It\u2019s the ultimate paradox:<\/p>\n
I often don\u2019t credit for good things I do while, at the same time, getting credit for doing bad things I didn\u2019t 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:<\/p>\n
Hi Bob,<\/strong><\/p>\n
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”.<\/strong><\/p>\n
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.<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n
Uh-oh.<\/p>\n
Sounds like someone needs to put his manpon back in\u2026 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:<\/p>\n
\u201cThinly\u201d disguised sales pitches?<\/p>\n
Really?<\/p>\n
How much more *thick* can I make them?<\/p>\n
I pitch every single day and make it as obvious as possible.<\/p>\n
Sheesh.<\/p>\n
Anyway, here\u2019s what amuses me most about this:<\/p>\n
I don’t use a lot of profanity, but I get accused of doing it a lot. Plus, \u201cAss\u201d 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\u2019m trying to communicate.<\/p>\n
Proof?<\/p>\n
\u201cEmail Players\u201d subscriber Sean Kaye checked my work.<\/p>\n
His analysis:<\/p>\n
\u201cBen – 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.\u201d<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n
Hm.<\/p>\n
Maybe I should start cussing like a goo-roo fanboy denied a freebie?<\/p>\n
After all, if I\u2019m gonna be cast as the villain, might as well play the part well\u2026<\/p>\n
By the way, speaking of the word \u201cass\u201d:<\/p>\n
In a completely different context (yet, it\u2019s kinda funny how the timing works), the January \u201cEmail Players\u201d 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.<\/p>\n
Yep, one word.<\/p>\n
Used very specifically in your subject lines.<\/p>\n
Can (potentially) put many more dineros in your bank account.<\/p>\n
Deadline to subscribe in time is looming.<\/p>\n
Subscriber here in time while you still can:<\/p>\n