Making God Laugh

Wow.

This poke really spoke to something inside of me, something I’ve always felt for the summer months but never knew how to articulate. Especially “that sense of endless fun.” Seriously, gave me chills.

As for my summer plans, I’m trying for a “perfect mix” of work and play. I celebrated the end of my college semester on 20MAY by going to a Van Halen concert. Nothing says “it’s summertime, baby!” like singing along to “Jump” and “Panama” with 10,000+ people!

Went to a local show last night with this new girl I’ve been hanging out with. It’s a 3 hour drive from here to Philly, but I gotta say, I’ve had some of my deepest and most memorable conversations in cars, on long drives like that.

I’ve got Pearl Jam lined up soon, a couple of baseball games (Mets and Red Sox) and I’m planning an end-of-summer road trip to West Palm Beach. Hopefully, lots of “God damnit, I’m only gonna be 21 once!” fun and partying.

Then there’s work. I’m doing well on a freelance basis, but I’m never happy with the status quo. (I think that’s one of the biggest double-edged swords of ambition, but that’s another story…)

Anyway, once school ended I said to myself, “If I make every day count, I bet I can get some passive income rollin’ in before Fall semester.” Sure enough, I’m gonna be creating my first sales letter/e-course for a client. Ongoing % of the catch and everything. A buddy and I are also gonna launch this “Web 2.0”, community-ish site I dreamed up and see where that goes.

I look at all this time as an opportunity. A chance to cast a few well-baited lines out there and hope something bites one of ’em.

You challenged us to tell stories, so here’s mine:

18 years ago October, I turned my life inside out – my daughter, Ilona, was born. We’ve been very close and gone through so much together. This summer is all about The Big Launch – supporting her as she takes her first steps into adulthood. Am I crying and trying not to let it show? You bet. Fortunately I can lean on other moms going through, or having survived, the same process. The empty nest looms ahead. I’m gearing up my own work that was slowed down when she needed me more as she entered adolescence. It’s a joy and a challenge to refocus myself.

From a hungry, little peanut she’s become an intense, goal-oriented high school junior. Together we’ve been through all the usual phases and some difficult crises, spending a lot of time together when her father and I divorced and later when he unexpectedly died. Fortunately I married a terrific guy who’s become the man in both of our lives. He insists that he’s the Evil Stepfather, but nobody believes that.

In October, we’ll celebrate her 18th birthday. We’ve started planning this early. I expect there will be an all-night party with her close girlfriends playing Apples-to-Apples and scarfing pizza. They even let me play their hyper-ironic version of the word-association game and declared that I’m very good at it and am welcome to join them if I can stay awake that long. For this old writer, it was a proud moment indeed. Nobody does snarkier associations than me! Experience has its benefits.

“Well she’ll have fun fun fun ’till her daddy takes her T-bird away.” Well, she just got her driving license and her step-dad bought her a used car. I don’t see her much anymore, except when she’s too tired to stagger out the door again. This summer she’ll work for one of our clients, doing office work. She’s got some SAT prep tutoring, make-up work for a course she dropped, and she plans to hit the gym, which she had to drop when her junior year work was overwhelming. Of course, the major item will be cruising with her pals. Fortunately they are good kids so I don’t worry about them doing anything outrageous or illegal. She wants to take the car to Maine for an anime convention, but she has to be well-rested or we don’t grant permission. Last time she came home with a $100 black, “goth Lolita” style, flouncy dress. Who knows what this year’s treasure will be? “Goth Lolita” – hah! I’ve become an expert on things I never knew existed…

For us, the Big Launch is happening in phases. Ilona will go to a community college next year and get dual credits for high school and college. It will be really weird when her buddies go back to school for the fall semester and she goes, a week later, to the college. She managed to get courses that start in the afternoon and wind up in the evening with astronomy, a huge change from the ridiculous high school schedule that starts at 7 am.

Vacation? What vacation? Ilona and I will take our Big Road Trip this summer to visit colleges in Philly and Maryland, a 1-week swing from our New Hampshire home. My hubby and I will fly to Nashville for a business coaching conference, with a little time for playing tourist. Living in New Hampshire, summer is the best time to be home. We’re getting the pool ready and joined a so-called “yacht” club (with a “commodore” yet!) on a nearby lake where we will put our sailboat. Last year we got a funky, used, 17 foot sailboat. We’ll go to the club for Wednesday-night cookouts and sneak away to sail anytime we can. I keep inviting relatives to visit, but so far nobody said they’re coming.

So this summer is a time of major adjustment for me, and some easy-going recreation in the pool and on the boat. My biggest challenge is to fully refocus on work now that my car-pooling days are over.

And YOU stay frosty, dude!
Laura

My summer plans:

* Get railings installed on my porch before my homeowners insurance dumps me because of the “hazardous” condition. (When I was a kid, we used to jump off the roof — now you can’t jump off a little porch).

* Launch a new partnership with a big-time internet marketer.

* Spend a week at Bear Lake (on the Utah-Idaho border) with my extended family. Hopefully this time our van won’t throw a rod in the middle of Wyoming — we sure didn’t plan that one!

Trying to finish a huge remodel on my house and watch my youngest graduate from High School.

Sending my middle child to Romania for a mission trip and watching my oldest go off to Iraq with my prayers that he comes home.

Trying to make sense of this internet marketing business and learn how to write copy like John..

Thanks for the good thoughts,
David

Hi John,

Ahhhh…summer fun…

Business-wise, I’m heading to Minnesota next week to shoot some video for viral marketing. Should be cool and I’ll see some of my internet marketing buddies, too. We are going to have fun.

After that I’ll use the rest of June to work on business plans for 2009. I’m kind of a planning freak. And, then there are the ongoing client copywriting projects which are a top priority.

July is my birthday month. I’ll celebrate all month long. Chances are I’ll play in Lewiston with friends, attend some outdoor concerts and road trip over to Montana to breathe fresh air. Again, ongoing client projects are a priority (stuff like ghostwriting blog posts, writing sales copy and press releases – you know fun stuff).

August is going to be a blast. I’ll work remotely while winding my way down the Oregon Coast to Northern California to visit friends and family. Gotta love the 101 scenery.

Of course, during all the travel, I’ll have my lap top. I’ve created a mobile business model by design. Have lap top, will travel and do travel. I love to work and play. They are the same thing aren’t they…

Next up: Argentina (going next Wed. to film a HOT new product)…
Then: Eben’s next shindig (hope to see you there)…

Then, I’m going back to Canada for a month — maybe more.

That’s my “summer thing”. Going back and hanging
out with my best friends of the past. The guys who
chose NOT to leave the comfort of the area for the world…
(And that’s 100% cool — the world vibe is certainly not
for everyone).

That’s my REAL VACATION ZONE. Isn’t that
kind of funny? Going “back home” is vacation?
Well, it is when you live in a wild place like Panama City, Panama.

I honestly, don’t give a rat’s ass if my entire business falls apart
while I’m there. I hope for the best and put everything
in the hands of my able team.

I don’t think there’s a whole lot of better places on the planet
in July and August than Canada. So, I’m PUMPED!
Nothing like reconnecting with the ROOTS.

BTW, a LOT of my lifestyle I owe it to you John!
And I don’t just mean the financial side…
One of the key pieces you communicated WELL
in your newsletters (which I miss) was:
THE VALUE OF MILLER TIME.
Disconnecting from the Matrix…
Recharging…

I’ve taken that to another level lately thanks
to Eben’s “Wake Up Productive” strategies
(which are GENIUS).

Rock on brother,
Matt

P.S. Thanks for the “insider” info this week…
I appreciate it! Please tell Stan to send me
any updates on the other solutions he’s checking out.

Yeah, well…… it is -1.6 degrees outside and big ‘knock-you-out’ size snowflakes have been falling since dawn. Puts a whole new meaning on ‘Staying Frosty’. Summer seems a loooooooong way down the track, but the snow has taken all the hard edges off the world outside, silently, softly…. the fire is going and the dog is asleep on my feet. Life is good.

(I’m going on a wee adventure in Alaska next month, a mini break to recharge the solar batteries… gonna see what you northern hemisphere people are really doing with your summer!).

Hey, Dubai is the most INTERESTING place to visit – you’re gonna love the eclectic eccentricity… from the worlds tallest building to the camels on the beach!! Make sure you have time to explore.

PS. The Milky Way is ours you know, it’s attached to the Southern Cross… we just lend it to you guys every day!

Howdy John,

Here in the beautiful foothills of Carolina, summertime is showing its face. During the past week, we’d had 90+ temperatures. Now you spinkle in some humidity and BAM– it feels like dog days!

I love it!

As far as summer plans are concerned it’s Little League games for the next several weeks. Maybe more if my 9 year old son’s team keeps winning. So far they’re undefeated. Good stuff!

Then it is off to the beautiful Outer Banks of NC to watch the sea dance and the waves tease us all.

Like watching Little League games, it’s exciting seeing the kids (and grownups) try to harmonize with Mother Nature as she doles fun and excitement, salt spray and unpredicable patterns of wonder.

Recently I scored a vintage set of Ludwigs so I plan on rounding up the old bandmates from the past and attempt to make some noise.

Hopefully this noise will resemble some classic rock tunes from my “glory days” when our dance card was filled with steady gigs.

And lastly I plan on hanging out my copywriting shingle. I’ve been toying with this idea for years and actually coming dangeously close a time or two.

Now it’s time to get serious with the plan.

John, I completely agree with your last post about learning the craft cold, being honest and fair to your clients.

As a matter of fact that’s been part of my problem. I never thought I was prepared enough to offer my services as a direct response copywriter.

After literally years of studying from the greats, writing out proven copy by hand, trying to make the rules stick it’s time to put into ACTION what I’ve learned.

Education without action is next to worthlessness in my opinion.

Lisa Manyon’s post really resignated with me. Undersell and overdeliver is her UPS and well as all the A Level writers. They all add more value to their clients than they take. And that’s my mission.

All of you guys have given me the confidence needed to crank my dream into reality and I THANK you all–especially you John!

and helped me get a game plan of how to approach this crazy business.

Stay cool and live life deep,

Emette

Plans give me anxiety.

I have a hard time even agreeing to a dinner date next week. “Ask me the morning of, or the day before” I’ll reply to anyone who asks me to make plans.

Also, I can’t predict what the waves are going to be like. And my plans usually revolve around whether or not I’m surfing.

My plans for the summer are simple.

1. Ride some waves.
2. Hang out with my surfer buddies.
3. Spend time with the girlfriend.
4. Drink tasty beverages.
5. Play with my dog.
6. Attempt to work a wee bit more (if that’s even remotely possible).

I also don’t really like to travel. It freaks me out. So I turn down almost all invites for seminars, speaking gigs, and vacations.

But on a rare occasion, I’ll make a impulsive decision and venture out of my comfort zone. However, I can’t plan that sort of stuff. It just sorta happens.

Jmo

Hello World!

I am 62 and am at peace with myself. I ride my bicycle for several hours daily, eat great quality food which we cook at home, read books of interest, write a travel blog, keep a journal, play golf with old friends and conduct a real estate business from my home. I accept only customers that are reasonable and others I refer to Caldwell Banker or Century 21 or some such agent factory. Every once in a while I’m fooled by a client who uses and abuses my goodwill and good nature. At that time I do what I call “A Ratzo Rizzo”. I pound to the hood of the taxi and make sure they are jolted to the fact that I am a person and will not subject myself to their abuse for the possibility of a future buck(not Joe Buck).

This summer, in addition to all other activities, I’ll complete my rose and herb garden. So far I’ve planted about forty beautiful roses and many varieties of herbs. My favorite rose is Mr. Lincoln with wonderful scent and velvety deep red color.
And….drink some good Chianti, too!

My trave blog is http://www.thecyclingtuscan.com

Buona Fortuna,

Luciano