Crisis and Opportunity
Time to clamber into our trusty time machines and to jump eighteen months into the future – to September 17, 2009.
In his first eight months in office, President Barack Hussein Obama Jr. is presiding over the greatest economic, financial and social catastrophe in U.S. history.
But it’s not his fault. Not entirely, anyway …
As he and his spinmeisters incessantly point out, the credit meltdown that caused this mess was his predecessor’s doing.
Sure – the Obama/Rangel/Kennedy tax increases on “the rich” (everyone making more than $100,000 a year) and their talk of doubling of the capital gains tax crashed the stock market and triggered the greatest explosion in unemployment since the Great Depression.
And yes, the Keynesian economic advisors who assured him he could print all the money he wanted – use counterfeit paper dollars to pay the government’s bills and to bail out failing banks and other corporations – were idiots. The fact that it now takes a wheelbarrow full of paper dollars to buy a loaf of bread makes that little factoid as plain as the nose on your face.
But it was “those dirty Republicans” who created the real estate bubble and credit crisis with their historically low interest rates and their failure to regulate abusive lending practices.
And so, with his right hand on a stack of Bibles and his left hand to God, President Obama is about to go on TV to swear – once again – that his next volley of equally idiotic economic measures really will solve the crisis once and for all.
Of course, stupid people will believe him. But not you. Because you know better.
You know that government doesn’t solve problems; it creates them. You know that nobody in Washington really gives a flying fig whether you get rich or starve. You know that if anybody is going to improve your lot in life, it’ll have to be you.
And most of all, you know that every crisis spins off more opportunities than an F-6 tornado spins off cows.
And now, with millions fearing they’ll be the next to lose their jobs … with millions more on unemployment … with millions more simply giving up on ever again finding gainful employment … and with the purchasing power of what little money folks have left going up in smoke …
You, my friend, are making money hand over fist.
Because ‘way back on March 17, 2008, you read an article in The Total Package that suggested that at a time like this, smart people may hope for the best … but they prepare for the worst.
And while your competitors were burying their heads in the sand, you were using your head to a much better purpose: To think ahead.
So were thousands of other smart people who read that article.
Copywriters were carefully targeting the kinds of clients that tend to do very, very well in times like these: Companies that sell gold and silver coins and bullion … companies that purchase distressed personal property and re-sell it at a tidy profit … companies that help unemployed people make a good living working for themselves.
And business owners were taking a long hard look at their product lines … their prices … their offers … and making strategic changes designed to stand them in good stead even if the worst scenario – a recession and scorching inflation – became reality.
Back from the future
So here we are, back to March 17, 2008. Wow … was that some whirlwind trip, or what?
A flight of fantasy? A Chicken Little, sky-is-falling, worst case scenario?
Sure. Maybe. Whatever.
But think about this: Less than one year ago – in May of 2007 – the chief of the US Federal Reserve told the world that the subprime crisis would be contained. It would not reach beyond the lowest end of the real estate market and a handful of lenders.
Last Friday, that same Fed chairman – Ben S. Bernanke – announced he would create 200 billion dollars out of thin air to lend to troubled banks this month alone, including a $30 billion bail-out of Bear Sterns – one of America’s largest and most venerable financial institutions.
On Sunday, he slashed the discount rate, making it cheaper for banks to borrow money to stay afloat. And tomorrow, he’s set to cut the Fed Funds rate by (some say) between three-quarters of one percent and a full percentage point.
Why? Because this crisis is far more dangerous than anyone in Washington is willing to admit.
The simple truth is assurances and calls for calm by Bush, Bernanke and most of Wall Street’s talking heads have been 100% wrong. And there can only be one of two explanations for their staggering inaccuracy: Either they are too ignorant and incompetent to see the reality of this situation or they are fully aware and lying their asses off.
An obscure, academic, meaningless distinction?
No way. Investors who believed the politicians and bureaucrats and held on to their Bear Sterns stock lost 90% of their money in the past seven days.
Meanwhile, investors who ignored Washington’s buffoons and dissemblers … who bet that everything politicians and bureaucrats said was drivel … and who bought gold, silver and other things that have intrinsic value … have doubled, tripled, even quadrupled their money.
What’s that you say? You’re not an investor? You’re a copywriter?
Fine – so let me ask you: Who would you rather be right now: A copywriter whose major client is a coin and bullion company doing a land office business as investors rush to protect their money from inflation? Or one who until recently was making a killing writing those TV spots for Countrywide Financial?
Dumb question – right?
Huh? What? You’re not a copywriter either? You’re an entrepreneur? A business owner? OK – so what’s going to happen to you as the recession that has already bankrupted hundreds of real estate developers … construction companies … lenders … and that is now driving consumer confidence down to its lowest levels ever … comes to YOUR doorstep?
Wouldn’t calling a meeting to brainstorm a raft of new products specifically designed to make you richer than Midas in this new environment make a heckuva lot of sense right now? Or failing that, finding a “greater fool” to take your company off your hands while it’s still worth something?
Just thinkin’ here …
Yours for Bigger Winners, More Often,
Clayton Makepeace
Publisher & Editor
THE TOTAL PACKAGE™
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42 Comments »
Join the Discussion!
Let us know what you think. Or ask us anything. Or offer your own sage advice.
The only rule: RESPECT THIS HOUSE! Postings that contain abusive language and/or personal attacks will be cheerfully VAPORIZED. One cross word and – POOF! – your well-thought-out post will be gone in a puff of smoke.
– Clayton
Comment by Larry Foster — March 17, 2008 @ 2:21 pm
Chinese curse. "May you live in interesting times."
It sure looks like we’re in for a ride.
My parents lived through the Great Depression and you wouldn’t believe how many times I heard about it when I was a kid in the 1950’s.
Of course, I knew they didn’t know what they were talking about. It could never happen again.Until now.History doesn’t repeat itself but only morons don’t learn the lessons.And we have been run by morons. Both sides, whether they have a D or an R with their affiliation.I see many parallels with the end of the Roman Empire.We have opened our borders and bring in a whole pile of people to do what we no longer are willing to do and pay people to be non-productive slugs.We give them bread and circuses and promise more just so they don’t stir things up.We have our own Huns attacking us at the edges in the terrorists.We have outsourced our jobs to our enemies. Sorry, but China isn’t our friend.It’s every man for himself as we look to not only survive, but prosper.
Keep the rants coming, Clayton.
People need to talk about this and you are offering us solutions.
Thank you.
Larry Foster
Comment by Leon Altman — March 17, 2008 @ 2:25 pm
"Or one who until recently was making a killing writing those TV spots for Countrywide Financial? "
Well, not TV and not a killing, but I did write direct mail and email for Countrywide (no more).
Anyway, did Obama really say something about doubling the capital gains tax?Would really like to know if this is true.
Comment by Hugh Simpson — March 17, 2008 @ 2:46 pm
Right on, Clayton! I’m a former consumer investigative reporter for Post Newsweek Tv from the late 60s that woke up to the BS the media was feeding us in 1990. I joined the Libertarian Party and in 1999 I became a SURVIVAL consultant to peopple for the potential Y2K melt down. Well we know that was a yawn however as I told Fox, CNN, Art Bell etc. it was a WAKE UP call to future events. Of course the "sheeple" of America went right back to being contented with Big Brother taking care of them!
Not me. I moved to western North Carolina, Franklin, NC, where I use to vacation as a child and have ZERO plans for going back to Atlanta where I owned a public REALations firm as I like to call it.
I began writing for Buzzle.com as one of their expert writers on a series over 6 MONTHS ago on the coming Realty Meltdown 2007 long before my former colleagues even mentioned a RECESSION! I told the readers that anyone with one class of Economics 101 could see the handwriting on the wall!
I write a blog now that is getting HUGE attention at Squidoo at http://survivaloftheprepared.blogspot.com where I like you believe we are headed for even worse that a recession.
Love to talk more about this.
Comment by Digital Info Diva — March 17, 2008 @ 2:46 pm
….and those brand spanking new small business owners on the Internet that don’t understand the value of providing superior customer service and customer support will lose even more.
If ever there was a time to treat your customers right, it’s now - before it’s too late!
Comment by John Scola — March 17, 2008 @ 2:52 pm
You hit the nail on the head again Clayton.
In fact, I would say you said it better than anyone else I have read or talked to so far.
As soon as I heard about the J.P. Morgan/Fed Reserve buyout of Bear Sterns, I started thinking of bank runs. It has never happened in my lifetime (I think).
And it has never happened to most people living today.
And nobody seems to be seriously worried about the events over the weekend.
And those of us lucky to already have bullion/gold coins in our bank vaults, guess what? It isn’t as safe as you think!
The Feds can and could confiscate gold again. How many of you knew that private gold ownership was banned from 1930s to 1975?
You might want to think about digging a hole at midnight and burying the hoard. Just don’t lose the map!
Or paint your bullion block of gold the color of lead and use it as a door stop (true story by the way).
In short, the combination of ex-banker Alan Greenspan, the current President that is clueless with budgets, and the possible election of a out-and-out socialist is a disaster of epic proportions.
Maybe I’ll just hole up in my bomb shelter for a few years…
Comment by Douglas Newberry — March 17, 2008 @ 3:04 pm
Hi Clayton…
It’s really good to hear another voice making sense in the current market conditions. People should also know that times like these create huge opportunities in inverse ETFs which will allow you to "go short" even in a 401k or IRA.
You can "short" the DOW by buying DOG long, you could short the NASDAQ100 by buying PSQ, to short the S&P500 buy SH and with the Russell RWM.
You can also leverage positions like these with "Double Inverse ETFs" Some to consider would be QID, DXD, SDS, and TWM.
Double inverse is very interesting because if the DOW goes down 10%, the DXD will go up 20%. Not a bad place to be if things really go south on us.
Imagine this… at this writing the double inverse ETFs are way up for the year QID up 46%, DXD up 18%, SDS up 28% and TWM up 32%.
These are great trading vehicles for small investors because they trade just like a stock and you can now make money when the markets fall, just like the big boys. (even in your IRA and 401k)
Cheers,
Doug Newberry
Comment by Allen — March 17, 2008 @ 3:08 pm
Let’s get a little Machiavellian for a moment here.
What happens when there is a lot of worry and fiscal crisis?
What happens when those in power (the government D, R, I –independents) are at a standstill?
Things going from bad to worse. Even the trains can’t run on time….
It leads to "What this country needs is a dictatorship"
That’s how Hitler came to power.
Huge financial mess. The government they had in Germany at the time was extremely weak, and had no balls. So a great talker, who fully understood the value of propaganda and how to use it, was able to create enough fear to gt elected.
Then out of his hands came the Nazi instigated destruction of their capitol building. Blamed on radicals and communists.
"Give me absolute power and I will restore law and order."
Students in USA schools are now taught "Obey your orders. Do not question authority."
"Ya, I vas a guard at a concentration camp, but I vas joost obeying der orders."
If a child in school asks too many questions, and questions authority, the child is labeled "Hyperactive" and gets subdued with medication.
Dictatorship here we come…
What else helped Hitler get to power?
He used the outside threats – communism (Hitler and the NAZI’s were Socialist which is different than communist) to scare people.
He promised everything to everyone in order to get elected.
Punish the rich, they are making money off your hard labor. Tax them heavy.
Punish the Jews – they are stealing all the wealth.
Punish the factory owner – he doesn’t care about you, he only cares about himself.
Sound familiar?
And if you don’t believe this is true, you can look it up in the books of the times. In the old newspaper reports of the 1930’s.
Remember, out of financial chaos usually comes dictatorship.
Best thing, open an offshore corporation that bills your clients, and pays you a salary. Ride the storm out that way. Otherwise, if you are too successful, the masses and government believe either
1. You cheated and therefore don’t deserve the money. Or
2. You just got lucky and don’t deserve the money.
Just my thoughts.
Comment by Tommy — March 17, 2008 @ 3:18 pm
Clayton
As a king rules a kingdom, I wonder who rules a country?
It is said that a fool and his money are easily parted. Strange that these rulers of countries seem to think that the taxpayers’ money is there to cater to their own whims and fancies, and can be used as their own private piggy bank.
They know they have max two terms in power(in the west, not Africa), so who cares what happens after they are done. Their own nests are feathered and cosy.
And us mere mortals are concerned about not going to hell. The politicians look forward to it, because all their politician friends will be there as well. They will not be welcome anywhere else.
Seriously, though, if people had been reading and taking in what you have said for these past few years, they would have been better off now. The only way to get really independent of this lot of woes is not to have debt, keep your overheads low and be self employed. You, Troy White and all the others have been saying basically this all along, and all who have listened sleep just that little better at night.
Sell the shovels, tents and food in a gold rush, don’t do the digging!
Thanks for it all. Keep it coming and rant on. We love it!!! Clayton for Prez.(not ruler)
Comment by Swans Paul — March 17, 2008 @ 3:27 pm
Dear Clayton:
Well, since you’re among the very few of A-list copywriters who truly care about up-and-coming young guns, may I suggest something that would help other copywriters?
It is nothing really new. You’ve done before, and you’re doing it right now on a more private basis, with your copy cubs. And your time is too valuable to ask for more free things, after all you’ve been giving already.
In fact, what I am about to propose, if you consider it for a minute, can become the greatest way in the world to grow strong copywriters for your ad agency, without hiring these new writers as they start out.
And like Napoleon Bonaparte , you can have the battle field choose your next copywriting associates, who can write controls.
Here’s what it’s all about: I just ordered your Challenge A Strong Control videos. I’ve read most copywriting books…so I thought it was going to be the same old. But I was totally wrong. The first video alone is worth the price of the package, if the lessons are applied.
I have found your videos to be an excellent advertising master class. I felt as if you were in my little room, looking over my should and saying, "No. Swans. You must start with a credibility element before you come up with your big promise." or I could hear you say, "No Swans. This headline doesn’t pass the forehead slap test. Rewrite it."
I always thought there was a logic, a way to approach a project to create a control, and over the ast weekend, with your videos, this is becoming clearer and clearer to me.
And here comes my proposition: Now, in your videos, you only looked at weak packages and showed us how to make them stronger. I find this to be great because new copywriters (like myself) tend to write weak packages and this way I was able to see what mistakes to avoid, and how to strengthen my copy.
Thanks a lot.
But I believe there is another side of great copywriting you haven’t visited yet with your virtual copycubs. This other side is the in-depth analysis of a strong control. An analysis where you’d answer questions like these:
1-What was the prospect feeling at the time of your writing this piece?
2-How did you know about your prospect’s major/dominant emotions?
3-Gene Schwartz talked about the importance of thorough research before the writing of copy. By reading one copy, one can see that there is a lot of research that went before the writing. How do you go about researching, say a physical product like a a gold coin or a supplement? How do you get your client to open up information that they might consider "confidential" but that you might be able use to create more credibility in your copy?
4-Genius copywriter, John Carlton talks about the "hook" in the headline. Master Marketer Alvin Eicoff talks about the "holder" in a salesperson pitch. How do you, Clayton, know that your headline contains a "hook" or is a holder that will force the reader to dig deeper for more information?
5-After analyzing copy by different master copywriters, it seems that any piece of strong copy is built on a specific theme (get rich, for instance) how do you make sure that your promo stays on track and doesn’t wander into irrelevant arguments? What prior steps do you take to be sure that your copy remains focused?
6-Now, what about the format? I think it could be a webminar, where you would take apart a winning control you wrote and explain why the control worked so well back then, and perhaps, how the strategies you used can be applied to other projects today in different markets? And with a webminar, you can stay in the comfort of your home or office and help us for an hour.
I am sure you’re extremely busy.
But this is definitely a great way to help other up-and-coming copywriters (whom you might end up hiring, you never know).
As far as money is concerned, I wouldn’t be able to buy an hour of your time…..don’t worry though, I don’t believe in getting a free ride either.
However, I believe that if you could get, say 400 copywriters/business owners to listen to that call, at $100 a listener, you could get $40000 for that hour.
I know it’s pocket change compared to what you normally earn, but consider the joy of knowing that once again copywriters and business owners who listen to you, will be able to navigate the coming recession and survive and thrive….all because of your generous help.
I think that this new webminar about How To Write A Control In Almost Any Market, would be the perfect weapon against this recession and whatever else is to follow it.
Once again, you will be getting closer and closer to being the David Ogilvy of the 21 Century.
Once again, more and more people (some of which you may never meet) will remember what a difference you made in their lives with your teachings about writing control copy.
Personally, I would be interested in contributing my paltry $100 dollar along with another 399 serious copywriters to get you to spend maybe an hour or 1h30 minus with us, deconstructing one of your short controls (like the 13-Page sales letter that’s included in your Steal These Secrets)
Is this too much too ask? And you fellow copywriters who want to make it into the big leagues, with monster controls, what say you?
Common guys: What do you think? Do you think Clayton would help you big time by spending an hour or so explaining how he wrote one of his controls, what what his thinking, why he chose a specific headline…why he thought that specific headline was part of the conversation his prospect was having at the time.
C’mon, brothers, don’t be shy, let Clayton know, that you are looking forward to seeing him, deconstruct one of his masterpieces….so that you too can go out, and in the name of Clayton, slaughter your competitors.
C’mon brothers, tell Clayton, that 399 of you will, without hesitation, contribute $100 dollars so that Clayton will agree to once more stick his head out for us.
Sincerely,
Swans G Paul
P.S: Right now, I am being hired by other companies to beat their control. Last month, I just beat one control. But I understand that beating controls must become systematic, at least in the minor leagues, if I ever want to play in the major leagues. So Clayton, that’s why I am asking you, because you really care about up-and-coming copywriters, to spend an hour not with me, but with a small posse of new copywriters who want to write controls just like you do….or at least see how you do it, and see your process, how you approach a marketing problem, and deliver a control.
P.P.S: Could this be the greatest way in the world to grow new control-beating copywriters for your ad agency? Look at it this way, the more there are copywriters who can write control, the more you, Clayton, will be able to find good copywriters for your agency, and the more you will be able to take on other clients knowing that your new copywriters don’t need much training…knowing that they’ve already written controls…knowing that they already know your approach to writing control.
Honestly, I think it’s the greatest way in the world to grow copywriters for your ad agency: you offer them virtual training…other companies pay them to prove how much they’ve mastered your techniques…and as the master persuader that you are, sooner or later, they will come back under your radar, you’ll make them an irresistible offer, and bam, you just get back what you invested.
Comment by Tommy — March 17, 2008 @ 3:43 pm
Right on Allen. You nailed it there!
Comment by Scott — March 17, 2008 @ 4:41 pm
Right on maaaan!
Bill Bonner and Doug Casey have been talking about this crap since I first stumbled upon their "type" in 2004 (via the very effective "Can You Write A Letter Like This One" sletter). Gold was around $350 or so. I briefly met Bonner Jr. at the 2005 AWAI boot camp, shortly before I met Clayton. Nice fellas, both.
Bill Sr. would write in the DR and wonder how 2×4’s and nails could appreciate so much and when they wouldn’t anymore.
Heck, I tried. I supported Ron Paul but no one cared to hear that message, especially not FAUX news. Serves our smug asses right. Well, not you folks.
PS
Speaking of which, Paul Hollingshead would be an interesting interview.
Comment by David Grebow — March 17, 2008 @ 6:05 pm
Clayton:
I was having a really baaaaaaad day, struggling with Writer’s Blocked Vowels, and then I read your "The sky is falling, the sky is falling" post. Thanks.
I’m feeling right positive now. It’s like the difference between dying and being dead. Dying feels good by comparison.
I recently left my really high paying job to do what I love and do best - online copywriting, especially Direct Response eMail - and was struggling with the copy for a new client (actually an old friend but hey).
I had been worrying and fretting about ‘The Timing’ of my move into a new career UNTIL I read you apocalyptic vision of our future. Made me realize getting out of working for someone else was the smartest thing I could have done.
And admitting that between the lunatics running the Federal asylum, global warming making us all freeze, the imminent start of The Greater Depression and World War Three unblocked my vowels, I suddenly saw that it did not matter what I wrote AS LONG AS I WROTE SOMETHING AND JUST DID IT, FAST.
So I just banged out whatever came to mind…
And The Client loved it!
So thanks. You showed me that the rest of my life could be in the crapper, but you made my day!
Cheers,
David G
aka KnowledgeStar
http://thefourthwave.typepad.com/knowledgestar/
Comment by Clarke — March 17, 2008 @ 7:16 pm
Many try to pin the upcoming mess on George W., but it had its real
beginning back in the 1970s when Jimmy Carter and Congress
pushed lenders into offering home loans to minorities in neighborhoods
whose incomes were not conducive to being able to make the payments.
Then a few years later, along came Bill who pushed lenders farther
into the mire by intimidating them into sub-prime lending on a big scale.
Of course big bankers are by nature a greedy sort anyway, so they saw
an opportunity to make lots of loans at above-prime rates, though they
were intimidated into moderating somewhat.
Meanwhile Congress, beaten into submission by trial lawyers, enviro-kooks, and parasites making a living on the biggest hoax of the
era – "Global Warming" have stopped any drilling for oil inside the US
territories, while lining the pockets of Archer Daniels Midland et al
with subsidies for ethanol.
A "renewable resource"? Gimme a break! If you take two one-gallon
containers of gasoline, remove a pint from each, then fill one with a
pint of ethanol, 7/8 gallon of pure gasoline will take your car farther
down the road than a full gallon of gasoline-ethanol blend. So by
adding ethanol to reduce our dependence on foreign oil actually
*increases* it.
And using farm land to raise fuel instead of food still rips nutrients out
of the ground that won’t be there when it is again used for food, and we
become malnourished while paying higher prices for fuel, food, and
everything else because those morons in Congress want to sock it to
us with higher taxes too.
I am a physicist and engineer. I’ve studied this stuff. Try this for
size: Lay a pipe 5 miles long. Fill it with ordinary air and seal the ends.
Gather every molecule of carbon dioxide to one end and barricade it.
It will **ALL** fit inside of less than 10 feet of that pipe. Yes. 10
FEET out of more than 26,000 feet of pipe! Now separate out every
molecule of CO2 that came from some sort of human activity. It will
fit comforably in just a hair over 3 inches. That’s THREE INCHES,
folks. THREE INCHES out of more than TWENTY SIX THOUSAND
******FEET******!!!
Use your noggin and produce a bit of "brain sweat" as Clayton puts it
so well. Please explain in a common-sense way how that minuscule
amount of CO2 from man can cause "global warming". 97% of the
CO2 in the air comes from out of the ground *geologically*…CO2
springs in the ocean floor…coming out of volcanoes…coming out of
the ground in Iowa or Kansas or California or even DC! Man has
nothing to do with it!
These are widely known, scientific FACTS that a certain former US
vice president and a bunch of crack-pot climatologists don’t want you to
know about. Because they like doing "research" instead of getting a real
job, and the ex-veep loves getting paid over $100,000 every time he
opens his pie hole and spews another hour of global disaster religion.
Even the temperature-measuring stations for monitoring air temperatures
don’t meet standards of good practice for accurate data. And the
computer models leave out a lot of important factors like wind patterns
that vary in a 40-year cycle. There’s a lot more too, but too much
for here.
There is nothing man can do to significantly affect CO2 levels in the
air, and you can have as much effect on the global climate if you go out
in your back yard and *spit* as if you doubled the CO2 concentration
in the atmosphere. Global climate cycles are PERFECTLY NORMAL.
But the Profits of Doom can be substantial for fear mongers.
Yet these political clowns – world-wide – are ready to waste trillions
of dollars they didn’t earn, in their futile attempt to use that as an excuse
to steal from the rest of us and force us to do their bidding.
Maybe a major revolt would be healthy…
But a raid on Congress with a bunch of MPs followed by military
tribunal trials for treason and malfeasance would not be totally
unproductive either. Neither would yanking the passport on
too-old former presidents and sending them to the funny farm for
the terminally senile when they still interfere with current affairs.
And no, I don’t agree with everything George W. does… But some
things I do. But it will be 40 years before the real history is settled and
the real culprits known, if anyone’s left who’s willing to write the truth.
Meanwhile, I think there’s a mess coming down the road… The result
of too many years of irresponsible pols elected by thumb-sucking
parasites living off of the public trough who don’t want to take on any
personal responsibilities in life.
My wife’s not a redhead. But she insists: I’m neither opinionated nor
outspoken. And she’s not stubborn.
Comment by Val — March 18, 2008 @ 12:42 am
luckily i’m an indian, who lives in india, making moolah out of the anerican outsourcing pie. i’ve already bought some american real estate and so have a number of my peers.
it looks like we will end up owning america
cheers
Comment by Warren — March 18, 2008 @ 1:01 am
@Clarke,
"Man has nothing to do with it!"
Can’t be too sure about that. Think of the smog you see floating around major cities. That’s the first sign of man has everything to do with it. When you compressed the smog into a barricaded region, perhaps it is as usual, not even amounting to a teeny percentage of atmospheric content. But look at the ugly sights and tell yourself man has nothing to do with it?
Anyway, Global Warming is about trapped thermal heat bounced back by atmospheric H2O and CO2 causing the Greenhouse Effect. Do you think a consistent increase In these atmospheric components could produce corresponding marked increase in felt heat and quantified temperature, like we are experiencing these days? In all likelihood we are mostly, obliviously riding along this progression already. Left to nature, water has its own evoporation rate and condensing checks to cool the earth. However, with increased CO2 emissions into the air, we are just asking for more heat to be bounced back to warm up the surface. Causing more water vapor to be absorbed into the air. And generating more surface heat in each cycle as it repeats.
So, by further massive deforestations and more large scale CO2 emissions from human activities, let alone those geological constants (unless they’re not constants), the only contributory variable left to account for this phenomenon is staring back straight at us. Think about that. Can we truly take ourselves out of the causal equation? Or are there larger factors at work that we humankind are not aware of, or are not willing to acknowledge?
What about the quickly disappearing icy landmass in the poles, and the yearly rising of sea levels… ? Aren’t they somewhat related to Global Warming?
Can we just blindly go on about our commercial ways without giving a collective internal check, as a measure against potential disasters that could be self-induced? If they are indeed self-afflicted by mankind, could they be reversible at this stage? Can we innovate more eco-friendly ways of running our business landscapes?
At the very least, new commercial habits that arise from this awareness drive could bring on a cleaner and clearer environment, suitably tailored for the pleasure and well-being of mankind and other living organisms, whether of plant or animal. For generations to come. Or do we rather we and our descendents live in barren and environmentally unfriendly spaces where it’s not even comfortable and safe to take a walk outside, which is what our present state in the industrialized world is growing toward?
"Global climate cycles are PERFECTLY NORMAL."
That could be largely true historically. But we are at unprecedented times, in terms of witnessing massive human activities globally. How do we know when the global climate cycles are NOT behaving perfectly normal?
To say they’re perfectly normal would imply they’re predictable as well. So, can we count on climate changes to come gradually, or suddenly? Will the arriving cycle wipe us out with out-of-the-world cataclysmic gravity this time round? Or perhaps not?
If we consistently wipe out large tracts of the greens, where will the global CO2 flow to. How will wind patterns and eventually the climates, be affected? Will new climate patterns arise? Running through such possible scenarios, can you therefore positively state that incessant logging activities may go on with impunity? Are you sure?
If climate cycles are perfectly normal, then there should’ve been some early warnings from any responsible scientific authority. Instead we have to rely on politicians to spread the news. Maybe the former just don’t have the media clout. But then should we all, as good citizens, NOT give cause for concerns from the disturbing things we see in the smogs, haze, rainforest clearance, sea pollution, rising sea levels, rising temperatures, weird weathers, melting landmass, etc.? Items 1-4 are not perfectly normal, that’s for sure.
"There is nothing man can do to significantly affect CO2 levels in the air…"
Again …, If we consistently wipe out large tracts of the greens, we are taking out the natural absorbers of CO2. So, where will the resident CO2 flow to? Besides creating more trapped heat, how will wind currents be affected? Will new climate patterns arise eventually, given the unbalanced expanse of such deforestations? Therefore, can incessant logging activities go on with impunity? As a scientist and engineer, are you doubly sure?
Warren
Comment by Clayton Makepeace — March 18, 2008 @ 4:30 am
You guys are always a blast to read.
Yeh, Val, you’re probably going to wind up owning America – IF the Chinese don’t beat you to it!
Clark, I agree: Government – both parties caused this mess. But that shouldn’t surprise anyone. Can you name a single global catastrophe since that meteor killed the dinosaurs that WASN’T caused by politicians and bureaucrats?
Warren, I agree: If global warming actually turns out to be more than a scam perpetrated by anti-capitalist tree-huggers, whacked out far-left politicians and scientists towing the line to protect their grants …
… Then I think we can all agree that the U.S. government is the biggest polluter on the planet and therefore, is the #1 cause of the problem.
Happy Tuesday, y’all …
– Clayton
Comment by Glenn Dye — March 18, 2008 @ 10:52 am
You got my $100’s. I’m not new to copywriting, but am new to the very few who care..cough it up Clayton….we need some more rabid bikers standing up for our rights and to give us lead…..we need you to do this.
Glenn dye
Comment by Clayton Makepeace — March 18, 2008 @ 12:10 pm
Tell you guys what … I’ll be more than happy to walk you through a few successful online and offline controls – IF enough of our readers say they’ll attend.
I could walk you through big controls by Gary Bencivenga, Jim Rutz, Arthur Johnson, Eric Betuel and me.
I’m thinking $97 for 97 minutes plus a Q&A session at the end. You can attend live, watch the video online after the event or both – and you get a PDF containing all five controls for your swipe file.
But before I schedule this, I need to have solid commitments from at least 100 people.
Any takers?
Comment by Swans Paul — March 18, 2008 @ 2:22 pm
Dear Clayton:
How and where do I sign up?
That would be so interesting. My eyes are watery with excitement. And I have a huge smile on my face as I anticipate the event.
As I said before, I think this would be one of the greatest anti-recession weapons you could give us, copywriters and business owners.
I am a taker. Where do I sign up?
If possible, could you also do an analysis of a control written by Dan Rosenthal. Thanks to your team I have a copy of the letter he wrote selling Natural Resource Hunter. But I am sure you’re 1000 more familiar with his work and controls than I. So an analysis of his copy would be a blast too.
Again, I am very interested in this ( I could make the $97 payment today, if you said so, just to be sure my seat is not taken).
And may I suggest that you send a short notice to your list of subscribers? Because I am 100% sure that 100 people would quickly show up.
Thanks a lot. Thanks a million for doing this.
Sincerely,
Swans G Paul
P.S: Can I post a short notice on copywritersboard about your next event where you’ll analyze the controls?
Getting others to know about this unique event is the least I could do, and being a paying attendee is a great enough payment for me. Please let me know. I could use your answer in my post on copywritersboard.com or I could just use my previous post and see what happens.
P.P.S: Feel free to use my posts anyway you please, if you decide to send an email to your list. And again, thanks for helping us copywriters and business owners make 2008 our greatest year.
Comment by Winnie — March 18, 2008 @ 2:27 pm
Tell me where and when and I’m there.
Winnie
Comment by Cheryl — March 18, 2008 @ 2:31 pm
Dear Clayton,
Wow! I’m impressed. You hit this one completely out of the ballpark. This post has got to be one of the best "big prediction" methods I’ve ever seen. You did everything right.
You hooked us right from the beginning - with the big promise - the time machine - that’s going to show us our futures. Then you touched on our financial fears - and added in enough real scenarios that you got us to suspend disbelief and keep reading. And then you added the big benefit - you told us that yeah, it could happen - but it wasn’t going to happen to us…and you gave us a glimmer of why. Which of course drew us in further. Getting back to the future, you gave us some more big, bold predictions - and you proceeded to hit every other element and hit it completely out of the ballpark.
I’m adding this blog post to my swipe file, because I’ve never seen a big prediction done so well. Because of that, I’m willing to listen to the call - so you can count me as part of the 100.
Thanks Clayton - the free training you give us beats most of the other paid stuff on the market. And I predict that you’ve got lots more where that is. (Or however that phrase goes…)
Comment by Mike Bell — March 18, 2008 @ 4:00 pm
Count me in Clayton
Mike Bell
Comment by Bruce Eichelberger — March 18, 2008 @ 4:21 pm
Alright… I’m in!
Comment by Larry Mekus — March 18, 2008 @ 6:01 pm
Is there even a question or hesitation - I would hope not. $97 for an hour and half with Clayton teaching live. That is a chance of a lifetime, and not one to be missed. Clayton - in the future when you have a plan like this one, you can automatically count me in. I wouldn’t miss this.
Comment by Tom Trush — March 18, 2008 @ 7:40 pm
That’s an offer I can’t resist, Clayton. I’m in!
Comment by Andy Iskandar — March 18, 2008 @ 10:32 pm
Hi Clayton,I have only two words for you… Respect man! (Said in a Jamaican accent). You have wonderful readers who are giving YOU money hand over fist.It seems as if you are able to command sales of anything you sell simply at the drop of a hat. As an aspiring best-marketer-in-the-world, I aim to have an audience such as yours and your Jedi money-making powers.In any case, count me as one of your loyal readers. Honestly, I am extremely drawn to everything you have written (so far). I didn’t see it coming…So keep it up Sir!Bless you and yours,Andy
Comment by Kevin Rogers — March 18, 2008 @ 11:04 pm
I’ll take 2…
Comment by Mike Humphreys — March 18, 2008 @ 11:20 pm
Hey Clayton,
I’d love to see you dissect a few control pieces. Count me in.
Mike
Comment by Clayton Makepeace — March 19, 2008 @ 4:53 am
OK … so I’ll send an e-mail to the file today and if a minimum of 200 folks say they’ll attend, it’s a date. I’m thinking week after next.
Thanks for the idea, Swans – I agree: Learning to THINK like a master copywriter when making the thousands of choices you have to make when crafting your theme headline, deck and body copy could really accelerate writers’ careers.
And it would help make folks who hire copywriters – business owners and marketing execs – do a much, MUCH better job of directing the process.
So if any of the rest of you want me to do this – if you’ll definitely attend – be sure to let me know here … or fire off a quick e-mail to feedback@makepeacetotalpackage.com.
– Clayton
Comment by Michael Roach — March 19, 2008 @ 7:03 am
Count me in, Clayton. Thanks!
Comment by Larry Foster — March 19, 2008 @ 8:17 am
I’m in.
200 should be a snap.
Comment by Gordon Jay Alexander — March 19, 2008 @ 8:35 am
Count me in on the webinar/teleseminar Clayton, looking forward to your insights.
Last time I was in your neck of the woods, I did a little two-step with Bob Moog over in Black Mt. and one of your local (Ashville) nut jobs, Art Booth, made me run up to Clingman’s Dome at 5:30 in the morning to see the sunrise…
and then he dragged me to most mountainous golf course he could find…then, after I birded the first hole, he totally kicked by butt and had to drag me around the course.
Ah, fond memories of the Applachian Trail and Great Smoky Mountains.
If you put on a SUMMER seminar, I’ll ride down too.
Gordon Jay Alexander
Comment by Tony Flores — March 19, 2008 @ 3:10 pm
Something about this whole “partnering” idea has been bugging me …
Like – if partnering is so profitable for copywriters, why is Clayton the only “A” lister I know doing it?
And if partnering is such a goldmine for companies, why are Clayton’s clients the only ones I see doing it?
Is this really the secret that makes Clayton the world’s highest paid copywriter?
And if so, can anybody do it? Or does it only work for you if you’re famous and have a huge list of winners under your belt?
Because if Makepeace is right, it means our copywriter friends could be making up to ten times more than they’re earning now.
And it would mean business owners who hire writers could be making tens of millions or maybe even hundreds of millions more than they do now.
But if he’s wrong, all this hub-bub about partnering is just a colossal waste of time.
I don’t know about you, but I want answers.
So yesterday, I marched right into Clayton’s office and threw down the gauntlet: “I think you’re full of beans, old man – to convince me this radical approach really will make millions for copywriters and their clients, you’re going to have to either put up or shut up!”
I challenged the big guy to let me grill him … to let me hold his feet to the fire … to put his partnering idea to the test once and for all.
First, Makepeace laughed. Then, he shook his head and checked his calendar.
“How’s next Tuesday at noon for you?”
“I’ll be working from home that day.”
“Fine,” says he. “Call me at noon. I’ll give you an hour.”
So I made a beeline for The Redhead’s office, told her the plan and said, “I want witnesses.”
“Tell you what,” says the woman Clayton refers to as “She Who Must Be Obeyed” … “these phone conferences cost money. I’ll reserve 100 lines – no more.”
So it’s ON! At 12:00 PM, EST next Tuesday (March 25th), I’m going to nail Clayton’s sorry butt to the wall about his partnering model – and one hundred Total Package readers will be able to listen in, free of charge.
The only catch: You’ll have to click here and confirm that you’ll be there. That way, Wendy can set aside one of these 100 lines for you. If you register in time, I’ll send you the number to call to listen in.
By the end of the call, I’ll know and so will you whether partnering is the "be all and end all" that Clayton says it is … if it really could make you richer than Midas … or if it’s just a bunch of hype and hot air.
So what do you say? You in? If so just click here and grab your free registration while you still can.
Should be fun. And who knows? If he’s right, it could even prove to be amazingly profitable for you.
Your skeptical friend,
Tony Flores
Editor, The Screaming Eagle
Comment by big jason — March 19, 2008 @ 4:06 pm
count me in
big jason
Comment by Clayton Makepeace — March 19, 2008 @ 5:40 pm
Wow … looks like it’s going to be a busy coupla weeks for me.
First, Swans Paul says that, in a couple of weeks, I should show you how master copywriters think – by walking you through six of promotions that helped change direct response history – for the piddling price of $97 …
And now, Tony Flores – arguably the greatest copywriting teacher alive – is planning to ambush me next Tuesday on a FREE call about my partnering model reserved exclusively for the 100 Total Packagers with the quickest reflexes.
I’d better start taking those smart pills Wendy bought me …
Cheers, y’all!
Comment by GAVIN — March 20, 2008 @ 9:36 am
i’m up for it
Comment by Wendy Makepeace — March 20, 2008 @ 10:21 am
Every one of the 100 lines I reserved for next Tuesday’s free call were reserved within minutes.
So I’m scrambling to convince the phone company to give me more lines and we’ve started a waiting list just in case I’m able to get them.
I’ll be happy to give you a heads-up if more lines become available – just click here and add your name to our waiting list.
One thing, though: These new lines will be awarded on a first-come, first-served basis ONLY. So your best shot is to put your name on the waiting list NOW.
To listen in next Tuesday (March 25th) at 12:00 PM, EST as Tony holds Clayton’s feet to the fire about his partnering model click here to add your name to the waiting list ASAP.
– Wendy Makepeace
P.S. If you see an e-mail from me in your inbox today, be sure to read it immediately: If more lines open up – and if you’re at the top of the waiting list – I’ll need you to confirm your reservation.
Comment by joe derer — March 20, 2008 @ 7:49 pm
"Couldn’t agree more with you Clayton… i am wondering if any of your readers/savvy marketers might have some suggestions on how to market some domain names i got one night after having one too many… names like: JohnMcCainExposed.info - HillaryClintonExposed.net -HillaryClintonExposed.info - BarackObamaExposed.com ,.net , .info Joe at : jd77356@earthlink.net Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. (hard to believe they would have left these names on the table!)…
Comment by Andy Catsimanes — March 21, 2008 @ 11:36 am
I’m in.
Comment by Tia Dobi — March 22, 2008 @ 7:27 pm
Sure - $97 good ol American dollars in trade for 97 minutes + Q&A with Clayton.Not on a school night, we hope.
Comment by Nick — March 24, 2008 @ 4:20 pm
Sign me up yesterday!
Comment by Barnabas — March 25, 2008 @ 12:02 am
I am in.