"Words, of course, are the most powerful drug used by mankind."

- Rudyard Kipling

"When you're young, you look at television and think, there's a conspiracy.  The networks have conspired to dumb us down.  But when you get a little older, you realize that's not true.  The networks are in business to give people exactly what they want.  That's a far more depressing thought.  Conspiracy is optimistic!"

- Steve Jobs

"One hundred million dollars is way too much to pay for Microsoft, we're a computer company not a software company."

- - IBM executive in the '80s

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So I've been running lately...

On the treadmill, and when I do it is one of the only times I ever turn the T.V. on.

But the other night it was storming, and whenever that happens - and even sometimes when it doesn't - the dish gets a mind of it's own. It flips channels, raises volume, turns on and off, speaks in tongues, etc.

Basically, it gets possessed.

So I was running and the T.V. was going in between infomercials, a soap opera from China and a documentary about Heidi Fleiss.

If you don't remember Heidi was the Hollywood Madame who got in trouble for running a prostitution ring - or something like that.  I wasn't as interested in that show - or really any of them - until I saw something that caught my eye.

She had parrots!

Giant macaws to be specific - I did a double take as I was running and I even STOPPED to get the remote.  This is significant because I almost never stop running once I start.  When I run or workout, I go extreme, and the last time I got off the treadmill early was about a year ago when all the power shut off.

I was running and everything went out - the lights, the T.V., the music - everything except the treadmill. It was pretty crazy, but that was the last time I stopped early - and I've NEVER done it because of what's on the the T.V.

But Heidi made me stop

I wanted to make sure the dish wouldn't change channels or lower the volume, so I kept it there and took my headphones off before I got back on the treadmill.

It turns out she was trying to open a brothel in Vegas (big surprise, I know) and she started caring for the parrots as a favor to a friend who died. Over time she fell in love... especially with Dalton, a beautiful baby boy and professional "Show Bird" who used to be electrically shocked unless he did tricks.

Dalton was clearly her favorite.

She goes overboard -

Heidi hires a friend to build a giant aviary shelter for her babies, then she expands it again and again until her entire house is overrun with parrots all over the place.

She adopts more and more and the focus of the entire documentary is basically all about the parrots for this entire segment.

Then... it happens.

Dalton got sick

First it was vomit, then it got worse.

A lot worse.

He died.

There is a clip at the end of Heidi talking about Dalton and how much she missed him, she was crying uncontrollably and talked about how he died with a tear in his eye as he was looking right at her.

He always wanted to look straight in the eyes.

She explained how some people may think he was just a bird - and she had others that she loved as well - but she love him differently, he was her first and he was human to her.

It was one of the most touching things I've ever seen, I was balling too - and it was mixing with my sweat so I was tasting teary salt - and...

I had to stop running again

The thought of that happening to one of my Pretty Guys is stomach turning, it is such a deep pain that I don't know how to describe. I tried here:

http://www.eAzam.com/LittleGuy.html

I guess the lesson is to be grateful -

Love Life, right?

All Life.

Sorry Heidi, I don't know exactly how you feel - but I have an idea, so if you're reading this and need somebody to talk to, we're here for you...

 

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If you're not using -

Articles, news and credibility sources in your marketing and compliance-gaining, then you're making a big mistake.

You should know just about everything about something.

So I'm always on the lookout for stories that can help people on our Team, clients, students, friends, etc. and now (Thankfully) people are sending us stories as well.  So please keep them coming.

I'd also love to hear how you're using the stuff we go over, so please make sure to let me know about it - it helps to share and it can make a huge difference to others.

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Steve Jobs: Brilliant visionary and total fu**ing psycho.
After an editor for Gizmodo.com, Jason Chen, published information regarding an unreleased iPhone prototype which was left at a restaurant by an Apple employee, Apple initiated a police raid of Chen's house. Police arrived at Chen's home and broke in his front door, seized computers, cameras, bank statements, servers and other items. Chen arrived at home after the raid started and has not been arrested or charged.

Full Story Here
(Thanks to RoboDan for this one)

Full Story Here - another article about this
(Thanks to RoboDan for this one)

My Notes...
For years Steve Jobs has tried - successfully - to make people think that Apple is cooler, less money-hungry, more gay-friendly, etc. than Microsoft or the other "big bad" companies. Really? Imagine if Bill Gates had somebody's house raided because they put a picture on a BLOG of a new X-Box game. I've had several Macs, all with HUGE problems and as a Policy here's what the Apple support has told me:

"My Apple computer is fu**ed." (I'm paraphrasing)

"Okay, do you use it as a desktop?"

"What do you mean?"

"Do you use it regularly or daily?"

"Uh... shouldn't I be?"

"Macs aren't to be used like that..."

"So you're saying that the computer works great, as long as I don't use it, is that right?"

"Well, it depends on how much you use it sir."

I'm not joking.

Stephanie has gone through NINE iPhones, Millie has had to take back three of the G4 (or whatever they're called) desktops and my good friend Joe Crump spent seven grand on some "Video Editing Pro" POS that never worked. Plus, Apple will routinely try and charge you, schedule inconvenient appointment times and leave you without what you paid for as they "fix" what they shouldn't have sold you to begin with... and you get to pay more (the cool tax) the whole time.

So buying an Apple is one thing... buying one that works - or that you are allowed to use - is another.

My point?

Steve Jobs is a brilliant visionary, but he is equally as skilled at positioning and a remarkable salesman. Everything from their use of welcoming white space, refusal to shave or wear suits and even the quirky music is all marketing and it effectively galvanizes people with the "us against them" attitude where Apple is seen as an ally against "them". The "them" would be big corporations, evil capitalists and the gaybashers at Microsoft.

Note to all the too-cool Apple-lemmings: When your house is broken into and raided - without you even being there - by a government agency (that is hired/run) through a private company, because you inconvenienced them and NOT because you broke any laws... they're not helping you fight the Man, they ARE THE MAN.

I'm not hating on Apple, I think they're brilliant - and I'm not complaining either - I'm just saying that Windows crashes, support issues, "clunkiness", copying, etc. aren't that bad and Apple's marketing and positioning have hidden the same deficiencies.

I know that I'm going to hear about this from defenders - which only proves my point... Steve Jobs is a Badass... whose salesmanship should be studied.

College degrees won't help your bank account... much.
Researchers and analysts are questioning whether four-year college degree holders earn enough money to justify the expense and time. One researcher notes that unemployment for these graduates has doubled, college degree holders outnumber new jobs requiring them and the more money states spend on higher education the less their economies grow. These experts conclude that the reason this cycle continues is because of outdated social beliefs about credentials that colleges provide.

Full Story Here
(Thanks to Reggie and Netty for this one)


My Notes...
I'm not against colleges, in fact I went crazy to get accepted into Harvard just to know that I could - although I never attended as a student. But whenever I work with kids, the number one challenge that comes up is... the parents. Many of them look down on what we do and how we train (cold calling, door knocking, Badassery in general) and the reason? College.

Their kids are going to college, so they don't need to learn any of "that stuff".

Ironically, the number one reason for college? 

A better job. (more money)

More evidence that almost nobody on Earth knows how to make money, build a company - turn it into an Empire, etc. etc. etc.

If you do any kind of training at all, you can milk stuff like this - just the average debt these families get into, the decades of savings, the suicide/depression rates, etc. and all with the hope of making more money.

And these same parents would call me the scammer for this:

www.WorkWithAzam.com

Conveniently they ignore studies/facts like the ones in the article above, but why speculate - just ask the college graduates how well the "normal way" worked for them... you can find them in the unemployed line.

Want to get rid of a census worker?  Try shooting them.
According to authorities a Census Bureau employee did not get off a Texan attorneys property "fast enough" so the lawyer shot five rounds at her.  The attorney, Carolyn Barnes, has also been charged with assault for striking a sheriff's deputy earlier this year.  In 2000, Barnes is also on record for telling a court clerk she would fight a traffic arrest "to the death".

Full Story Here
(Thanks to Sandy Settler for this one)

My Notes...
These stories are awesome, before I get into this here's another one from Sandy:

Court: Dig your dead brother up and hand over his head.
An Iowa court found that before dying in 2009, 81-year-old Orville Richardson, had signed a binding contract to have his head placed in cryonic suspension by Alcor Life Extension of Arizona.  After his death his brother and sister buried Richardson, but this week a court order in favor of Alcor will require Richardson's body exhumed, his head removed and given to Alcor.

Full Story Here
(Thanks to  Sandy Settler for this one)

My Notes...
The above two stories may seem like they don't have a lot in common - but they do.

If you're using my stuff in your company right now, then you want to save these articles, print them out and immediately use them in your marketing and dialog.  For those of you in real estate for example -

Whenever a seller tells you they are talking to "another investor", your follow up should always include a standard "be careful what you sign" warning... the article above is a great example of why.

A buyer/seller hasn't interviewed their attorney well enough, or they're not sure about them, so "what's the danger of working with the wrong attorney?"... article.

Investors aren't going through your attorney as much as you'd like (very easy to monetize this, by the way) so a standard closing to your emails you have a .pdf about how "All attorneys aren't created equal, the Associate Press weighs in..."  Included in your list is the article.

Don't make the mistake

That too many people do and write this off - it'll cost you.  You don't want to use just one of these articles, you want a mountain of material like this.

A while back I referenced a letter that Max and Kay had been using, it included an article of a woman who was about to be foreclosed on, and as the sheriffs were at her house she attempted suicide and shot herself. 

She somehow lived and her bank forgave the loan.

That article was included in seller follow ups and mailings with a note that said something like "No, we aren't the only option..."  I would've changed it because if somebody took it seriously that may cause more problems - but Max is a nut and didn't care.

The results?

Using just that ONE piece - that ONE article, the very first day they -

Doubled their compliance... and numbers

They like doing deals the old fashioned way, and they immediately - overnight - started doing twice as many deals from the same amount of people.

This stuff can be brainwashing.

Commercial real estate is "hot", right? Do people learn?
Commercial real estate properties are now boasting historically high cap rates and income for investors. One analyst calls the triple-net-lease sector the "best performing" of all commercial real estate. This and similar developments are raising investor demand and prices in the commercial sector. 

Full Story Here
(Thanks to Carl Sr. for this one)

My Notes...
I love this stuff, as if it is "news". Rising prices in commercial real estate generally lower the cap rates (the returns) but the flock mentality isn't stopping investors right now. This is a great example of why it is so easy to make money in America. Even if you just use our hand-written signs to find commercial tenants, you can auction them off at huge premiums to property managers and landlords.

Example: John Hilberts (in Hawaii - you know, where nothing "works") comes to mind. He worked with four strip centers and used nothing but our signs to get potential commercial tenants. Then he used the managers he was working with to get the best offers on rent, terms, etc. and then moved the leads to the appropriate/best group.

If you haven't seen his testimonial, in less than 30 days he was netting over seven grand a month with his license agreements.

I'm bringing this up now because - although the timing and area doesn't matter - the whole commercial sector is headed for a correction, and as these people start freaking out moving them business will carry an even larger premium.

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One of my favorites.

I don't know how to (properly) explain the inspiration this stuff provides for me and all of us, it can instantly change a not-as-ideal day into an incredibly productive and Badass one - as they all should be, right?

Want to see your story here?  Take a lesson, put it in action and let us know how well you do.

Getting this feedback means so much, so please keep it coming.

Seriously, I mean that - your support is our DRIVING FORCE... Thank You.

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Some emails and comments from last week's Badass Alert.

I told you I wanted to see about 100 people make an extra ten grand - that would be an extra million pumped into your pockets.  I don't know the exact number but I know it is above 70, and although not everybody made ten grand - I appreciate the support.

Here are three people who stuck out, two emailed us - and that's great - but using the comment and feedback section is probably better because you can share with others better that way.

Okay?

Okay.

Feedback:

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Azam,
I read your article post about the using the AG and my husband Carl and I were scared about doing it but we were certainly curious.  I've been studying real estate for over two years  and would you believe we haven't purchased any properties. Last year I  chatted with Millie about the Alliance Project but I just don't have the green right now.

I have been following your advice about building my buyers list but my problem is that the buyers who are serious seem to go around me and get the homes on their own.  So on Thursday I sent out an email to all my 221 buyers and I told them that I was going to be interviewing the attorney general and I got over 50 emails back.  I couldn't believe it!!!

These people not only wanted to work with me but they were waiting to hear from me and the AG before they proceeded and I even got realtors and investors calling me and getting on my list because their buyers were waiting on me, yes me who has no properties to my name AND WE EVEN RENT! 

For the first time I was able to see  the"Mayo Method" work for me, I only got a portion of the profits on the deals that closed but the buyers were actually LISTENING TO ME and just about everybody goes through me now!  If it all comes together (cross your fingers....oh wait a minutes we don't believe in luck) I'm looking at over $15,000 in the next few weeks, I've already seen $4,100 before Sunday but I only got half of that so far....

Carl and Nina
Kent, Mi

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AZ,

I've been watching you for years and I'm happy you are letting some of the secrets out for everybody and you are right because not everybody will do it because they don't appreciate it.  But I do.

I , like everybody else is lazy but I see the value and were working the model!

If you remember I have had a workout business for over 11 years and we have been hit hard by the economy, I know...I know not really.  I did your "Attorney General Model" and used flyers at the local gyms here.  From 100 flyers our class sizes have gone from 8-10 to over 30 people and these folks are not just coming for the classes either!  Two treadmill models and a TRX series were about to be returned because we have not sold any in months but now we have sold more of them in one week than in the last three months.

I know you want the Badass Bottom Line: this month will be our best month ever, and we have easily added over $1,000,000 to our company's value so PLEASE, PLEASE, PUHLEEEZE with a treadmill on top keep it coming because we did enough to make up for the 100 people you wanted!

Jeff Stacy
Orlando

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Azam,

I know you hate short sales and loan mods but that has been my area of expertise and I had a decent business before moving to Florida because of my never-ending divorce.  It has been tough out here but I know you don't want to hear that.  I work graveyard and am going to school part-time and I feel like getting in touch with you was a sign.  You have been so inspiring for me Azam and when I read your article last week...

... I interviewed one of my professors and went to four grocery stores to have my flyers put in the bags as they leave the store.  I had 110% "Terminator Compliance" and the calls started coming in immediately.  I also used flyers on campus to find buyers.  The first day I got over 100 calls!  By Sunday I have added 14 loan mods to my queue, a handful of houses and three of my buyers have already put money down.... So my cash in hand is over $8,300 and over $20,000 on the way...

Danielle Ridge
Iowa

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Thanks guys, and I really appreciate the feedback and what you did with the material - I want more people like YOU, people who are going to take this stuff and put in place.

Lastly, I must also humbly request that you use the comments more, because it'll add dimension to your stories, allow you to share better - and even clarify some questions - for example Danielle I would love to know exactly how many flyers you used, Jeff I'm curious about how your interview and how the marketing of it helped so much and Carl I wonder about how old your list was.

So please use the comment section more than emailing me, it'll help the community more.

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Finding the application of ideas -

To different situations is the definition of intelligence.

So when you hear somebody downplay an idea or concept because of their "area", "industry" or "business being different" they are - by definition - voluntarily being stupid.  They're, again by definition, not as smart as the Badass who finds the application.

So I recommend finding the application - make it "work for you", because if nothing else - you'll get smarter by doing this.

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Real estate investors: Three ways to make people think you're a genius and the only game in town.

If power perceived is power achieved, then unrealized opportunities of positioning are a weakness.  These vulnerabilities or strengths present themselves in nearly every facet of interaction that you have with a consumer.

In other words, they make you or break you.  This is the difference between a genius and an indisputable pro to being just another (BLANK).

So here are three free ways to add some Badassery to your arsenal.

Guest lecturer for a university...

I'm amazed at how simple this is to do and I found out about it through a few friends at Harvard and Princeton.  I was asked to address a small group of students and then I was officially called a "guest lecturer".

Since then we've had a lot of people employ this technique by simply contacting your university offices and letting them know you are doing presentations on five ways to get started in real estate, dangerous trends in American dieting, the threat of cyber terrorism, etc. whatever you're into.  They almost always comply.

Testimonials with "bribes" -

This is using companies - local or national - and a written letter from somebody with a "name" at the company, like the VP, owner, etc.  You can use just about anybody who advertises, especially with coupons.

A letter is written explaining how thrilled they are to endorse and recommend (local) business leaders like you, and "I'm so sure you'll be thrilled working with (you) that if you have any problems just let me know and you'll get 10% off... oh alright, just call me and let me know that you know (you) and I'll give you 15% off just as a token of my confidence."

A couple did this in Ohio and throughout the Midwest, over a two year period they sent a car dealer over $100,000 in business.  Imagine if they got a cut of that, and they did even half as well with the other ten companies they were working with.

Sell 'free' stuff through charities...

This is killer, and sounds a lot worse than it is.  You can go to a charity, church or some other cause you support and send them a "free report" or - even better - a "Consumer Guide" and ask them to send it anybody who donates.

Now instead of just giving it away use a letter from the director endorsing you and explain that after a (BLANK) donation is made, or any size donation, it'll be sent to them.  Obviously you can still give it away, but this adds value to it and you get essentially endorsed by a cause - and you raise awareness.

Badassery -

Sunny has been doing this for years with guides on "Five ways to buy real estate for pennies on the dollar and sell it the same day, without leaving your house." and "If you have $100,000 invested in the stock market, here's what you don't know."  and - one of my favorites - "Military intelligence officer: where the terrorists don't want you to invest your money."

Just using well known organizations and providing the endorsement from a "name" is Badass enough, but some time ago a group that supports former military was getting such great feedback they asked Sunny if they could give/offer his Consumer Guide to everybody that donated.

That changed everything, and as a Policy now with all these groups that offer was made - in the first week of doing this Sunny and Stephanie were asked to make a presentation for a VFW group (Veterans of Foreign of Wars) and they raised over $300k in private money.

Think of a group you support and imagine how powerful it would be if they worked to get your marketing in the hands of everybody with money, or an interest in real estate, investing, etc.

In Conclusion -

I recommend putting all this material into a Propaganda Package that goes out to everybody - included are the testimonials, name-dropping and other elements of Badassery.  It will destroy your competition and make you look like a genius.

I need a better title for this article...

 

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