In the first part of the podcast, enjoy a play-by-play breakdown of #IgnitingSouls16 from this past weekend. You’ll experience a plethora of coaching nuggets that will help you level up own book, brand, and business.
Some important announcements:
Igniting Souls 2017= Don’t miss out on our super early bird rate for #IgnitingSouls17. It expires on Friday, October 28th. Click here.
Join our Global Team = Our teams attract some of the best people in the world and we’re looking to certify a few more speakers, coaches, and trainers. Although our teams are closed most of the year, a few times per year we take new applicants. Apply to become a Your Secret Name, Deeper Path, or Dream Job speaker, coach, and trainer. Doors close on Tuesday, November 1st.
In the second part of the podcast, experience Elixir Project, the book. In chapter 8 of Elixir Project Sienna and her friends realize a little more about why they’ve been kidnapped.
Maybe my Uncle Cai has been protecting me, even now?
“College kids.” McNultey shakes his head. “You’ll get your new names soon enough.”
“Tonight, at the Name Change ceremony,” Kiran replies. “Of course, you’re going to need some work before you make your grand entrance to the worldwide audience.”
“Excuse me?” Chloe says. “Did you say world?”
“Why, yes. London is in shambles and humans have now been hacked. ELIXIR must respond with swift action or the whole planet will be thrown into chaos,” Kiran explains. “Why else would we go through all this trouble—kidnapping as you call it?”
I still don’t understand what Kiran is saying.
“What’s ELIXIR’s strategy, McNultey?” Darren asks. “Got some kind of secret weapon you’ve been hiding here on campus?”
“Wise guy, hey?” McNultey replies. “Of course we have a secret weapon.”
“What is it? A rocket? Supercomputer? Nuclear weapon?” Nick asks.
“More powerful than all those combined,” Kiran replies.
“What could be more powerful than a nuclear weapon?” Chloe asks.
“Why, that’s simple, dearie—you. You’re the secret weapon.”
Get your chapters 1-8 absolutely FREE by clicking here.
Episode 90 – ELIXIR Project: We are the authorities
Who’s giving you orders?
Is that advice benefitting you or breaking you?
How can you know for sure?
What advice is making you?
You must decide what advice shapes you.
You are the authority.
More on this topic in the first part of the episode.
We find Sienna taking it.
In the second part of the episode, Sienna and her friends discover they can’t run to the authorities for help. Here’s why:
“Either of you care to explain why you had to drug us?” Chloe asks. “Walking out the front entrance of the airport would have been a little less…traumatic.”
“Couldn’t,” McNultey replies. “We received confirmed reports of more SWARM agents at the airport. And the board gave us strict orders about transporting all twelve clerics safely.”
“And we’re supposed to believe you?” Chloe asks. “I’ve already snapped photos of you with my ring. Who says we’re not going to turn both of you in to the authorities on charges of kidnapping?”
“Authorities,” McNultey laughs. “Did you hear that, Kiran? Young lady, you’re going to find out real quickly something you’d better never forget. We are the authorities. And someday you’ll look back and thank us for ‘kidnapping’ you. SWARM knows you twelve clerics are valuable, and that’s why they’re after you.”
Sienna knows the only way to discover the truth is to travel right through the fog.
Read chapter 7 now by clicking here. Each week we’re releasing another free chapter of Elixir Project, no strings attached. It’s yours for the taking and for the reading. Click on the pic below to get caught up to the most current chapter.
Episode 89 – ELIXIR Project: Fear no one but truth
Ask children what they desire and they’ll tell you. It’s no secret to them or anybody else. A bigger question is, do they see their desire fulfilled?
Often times, the reality is no. They may simply move on to the next thing out of boredom or difficulty, but are you and I that different?
Desire without deadlines are simply pipe dreams. (Tweet This)
A secret of high performance are deadlines.
What’s your deadline?
Confession! In one sense I hate deadlines. I know that when I put a date out there, then I’m on the hook. If I fail to deliver, than in a way I’ve failed.
In another sense, I love deadlines. I know without them I’d never get anything done. They force me to focus my attention and amplify my energy. More on this topic in episode 89.
Fear no one, but truth.
In the second part of the episode, we find Sienna and her friends kidnapped and inside a transport vehicle. Sienna is the first to wake up. She meets ELIXIR’s spokesperson Tilda. Here’s that interaction:
But then I find them—or maybe they find me.
Unmistakably blue, ignited by a bottomless fire. Tilda’s gaze pierces me, unwrapping every fiber and undressing every mask. Then she speaks again, her voice a blend of seduction and mystery, dripping with hypnotic intonation:
“Please let me offer an apology and congratulations. First the apology. Although I’m unsure of the exact measures administered to bring you to ELIXIR, I’m assuming they were somewhat extreme. Understand, our current campaign against SWARM demands we adhere to the highest levels of security. We could not jeopardize our Project at this time by providing details about your relocation to you or your families. In the future, you will know the whole truth.
“And now for the congratulations. Unbeknownst to you, we’ve been monitoring you for quite some time. We’ll share more on this topic when you arrive. You are one of twelve clerics we have recruited from all corners of the world to assist in the overthrow of SWARM. Soon you will become household names.
“I’m sure you have questions. But rest assured, ELIXIR has the answers—and in time you will, too. Breathe deeply. I know the angst you taste. I was once recruited by ELIXIR, too. I chose to accept the call for my country, my family, and myself. Today my life is forever changed.
“I look forward to meeting you very soon. Remember, fear no one but truth.”
Should Sienna trust Tilda or should she run the other way?
Read chapter 6 now by clicking here. Each week we’re releasing another free chapter of Elixir Project, no strings attached. It’s yours for the taking and for the reading. Click on the pic below to get caught up to the most current chapter.
Episode 88 – ELIXIR Project: Conspiracy in the Control Room
In the first part of this episode I discuss why live events are so powerful. Simply put, it’s because they stretch us. This phenomenon is called nerouplasticity. Experts used to believe this process ended in our childhood.
However, the latest studies reveal that we can carve new pathways into our brains well into adulthood. One of the ways we do this is by being exposed to new settings, circumstances, people, and experiences. In these situations we’re literally being stretched in ways.
Ready for more conspiracies?
In the second part of the episode, we find Sienna and her friends in a difficult situation facing a difficult decision. Here’s a sneak peek:
“Drink this,” McNultey orders. His eyebrows squish together at the top of his forehead just below his hair. Streaks of silver give away his age. He points to four vials of orange liquid on a high-top table in front of us. The clear glass cylinders rest on a simple glass tray.
“What is it?” Nick holds one vial between his right index finger and thumb. He lifts it up to the single lightbulb overhead, trying to identify the contents.
“Come on, people,” the senior officer growls, tapping his foot on the hard floor. “We have to move.” He places his hands on his hips, one hand near his stun gun.
Will Sienna and her friends follow McNultey’s orders or will they choose to disobey and suffer the consequences?
Read chapter 5 now by clicking here. Each week we’re releasing another free chapter of Elixir Project, no strings attached. It’s yours for the taking and for the reading. Click on the pic below to get caught up to the most current chapter.
And don’t forget about this week’s FREE Igniting Souls Fellowship: How to go viral with your book, brand, and business. Register here.
Episode 87 – ELIXIR Project: The new technology that reads your thoughts
This episode begins with sound practical coaching on when to grow your team, how to grow your team, and what to charge for your services. Most leaders make the mistake of trying to do everything for far too long. This tendency stagnates growth and leads to burn out. Discover practical steps to avoid this trap.
Clear Content
After that, it’s all ELIXIR Project. Sienna and her Uncle Cai engage in a heated debate about Cortex, the cutting edge smart ring that utilizes a new technology called Prompts. Sienna sees the risks, but Cai only sees the benefits. Sienna’s Uncle understands the value because it could be used to defeat SWARM, a hacktivist group which threatens global peace.
Clear Choices
Each week we’re releasing another free chapter of Elixir Project, no strings attached. It’s yours for the taking and for the reading. Click on the pic below to get caught up to the most current chapter.
Episode 86 – ELIXIR Project: Unexpected encounter at the airport
Without a doubt, writing a fiction book was the most difficult thing I’ve ever done in my entire adult life. I’m not exaggerating one bit. It tops grad school, writing a dissertation, and starting a global business and non-profit.
Part of the struggle was knowing how to start ELIXIR Project. My first few attempts were slow, boring, and too deep. With a near future thriller this was not my goal.
As a result, I shifted everything and went for a scene that sucked readers in. Here was the result (not the final edited version below):
Engage often
I’ve always enjoyed “smart movies.” A few examples are Matrix, Inception, and Equilibrium. Each of these required me to remain engaged, just to make sense of the movie.
Part philosophical, part sci-fi, with a blend of technology, these are the movies that stick with me longer after the closing scene. I like brilliant character development, cool fight scenes, inner conflict, and epic stakes involved.
It’s one thing watching this type of world unfold, it’s another thing creating a version all your own. I wanted ELIXIR Project to include believable characters, original plot lines, and near future integration.
Here’s a little more of a peek:
Engage unexpectedly
Pace is everything…in life and in literature. I like twists and turns. Give me a big dose of surprises and I’m a happy reader.
I don’t want to see it coming, even though I try with all my might AND all my mind. ELIXIR Project is chocked full of the unexpected. Here’s the first of many:
Engage now
Each week we’re releasing another free chapter, no strings attached. It’s yours for the taking and for the reading. Click on the pic below to get caught up to the most current chapter. Enjoy getting engaged in ELIXIR. Just remember:
Everything can be hacked, even the truth.
Episode 85 – 3 essential ingredients for going viral with your book, brand, or business
If you’ve been around the Internet for more that a few days then you know going viral is a good thing. Let me qualify that last statement.If you have a book, brand, or business, then going viral is a VERY good thing.
Virality increases your influence, impact, and income by gathering attention and engagement around your message.
While most people would love to go viral, unfortunately, these same people have no clue HOW to go viral. Although engineering a video, website, or book to go viral is nearly impossible, there are 3 ingredients that make this phenomenon much more likely.
Do you know the ingredients?
Going viral is a result three essential ingredients:
(1) COMMUNITY
When it comes to viral, which comes first content or community? Great question. Sometimes, it’s community (like in the case of 21 Pilots). They have a cult following and so when they drop a new video it gets millions of views automatically.
(2) CONTENT
Other times it’s content (like in the case of the chewbacca mom). She was relatively a no-name before her video hit the mainstream. Her video was so unique and valuable (entertainment quality) that it went viral quickly.
(3) CONVERSATION
Virality centers around conversation. Comments, opinions, and dialogue propels books, brands, and businesses further. When apple announced it’s new products recently, conversation happened immediately. Even spoofs about the announcement went viral, fueling the conversation even further.
In episode 85, I unpack these 3 essential ingredients. I also give you a proven example you can use to replicate for your own book, brand, or business.
With my new book ELIXIR Project, I wanted to “cook up” something amazing. As a result we decided to serialize the novel up until the launch.
If you want to see these three ingredients in real time, you can check out the:
(1) Community =
It’s called ELIXIR Project VIP Launch Experience. Click here or the pic to join.
(2) Content =
We release a new chapter every week on Sneak Peek Sunday. Here’s chapter two.
(3) Conversation =
Each chapter includes a facebook thread where readers can weigh in with their thoughts, comments, and guesses (since this book is a conspiracy).
Out of my 6 traditionally published books, 3 ghostwritten books, and hundreds of other writing projects, ELIXIR Project seems to be the perfect mix of all 3 ingredients. (We’ll see how this all shakes out on December 6th, launch day.)
In the meantime, enjoy your FREE sample. And feel free to use this strategy for your own book, brand, or business.
(And if you missed the global livestream from Friday, here’s the limited time replay.)
Episode 84 – The #1 reason why you’re not winning as much as you could be
In sports, winning and losing is a black and white deal. At the end of the game, despite bad calls, poor performance, and fantastic displays of athleticism…someone wins and someone loses—end of story.
But in life things get murky. How do you keep score? Should you keep score? Is there even such a thing as winning and losing? And what’s the point of the game anyway?
What does winning mean to you?
After coaching thousands of people, I’ve realized most people don’t even know what it means to win or lose in life. This is a major problem.
Lack of clarity about what it means to win in life often contributes to depression, discouragement, and disengagement. Many studies, including this one by Psychology Today, reveal that:
Progress on our goals makes us feel happier and more satisfied with life.
Translation?
Happiness, joy, and fulfillment are deeply tied to defining the win and then designing the win. (Tweet This)
Could you be winning even more?
If you haven’t defined and designed your win, then check out this FREE webinar going on right now.
Or maybe you already have. In that case, then could you be winning even more? My guess is yes. I think you’re underperforming and you have tons more inside you waiting to bust out.
In this episode, I reveal the #1 reason you’re not winning as much as you could be. (Listen via itunes, audioboom, stitcher, or click on the pic below.)
Start winning now!
Nobody wins without intentional practice. If you want to be better you need to get better. Igniting Souls Conference 2016 is designed to do just that.
BECOME UNHACKABLE = I want to help you win more. Invest 2 days with me and a small group of world changers. Learn how to “become unhackable” in your personal and professional life. Check out the schedule and you’ll see exactly what I mean. We have only 10 tickets left before a sell out. Use code elixirvip to take $100 off now through September 12 or until tickets are gone, whichever comes first.
How to Write a Bestselling Book
A Bestseller Takes
More than Great Writing
If you’re already an author or even an aspiring one, you know writing a bestseller is a BIG WIN for you and your career. But before I share more on this topic, please re-read the title of this post one more time:
==> How to Write a Bestselling Book
In my 12 plus year experience, the post should be more accurately titled:
==> How to Market a Bestselling Book
You might be thinking, OUCH! Or even YUCK! Maybe even some of the objections below are piling up in your head:
“An author’s job is to write the book, not market it.”
“I don’t like people who self-promote.”
“I’m an introvert and I don’t want to be in the limelight.”
“A good book shouldn’t need great marketing. It should stand on it’s own.”
“I don’t have a marketing or publicity budget.”
“I don’t know how to market my book.”
I said all those objections and many more earlier in my career. After all, I’m not new to the game and I wrote 6 traditionally published books. But here’s the dirty little secret.
Even though my books were in shelves all across the country, not much happened in those early years with: The Journey Towards Relevance, Called, or The Fine Line.
Just a few of my books These 3 traditionally published on the bottom didn’t do much in the beginning.
The problem is I kept depending upon my traditional publisher to sell and market my books. After all, I’m the author. My only job is to write, right?
WRONG!
I knew I needed to change my strategy or my writing career would be over. So I decided to crack the code and figure out the answers. And that’s exactly what I did.
A Bestseller Takes
Great Marketing Too
The results were dramatic. Everything shifted with my next 3 books: Your Secret Name, The Deeper Path, and Day Job to Dream Job.
Although I have hundreds of examples (screenshots, testimonials, videos, pics, etc.) below are just a few quick examples.
In 2010-2011 with Your Secret Name book, I did over 100 interviews on radio, TV, and podcasts including this one from the internationally syndicated show 700 Club.
With The Deeper Path book I was asked to speak on the main stage with Brian Tracy, bestselling author of 70+ books.
I kept applying these new tips, tools, and tactics in each of my next books. In 2014, I released Day Job to Dream Job. In it I wrote how our day jobs are like a prison and that 86% of the population feels “institutionalized” much like the inmates in The Shawshank Redemption.
I also wrote about how our dream jobs can create a place of freedom, finances, and fulfillment much like the beaches of Zihuatanejo, the place where Andy Dufresne (played by Tim Robbins) and Red (played by Morgan Freeman) experienced their epic reunion.
I literally wrote some of the book in “Shawshank Prison” in Andy’s cell and broke the book down into 3 parts: Prison, Plan, Payoff. Although my book integrated with the metaphor of the movie beautifully, it was also strategic. I knew there was wisdom in identifying with the #1 movie of all time.
My book released the same month as the 20th Anniversary of The Shawshank Redemption, August 2014.I was thrilled to be included in the main programming of the Anniversary Weekend with Hollywood celebrities and quickly became known as The Shawshank Author.
With “The Shawshank Warden”—actor Bob Gunton—at the Cocktail Party after my book signing.
The event was picked in major media including the NY Times, the LA Times, and the Daily Mail, and hundreds of other blogs, podcasts, and media outlets.
The LA Times featured the special Anniversary weekend too.
I’d like to Help you
with your Bestseller
Rather than launch my next book —Elixir Project—in isolation, I’m inviting a select group of people to join me on an amazing journey for the next 6 months. Call it a mentoring experience.
I am pulling back the curtain and showing you exactly how I market and launch my book. You can use my same tips, tools, and tactics to market and launch your own book.
All approved members will receive
exclusive access to:
Behind the scenes coaching on how to write, publish, and market a bestselling book.
Detailed instruction on how to grow your own tribe and build your own platform.
Proven formula for how to successfully launch a book.
Step-by-step training for how to turn a book into a thriving business/ministry with follow-up products and services.
Transformational community with fellow world changers via private Facebook group.
Just a few of our many VIP members.
Although it’s absolutely free, we still require a brief application. This soft screening process ensures that we keep spammers OUT and good people—like you—IN.
Each day I give you incredible value that you can apply immediately.
I’ve included a few examples of some of the rich content our VIP members receive on a daily basis, absolutely free.
SNEAK PEEK SUNDAY:
MISSION MONDAY:
TOOL TUESDAY:
WORD WEDNESDAY:
THANKFUL THURSDAY:
FACEBOOK FRIDAY:
STRATEGIC SATURDAY:
Sounds too Good to be True?
The party started on July 11th and already hundreds and hundreds of people joined the ELIXIR Project VIP Launch Experience.
Many people ask me why I’m doing this? Remember, I made a commitment to add value to our members on a daily basis for 6 straight months.
A few of the hundreds of authors I’ve mentored to help achieve their dreams.
A few of the many books I’ve helped publish.
My goal in starting this is three-fold:
1. TO SERVE = Anything I do flows a heart of service. I’m committed to add value to like-minded world changers…like you. I count it a high honor and deep privilege to serve you.
2. TO TEACH = This book is one big experiment. I’m pushing boundaries and borders. I’m taking big risks in the areas of ideation, innovation, and implementation. I’m taking my 12+ year career in writing, publishing, and marketing and pushing the limits and the edges. I’m giving you a front row seat along the way.
3. TO MOBILIZE = My purpose is simple: Igniting Souls. And my moonshot is epic: ignite one million souls by 2020. Bottom line, I can’t do it alone. Throughout history whenever a tribe of people bonded together and banded together for a common purpose, the world was never the same. I created this group for Souls on Fire who are crazy enough to change the world.
Many VIP members ask me
how they can help
I’ll warn you up front, our VIP members are some of the most amazing people on the planet. And once our VIP members sample the value within the group, they get excited about the book, the launch, and the content
(ELIXIR Project is young adult fiction. Whether you like this genre or not is irrelevant. The principles I teach are universal and work in all genres.)
Many have asked how they can give back. Although I refuse to accept any money for the private VIP group, I’ve told members about 4 small actions that are incredibly appreciated:
Read the book—or sample chapters—ASAP upon receipt.
Provide feedback and engage with us via Facebook.
Leave a review on Amazon / Barnes & Noble on launch date.
Help spread the word about the book (we’ll equip you with tools to share).
So what are you waiting for?
That’s one question I can’t answer. Nothing fires me up more than helping brilliant authors write, publish, and market their amazing books. Like I said, the party has already started. Now, we’re just waiting on you.
Click HEREor on the pic below to fill out the simple application.
I hope to see you soon and I look forward to investing in you and your book.
———–
PLEASE COMMENT BELOW: I’d love to say hi to you. Let me know where you’re from.
Episode 83 – The true test to know if you’re ready for success
There’s a test I give all my clients to determine their future level of success. The test centers on one particular law—The Law of Diminishing Intent.
If you’re unfamiliar with it, let me explain. Jim Rohn first coined the concept:
The longer you wait to do something you should do now, the greater the odds that you will never actually do it.
What’s something you know you should do right now?
Change your diet?
Read that one article?
Attend that one conference?
Schedule that one appointment?
Start writing that one book you’ve been talking about?
Successful people are action-takers
We never procrastinate what’s urgent. If your loved one was taken hostage, you wouldn’t delay or debate taking action. Rather, you’d reorient your schedule to go after what’s valuable to you.
This is the same mindset successful people have. Successful people are able to identify and eliminate what IS NOT urgent, discern what IS urgent, and then take massive action in that direction, immediately.
Immediately is the key word!
In this episode I introduce you to a real client of mine I call Charlie (name changed). I tell you why he was on the road to self-sabotage and how he rerouted himself onto the road to success.
You’ll discover no nonsense wisdom you can practically apply today.
Which of these do you need to do? Identify at least one and then do it NOW! If you delay, chances are you’ll never do anything. And if you never do anything, you’ll stay exactly where you are.
BECOME UNHACKABLE = If you want to invest 2 days with me and a small group of world changers and learn how to “become unhackable” in your personal and professional life then come to the Igniting Souls Conference($300 off – limited time only – use this code at checkout = elixirvip).
LEARN TO LAUNCH = If you plan on launching a book, brand, or business sometime in the next 3 years, then join my VIP Launch Experience, and I’ll mentor you for 6 months as I launch my next book ELIXIR Project. (FREE – over 350 already joined)
How to take back control of your calendar:Free web class. In just over 60 minutes discover how you can regain control of you life and become a Master in the Art of Living. Watch it now. Limited-time replay. Includes free webinar workbook. Hundreds of people have already found freedom.
