Comments on: Your Own Private Chemical Dump http://www.john-carlton.com/2005/03/14/your_own_privat/ insight, tactics, advice and mutterings on copywriting, marketing and living life deep... from the most ripped-off world-class ad writer alive... Thu, 04 Dec 2008 03:04:45 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.2 By: Ben Settle http://www.john-carlton.com/2005/03/14/your_own_privat/#comment-71 Ben Settle Tue, 22 Mar 2005 02:38:43 +0000 http://www.john-carlton.com/2005/03/14/your_own_privat/#comment-71 Thanks John, the other day my brain was completely focused on a piece of copy I was working on, and I was just kind of sitting there staring at the corner while my wife, Mrs. Settle, was nagging at me about something. She thought I was simply ignoring her (I guess in a way, I was) and all I could do is spout off some dribble about creating headlines or something. But I've just showed her your post and now whenever she nags at me, or bores me with pointless conversation - whether I'm thinking about copy or not - all I gotta do is say "I'm working on copy" and she'll understand why I'm "ignoring" her (and hopefully be quiet). I suppose the real test will be if I can get away with this while watching the football game with a beer in my hand. "Honey, when are you going to take the garbage out?" "shut up! I'm working on a headline." We'll see... Thanks John, the other day my brain was completely focused on a piece of copy I was working on, and I was just kind of sitting there staring at the corner while my wife, Mrs. Settle, was nagging at me about something.

She thought I was simply ignoring her (I guess in a way, I was) and all I could do is spout off some dribble about creating headlines or something.

But I’ve just showed her your post and now whenever she nags at me, or bores me with pointless conversation - whether I’m thinking about copy or not - all I gotta do is say “I’m working on copy” and she’ll understand why I’m “ignoring” her (and hopefully be quiet).

I suppose the real test will be if I can get away with this while watching the football game with a beer in my hand. “Honey, when are you going to take the garbage out?” “shut up! I’m working on a headline.”

We’ll see…

]]> By: Vic Kally http://www.john-carlton.com/2005/03/14/your_own_privat/#comment-66 Vic Kally Thu, 17 Mar 2005 07:53:51 +0000 http://www.john-carlton.com/2005/03/14/your_own_privat/#comment-66 HAHA It would be great being a fly on the wall and listening in on a brain stormin' session with John and Gary writing some headlines for the "Lords of Detroit." I can only imagine how wild it would get..."Amazing Story Of A 90 Year Old One-Legged Man Who Enters A Drifting Contest, In Bismarck, North Dakota, During The Dead Of Winter And Wins By Driving His Brand New 2006 Chevrolet Corvette Convertible With The Top Down... And Is So Thrilled That He Thinks He Peed In His Pants, Until He's Told It Was Just The Heated Seats That Gave Him That Feeling." HAHA It would be great being a fly on the wall and listening in on a brain stormin’ session with John and Gary writing some headlines for the “Lords of Detroit.” I can only imagine how wild it would get…”Amazing Story Of A 90 Year Old One-Legged Man Who Enters A Drifting Contest, In Bismarck, North Dakota, During The Dead Of Winter And Wins By Driving His Brand New 2006 Chevrolet Corvette Convertible With The Top Down… And Is So Thrilled That He Thinks He Peed In His Pants, Until He’s Told It Was Just The Heated Seats That Gave Him That Feeling.”

]]> By: John Thomas http://www.john-carlton.com/2005/03/14/your_own_privat/#comment-65 John Thomas Thu, 17 Mar 2005 02:49:54 +0000 http://www.john-carlton.com/2005/03/14/your_own_privat/#comment-65 I'm finding the routine thing to be so true in my writing and productivity. I first heard it on a Dan Kennedy tape set (Brass Balls), and, I guess, it just took a while to sink in, but I'm working with it and, so far, I'm oscillating between two peak times for performance (one preferred, and one, at least for the moment, more practical for present schedule). I get so much more done when I work in one of those times than any other time of the day, that it feels ludicrous to have to work around someone else's (i.e. non-family) demanded schedule. So I'm changing that, too. I’m finding the routine thing to be so true in my writing and productivity.

I first heard it on a Dan Kennedy tape set (Brass Balls), and, I guess, it just took a while to sink in, but I’m working with it and, so far, I’m oscillating between two peak times for performance (one preferred, and one, at least for the moment, more practical for present schedule).

I get so much more done when I work in one of those times than any other time of the day, that it feels ludicrous to have to work around someone else’s (i.e. non-family) demanded schedule.

So I’m changing that, too.

]]> By: Kevin Francis http://www.john-carlton.com/2005/03/14/your_own_privat/#comment-64 Kevin Francis Wed, 16 Mar 2005 18:06:08 +0000 http://www.john-carlton.com/2005/03/14/your_own_privat/#comment-64 John, Thanks for a great post. Your "No BS" telling it how it is for top writers such as yourself is very valuable for the rest of us. Too often, it's tempting to look for some sort of "magic pill" rather than facing up to the reality of what it takes to be successful. Similar point to "The War of Art" but you make the point in a fewer words! Re Andy's point about Motown, given the mess GM et al are in, I'm staggered than someone hasn't decided to try out your approach. I mean, why not take the absolute worst performing business and let you guys do something with it? What have they got to lose? And if you succeed, the guy who took the chance would be a hero. Goes back to the old "People would prefer to fail in a conventional way rather than succeed in a non-conventional way". Sad comment on the state of corporate America. John,

Thanks for a great post. Your “No BS” telling it how it is for top writers such as yourself is very valuable for the rest of us. Too often, it’s tempting to look for some sort of “magic pill” rather than facing up to the reality of what it takes to be successful.

Similar point to “The War of Art” but you make the point in a fewer words!

Re Andy’s point about Motown, given the mess GM et al are in, I’m staggered than someone hasn’t decided to try out your approach. I mean, why not take the absolute worst performing business and let you guys do something with it? What have they got to lose? And if you succeed, the guy who took the chance would be a hero.

Goes back to the old “People would prefer to fail in a conventional way rather than succeed in a non-conventional way”. Sad comment on the state of corporate America.

]]> By: Andy Havens http://www.john-carlton.com/2005/03/14/your_own_privat/#comment-62 Andy Havens Tue, 15 Mar 2005 19:56:57 +0000 http://www.john-carlton.com/2005/03/14/your_own_privat/#comment-62 Hi John, Thanks for that. I really needed it. After spending yesterday catching up on your blog something came to me last night about one of your entries. You said you and Gary Halbert could sell piles of cars if the automakers could pull their heads out of Mad Ave. If you and Gary really want the Lords of Detroit to come begging for you do jump start their marketing - there is a way. Please email me if you'd like details on who to contact. This guy has the smarts to jump at the chance and the ability to sell it to the "right" people. Andy Hi John,

Thanks for that. I really needed it.

After spending yesterday catching up on your blog something came to me last night about one of your entries. You said you and Gary Halbert could sell piles of cars if the automakers could pull their heads out of Mad Ave.

If you and Gary really want the Lords of Detroit to come begging for you do jump start their marketing - there is a way.

Please email me if you’d like details on who to contact. This guy has the smarts to jump at the chance and the ability to sell it to the “right” people.

Andy

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