Never look a gift problem in the mouth…

Sometimes the biggest gains come from seemingly inopportune obstacles that drop into in our path.

Often, ours is a path we’ve worked long and hard crafting, meticulously planning for all the little eventualities… sanding smooth each potential splinter before anyone has a chance to run their hand down the banister.

And then LIFE happens…

The fit hits the shan and everything changes. Nothing is within your control except the results you are still expected to deliver (whether for a client or for yourself).

Here’s a few common “road hazards” you may run into when you head out on the highway:

• A big event gets canceled.
• Physical product fulfillment gets delayed.
• A launch gets pushed back a few months.
• A client or partner becomes unexpectedly sick or injured.
• A mission-critical supplier goes belly-up.
• New laws or government regulation necessitate BIG changes.

One of the ways a brilliant friend of mine deals with this all too common situation is to ask himself this simple question:

“In what ways is this the best thing that could happen FOR me?“

Not happen TO me… happen FOR me…

In what ways does an impending crisis work in your favor?

Are there other resources that can be brought to bear on the problem now – ones that wouldn’t have made sense before?

Does this open a slot in your schedule to work on a project that’s been back-burnered?

In what ways does overcoming the challenge you’re facing IMPROVE your offer?

Can you seize a positional advantage in the marketplace?

How can customers BENEFIT from this “new opportunity”?

In what ways is this the best thing that could happen FOR you?

Focus on the SOLUTION, not the PROBLEM.

As always, I’d love to hear your thoughts. Lots of you reading here, some of you even email, tweet and post on FB about these posts – but not many of you are commenting regularly… what’s up, peeps?

Your thoughts and questions are absolutely welcome here and greatly appreciated.

Share your best strategies for keeping a steady hand on the rudder in a stormy sea…

Best,

Brian

Here’s an excerpt from a reply I made recently on the Warrior Forum.

I will wager that most of you have an entire mailing list of all your paypal customers with shipping addresses that you’ve never mailed a THING to.

Some of you probably have a LOT of them, going back years.

Are you getting any ideas here?

In direct mail, you have an ageless communication channel, one that works on an entirely different psychological level than email or websites do… and it’s sitting there.

Postcards don’t have to be opened. They’re the cheapest, easiest thing to mail.

They work. Especially for getting people to pick up the phone and call (hint).

If you’re not used to paying for your traffic, or spending any money marketing to your existing customers this is going to sound terribly risky.

But if you already pay for traffic in the form of pay-per-click, outsourced SEO or content creation, etc… Direct mail may be a revelatory experience for you.

You can clawback some of that lead cost by squeezing a few more dollars out of your lifetime customer value.

Right now, your mind is probably already starting to click with ideas.

Try thinking in these terms… if you have the list already, your costs are going to be limited to the printing of the postcard and first-class postage:

http://www.usps.com/prices/first-class-mail-prices.htm

http://48hourprinting.com

1000 4×6 postcards with postage is going to cost you around $400 give or take.

If you already ship to your customers, you’re in REALLY good shape, because you can start sending ride-alongs for nothing but the cost of the printing.

A ride-along is just a promotional piece that “rides along” with the primary thing being mailed, goods or packages, an invoice, whatever.

All that “crap” you get with your credit card bill… ride-alongs. STUDY THEM.

Anyhoo… Maybe this will give some of you some clever inspiration.

Let me know if it does.

Best,

Brian

I’d like to give you a nice head start for taking part in the global launch of Brian McElroy’s InformationMarketing.com, starting August 13th:

http://scrnch.me/BrianMcElroyJV

I’ve been working with Brian behind the scenes on this launch for some time now.  It’s going to be a MONSTER. Mark my words.

I can also tell you first hand that this is a truly valuable, meaningful product to get behind and promote. Brian ALWAYS overdelivers. He doesn’t have customers, he has raving fans.

** Here’s a brief overview of the launch **

Brian is running an 8-week group coaching program on how to grow an EXPLOSIVE information marketing business online.

In case you’re not that familiar with Brian McElroy, his accomplishments over just the past two years include:

• Doing over half a million dollars in sales in his first year as a copywriter
• Generating over $30,000 his FIRST MONTH with an info-publishing business
• Selling $35,000 worth of info products during a one week launch while in the Amazon rainforest… without an internet connection!
• Starting a niche info-publishing business with over 1,000 paying customers at $97.00 per month… within 30 days!

In short, Brian is the real deal… and he’s PERSONALLY teaching his best material in an exciting live training course. You can be proud to promote this high-quality product.

** Here’s the JV details…  **

You earn $400 per sale, PLUS $100 on the second tier, PLUS 40% of the $97.00 per month continuity program.

And here’s the best part of this affiliate program…

You earn 40% on the first tier and 10% on the second tier FOR LIFE… even on the recurring billing… no matter what product is sold!

** What Makes This Even MORE Unique **

In addition to the exciting offer, this promotion is also unique because it’s supporting a great cause.

10% of gross sales have been earmarked to support the rural university in Haiti where Brian used to volunteer, so your promotions also support education for students in need.

Get the full details and sign up right here:

http://scrnch.me/BrianMcElroyJV

Best,