Tips to Persuade People (who don’t want to listen)

8:34am Wednesday
Saint Paul

Someone asked:

> What are some strategies for persuading someone
> with differing opinions who is not open to listening
> to our perspective?

Before you can persuade someone, which should be to their benefit (otherwise it’s manipulation), he or she must have an open mind. If you can’t get there, nothing will work.

*|FNAME|*, persuading people is not easy. You have to set up a situation where they’re willing to question their own entrenched ideas, which means they may come to the conclusion that they’ve been wrong about this idea for however long.

And—as no one wants to be wrong, possibly shifting their entire world view—they’d rather fight than see the light.

So you can’t persuade them as much as you can give them the opportunity and ideas to persuade themselves.

Now, to open someone’s mind to a new way to see the world, you have a few options…

Continue reading “Tips to Persuade People (who don’t want to listen)”

The Secret of the “Secret of the One-Legged Golfer” Headline

10:19am
Hastings Minn

Golf!

I’m out to hit the links in about an hour.

First time this season, which is a shame—the weather’s been perfect and I’ve missed a lot of great opportunities.

No worries. I’m not a good golfer anyway.

Hey are you familiar with John Carlton’s headline:

“The Secret of the One Legged Golfer”

Continue reading “The Secret of the “Secret of the One-Legged Golfer” Headline”

ChatGPT: rate my copy! (Update to Death Squeal story…)

11:29am
Saint Paul

Do you know of John Forde? He’s a direct response copywriter and author, including co-author of “Great Leads.”

Today John emailed a ChatGPT prompt to direct the AI tool to rate your copy on the four U’s: Urgency, Uniqueness, Usefulness, and Ultra-specificity.

(I’ve added a 5th U: YOU, the reader—make sure your copy addresses your reader! Anyways…)

Continue reading “ChatGPT: rate my copy! (Update to Death Squeal story…)”

7 things you’ll learn in Dan Kennedy’s “The Ultimate Sales Letter”

10:20pm

Saint Paul

I was browsing my bookshelf the other night, looking for something to start.

(I have more unfinished books than I have fully-read books. Not every book is worth finishing, I’ve learned… though many I plan to return to… I think…)

Now, I noticed my slightly neglected Dan Kennedy section. Dan is a prolific and accomplished copywriter and businessman who has recently fallen ill.

I pulled down my worn copy of The Ultimate Sales Letter and Continue reading “7 things you’ll learn in Dan Kennedy’s “The Ultimate Sales Letter”

Freelance Growth with John Bejakovic (Persuasion Play Podcast 011)

Are you an opportunity seeker… looking to make money online… living an independent life without a proper job?

(Aren’t we all?)

Before he was a copywriter, John Bejakovic wrote for the Motley Fool and published his own books on Amazon.

And books like the 4 Hour Work Week spoke to his interest in granting him freedom.

Then, in 2015 John stumbled into Email Copywriting.

He started his copywriting career writing a 7-email funnel for only $5.

Fast forward to today…

Continue reading “Freelance Growth with John Bejakovic (Persuasion Play Podcast 011)”

Program your Brain

7:10am

Saint Paul

 

It’s snowing here in Saint Paul.

I used to hate the snow, hate the winter.

And I made sure everyone knew of my misery.

See, I’m kinda always cold.

And while I’m not exactly Mr. Universe, I get plenty of comments that I should add some fat to my bones.

Poor advise from an old joke.

My kids pulling one another in this Winter Wonderland!
My kids pulling one another in this Winter Wonderland!

What I did instead was change my mindset. Continue reading “Program your Brain”

The NYTimes changes their narrative

Narratives aren’t fact.

6:21
Saint Paul

People love to think humans are persuaded by facts, that we’re rational beings, willing to weight the information in front of us, and even if we don’t like the outcome, we’re willing to change our minds in the face of truth.

Do you blindly weigh the facts available? Photo "Nighttime Jutice" by Rob Kroetz, Flickr, CC-By-2.0
Do you blindly weigh the facts available? Photo “Nighttime Jutice” by Rob Kroetz, Flickr, CC-By-2.0

 

This pretty much never happens. Emotions… our tribe’s position… and what we want to believe… are far more important to us than boring old facts. Continue reading “The NYTimes changes their narrative”

Dreamstorming with Paul Gertner
(Persuasion Play Podcast 006)

I’m thrilled to present today’s podcast with magician Paul Gertner!

When I was young, at family gatherings my grandpa would perform magic tricks and slight-of-hand for the grandkids. Turning flour and sugar into cookies. Making a dollar bill disappear… and reappear elsewhere. He could pull coins from my ears… Continue reading “Dreamstorming with Paul Gertner
(Persuasion Play Podcast 006)”