Ross Goldberg’s Last Master’s Photos
By Elmer Hurlstone | April 23, 2009
If you attended Ross Goldberg’s Last Master’s Seminar in Tampa on April 16th through April 19th you came away with knowledge, information, motivation and contacts you didn’t have upon arrival.
It was fully packed, time well spent.
Like all seminars it’s difficult to remember everything and everyone you’ve either been exposed to or met.
To assist you in recapturing the moment–or moments–I’ve uploaded a package of photos. The photo pack contains over 280 images of the speakers and attendees.
There is a very good chance you’re in one or more of the pictures if you were at the seminar.
You can use these on blog posts–provided you’re one of the subjects–to “borrow” credibility.
If you’re writing an article or post about the value of live events they make great editorial illustrations. They’re real people doing real stuff. At less than five and a quarter cents each they’re the best value you’ll find.
Payments are processed through PayPal and credit cards are accepted–even if you don’t have a PayPal account.
Now you can have on your computer over 280 images of the event for only $15.
Every speaker is pictured, Erik Stafford, Dr. Harlan Kilstein, Mark Ress, Lee Collins, Simon Leung, Jason DeVelvis, Warren Whitlock, Kevin Nations, Perry Belcher, Melanie Benson Strick, Bob “The Teacher” Jenkins, Felicia Slattery and David Preston. First, last and certainly not least, Ross Goldberg…
Topics: Event Photos | 2 Comments »
A snowmobile? In Tampa, Florida?
By Elmer Hurlstone | April 23, 2009
Arctic Cat Snowmobile in front of Cars Unlimited in Tampa, FL
Snow, snowmobiles and Tampa, FL are not words usually found in the same sentence.
According to Wikipedia, “The last measurable snow in Tampa fell on January 19, 1977. The accumulation amounted to all of 0.2 inches (0.5 cm), but the city, unprepared for and unaccustomed to wintry weather, came to a virtual standstill for a day.”
As a Tampa resident on that fateful day in 1977 I can attest to the accuracy of the Wikipedia article.
Cars Unlimited Tampa, FL
Since even on that snowy day over 32 years ago there wasn’t enough white stuff to require a snowmobile I was a bit surprised to see a snowmobile parked (do you “park” snowmobiles?) in front of a local pre-owned car dealer. Particularly since it was a beautiful spring day. The sun was shining and the temperature was in the mid-eighties.
Curiosity got the better of me so after shooting a couple pictures outside, I went inside and talked to Cars Unlimited owner Allen Stathas.
Inside was yet another snowmobile–this one for kids… Read the rest of this entry »
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Willie Crawford’s 50th Birthday Bash Photos
By Elmer Hurlstone | April 2, 2009
Seventy or so marketers spent all or some of March 26 through March 30, 2009 in Orlando, Florida saying, “Happy Birthday”, to Willie Crawford.
Yep, Willie hit the “Big Five-O”. Like many he could have gone into denial and let the day pass quietly. He didn’t. Instead he and David Preston held a party/seminar.
It’s been my pleasure to know Willie on-line for two or three years. I’ve known of David Preston for several months. At Ken McArthur’s JV Alert Live event in February I was finally able to meet both of them face-to-face. Quickly determined after hand-shakes and once-overs that they were both good guys.
Willie and David were kind enough to ask me to serve as the event photographer. I quickly accepted.
And that brings us to the subject of this post…
Of the over 500 pictures I made I’ve selected, edited and uploaded over two hundred photos representative of the Birthday Bash.
In another paragraph or so I’ll tell you where to find the pictures. But first, a note or three about rights and usage:
- All photos are ©2009 by Elmer Hurlstone
- All rights are reserved
- You may use any photo in which you are a subject on any website you own, provided your website does not violate any laws in force in the Sate of Florida, The United States of America or your local or national jurisdiction. You may not use the photos on any site which displays, promotes or links to pornographic material, legal or illegal.
- You may not alter the photo(s) in any way.
- Attribution is appreciated. Please credit “Elmer Hurlstone” and “ElmerHurlstone.com”
If you use any of the photos on a commercial site and wish to make a donation to help defray expenses here’s a quick and easy button:
Regarding Point 6 no obligation to send money is implied or should be inferred.
The photos are at: Willie Crawford’s 50th Birthday Bash Photos
Thanks for dropping by,
Elmer
Topics: Event Photos | 5 Comments »
Can You Make Money With Video Commercials? Others Do!
By Elmer Hurlstone | March 20, 2009
The “Recipe for Shooting and Distributing Sales-Pulling Video Commercials” is a fairly recent offering from that prodigiously productive producer of product, Kevin Riley.
It’s a long title for an even longer book. Or “books”. There are three separate ebooks in the set. It takes 334 pages of which 321 are totally content-filled. The other 13 pages consist of the covers, title pages and copyright notice, disclaimer, author information and one page listing additional Riley Recipe’s.
Over the recent past it has become obvious that free video sharing sites have become popular. Very, very popular. They are being used by all sorts of people to share all sorts of things. Some videos are good, some bad and others are downright ugly.
Effective video marketing tells a story and, all important, calls for action. There are thousands upon thousands that don’t do this well – if at all. If you’re going to use video marketing you owe it to yourself to do it well. If not, why bother?
Part I of “Recipe for Shooting and Distributing Sales-Pulling Video Commercials” covers everything you need to effectively design, write and build a sales pulling video.
Every single detail is explained and illustrated. Book I contains 160 more or less screen-shots (I may have miscounted). Each one shows you exactly how, step-by-step, to produce your own profit making video commercial. Have you noticed how some instruction manuals are big on theory and short on practical application? Well, this ain’t one of those. It is long on practical application.
Starting with brainstorming hints and helps, continuing through research resources and techniques to scripting; obtaining and editing images to finding and recording audio and finally assembling and processing your video, this is a complete package.
One particularly useful thing is that Riley shows you how you can do all this using little or no money. There are no cost sources of video production software, audio software and even images. All are detailed in Book I.
Part II consists of two separate books and deals extensively and exhaustivly with distributing the videos you produce. A video sitting on your hard drive, gathering digital dust isn’t of much use. You need to submit, submit and submit some more.
It will teach you to harness the power of Web 2.0 and all the benefits, leads and sales that will follow.
I could go on and on about the quality and completeness of this Riley recipe but you’ll see actual examples of the techniques and procedures on the online brochure at: “Recipe for Shooting and Distributing Sales-Pulling Video Commercials”
Take a look, you’ll be glad you did!
Topics: Product Reviews | No Comments »
List Building with the Masters
By Elmer Hurlstone | January 29, 2009
What do a retired USAF officer, a former mechanical engineer and a Texan, whose greatest dream come true would be hearing himself announced as the next batter in a World Series game, have in common?
At first glance it doesn’t seem like much.
But despite their varied backgrounds they do share a couple things. Each of these is not only a successful online marketer but a master list builder. Your email customer list is the most important asset you, as a marketer, own! And, building a responsive list is the absolute best skill you can develop.
Willie Crawford, Kevin Riley and Eric Louviere along with James Brown and Mark Hendricks, a couple more master list builders, can and will tell you how to do what they’ve done.
Yes, I said tell you.
All five of them are featured speakers on Warner Carter’s new audio series, “Proven Email Marketing Strategies”. This is a set of five 40 minute audio interviews in which Warner asks specific list building strategy questions and Riley, Crawford, Louviere, Hendricks and Brown answer–in great detail.
Over the past few years I’ve been privileged to participate in conference calls with Willie, Eric and Kevin. Willie and I have discussed collards, grits and marketing; Eric and I have talked about copy writing (he’s a well respected, results getting, direct response copywriter). Kevin is one of my absolute best pals. We’ve spent way too much time talking about everything from home improvement to politics (someday I’ll get him straightened out :)) to marketing– a lot of IM. Hendricks and Brown I know by reputation.
From listening to these interviews I’ve gotten confirmation on some of my thoughts and ideas and extremely worthwhile stuff I didn’t know.
Warner is a quick-on-the-uptake interviewer. While he starts with a set of pre-written questions when he hears something that needs elaboration he asks the specific question to get even better answers for us.
Another very useful benefit he’s added is to provide all of the interviews in convenient downloadable MP3 format. This is in addition to the web based audio. I particularly like MP3’s because I can load them into my MP3 player and listen while driving or any time I’m away from the web. Plus, if the website is down or you’re having local internet problems you still have the content available when you want it.
“Proven Email Marketing Strategies” are five of the best, if not the absolute best, interviews available on building your own profitable lists!
I highly recommend them and suggest you reserve yours now. You’ll be glad you did!
Talk with you later, I’m going back to listening to “Proven Email Marketing Strategies”,
Elmer Hurlstone
PS. To find out more about building effective, high converting, profitable lists simply click any of the “Proven Email Marketing Strategies” links.
Topics: Product Reviews | No Comments »
It’s Almost Christmas and Kids Need Toys-Please Help
By Elmer Hurlstone | December 22, 2008
Like a whole bunch of other folks I grew up in the long ago BI days.
“BI” means Before Internet. It was, although much different to today, a good time to be a kid. We played ball, hide n’ seek and board games. We ran around in the woods and fished in a convenient pond or over at the river. Sometimes we actually caught something.
Like most kids we were unconcerned with the world as a whole — most of the time. The most important times in our lives–or at least my life–were birthdays and Christmas. On Christmas and on my birthday I knew I would probably receive a new gift. A gift that wasn’t handed down by a better-off relative or friend. Something that would be mine–first!
Thinking back we were not the “poorest” people around. I recall thinking of other kids as “poor.” Granted, poor is a relative term. We happened to live in an area and attend schools that reflected the extremes of “have” and “have-notness.”
And “have-notness” is what this little post is about.
On the news a few minutes ago it was reported that both The Salvation Army Angel Tree and The USMC Toys for Tots programs are facing a 25% decline in donated toys for distribution this Christmas.
If you have the wherewithal to help make Christmas a little better for a child or two please contact your local Salvation Army Angel Tree Sponsor or USMC Toys for Tots program and donate a toy.
Ten, fifteen or even fifty years from now that once kid will remember benefiting from your generosity.
Thanks for taking your time to read this. This is a “Twitter only” promoted post. Please retweet.
Topics: Uncategorized | 2 Comments »
What’s in a Name? An observational rant
By Elmer Hurlstone | November 29, 2008
What’s in a Name?
Throughout my youth my parents stressed the importance of making a good first impression. Basic things like shined shoes, clean clothes and neatly combed hair were a given.
Of equal importance was bearing. Look a person in the eyes when talking, stand proud and erect, don’t mumble. Be proud of who you are. Tell people your name.
Neither of my late parents ever used a computer. For them socialization was a Sunday visit to family and friends, or a phone call. Keeping in touch with distant friends and relatives was done by writing letters. Twitter was something birds did; a forum was something from ancient Roman history. “On-line” was standing behind someone at the grocery store while waiting your turn to be checked out. They would have difficulty with parts of today.
Particularly the part with names. Mom would never have introduced herself as “tickedoffteenie” or dad as “muddledmurray”. They were proud of their names.
In many respects communication has changed from my parents day. Online you can’t see if my hair is combed (it is); if my shoes are shined (I’m wearing slippers) or if I’m typing in my boxers. For the record I’m wearing clean jeans and a pressed shirt. My fedora hangs on the rack until I go outside.
Its been said, “first impressions are lasting”. Online our first impression is frequently made with our “user name”. What immediately comes to mind when you see user names like, “PMSPam”, “angryAnDy”, PO’dPat” or “annoyedAnnie”? Warm and loving, friendly folks, right? Just the kind of people you want to hang out with?
Suppose these folks or people with similarly interesting names are trying to sell you something–and, isn’t everyone? Does “Jerry_the_Jerk” really inspire confidence?
Granted, online anyone can “be” anyone, but initially the impression you make is dependent on the perception of your reader.
Your chosen “user name” is important!
Topics: About Writing & Writers | 6 Comments »
Mystery Novel + Textbook: “Jack’s Notebook” a Review
By Elmer Hurlstone | November 24, 2008
“Jack’s Notebook: a Business Novel about Creative Problem Solving,” Gregg Fraley (Nelson-Business $22.99)
Business novels are strange creatures–neither fish nor fowl. They attempt to explain complicated concepts via a fictional vehicle.
Melding fiction and nonfiction is a difficult task. A task Creative Problem Solving(CPS) facilitator Gregg Fraley accomplishes in his well written mystery, “Jack’s Notebook
Jack Huber is the classic underachiever. And he knows it. He has the glimmer of a dream. Jack wishes to become a full-time professional photographer–of some kind. He’s tired of working two part time unsatisfying jobs to subsist. Like many of us in his shoes he knows the “what” he wants to accomplish but not the “how.”
Serendipity, when we recognize it, often plays a large part in our lives. Jack Huber was fortunate to be offered a ride, on a cold rainy Chicago night by a charismatic stranger, Manny Gibran, a renown innovation expert. Manny gives Jack a blank notebook–which becomes, not surprisingly, “Jack’s Notebook
While trying to identify and explore (research) his challenge Jack meets a girl in an internet coffee shop.
Molly Dunne is attractive, wary and, as Jack soon discovers, enigmatic. A wraith-like mystery follows her. Ever present but rarely visible.
Before long Jack and Molly become friends. Jack hopes for more.
In the meantime Jack does some photography for Manny and learns more about applying CPS and innovation to his situation.
Molly and Jack become aware of their mutual attraction and then Molly disappears. Now you have a real mystery to solve. After all, this is a mystery novel.
“Jack’s Notebook
Perhaps the greatest challenge Fraley faced was how to integrate CPS lessons into a novel without making the whole much less than the sum of the parts. He took an approach sometimes seen in much older books. Each chapter is prefaced with a paragraph that briefly explains the CPS technique Jack will employ.
While it’s impossible to teach all there is about a subject in the “business novel” genre or perhaps “sub-genre” this book provides more than an overview. It gives you more than enough knowledge to begin using CPS techniques for your ultimate benefit.
Using the process as taught will enable you to use Challenge Triage to identify, explore, generate ideas and ultimately develop and deploy the solution to almost any problem with a logical resolution.
Critical to using Creative Problem Solving is recording everything in a notebook. Pages from “Jack’s Notebook
Minor gripe no. 2: On several pages Johnson boxes are used to draw attention to or further explain critical pieces of dialog. For example this excerpt from page 135: “The voice of self doubt… this is how you’re supposed to feel when you step off into the unknown.” The physical placement of the boxes on the page is inconsistent. Sometimes above and at other times below the text it’s clarifying. There may have been valid reasons for this, but to me they’re not apparent. So much for the minor gripes.
Have you ever carried a notebook or notepad until the edges of the pages became worn, fluffy and fibrous from use? The first page of each chapter is printed to resemble a well used notebook. It’s a neat touch that subtly reinforces the point that using notebooks and recording your ideas and thoughts are essential elements of problem solving.
Fraley’s penultimate section of the book is a concise description of the CPS process. Titled “CPS Quick Reference Guide” it provides flow charts and a comprehensive matrix of the CPS steps. The final piece is the Action Plan Jack used to move from walking in the rain to…
If you’re looking for a good, instructive read for yourself or for a gift I highly recommend “Jack’s Notebook
Topics: Book Reviews | 1 Comment »
Look smarter: Use Quotations in your tweets, posts and products
By Elmer Hurlstone | November 21, 2008
“1001 Smartest Things Ever Said,” Edited and with an Introduction by Steven D. Price (the Lyons Press $9.95)
“I quote others only in order the better to express myself.”, so said the late French essayist Michel de Montaigne. Wise, instructive words.
It’s with this quote, placed immediately before the introduction, that Steven Price begins this handy little resource.
Divided into six main sections and an attribution listing at the end, “1001 Smartest Things Ever Said”, gives you a glimpse at the wit and wisdom of man throughout the ages. From Aesop, the Greek of fabled fame to the French novelist Emile Zola.
The sections, “Life and Death (And Some of What Happens in Between)”–yes, that’s the title of the first section; “Love and Friendship; “Success, and Ways to Achieve It”; “The Life of the Mind”; “Politics and Politicians, Government and Statesmen”; and last, “Proverbial Wisdom.”
To say the least, it’s eclectic in both source and content. Yogi Berra and George Will; the Roger’s boys–Will and Roy, Oscar Wilde to Ben Stein. Poets, writers, actors, athletes along with religious leaders and politicians are well represented.
Yes, it’s fun to read, but it’s even better to use what you’ve read. We’ve all heard, “Experience is the best teacher.”, and we know, from experience, it’s true. Years ago, Auguste Rodin (1840-1917), the French sculptor best known for “The Thinker” said, “Nothing is a waste of time if you use the experience wisely.” Much the same as the ubiquitous proverb but a bit more eloquent. Using a quote, with attribution, in your writing whether product, content, blog posts or Twitter “tweets” will make you appear more knowledgeable and better informed.
Twitter is arguably the fast growing social media site. Based on observation some of the most “retweeted” material is quotations. Good quotations. Retweets of your posts increases your exposure. Increased exposure gains you more followers.
I’ve enjoyed using “1001 Smartest Things Ever Said” It’s one of the best books I’ve bought this year.
Here’s a final quote that I’m fairly sure isn’t in the book.
“Try it, you’ll like it!”
Topics: Book Reviews | No Comments »
The Tree Frog and Me
By Elmer Hurlstone | November 19, 2008
Just in case you think you had a bad day here’s a true story that I bet you’ll have a hard time topping.
It was about 9:30 this morning as I was driving south on I-275 – which fortunately – was more of a parking lot than a thruway, when to my total and complete amazement I saw a tree frog (you know the kind, greenish-brown, about two and a half inches long with “ET” looking feet and tiny suction cup toes) clinging tenaciously to the inside of my drivers side window.
Being the nice guy I am I figured I’d let him out of my truck so he or she (who would know except another frog) could continue with life in the great outdoors. I began to slowly lower my newly repaired (but that’s another, not to mention expensive, story) power window. Having dropped the window far enough for my uninvited guest to depart I decided to gently encourage him when he showed no incentive to leave on his own.
Big, Big, Big Mistake!!!
You would think this slimy amphibian would be appreciative of my kindness. Not so.
Immediately upon touching him ever so gently to move him toward the opening he turned on me.
With what I am sure was utter and complete malice he leaped straight at my throat, peeing all the way. He must have needed a rest stop for quite some time based on the volume of his output.
After barely avoiding a ten-mile an hour accident, that I’m certain would have gotten me a ticket, (Can’t you just see the cop listening to this story?, ”Honest officer, it was all the frog’s fault.”) I grabbed a tissue and wiped-off my hand, pants leg, shirt and door panel.
Having adequately recovered I started looking for the frog. He had disappeared. A few minutes and maybe a half-mile down the road he reappeared. The malicious mutant ninja frog was sitting on my console taunting me and daring me to touch him. I’m a slow learner. I grabbed a tissue and attempted to grab the frog. After turning the tissue into toilet paper he jumped on to the dashboard and then leapt to the passenger-side window glaring and pissing all the way.
I quickly lowered the passenger window and the little ingrate jumped to the outside rear view mirror. I quickly powered the window up. He immediately stuck himself to the outside of the glass and glared at me all the time moving his little frog-lips angrily. I’m not sure of what he was saying to me but I suspect if I took a guess and put it in this email your spam filters would reject it.
After a few minutes he finally got tired and left.
I hope a semi ran over him.
Note: I wrote this little tale in the spring of 2006. Due to subsequent HD crash I don’t recall the date. As with all original content published on elmerhurlstone.com “The Tree Frog and Me” is copyrighted by Elmer Hurlstone. All rights are reserved.
Topics: Uncategorized | 3 Comments »