Wish you could’ve hung out with us…

Right now…

I’m on the plane back to Austin…

Just wrapped up another epic Ocean’s Four Mastermind…

And this one?

Was arguably the best one yet.

In fact, just got this text message from one of the attendees:

(Btw – this guy, Shaun? Super smart marketer in the fitness space who is absolutely killing it on ClickBank…)

In fact, the caliber of people in the room made me blush…

For example, we had…

Steve Gray – media buying ninja…

Who pulled the kimono back and revealed how not to be a “sucker” when doing media buys…

Shared his step-by-step script to negotiate (and protect yourself) against slick media reps…

As well as his ENTIRE method for rolling out media campaigns.

The guy buys $800K/mo in media.

Doesn’t sell his technique as a product.

Too profitable to share all his secrets with the world.

But he shared it with us.

Why?

Simply because he wanted to be in the room.

And this presentation was his ticket in.

Then we had Russell Brunson…

Paid full price just to be in the room…

And being the super-cool guy he is?

Decidedly to spontaneously share the surprising results of 2+ years of split-testing:

His highest converting checkout page in history.

(Swore us to secrecy on this one.)

Because it’s something he’s now rolling out in every single market – from biz opp, to diabetes, to nerve pain.

(This thing is SO good (and so unexpected) I’ll be using the same formula myself…)

And of course…

You had Andre Chaperon and Ben Settle going head to head in the Email Octagon…

Jack Born revealing “tech tricks” and his latest app…

(Stay tuned, you’re gonna like this one…)

And yours truly…

Teaching the room how I doubled at least three client businesses last year…

By using three different surveys:

1. The “Bucket” Survey
2. The “Do You Hate Me” Survey
3. The “Pivot” Survey

Of course…

The devil’s in the details with this stuff…

Which is why people pay me anywhere from $18-47K+ to build entire end-to-end funnels for them…

Everything from landing page, to VSL, to upsell path, to followup sequence, and more…

Now, I’m unfortunately booked up on implementations for possibly the next 4-6 months…

(After the mastermind, a few more folks cornered me to do this for them… And I’ve got existing clients begging to get their next funnel on the schedule.)

That’s the bad news.

The good news is this:

I’m opening up 1 (maybe 2) slots in my coaching practice.

This gets you access to Ryan at a fraction of what it would cost you to do a full implementation with me.

Still comes with the same 5% royalty on all stuff we work on together.

But the cost is only $1,000 – $2,000 / mo.

If you haven’t gotten on the priority notification wait-list yet to be notified as soon as the spots go live…

… The deadline to do that is this FRIDAY, Feb 21st @ 4:59PM CST.

Here’s the link:

http://www.ryanlevesque.net

Okay, gotta run…

Telling me I need to shut down electronic devices…

Later!

Ryan

PS – Real quick (before I get in trouble)..

At the mastermind, there were gifts too…

Like this book, which I spent reading on the flight..

LINK

(Andre, Ben, Jack and I have a tradition – where we pick the #1 most influential book we’ve read in the past 6 months – and give copies away as gifts.

The book in that link?

Was Jack’s book…

Curious to know the books Andre, Ben, and I gave away?

Just *HIT REPLY* to this email and say “YES!” – and I’ll tell you about them later this week…)

Okay, gotta run!

So I’m sitting here on the plane…

Heading to our O4 Mastermind in Las Vegas this weekend…

(The one I host with Andre Chaperon, Ben Settle, and Jack Born…)

And right now…

I’m tap, tap, tapping away on my MBP retina…

And I literally just took three seconds here to breathe a giant a sigh of relief…

Why?

Because every time I leave for a trip like this…

Packing is always a last minute mad dash adventure…

Now…

I don’t know if it’s because of the adrenaline rush…

(After all, it’s a little fun to push the envelope and see how close you can cut it, right?…)

Or if it’s a guy thing…

(My wife will pack a week before we leave for a trip…)

But for some reason…

For me?

Packing is guaranteed to either be a 1am night before adventure…

Or a same-day event.

And this morning I woke up with just ONE thought in my mind:

Let the games begin.

By the way, made it by the skin of my teeth…

(Is there any other way?)

In fact here’s a photo of my OCD packed suitcase:

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10100380953268401&set=a.10100120641345581.2282424.1008516

Okay. So what’s this all got to do with marketing?

And more specifically…

The conversation THIS week:

Re: Using DEADLINES in your funnels?

Well it’s like this…

The reason you use deadlines is because they friggin WORK, right?

Because after all:

I ain’t packing unless I’ve got a flight breathing down my neck…

(Your prospects aren’t any different by the way…)

But once you’ve hit people with that deadline…

And that deadline has come and gone…

You’ve blown your load, right?

Meaning, with the exception of the occasionally-used “second chance” thing we talked about yesterday…

You can only use that “deadline” move once…

Well, not if you do what I’m about to show you…

Because here’s the key:

If this were a video game, I’d tell you:

“Dude. You don’t want to empty all your bullets on the first bad guy…”

Huh?

What I mean by that is this:

When you throw out your deadline…

You always want to hold *something* back…

(I’ll explain what I mean by that in a second…)

More specifically…

You want to use a technique I like to call “Deadline Stacking”…

Here’s what that is:

In our Ocean’s Four Mastermind this weekend, for example…

We stacked THREE deadlines…

Early Bird Deadline #1

Early Bird Deadline #2

Final Deadline (Deadline #3)

Deadline #1 – Folks got a FREE ticket to the Meclabs Email Summit (worth a cool $1495) PLUS their travel expenses reimbursed (up to $1000)…

Deadline #2 – Folks got their travel reimbursed (but no Meclabs ticket)…

Deadline #3 – Last chance to get into the mastermind…

And here’s the kicker:

We got people to sign up under all THREE deadlines.

Crazy, right?

(By the way, even at FULL price without the other bonuses – the mastermind is a steal of a deal…

e.g. My daily consulting rate alone is $5K + first-class, five-star travel expenses with a 2-day minimum commitment.

And at O4 People get access to FOUR master marketers for less than that, though we may be raising the cost again…)

But that’s why “Deadline Stacking” is so effective:

Because you can use mutliple deadlines that appeal to different segments of your market…

There are three types of people on your list that you need to appeal to, btw…

Do you know what they are?

(In case you’re curious, this is yet another thing I setup for my private clients… And this one? I keep this one close to the vest…)

Btw – If you haven’t gotten on my “priority notification wait list” to be notified when coaching spots open up next week (Friday, Feb 21st) – you can do that by visiting:

http://www.ryanlevesque.net

In the meantime…

Let’s just recap what we covered this week, because we touched on a lotta important sh*t…

First, we talked about “Laying the Deadline Smackdown”…

How you need to show your market you mean biznez when it comes to deadlines.

That was thing number one.

Second, we talked about “The Wrath of the Brown Sweatshirt”…

How there’s always a reason BEHIND the reason why someone acts or doesn’t act on your offer.

And by the way, once you figure out what that is…

You can write yourself a blank check, my friend…

That’s number two.

Third, we talked about “Deadline Fever” and what to do after your deadlines have passed …

And today, we wrapped things up by talking about the concept of “Deadline Stacking”…

A lotta sh*t, I know…

But hey, you’ve got two options…

You can always do jack, and let this stuff get moldy on a shelf somewhere…

(Though, I don’t know how well I’d sleep knowing that other companies – maybe even your competition – bring in ruthless funnel commandos like me who work day and night to implement this stuff – with the one obsessive goal of putting their competition out of business…)

Or you can do something about it.

Choice is yours, ma friend.

Now, it’s Vegas time for this hombre…

Gonna rock the world of 8 business owners who are about to have their minds blown..

Peace out!

Ryan

PS – If you want Option B – the ruthless funnel commando working in your corner (and not your competition)… The application process starts by adding your name here (no guarantees you’ll get me – depends on what the potential upside looks like and if I’m not already working with your competition…):

http://www.ryanlevesque.net

So yesterday?

I felt like crap.

Muscled through 4 client calls.

Cancelled my afternoon session with my trainer…

And when I got home?

Took my temperature, and this is what it read:

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10100380266354981&set=a.10100120641345581.2282424.1008516

Needless to say…

Went to bed, tried to rest for a few hours…

(Difficult when you have a 2 yr old who wants to play with daddy the second you step in the door …)

And I woke up…

In a puddle of sweat… clothes and sheets soaked… teeth chattering… with the most splitting headache ever.

Good times, right?

(Fever broke last night, and while I’m still not 100% – the only time I’ve ever missed a day of work, was when I slipped into diabetic ketoacidosis – was rushed to the ER and spent 3 days in the ICU in 2012. Anything short of that? I’m here.)

So anyway…

A couple lessons here:

One:

I’ve been pushing the envelope quite a bit recently…

Running at break-neck speed.

Between sold out masterminds (next one this weekend)…

A booked-solid coaching practice…

And done-for-you funnel built-outs booked through April/May right now…

I’ve been burning the candle on both ends…

(Which is why I finally decided to bring on one – or maybe two – full-time copywriters…)

And because I’ve only been giving myself about 5-6 hrs of sleep a night to make all this happen…

(Something I’m trying to work on this year…)

Yesterday was a good reminder of what happens when you think you’re super-human…

Two:

Related to our conversation on DEADLINES.

Sometimes, you gotta let them slide a bit…

Because after all…

You don’t wanna let them make you SICK, right?

Which brings us to the marketing lesson for the day:

Because when it comes to your funnels…

We already know you need to be using deadlines every step of the way…

(We talked about the REASONS why, yesterday…)

But, the question is this:

What do you do after your deadlines have PASSED?

Well…. here’s what I do:

I give them a second chance.

(Whaaaaat?!)

Isn’t that completely hypocritical double-speak based on what I said yesterday?

The answer is no, baby cakes.

And here’s why:

(btw – shout out to my O4 partner in crime Ben Settle for letting my license the term “baby cakes” (patent pending)

Anyway…

First, the key thing with deadlines is you want to let people know you’re serious.

That you mean business…

So when you say the deadline is Friday @ 4:59PM.

You take the page down. Done.

But here’s the kicker:

You replace that offer page with a “priority notification list” page – for folks to be notified the NEXT time you make that same deal available.

(Following me on this?)

So then, you’ve got this list of people, who MISSED the original deadline…

Who signed up to be NOTIFIED the next time you make that same deal available…

(Startin’ to see where I’m going with this?)

Let me ask you a question:

How bad do you think those people WANT what they missed out on?

And do you think those people know you mean business…

If you decide to re-open the opportunity for 24 hours – say, a few days or few weeks later?

Exactly.

(Taking notes on this, btw?)

Now, just like most things in business…

The devil’s in the details, here.

The language you use needs to be tight.

The persuasion elements need to be stacked in the right order…

And the way you re-open the offer needs to be done right.

You can’t be sloppy with this stuff, otherwise you’ll look like an amateur…

(And if you’re not careful, you can also come across like a total a-hole that nobody wants to buy from…)

There’s a thin line you’ve gotta toe here.

And in case you’re wondering?

Yes, the nuances of this little technique is something I’ve perfected.

Like the Dos Equis guy:

“I don’t always reopen my deadlines, but when I do? This is how I do it…”

Make sense?

Cool.

Tomorrow, we continue the conversation…

In the meantime…

Stay thirsty my friends…

Peace out!

Ryan

PS – Want some help building up a waitlist like this for YOUR business?

Let me show you how this works:

In the past 2 days, I’ve got 47 people signed up for my own private coaching waitlist…

And because I’m only opening 1 or 2 spots (at most), people are already emailing asking if they can get one of those spots before they go live…

Which means I expect the slots to go fast.

(Want to build in this kind of demand for what YOU sell?)

Here’s what to do:

If you’d like a chance to grab one of those spots (even if you’re just possibly interested) sign up for my private coaching wait-list by visiting:

http://www.ryanlevesque.net

Make sure you get on the list before Friday, February 21st @ 4:59PM b/c that’s when I’ll be making the spots up for grabs.

Cool?

Alright!

Tomorrow – I’m gonna show you a technique I like to use called “Deadline Stacking”… ties everything we’ve covered so far this week together…

I think you’ll like this one…

Stay tuned

So last post we talked about deadlines…

What to do about “Deadline Dancers”…

And how to use deadlines in your funnels…

Today, I’ve got an embarrassing story to share…

Has to do with deadlines…

And relates to what we talked about yesterday.

(Also, includes a BIG marketing lesson – which is the reason why I think you’ll like it…)

Here’s what happened:

So this Friday (two days from now)…

I head to Vegas for my quarterly Ocean’s Four mastermind I host with Andre Chaperon, Ben Settle, and Jack Born.

(This is a high-ticket $10K event, geared toward serious high-level marketers…)

Anyway, in the past few days, I’ve been finalizing all the logistics…

And out of curiosity…

Wanted to see what time my flight leaves Austin on Friday…

So I go looking in my email…

And for some reason….

Can’t find the damn confirmation email…

So I login to my Southwest account online…

And there’s nothing under my account…

And after about 25 minutes of this, and calling the airline…

It comes to my attention that…

Guess what?

I never bought a f*cking ticket.

Yep, like I said last week… I’m a total idiot.

So at this point I’m scrambling to snatch a last-minute ticket online…

And guess what?

The r/t ticket…

Which would otherwise cost me $69 bucks each way on Southwest – direct flight from AUS to LAS…

Is now $881 bucks.

F*********CK!

Now, the money?

Not really what I’m freaking out about.

But what has me in a cold-sweat panic?

Is the “Wrath of the Brown Sweatshirt”

aka. my lovely, precious wife.

Because here’s the thing:

The only thing running through my head at this point…

Is the vision I have of my wife wearing her favorite oversized Brown sweatshirt from college…

Laying the “Deadline Smackdown” on ME…

“What?! I asked you TEN times if you booked your flight… And you told me YES! I don’t care if you need to do 3 stops and a layover in Wisconsin, you’re booking the cheapest ticket available online… Period!…”

You can see the much more “gentle” (ahem) comment she left me as a public reminder in this Facebook thread here:

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10100379063395721&set=a.10100120641345581.2282424.1008516

Anyway, the point is this:

Do you think I’ll be making this mistake again?

Never again.

And that’s the point.

That’s the TONE you want to set with your prospects.

You need to TRAIN them to know you mean business.

The “trick”, however is this:

Doing it without coming across like a total d*ck.

How do you do it?

Here’s the secret:

The “reason” for the deadline needs to be something outside your control.

(That’s a big tip there. You catch that?)

I’ll say it again:

The REASON for the deadline needs to be something OUTSIDE your control.

Make sense?

So, for example…

The reason for the Copywriting Apprentice deadline… Is because I have a client deadline coming up in two weeks, and need to bring someone on board before that project starts…

Or if you’re selling a physical product…

The reason the discount expires in 24 hours, is because we have a new shipment coming in and there’s no space on the shelves… So we need to get rid of our current stock before then.

Get the picture?

In other words, the deadline can’t be because of something YOU decided…

Can’t be because “we may take this video down at anytime” without any explanation as to WHY…

Needs to be because of something beyond your control.

Capiche, compadre?

Btw – the second part to this, is knowing how to make yourself look like the HERO when you do the deadline…

This is something that’s a little advanced, and beyond what we can cover in this email…

(Hint: It comes down to how you position the deadline…)

And in case you’re wondering, this is yet another one of those nuanced persuasion things I sprinkle into all the funnels I build for clients…

VERY powerful when done right.

Okay. So, where do you go from here?

Well the question you want to be asking yourself is this:

Are you using deadlines in your stuff?

(Yes? Okay good.)

What about in your evergreen funnels?

(Don’t know how to do that? Well I can show you…)

And how about your REASON WHY… Got that dialed in?

(No? Well, you want some help with that?)

Tomorrow we’ll continue the conversation…

Next we’ll talk about what to do once your deadlines has passed…

(Hint: Has to do with “manufacturing” the Wrath of the Brown Sweatshirt with your audience….)

For now…

Peace out!

Ryan

P.S. Most likely, if you’re reading this… You and I will never work together. It’s just a fact. Yes, I’m lethal with the stuff we’ve been talking about (but I’m also pretty expensive).

And the way I work…

I only work with one company per niche.

It’s an exclusivity deal.

Meaning, I’m selective in who I work with.

(There’s a reason I chose to work with the #1 Golf Site in the world – after turning down two other golf companies…)

And many of the big niches are already locked down (with a few notable exceptions…)

But.

I also take on 20 private coaching clients at any one time.

This is different from my done-for-you stuff.

This is how to get access to Ryan for less than 1/10th the cost of hiring me to write all your copy / build all your funnels for you.

Problem is this:

Right now, my coaching practice is 100% booked up.

Has been for the last 6 months…

But I’m about to bring on 1 and possibly 2 copywriters…

Which will allow me to open up 1 or 2 additional coaching spots.

So if you’re interested in gettin’ some help with your biz…

(Or you’re even just curious to see what I do…)

Here’s what I recommend:

Go ahead and sign up here to be added to my “priority notification wait-list” here:

http://www.ryanlevesque.net

I’ll be opening either 1 or 2 spots two weeks from now.

Which means, the deadline to get yourself on that list is Feb 21st @ 4:59PM CST.

And by the way?…

These spots go fast.

Every time I’ve done this, they get snatched up within a few hours.

(One time in less than 15 minutes)

So if you ARE interested…

Sign up for the list and mark your calendar.

Don’t make me unleash the Wrath of the Brown Sweatshirt on your ass

P.P.S. – Reason for that Feb 21st deadline? Because that’s when I wrap up this big Alkaline Health funnel I’m working on right now…

And because I’ve been working so many late nights and weekends recently…

My wife has FORBIDDEN me to take on anything else until that funnel is finished.

P.P.P.S. – So what DO you do after your deadlines have passed?

That’s our topic for tomorrow (I think you’ll like this one…)

Stay tuned…

Did you know…

On your list, there are three types of buyers.

(It’s true.)

The first type?

Is the guy who NEEDS a deadline…

17 different reminders…

Waits till the last second to pull the trigger.

I call these people:

“Deadline Dancers”

They dance, and dance, until the lights finally come up – and they’re told it’s time to go home…

Or in your case:

They’re told it’s time either piss or get off the pot – and buy the damn thing you’re selling.

(Btw – we’ll talk about the other two types of buyers on another day…)

But first, here’s the thing:

When it comes to deadlines?

You need to be strict.

Need to demonstrate consequences to your market.

Otherwise?

You send the message that it’s “A okay” to keep on dancin’ after the proverbial lights come up.

And you don’t mean business.

And because Deadline Dancers make up at LEAST 15-20% of all buyers…

(i.e. people who will ONLY buy when there is a deadline)

What that means is…

You’re leaving serious money on the table if you’re NOT using deadlines in ALL your funnels.

(Yes, even the “evergreen” funnels that run perpetually. This is something I build into virtually every funnel I build for my high-end private clients… We can talk more about that if you’re interested…)

And I do it on all my OWN stuff as well.

Like for example:

Last week, I posted an application for a job I’m hiring:

Copywriting Apprentice.

Application had a hard deadline:

Friday, February 7th 4:59PM CST.

Got over 63 total applications.

Take a look at how many of them came in RIGHT at the deadline:

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10100379063395721&set=a.10100120641345581.2282424.1008516

Crazy, right?

And did you see how many came AFTER the deadline?

Those people…

Automatically disqualified.

People had a WEEK to submit their app.

And if you wait to the last minute and can’t send your stuff in on time?

I’m sorry.

Ain’t gonna work out.

But here’s the thing:

We’ve ALL been there, right?

We’ve all had “something come up”…

Forcing us to wait to the last minute – or miss a deadline on something.

(For me, just happened yesterday. Wanted to get this email out yesterday – but got caught up on a call with Brian Kurtz over at Boardroom and his executive team on a project we’re working on…)

And BECAUSE we’ve all been there…

The temptation is to GIVE IN.

My advice to you?

Don’t.

You’ll regret it.

When you do that – you train your customers (like little kiddos) to call your bluff.

That it’s okay to wait.

That there will always be a “second chance”.

“Mommy’s strict. But Daddy doesn’t mean business. So I’ll just ask him…”

And at that point?

You’re done.

You become putty in your prospects’ hands.

The reason why I missed my deadline yesterday to get this email out?

Is because there were no consequences.

You gotta lay the “Deadline Smackdown”…

But, there’s a “catch” to all this…

The deadline needs to come with a *specific* type of REASON WHY.

Can’t be arbitrary.

And can’t just be ANY reason…

There’s a “trick” you need to use…

And that “trick”?

Is the topic of tomorrow’s email…

The fun continues then…

Peace out!

Ryan

PS – Now that I’ve got one (or maybe two) copywriters coming on board – it’s going to free up enough of my time to open up another private coaching spot or two…

Whenever these open up, they go fast. Usually a few hours after announcing them.

Haven’t opened up a spot in 6 months.

With the way things are going with my high-level funnel projects…

(And the fact that I’m booked through April and into May right now…)

I might only open up 1 or 2 spots in all of 2014.

So, if you want to get on the private coaching “wait-list notification” list, go ahead and sign up here:

http://www.ryanlevesque.net

Deadline to get on the list?

Friday, Feb 21st @ 4:59PM.

I’ll tell you the reason for the deadline tomorrow…

So a few days ago, I sent over an email about my BIG productivity secret…

Has to do with eating the same thing each day.

In case you missed it, you can see the post here:

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10100371710795391&set=a.780886210621.2238533.1008516

(That post explains the big productivity (and marketing) lesson behind doing what I do…)

Anyway.

Tucked deep in the belly of that post I also mentioned how I also WEAR the same thing each day.

14 polo shirts on rotation.

Exactly the same.

Just in different colors.

(Yep, I sh*t you, not. [in deep, raspy voice] “I’m batman.”)

Anyway.

Ever since mentioning that?

People have been BEGGING to see inside my closet.

So here goes.

This one’s a little personal – so I’m a little reluctant to do this – but I think you’ll get a kick:

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10100376099739911&set=a.10100120641345581.2282424.1008516

So what’s the big marketing lesson in all this?

It’s like this:

There’s a Bruce Lee quote that basically sums up my entire business (marketing) philosophy:

“I fear not the man who has practiced 10,000 kicks once, but the man who has practiced one kick 10,000 times.”

You’ve heard that one before, right?

So.

How’s that relate to our conversation today?

It’s like this:

People put WAY too much value on the new and novel…

And not enough value in repetition and mastery.

That “sameness” in your daily diet and wardrobe, allows you to FOCUS on mastering your craft.

You just gotta be good at ONE thing.

Remember that.

I suck at a LOT of things.

Both in business – and life in general. I’m an IDIOT when it comes to driving directions, for example.

(Ask my wife – she’d LOVE to tell you.)

But I’m very VERY good at one thing.

Lethal, in fact.

And that’s all you need.

Just ONE kick.

For me?

My one kick…

Is a very specific type of funnel I build.

Uses a survey.

VSL.

Upsell path.

Segmentation.

Follow-up sequence.

Something I’ve spent my 10,000 hours refining over the last 5+ years.

It’s at the point now…

Where it crushes it in market after market…

And in this tiny sliver of the marketing world?

Nobody in the world can go toe-to-toe with me here.

This is MY blue ocean.

Meaning…

You want a funnel like this?

I’m “the guy”…

Whether you hire me to as a consultant to coach you through it…

To design it from the ground up and write all the copy…

Or have my team build out the whole thing for you.

You want one of these funnels?

I’m the guy you call.

(And when you’re SO focused like this by the way – in what Brian Horn calls your “micro-specialization”…

THAT’s how you constantly raise your rates and build a three-month waitlist to work with you…)

So the question YOU want to be asking yourself is this:

What’s YOUR blue ocean?

What’s YOUR “one kick” you’ve committed to practice 10,000 times?

Do this:

Go back to that Facebook post with my neurotic closet photo – and leave a comment to let me know. I’d love to hear from you:

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10100376099739911&set=a.10100120641345581.2282424.1008516

Hell, leave a comment just to let me know if you’re enjoying these emails and what you’d like me to talk about next…

Cool?

Alright.

Let’s wrap up here for today…

Tomorrow I’ll reveal the over-arching marketing lesson and “theme” from the emails this week…

Btw – can you guess what it is?

Peace out!

Ryan

PS – So yesterday, my buddy Tony Ostian (a copywriter who’s done work for Mercola and other big names you know) writes me and says:

“Ryan! Who’s the #1 most important person you’ve hired? I must’ve missed that email… Who IS it???

Alright. Alright.

The answer?

Is simple:

My primary full-time assistant, Kimberly.

(No surprises there, right?)

She’s an all-star.

You may have even emailed back and forth with her before.

She does SO many different things for me.

Everything from uploading content…

…To organizing logistics for my high-level $10k Ocean’s Four mastermind with Andre Chaperon, Ben Settle, and Jack Born…

And anything else I throw her way (she’s amazing for just tolerating me

Stuff I used spend SO much time doing…

(Important stuff, but time-consuming stuff)

Kimberly is coming up on her one-year anniversary with my company – and deserves a little shoutout.

PPS – Speaking of hiring… If you haven’t already, TOMORROW is the deadline to apply for my “Copywriting Apprentice” position…

The application – in case you missed it – is here:

http://www.thefunnelspecialist.com/

Btw – Even if that job ain’t for you… You should still check out the hiring process I use before I take that page down.

It’ll show you the EXACT (slightly-unorthodox) process I use to pre-qualify and screen people every time I hire …

(Hint: You might want to take some notes…)

There I was, hooked up to life support in the Intensive Care unit…

My wife was in tears.

My son, just a few months old – was too young to visit Daddy in the hospital.

The doctors finally figured out why I’d lost over 30 pounds in the past 3 months…

Why I couldn’t walk more than a few steps without wheezing…

I thought it was just exhaustion from overworking…

Turns out?

My organs were shutting down.

In fact, if it wasn’t for a failed Life Insurance application that picked up some off-the-charts lab results…

(Which is what saved my life and sent me to the ER…)

I was days away from slipping into a coma…

And possibly even dying.

As in really.

(Yeah, I know.)

Life is precious.

Life is short.

.

.

Now.

That was two years ago.

And I’ll tell you the rest of that story another time.

But the REASON why I’m telling you all this…

Is because that experience put my HEALTH – at priority numero uno.

And the reason why I bring THAT up…

Is because as strange as this may sound…

Once I did that?

My income EXPLODED.

Seems like…

Coming to terms with your own mortality sharpens your focus in a way that NOTHING else does…

Especially when you’ve got a wife, baby, and entire family depending on you…

Anyway…

So here are a few things I did IMMEDIATELY after getting out of the hospital that have had a MAJOR impact on my income (and which YOU should consider doing yourself):

1. Hired a personal trainer
(outsourced my exercise discipline)

2. Completely retooled my diet
(smoothies, salads, and clean protein)

3. Eliminated Caffeine
(replaced coffee with fresh green juice)

4. Completely retooled my schedule.
(I’ll tell you about that one another day)

5. Hired a housekeeper / cook
(outsourced my meal prep)

And most recently…

Started diving into the world of “Holistic Biohacking”…

As my two year old would say:

“Whaaz dat?”

Well, in a nutshell…

It’s all about using biological “hacks” to achieve peak mental performance (and as a result – achieve more success in your life and business)…

My most recent “Biohacking Adventure” – which inolves making “Bone Broth” is right here:

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10100501935015011&set=a.780886210621.2238533.1008516

What’s the BIG DEAL about bone broth?

HINT: It’s all about the little-known MENTAL benefits of 3 key substances in the broth…

Anyway, funny thing is?

The other guys chiming in on that post…

Are pretty much ALL other A-list marketers…

Guys like Justin Brooke, Brian Horn, Keith Baxter, Andy Hussong, and Matt Gallant…

Anyway…

If you’re not into maximizing your physical and mental potential to maximize your business income…

Then you ain’t gonna be into that post – so you can skip this one.

But if you are…

Or you’re even just CURIOUS to see what it REALLY takes (for me at least) to run a six-figure per month business…

(And what I do to keep operating at the top of my game – mentally and physically…)

Then you might like this one…

Here’s that link one last time:

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10100501935015011&set=a.780886210621.2238533.1008516

Peace out!

Ryan “Biohacking his Business” Levesque

PS – It’s worth checking this one out – if for nothing else, to see the weird picture of all the bones piled up in my kitchen “witch doctor” style

So I was watching TV in bed with my wife a few weeks ago…

Late Night with Jimmy Fallon.

And made a comment about how I thought Jimmy was really hitting his stride.

(Beyond the obvious fact that he’s taking over for Leno…)

I’m talking more about his STYLE.

Because personally?

I wasn’t a big fan of his in his SNL days.

But now?

I feel like he’s REALLY got it dialed in.

Found his groove.

And I love watching him.

In fact, I’ve been soaking up a his entire body of work.

Her response?

“Yo, they have a word for that. It’s called a “Man Crush. Now go to bed…

And for some reason, I get like that:

I’ll find someone that really has their sh*t together.

Someone who’s really on top of their game.

I’ll get seduced.

And then…

BOOM.

I’ll study everything they put out.

Like a binge diet.

This is especially true when it comes to sharpening the marketing & persuasion saw for me.

After being at this game full-time for almost a decade now…

Every once in a while…

Very infrequently these days…

Just when it feels like I’ve heard everything on the topic of copy and persuasion…

And it feels like I KNOW everything on the topic…

I’ll stumble on someone…

Someone that really surprises me.

Teaches me a ton of stuff.

And takes my own thinking to the next level.

My most recent Man Crush?

Is this guy by the name of Colin Theriot.

You may know the guy.

(I didn’t until recently. And yes. I HAVE been living under a rock, I know.)

Anyway.

He runs a FB group called “Cult of Copy”. You can check it out here:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/cultofcopy/

(Tell Colin I sent you. It’s free – and I get no kickbacks.)

Anyway, the dude is insanely smart.

Very insightful.

Does a great job of articulating his thinking on the topic of copy of persuasion.

(He has no idea I’m writing this, btw…)

I’m in the middle of soaking up everything he’s put out.

And that point of that is this:

Your 10,000 hour clock never stops.

Even when you’re a the top of your game.

Even when you’re highly in demand for what you do.

Even when there’s a line out the door waiting to hire you.

The moment you think you know it all?

You’re done.

So when you find that person…

Soak up everything they say.

By the way…

In case you’re curious…

That’s exactly what I did with one my earliest online mentors – Dr. Glenn Livingston – back in 2007.

First, as a customer…

Second, as a private coaching student…

Third, by coaching HIS students under him using his system…

(After personally launching two high six-figure businesses – outside the the IM space using his methods…)

Then finally…

Fourth, by coaching people using my OWN system – derived in part based on the methods I mastered working under Dr. Glenn.

And now?

Glenn and I are close friends.

We’ve partnered on a number of different projects.

Hiked the mountains of NH a bunch of times.

And even explored buying several million dollar businesses together.

(Which we still might do, by the way.)

So the point of all that is this:

When you find someone whose style and thinking resonates with you.

Who’s been where you’re looking to go…

Or who’s done what you’re looking to do…

You either…

a.) Pay them to coach you.

b.) Get them on your team to do it for you.

That’s how you get a one-way ticket to successville my friend.

Peace Out!

Ryan

PS – Yesterday I promised to tell you the #1 most important person I’ve hired.

Can you wait another day?

Well you’ll have to, cuz this email is dang long enough as it is, and I’m about to hop on a client call – so I gotsta run!

And why YOU should too.

So back in 1992…

I don’t know if you remember, but that was the year Hurricane Andrew devastated the Florida coast.

I mean we’re talkin’ BILLIONS in damage…

And the time Hurricane Andrew hit…

Happened DAYS before Gary Halbert put on what he dubbed at the time his “Seminar of the Century”…

Which featured guys like Dan Kennedy, John Carlton, Ted Nicholas, and many many legends – both dead (and some still alive)…

And today?

That seminar is largely remembered as:

“The Hurricane Andrew Seminar”

(Because Halbert decided to donate all the proceeds of the event to charities supporting the Hurricane Andrews reconstruction…)

Anyway…

Guys who were at that event – 22 years ago…

STILL talk about it to this day.

If you hear the stories…

This thing was EPIC.

(What I would’ve given to be there…)

Once in a generation type thing to get ALL those legends together in one room.

In fact, I remember David Garfinkel telling me that’s where he first met David Deutsch…

(One of probably the Top 4 direct response copywriters alive today – who also happens to be my business partner on TWO client deals…)

Point is…

There hasn’t been an event SINCE then that’s assembled anywhere NEAR that caliber of LEGENDARY talent…

In one place…

At one time…

That is…

Until 45 days from today:

When a once-in-a-generation event is going to be held…

An event known as:

Titans of Direct Response

September 9-13th

Stamford, CT

Click Here to Check Out the Titans Event

This is the ONLY event I’m attending in 2014 outside my own training events…

And the reason why is because…

I have a VERY strong feeling…

THIS is the event people are going to be talking about 20 years from TODAY…

Because it’s probably the LAST TIME EVER some of the older legends in our industry are ALL going to be together under one roof…

Before they call it quits for good – and retire off into the sunset.

I’m talking guys like…

* Dan Kennedy
* Gary Bencivenga
* Jay Abraham
* Greg Renker (of Gunthy/Renker fame)
* Joe Sugarman

(Five reasons I’m getting myself to this event and why YOU should too…)

And perhaps most IMPORTANTLY…

Brian Kurtz.

Because you see…

The reason why Gary Halbert was able to assemble the CALIBER of people he did at his Hurricane Andrew seminar…

Is because he was Gary FREAKIN Halbert!

It took someone like Halbert to MAKE that event a reality.

And similarly?

Brian Kurtz is probably the ONLY person alive who could assemble this group of people…

In one place…

At one time…

And I know from Brian personally (because he’s told me) that this is a ONE-TIME thing…

It’s been a DREAM of his to create a once-in-a-lifetime EXPERIENCE like this…

Something people will be talking about 20… 30… 50… years from now.

Question is:

Do YOU want to be part of it too?

Here’s the link to get your ticket before they sell out:

Click Here to Check Out the Titans Event

Ryan

You’re probably familiar with the quote:

“You’re the AVERAGE of the five people you spend the most time with…”

Right?

So then naturally…

If you want to RAISE your game…

Then the answer is simple:

Spend MORE time around the right people.

Which is why most people get so excited about attending EVENTS.

For the NETWORKING.

Problem is – most EVENTS out there are filled with nothing but noobs who are still sucking on the proverbial marketing teat…

And the “expert presenters” at those events?

Ain’t much better…

Because SO many of the people you see on stage…

a.) haven’t made a DIME other than TEACHING people their how-to-make-money “system”…

b.) don’t have a CLUE what they’re f*cking talking about…

c.) are simply there to PITCH you on their “system”…

It’s like a giant game of the blind leading the blind.

Which is why it’s no WONDER so many people spin their wheels – and jump from event to event without any measurable progress in their business.

If you’ve been in my world long enough – then you know I’ve got high standards…

I like to work with ELITE clients…

I like to partner with ELITE minds…

And if I’m going to attend a LIVE event?

I want to make sure it’s going to be filled with OTHER ELITE A-Level Players…

Which brings me to the REASON WHY I’m writing to you today:

Because there is only ONE event I’m attending the rest of 2014…

And that event is something my good friend, and EVP of Direct Response Juggernaut – Boardroom, Inc – Brian Kurtz – is putting on called:

Titans of Direct Response.

September 9-13th.

Stamford, CT (just outside NYC)

Now, there are 5 BIG REASONS why I’m attending this event (and ONLY this event in 2014)…

And I’ll tell you what those reasons areTOMORROW.

But in the meantime, if you’re not attending already…

And you want to hang out with me in person for a few days (and meet the type of guys *I* do business with), then you should check out this link here:

Click Here to Check Out the Titans Event

NOTE: I am NOT getting compensated in any way shape or form for promoting this.

Instead, there are TWO REASONS why I AM promoting this (and why you want to sign up through that link):

First…

1. Anyone who signs up for the event through that link… I’m hosting a private dinner while I’m at the event (which is Sep 9-13th). This event is for my private clients who are going to be there – as well as a few select colleagues.

When you sign up through that link – that gets you a ticket to that private dinner (it’ll be small and intimate – less than 20 people).

Which means you’ll be rubbing shoulders with some of THE best of the best in the business.

2. The SECOND reason why, is because my good friend Brian has generously offered to give ANYONE who signs up through that link, FREE copies of his personal favorite CLASSIC direct response books and swipe files, worth more than $400…

Why is he doing that?

Wel… Because a.) Brian is just a cool dude like that, and b.) because he knows the types of high-quality clients and customers I tend to attract…

And frankly?

He wants more people like that at this event.

And to be perfectly honest?

So do I.

It’s RARE that I get to meet my customers in PERSON.

(And it would be cool to hangout and meet…)

My private clients are literally spread out around the world.

And with one or two possible exceptions – this will be the ONLY opportunity to hang out together in person for at LEAST the next 6 months (maybe longer.)

So…

If you’re interested…

Or even just CURIOUS…

I strongly recommend you check out this link now:

Click Here to Check Out the Titans Event

I booked my ticket months ago – so I honestly don’t know how many tickets are still available.

I DO know when I finally booked my hotel room yesterday at the Marriott – they were already sold out of rooms on one night at the special event rate – and they had to open up MORE rooms at that rate (because they filled up faster than they expected.)

So that tells me they’re probably getting CLOSE to filling up…

So…. See you in September?

After you sign up… *HIT REPLY* to this email to let me know – and I’ll add you to my dinner reservation…

Talk soon!

Ryan

PS – Shoutout to Scott Dennison, Will H, Marcus Sortijas, Jennifer Herndon, and Patrick Williamson for being the FIRST people yesterday to guess right…

PPS – YES… when I ask you to HIT REPLY on stuff… I read every single word you write. (Really). While I’m not always able to respond (though I try my best) – I DO read every word.

Peace out!