It’s the ultimate paradox:
I often don’t credit for good things I do while, at the same time, getting credit for doing bad things I didn’t do. Take, for example, last week when one of my favorite copywriters Bob Bly sent me some feedback he got after he endorsed signing up to my free daily emails to his list:
Hi Bob,
I have been a subscriber of yours for years and have tremendous respect for you as an individual and a professional copywriter. I like that you are a bit “old school” and work to keep things professional. Recently you endorsed Ben Settle and I signed up for his newsletter. I have now unsubscribed from his newsletter after hearing such things as “pussification” and “my azz is his”.
After receiving his emails for a few weeks – which are arrogant at best and at worst are thinly disguised sales pitches for his monthly program, I am shocked you would endorse him or want your name and/or reputation associated with him.
Uh-oh.
Sounds like someone needs to put his manpon back in… And hey, since being offended and butthurt is all the rage these days, allow me to me air one of my petty little Festivius grievances about something he unfairly said:
“Thinly” disguised sales pitches?
Really?
How much more *thick* can I make them?
I pitch every single day and make it as obvious as possible.
Sheesh.
Anyway, here’s what amuses me most about this:
I don’t use a lot of profanity, but I get accused of doing it a lot. Plus, “Ass” can hardly even be counted as profanity anymore, and I avoid words that will trigger spam filters anyway, except to make a point, am quoting someone else, or simply can’t avoid it without losing the meaning of what I’m trying to communicate.
Proof?
“Email Players” subscriber Sean Kaye checked my work.
His analysis:
“Ben – it’s actually pretty interesting. I just went back and re-read a few of your emails and other than the word “ass”, I couldn’t find anything. I do recall vaguely from one of the early podcast episodes (when they were an hour long) you dropped a naughty word into the conversation. It’s an interesting phenomenon. You’re pretty direct and to the point and maybe because swearing is pretty normal now, there’s a subconscious association. I have to admit, it’s pretty weird – I had you as a bit of a potty mouth in the back of my mind, but then when you go back and look, to Jodi’s point, you’re not.”
Hm.
Maybe I should start cussing like a goo-roo fanboy denied a freebie?
After all, if I’m gonna be cast as the villain, might as well play the part well…
By the way, speaking of the word “ass”:
In a completely different context (yet, it’s kinda funny how the timing works), the January “Email Players” issue shows you how to use this wicked little word (that has the mush cookies roaming the streets weeping & gnashing their teeth) into many more rupees in your hot little pocketeses.
Yep, one word.
Used very specifically in your subject lines.
Can (potentially) put many more dineros in your bank account.
Deadline to subscribe in time is looming.
Subscriber here in time while you still can:
Ben Settle
