I've been going through a presentation by Jeff Walker of Product Launch Formula fame. Here's a bit that particularly stuck with me. Says Jeff: === When I'm looking to run a launch I'm as much interested in what strategic benefit does it have to me in addition to any money I could make. I'm a big believer in thinking long term. That's one of my competitive advantages, that I always think very long term. === Sounds really good, except.. ... what does "strategic benefit" really mean? And how do you think long-term? I'm not just farming for engagement here. I'm genuinely asking, because my time horizon is like 3 days. To help me with that, I just sat down and made a list of "10 kinds of strategic benefits of a launch." I wanna hear yours as well, because I'm sure I'm missing some. If you're game, we can play the usual "Battleship" format. If you name a strategic benefit that's on my list, I'll confirm it. If you name one I don't have, I'll give you one I have that hasn't been named yet. The game goes on until I'm sunk. Your turn.

If you're selling to people who want to be where you are... ... for example, to solopreneurs if you're a solopreneur... ... to internet marketers if you're an internet marketer... ... to coaches if you're a coach... ... then does it make sense to appear frustrated, dissatisfied, or disappointed with aspects of your business? Or does it make more sense to be cheerful, optimistic, and eager about your business, both as it is now, and as it was yesterday, and where it will be tomorrow? I'd claim it's the second. Today I listened to a presentation by Internet Marketer Jeff Walker. Jeff was speaking in a closed-door mastermind. And he made his business sound so great. One big success after another. One great idea after another. Made me want to learn more from him, and pay him money. Even though I know for a fact he's had problems in his business... And even though i know the reality of running a business like his. So I got a question for you: If aiming to look happy and successful is good for business, and I believe it is... ... then how do we square this with the fact that being transparent and honest is good for business, which I also believe?

For me it’ll be to have made at least 2 or 3 new online products. (That’s 2 or 3 things, but whatever. 🤷🏻‍♂️)

I'm back. If you haven't read my emails over the past few days, Merry Christmas. I've been at home, visiting family, and eating, often too much. But now it's time to get back to work? At least it feels that way for me, because I'm a bit of a workaholic. That's ironic, because the whole reason I quit my 9-5 job 12+ years ago and started doing stuff for myself was that I'm lazy by nature, and I wanted to work less, and have more free time. In the words of Ernest Hemingway, about the topic of work: "It’s a hell of a habit to get into and it’s just about as hard to get out." But I've set my mind to getting out of it. In other words... I'm trying to get as much (or more) important stuff done... while having more free time. In still other words, I'm trying to improve my productivity, while reducing my business. What about you? Where do you stand with respect to the concept and promise of "productivity"? Productivity yea? Productivity nay? A New Year's resolution for 2026? Or just the opposite? Lemme know below by making your choice below, or comment away if none of the choices suits you:

I've been going through replies to yesterday's productivity poll. Thanks to everyone who voted. Spoiler: I ran the poll because I'm collecting market research in preparation for an affiliate promo I will be doing soon. Now here's an easy and possibly fun marketing riddle about that. It's called, "How to manipulate Bejako into saying yes." A few months back, I got an email from the owner of the affiliate offer I will be promoting soon. Here's the way the interaction played out: OFFER OWNER: Hey, I thought since you did really well with [previous offer I promoted from the guy], you might wanna take a look at this offer? I took a look. The new offer turned out to be a training on how to be more productive. I was confident the training would be valuable for my audience (the offer owner is a very successful and productive guy, and his previous offer was legit). But I just didn't believe it would sell, based on my experience, and that's what I told him. BEJAKO: "I honestly don't think I could do a good job promoting this to my list. Whenever I've tried promoting any kind of productivity or self-help stuff, I just couldn't get people to move and definitely couldn't get them to buy." But the offer owner had read Jim Camp's Start With No. He took my "no" as just the beginning of the negotiation, and he came back to me with another message. You know how this story ends. After that next message, I agreed to promote this productivity offer, even though I had reservations about how many sales I will make out of it. So here's the riddle for you: What did the offer owner said to me in his second message to convince me to promote his offer as an affiliate... even though I initially said no? I'll give you a hint: It's something that goes way beyond getting affiliate partners to agree to promote your offer, and is relevant whatever you are selling to whoever might be buying.