I promised this week would be about the most important subject I've ever covered. That subject is… you. We just completed our first ever Annual Reader/Listener Survey for this site (and podcast). Boy, did we get some interesting and surprising results in that survey…  and it's all about you.

I also received a ton of comments and questions. Many of them flattering, some of them not so much. On this weeks podcast I'm sharing the good, the bad, and the ugly. Also on today's episode…

• December's comment contest winners.
• Status of the updated copywriting course.
• Gadget recommendation: the perfect digital camera.
• Does teaching "radical grace" give people license to sin?
• Would you like to be in a mastermind with me?
• And the always award-winning, much much more.

Announcements:

• The winners of access to the updated copywriting course are:
  •  Dan Black (37)
  •  Eric Dingler (7)
  •  Todd Liles (7)
  •  Paul Jolicoeur (6)
  •  Adam Collier (4)
• The copywriting course itself is going to be released a bit later than originally planned. Stay tuned to find out why.
• Looking for a copywriting gig? Send me a one sheet "sales letter" on why you would be a perfect copywriter for me to hire. 800 words maximum. Also send along any samples you think would convince me you are brilliant. Make the subject line of your email say only: "Blue Fondue". Send that email to the address I provided in the podcast, and listen to the podcast audio for instructions about what happens next. If you email me with questions, I have not listened to the podcast instructions, I won't be able to answer you.
• Starting next week, every person who submits an audio question for the podcast will receive a free gift (if, and only if, we use your question on the podcast). Click here to submit your audio question.
• "Permission to Prosper" event originally scheduled for April has been postponed… Mainly because I haven't finished the companion book yet! We will update you soon.
• Meanwhile, if you would be interested in the possible one-day mastermind with me and 11 other people, where we make radical progress in your business… And if you're not just "interested" but you already know you want to do it,  fill in this form. If it looks like you would be a good fit, I will call you myself.  (If you just want the "details", listen to the podcast. I explain all the "details".)

Conferences where I will be attending and/or speaking:

• Strategic Influence Jan 14-16, 2014, Phoenix, AZ
• NAMS 11 February 7-9, 2014, Atlanta, GA
• Social Media Marketing World, March 26-28, 2014, San Diego, CA

Tip Of The Week 

As you may know, I have taken a deep interest in digital photography. After extensive research, reading many reviews, and looking at many, many cameras, I settled on the Sony NEX-7. the main reasons I decided on this camera are:

• Digital SLR's are on the way out, and mirrorless compact cameras are the future of digital photography.
• This camera is about five times lighter than the equivalent DSLR.
• While megapixels are not everything, the NEX-7  is a 24 megapixel camera, and also has a relatively large sensor (which is more important than the number of megapixels)
• There are not as many lenses available for this camera as for others, but pretty much all the lenses I would ever need are available.
• It's about half the cost of equivalently powerful DSLR.
• I find the electronic menu system quite easy and intuitive to use.
• This camera shoots fantastic video, and shoots it at 60 frames per second (wow!)

If you're interested in knowing more, check out this review by Trey Ratcliffe.

If you want to buy a Sony NEX-7, get the best deal here at Amazon.

Spiritual Foundations

When we talk about the radical grace of Jesus, some people become concerned that this will encourage others to sin freely. This is not the case. Grace is not a license to sin. It is what empowers us to overcome sin.

Do some use "grace" as an excuse for their sin? So it seems. But we don't know (a) whether that person IS or IS NOT a true believer… and (B) how and/or when that person will be overcome by God's Grace and led out of a life of sin.

Resist the temptation to judge people, and resist the temptation to diminish the power of the Gospel. For that is what we do when we throw around terms like "cheap grace" or "greasy grace". There's no such thing. God's grace covers all of our sin. ALL.

You won't win people to the Kingdom by bearing them over the head with the 10 Commandments. You win them by showing them the grace of Christ.

"Just as I am, without one plea,
But that thy blood was shed for me…"

 Survey Results And Listener Questions

The votes are in, the polls are closed, and this is what I learned (thank you for sharing).

• 77 % of you are 40 or older.
• 44.87% have a Bachelor's Degree; 31.03% have a Masters or Doctorate
• 82.14% of you make over $50,000 per year; 48.21% make over $100,00!
• 87.5% of you are Christians, and 96.43% say your faith is either "Important" or "Very Important" to you.
• 69.64% say I write and talk just the right amount about faith; 25% say you wish I would talk more about faith.
• 81.9% of you are business owners, entrepreneurs, or corporate leaders.
• More of you prefer the podcast to the blog (this was a shocker!)
• The most popular topics you want to hear more about from me are (in order of popularity): making an income online, productivity, copywriting, and spiritual topics.

That's a topline selection of some of the most significant data we collected. Were still sifting through some of the open-ended responses.

The Most Surprising Result

We did ask a follow-up question about what product or training you would most like me to create for you next, and frankly I was shocked by the results. I felt certain the number one choice would be a new, revised copywriting course. I felt so certain, in fact, we had already started working on this. But…

By a healthy 3-to-1 margin, the most desired training is "how to package, promote, and profit from what you already know". The people have spoken, and I have listened. We are working on this very training right now… more to come on this soon. (Never fear… The copywriting course will be next on the agenda!)

So what does all this data mean, anyway? How will it affect the content we publish going forward?

What We Plan to Do

First and foremost, I want to make this blog more useful for you. A better investment of your time. More helpful to you.

Let me be clear: even if you never do business with my company, even if you never buy a single thing we have to offer, I want to make sure we offer value to you.

Based on what we learned in the survey, here are some things we plan to do:

• Take a bolder stance for being disciples of Jesus in the marketplace. The spiritual foundations of success will take an even more central role. Clearly, we have not been hiding this one "under a bushel", but the hunger for guidance in this area was made clear by the many comments we received. I plan to respond to this need as a top priority, because that's what you told me you wanted.
• Focus more on the topics you are most interested in. That means you'll be getting more podcasts and articles on how to create your own online business, how to be more productive, how to write more powerful copy, and the spiritual foundations of business success.
• Provide more tutorials and "how to" pieces. It's clear most of you would like more "how to" and tutorial material. We plan to provide this, much of it for free, in the coming year.
• Develop a community. If one thing has become obvious to me, it is that you (the readers of this blog, and the listeners of this podcast) are a powerful, connected, talented, and gifted group of people. I believe one of the greatest gifts I could give you is to connect you to one another. We are exploring exactly how would be the best way to develop a  community where we can make that happen.
• Offer practical help for simplifying complex lives. I was pleased to see that so many of you are well educated, already-successful entrepreneurs and professionals. I have also realized, through reading the free-form questions and comments, that those of us in this position facing unique set of challenges. We have to juggle many responsibilities: family, children (and grandchildren), employees, business partners, etc. Many of us don't feel completely free to make radical changes in our lives without carefully weighing the consequences and ramifications for other people who depend upon us. I plan to spend more time focusing on solutions to these problems.

Your Comments

1. Add a copywriting tip to each episode. You have a skill that so many want. This would be tremendously helpful.
2. Would love more blog content apart from the podcast notes, but the podcast is soooo good that it's enough to keep me hooked!
3. i liked it longer – you were able to delve deeper into concepts…!
4. Consistency in what day(s) you will post articles to blog. Seems that each week/month is different. And don't need too many articles: 1-2 articles besides podcast/week is sufficient.
5. I love the current format of the podcast, but perhaps you would consider more frequent blog posts?

Your Questions

1. What's your strategy when you launch a new product?
2. Why did you stop the Spiritual Foundations Podcast?
3. How do you handle any negative feedback you get from people who say you wear your faith on your sleeve too much.
4. I would like to know more about how you figured out your talents and if you have any suggestions for others to figure that out.
5. Who was the person that opened the door for you to go to the next level in your business?

What To Do Now

If you enjoy the podcast, I would consider it a great favor if you subscribe (and leave a review) in iTunes. This helps new people discover the podcast. You can also find the podcast on Stitcher.

Question: how will YOU engage un more of a conversation with your customers this year? Click here to leave your comments.