Ray Edwards Show

Some people think “copywriting” – the art and science of writing sales copy – is dead and gone. Killed by social media. The truth is copywriting is alive and well. and more important than ever to you and your business. You must master this. Tip of the Week: For a long time, I stopped taking […]

Is it possible there is one "Master Skill" that trumps all others when it comes to business success? I believe it's not only possible, but that it's absolutely the truth.

In today's episode, I'll reveal what that "master skill" is, and how you can acquire it for yourself.

Tip of the Week:

The CoSchedule app for your blog. It's a "content marketing editorial calendar"… and so much more.

Spiritual Foundations: It's Not About Your Faith

"I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me."
Galatians 2:20

When you are working up your faith, trying to believe for some miracle from God… working to increase your own faith could be standing in your own way. Why?

If you are focused on your own faith, you're focused on your self.

Don't trust in your own faith, but in the faith of Jesus. His faith is perfect. And the Bible says He is the Author and the Finisher of your faith.

When you're focused on Jesus, you'll be open to receive His goodness and His grace.

The answer to all your prayers is to rest in Christ, depend on His faith, and you'll get the breakthrough you need.

Feature Presentation: The Master Skill of Business Success

So what is the "Master Skill" for business success? The skill that, when you acquire it, can actually trump and erase many, if not all, of your other shortcomings?

I believe the "Master Skill" is that of Strategic Communication. Most communication is done at the tactical level; the most powerful communication is guided by strategy.

Here are 5 keys to more strategic communication.

1. Know the difference between strategy and tactics.
2. Clearly define the strategic objective of your communications.
3. Understand and use the principle of Focused Attention.
4. Develop a framework for all your communications.
5. Practice relentlessly: results, recap, refine.

Next Week:  The Master Skill of Business Success

Get The Transcript

Click here to get the transcript. Transcripts provided by SuccessTranscripts – a great solution if you need your podcast, sermon, speech, or other audio transcribed.

Question: How will you apply strategic communications in your business or career? Click here to leave your comments.

Is it possible there is one “Master Skill” that trumps all others when it comes to business success? I believe it's not only possible, but that it's absolutely the truth. In today's episode, I'll reveal what that “master skill” is, and how you can acquire it for yourself. Tip of the Week: The CoSchedule app […]

You've probably heard it so much that you may even tune it out: writing and publishing a book is a good thing. But do you know why?

In today's episode, I'll give you 7 good reasons why you should write a book, even if you think you're "not a writer".

Tip of the Week:

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Spiritual Foundations: How to Live Freely and Lightly

"Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to Me. Get away with Me and you'll recover your life. I'll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with Me and work with Me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with Me and you'll learn to live freely and lightly."
Matthew 11:28–30, THE MESSAGE

"Learn the unforced rhythms of grace." Following Jesus is not heavy or difficult. Anyone or anything that makes you tired, worn out, or beaten down by man-made religious rules… that didn't come from Jesus.

Stop trying to be perfect. You can't. God doesn't require us to be Christ-like, but invites us into the Christ-life.

God will never cause you to be sick, or worried, or stressed out. He is good, and will always stand ready to heal, to soothe, and to bring peace.

Look for the goodness of God that is already in your life, and then watch that goodness increase.

Feature Presentation: 7 Reasons Why You Should Write a Book

Here are 7 great reasons why you should consider writing and publishing a book:

1. Books help people.
2. Writing a book clarifies your own best ideas.
3. A book helps you get clients.
4. Being a published author gives you author-ity in your field.
5. It's easier to get speaking engagements if you have a book.
6. Your book can be the hub of an entire business.
7. A book is the business card nobody throws away.

Next Week:  The Master Skill of Business Success

Get The Transcript

Click here to get the transcript now. Transcripts provided by SuccessTranscripts – a great solution if you need your podcast, sermon, speech, or other audio transcribed.

Question: Have you written a book (feel free to plug your book in these comments) – and if not, what's holding you back? Click here to leave your comments.

You've probably heard it so much that you may even tune it out: writing and publishing a book is a good thing. But do you know why? In today's episode, I'll give you 7 good reasons why you should write a book, even if you think you're “not a writer”. Tip of the Week: Speed […]

What if, in 2015, you could give yourself the "Ultimate Advantage" in every area of your life – faith, physical, emotional, and financial?

In today's episode, I'll share some foundational elements and practical advice on how to do just that.

Announcements

Here are a couple of immediate advantages you can give yourself in the area of learning, growing, and connections:

In just a few days from now the Platform Conference in Colorado Springs, will be in full swing, starting November 9th. If there are any seats still available, you can still save $100 when you click here and add the special code RAY to your order.  Yes, I am a featured speaker, and I am also a student. I plan to learn as much as anyone while I am there. I hope you will be there with us. As I have mentioned previously, Cliff Ravenscraft and I are hosting a special one-day event the day after the Platform Conference. This is a "Day With Cliff and Ray", and if you're going to be in Colorado Springs for the Platform Conference, you should definitely consider joining us for this event.

The applications are piling up for the Private Personal Mastermind Group, led by me, in 2015. I've really been surprised by the response to this, as we haven't really promoted it other than a few casual mentions on the podcast. This will be a small group, and our time together  will be intentional, demanding, and designed to bring you into alignment with your personal destiny. The criteria for membership in the group will be very precise, and the investment will not be exorbitant, but neither will it be cheap. If none of that scares you off, and if in fact you are one of the people who have expressed to me how you wished I would create a group like this, please reach out to me by sending an email to support [@] rayedwards.com.

Tip of the Week:

I've been using and enjoying the newly re-designed PocketCasts app. It's a podcast player for iPhone, iPad, and Android. I find this one to be full-featured, including the all important speed control, as well as visually beautiful. It's kind of like FlipBoard for podcasts.

Spiritual Foundations: Wisdom For Your Practical Problems

Wisdom equals the Presence Of God. Wisdom is a person…

"God has united you with Christ Jesus. For our benefit God made him to be wisdom itself."
1 Corinthians 1:30

Whatever your need for wisdom, God has promised to grant your request.

"If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him."
James 1:5

This is not poetry or figures of speech, but literal truth:

"The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned. The spiritual person judges all things, but is himself to be judged by no one. "For who has understood the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?" But we have the mind of Christ."
1 Corinthians 2:14-16

Feature Presentation: How To Get The "Ultimate Advantage" In 2015

What more could you need, other than the wisdom we were just speaking of, to gain the "ultimate advantage"?

Just because you have access to wisdom doesn't mean you are using it.

I believe there are 5 C's that can help bring your ultimate advantage in 2015.

1. Cultivating the increased awareness of, and being more sensitive to, the Presence of God.
2. Clarifying your purpose, mission, vision and values (these are different things).
3. Commitment to acting with integrity in each moment, at the point of choice.
4. Communicating powerfully with intention,  love, and transparency in a way that honors all involved.
5. Community that is intentionally created. Join a high-quality Mastermind Group (you can inquire about the possibility of joining mine with an email to support [@] rayedwards.com, or if you want to form your own I highly recommend Dan Miller's product on forming your own.)

Next Week:  7 Reasons You Should Write a Book

Get The Transcript

Click here for the transcript. Transcripts provided by SuccessTranscripts – a great solution if you need your podcast, sermon, speech, or other audio transcribed.

Question: How do you think the "5 C's" could impact your life in 2015, if you applied them? Click here to leave your comments.

What if, in 2015, you could give yourself the “Ultimate Advantage” in every area of your life – faith, physical, emotional, and financial? In today's episode, I'll share some foundational elements and practical advice on how to do just that. Announcements Here are a couple of immediate advantages you can give yourself in the area […]

I'm still in the mode of preparing my plans for 2015. I have some pretty big ideas about what I want to accomplish next year, and I'm sure you do as well.

In today's episode, the theme is "how to own your life".  It includes an interview with one of my favorite people, Chris Brogan.  It also includes an opportunity to work closely with me in 2015. Keep listening for details.

Announcements

In a little over a week, I will be gathering with all the other folks who are attending the Platform Conference in Colorado Springs, starting November 9th. There are still a few seats available, and you can still save $100 when you click here and add the special code RAY to your order.  yes, I am a featured speaker, but I am also a student. I plan to learn as much as anyone while I am there. I hope you will be there with us.

We have been quietly formulating the plan for a Private Personal Mastermind Group, led by me, in 2015. This will be a small group, and our time together  will be intentional, demanding, and designed to bring you into alignment with your personal destiny. The criteria for membership in the group will be very precise, and the investment will not be exorbitant, but neither will it be cheap. If none of that scares you off, and if in fact you are one of the people who have expressed to me how you wished I would create a group like this, please reach out to me by sending an email to support [@] rayedwards.com.

Tip of the Week:

As I have mentioned previously, Cliff Ravenscraft and I are hosting a special one-day event the day after the Platform Conference. This is a "Day With Cliff and Ray", and if you're going to be in Colorado Springs for the Platform Conference, you should definitely consider joining us for this event.

On the last day of platform, the people who are attending the "Day with Cliff and Ray" will gather together and share an evening meal. This will be very relaxed, informal, we will get to know one another on a deeper level before our intense one-day event the next morning.

Here is what we will be doing at this event, on Wednesday, November 12:

• The Deeper Connection Session:  in which our intention is to foster deep, lasting relationships between all the people in the room, so we can mutually support one another in the coming year as we all seek to take our platforms to the next level.
• The Next Level Resources Session:  in which Cliff and I will be sharing all of our most useful tools, tricks, techniques, apps, procedures, systems, and even our workflows. This is like getting in "over the shoulder" look into how we run our businesses.
• The Most Valuable Investment Session: During this session, each member of the group will be given a few moments to share what they feel has been the most beneficial investment that they have made in taking their own platform to the next level. Hearing "what has worked" for others may be just the source of inspiration that you need to get a glimpse at new possibilities.
• AMA with Cliff & Ray Session: During this "Ask Me Anything" session, you will have the opportunity to ask Cliff or Ray ANYTHING you want. Both Cliff and Ray are very willing to share anything and everything from their own experiences that may be of help to you. So just think about it. If you could ask anything of Cliff or Ray, what would it be? Write those questions down and bring it to this session.

Spiritual Foundations: God Is With You In Your Trial by Fire

"I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire; and they are not hurt, and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God."
Daniel 3:25

Daniel was God's man inside a corrupt system-the government that was overrun by unbelievers, or even worse, those who believed in the powers of darkness. This corrupt system was even run by a man who would set himself up as God-King Nebuchadnezzar. When Daniel's friends, Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-Nego, were thrown into a fiery furnace by Nebuchadnezzar, because they would not bow down to a foreign God, guess what happened?

The most remarkable thing: one of the Old Testament appearances of Jesus Christ. he showed up right there inside the furnace with them, preserve them in the fire, and brought them out alive and well.

The Bible tells us that "the hair of their head was not singed nor were their garments affected, and the smell of fire was not on them" (Daniel 3:27).

Right now, you may be going through your own fiery trial. You can rest assured that God is not watching from a distance, wishing you good luck, and telling you to hang in there until the afterlife.

He is with you in the very trial. In the very flames.

The Bible says that "God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it" (1 Corinthians 10:13).

When God is with you, you can walk through the fiery furnace, and you can walk out, holding his hand, undamaged and even without the smell of smoke on you.

Feature Presentation: How to Own Your Life With Chris Brogan

Check out the podcast audio to hear the complete interview with Chris Brogan.

Next Week:  How To Create Your Own "Unfair Advantage" In 2015

Get The Transcript

Click here to get the transcript. Transcripts provided by SuccessTranscripts – a great solution if you need your podcast, sermon, speech, or other audio transcribed.

Question: What parts of your life do you feel you don't "own"… and what are you going to do about it? Click here to leave your comments.

I'm still in the mode of preparing my plans for 2015. I have some pretty big ideas about what I want to accomplish next year, and I'm sure you do as well. In today's episode, the theme is “how to own your life”.  It includes an interview with one of my favorite people, Chris Brogan. […]

It's not too early to start getting ready for 2015. In fact right now is the perfect time to assess how this year has gone, and what you'd like to see happen in 2015. In my case, 2014 started off a little "bloated" – both physically and mentally. I want 2015 to be lean & mean (in the most fun sense of that word).

That's what today's episode is all about: how to set yourself up for a lean, mean 2015.

Announcements

I am getting excited about the upcoming Platform Conference in Colorado Springs, starting November 9th. There are still a few seats available, and you can still save $100 when you click here and add the special code RAY to your order.

Tip of the Week:

Plus, Cliff Ravenscraft and I are hosting a special one-day event the day after the Platform Conference. This is a "Day With Cliff and Ray", and if you're going to be in Colorado Springs for the Platform Conference, you should definitely consider joining us for this event.

Here is what we will be doing at this event:

• The Deeper Connection Session: During this session, every person will be given a few moments to introduce themselves. These introductions will be done in a fun and interesting way that will certainly help you get to know each of the other folks in the group on a much deeper level.
• The Next Level Resources Session: During this session, Cliff and Ray will go back and forth, in rapid fire succession, as they share their most valuable tips, tools and other resources that have helped them to achieve what is most important to them. There is no doubt that you will walk away with many valuable resources to take your own platform to the next level.
• The Most Valuable Investment Session: During this session, each member of the group will be given a few moments to share what they feel has been the most beneficial investment that they have made in taking their own platform to the next level. Hearing "what has worked" for others may be just the source of inspiration that you need to get a glimpse at new possibilities.
• AMA with Cliff & Ray Session: During this "Ask Me Anything" session, you will have the opportunity to ask Cliff or Ray ANYTHING you want. Both Cliff and Ray are very willing to share anything and everything from their own experiences that may be of help to you. So just think about it. If you could ask anything of Cliff or Ray, what would it be? Next, write that question down and bring it to this session.

Spiritual Foundations:

3 ways to hear from God today.

1. Know.
2. Expect.
3. Listen.

It's easier than you think.

Feature Presentation: How to Set Yourself Up For a Lean, Mean 2015

Here are 15 Practices I am adopting for a lean, mean, 2015:

1. Devote more time to practicing the Presence of God.
2. Evaluate all existing commitments and renegotiate or eliminate those that no longer work.
3. Get more rest (8 hours + a nap).
4. Read and eat slowly.
5. Connect more deeply with a smaller number of people.
6. Consume less, produce more.
7. Upgrade my Mastermind.
8. Schedule no more than 40% of my time.
9. Say "No thank you" to 90% of requests for my time and energy.
10. Spend 80% of my working time in the area of my Unique Ability. See Dan Sullivan's material on Unique Ability.
11. Re-commit to GTD. Check out David Allen's GTD class on Lynda.com.
12. Expand my use of templates.
13. Make better use of my main tools: OmniFocus, DragonDictate, TextExpander, Evernote, Scrivener.
14. Retire my email address and cell phone number.
15. Simplify, simplify, and then simplify.

Next Week:  Chris Brogan!

Get The Transcript

Click here to get the transcript. Transcripts provided by SuccessTranscripts – a great solution if you need your podcast, sermon, speech, or other audio transcribed.

Question: How do you plan to have a lean, mean 2015 – or do you? Click here to leave your comments.