After getting a ton of responses to my survey last week on: “Your Top 2 Challenges with Growing Your Business”, I got together with legendary copywriter, John Carlton, and asked for his opinion on the reasons why people have trouble moving their business forward.
In this John Carlton interview, we talk about the things entrepreneurs do to succeed online.
– We talked about Branding vs. Direct Response.
– We talked about how your family and friends, while meaning well, can actually shoot down your ideas and actually harm your business. You need to protect yourself against that.
– We talked about finding a niche, and how to make money in your niche.
– We talked about how people fail to use a ‘call to action’, fail to give people a way to buy from you. Listen as John teaches the 5 simple themes that entrepreneurs use to succeed.
– How do you stay focused and stay on task to bring yourself the most profits.
– Who you should hire first, and how to get the most leverage there.
– Overcoming information overload. It’s the thing all entrepreneurs need to battle!
And a lot more about entrepreneurs, and what the best ones do to succeed.
This is a high energy, information packed interview. In fact, after we did the interview, I thought it was so good I was on cloud 9, thinking how much this information would help people.
You can listen online, or download it to your computer
Right Click Here to Download the mp3 file
As a working freelance copywriter, John is one of a handful at the top of the game — commanding fees that cause unprepared clients to choke, getting booked up to a year in advance by the largest mailers in the world, and consistently writing pitches that sell like crazy.
As a teacher of writing sales messages for businesses, John is responsible for helping a verifiable mob of otherwise clueless entrepreneurs and small business owners get their act together.
I have had the benefit of being in one of John’s ‘Hot Seats’. His ‘Hot Seats’ is where he gets you in front of a group of people, and he reviews and grills your business.
I will be speaking at John’s Action Seminar event at the end of this month in San Diego. We will be helping folks take Action, and move your business forward. That is why it’s called the “Action Seminar”. You can read more about the event, and how it will benefit you below
Wow – fantastic interview – both of you. Thanks for offering that up, Christina. Great advice from a couple of masters.
Barry,
John and I could have talked for hours. Focusing on what entrepreneurs need to be successful is what it’s all about
🙂
as always John’s advice is priceless…
Joe,
Yes, John is a legend!
Can’t say that I haven’t heard these things before though presented in far more complexity. But after listening to your presentation, I see how I can actually accomplish something. Your straightforward, conversation-at-the-table environment really made it stick (I actually enjoyed taking notes and look forward to getting MOVING.)
The five themes are succintly stated and don’t sound so impossible now. The personal assistant will be my highest priority. I’ve hired coaches for two years who only told me all the things I’ve already put on my TO DO list. While I was a broken record with my one question, “How can I get some time to do what I need to do?” None suggested that I stop paying them big bucks and find someone to help me with the “nitty gritty grunt work” (as a favorite high school teacher used to call tasks that had to be done but kept us from more enterprising pursuits). I guess I just needed the endorsement from you two gurus so I wouldn’t feel it was foolish!
Christina, you and John together have a “real people talking together” style that is so motivational. It lends more to your credibility that all of the accomplishments on your lists. I actually felt like you were here in my home talking to me personally about my opportunity for success online.
I’m going to find a personal assistant with all haste. Thanks a million.
Jan,
Thanks for the great feedback on the interview!
…and I love your hand towel dispenser 🙂
Thanks so much to both of you for sharing this interview! I listened to it on my ipod while running and I actually had to stop when you got to the part about entrepreneurial blood. I felt so validated by your message – like there’s this whole world of people out there who completely ‘get’ why I would turn down a great J-O-B offer with salary and benefits simply because it feels to me like slowly suffocating.
I have been in that position more than once – where I’m doing my thing as a freelance writer and marketing consultant and I get offered a job. Once was 16 years ago as a newlywed with quite a bit of debt and another was two years ago when I lost a huge account during the ‘economic crisis’ and was tempted to take an offer because I’ve got 3 kids who depend on me to bring in the money. But each time I get offered a job I try to talk myself into it…I tell myself I’m crazy to want a different life and to obsess about ‘freedom’ or ‘independence’ or ‘creativity.’ Now, thanks to your conversation, I know I’m not crazy…I just have an entrepreneurial spirit! THanks for the diagnosis. I feel better already:)
Theresa
Theresa,
Thanks for sharing your story.
I remember standing in my bathroom one day, looking into the mirror and realizing that I was NEVER going to go back to a ‘normal J-O-B’ again.
It was a pretty powerful feeling!