Last May, I started a paid Mastermind group with a small and select group of market leaders (including Jonathan Mead from Illuminated Mind, Sid Savara from SidSavara.com, Kim West a.k.a. “The Sleep Lady,” and Andy Fossett from Gold Medal Bodies . . . and many more).

We had our first event at the Bellagio in Vegas.

And it was life changing. (NOTE: Tomorrow I’ll be releasing some video footage from that first event, so you can see for yourself).

Anyway, ever since that first mastermind event, I’ve been getting lots of questions about the mastermind and when I’ll be admitting new people to the group.

So, given the interest, I’m excited to announce that . . .

This Week (For The First Time Ever) We’re Accepting 4 New People Into The Group

Here’s how it’s going to work.

• We’ll only be accepting 4 new people into the group
• We’ll be requiring both an application and a 1-on-1 interview (with me, personally) in order enter the group
• We’ll (unfortunately) need to turn away more people than we accept

Anyway, since each and every mastermind application will be reviewed by me and my business partner Tracy. . .

. . . and since I’ll personally be doing 1-on-1 hour-long interviews, this whole process will take a LOT of work on the part of our team.

So Here’s How To Apply To The Group (I.E. Here’s This Week Schedule Of Events)

***Step 1***

• On Tuesday at 1PM Pacific, I’ll be releasing a prospectus with details about the Platinum Mastermind (including dates, etc.)
• Make sure you read that prospectus.
• If you’re interested in applying to the group, then submit the application that will be made available at that time. (Although this is a paid mastermind, I will not be requiring a fee at the time of application).
• NOTE: I encourage you to submit the application ASAP, since the 4 spots will be filled on a first-come, first served basis.

***Step 2***

• After you submit your mastermind application, it will be reviewed personally by my business partner (Tracy) and me.
• Anyway, after we review the application, one of two things will happen.
• One, I’ll decide that the mastermind is not a good match and I’ll let you know politely.
• Or two, I’ll decide that this mastermind MIGHT be a good fit and someone from my office will schedule a call to determine if that’s the case.
• Nobody will pressure you or hassle you. If you want in, great. If not, no problem. We’re cool either way.

***Step 3***

• If someone from my office contacts you about scheduling a phone call between us, then we’ll talk on Wednesday or Thursday.

Anyway . . .

Tomorrow, At 1PM Pacific, I’ll Be Releasing The Application . . . Along With A Prospectus with Details About the Mastermind

If this is the kind of thing you’re interested in, then I’ll see you tomorrow (Tuesday) at 1PM, Pacific.

If it’s not for you (and it’s not for everyone) then you won’t hear much from me past tomorrow. And we’ll still be friends :-).

Talk soon,
Clay

Just a quick note that I’ve started a new project called The Marketing Show.  Click here to check it out (I think you’ll enjoy it).

UPDATE: The online marketer position has been filled, but we’re still looking for a Film Editor/Cameraperson for The Marketing Show–see below.
Hey, our team of 5 is expanding to a team of 7 (i.e. our company has two job openings available).

Instructions for applying are below.  If you’re a good match, we’d love to hear from you.

–Clay

Online Marketer

Wanted: Full-time Online Marketer for an internet marketing company.

Position Description: We are a rapidly growing company that excels in the internet marketing space.  We work hard, play hard, and have only A-list people on our team.  We’re looking for a multi-talented, take charge person to handle the many facets of our marketing.

You’ll need a unique combination of skills, talents and mindset, including:

• You have strong writing skills. You must be an excellent writer, one whose writing keeps people engaged. Entertainment writing is a plus. You will occasionally be writing blog posts. It’s okay if you don’t have a lot of experience writing sales copy–you can learn that.  It’s a huge plus if you possess great sales-related writing abilities for email, websites, and banner ads.
• You’re comfortable giving our programmers direction and overseeing the development of sales pages and sales-related websites, reporting directly to the president of the company. You love to learn and are comfortable with feedback and constructive criticism.
• You must have a strong drive and be able to work without supervision.  We’ll be throwing a lot of broad ideas to you and you’ll be the one who makes it all happen.
• You’re comfortable interviewing people.
• You have a good sense of layout and graphic design. You don’t need to design the graphics, but you do need to have a good eye for what works–and what doesn’t.
• You must be consistent, meticulous in all you do, and love getting stuff done–without needing anyone to keep you on task.
• You’re able to communicate effectively and network with (and possibly cut partnership deals with) high-level executives at other companies and corporations.

While the following items are not required, they would greatly enhance your ability to fulfill all of the online marketer responsibilities:

• It would helpful if you have a background in google analytics and/or split testing and/or re-targeting/re-marketing. This isn’t required, but if you don’t have a background in these areas you must be willing to work hard and learn.
• It would be great if you know a little html and if you’ve ever set up a blog on WordPress.
• It’s a huge plus if you have any media buying experience or experience placing ads. If you’ve ever run any PPC campaigns or worked with Google Adwords, double the bonus points!
• If you have even the slightest background in statistics that would be very helpful.

Bottom line: We’ll provide you with the goals that we want to accomplish and then you’ll handle everything else, from A-Z. If you don’t have all of the qualifications listed above but you still think you’re a great fit and are highly motivated, we’d love to hear from you.

We need someone who is extraordinary in his or her ability to take the ball and run with it…and sometimes to even come up with the ball yourself!  If you need a lot of direction and supervision (or require a lot of step-by-step instructions) this isn’t the position for you.  On the other hand, if you love to go above and beyond the call of duty, are able to think outside the box, will never say “That’s not my job,” and want to work with truly creative and dynamic people, this might be a great fit. We need to be able to tell you about a project, give you a few guidelines, and turn you loose, knowing that you’ll get it done—accurately, thoroughly and on time.  You’re really smart, highly motivated, and you’re able to QA your own work…and that of others.

Final Notes:

If your dream job is really to start your own company in a few years, this is not the right position for you.  We’re looking for someone who wants to grow with us long-term–we want a “lifer!” Our company is amazing to work for.  We welcome your creativity, you’ll always be treated with respect, you’ll laugh a lot throughout the day and will get to work with a great team including the president of the company, (who likes to swear, but never at you!).

This position has great potential for growth—come on board and make yourself indispensable to us. You’ll be working from your own home or office, so your location is not important.

How to Apply: There are two things you need to do in order to apply for this position:

(1) Send an email to Tracy: Tracy@Ave81.com. In the subject line please put: Online Marketer Position. Sure, we want to see your resume, but far more important is that we need your email to tell us who you are, what you’re like, and why we’d love working with you.  Convince us you’re the online marketer that we’ve been looking for.  Your email must include:

• where you heard about this position
• why you’re the person we’ve been looking for
• your salary requirements (this is a full-time position)
• what skills you bring to the table
• a link to your YouTube video (see below)

(2) Make a video introducing yourself and telling us a little about you and what you bring to the table. Upload it to YouTube with the title of “Application for Avenue 81, Inc.” and then send us the link via email.

Film Editor/Cameraperson for The Marketing Show

Wanted: A film editor/cameraperson for a web TV show that is about marketing.  You must be local to the Minneapolis/St. Paul area.  This is a part-time subcontractor position with potential for full-time.

Overview: We’re looking to have an edgy, provocative aesthetic for our new Web TV Show.  We’re very inspired by the style and aesthetic of reality TV shows and music videos.  For an early look at the beta version of our website check out www.marketingshow.com.

Position Description:

We are a rapidly growing company that excels in the internet marketing space.  We work hard, play hard, and have only A-list people on our team.  We’re looking for a take charge person who wants to produce and direct our web TV show. Each episode will be a 5-10 minute show,  3 times per week.

We’re looking for a multi-talented person who can handle the filming and editing of the show. You’ve got to have a killer skill set when it comes to post-production editing and be really creative in your editing abilities. You can handle a video camera with ease–whether it’s a talking head shot or fast motion outside, you know what you’re doing.

You’ll need a unique combination of skills, talents and mindset, including:

• You know how to produce HD quality video for the web.
• You’re good with lighting, excellent at video editing, and possess basic skills of set design.
• You can advise us on the best equipment to use.

We need someone who is extraordinary in his or her ability to take the ball and run with it. If you need a lot of direction and supervision (or require a lot of step-by-step instructions) this isn’t the position for you.  On the other hand, if you love to go above and beyond the call of duty, are able to think outside the box, and want to work with truly creative and dynamic people, this might be a great fit. We need to be able to tell you about a project, give you a few guidelines, and turn you loose, knowing that you’ll get it done—accurately, thoroughly and on time.  You’re really smart, highly motivated, and you’re able to QA your own work…and that of others.

Final Notes: If you’re an aspiring entrepreneur who is just looking to fill in with something temporary until you can have your own business, this is not the right position for you. We’re looking for someone who wants to grow with us long-term–we want a “lifer!”  Our company is amazing to work for.  We welcome your creativity, you’ll always be treated with respect, you’ll laugh a lot throughout the day and will get to work with a great team including the president of the company, (who likes to swear, but never at you!).

This position has great potential for growth—both in hours and in pay—once you prove yourself.  Come on board and make yourself indispensable to us.

How to Apply: There are two things you need to do in order to apply for this position:

(1) Send an email to Tracy: Tracy@Ave81.com. In the subject line please put: Film Editor/Cameraperson for The Marketing Show.  Sure, we want to see your resume, but far more important is that we need your email to tell us who you are, what you’re like, and why we’d love working with you.  Convince us you’re the director/producer we’ve been looking for.  Your email must include:

• where you heard about the position
• why you’re the person we’ve been looking for
• your salary requirements–please give us an hourly rate
• how many hours per week you’d ideally like to work–and what your availability is, both days and times.
• what skills you bring to the table
• a link to your YouTube video (see below)

(2) Make a video introducing yourself and telling us a little about you and what you bring to the table. Upload it to YouTube with the title of “Application for Avenue 81, Inc.” and then send us the link via email.

I created a webinar that you need to hear.  And it’s happening THIS Thursday (March 3rd^th) at 9PM Eastern.

• I created this webinar, because . . . when it comes to marketing, too many entrepreneurs are frozen (deer-in-the headlights frozen), because they haven’t been clearly shown, specific, plain-as-day examples of where to start, or what things to focus on.
• I created this webinar because too many entrepreneurs have been trained to spend too much time making sure that everything will work perfectly — and not enough time actually doing the stuff that brings in money.  (They’re so PARALYZED trying to figure out exactly what to do, “so they don’t screw up and lose everything” . . . that they spend so little time actually implementing and making the money they dream of making).
• I created this webinar because when it comes to marketing and taking their business to the next level, even the most experienced online business owners often don’t know exactly where to start . . . because they haven’t been given a clear path and focus (and because the vast amount of information about what to do is so overwhelming).
• I created this webinar because so many entrepreneurs are caught up in the “theory” of marketing but . . . failing to implement.

I created this webinar because something needed to be done.

This webinar is absolutely, positively, 100% without a doubt for you if you need a stake in the ground to stop consuming more information and how-to advice and actually get things done in your business.

And this webinar is here to change things.  It’s here to beat you over the head with the raw materials you need to battle the odds and win.

It’s here to help you create “realistic miracles and rampages of invincibility.”

I’ll also be giving you the scoop on my pet project “The Marketing Program”

I’m serious as a heart attack about this content . . . it will change your life for the better.  I WANT you to have this content.

The “1-Thing Solution”: How To Double Your Current Income, Or Make Your First 6 Figures Online, By Focusing On Only ONE Thing Per Month

And, again, it’s happening THIS Thursday (March 3^rd) at . . .

• 6PM Pacific
• 7PM Mountain
• 8PM Central
• 9PM Eastern

Enter your name and email address below to make sure you get on the webinar:

P.S. – Would you do me a favor and share this link on Twitter or Facebook right now? It will just take a second and I’d truly appreciate it. :-)

So just in case you missed it in the video, The Marketing Show is brought to you by The Marketing Program.  Here’s a word from our sponsor :-)

The Marketing Program just opened for pre-enrollment last week.  But it still has a few spots in it.

Members who enroll in the program before the end of this month will receive 80% off. (Once the end of the month is over, we’ll go to full price, and the cost will never ever go back down again. Ever).

Anyway, if you have a gift, a vision, or a product that you need to get in the hands of more people, and make you more money . . . but, for whatever reason, you’ve been held back, then there’s no better place for you than The Marketing Program. And I want you to join us.

Here’s the Marketing Program in a nutshell . . .

• “The Marketing Program” is a step-by-step (walk-you-by-the-hand) Bootcamp.
• Each month, we give you a “marketing mission” to complete in your business.
• You do it.
• And are guaranteed to earn an extra $25k this year, or double your money back.

Click Here To Check It Out

Every December, I go to Palm Springs, CA to visit my family for the holidays.

And at the end of all the visiting and celebration . . . I go on a desert road trip.

Sometime during that road trip, I inevitably start questioning my allegiance to the Midwest (Minneapolis will always be home . . . but I’m seriously considering getting a winter house somewhere else).

Anyway, I enjoy these December road trips . . . they’re time away from my usual life and allow me to prioritize, take stock of what I’m doing, look deep into what REALLY matters, confront fears, and reflect on where things are heading.

All of this brings me to my dilemma.

Here’s What I’m Thinking About These Days

Back in the day, whenever I created a new product or program, I’d let a small and select group of people (most of whom I knew personally) into the program about a month before it officially launched.

And I’d personally work with them to hone the product to their needs (and help them get results before the big public launch).

It’s because . . .

Before I Do a Big Launch

Before I do a big launch, I like to make absolutely sure that my founding members have already had a number of solid success stories, and that I know them all personally.

Before I do a big launch, I like to . . .

• Ensure I have a solid core group of people in the program who I’ve spoiled rotten, and who’ve already received great results
• Make sure that I’ve not only looked at survey results, but talked to EVERY SINGLE founding member personally on the phone regarding their needs (and to check in and see how they’re doing)
• Make sure that I’ve heard about THEIR SPECIFIC business problems IN DETAIL and am putting stuff out that directly targets it
• And that every single piece of content is directly the result of their need.

So . . .

Historically, The Tradeoffs Of These Founding Member Programs Are Simple And Obvious

I’d get feedback and amazing testimonials from folks who’d personally worked with me to get results.  And the people who I let into the program early became part of a virtual advisory board for the product.

And THEY got some time with me, help implementing the material, free access to events, etc.  As a way to give back, I’d also grandfather them into the one-time-only “founding members’ price” for the product.  (Incidentally, I’ve been told by founding members that price was NOT the major reason they joined . . . most of them joined because they were grateful for the high-quality free stuff I consistently give away, and because they believed in what I was doing and wanted to say thanks).

All Of This Brings Me To “The Marketing Program”

In about a month I’ll be releasing something new.  Here’s a sneak peek:



Anyway . . .

I’ve Been Seriously Debating Whether to Offer Founding Memberships To The Marketing Program (Some Days It Just Doesn’t Seem Worth It)

I’ve been thinking a lot about whether or not to create a virtual advisory board of “founding members” for this program.

Let’s Talk About The Pros And Cons Of Doing a Founding Members Program

The Drawbacks Of Doing A Founding Members Program

Well, one drawback is time.  Running this kind of founding members program takes A LOT of time.

Time that I could be spending on product creation, or marketing, or a handful of “heavy-duty” business things that investors would care about, if I had them (I would never, not in a million years, take on investors or investment capital).

Another drawback is money.  You might not know this, but this business (Avenue 81, INC) supports 4 FULL-TIME people.  And because I only plan on admitting a small and tightly knit group of 30 to 50 people into the program . . . the business income that a founding members program would bring in would barely put a small dent in our monthly expenses.  In other words, it would cost more to do the founding members program than the program would make.  (I’m not doing this for the money . . . there are about four easier, quicker, and less time-consuming things I COULD do tomorrow to bring in substantially more income.  For example, I could launch The Presell Formula, which a lot of people have been waiting for, and which, at a price tag of $2k, costs substantially more than the Marketing Program will cost).

Yet another drawback of doing this kind of program is the kind of people it might attract.

In past years, I had a small list of only a few thousand.

Since then, my list has grown by leaps and bounds . . . and a lot of people are on my list solely because of my reputation in this industry.

So I’m worried that if I did this, a LOT of people would be doing it because they’re bargain hunters who’d join primarily because of the founding members price, and not because they’re genuinely interested in working together.

Finally, another drawback is that . . . strictly speaking, doing a founding members program just isn’t necessary anymore.

I’ve been doing this online stuff for a long time now.  I’ve got a full-time programmer on board and a team that thoroughly tests everything.  We’ve rolled out countless products, we have reliable systems in place, and we’ve got a track record of selling out every single product we’ve every sold (with OR without a founding members program).  So we don’t need “beta testers” . . . all of our systems and content are proven.

But Here Are The Pros Of Doing This Program

If I decided to admit founding members to The Marketing Program, it would be because . . . working with “early adopters” and fast implementers in my programs brings me outrageous amounts of joy and energy and mostly importantly, FUN.

I also get a huge rush watching my customers take the content I made a few weeks ago . . . and double their income almost overnight.

Another big piece of this is that this is something I really enjoy doing.

And I think it helps a lot of people out.

So Here’s The Deal

So here’s the deal.

I’m going to try something.

At this point, you have NO IDEA IN HELL what The Marketing Program is.  And you have NO IDEA what the price will be.

BUT . . . if you’ve enjoyed my work, you like the way I teach, and you’ve benefited from my writing and/or products (whether free or paid) AND think that you’d be POTENTIALLY interested in being a founding member of The Marketing Program (and you’re NOT just doing this for the discount but actually want to work together) . . .

. . . then send Tracy an email at contact {at} ave81 {dot} com and let her know you’re interested in the founding members program (if we decide to do it).

(Sending an email to Tracy is a zero-commitment thing on both your part and mine. If you email her, you’re not in any way obligated to join the program, and we’re not obligated to do the program or accept everyone who emails us).

If we get enough emails from people potentially interested (and who have a genuine interest in working together on something in the future) then we’ll seriously consider doing the program . . . and the people who emailed in will get first dibs.

So . . .

At this point, I’m not looking for commitments . . . hell, I haven’t even told you exactly what The Marketing Program IS or what the price will be (though it will be affordable to the first round of people).

. . . but if you’re *potentially* interested in becoming a founding member of The Marketing Program, then click this link and email Tracy (or drop her a line at contact [at] ave81 [dot] com).

I have no clue what the interest will be, but if we have enough nice and genuinely excited people email us about this, then you’ll receive more details in the next few days.

Stay tuned,

Clay

P.S. This isn’t a “test” to gauge interest in the Marketing Program and figure out whether or not to move forward.  We’re doing The Marketing Program regardless, I’m just not sure whether a founding member program is a good idea at this point.

[Note #1: What you’ll find below is a 100% free and no strings attached video course (with 10 modules) . . . that contains the simple system that (by itself) made me ~$70k last year alone. The purpose of this course is to help you make $1k within the next 30 days.]

[Note #2: If you find this 100% free course helpful at all. If you gain some insight from it, AND if you feel compelled, then please share this post (and course) on twitter or Facebook. Or review it in a blog post. It would mean the world to me.]

You know those absurd projects that get way out of hand?

Like when you were growing up . . . and your dad started putting up Christmas lights. . .

and then a blow up santa. . .

and then a Christmas-themed obstacle course . . .

and then a manger scene filled with real donkeys and farm animals?

Well, that’s what happened to me with this free course I made for you (as a present for the holiday season).

It was originally intended to be one short video showing you a simple system that (by itself) made me $70k in the last 12 months.

But what I ended up creating was a cut-and-paste and done-for-you course, with . . .

• 10 (TEN!) videos
• 10 MP3 audio downloads
• Transcripts of all the audio and videos
• 13 downloadable PDFs
• Swipe copy
• etc. (yeah, I went a little nuts, but by the time I realized it things were already out of hand).

Anyway, the purpose of this course is to help you make an extra $1k within the next 30 days.

I know what you’re thinking, but . . .

There Really Are No Strings Attached

You can watch the entire course without opting in. There’s no up-sell, downsell, continuity program, $1 trial, or “free plus shipping and handling” scam attached to this.

And there isn’t some “part 2” of the course that I’m going to try and sell you (or some related coaching program).

All I Ask In Return

All I ask for in return is that, if you find the course at all helpful . . . if you gain some insight from it, AND if you feel compelled, then please share this post (and course) on twitter or Facebook.

Or review it in a blog post.

It would mean the world to me.

With that out of the way, I better tell you . . .

Why I’m Doing This

My goal was to create something that most people in this business would charge between $250 and $300 for.

And then give it away for free.

You see, the products that I DO charge for aren’t cheap (they’re usually in excess of $1k).

So every once in a while, someone says to me “I wish you had a few products in the $100 to $200 price range.”

And my answer to them is always the same . . .

“I DO have Products For Less Than $1k.  They’re Just Free.”

Anyway, let’s talk about . . .

How This Whole Thing Got Started

It all started with this post (which, by the way, is the most important blog post I’ve written in the last 12 months).

In this post, I talk about how the one practice that top marketers are consistently engaged in is the non-stop, ongoing dense exchange of almost real-time nitty-gritty details about what kinds of offers have been working (in their market AND in other markets).

Indeed, among top marketers, there is a beating-pulse, word-of-mouth, and accidental network of data swapping about what worked YESTERDAY.

The problem, however, is that most people don’t even know this exists. They don’t know that they the need a constant feed of information about what offers have been working recently online.

Because it turns out that (across markets) the major factor that consistently separates top online entrepreneurs from people whose businesses never quite take off . . .

. . . is the good ol’ fashioned practice of swapping information – on an ongoing basis – about what recent offers failed and succeeded.  And why.

So I’m Giving You This For The Holidays . . . Because The #1 Thing You Can Do To Make Your Business Work is Get Access to Information About Offers That Work

If you’re like most people (i.e. if you’re like me) . . . you can’t have major online success before seeing numerous plain-as-day, detailed and specific examples of successful online offers.
And if you feel you’ve haven’t “made it” yet, or you’re still struggling in your market . . .

. . . then there’s a very good chance that you don’t have consistent access to “offer flow” (i.e. consistent access to behind the scenes information about how different offers are doing in your market).

So I’m Giving You Behind The Scenes Access To This Low-Effort, High-Return Campaign (And Of Course Explaining How To Do It)

In order to show you exactly of the kind of information I’m talking about . . . I made this free course showing you behind the scenes of one of my favorite offers.
(I promise you – this is an offer that you, yes YOU, can have up and running in a day; and it’s an offer that works because I’m doing the exact opposite of what everyone else is doing.)

Anyway, if you implement this offer exactly like I show you, there’s a good chance it will make you an additional $1k (at the very minimum) within the next 30 days.

I’m going to tell you how the offer works.  And why it works, etc. (and as much perspective and story as I can fit into the video).

I’m also going to share information about my business that I’ve never shared before.

So, without further ado, here’s the course . . .

Video 1 – Welcome To “The High-End Blueprint”

Video 2 – The Importance Of Having an Offer In Place

Video 3 – Overview of the Promotion Sequence

Video 4 – The Step 1 Email

[Note: To download the text and materials shown in this video (plus ALL the slides used in this course) . . . please enter your email address in the form at the top or bottom of this page.]

Video 5 – The Step 3 Email

[Note: To download the text and materials shown in this video (plus ALL the slides used in this course) . . . please enter your email address in the form at the top or bottom of this page.]

Video 6 – The Sales Letter Breakdown

[Note: To download the text and materials shown in this video (plus ALL the slides used in this course) . . . please enter your email address in the form at the top or bottom of this page.]

Video 7 – After People Read The Salesletter

Video 8 – The Only Thing You Should Sell With This System

Video 9 – Pricing and Payment Plans

Video 10 – Conclusion

Hi, it’s Clay and I have some good news and some bad news (that I need to apologize for).

Here’s The Bad News

The bad news is that the no-strings-attached free product (i.e. my holiday present to you) that I announced a few days ago won’t be ready TODAY (as planned):

http://www.clay-collins.com/blog/collective-consciousness-of-internet-marketing-access-to-offer-flow/

Instead . . . this free product (which is designed to put an extra $1k in your pocket in the next 30 days) . . .

. . . will be ready THIS Wednesday (the 22^nd) at Noon Pacific.

And I’ll shoot you an email the SECOND it goes live.

I had no idea how big the demand would be for this (see the comments section of this post to see what I mean).

So I’m working extra hard to pack it with as much value as possible.

Anyway, all of this brings me to . . .

The Good News

The good news is that the product is going to be much more extensive than either of us had anticipated.

My goal is to make this free product a holiday present to you, and to create something that most people in this business would charge $300 for.

And then give it away for free.

You see, the products that I DO charge for aren’t cheap (they’re usually in excess of $1k).

So every once in a while, someone says to me “I wish you had a few products in the $100 to $200 price range.”

And my answer to them is always the same . . .

“I DO have Products For Less Than $1k.  They’re Just Free.”

So stay tuned until Wednesday at Noon Pacific.

And I’ll see you then.

–Clay

P.S. To make sure you get the free thing, make sure to sign up here.  Keep in mind that this is going to be 100% shenanigans free (there will be no upsells, or downsells, or $1 trails, or forced continuity, or anything else like that).

So in this post (which I published about a week ago), I announced a contest to give away an iPad or $500 (whichever the winner preferred).

The contest rules were simple.

All you had to do was share the most important lesson that YOU learned last year (it didn’t have to be about marketing . . . a general life lesson, or just something that made you really happy was just fine).

The entries ended up being AMAZING in terms of (1) depth (some entries were over one-thousand words long); (2) quantity (there were about 150 entries), and (3) quality (some of the entries were essay quality and a few of them moved me to tears).

But before I announce the winner, I want to sinscerely thank everyone who entered the contest.

Thank you for sharing your wisdom with me and this community.

Through your entries, a lot of us ended up learning a LOT from each other . . . and about each others (if you want to see all the amazing entries, then click here and check out all the comments on this post).

Anyway, thank you.

Announcing The Winner

I had a difficult time picking the winner . . . but in the end I’m really happy with my choice.

Anyway, here’s the winning entry from Andy Drish:

I learned one thing in 2010 that will stick w/ me forever…

In 2009 I was still struggling to focus. I had a membership site that was generating a good amount of revenue, but my heart wasn’t in it. I knew that in five or ten years, I wouldn’t care if the site was around or not.

So in 2010 I ditched the membership site, quit (half) of my job and started from scratch by cold calling people day in and day out.

After 5 weeks of cold calling I had made $50. It sucked, big time.

But then someone I cold called gave me a killer idea. It’s a product that I’ve absolutely fallen in love with and something I’ll focus on for a long time.

When I found a product I could stick with for the long haul, something switched for me mentally. I stopped thinking about ‘internet marketing’ and focused on building a business. Period.

So now we’re about six months deep and it’s generating a few grand per month in revenue. The only source of new clients comes from (believe it or not) telemarketing.

I do nothing with blogging, facebook, or twitter or other social media. And I spend most of my time building marketing systems that will continually run without my presence… using mostly email and direct mail autoresponders.

Looking back, the biggest thing I learned in 2010 was to stop focusing on all the shiny objects. I stopped dreaming about finding the perfect niche where I could build a simple membership site or sell a crappy ebook. I finally understand what it means to create substantial value for a niche.

Now that I’ve got a product I believe in, I’ve also learned to focus on getting this product in the hands of as many people as possible… regardless of how to do that, even if its something as old school as direct mail or telemarketing.

–Andy Drish

In case you’re wondering . . . EVERY SINGLE CONTEST I’ve run has been a blind one (i.e. when I read the entries, I have no idea who wrote them).

So, while Andy’s win has EVERYTHING to do with that fact that he continually pushes himself and implements like a madman . . . it IS a coincidence that Andy was the very first founding member of Project Mojave and that I’ve met him before.

Anyway, congrats Andy!

Warm regards,
Clay

P.S. If you have a second, it would mean a lot to me if you’d go to the comment section and congratulate Andy.

One More Thing

My mailbox, comments section, and email lists have been flooded with people interested in getting the free video I mentioned in this blog post:

So . . . it looks like I will be making this no-strings-attached free product for you.

And I’ll be releasing it TOMORROW (Sunday).

(The free product, by the way, is intended to put an additional $1k in your pocket before the end of January; so click here to make sure you get your copy).

Anyway, I’ll shoot you and email tomorrow when that free product is released and goes live.