Ray Edwards Show

What if instead of chasing after business, you could have business chasing after you? That's exactly what happens for me, and in this week's episode am going to tell you how to build a system that helps you attract business.

May I ask for your help? Please subscribe (and leave a review) in iTunes. This helps new people discover the podcast.

Here are some other reasons to keep listening to this week's podcast episode:

•  What are your success rituals?
•  My update on "The One Thing".
• Plus, our feature presentation…  How to Attract Business

Tip Of The Week

From The ONE Thing by Gary Keller, Jay Papasan…

"What's the ONE Thing you can do this week such that by doing it everything else would be easier or unnecessary?"

So how is this working out for me? Listen to the podcast audio to find out.

Spiritual Foundations

Recently, I was reading a book called Business for the Glory of God. I began to wonder, just what is the "glory of God"? Guess what? There is an answer, and it is important for us to know it.

Moses said, "Please show me your glory." And he said, "I will make all my goodness pass before you and will proclaim before you my name 'The Lord.' And I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show mercy on whom I will show mercy.
Exodus 33:18-19

God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.
Romans 5:5

Do you not know that youare God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in you?
1 Co 3:16

The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me.
John 17:22-23

Feature Segment: How to Attract Business

1. Value
2. Positioning & Authority
3. Hub & Spoke
4. Traffic, Lead, Conversion Systems
5. Path

I am conducting a webinar training that details how to do all this two days from now. Click here for details.

Want To Be On Next Week's Show?

My topic for next week's show is "How to Be Smarter". If you have a question on that topic, you can ask by visiting my voicemail page (just click here to leave a message). This is a great way to promote your own website. First, make sure you have a great question, and then start off by saying your name and your website. If your question is used on the show, will even include a link back to your site in the show notes.

Your Feedback

Do you have an idea for a podcast you would like to hear? Do you have a question that you like to ask me? Please contact me.

Call in your questions or comments to our new, fancy "request line" at (509) 713-2679 or click here to leave a message on my Voicemail Page

And 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.

 

What if instead of chasing after business, you could have business chasing after you? That's exactly what happens for me, and in this week's episode am going to tell you how to build a system that helps you attract business. May I ask for your help? Please subscribe (and leave a review) in iTunes. This […]

What if you could consult with God himself about your business? What if you could ask him questions, and get divinely inspired answers? What if you could ask God to introduce you to key people, or even to send you business? I believe all these things are possible, and in fact I practice them in my own business. And today, I'm going to show you exactly how you can do the same.

I would consider it a great favor if you subscribe (and leave a review) in iTunes. This helps new people discover the podcast.

Here are some other reasons to keep listening to this week's podcast episode:

•  An update on the "five things" productivity tactic (hint: five is too many).
•  An alternative to BaseCamp that works.
• Plus, our feature presentation… How to Consult With God

Tip Of The Week

Update on "5 Things"… it's now "1 Thing". From The ONE Thing by Gary Keller, Jay Papasan…

"What's the ONE Thing you can do this week such that by doing it everything else would be easier or unnecessary?"

While I do love (and use) BaseCamp, I am trying out a new tool for managing projects that could be even simpler. Meet BizPad.

Spiritual Foundations

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

Sometimes we think God is only interested in "spiritual things". That he has no interest in the material world, and neither should we.

This is not a Judeo-Christian idea. It is an idea that sprouts from Greek thinking, and specifically is at the root of a heresy known as Gnosticism. The Gnostics believed, among many things, that the material world was evil and that only the spiritual world could be pure and unsullied. This led them to believing that Jesus was a ghost, and not an actual man.

The truth is from the beginning God wanted to partner with human beings to comp is his purposes. This is why Adam and Eve were put in charge of the garden. They were given assignment, and this was before the fall. So work, and the material world, are not evil, and are not results of the fall.

What's my point?

When God created the world, he looked at his creation and said it was good. We should relax and enjoy the fact that we can have fun while working, that we are interested in what we do, and celebrate the fact that God made us the way he did. I think he enjoys what we enjoy. And thus, I think he's interested in every aspect of our lives. That he longs to give input, supply answers, and help us out. Just as we long to do the same for our own children.

 When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come.
John 16:13

Feature Segment: How to Consult With God

If you separate God from any part of your life, you are not having the full experience of God, nor of that part of your life. Business is no exception.

These days, if I am asked if I personally have a consultant for my business, my answer is yes. I have the very best consultant available. God.

Now, most people probably assume that I mean I run my business according to godly principles. Principles that I find in Scripture, or that I am taught by pastors and teachers. While this is true (to the best of my ability, and as God enables me), this is not really what I mean.

Or rather, it is not all that I mean.

I mean that I consult with my father in heaven every day about my business. I'm in constant dialogue with him about what things to work on, what to write, even how to solve specific challenges and problems I encounter along the way.

So how do you do it? How do you ask God for answers? How do you ask him for help? Here are five steps I have found useful

1. Know that God is interested, willing, and able. From Scripture we know that he has even counted the number of hairs on your head. We know that one man came to Jesus with the problem and said Jesus could heal him "if he was willing"… And another man came to Jesus and asked for help, "if you are able"… And the answer Jesus gave to both was yes. He was willing, he was able. He healed everyone who came to him.
2. Realize that you are qualified for God's help. Jesus stepped into the gap between us and God. He solved the "sin problem" once and for all. So just place your faith in him, and know that you don't have to "clean up your act" or "make amends" before he will be willing to help you.
3. Be intentional about what you are asking. If you are asking for an answer, be specific in your question. If you are asking for help, be specific in your request. I suggest writing down what you are asking for.
4. Offer thanks immediately. In Philippians we are told to make our requests known to God, with "prayer and thanksgiving". Notice how many times Jesus thanked his father… before the miracle happened. There is a unique opportunity to thank God after your request has been made and before you've seen the answer with your eyes.
5. Expect and look for the answer. Whether you have asked God for an idea, a connection with a person, or just a miraculous infusion of money, so you can meet payroll… be looking for the answer. Have hope.

What if God doesn't answer?

Or what if he says no?

First, I think the number of times God says "no" is much lower than we believe it is. For instance, when we pray for physical healing, it is clear from reading Scripture that it is always God's will for us to be healed. He paid a high price so that this could be the case. So if the healing doesn't come, there is some answer other than the one that puts God in the position of being a liar.

I believe that when we pray, something always happens. Always.

Maybe we don't see it, maybe we don't see it yet, or maybe it comes in a form that we don't recognize.

It's helpful to remember that God's delays are not necessarily his denials.

A useful question that has helped me navigate these waters is one I learned from Graham Cook. When faced with a difficult situation, and no apparent answer from God, I ask him, "Who does God want to be for me in this situation?"

I have received some of the deepest answers to my own prayers by asking God that question.

You can ask for God's help, for answers, and even for direct assistance. And he will answer you. Try it.

Listener Questions

We heard from these listeners this week:

• Sonya Ramsey asks  how to avoid making your business into an idol.
• Anette Bone wants to know how we can be sure we are in God's will.
• Summer Alexander asks if the changes she made to her business were really God-inspired.
• Mary Rose Macguire wonders if she's really hearing God's voice, or her own.
• Pam McCall has a great testimony of God's provision for one of her clients.
• Laura Viviana when you ask God for something, but it hasn't come yet, how do you deal with it?
• Rich Bradfield  asks how we keep ourselves an alignment with what God is doing.
• Tony Policci  asks how we pose a question to God and get a specific answer.
• Laura McClellan  wonders how we know when we are motivated by profit, as opposed to being motivated by the spirit.
• Ilene Saidel asks for my favorite scripture to pray for new customers.

For if, because of one man's trespass, death reigned through that one man, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ.
(Romans 5:17)

One gives freely, yet grows all the richer;
another withholds what he should give, and only suffers want.
 Whoever brings blessing will be enriched,
and one who waters will himself be watered.
 The people curse him who holds back grain,
but a blessing is on the head of him who sells it.
(Proverbs 11:24-26)

 

Want To Be On Next Week's Show?

My topic for next week's show is "How to Attract Business". If you have a question on that topic, you can ask by visiting my voicemail page (just click here to leave a message). This is a great way to promote your own website. First, make sure you have a great question, and then start off by saying your name and your website. If your question is used on the show, will even include a link back to your site in the show notes.

Your Feedback

Do you have an idea for a podcast you would like to hear? Do you have a question that you like to ask me? Please contact me.

Call in your questions or comments to our new, fancy "request line" at (509) 713-2679 or click here to leave a message on my Voicemail Page

And 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.

 

What if you could consult with God himself about your business? What if you could ask him questions, and get divinely inspired answers? What if you could ask God to introduce you to key people, or even to send you business? I believe all these things are possible, and in fact I practice them in […]

Hosting your own live event can be risky. I posted about this recently, and I posted my reasons for hosting live events anyway. Now, I'm offering five crucial steps you must be aware of if you want to successfully market your own live event. Ignoring the steps could mean the loss of a lot of money, sleep, and peace of mind.

Here's what else is up in this week's podcast episode:

• The "five things" approach to productivity.
• The Word that heals.
• Plus, our feature presentation… 5 Crucial Steps To Marketing Live Events

Tip Of The Week

The curious case of Dr. Canoe, props to Alex and Robert, and the simplest productivity tool I know.

Spiritual Foundations

He sent out his word and healed them,
and delivered them from their destruction.
Psalm 107:20

As Christians, we sometimes fall into using the Bible as a talisman. We hold it like a good luck charm. We pull it out in times of trouble.

The power of the Bible-God's word-is released only when you receive it as truth, and then speak it out loud.

When God wanted to save the world what did he do? He sent the word.

When God wanted to heal his people, the Bible says he sent his word.

There is no "your part" that you need to do to receive God's goodness, except this: you must receive it. We help ourselves receive it when we confess it out loud.

Feature Segment: 5 Crucial Steps To Marketing Live Events

The biggest risk you take when you sponsor a live event is the most obvious one: the risk that nobody will show up.

The next biggest risk is not so obvious, but perhaps more commonplace. This is the risk that people will show up, the event will be great, and you will lose money like crazy. Here are five crucial steps you can take to ensure against both of these problems.

1. Be intentional about the model.
2. Identify your attendees carefully.
3. Remember the 5P's.
4. Watch them chickens.
5. Market early, market often, and market using different media.

Your Feedback

Do you have an idea for a podcast you would like to hear? Do you have a question that you like to ask me? Please contact me.

Call in your questions or comments to our new, fancy "request line" at (509) 713-2679 or click here to leave a message on my Voicemail Page

And 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.

 

Hosting your own live event can be risky. I posted about this recently, and I posted my reasons for hosting live events anyway. Now, I'm offering five crucial steps you must be aware of if you want to successfully market your own live event. Ignoring the steps could mean the loss of a lot of […]

Maybe the best way to grow your business if to do less. I'm not encouraging laziness, but rather suggesting something very different. It's time to speed up… by slowing down.

Here's what else is up in this week's podcast episode:

• Scrivener is my new writing tool of choice.
• The value of comrades in arms.
• Stu McLaren is back from a dog sled adventure with a talk on sprinting.
• Plus, our feature presentation… 5 Ways To Simplify Your Business

Tip Of The Week

Scrivener is a powerful content-generation tool for writers that allows you to concentrate on composing and structuring long and difficult documents. While it gives you complete control of the formatting, its focus is on helping you get to the end of that awkward first draft.

Spiritual Foundations

But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God… For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified.
Hebrews 10:12,14

It's about time we stopped confessing our sins. Why are we so caught up in the idea that we need to remind God of something he has said he has forgotten?

You don't need to become more conscious of your sin. You already know when you sin.

What we need to become conscious of is our righteousness.

Being conscious of how imperfect we are is not humility. It's a failure to understand what Christ has extra done for us.

In fact, the Bible tells us that being conscious of our sins means we haven't "evil conscience" (Hebrews 10:22).

God sees us without spot, without imperfection, and he sees us wearing his own robes of righteousness. We are righteous, not because of anything we have done, but because of what he has done.

Lifestyle Business Segment

Stu McLaren,  superstar entrepreneur from WishList Products And RhinoSupport, brings us our Lifestyle Business Segment. This week, Stu tackles the subject of sprinters vs. marathoners.

Feature Segment: 5 Ways To Simplify Your Business

From last week's podcast, here are 3 good reasons to simplifying your business.

1. Simplifying helps you to focus more on the most profitable elements of your business.
2. Simplifying helps you get paid more for what you sell.
3. Simplifying helps your customers feel as if they are clear on what you do.

The question this raised was, how do we do that? Here are five ways to simplify your business.

1. Eliminate 80% of what you are doing.
2. Renegotiate your agreements.
3. Increase output, decrease input.
4. Build intentional constraints into your schedule.
5. Ruthlessly practice "The Art of No".

Your Feedback

Do you have an idea for a podcast you would like to hear? Do you have a question that you like to ask me? Please contact me.

Call in your questions or comments to our new, fancy "request line" at (509) 713-2679 or click here to leave a message on my Voicemail Page

And 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.

 

Maybe the best way to grow your business if to do less. I'm not encouraging laziness, but rather suggesting something very different. It's time to speed up… by slowing down. Here's what else is up in this week's podcast episode: Scrivener is my new writing tool of choice. The value of comrades in arms. Stu […]

Who are "Internet Marketers", and how do they get it wrong? There is a very distinct group of online entrepreneurs that are referred to as "Internet Marketers", as opposed to the general online population of business people who do marketing.

And within this distinct group, there are some common practices that will lead you to disaster… in this episode, I'll show you how to avoid that problem.

Here's what else is up in this week's podcast episode:

• The app that made me a journal keeper… against my will.
•  Is there a time to stop crying out to God?
• Stu McLaren is back with advice on living well.
• Plus, our feature presentation… 5 Traps "Internet Marketers" Fall Into.

Special Announcements

1. This weekend is the 3-Day Live Intensive,  April 5-7 in Phoenix. Get your ticket right now – click here.
2. Would you like to have me speak at your event or church? I am accepting a limited number of engagements for 2013.  Click here to visit my speaking page and get details on my availability.

Tip Of The Week

If you've ever wanted to keep it journal, but just never been able to stick with it, you might want to try DayOne.

Spiritual Foundations

Is there ever a time to stop "crying out to God" and start taking some action? Consider this story from Exodus:

The Lord said to Moses, "Why do you cry to me? Tell the people of Israel to go forward. Lift up your staff, and stretch out your hand over the sea and divide it, that the people of Israel may go through the sea on dry ground." Exodus 14:15-16

God gave Moses authority. That's what the staff in his hand represented. So when Moses had the people crying out to God, the Lord asked Moses why. And then God told him to have the people go forward, and exercise his authority.

As partakers in the new covenant, we also have authority. It comes to us in the name of Jesus Christ.

If you feel that you're caught between "the devil and the deep blue sea", perhaps it's time to stop crying out to God, and start exercising your authority as a royal priest, and in the name of Jesus Christ.

Lifestyle Business Segment

Stu McLaren,  superstar entrepreneur from WishList Products And RhinoSupport, brings us our Lifestyle Business Segment. This week, Stu tackles the subject of living well.

Feature Segment: 5 Traps "Internet Marketers" Get Caught In

When I use the term "Internet Marketers" in this particular episode, I'm referring to that curious group of folks who can be described like this: marketers who sell marketing stuff to marketers, who then sell marketing stuff to marketers, who sell… you get the idea.

Now I am not saying that Internet Marketers are bad people, or that there is anything wrong with this particular niche. In fact, I believe quite the contrary.

I do believe there are some common pitfalls that many people in this niche encounter. And today, I'm going to outline five traps Internet Marketers get caught in. I think you can en joy great success either as an Internet Marketer yourself, or by learning from Internet Marketing experts… if you avoid these five traps.

• The Internet Marketing MLM Trap. Please don't flame me, I'm not criticizing multilevel marketing companies that sell on the Internet. But within that industry (the MLM industry) there are many scams. Most of them are some version of "selling the dream to people who then sell the dream to other people"… And nobody is selling any actual product. The same happens in Internet marketing.
• The Copycat Trap. This is the bane of "how to" content creation. If all you are teaching is "how to" it quickly becomes indistinguishable from "me too". The antidote is moving beyond mere knowledge, and producing Wisdom.
• The Hamster Wheel Trap. Instead of creating foundational products, and building a marketing system, entrepreneurs stuck in this trap are having to produce the "product of the week". Always a new pitch. Always a new topic. Very tiring.
• The Hyperbolic Intensifier Trap. We get the word "height" from the word "hyperbole". When you are creating commodity products and information, the only way to fight the competition war is by exaggerating the benefits of your own product. You have to intensify your hyperbole until eventually, you're just telling lies.
• The Spirit of Mammon Trap. Call it greed. Call it avarice. Jesus called it Mammon. This comes from a Greek word that seems to imply the personification of a spiritual force behind the worship of money.

"Do not love the money and use people. Instead, use money to love people."-Joseph Prince

These traps can sneak up on you. Keep your eyes open, stay well away from these, and enjoy more success and fulfillment. Not to mention sounder sleep.

Your Feedback

Do you have an idea for a podcast you would like to hear? Do you have a question that you like to ask me? Please contact me.

And 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.

 

Who are “Internet Marketers”, and how do they get it wrong? There is a very distinct group of online entrepreneurs that are referred to as “Internet Marketers”, as opposed to the general online population of business people who do marketing. And within this distinct group, there are some common practices that will lead you to […]