Jared Matthew Kessler's Blog, page 7

The Difficulty Of Being Different

I'm going to be honest with you, I was in a creative coma for the month of November…  mainly because I was on the fence about continuing this blog I've been doing.  Although, I mentioned from my last communication, that I was going to combine both sites…  I got numerous responses from others to keep this blog going (separate from TKAC site).

Then I recently asked my mentor about what I should do (after telling you I was combining the two).  He said:

I think you thought logically to the wrong conclusion.  :-)

I would keep them separate.

Gives you more options.  A better business model.

Now since I value his opinion and he's come to build multiple multi-million dollar businesses without borrowing any money… I'll admit it was a dumb move (on my part).

Yet, I don't know if it's because of the holiday time.  Preparing for the new year.  The colder weather.  The alignment of the stars or what…

But sometimes we think and/or try to outdo ourselves or just try to be different just to be "different."  My way of doing that was to stop this site.  Work on some other stuff (besides "The Kick Ass Copywriter") and…  I don't know about you, but it just doesn't always work out like we want it to.  Does it?

I guess for me, I think I struggle more with accepting our difference than sometimes even being "different."  You?

So I decided to pose a similar question like this, to a few people on my Facebook page .  I asked them, "what do you do to think differently?  Do you have a hard time w/ it because of how you've been programmed?"

Here's what some had to say:

Cindie Eggersart said, "Great question Jared! If I need to handle a situation that involves someone else, for example…I imagine them and what might be their angle of thinking on an issue and go from there. If I am looking for an answer to a life situation, I imagine someone who excels in that arena and think about how they might handle it… I imagine it thinking outside an issue in a way."

Dave Waite answered, "Never take the common path. It's well worn and leads to nothing new. Be Your Own Creature."

I'd be curious to see what you think.

How do you deal with being "different?"  Thinking "different?"  Acting "different?"

Do you even care that you're "different?"  Or are we all just cogs in a wheel?

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Waiting Gets Expensive

It really does.

In October of 2008, you could've bought Apple stock at $78 per share – of course, back then, it was expensive for some.  But a lot of people still knew how great the product was, what kind of company it is and… unfortunately people kept "waiting for the right time" to get in.

Only two years later, Apple stock is up to $309 per share – and of course those same people that couldn't afford it at $78 are kicking themselves for not being able to afford it now.

Of course like some, I didn't buy Apple stock – but I am experiencing something similar.

You see, when I first started Copywriting a lot of people could've gotten the same great service I provided for one-fifth of what I charge now.  But like those same people who were "waiting for the right time," I unknowingly passed them over by raising my prices.

Now at my current rate, I'm amazed to see that there are people that claim "I wish I could've gotten you a few months ago."

In short, sometimes it's a tough lesson to understand that waiting can get very expensive.  When you have all the pieces of the puzzle in front of you and don't need any other information to make an informed decision on whether something will help you and your business… you need to take advantage of the opportunity now.

Well actually… that's not true.  You can keep "waiting for the right time," but it can get VERY expensive!

So that's why I wanted to offer everyone " The Kick Ass Copywriter's Mega Crazy November Sale " for full web site copy.

Since I only take a handful of people to work with each month, this helps me to work with people who like to take immediate action (my favorite kind of people).

For those that like to wait… remember what Apple stock used to be.  It's a hard lesson to learn… but hopefully you will begin to understand as I have, that if you don't act immediately upon the opportunity at hand, certain things will eventually become out of reach.

Question: Are you looking to stand out from the noise… or just add to it? Click here for more information.  I can help!

Quick Copy Tips, Info & Crazy Coolness: @jaredkessler

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How Not To Succeed

Everyone talks about "succeeding" so I wanted to talk about how NOT to "succeed."  Want to know how?

It's easy.  Do nothing.

That's right.  Buy every book someone suggests to get and will help you out, then make every excuse for yourself on why you shouldn't do anything about it.

Take advice from a great friend that wants more for you than you want for yourself and blow them off the next time they say, "I think you should do _______ to get out of your current situation."

Believe it or not, that's why I sent out my last survey  – because I really wanted to find out what everyone wanted and see what I could do to help people blowing stuff off.

Now I can't really share all the results of my little survey, but I have to tell you… I didn't expect to find what I did.  Actually I was quite alarmed with what I really found (it kinda scared me).

Do you know not one person who had a "job" working for someone else was happy.

Not one.

I'm serious.  Not one person was happy at their current job.

Now is it me or do you find that pretty strange – according to how most of us were brought up?

Think about it. We had slammed into our heads at a young age to; follow the rules, be a good person, do well in school, get a good job with great benefits and it'll be ok.

Yeah… ummmm… how's that working for you today?

I'll be honest with you, that doesn't work anymore  – and we'll get into some other reasons as of why that is later (and please don't misunderstand the "be a good person part" cause it's not about breaking the law).

Now on the other part of my survey I also found something pretty interesting…

Most people that worked for themselves, were very happily employed, but they wanted to find some way to make more of a meaningful contribution while making more money (in less time – or find an easier non-nonsensical way to do it).

Of course there were a few differing opinions here and there, but for the most part… at some level, that's what everyone was saying underneath it all.

So now I was thinking, "That's cool… but what the freak do I do with this information?  How can I help give everyone something for free to help with what they're looking for?"

So listen… here is what I thought I would do.

How about I give away free copies of my eBook entitled, "How To Find Your Ultimate Mentor" to everyone on my mailing list?

Now I don't know if it's because I turn 36 on Friday or because my girlfriend Kelly is coming to town or what… but it's important to know that I want to see everyone as happy as I have been these last few months.

Seriously.

Finally able to live off of the income generated from my business, I think finding a mentor is a perfect step in the right direction to get you out of your shit job or earning more income and making a meaningful contribution in your own business (or personal life) so you can kick some serious ass.

Sound good?

(a link will come in the "Welcome Email" so make sure you check your inbox and confirm your email upon signing up).

Of course, you can always follow the path of least resistance and not do much of anything to get out of your current situation.  But then whose fault is that for not "succeeding?"

Question: Are you looking to stand out from the noise… or just add to it? Click here for more information.  I can help!

Quick Copy Tips, Info & Craziness: @jaredkessler

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The "Get Back To Me" Loop

We check our email – anxiously awaiting for that one person to get back to us with that "dream offer."

Nothing.

Next is the Twitter account… "Did anyone respond to my amazing tweet that I thought tons of people would retweet?"

No?  "How could that be," we ponder.

Onto our phone messages – seeing if that one call we've been waiting for came in to offer us that job we interviewed 10 times for and thought to ourselves "I think they like me.  The fact that they seemed interested is probably a great sign."

Nill.

We think to ourselves;

"What's wrong?  Did I write the correct thing?  Did I say something incorrectly? Were they pissed at something I said?  Was it my hair? Do I not shake their hand hard enough?  Maybe I'm not cool enough?  The book I just read said to give a firm hand shake and how come there handshake wasn't as firm as mine was – is that a sign?"

Sounds familiar, huh (or at least somewhat familar)?

I've recently dealt with this and I can tell you it's a downward spiral.  You doubt yourself for no good reason.

But listen… nothing is wrong with you.  It's ok.  Forget about trying to overanalyze what you said or did as not being enough for someone.  Or that you've be kicking yourself for waiting 15 minutes instead of a day (to get back to them) to try and pretend you're a lot busier than you really are.

Who cares!

You'll never know why someone didn't respond to your email.  Call you back. Respond to your one-of-a- kind blog post that you think everyone would share on Facebook or Twitter.

Just keep plugging away and eventually… people will respond on their time (not ours).

Question: Are you standing out from the noise… or just adding to it? Click here for more information.

Follow Me: @jaredkessler

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TheKickAssCopywriter.com IS LIVE! YIPEEEE!

I'm super excited to share this with you.  Here it is:

http://www.thekickasscopywriter.com

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What's Right (Yet Unpopular)?

It's almost a year since I've been completely debt free.  My girlfriend has a few more months.

I have to say things are much easier now (for both my business and personal life). The reason is, I'm not enslaved to any major corporation just because I have bills to pay.  I'm also not scared to speak my mind to someone because somewhere in the back of my mind I have this deep rooted fear of losing my job.

It's empowering.  It feels great.  But at times you feel alone.

Back in March, my girlfriend a...

Network Like You

Courtesy of Cerce84 (via Flickr)

I hate dressing in kacki pants and a polo shirt.  Before starting my own business, I found that the first question I asked a lot of temp agencies before accepting an assignment was, "what's the dress." I loved answering back, "Business Casual – khacki pants and a button down shirt?"

Is was a personal joke I had – just for me.  :)

Have you ever stopped to ask them, "Ummm… what if I don't like dressing like that? What if I can give you my best work in a t-shirt...

Reminding Ourselves Of Who We Are

It's tough to sometimes to remind ourselves of who we are – I know.  We have more distractions than reminders.

Here are a few quick tips that I recently got back into and you might want to try doing (if you haven't already or may have forgotten):

1 - Record yourself saying, "I'm so happy and grateful now that ________."  Filling in the blank with whatever you want to have, do or be in life.  Play it each morning the first hour you awake.

2 – Use the first hour to ONLY listen to something that...

The Art Of Meat Loaf

Have you ever walked by a business thinking, "why the heck is this place always crowded?"

That's what happened to me the other day – and I fell in love with best veggie Meat Loaf I've ever had.

Now before every meat eater out there starts scratching their head visualizing how cardboard tastes… give me a second to explain.

I was at a place called, "The Honey Hole" a few blocks down from my new place.

Let me just tell you that it was the best damn Veggie Meat Loaf I've ever had.  So here's my take ...

Scared To Be "Different?"

So many companies claim to be "different."

"We're different from the rest" is almost shouted from the rooftops.  Then the minute we walk into their office or do business with them we see:

Most of their employees living for their Friday/Saturday nights, using the same overused "Thank God It's Friday" lingo day after day because the job they're in sucks.Businesses using the excuse for not giving people their yearly bonus "Because of the economy we have to ______."  When the company still made...