Welcome to another issue of the no-BS newsletter dedicated to demystifying the world of passive income, where we share practical, reliable strategies to build and sustain income streams that work for you.

If you want to help someone else make money while they sleep, forward this email to them.

In today's issue:

Ever wonder what happens when you try to outsmart an 8-year-old?

Well, I did. And I thought I was being clever—until I realized he was gaming me just as much as I was gaming him.

Here’s the story…

My son Chris had been eyeing this Lego airplane set for months. And like a true Jedi dad, I kept my defenses up.

“No, not now.”

“Let’s wait.”

“We’ll see.”

But the kid wouldn’t quit. He asked again and again. And you know what? I respect that. That relentless spirit is exactly what separates winners from wannabes.

So finally, I said, “Alright, let’s make this interesting.”

We printed a black-and-white image of the Lego set. Then we chopped it into 20 pieces. Every time Chris did five helpful things, he could color in one section. Finish all 20, and boom—he gets the Lego set.

The result?

Pure magic.

Suddenly, he’s Beethoven on the piano, Bobby Fischer at the chessboard, and Martha Stewart in the kitchen—all in one morning.

“Dad, what else can I do?”

“Hold on, buddy. We haven’t even had breakfast yet.”

The chores turned into a mission. A game. A quest for Lego glory.

Now here’s the twist…

I tried the exact same strategy with my daughter. Offered her cold hard cash for every chapter she read. I thought I was basically handing her free money.

She didn’t bite.

Turns out, her “currency” isn’t cash. It’s nail polish. It’s accessories. It’s that bougie water bottle with motivational quotes on it.

Same game. Different rules.

And my wife? Anastasia’s motivation button is pure verbal appreciation. No diamonds required—just a genuine “thank you” when she goes the extra mile. (Although, hey, she wouldn’t say no to Tiffany either.)

So what’s the big takeaway?

Motivation is like Wi-Fi—everyone connects a little differently.

Gamification works, but only if you understand the person's motivational currency. You can’t bribe a chocolate lover with broccoli. And you can’t expect “one-size-fits-all” to work on a family of four with wildly different emotional appetites.

Figure out the currency. Set the rules. Let the game begin.

As my way of saying thanks for subscribing to the newsletter, I’d like to ship you a free copy of my Amazon best-seller, List Building Lifestyle: Confessions of an Email Millionaire. This book shows how to build a scalable passive income online, even if you’ve got no previous experience.

Claim your no-cost copy by texting the word BOOK to +1-917-979-4483.

You can also just click the button below if you’re reading this on your mobile device.

This book costs $20 on Amazon, but if you text the word BOOK to +1-917-979-4483, you’ll receive a special link allowing you to get a free copy of the book plus $3,251.88 in bonuses (just chip in on S&H).

Have you ever sent something to your email list... then ask your mastermind what they think?

Big mistake.

Let me tell you what happened to me.

I launched a low-ticket bootcamp offer to my list—something new for me. The page was raw, unpolished, not “optimized” by any stretch. I even skipped showing it to my designer wife (a rookie move I usually avoid).

And I hit launch.

Right after, I shared the page in a high-level mastermind with some marketing heavyweights. “Thoughts?” I asked, innocently.

They tore it apart.

“Your button’s in the wrong place.”

“Headline needs fixing.”

“Color scheme is awful.”

You know the drill.

But here’s the kicker—I was already getting 10% conversions and sales were flying in. That little “ugly” page pulled in 90+ units on day one.

Had I waited to “perfect” it, I’d still be tweaking button placement and obsessing over fonts.

So here’s the mindset shift: screw the opinions—even the smart ones—and let the market decide.

Same goes for that guy who built a gorgeous, totally useless website—because his wife wanted it to look pretty. He had two sites: one for show, and one that made him money. Genius, honestly.

Another killer principle?

Always follow up.

Most people launch once, send an email or two, then ghost their list. Why? Because they’re scared of being annoying. Or because they assume “if they wanted it, they would’ve bought.”

Wrong.

Assumptions kill sales.

Clear instructions and relentless follow-up win every time.

But wait—don’t just spam people with junk. Go from “annoying pest” to “welcome guest.” That’s all about knowing your market like your best friend. Their pains, dreams, frustrations. Their favorite podcast. Hell, even their drink order.

Most marketers are lazy. They don’t want to do the work. They want ChatGPT to write their soul for them.

But real empathy—the kind that moves people to buy—can’t be outsourced. Not yet.

So stop overthinking. Stop asking for permission. Get your stuff out there. Get feedback from results, not relatives.

Because in the world of marketing, the only opinion that matters… is the one that comes with a credit card.

Co-author of “No BS Direct Marketing for Non-Direct Marketers” with Dan Kennedy is here to share powerful marketing principles and real-life success stories. 

In this episode, we explore the 10 Commandments of direct marketing, the message-market-media triangle, and how to effectively follow up with your customers. We’ll also discuss how small business owners can get a free copy of the book and use these tactics to improve their businesses. 

Stay tuned for actionable insights and strategies to elevate your marketing game!

This book? It’s not just for parents—it’s for marketers, copywriters, entrepreneurs, and anyone who ever talks to another human being.

Yeah, it’s framed as a parenting book. But if you read it with your “persuasion glasses” on, you’ll see the real gold.

It teaches you how to:

Sound familiar?

That’s basically everything we do in email marketing—except instead of a screaming toddler, you're dealing with distracted subscribers, skeptical buyers, and commitment-phobic customers.

The real genius here? You learn how to get people to want to do what you want them to do. No threats. No bribes. No yelling.

It’s Jedi-level communication... disguised as bedtime story prep.

Read it. Practice it. Then watch your open rates, your conversions—and maybe even your household peace—go through the roof.

I’m the appetizer, not the feast.

I tease, I lure, I’m never least.

Ads and freebies, that’s my game—

But close the sale? Not my aim.

What am I?

Think you've cracked the code? Reply to this email with your guess, and see if you're right!