THIS is the most important video I’ve ever made.

Period.

In fact, I’ve said a lot of things about internet marketing in recent years . . .

. . . and this has more significance than them all.

Combined.

So if you only watch one of my videos this year. Watch this one.

It might revolutionize the way you think about selling online.

–Clay

[Note: This is a guest post by Tracy. God help me.]

I’m here to once again dish up a little more dirt on Clay. While I want to tell you about:

• How a working relationship can cause massive personal growth and spiritual development if both people are committed to it
• What it’s like building “yellow boxes” for Clay–you can’t even imagine it
• What I learned about Clay’s innermost being by watching him eat
• Clay’s relationship to his hair (yes, you read that correctly)…

…all of that will have to wait. While I want to tell you all of those things, I simply have to tell you one thing.

A few months ago I wrote a post about Clay. One of the comments I heard repeatedly after that was:

“You haven’t even met him in person, so how can you really know him?”

I knew there was only one way to silence that objection. I’ve travelled so much that I now try to travel as little as possible, but I decided to head out to Minneapolis.

Now that I’ve met Clay in person, eaten meals with him, and met his girlfriend—plus the fact that I’ve known him for several more months, speaking nearly daily with him on the phone—I can give you even more of an inside scoop. And, as before, I’ve told Clay he can publish all of this or none of it, but he’s not allowed to edit out the parts that embarrass him.*

First we’ll start with the fun stuff (I will show NO mercy!) and then move on to the intense stuff I’ve uncovered that has surprised me.

I’ve mentioned before how Clay greatly prefers to not follow the dictates of time. It’s not that he can’t—because he can and does very well when he needs to—it’s just that it doesn’t come naturally to him. His VA and I recently had a Skype conversation when we were trying to figure out how to get Clay to do something at the same time every week:

Knowing about Clay’s issues with time, it was no surprise to me that he was a few minutes late in picking me up at the airport. As we were chatting on our cells trying to find each other in the airport I asked Clay where he was and what he was wearing so that I could easily spot him and he said: “I’m wearing sort of a Western shirt.”

We eventually found each other. He gave me a great tour of some of the gorgeous lakes of Minneapolis, we grabbed a bite to eat and headed back to his place.

Walking in revealed two things to me:

He clearly is a man because he failed to tell me something that any woman would have told another woman within the first week of meeting her:

The architectural detail of his place is beautiful. For example: There are no square corners where the ceilings meet the walls in the living room. There are round “corners” where you normally only see 90-degree angles. Gorgeous art deco style. Hallways with such rich, deep detail—made of stone, I think. But did Clay ever once mention this to me? No, of course not, being a typical dude when it comes to stuff like this. I doubt he ever even noticed these things.

But that is nothing compared to what was sitting there just inside his front door. Let me set the story up for you.

Several weeks prior to my visit Clay had mentioned that he owned a pair of cowboy boots. Not a big deal, right? But then he went on to be sure to tell me that he didn’t wear all the Western clothes or anything like that, he just liked that one pair of boots. I didn’t give it a second thought, though I should have.

Back to his place: Right inside his front door is not just one pair of cowboy boots, but TWO pairs. Oh, he had soooo neglected to tell me he owned more than one pair—and to discover this while he was wearing a Western shirt was simply too much for me.

I’m thinking, “I’m sitting here drinking wine with an urban cowboy wannabe. (Though I think he’d be more like a young Clint Eastwood than John Travolta due to his maverick renegade approach, but I digress.) I am soooo gonna’ rag on him for this.”

His girlfriend was coming over that evening so I didn’t get to spend enough time picking on him (which is why I’m doing it here).

Anyway, you know those exceptionally rare women who are fiercely intelligent, highly educated, absolutely gorgeous, and are compassionate? She’s one of them—really amazing. Oh, and when she smiles, the whole room lights up.

The conversation with her was engrossing enough that I forgot all about the whole Western thing…

…until the next morning when I first see Clay and he’s wearing…(really, I wouldn’t make this stuff up)…a Western belt. No western shirt, no cowboy boots, but definitely a big-ass silver belt buckle. Something like this one:

And then it all clicked into place in my brain and I understood. So, for all of you who said that I couldn’t really know Clay until I’d met him in person I humbly bow to your wisdom: You were right. Because only now do I know the real scoop:

Clay Collins is a Wannabe Cowboy!

Without your feedback I might never have discovered this and would have missed out on dozens of opportunities to torment him. I am forever grateful to everyone who said, “You don’t know Clay . . . you haven’t even met him yet.”

Anyway, I’ll know he’s gone full-blown cowboy the day he adds spurs to his boots. I wonder if he already has a cowboy hat or two hidden away? If I’d had more time I definitely would have snooped around the place to take a look.  He probably takes the hat out when no one else is around and wears it just for fun:

I could even handle the hat, but the day he shows up in chaps like these I’ll have to hold an intervention and I trust you’ll all help me:

Okay, enough of my profound insights into Clay’s psychology.

Because so many of you always ask me what Clay is really like, I’m going to put all teasing aside for just a few minutes and tell you just a few more tidbits. Here are three other things I’ve come to know about Clay since I wrote my previous post:

• He is an incredibly kind and compassionate person. He is so moved by peoples’ stories and plights. When I first knew him I experienced his kindness toward me, but I have since seen it repeatedly demonstrated toward others. This is a guy who feels deeply and wants to help people change the trajectory of their paths if they decide they want to change the world or amp up their businesses to new levels.

• He has a deep humility that you don’t often see among highly successful business people. While he has a vast amount of knowledge and is willing to share it, he’s never puffed up and arrogant about it. He also knows where his weaknesses are and he’s smart enough to acknowledge them and surround himself with people who complement his skills. His humility manifests in another beautiful way: He is so quick to apologize if he thinks he’s screwed up or hurt your feelings in any way. I’ve worked with some amazing people in my life, but it’s rare I’ve seen this degree of humility. He’s always willing to own his mistakes immediately and say he’s sorry.

• Finally, if I had to pick the #1 thing I’ve discovered (that REALLY surprised me), it’s this: His business acumen. It continually blows me away. Don’t let my cowboy nonsense fool you. Underneath that imaginary 10-gallon hat is a brain filled with business smarts. Anyone can read a ton of books and know “facts” about the best way to start, build, expand and run businesses, but to also have keen insight, discernment, and wisdom about those businesses is rare. And the few times I’ve seen that deep level of insight in others it has always taken them decades to acquire it. I’ve worked closely with seasoned business owners and entrepreneurs that were twice Clay’s age (and they ran multi-million dollar companies that they had founded decades earlier) and they have nothing on him at all. When I first started to work with Clay I knew that he’d be great at Internet marketing, evaluating the numbers, analyzing markets, and driving up sales. I fully expected that.

  What I didn’t expect was to find out that he helps people grow and develop all sorts of businesses, even those with physical products and those not looking strictly for Internet marketing advice and instruction. I am astounded week after week not only at how much he knows, but at the wisdom he displays in his understanding of how to use that information. (I suspect he learned much of this from his grandfather who is quite the businessman.) Clay’s ability to know, in advance, if a business will be profitable is almost scary—crazy voodoo-magic-like scary. His foresight is so accurate I swear he must use a crystal ball, though he denies it. The same can be said about his ability to help businesses double and triple their sales.

So, while it’s true…

…that Clint Clay is a wannabe cowboy

…and it’s true that time has no meaning for him (until he’s short of it and I need to talk him down off of the edge of a cliff)

…and it’s true he has a dozen other quirks and flaws (we’re out of space or I’d spill my guts!—so much more to tell—maybe in person one day?) that make work “interesting” many a day…

…ultimately I still have to stand by my original assessment of Clay: He’s one of the most remarkable people I’ve ever had the opportunity to get to know. If you get the chance to hang out with Clay or to work with him in any capacity, take it: He’ll shift your worldview and you’ll walk away a better person for having known him, not to mention what he will do for your business.

Between Clay’s odd quirks and his huge heart, this is one ride that’s way too much fun to miss—even if it means I do have to haul myself up onto a horse to get in on the ride. I can only hope he’ll never make me wear the whole cowgirl outfit, ‘cause I’m thinking that’s probably a dealbreaker (though I do like the red boots).

Well, that’s the end of another post giving you the inside scoop on Clay. I’d love your feedback on this: Do you think Clay could pull off the full-blown cowboy look? Or has he taken it as far as he should? Leave me a comment with your thoughts, please! He might just listen to us…

P.S. Clay’s has a “milestone” birthday coming this year (in September). Maybe we should have a giant bash at my log cabin in Vermont during beautiful fall foliage season. We could all pitch in and buy him a cowboy hat. Then we’d ply him with enough tequila until he’d actually wear it.

*Correction: Clay insisted on taking out one picture. He wouldn’t let me publish this with it in here. (If you ever get to see the picture you will totally understand why.) The compromise I reached is that I will email this picture to the person whose comment amuses me the most. Trust me, you will laugh you a** off— you gotta’ love Photoshop–but you’ll have to give me your word you won’t share it with anyone!

~Tracy

I kind of screwed up with Tracy (if you don’t know, Tracy basically runs sh*t around here).

Here’s the story . . .

The other day, in the midst of pre-launch insanity, I called Tracy up and said something like:

“I HATE graphics, because I obsess about them to no end. So would you mind handling the header for our new product? Because if *I* handle this, I’ll go back and forth with the designer like a billion times and nothing else will get done.”

But this is where I dug a hole for myself.  I said something like “I trust your sense of design more than my own . . . and I’ll be 100% fine with whatever you decide.”

So last night — at like midnight — I start going through the final designs and generally screwing around with this nonsense.  I found a header I really liked and sent her this email:

Tracy, BannerX.jpg . . . this one is so sweet.  Are you OK if we go with that? I still want to try fading to blue on either side, but I REALLY like it.
–Clay

Well, turns out she had already gone back and forth with out designer to finalize ANOTHER banner.

So we’re going to put this to a vote.

And I promised her I’d go with whatever you decide. (And NO, I’m not going to tell you which one my favorite is).

“Fighting Words”

Tracy wrote this morning to say . . .

“I think ‘mine’ knocks ‘yours’ right out of the park! And I really do think you should send out an email and have a vote, because I will then have the entire community backing me up when you’re trying to give your lame-ass opinion on graphics in the future .  Anyway, if mine wins, I expect you to address me as ‘Oh most brilliant one who is always so wise.‘”
–Tracy

Nice.

Ok, so here’s the deal.

I have the aesthetic sensibilities of a bat (and that’s being generous) . . .

. . . so I’ll probably end up losing the bet and having to call her ‘Oh most brilliant one who is always so wise.’

Dammit.

So, I’d be super grateful for your help us sort out this nonsense by telling us (in the comments) which of these two graphics you like better.

So . . . which one most EXCITES you? Header A or header B (let us know in the comments)?

Header A (click on image to see it at full size)

Header B (click on image to see it at full size)

Thanks a ton,

Clay and Tracy

So last week, you — and an overwhelming (in a good way) number of others — completed a survey.

One of the survey questions asked this: “What free product would you LOVE for me to create *just* for you?”

Your responses to that question were insightful, thoughtful, and really made me think.

(Also, two of the responses made me laugh out loud and one of them made me cry . . . although I’d never admit that).

Several responses really moved me and I’m feeling more inspired than I’ve felt in a long time.  In fact, it’s been over a year since I’ve had something significant to say about marketing.  But, since going over your survey responses . . .

. . . I’ve started pouring everything I have into something new

Anyway, I want to steal the product I was creating for you . . . and instead use it as free giveaway content during an upcoming offer (i.e. I’m still tweaking it, perfecting it, making it better).

So it isn’t ready this week.

Here’s how I’m going to make it up to you

I’m going to just GIVE you my $197 course on market selection (which is the first 13 videos in Project Mojave).  This product helps you decide what to sell online.

This is a 13-Video, Value-Laden Course With Hours of Content

Anyway, there are no financial strings attached (there will be no upsells, no shipping costs, no continuity, no “trial periods”, and no sales pitches).

I’m just going to hand over the course to (1) thank you, and (2) make up for releasing the free product behind schedule.

Here’s what’s in the Free Niche Selection course . . .

• How to use market research to get over your fear (of failure, going broke, pain etc.).
• How to eliminate some of the uncertainty involved in starting a business
• A blueprint for testing whether or not your online business idea will likely work before you invest in it.
• Detailed and step-by-step instructions on how to discover profitable markets and niches that others are overlooking (and that can fund your freedom for years).
• How to decide which of your ideas will likely be the MOST profitable and succeed.
• How to find reliable sources of income that don’t monopolize all of your free time.

Here’s how to get it . . .

Just leave a simple comment below telling me how you plan to use the course, and I’ll personally hook you up.

Three things to note:

• If you want this, you must leave a comment on or before next Monday, May 17th
• I’ll be sending everyone the course NEXT Thursday.
• Also (but this is NOT at all required), I’d be really grateful if you got on twitter or facebook and let your people know that I’m giving this away. It would be a nice way to say thank you.

That’s it for now.  The grindstone is calling me (and Tracy is Skype-ing me).

–Clay

I’m sitting in a coffee shop right now . . .

. . . and wondering (hypothetically speaking, of course) if I’m allowed to drink decaf AND say that I’ve quit coffee.

Probably not.

At any rate, the caffeine withdrawal symptoms persist.

Which means that *instead* of getting up at 10AM and getting one thing done per day (like I do on most days), I can get up at 11AM and get HALF a thing done.

Question: How the HELL do I get anything done?*** (Sometimes I wonder how I even get up in the morning, let alone run a 5-person online business).

Anyway, the half-a-thing I’ll get done today is this short post (i.e. the post you’re reading right now).

Here goes . . .

survey results: you spoke loud and clear

So, the other day, I said I’d be making a free thing.  And I sent you a survey to see what you wanted.

You spoke loud and clear.

The response was overwhelming (it took me HOURS to read through your responses)  . . . and I now know exactly what I need to make for you.

Thank you.

And dammit.

I say “thank you” because I’m really grateful for all the time you spent on the responses.  They were insightful, thoughtful, thorough, and really made me think.

But I write “dammit” for two reasons . . .

• First reason: the thing you want has nothing to do with what I wanted to make for you (and I mean NOTHING).
• Second reason: the thing you want is something that requires me to reveal some things about my business in order for you to really “get it.”  And that makes me a little nervous.

so here’s what I’m going to do . . .

If you filled out the survey before this post was published, you WILL get the product I’m making (at no cost). I’m grateful for your input and I’ll personally send it to you.

Everyone else will have the opportunity to download it (again, at no cost), next week, over the course of only a couple of a few days.

Oh yeah, and . . .

Thank you for the Italy advice

Thanks to everyone who gave advance about where to take my mom in Italy.  Apparently Cinque Terre is a great place.  We’re definitely going after she flys here (Minneapolis) from California in November.

Peace,
Clay

***Answer: Tracy

Note: If you can’t see this full post in your RSS reader, click here.

The “Two Percent Rules” internet marketing series reveals the 2% of internet marketing activities that produce 98% of online income.  In this video, I lay down the “Rule of Three” for Content Creation and content marketing . . . which has been responsible for turning $100 blog posts into revenue streams that create thousands.
– Clay Collins

So I got up REALLY early this morning (8AM, which is early for me), made myself some tea (it’s attempt #498 to quit coffee) . . .

. . . and started creating “something” (more about that in a second).

(By the way, Tracy starts to get *really* nervous when I start creating things. Because this usually ends up producing an insane number of daily emails from me; a big-ass task list; another hire; random incomprehensible phone calls; and all-around WEIRD behavior).

Anyway.

That “something” that I started creating this morning *was* going to be a $197 product.

But, since (a) I don’t need the money right now, (b) I HATE HATE HATE writing sales letters, and (C) I really think you need this . . . I’m going to just give this thing away.

At least until I get motivated enough to write a sales letter [CRINGE].

So . . .

Here’s What I Want You To Do

If you support the spirit of this blog and have gained anything from my writing and videos . . .

. . . then I’d really appreciate you giving me an opinion on something.

It will take like 3 minutes.

The first question is: “What free product would you LOVE for me to create *just* for you?”

Anyway, if you wax these questions then the gods of good luck will shower benevolence upon you for all eternity. And you’ll get the product I’m creating (right now) without having to pull out your credit card.

Thanks a ton. I’m grateful.

–Clay