the johnny renaissance files

🚨 Funeral directors: this isn’t a trend.It’s a transformation.

Just like websites replaced the Yellow Pages…Just like email replaced the fax machine…AI is about to replace every part of your business that refuses to adapt.

But here’s the twist—this isn’t about replacing people.It’s about amplifying them.Taking the busy work off their plate so they can be sharper, faster, more human.

In this new podcast clip, I break down exactly how funeral homes are already using AI to:→ Double their preneed leads in 90 days→ Boost average contract size by 22%→ Book appointments automatically—without relying on one “unicorn” agent

This isn’t theory. It’s happening now.

🎧 Listen to the clip here.🎙️ Catch the full episode on theashflash.substack.com.

#FuneralHomes #Preneed #AI #FuneralProfession #Marketing

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Everywhere you look, there’s another big-dollar platform promising the world…But when you need them most?It’s 4:30 p.m., you’ve got grieving families calling, and the answer you get is:"We’ll get back to you in 24 hours."

I’ve been in this game for nearly a decade.Not one of these companies is truly focused on your sales the way they should be.

That’s why I’ve stopped waiting.I’m taking what’s out there—the tech stack, the AI tools, the “solutions”—…and layering in my own systems.Custom-built.Focused on sales.Built for funeral homes and pre-need programs that want to grow.

No one else is going to do this for you.I’m bold enough to say maybe no one else can.

So here’s my challenge:If you think I’m wrong—or you’re curious how much opportunity your website and online presence are leaving on the table—comment here or DM me.

I’ll show you exactly how to fix it.And I’ll show you the system my partners are already using to own the future of pre-need.

John AshworthAKA Johnny RenaissanceFuneral Directors VIP Desk

#FuneralService #PreNeed #FuneralHomeMarketing #DeathCare #FuneralProfessionals #SalesSystems #AI

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Too often, funeral home growth strategies feel like a game of chance—the right timing, the perfect marketing, hoping something sticks.

But what if real growth isn’t about luck?

It’s about purposeful action.

Building trust.

Engaging meaningfully.

Leaders aren’t just content with surface-level efforts or chasing the next trend.

They focus on what truly moves the needle: authentic relationships, strategic leverage, consistent effort in the right places.

Growth isn’t a flash in the pan. It’s a system—one rooted in storytelling, automation, and trust-building—working quietly behind the scenes, day after day.

The transformation happens when you commit to the basics—updating your CRM intentionally, sharing stories that resonate, following up with purpose.

Because at the end of the day, it’s about legacy—what your funeral home stands for and how you serve families long before they call you.

If you want more than just hope, if you’re ready to build a momentum that lasts, then it’s time to get strategic—because leverage and systems beat luck every time.

Let’s craft your approach.

Because growth starts with intention—not chance.

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Here’s a Substack-ready draft built from your podcast script, keeping your edge and expanding the ideas for a longer-form read.

Stop Waiting. Start Marketing.

Some advice in the funeral profession isn’t just wrong — it’s dangerous.

It’s the kind of advice you get from someone who’s never had to make payroll with their own marketing plan.

Recently, I heard it again: “Just stop marketing. Just wait for people to come to you.”

This is the kind of thinking that keeps funeral homes stuck, shrinking, and wondering why they can’t get ahead.It would only come from someone who doesn’t understand the first thing about sales or marketing.

The truth?You should always be marketing.

Always be filling the air with your message.Always be telling your story, sharing your mission, and speaking directly to the specific families you want to serve.Always be sharpening the way you say it and the way you deliver it.

Marketing isn’t something you do until the phone starts ringing — it’s what you do so the phone keeps ringing.

Why waiting is a ridiculous idea

Sitting in your funeral home hoping people show up is not a strategy. It’s business hospice.

Here’s just one reason:On my recent trip, I met a funeral director frustrated over rising cremation rates.

Here’s the blunt truth:If you’re not actively in the market shaping perception, educating families, and making the case for why you’re worth choosing — someone else will. And you won’t like their pitch.

The families you want to reach are hearing from somebody every day. If that somebody isn’t you, you’ve already lost them.

The reality you can’t ignore

The market is noisy.The attention span of your audience is shrinking.And every day you delay, you give up space in people’s minds to competitors, discount cremation mills, and anyone else willing to put their message out there consistently.

You don’t need to yell louder than everyone. You need to say the right thing, to the right people, at the right time — over and over again.

That’s not hype. That’s the discipline of marketing done right.

Your next move

Stop listening to bad advice.Stop waiting for things to “go back to the way they were.”Start building a system that keeps your pipeline full — and never stop feeding it.

Because in this business, invisibility is the fastest path to irrelevance.

—🎙

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Because if 2025 to 2027 is truly our generation’s Industrial Revolution moment—and I believe it is—then sitting on the sidelines isn’t cautious.It’s reckless.

This kind of innovation doesn’t just cut costs or save time.It reshapes your business.It reshapes lives.It reshapes legacies.

Take what we’re building right now with AI.

Families can begin their funeral plans online—with intention.But instead of just checking boxes or filling out forms, they get to tell their story.They write it in their own words.They start shaping their own legacy—with the help of AI.

It turns pre-need into a living, breathing experience.Not a transaction.A transformation.

This is what the future looks like when you embrace the tools that are finally ready for this industry.

This is how we change your business.Your life.And the lives of the families you serve—for good.

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No real pipeline.

No consistent nurturing of leads.

No ownership of their pre-need program.

That’s where I come in.

Over the last 9 years in the funeral profession, and the last 3 working inside the trenches of pre-need sales, I’ve seen the same story play out over and over:

👉 Marketing works.👉 Interest is generated.👉 But there's no system to convert it into meaningful appointments, plans, or policies.

I’m changing that.

Laura and I have built something unique:A real follow-up system.For funeral homes.Managed by real people who care.Built from the ground up.Customized to your brand.Focused on real conversations, real relationships, and real results.

We're not selling magic software.We're not handing it off to a call center.We are getting you more control over your pre-need pipeline than you’ve ever had before.

It’s not for everyone. But if you’re ready to…

✔ Build a system that actually converts✔ See the numbers, commissions, growth rates✔ Finally take full control of your pre-need program

…then let’s talk.

I’m not here to “consult.”I’m here to build—with you, in your market, under your brand.

– John AshworthRegional Director, Golden ConsiderationsProud to be doing the real work.

#preneedsales #funeralhomes #advancedplanning #salespipeline #johnnyrenaissance #funeralprofession #followup #aftercare

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Create the Vacuum That Pulls You Forward 🚀

Ever feel like you’re grinding away but not actually moving forward? Here’s the game-changer: create a vacuum that pulls you forward.

Mark Zuckerberg figured this out early—Facebook always had 10X the bandwidth they needed, ensuring they never hit a wall. Now, Meta is doubling down on AI infrastructure, making sure they have the space to grow before they need it.

The same principle applies to your business and career. If you want to level up, make space for it.✅ Clear out the clutter (physically & mentally).✅ Stop doing tasks that don’t serve your long-term vision.✅ Delegate, automate, or eliminate.✅ Create capacity BEFORE you hit your limits.

Where can you build that extra bandwidth in your business and life? What’s one thing you can stop doing today to make room for the next big move?

Let’s talk—how are you making space for your next level?👇

#BusinessGrowth #Mindset #Success #Leadership #CreateTheVacuum

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Hey everyone, Johnny Renaissance here with some rapid-fire, tactical ways to sharpen your writing, make your content more engaging, and ultimately expand your influence.

### Stories, Stats, and Takeaways: The Three Pillars of Great Writing

When crafting content online, these three elements make all the difference: **stories draw people in, stats add credibility, and takeaways provide value.** Keep them in mind as you implement these 10 magical ways to elevate your writing.

### 1. Tips

People love structure. **5 Steps to X. 3 Lessons on Y.** Organize your content into steps, stacks, or sequences that guide your audience from problem to solution.

### 2. Stats

Numbers add credibility. Whether it’s **“80% of success is just showing up”** or industry-specific data, weaving in stats strengthens your points and makes them more persuasive.

### 3. Steps

Clear, actionable steps make it easy for your audience to follow through. **Step 1: Do this. Step 2: Do that.** Clarity beats complexity every time.

### 4. Lessons

What key lessons can you share? **Break down what you’ve learned** so your audience can apply those insights to their own lives or businesses.

### 5. Benefits

What’s in it for them? **The more you publish, the more reach you get.** The more reach, the more opportunities. Show your audience the tangible benefits of taking action.

### 6. Reasons

“5 Reasons You Should Post Daily” or “3 Reasons Most Writers Fail.” Reasons provide logical motivation to take action. They also make content easier to digest.

### 7. Mistakes

I’ve made plenty—including rambling too much in podcasts! Own your mistakes. People love authenticity. It makes you relatable, real, and trustworthy.

### 8. Examples

What I’m doing right now—breaking this into bite-sized tips—is an example of fast execution. **Examples bring concepts to life.** Use them often.

### 9. Questions

“How many pieces of content did you post last month? How can you improve that by just one?” Questions create engagement and spark introspection. They also drive conversations.

### 10. Personal Stories

Your journey is your brand. Share your wins, struggles, and habits. On weekends, I review notes, read, and soak up insights to bring you better content. That process is a **story.**

### Invite Interaction & Connection

Would love to hear your thoughts—what’s one writing tip that’s helped you the most? Drop a comment and let’s build something great together.

Thanks for being here. Thanks for paying attention. You showing up means the world to me.

Take care and keep creating!

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Check One, Two: A Gym Story and Life Lessons

John Ashworth here, a.k.a. Johnny Renaissance. Let me start with a story that hits home on so many levels.

At the gym, there's a guy in his mid-80s—a regular. I’m at the gym five days a week on average, year-round, and I’d see him multiple times each week. But recently, I hadn’t seen him for months, and I thoug…

What’s up, everybody? Johnny Renaissance here, burning the midnight oil on the road in Wisconsin and in search of wisdom. Quick pit stop to drop some unfiltered truth: NEVER hand over control of your marketing. Ever.

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Keep in mind—this isn’t a political post; it’s a sales and marketing masterclass ripped straight from the political playbook and in 2 minutes or less. Got it?You probably know the story: A major political party known as the democrats tried leveraging social media influencers to spread their message. Sounds genius, right? Well, it could have been, but…Influencers have one job, and they do it better than most. They engage audiences authentically. They build trust. They’re A-players who know how to show up and deliver. But instead of letting them shine in their lane, the party tried to cram them into their box—messaging controlled, voices muted, authenticity trashed.Spoiler: it flopped.This isn’t just a political misstep; it’s marketing malpractice that too many businesses repeat. When you find A-players—whether they’re your sales reps, content creators, or even your community champions—don’t micromanage them. Communicate your vision, give them the tools, then GET OUT OF THE WAY.Your brand is YOU. You can’t outsource your authenticity or surrender control of your message. You stay at the center. You stay in control. Collaborate, don’t abdicate. And most importantly, let authenticity and a clear vision keep you on course and a be a beacon for your tribe. Now, let’s go crush it like it’s 1984. Who’s with me?#SalesTips #MarketingLessons #AuthenticityWins #JohnnyRenaissance

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This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.theashflash.com/subscribe