From LP re a common marketing idea that rarely works: 

“I had the opportunity to read an essay in which you discussed how to earn extra money by taking surveys. Do you have it available?”

My Response: I don’t remember writing about that exactly, and neither does my editor, so I can’t link you to it. Perhaps it was a speech or a paragraph that was part of a larger essay that was filed under a different topic?

That said, I’m guessing you are referring to a direct-marketing strategy that has been used in the past and gotten fantastic results. But it’s not without risk. And it must be done correctly (from a copy perspective). But when it works, it can work very well.

What you do is publish in a periodical or send out to a list (email or snail mail) a questionnaire on a topic that relates to your product. The people that answer the questionnaire, regardless of their answers, are prime candidates for receiving a second, more direct advertisement.

It’s an expensive way to build a prospect list because it begins with a survey that asks for nothing but answers in return. But because it is not asking for dollars, you can sometimes get a very high response rate. And that can translate into a dollar return on the second effort that more than pays for the costs of the first.

AS re “Famous Last Words” – one of the “Quick Bites” in the July 30 issue:

“You left out two of my favorites: Johnny Carson’s ‘I’ll be back, right after this announcement’ and ‘I knew this was going to happen.’ (Don’t know who was responsible for that last one.)”

My Response: I should have remembered “I knew this was going to happen.” That could be the best of them all!

From AC re my books on marketing: 

“I am a college student who wants to break into marketing and advertising, and I am a huge fan of your books. I’ve read five of them. My absolute favorite is Great Leads.”

Editor’s Note: Readers of this blog can order most of Mark’s books – including Great Leads – at a discounted price. Click here.

From RS re “Lessons Learned” in the July 19 issue: 

“Happy to report that I’ve been doing my shoelaces right. What unnerved me about the video is that he holds his first loop in his right hand instead of his left, so maybe he’s left-handed?”

My Response: Good question. As a right-hander, it took me a few weeks to adjust my coordination to tie the new knot. It was worth the effort.

From PN:

“I just read Ralph Waldo Emerson’s definition of success: ‘To laugh often and much; to win the respect of the intelligent people and the affection of children; to earn the appreciation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends; to appreciate beauty; to find the best in others; to leave the world a bit better whether by a healthy child, a garden patch, or a redeemed social condition; to know even one life has breathed easier because you lived here. This is to have succeeded.’

“As I read this, I thought that you check all of the boxes. I am certain Ralph would agree.”

From GM re my posts on election fraud and voter interference: 

“Over the past year or so, when I am engaged in discussions about this very subject and its impact on the 2020 election, I find people very quick to dismiss voter fraud as small in number and insignificant. I no longer play that game since, no matter what you present (as you have), it is always pooh-poohed. So, instead, I point to the largest case of election interference I believe history has ever seen. That being the concealment of Hunter Biden’s laptop by the FBI! Poll after poll has shown that upwards of 17% of voters would have voted differently had they known of the legitimacy of the laptop contents and its damning evidence of wrongdoing by the Biden family. Now we know that the FBI had the laptop info in their sweaty hands for at least two years before the election but STILL warned the social-media companies to ignore it and cancel all posts about it since ‘it had all the signs’ of Russian interference in our sacred election process. Yep, they threw the 2020 election… full stop.”

Re the thoughts I’ve been sharing about my trip to Japan:

“Regarding your speech in Tokyo, thanks for being humble and showing vulnerability. Many years ago, I thought that having anxiety for public speaking only happened to me. I remember when Tony Robbins made a difference between those who are paralyzed by anxiety and those who are not paralyzed. The first  say to themselves ‘I can’t’ and the second say ‘I’m ready.’ Good luck Mark, you are more than ready.” – CS

“I really enjoyed your piece about the many ways Japanese culture is superior to ours. You will alienate quite a few people because you wrote it so convincingly. Jingoism is a trait of many Americans.

“It’s true, Japanese are more consistent in their behavior. And it’s not a wealth or class thing. Those habits are practiced by families of all incomes. In many ways they are more civilized than Americans, but of course I’ll never forget how they treated the Allies in prison camps during WWII.” – AS

From GB: “Thought you’d find this interesting.”

“Illustrated Hints for Health and Strength for Busy People – an old-time strongman’s 15-minute morning routine – published by the author in 1901. Check it out here.”

My Response: Thanks, GB! I thought it was great. I normally work out hard for at least an hour a day, six days a week. But whenever possible, I like to add a second, 15-minute routine to complement the main workout and to restore my energy. Interestingly, my routine has many of the same elements as his. I’m going to give it a try.

From SL re the cover band for The Grateful Dead playing at Sphere in Las Vegas: 

“Tangential to today’s update,” SL wrote (referring to the music videos mentioned in the June 3 issue), “but thought you might like this piece from Bob Lefsetz.”

It certainly was tangential. In fact, it had nothing to do with the issue. But I’ve heard of Sphere and found the article interesting. Click here.

From AS re my weight-loss exploits:

“Reading about this was so painful. Probably because I have my own experiences, which are also filled with failure.

“It’s an everyday, every moment attack on our self-image. I’m eating a piece of cheese right now and I feel as guilty as I would if I robbed a man.”

From BO: “I Challenge You!” 

“Tying your column about people with habits who rarely change and your most recent regarding weight gain, might I suggest looking into keto/carnivore? It might be the change you need. On paper, it’s simple: Forgo all carbs, sugars, and alcohol; eat meat. Reality is sometimes tougher. Well, it’s about as tough as you make your mind up it’ll be.

“The results of carnivore converts, influencers, and doctors on the web are stunning. But start learning with Mikhaila Peterson and see her story. Truly inspiring. I (M, 58 yrs, 5’10”) lost 25 pounds in two months. And when I lose five more, I’ll be the weight I clocked in when I married 30 years ago. I challenge you to change your eating and drinking habits. You’re strong-willed. I am confident you can do it.”

My Response: Thanks for the suggestion. Thirty years ago, I became familiar with the keto thesis when I was publishing Dr Atkins’ newsletter. He was excoriated for his ideas then (particularly by Oprah who lost weight on it but then gained it back after going off it and then blamed it on him), but I think he was fundamentally right. It’s definitely on my list.

From CA: “How a simple fix could double the size of the US electricity grid” 

“This looks like an important article,” writes CA, “and maybe the kind of subject you sometimes like to include in your blogs. It’s another example of how government and subsidized industries somehow figure out how to approach problems in the least efficient way. But at least this article explains the easy solution.”

From BW, FD, & MM re “Learning How to Forgive Yourself” in the May 28 issue: 

* “Your ideas on forgiving yourself were very good and came at a perfect time in my life. Thank you!” – FD

* “What a great message!” – BW

* “I’m pretty sure you got those ideas from me – from what I’ve been telling you about my experience with meditation.” – MM

On COVID Lies and Failures 

GM sent in an essay by Alex Berenson titled “Team Apocalypse will not quit.” It starts like this:

“The fact that public health bureaucrats and their pet science reporters are still lying about their COVID failures is maddening. But the fact they keep pressing for more ‘pandemic preparedness’ and risky and hyper-fast vaccine development is not merely maddening. It’s dangerous.”

Read more here.

Conspiracy Theory? 

From BW re my speculations in the May 3 issue about Taylor Swift’s remarkable success: 

“She sold her soul to the devil. She is a demon, possibly reptilian. Heard this a while back along with a couple other pop/rap artists that seemed to come out of nowhere. Rumor has it these others have straight-up claimed it.

“Not sayin’ I believe this – but, hell, ya never know…”

Re my May 9 Special Issue on “Antisemitism vs. Free Speech and Peaceful Assembly” 

“Everything you said is right. Students and professors and non-students should not be able to shut down a public university by threats and intimidation. How do we protect the rights of the non-protestors? And what right does a university president have to negotiate with people calling for murder?” – BS

“I understand your point. Free speech doesn’t have to be the issue. Most of what’s going on can be responded to by the simple issue of property rights. You can say what you want, but you don’t have the right to take control of my property or inhibit my use of my property. When college campuses are the owners of the property, students are basically given an easement to use the campus property, but the easement has limits. Not blocking others’ ability to use the property is one of the limitations. Violating that limitation makes the user a trespasser. Colleges can feel free to remove trespassers, just as any property owner could. That being said, I think we should begin a national discussion on hate speech laws. The last I looked there were 29 countries that have enacted them, including Australia, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, India, South Africa, Sweden, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom.

“These countries seem to operate just fine, despite some limitations on what their populations can say and do, to the benefit of all the members of these societies who are or would be the victims of hate speech. Have we in the US gone overboard in trying to protect the rights of our citizens to say nasty things? To what and whose benefit? And to whose detriment? What would the real risks vs. rewards be in adopting some hate speech laws in the US? Remember the Declaration of Independence and the right to the ‘pursuit of happiness.’ Would we have a better country if we put more emphasis on that pursuit and less on the right to speak hateful words?” – CA

“The problem with hate speech laws is in the interpretation of what constitutes ‘hate speech.’ In Germany in particular, dissenting opinions are being construed as hate speech and are being silenced. So much for Freedom of Speech! We have seen similar interpretations here in the USA.” – NW

From TM re my essay on Biden’s re-election strategy in the May 17  issue: 
“Why on earth are you suggesting how the Democrats could secure the White House in 2024? Is it because you think in pointing out this lunacy you feel it shows up the idiots they are?

“The only reason Trump lost in 2020 was because the SCOTUS put abortion on the ballot. Oh, and some minor election cheating, of course.

“Gavin Newsom is a fascist boob as proven by the total mess in California. How can you suggest that the man who helped destroy our largest state has any business in the White House. Sure, the sheep can be fooled into voting for him, but electability is not the main criteria of the job! Not only is he not qualified for the job, he is the most radical of leftists more interested in appearances and feelings than in fiscal policy and responsibility to protect our freedoms.

“You would really trust this [guy] to run any of your businesses? Elected by the same sheep that gave us Maxine, Kamala, Nadler, Boxer, Schiff, Pelosi, Feinstein, and perhaps 10 to 20 other clowns?

“I rest my case. The financial, political, and ethical values of the above and their cronies and backers will destroy this nation and possibly the world.”

From G re Big Pharma’s control of the market:

“Is there any doubt that Big Pharma controls many of the decisions made in this country? Total immunity from legal actions associated with faulty vaccines isn’t enough. The FDA approved a generic in 2019 for the drug Eliquis. An Eliquis three-month supply is over $1,800 and is one of the most common drugs prescribed to tens of millions of patients in the US. However, you can buy the generic in Canada for a mere fraction of the cost! And here you thought our government was looking out for you. Just pay your taxes, shut up and sit down.

“When will generic Eliquis be available in the US? According to the manufacturers, generics will not be able to hit the market any earlier than April 1, 2028. Watch it get extended. They won’t allow this cash cow to get away.

“In a normally functioning society this would not be tolerated. But then, this is not where we are today.

“End of rant.”