After I told him about some of my business dealings, he made the comment, "What we really need is …… "

That simple comment made over $16 Million for me over the next 5 years.

One of my success secrets is that I "listen" … no matter who is talking; from Fortune 100 CEO to janitor.

By the way, I have NEVER bought any "huge" or even "big" businesses. I have always bought smaller businesses and made them big - but - don't ask me which ones. I don't think the current owners would appreciate it since most of them have taken the "big" business I sold them and made the business "small" again.

REZBI: Now THAT… is a story.
I think, even though most of us know it, the majority don't listen, hence we miss the opportunities. And for those of us who do listen, we recognise the opportunities but do nothing with because, as someone once said, opportunity is "usually disguised as hard work".

One thing I realised in consulting was that you pretty much don't have to do any work at all. Just walk around the shop floor and ask everyone else how they'd improve things.

And, somewhere among those questions and answers, will be the solution to the problem.

And, as you found out, there may be further opportunities.

I'd like to ask you, if I may, about your course "You Can Be A Millionaire In One-Year Or Less!" How did that come about and can you tell us a little more about it than you already have on the site?

JIM STRAW: Over the years, through my writings, I have taught a multitude of business people (many of them became millionaires) how to make money doing the various things I had done - but - there was one big "secret" that I had never shared with anyone because my friend and I had promised each other we simply wouldn't tell anyone (except our kids and grandkids, of course).

My friend … not totally retired … released me from the promise and I began writing down all of the elements of what we had been doing; including details about how and "why" we did it that way. It took over 2 months to just write it down.

Back in the day, I could have (and did) make tons of money working just 4 or 5 hours each week - but - I have never been able to abide wasted/leisure time so, while I was making tons of money in just a few hours each week, I was wheeling and dealing doing other "real" businesses. — Some of those other businesses lead to me writing about them as well.

Some other businesses happened by accident … like the one I tell about in my Snooper Report — http://www.businesslyceum.com/snooper.html

After I wrote the manuscript for "You Can Be A Millionaire … " it was my intention to use it to form and train a new "group" of young(er), aggressive entrepreneurs and participate with them in deals worldwide - but - at my age, I simply didn't need the activity - and - since I don't do telephones anymore (too hard of hearing), I just couldn't do it.

By the way, what I teach in my 'Be A Millionaire' course works everywhere in the world. You may read testimonials from Spain and England on the sales page … http://www.businesslyceum.com/BeAMillionaire.html

Someone recently asked me, "If it's so profitable, why not just do it yourself, instead of writing about it?" — Well, I HAVE for over 50 years (even now, I do a couple good deals each year) - but - why do mathematicians write math books? Why do Medical Doctors publish their methods? Why do Plumbers, Electricians, Composer, Architects, and even Hobbyists write handbooks and instruction manuals? — We write down our methods for the younger generations, so they won't have to learn for themselves how it's done, as we did, by trial and error.

To be continuted…

Jim Straw: The Greatest Marketer You've Never Heard Of - Part 1

Jim Straw has been in business since before most of us were born.

He's the guy Dan Kennedy called, "... one of the 'quiet giants,' a fellow I've watched and learned from since I was in short pants ..."

Rather than give a long drawn-out introduction, I'm going to let my guest tell you about himself and why you should listen to what he has to say, so we'll get straight to it.

Rezbi: Let’s begin by having you tell us a little bit about your background, your family life, childhood, growing up.

Jim Straw: As the eldest son of a farmer/aircraft worker, born in Oklahoma and reared on farms in Oklahoma, Missouri, and Kansas, I began my long, successful career in business at the age of nine; when I sold my first cans of Cloverleaf Salve and copies of "GRIT" newspaper. Even at that early age, I had the unique talent of recognizing an opportunity, implementing a plan, and making a profit.

My career has progressed through direct selling, service contracting, wholesale merchandising, entertainment (he was a professional Trumpet player, vocalist & Radio Announcer), freight forwarding, import/export, retail merchandising, warehousing, real estate, electronics manufacturing, finder's fees, closeout merchandising, financial brokerage, business consulting, steel fabrication, gold & coal mining, offshore banking, mailorder, writing, and publishing.

Over the past 37 years, I have written well over 700 books, booklets, manuals, reports, courses and articles about doing business -- all based on my own personal, hands-on experience. My writings are "specific" methods, techniques and approaches to doing business that anyone can use to start or expand their business.

As a mailorder marketer...with over 700,000 customers worldwide ... I have sold over four-hundred million dollars ($400,000,000) worth of products and services by mail. Everything from Beauty Supplies to Heavy Equipment ... Burglar Alarms to Sleeping Bags ... Fishing Lures to Women's Wigs ... Automobiles to Wheelchairs ... Investment Opportunities to Seafood ... Consulting Services to "How To" Courses.

As a member of "Mensa," with a lifetime of proven success in marketing, I identify myself as a "Marketing Genius."


REZBI: Care to elaborate a little on the background of your parents and any siblings?

JIM STRAW: Not much to tell. My parents were middle class working people. Gainfully empolyed all their lives. They instilled in me and my siblings a sound work ethic.

As my Daddy once told me, "There are 3 way to make money. Steal it. Beg for it. Or, work for it. If you steal or beg, I'll beat the hell out of you." My only option was to work for it.

I had 2 brothers and 2 sisters ... all younger.

Of the 5, I am the only one to venture into business. My Mother often asked my Wife, "When is Jim going go get a job." -- When I told her I had bought a bank, her response was, "Don't be silly. People don't own banks."

REZBI: That's a very funny story about you father... and sage "advice" as far as I'm concerned. Also, you can't blame your mother for thinking like that... I mean, how many people DO buy banks? :)

Tell me about your background in education. Did you have any formal education/qualifications and, if so, how much?

JIM STRAW: I graduated from High School. Went off to college with a double major; Music and Mathematics.

Quit college my sophomore year when the Dean of Men discovered that I owned and operated a couple businesses off-campus and was making more money than the tenured professors. His advise was for me to "Go do what you are already doing and hire those we graduate."

REZBI: Gosh. Sounds like the Dean had a wise head on his shoulders. Certainly not constrained by academic bigotry (if that makes sense).
What were those couple of businesses you were operating at the time?

JIM STRAW: I owned a doughnut shop 1 block off-campus and the RevereWare sales territory.

REZBI: From the sounds of things, would it be safe to say you were pretty successful with those?

JIM STRAW: Musta been. The Dean of Men said I was making more that the professors.

REZBI: Would you say you were self-taught in business or were there many influences in your life?

JIM STRAW: Self-taught ... spending thousands of hours in the public library - and - listening to old business men who enjoyed talking with a young entrepreneur.

REZBI: Who did you read and converse with? Anyone in particular?
Or, better stated, who would you say influenced you most in print?

JIM STRAW: I didn't read any particular author. I just read everything and anything I could find about doing business.

Unfortunately, most beginners fail to study the fundamentals of business. They are forever disappointed because business doesn't work the way they have imagined it, or, worse yet, the way some con-man told them it did.

REZBI: Have to agree with you there -- I fell into the same trap myself... more than once... and it cost me literally thousands.

Now, would I be correct in assuming you've never been employed by someone else? That you've always worked for yourself?

JIM STRAW: In my younger years, I often held "jobs" while looking for opportunities or to support my start-ups.

I've worked as a shoe salesman in a shoe store; backup musician (trumpet player); jowl cutter in a meat packing plant; wrangler on a number of ranches; dredger in an oil tank farm; radio announcer/disc jockey; and a wide variety of other sales jobs.

Of course, I've always been employed by my thousands of customers.

REZBI: Looks like you've had quite a varied working life. A lot like myself.

I suppose that can be good, especially in something like copywriting, which I've noticed you're very good at.

In fact, that would be an understatement.

Would you say your background has made you a better marketer and copywriter?

JIM STRAW: Not really. I just write as if I were talking directly to you.

REZBI: Would you say your writing has improved over the years through experience, or was it always up to that standard?
And, if you feel it has improved, in what way?

JIM STRAW: Of course it has improved. Anything you can do today, you will do better the more you do it.

I have learned to anticipate what my readers may be asking themselves and answer their questions before they ask them.

REZBI: Okay, Jim, let's get down to the nitty gritty.

With the life and successes you've had, there just HAS to be more.

I mean, let's face it, the average Joe would fill a mountain of books if he put his entire life in print.

You, obviously, are not average.

I mean, how many people in the world just buy banks?

Dan Kennedy, of all people, has called you, "one of the 'quiet giants,', a "fellow I've watched and learned from since I was in short pants ...""

You don't get an endorsement like that by having an ordinary life.

Tell something you've never mentioned before, something funny, something amazing... something our readers can really get their teeth into.

I don't know, maybe the President called you for advice and you blew him off because you were too busy... anything.

JIM STRAW: As I told Dan, "If I had known he was watching in short pants, I would have pointed and giggled."

Hmmm ... something I have never mentioned before? -- Well, I am ambidextrous. I do almost everthing as well with my Left hand as I do with my Right hand. -- Does that count?

Beyond that, I type over 140 words per minute ... with proper (or improper) capitalization and punctuation.

REZBI: Okay, I guess I should have been more clear (didn't realise you were a funny guy :-) )... I kinda meant something in business. Something our readers might find amazing, amusing and maybe even useful.

Tell us how you went about buying huge businesses, etc., such as a bank.

JIM STRAW: Okay ... now I get it.

Back in the early 80s I went to New York City to discuss some business ideas with some other entrepreneurs. -- I was early and found myself in a magnificent office building before anyone had arrived in their offices.

Attempting to light a cigarette ... it was legal back then ... I discovered that my lighter was out of fluid and I had no matches. The only person in the building was the janitor, so I asked him for a light and he obliged. -- After lighting my cigarette, the janitor decided to join me in a smoke and we struck up a conversation.

After I told him about some of my business dealings, he made the comment, "What we really need is ...... "

That simple comment made over $16 Million for me over the next 5 years.

One of my success secrets is that I "listen" ... no matter who is talking; from Fortune 100 CEO to janitor.

By the way, I have NEVER bought any "huge" or even "big" businesses. I have always bought smaller businesses and made them big - but - don't ask me which ones. I don't think the current owners would appreciate it since most of them have taken the "big" business I sold them and made the business "small" again.

REZBI: Now THAT... is a story.
I think, even though most of us know it, the majority don't listen, hence we miss the opportunities. And for those of us who do listen, we recognise the opportunities but do nothing with because, as someone once said, opportunity is "usually disguised as hard work".

One thing I realised in consulting was that you pretty much don't have to do any work at all. Just walk around the shop floor and ask everyone else how they'd improve things.

And, somewhere among those questions and answers, will be the solution to the problem.

And, as you found out, there may be further opportunities.

I'd like to ask you, if I may, about your course "You Can Be A Millionaire In One-Year Or Less!" How did that come about and can you tell us a little more about it than you already have on the site?

JIM STRAW: Over the years, through my writings, I have taught a multitude of business people (many of them became millionaires) how to make money doing the various things I had done - but - there was one big "secret" that I had never shared with anyone because my friend and I had promised each other we simply wouldn't tell anyone (except our kids and grandkids, of course).

My friend ... not totally retired ... released me from the promise and I began writing down all of the elements of what we had been doing; including details about how and "why" we did it that way. It took over 2 months to just write it down.

Back in the day, I could have (and did) make tons of money working just 4 or 5 hours each week - but - I have never been able to abide wasted/leisure time so, while I was making tons of money in just a few hours each week, I was wheeling and dealing doing other "real" businesses. -- Some of those other businesses lead to me writing about them as well.

Some other businesses happened by accident ... like the one I tell about in my Snooper Report -- http://www.businesslyceum.com/snooper.html

After I wrote the manuscript for "You Can Be A Millionaire ... " it was my intention to use it to form and train a new "group" of young(er), aggressive entrepreneurs and participate with them in deals worldwide - but - at my age, I simply didn't need the activity - and - since I don't do telephones anymore (too hard of hearing), I just couldn't do it.

By the way, what I teach in my 'Be A Millionaire' course works everywhere in the world. You may read testimonials from Spain and England on the sales page ... http://www.businesslyceum.com/BeAMillionaire.html

Someone recently asked me, "If it's so profitable, why not just do it yourself, instead of writing about it?" -- Well, I HAVE for over 50 years (even now, I do a couple good deals each year) - but - why do mathematicians write math books? Why do Medical Doctors publish their methods? Why do Plumbers, Electricians, Composer, Architects, and even Hobbyists write handbooks and instruction manuals? -- We write down our methods for the younger generations, so they won't have to learn for themselves how it's done, as we did, by trial and error.

To be continuted...

They Came... They Stomped The Search Engines... They Conquered

Do you remember the scene from 'The Matrix' where Neo is plugged in and he fights Morpheus?

He learns all those fancy moves, getting better and better by the second.

D'you remember that?

Of course you do... who doesn't?

Anyway, after they finish kicking the crap out of each other and Neo is unplugged, he looks at everyone and say, "I know Jujitsu".

And he did.

Well, guess what, I received the Stomping The Search Engines 2 DVDs from StomperNet and, just like Neo, I 'plugged myself in'.

Last night, and most of today.

And, when I unplugged myself...

I knew S...E...O

Yup, that's right, I now know SEO.

I thought I knew it before, but that was before I got ejicated.

The Stomper guys have out-done themselves.

And, it isn't just the dynamic duo of Andy Jenkins and Brad Fallon...

It's a whole faculty full of the best and the brightest that SEO has to offer...

Anywhere in the world.

These guys know what they're doing.

Wanna know how search engines work?
Check out module 2.

How about how to pick the best keywords and create the best content?
Take a look at module3.

And how about the best strategy for building links?
The answer's on module 6.

And there's plenty more.

These DVDs truly are amazing

But, why take my word for it?

Go and check out the sneak preview site now...

It's here Stomping the Search Engines 2.

Oh, I almost forgot to mention... the journal.

Yep, there's more.

Loads more.

Where Have The Adsense Articles Got To?

For those of you following the adsense series, I've decided to move them to a more relevant site.

You can check them out here Internet Marketing Secrets Revealed.

And, just in case you're wondering, there'll be a heck of a lot more than just adsense.

In place of these articles, I'll be posting a series of interviews with some of the "quiet greats" of marketing... and the business world in general.

We're talking about people who have raked in literally tens, and sometimes, hundreds of millions of pounds and dollars for themselves and their clients.

These people really are the unsung heroes of the business world.

You'll be getting a real education.

And it's all FREE on Gee Whizz! Marketing.

I'm Still Waiting For The Review Copies Of 'Stomping the Search Engines 2' and 'The Net Effect'To Arrive

StomperNet told me, a few days ago, they were sending me copies of their 'Stomping the Search Engines 2' and 'The Net Effect' to review.

Well, I'm still waiting.

But, hopefully, I should get them soon and then I can really dig into them to see if they live up to all the hype.

It's launching next week, but I don't want to say anything until I know, for certain, it's worth talking about.

I don't usually get involved in big launches, but I was in the original StomperNet @ $800 a month, so I know how good that was.

And, if this is anywhere near as good, I think we're all in for a treat.

Anyway, I'll let you know soon...

Keep checking my blog for more news.

Meanwhile, take a sneak peak here Stomping The Search Engines 2.

Invitation to a FREE world class Internet marketing tele-seminar series

What do you really want?

It's one thing getting all the latest and greatest DVDs and ebooks and audios...

But, it's another to actually do something with it.

Ken McCarthy shows you how it's really done, and put into practice.

You can't really get any better advice or information than what Ken has to offer.

If you've been paying attention over the last few days, you'll know that Ken is bringing his System Seminar to the UK on November 15 & 16 this year.

And, as part of that promotion, he is giving away a free telemarketing series where he will be introducing some of his favorite marketing experts from the UK.

You can access that series here System UK Intensive

Remember, it won't cost you a penny for this but it's worth it's weight in gold.

Ken has trained most of the biggest earning marketers you will have heard of already.

To join their ranks click here System UK Intensive

How To Get Loaded... And Stay Loaded

A couple of days ago I wrote on here about the System Seminar.

I just wanted to tell you a little more about that.

You see, a lot of the so-called 'gurus' tell you how to start your own business, but they rarely work.

They sell you tickets at thousands of dollars a pop, and then sell you more seminars and courses once you get there.

The System Seminar is different, and held by a man who, basically, pioneered the internet business seminar as we know it today.

His students read like a who's who in the internet marketing world.

This is the seminar for starting and maintaining your own successful business... on-line or off.

Ken McCarthy doesn't cut corners.

Ken has a hands on approach to his working life, preferring to work side by side with his students and seeing for himself problems which arise and solving them with the people who count.

Best of all his material makes sense, and doesn't sugar coat the truth.

This is something that cannot be said for too many seminars out there today.

It's not just about how to be rich, but how to be successful in busness.

The best part is, for the first time ever, Ken is bringing his System Seminar to the UK, which means no lengthy holidays from work.

It also means no flight bills, and possibly no hotel bills, depending on where you live in the UK.

And, oh, the real best part is, as Ken mentions, the strong British pound makes the seminar even cheaper.

So, don't go delaying any longer, strike while the pound is strong... it is getting weaker.

Just click this link for more information and details on how to reserve your place
System UK Intensive

The Seminar To End All Seminars Is Coming To The UK

It was 14th of February 2007, a Wednesday, when I first became aware of Ken McCarthy and his System Seminar.

The email began like this --

"Welcome to the free Pre-System Training and Tele-Seminar Series."

And included this --

"The most important thing to keep in mind about the "Pre-System" is that it's a serious, full-scale training in Internet marketing."

And he wasn't kidding.

It was definitely a full scale assault on the business senses.

By the time you finished that course you were literally armed with everything you need to start your own business and make a ton of moola.

So imagine when I also received info for the System Seminar -- the Pre-System's daddy.

I was goggle-eyed and wanted to cry.

Why?

Because, as with all the good seminars, it was in the US.

Drat, drat and double drat.

The problem with something like that is you not only have to pay for the seminar, but for all the other expenses -- flight, hotels, food, etc., etc.

But, that's not a problem any more because come this November 15 & 16, 2008, the The System Seminar Two-Day Internet Marketing Intensive with Ken McCarthy is coming to the UK.

Woo hoo!!!

Boy, am I ec-shited.

Because, as you will see, the System Seminar is being held for two day and, included in the price is a free 59 day trial membership pass to the System Club.

What a coup.

I mean, if you live in the UK, or close to it, you just gotta make this... if you're really serious about your business.

You can get all the info you need right here System UK Intensive

And, if you book before August 30th you get an additional
discount on top of the already brilluant price.

So don't delay, go chekc it out here System UK Intensive and book your place NOW.