Breaking Through My Creative Block

The last few weeks, I have been struggling to start a particular project. It’s a data analysis project, involving pivot tables and large data sets in Excel. While I acquired all the information and data sets required to perform the analysis, I just couldn’t start the actual analysis. As someone with a multitude of projects on my plate, I always prioritized other projects above this one. Last week, I figured the time had come. I needed to conquer this project! Today’s blog post is a productivity-focused one, highlighting my experience on how I tackled this project while having a blast.

Mindstate

My New Workspace For The Day

If you’ve been reading my blog over the last few months, you have probably seen that I’m a fan of the Mentorbox book club program. Mentorbox has gotten me reading and learning, while optimizing my valuable time. One of my takeaways from last month’s Mentorbox: According to Terry Sjodin, author of Scrappy, showing up is the most important part of execution. To execute on this very project (or any other challenging project), I just need to show up!

Terry’s advice rings true to me, based on years of personal experience. Every time I experience one of these blocks, I always find that it’s all mental. The anticipation of doing the work is always incredibly different from performing the actual work. I knew I just needed to start, and the rest would be great!

Your Home Base

Over the years, I have learned that your primary office environment is not always the most productive space when one is facing a creative block. When I say "office" here, I’m really referring to your home base, the place were you perform most of your work. If you work at a large corporation, this is likely your corporate headquarters. If you’re a scrappy entrepreneur, this could be your garage. If you’re a consultant, this may be the office of your big clients. (If you’re a really busy consultant, your home "office" may even be an airplane.) Your home base becomes comfortable. It’s easy. When things get too comfortable, complex projects that require creativity and a bit more may look intimidating in that easy environment. Your home base may cause your creative block.

Mixing Up Your Workspace

I used to work in a corporate office environment where it wasn’t easy to leave to actual building. The surrounding community did not offer many places to go, and my schedule was stacked with a plethora of meetings. What did I do when facing a block? I’d literally lock myself in a conference room and draw the shades so nobody could see in. I’d only let myself be interrupted for meetings and emergencies. Otherwise, I would stay in that conference room until the work was complete!

These days, things are a bit different, and I have more flexibility over my workspace. In facing my work block, I decided that I would leave my office for the day, by foot. I would walk around the community, take myself to lunch, Starbucks, the local park, and where I needed to go to feel inspired. I would immerse myself in thought, mix work with exercise (fast walking), and enjoy a new work environment. I would not go back to the office or end my day until the work was complete!

Record Productivity

It just so happened that I had one of my most productive days ever. I found myself working as soon as I set foot out of the office. I worked straight through lunch. I worked for hours at Starbucks. I truly enjoyed the change of pace and produced some of the best analysis in months. In fact, I finished the analysis a bit early, leaving me extra time to jump into another project, all before ending my work day.

Bursts of Energy

A while back, I wrote a blog post about Time Management Tips for Digital Professionals. One of my tips is doubling down on bursts of energy and getting as much work done in a short timeframe as possible. Mixing up my workspace last week not only conquered my creative block, but also instigated a burst of energy where I produced great work in a short period of time.

A New Habit

Also thanks to Mentorbox, I’m actively analyzing and managing my habits these days. I’m improving bad habits and introducing new, great ones. When I run an experiment like this one and have such great results, it’s easy for me to conclude that I have a new habit for my workweek. Each week going forward, you will now find me spending one day "out in the field". In fact, this very data analysis project has a part two that I’d like to conclude this week. As soon as I have the data set required to perform my analysis, I’m going to take another walking venture into my local community to get the work done while having an amazing day!

Image of workspace © PPC Ian

Presenting At The California Self Storage Association

By PPC Ian Leave a Comment Aug 29 0

Recently, I enjoyed the honor of presenting at the California Self Storage Association conference in Redondo Beach, California. My good friend, Ryan Barnhart from G5, and I co-presented 2.5+ hours of digital marketing tips for self storage owners. This was a really fun time, especially after having the honor of presenting at the Self Storage Association Spring Conference in New Orleans earlier this year. Today, I want to share my top takeaways and insights from this experience.

Long-Format Presentations Are Fun: Ryan and I co-presented for 2.5+ hours. This presentation reminded me of my two Stanford Graduate School of Business Workshops from a few years back. There is only so much value one can pack into a shorter presentation. When you can secure a few hours and turn your presentation into a workshop, it’s possible to truly empower the audience. I feel like Ryan and I did exactly that!
Co-Presenting Is The Best: It’s so much more fun to co-present than solo-present, especially when both presenters have unique styles. If you have a big presentation coming up or a big public speaking opportunity, consider approaching the opportunity as a team with a valued colleague. It’s easier to prepare that way, and the audience will get more value from two opinions on the same topic. And, it’s my belief that it’s easier to secure great speaking opportunities because you’re bringing double the value.
Your Network Is Everything: I have been blessed with an incredible network, and I take so much pride in turning business partnerships into personal friendships. (If you check out my Digital Marketing and Business Quotes, you’ll see that quote 3 reads, "It’s all about the people. Turn business partnerships into friendships.") This CSSA speaking opportunity was a really special one, and we didn’t even need to apply! Those organizing the event knew of our prior interest and skill level. They knew we would be a great fit, and brought forth the opportunity. There is nothing better than world class opportunities coming your way because of those that trust and value you. It was a true honor to be selected, and totally underscored the value of building world-class friendships.
Smaller Businesses Are the Best: We had some smaller businesses in the audience (and larger ones too). We had the joy of sharing marketing strategies that actually place smaller operators at a competitive advantage over larger companies (with more money). Sometimes, your very perceived weakness can be your greatest strength. Don’t be afraid to fight above your weight class!
Pre-Presentation Preparation Is Key: Ryan and I have two very different pre-presentation strategies, and I truly love that fact. While I tend to turn inwards and get "in the zone" during my Presentation Warm-up, Ryan takes the different approach of meeting and greeting each audience member as they walk through the door. How neat to see how we approach things differently, and complement each other as presenters.
It’s Totally Worth It: I am actively mentoring a few people, and I consistently push them to seek public speaking opportunities. It’s a ton of work, but it’s always worth it. If you’re on the fence as to whether you should go for it, please do it!

I just got selected for another big upcoming presentation, and am so blessed that these opportunities are coming my way. I’ll definitely update everyone here after my next big public speaking event!

Image of Ian Lopuch and Ryan Barnhart © PPCIan.com

My 15-Day Mentorbox Challenge: Investing In Myself

By PPC Ian Leave a Comment Aug 17 4

Those who have been following PPC Ian for a while know that I’m a huge proponent of Mentorbox by Tai Lopez and Alex Mehr (also known as Mentor Box). In fact, My Mentorbox Review is one of the more popular posts on this blog. And, my three YouTube videos have done quite well too:

Ian Lopuch Mentorbox Stanford University

Ian Lopuch Reading Mentorbox At His Alma Mater, Stanford University

I Have Something To Admit: I Underinvested In Myself Last Month

I have something to admit: Some months I don’t get as much out of Mentorbox as I could. Sometimes I’ll get so busy with work and life that I don’t take the time to invest in myself. I don’t take my own advice! Perhaps I’ll skip one of the books. Or, I’ll forget to watch some of the video content. (Of course, I still get incredible value out of Mentorbox and make sure it’s always present and always a critical part of my self-education.) That being said, I sometimes short change myself by not taking advantage of the entire program. Last month was one of those months. This month will not be the same!

My 15-Day Mentorbox Challenge

Over the next 15 days, I will challenge myself. I will go "all out" and make full use of this month’s Mentorbox, and all of its value. I’m giving myself 15 days (instead of 30) for a few reasons:

I want to "get it done". By shortening the timeframe, I will over-invest in myself this month, early on. I will make myself the priority.
I want to leave a buffer just in case I run over. Rather be safe than sorry.
I want to prove to myself and everyone reading that one can obtain the full value of Mentorbox quite easily. It doesn’t take a huge commitment. Rather, investing in small increments each and every day have big results.
I want to leave extra time to execute upon the breakthroughs and lessons that I learn from this month’s Mentorbox. I want to take theory into practice.

My Personal Mentorbox Diary

I’m ready! Following, you will find my day-by-day 15-Day Mentorbox Challange diary. Each day, I will report back here highlighting what I accomplished, how long it took, and what I learned. Whether you’re an existing Mentorbox customer or considering the program for the first time, I think you’ll find this view of my day-to-day quite helpful and actionable. I hope you enjoy my diary, and don’t forget to scroll to the end, as you’ll find my big takeaways on the other side!

Day 1 (invested about 35 minutes): I started with the intro video by Alex and Jonathan. Helped me frame the two books this month in that they offer tools for me to overcome obstacles that may be holding me back. Jumped into the first video for The Power of Habit by Charles Duhigg. Some takeaways: If you understand habits, you can change them at any scale. 45% of what we do every day is a habit. In a habit, we stop thinking about what we do. Cue awareness is key. What cue is triggering the habit. For every habit, there is a reward. The reward is even more key. You can’t break a habit, but you can change a habit. Insert a new routine to fit the cue and reward. At a high level, started thinking about my own habits, and which ones I want to change. At the top of my list is my habit for frequently checking social media accounts, rather than focusing on other activities.
Day 2 (invested about 40 minutes): Continued to watch The Power of Habit video with author Charles Duhigg. In forming a new habit, need to experience small wins. Need to have reward. Keystone habit: A habit that affects every other habits. Exercise is a keystone habit. Exercise changes how you see yourself. Willpower is like a muscle. It is finite. Willpower depletes throughout the day. Be careful when you use your willpower muscle. Also, find ways to exercise it so it gets stronger. It’s ok to let your willpower rest before a big event/project. Started filling out the workbook. Determined that my queue for social media consumption is taking a break from an intense work. The reward is getting to do something mindless. I’m going to replace my cell phone / social media routine with something else that can produce relaxation: meditation, doing push-ups or sit-ups, walking around the block, or even watching a Mentorbox video.
Day 3 (invested 0 minutes): Sick Day
Day 4 (invested 0 minutes): Sick Day
Day 5 (invested 0 minutes): Sick Day
Day 6 (invested 0 minutes): Sick Day – I learned through the last several days that it’s key (for me) to over-invest in Mentorbox certain days. I have found it easier to chunk my time, making room for the inevitable. I will still get through my Mentorbox 15 day challenge, thanks to the fact that I over-allocated in the beginning, and will continue to do so going forward. I also realized via getting sick and not having the strength to work on Mentorbox the last few days, that my 15 day challenge should be my own personal challenge each and every month. I want to finish ahead of schedule. Aiming for 15 days gives me a 15 day buffer should I run over.
Day 7 (time invested 15 minutes): I completed watching The Power of Habit video and completed my workbook. I will introduce the following new habits into my life. (New Routine 1) In addition to filling out my Five Minute Journal, my morning routine will now include 10 minutes of Bible reading and at least 10 minutes of Mentorbox (or reading) every single morning. (New Routine 2) I will film a weekly video on investing for my YouTube channel. I have been on a roughly every other week cadence, and will changing this to every week. (Bad Habit Change) Also, as discussed previously, I will be eliminating my cell phone / social media habit. I have a variety of alternate routines that I’ll be testing to substitute that habit. Thanks to this Mentorbox, I have not only identified these new and old habits, but also have the tools and frameworks to experience success.
Day 8 (time invested 40 minutes): Started watching the video for the second book this month, Scrappy by Terry Sjodin. Some takeaways: Being scrappy allows you to stand out from the masses. Don’t ever settle. Being scrappy allows you to achieve your goals faster. Scrappy ideas have the potential to blow past traditional approaches. There is usually a back door that will be cheaper, faster, and easier. Scrappy people get irritated enough that they will no longer accept the status quo. What is something you complain about? How can you change it? You are responsible for changing your circumstances. Even small efforts can make a difference. Trick your brain with discomfort to get it into a different thought pattern. Always create an audacious goal. We all create excuses and self-sabotage our big goals. Don’t "not try" because you’ve already decided in your head it won’t work. Don’t have to score on every play, just advance the ball. Nurture networking relationships that allow you to get elegant introductions to others. Felt that I was losing attention at the end of 40 minutes, so probably try to keep to a maximum of 30 minutes per day going forward.
Day 9 (time invested 35 minutes): Continued watching the video for Scrappy by Terry Sjodin. Some more takeaways: If your first strategy does not work, you may need to try a second or third time. Don’t give up. Your brainstorming creative time can be in the shower or during a run. Your strategy has to be in alignment with your core values and your brand, but also needs to be in alignment with the recipient’s expectations. If someone says "no", it’s not the end of the game. Sometimes the win is immediate, sometimes the win can come years later. What you do today will have a lasting impact. Showing up is the most important part of execution. (This is huge.) Put yourself in the game. Keep a journal of your progress. Mentorship is protege-driven.
Day 10: Found real-world organizational application of The Power of Habit by Charles Duhigg. Mentorbox is making me better at my job, and making me look really good at work! I finished this Mentorbox book just in time to experience the benefits at work.
Day 11: Took day off, got caught up in work and had to skip Mentorbox.
Day 12: Took another day off, got caught up in work and had to skip Mentorbox.
Day 13 (time invested 25 minutes): Decided to skip ahead to the bonus workshop before filling out the Scrappy memorization booklet. Watched the Reach Out by Molly Beck bonus workshop video! My takeaways: What is the difference between my average friends and my super successful friends? It really comes down to who you know. Your business and your social network. Helps you in both good and bad times. You have to make active and conscious decisions to build your network. Doesn’t matter if you are an introvert, just have to reach out. The one thing that will change your life: Make reaching out a daily habit. Every single day, reach out to a new person. Put it into your calendar. Put it into your schedule. Five days a week (workdays only). Who do you reach out to? You need to start with five names. There are contacts in your phone right now that have gone to the shadows. What articles are you reading? What blogs are you reading? What books? These are influencers you may want to reach out to. Who do you look up to? Who would you like as a mentor? Any connection is give and take. You need to give something, then you should also have a favor to ask. Have a call to action. Filled out workbook and determined five people I’m going to reach out to. Also remembered my People Day and People Database and realized I need to do another one of these, as it’s way overdue.
Day 14 (time invested 25 minutes): Completed the Scrappy memorization booklet. While I have a variety of virtual mentors (such as the Mentorbox program), I have been struggling to decide (1) who I should target as a real life mentor and (2) how I will approach them. I experienced a breakthrough in this particular book, and identified a few people I would like to target. Additionally, this memorization booklet helped me form a strategy to take one of my companies, IJL Productions, to the next level.
Day 15: I finished early. Gives me more time to execute on my action items from this month’s amazing Mentorbox.

Summary and Conclusion: My 15-Day Mentor Box Challenge

I impressed myself. I experienced Mentorbox like never before and successfully completed my challenge. And, four days were sick days, two days were days off, and one day was extra since I finished early. Moral of the story: I experienced the entire benefit of this program with only 8 days invested! This is critical because it gives me extra time to really take the theory and put it into action, in my life.

Also, time commitment in terms of raw hours was not bad either. I ended up investing 215 minutes, or 3.58 hours. Taking 215 and dividing by 30, I get 7.16 minutes/day if I did theoretically spread over 30 days (one month), although that will not be my strategy going forward since I just don’t work like that. I have proved that Alex and Jonathon are right, you really can change your life with just a few minutes per day invested!

Support Me: I’ll Be Forever Grateful If You Use My Mentor Box Affiliate Link

Stanford University (My Alma Mater) Is The Perfect Place To Take In Mentor Box

I care about everyone reading and want you to experience the growth that I have experienced in my career and life. If you found this blog post helpful and you plan on signing up for Mentorbox, I would be forever grateful if you sign up via My Mentorbox Affiliate Link. You will pay the same price that you otherwise would, and I will receive a commission that helps pay the bills here at PPC Ian. Readers like you who choose to support PPC Ian make an incredible difference in my life and the lives of everyone reading. I thank you for your continued support and wish you all of the success in the world. And, I’m happy to answer questions and help in any way I can. If you have a question, please feel free to ask below! Here’s to your future!

My New Mentorbox 15-Day Challenge Video

I just created a YouTube video to complement this blog post. Want to learn even more about my 15-Day Challenge? I hope you enjoy my video review!

My Latest Mentorbox Challenge

I just published a new Mentorbox blog post! This one features my 7-Day Challenge and ponders the question, Is Mentorbox Worth It? (Hint: Of course it is.) I’m really proud of my latest post. If you liked this one, you are sure to find incredible value in my new post as well. In addition to featuring a 25-minute video, my newest Mentorbox post shares my latest and greatest tips and strategies for getting the most out of this amazing self-education program.

Affiliate Disclosure: I am a Mentorbox affiliate. If you find my review helpful and end up purchasing via my affiliate link, I will earn a commission and be grateful for your support.

Images in this post © PPCIan.com

Lessons Learned From Running 5K Races

By PPC Ian Leave a Comment Jul 7 1

This is the sport where everyone truly comes together. I’m talking about my favorite sport in the world, running. Over the past few months, my wife, son, and I have participated in four separate 5K races. Over the last few years, 5K races have become a family tradition. This incredible sport has the power to transform our world.

Ever since high school, my favorite sport has been cross-country running. I am significantly better at swimming, and enjoy that sport as well, however there’s something about running that intrigues me. In addition to the fact that it brings everyone together, I love the distance covered, the scenic views, the diversity of terrain, and the thrill of pushing further and faster with each run. You may be thinking, "This blog is all about business, digital marketing, and sometimes investing, Ian. Why are you writing about running?" I personally believe that there is a huge tie between the mental side of things and the physical. I’m thrilled to share life lessons I have personally learned from running.

Lesson 1: It’s All About Pushing Through

When I train, I’m typically running about 5 or 6 miles at a time. I exclusively train with hills because I like a good challenge. I have always found that around mile two (right before the half way point), everything gets easier. I’m actually approaching some of the most difficult terrain of the journey (steepest hills), yet things just start flowing. I attribute this to the phenomenon known as "runners high". There’s a point where you cross your largest challenge, and things just start getting easier.

I believe the same is true in life, business, and investing. Far too many people give up when they reach challenging times. The challenges seem to pile up, just as the summit of my run. It’s difficult to see past the challenges since the hills are so steep. However, it’s often at this very moment that you’ll get a surprise. In the case of running, it’s the endorphins kicking in (or runners high). In the case of life, I believe it’s a little help from up above. The moral of the story: Don’t give up. When things keep getting more difficult, know that you are incredibly close to your big breakthrough. Persistence is the name of the game.

Lesson 2: Sportsmanship Is Alive And Well

Over the years, I have participated in a multitude of 5K runs. Some are more fun than others. My personal favorite is the annual Lupus 5K in beautiful Saratoga, CA. I actually just completed this 5K, along with my wife and son. There is a great cause behind this event: Raising money and awareness to find a cure for Lupus. The event is team oriented and often teams are rallying around someone they personally know with Lupus.

I have found that this event is really special, and am proud to call it my favorite 5K run. It’s hard to explain, but when you are in this race, you feel a common bond with everyone there. Everyone is so kind, so well-spirited, and in it for the greater good. Nobody is trying to "win". Nobody is trying to beat their neighbor and cut around others. While I was participating in this race, I had one thing on my mind and that was giving it my all to truly support Lupus. I even found myself praying for those with Lupus. I imagine that others felt a similar experience and that is why the sportsmanship at this race is so amazing.

In business, it often becomes extremely competitive. We’re competitive with one another. (Who will get promoted first?) We’re competitive with our competitors. (Can we beat the competition?) We can lose sight of the big picture. Running provides the perfect framework for business. Look at everything from a team perspective.

A real world example: In the self storage industry, we are sometimes out of a certain unit size (they are all taken). We make a point of referring potential customers on these units to our "competitors" down the street. At the end of the day, we don’t even look at other facilities as competitors, we look at them as friends and neighbors. It’s all about good sportsmanship.

Lesson 3: It’s Your Race

I participated in four 5K races recently. Of all the races, the San Carlos Fun Run felt the most competitive. It’s in a town that has incredible athletes and the runners take this event with complete seriousness.

I ran my heart out in all races. I would say that I had the most people pushing me to do my best in San Carlos since it was a close race and people were actively passing each other to get an edge at the finish line. The interesting fact: I ran the fastest (by far) in the Redwood City 4th of July Parade Run, even though I literally had nobody pushing me other than myself.

At the end of the day, it’s your race and nobody else’s. Running is a sport where you are pushing yourself to do your personal best. The only thing that pushed me in the 4th of July Parade Run were the thoughts and prayers running through my mind.

In business, it’s so easy to compare yourself to others. Am I making enough money? Why does somebody else have more responsibility than me? Is my title good enough? The list goes on… Rather than compare oneself to others, why not focus on your personal race. After twelve years in pure play digital marketing roles, I said, "To heck with it. Why not take a completely different route and pursue my dreams of investing full time." It was an unconventional move, but has paid great dividends in a variety of ways. Remember that this life is your race alone. Benchmarking against others can be helpful at times, but the most important benchmark is yourself.

Lesson 4: Take Time To Meditate

Any of us with a digital marketing background know that ads are everywhere in this digital age. It’s difficult to get a moment to oneself. The noise is always there. Aside from ads, we all have persistently growing checklists, phone calls, work. It can become really "loud" in one’s life. I have found running to be the perfect avenue for meditation. I like to run long distances. I like to push myself and feel the pain. It is in this precise moment that the noise goes away. I can meditate and pray. I can reflect. Whether it’s running or something completely different, I challenge you to find your avenue for unplugging. Find that time. This is when you will have your best ideas and gain inspiration to fuel your best work.

Lesson 5: Mix An Active Lifestyle Into Your Business Routine

We live in a unique age where we are "always on". Personal time and business time no longer exist. It’s business and personal 24/7. The two blend together. I joke with my wife that I am all about the "athleasure" lifestyle, and it’s true. These days, I mainly wear sneakers and Lululemon clothes. In fact, I feel like I have a shopping addition for both. Throughout the day, I’ll take random breaks to get in a few pushups, jump lunges, or even a quick sprint. For me, the active lifestyle fuels energy, thought, success, and overall happiness. While I still plan longer workouts like my runs and swims, I also like to incorporate impromptu, high intensity training. My advice: Consider bringing this active lifestyle into your life and office. There’s nothing wrong with someone doing some pushups or crunches in the middle of the corporate office. In fact, I hope this becomes the routine.

Lesson 6: We Are The Human Family

I have seen this theme emerge a variety of places recently. As an avid student of life and someone growing in my spirituality, I have learned that we are all part of the human family. We are each a cell in a greater being, a collective being. There is no event where this becomes more apparent (to me, at least) than a 5K race. Each time I complete one of these 5K races, I try to take the good vibes with me wherever I go. It’s all about what one can do for the greater human family.

Thanks for reading. Do you enjoy running? Any lessons you have learned from sports?

Facebook Ads: Are You Allocating As Much As Google AdWords?

By PPC Ian Leave a Comment May 28 1

Are you allocating a similar marketing budget on Facebook Ads as Google AdWords? Here’s how I look at it, at a high level… As of today, Alphabet (the parent company behind Google) has a market capitalization is $678.9 billion. Facebook’s market cap is $440.9 billion. $440.9 billion / $678.9 billion implies that Facebook is about 64.5% the size of Alphabet. Given Facebook’s size and scale, it’s perfectly reasonable to allocate 64.5% as much money on Facebook Ads. So, if you’re spending $100,000/month on AdWords, you may want to consider spending $64,500 on Facebook Ads.

This allocation is far from reality for many digital marketers. Why? A lot of the digital marketing leaders (myself included) grew up on Google AdWords. AdWords is ingrained in our minds. We know it, it works really well, and that’s where we have historically prioritized our budgets. And, AdWords is bottom-of-funnel so it’s easier to measure success from an attribution standpoint.

That being said, things have evolved. These days, I’m the greatest fan of Facebook around, and am constantly discovering new ways to drive success on this incredible platform. On the fun side of things, I have over 100,000 fans on my PPC Ian Facebook Fan Page. On the business / professional side of things, I manage dozens of Facebook pages and advertising campaigns for our local stores, delivering hyper-local content on a daily basis. I have learned that top-of-funnel social media marketing (with appropriate tracking) drives impressive results when executed properly. And, it keeps getting better. Instagram, for example, is a complete game-changer for Facebook advertisers.

Today, I’m excited to share an eBook I recently read that provides incredible insights for anyone advertising on Facebook. I’m talking about Acquisio’s Guide to Facebook Advertising Success, a collaboration with Vector Media Group. Following are some of my favorite takeaways, broken down by section. Rather than elaborating upon each specific insight, I’m listing them here so you can quickly look for them once downloading the eBook.

Strategy #1: Talk to Your target Audience

Facebook offers over 970 targeting variables.
Via data partnerships, Facebook offers some truly unique targeting options.
When targeting on Facebook, don’t go too broad. Stay focused. A few hundred people is a great target audience, but don’t go lower.
While nearly impossible manually, scale with personalization is possible with Acquisio Social.

Strategy #2: Craft Creatives That Convert

Literally let users see themselves in your photos.
90% of accounts don’t leverage CTA (call-to-action). Don’t be one of them!
CTR (click-through-rate) is critical for your relevancy score (Facebook’s equivalent to Google’s quality score). Always focus on CTR.

Strategy #3: Test Your Way to Traffic

Get rid of ads that are not working so they don’t drag down your entire account.
Download the free eBook to learn all about view-through vs. click-through conversions, and exactly how much value Acquisio and Vector Media recommend giving view-throughs. (In my opinion, this is one of the single biggest elements in scaling your Facebook budget.)
Learn how Acquisio Social can empower your advertising campaign with multivariate testing.

Strategy #4: Data Driven Decision Making

Learn about Facebook and Google Analytics integration.
Leverage Facebook data to empower your Google AdWords advertising and vice versa. Learn how Facebook can help power Google RSLA (Remarketing Lists for Search Ads). Uncover how Facebook Custom Audiences can scale with help from your Google data (one of my personal favorite Facebook targeting frameworks).

Strategy #5: Bid on What Matters

Learn about the differences between CPC and CPM bidding. Find out which one works better on Facebook. (In my opinion, this is another one of the greatest lessons in this eBook. I have discovered a similar result via years of testing. Pay attention to this section as bidding is super important and different on Facebook.)
Learn about the different placements and which one converts the best.

I really enjoyed this free eBook. One of my favorite quotes: "With the knowledge and techniques shared in this eBook, there is no reason Facebook should be getting less spend than AdWords, Bing or your other channels, unless you have an attribution model to prove it!" I could not agree more. Whether you’re behind on your Facebook Advertising program or are a Facebook pro, I’m sure you’ll learn quite a bit from Acquisio’s eBook.

If you’d like to learn a little bit more about the companies behind this publication, here are some quick insights:

Acquisio is a performance media solution that enables digital marketers to optimize their search campaigns and report on social, mobile and display initiatives. With a focus on cutting-edge machine learning algorithms and also leveling the playing field for all advertisers (small, medium, and large alike), Acquisio is truly a robust platform. More than anything, they are a team of incredible professionals. In fact, their CEO (and personal friend), is quite involved in Charity and Giving, something that resonates with me personally. Way to go, Acquisio and Marc Poirier!
Vector Media Group is an award-winning digital agency located in NYC. Their full-service agency specializes in web development, design & branding, and digital marketing. While I just learned about Vector via this eBook, I’m quite impressed with everything they are doing and the content they are sharing with marketers like you and me. Thanks, Vector!

Image in this post © Acquisio

Angel Investing: My Approach

By PPC Ian Leave a Comment May 3 1

Recently, I made two angel investments in startup technology companies, signifying my first angel investments in five years. As someone who is a true dividend growth investor, I tend to be incredibly picky when it comes to early stage opportunities. Typically, I stick to big name blue chip companies that have:

Dock and Water

Long track records of raising dividends year-after-year
Huge cash on hand, huge cash flow, and very little (or no) debt
Competitive moats (barriers to entry) that are almost impossible to overcome
Compelling prospects for many decades into the future (my horizon is: never sell)

That being said, I am a Silicon Valley business executive who truly gets excited about early stage companies, especially in the high tech arena. From time-to-time, I’m able to find a great pre-IPO angel opportunity and I’ll go for it. Today, I want to share my personal philosophy on how I approach these types of investments.

Invest In People

At the end of the day, I will only invest in angel companies where I personally know the founder. Small companies can be risky. Small companies oftentimes have to pivot their business strategy. My last angel investment from about 5 years ago is a perfect example of this. I invested in a business that has completely transformed over the years. While the original model had to evolve, the team pulled through and built an incredible, thriving business. In fact, what they have built now is even more exciting than what I ever imagined in the beginning.

With small companies, you are investing in people. It is impossible to invest in a person unless you have a friendship with them. While this can greatly limit your opportunities, it can help you make accurate decisions based on character, intelligence, leadership skills, and sweat equity.

I’m able to quickly filter towards people who are "going places". These are the people I invest in, when the opportunity arises. Build your ability to read people and surround yourself with people that are going places.

Be Patient

It’s a pet peeve of mine that people these days list all of their angel investments on their LinkedIn profiles. I understand if you are a venture capitalist or full time angel investor that this may be important because of your profession. In that case, it makes logical sense to me. However, if your career is somewhere other than venture capital or angel investing, I personally suggest keeping things more confidential. Sure, you may want to list one or two investments, especially if you have taken a large-commitment advisory role or board of directors role.

However, I feel sometimes like people are just investing in a lot of companies to make themselves look more "legit" on LinkedIn. I feel like some of these people are rushing into a lot of investments without exercising patience. Also, they may even be spreading their capital (and time) too thin, without really going big on the investments that matter. This isn’t a popularity contest, this is investing capital for your and your family’s future. The greatest investor around, Warren Buffet, has described his investment strategy as lethargic. He has no problem waiting around for years (or even a decade if he has to) for the right opportunity.

I’m really trying to encourage patience here. There is no rush. There is no need to impress anyone online with your investments. Wait for the right pitch, even if it takes five years (as in my case).

Cultivate Relationships

The best angel investment opportunities are not open to just anyone. Those that have a good thing going don’t need just anyone’s money. They can be picky. They can choose investors who can add value to the company (and they absolutely should). If you have a friend who is building a unique business, understand how you may be able to add value. Can you do some part time consulting to help them out? Can you offer some advice? Are you willing to be on their board of advisors? Are you willing to be patient, until they are ready for your investment? The best investments take time to cultivate. Don’t be in a hurry. Keep your eye on the long-term. More than anything, be a friend and do the right thing for your friendship.

Focus on Financial Performance

I only invest in angel opportunities that exhibit the following combination of qualities:

Strong top-line revenue growth (I will not invest in companies pre-revenue).
Reasonably strong earnings (It’s ok for an early stage company to break even or even slightly lose in an effort to reinvest in the business, but it’s not ok to lose a ton of money).
Strong assets (Whether the assets be intellectual property, an amazing platform, or even world-class domain names, I like to invest in companies that have tangible value).
Willing and able to share financial statements: balance sheet, income statement, cash flows, and other financial documents upon request. (Invest in those teams that are willing to offer transparency.)

Be a Lawyer

I’m proud that my roots are in digital marketing because that profession taught me many skills across disciplines. One area where I feel I am quite strong is the review of legal documents and contracts. When investing in early stage companies, make sure to review all of the documents thoroughly. If something does not look right to you, offer to redline the document yourself (or with the help of your counsel, if you prefer). When it comes to these types of investments, it’s often good to have another pair of eyes as well to make sure all the documents look perfect.

And, don’t feel bad if you missed something. In one investment I just entered, we later found a minor typo. I drafted an amendment and we immediately executed the amendment. (Another reason to invest in people you trust and know.)

Know Where You Stand

As companies raise money, it’s important to understand where you stand. Get your hands on the cap table. The cap table, typically an Excel document, will feature the various rounds of funding, who invested, how many shares each person owns, the valuation at each round of funding, and so much more. This is a living document that you should use for your personal records as well. Angel investments can be illiquid. When the liquidity event comes ten or fifteen years from now, it’s always helpful to have the original cap table so you know your exact level of ownership.

Have A Long-Term Approach

Publicly-traded stocks are liquid. You can buy and sell whenever the market is open. Angel investments are not. Your money could be tied up for an incredibly long time. I approach angel investments with no expectation of getting my money back. I’m not saying this in a negative way. I only invest in companies I truly believe will thrive and flourish. Rather, I’m saying this in the most positive way that I’m a long-term partner. I want to leave my money in the investment as long as possible, so it can keep growing. And, that’s what often happens with illiquid investments anyways.

Get Creative

While I’ve successfully completed a handful of angel investments outside of work, most of my private company investments have come via work. In my earlier career, I made a habit of working for pre-IPO companies on the ascendency. Via my hard work and sweat equity, I was rewarded stock options. These stock options allowed me to eventually own shares in three successful early stage companies (one bought out by private equity for $1.2 bln, one went public, and one had a division acquired for $100 mln with shareholders retaining equity in the rest of the business). These days, I’m a Partner at a commercial real estate firm and plan on building up a real estate portfolio, over time, through hard work and sweat equity. If you don’t have a lot of money to be an angel investor and want to be one, go the employment route. Choose your employers wisely.

That being said, don’t rule out publicly-traded companies. Stock options are still valuable at publicly-traded companies as well, and I lived that scenario first hand as well.

Diversify

On a closing note, I want to reiterate that angel investing is very attractive because it’s the "cool thing". I worry that the allure of it draws people in for the wrong reasons and also convinces them to take undue risk (too much money invested in companies that have not been fully researched and proven). I personally like to diversify and keep these types of investments as a smaller part of my portfolio. Even if one of my investments fails, I can sleep at night knowing that I have diversified wisely.

All this being said, I do want to say that there is something special about investing in people, which brings me back to my first point. Angel investing is unique in that you are really helping make dreams come true for people that are important to you. That is amazing and should be celebrated.

Disclaimer: This blog post is for entertainment purposes only. I am not a licensed investment advisor and this is not investment advice. Please consult your licensed investment advisor before making any investment decisions (including angel investments).

The Day of Your Big Presentation: How To Prepare

By PPC Ian Leave a Comment Mar 31 0

I just had the honor of presenting a session titled Expert Marketing With A Lean Team at the Self Storage Association Spring conference in New Orleans. Christine Munther from G5 and I co-presented, and I believe we hit the ball out of the park, driving substantial value and motivation for the audience. I could tell based on the huge attendance (packed room with standing room only) and the incredibly engaged audience (wonderful questions). Today, I want to share the tips that I personally leveraged to put myself in a state of peak performance for our presentation. I hope that you can gain value from these warm up strategies so your next large-audience presentation is your personal best.

Tip 1: Focus On Your Mindstate

The Empty SSA Auditorium Before Our Big Presentation

When I woke up the day of my presentation, I was actually quite tired. It had been a long flight the day before and I didn’t get a ton of sleep due to the time change. That being said, I was able to quickly turn my mindstate into peak performance zone by leveraging my Five Minute Journal. (If you have not checked out my Five Minute Journal Review yet, I highly recommend doing so, as this tool is a game-changer.) The interesting part here is I actually forgot to bring my physical journal, but I was able to recreate The Five Minute Journal (minus the motivational quote) on a piece of blank paper.

Importantly, I set forth three goals for the day, only one related to my presentation. The others involved exercising at the gym and successfully completing an investment project I had been working on. I think this point is key: Don’t just focus on your presentation. Focus on you. Make the day exciting beyond your presentation so you don’t get overly focused and anxious about your public speaking. Your best presentations happen when you are relaxed.

Tip 2: Go To The Gym

I’m a big fan of the healthy lifestyle. I try to do something that benefits my health each and every day. I have learned that the mind and body are closely connected. I have also learned the working out can release positive endorphins and put you in a state of peak performance. In the morning, I did some moderate cardio and also some heavy weights (but not for too long). I didn’t want to exhaust myself for my big presentation, but I wanted to do something for me. I wanted to make sure I enjoyed a relaxed state before getting on stage.

Tip 3: Practice Early

Ian Lopuch and Christine Munther Self Storage Association (SSA) Conference

Ian Lopuch & Christine Munther Presenting at SSA

Christine and I met early and practiced our presentation in the same auditorium of our actual event. I think the location element here is key. Get familiar with your auditorium, if you’re able to get access. Get used to the environment.

When we practiced, we purposefully made it more of an informal conversation. We did not go over every single point. We did not use our full voices. It’s important to conserve your energy and leave room for improvisation during the actual event. Save your personal best for the real deal, and go easy and light during the practice run.

As a practical matter, we also answered some important questions during our practice run. Would we stand on stage or roam the floor? Would we use the microphone at the podium or use lav mics? It’s great to develop your personal answers to these questions and more during the practice run.

Tip 4: Leave Time To Think

Before our big event, I took it relatively easy. I enjoyed the expo hall and some friendly conversations. I had a nice lunch and met some new faces. I left time to just sit and think (mostly thinking through speaking points in my mind). You can go about your day at more of a normal pace after the presentation. Before, it’s important to take it a little light and conserve your energy (especially mental energy). Always remember when going to a conference: You came there to get a job done. All focus needs to be placed towards that goal until it’s successfully accomplished.

Tip 5: Conserve Your Voice

This tip is an extension of the last one. I often find at these conferences that I lose my voice from so much networking. It’s loud and we all tend to speak in loud voices and with more frequency than normal. Make sure this doesn’t happen on the day of your big presentation. Conserve your voice. You can always power network right after (which is exactly what I did).

Tip 6: Don’t Worry About Your Slides

Public speaking is all about connecting with the audience. It’s all about improvising and telling a personal story. While slides can be helpful, I personally recommend speaking as if there are no slides at all. The point here: Your slides don’t really matter (as much as you think). By the time you have arrived at your conference, no additional changes to your slides are going to help. You’ve already done all you can do on that front. Now is the time to really get in that zone so you can speak from the heart and connect with the audience. The slides are just there to support you.

Tip 7: Don’t Eat Too Much

This is a funny one, but I have always found that it’s best to go light and very healthy on days of presentations. You don’t want to have a full stomach when you are about to present. I have found that the body is in peak performance for speaking with a moderate/low amount of food. In fact, I approach this in a similar fashion to sports. I don’t eat a ton of food before an 8-mile run. Rather, I eat that big meal right after. Treat your public speaking like a sporting event.

Tip 8: Talk To A Friend Or Two For Motivation

Your inner circle is key. I’m talking about your family and your very close friends. Ask them to wish you good luck. Leverage their words of encouragement to get excited about your event. Be careful here to not involve anyone who could potentially bring any negativity to the matter.

Tip 9: Start Getting Pumped Up

Right before your event is to start (about 15 minutes before), start moving from a state of calm to a state of controlled excitement. Now, the sports event is about to start. You’ll want to have all of your energy. You want to be a dynamic speaker that is happy and excited to be there. Don’t go too crazy, but walk around and maybe even do a few pushups.

Tip 10: Leverage Positive Images

Right before we went on stage (1-2 minutes before), I viewed photos of my amazing family. These photos brought a smile to my face and reminded me that family is more important than anything. These positive photos put my mind at ease and allowed me to transition into one of my personal best presentations.

In Summary

There is so much work that goes into preparing for a great presentation. In order to prepare for our hour-long presentation, we spent countless days building slides and handouts. That work is so important, as it’s the foundation of one’s presentation. At the same time, I believe that the tips mentioned above are the true game-changers. It all comes down to the single moment of one’s presentation and you have to be in the right state. It’s game day and you have to treat it as such.

As a bonus tip, I highly recommend a strategy of gratitude as well. There are many wonderful speakers out there with incredible stories to tell. Securing a large public speaking event is a big deal. Once your presentation is over, make sure to thank the conference organizers – verbally, via email, and also with a small gift. Your honor of presenting is due to some really special people who deserve thanks. And, of course, thank the audience too. Their time is incredibly valuable and you should strive to add lasting value in their lives.

I hope these tips help and wish you all the best in your next public speaking event.

Images in this post © PPCIan.com

Speaking At The Self Storage Association (SSA) Spring, 2017 Conference

By PPC Ian Leave a Comment Mar 20 0

Last week, I had the pleasure of presenting at the Self Storage Association (SSA) Spring, 2017 conference in beautiful New Orleans, Louisiana. Christine Munther from G5, my friend and business partner, and I co-presented on the topic of Expert Marketing With A Lean Team: Get Bigger Results With Fewer Resources. Today, I want to share my experience speaking at this conference and some of my big takeaways.

Two Years In Planning

Ian Lopuch & Christine Munther Presenting at SSA

I view life as a series of seasons. During the different seasons, there are different areas of focus. Almost two years ago, I shifted careers from an Internet technology company to a commercial real estate development company. As someone who was previously speaking on a routine basis, I went somewhat silent at my new role. It was not the season for me to speak. It was the season for me to have my head down, learn, innovate, and build something new. Even if you love public speaking, it’s ok to have times in your life where you just focus on the work. In fact, I did this intentionally and used the reward of public speaking as a motivator. I told myself: "Ian, it’s time to focus and build a truly unique and amazing marketing machine. Once that is done, you will have the most wonderful topic for public speaking at SSA." Last week, I had the opportunity to share my story from the last two years. It was time for my season to change and focus outward again.

Submit Your Pitch Early

Ian Lopuch (PPC Ian) Having Fun In New Orleans

When I had this idea to present on marketing with a lean team, I immediately reached out to one of my most strategic business partners, G5. I knew that one plus one would equal three (or more) in this case. After all, G5 is the platform that powers our websites and so much more. Leveraging the G5 Marketing Cloud platform and partnership to achieve great scale, G5 and I shoulder my marketing program as a team.

In order to submit our pitch to SSA, we needed to get a really early start. In fact, we submitted our pitch in October of 2016 (almost six months in advance of the conference). As a reminder to myself and everyone reading: If you have a great idea for a conference, make sure to start planning and submit your plan early!

Marketing Your Presentation

Even before we arrived at the conference, we created a fun trailer for our session on YouTube. We shared this trailer with the Self Storage Association and also on our personal social media profiles. As two marketing professionals speaking about marketing, we just had to market our own presentation, right? We had a lot of fun doing this, and wanted to share the strategy for any of you speaking at a conference in the future. Get out there and help drive even more people to your presentation!

Day of The Event

Ian Lopuch and Christine Munther Public Speaking Self Storage Association

Ian Lopuch and Christine Munther Sharing Knowledge About Digital Marketing at SSA

Christine and I hit the ball out of the park. All of the seats were filled in our auditorium and many folks were standing. Moreover, I did not see anyone leave during our presentation. Those in the audience asked incredible questions and were truly engaged (self storage professionals, you all are the best!).

Christine and I had so much fun because we were speaking about a topic of great personal interest and passion. Having the opportunity to co-present was so much fun. I always enjoy co-presenting vs. solo-presenting because of the teamwork, the conversational style of the presentation, and the fact the audience gets multiple perspectives. At the end of the day, the only purpose of these presentations is driving lasting value to the audience, and that’s exactly what we attempted to achieve.

I really believe that this presentation was one of my personal best, and it all came down to preparation, focus, and "game day" strategy. In fact, on the plane flight home, I wrote a nearly 1,500-word blog post featuring my game day presentation strategy. Stay tuned, it shall be the next blog post here on PPC Ian and features some really neat insights that took me years of speaking to fully master.

First Time To New Orleans

Ian Lopuch (PPC Ian) Enjoying Fun Times in Jackson Square, New Orleans

I love leveraging conferences and speaking opportunities to explore the world. I was so happy that our presentation was accepted for the Fall 2017 Self Storage Conference because this conference was hosted in New Orleans, Louisiana. Having never visited New Orleans before, I was thrilled to learn that this event was right in the center of it all: The New Orleans Marriott just steps from Jackson Square and the French Quarter.

Before our presentation, my complete focus was on getting my job done. I came to this conference to do a great job speaking and add value to the audience. Once I completed my job, I also enjoyed some personal time exploring the city. I have to say that sitting on the park bench at Jackson Square and listening to the beautiful Southern Jazz music was a personal highlight. With temperatures in the high 60s and low 70s, a nice breeze, and the best sights/music ever, I really had a time to remember. And, the incredibly delicious food did not hurt either. Even though I’m truly focused on health these days, I broke my rules to enjoy some authentic New Orleans beignets and they were so delicious.

Ian Lopuch Jeffrey Shouse Colliers International Team

Jeffrey Shouse, Ian Lopuch, and the Colliers International Team at SSA 2017

The Conference

Aside from my personal speaking experience and enjoying New Orleans, I also had the pleasure of attending the SSA conference. Having been to another SSA conference in Las Vegas, I knew what to expect: A world-class experience. Some of my highlights:

Running into familiar faces and power networking. Whether it was celebrating with G5 after our successful presentation, my dinner with Elizabeth from RealtyMogul, spending hours with my good friend Pedro from Self Storage Management Company, fun times with Jeffrey Shouse and the Colliers International Team, or running into a host of other friends, this is a conference where it was all about networking. I packed weeks/months worth of networking value into just a few days.
Running into new faces. It has been said that your network is your net worth, and I really believe in that quote. More than that, I just like people and making new friends. I had the opportunity to meet some true leaders at this conference and went home with a stack of business cards. And, I plan on following up with all of them.
New technologies. With my background in Silicon Valley technology, I always have an eye for bringing the latest and greatest innovations to our company. At this SSA conference, I was more impressed than ever before. With a host of new technologies to try, SSA made my 2017 technology roadmap even more robust.
The right mix. I’ve been to conferences before where it seems like there is either too much or too little. I’m talking about the overall level of content and intensity. I would say that the professionals at SSA got the mix perfectly right: They have this down to a science.
Notes. You probably know by now that I’m really strong at typing. After all, I wouldn’t have all these lengthy articles on PPC Ian without my fast typing skills. Just as you would expect, I left SSA with pages of notes. I was typing down self storage industry insights as quickly as possible

I’m grateful for so much in life, including beautiful music and the inspired musicians who change our world one song at a time.

Gratitude

In the world of public speaking, it is all about the audience. The sole job of the speaker is to empower, motivate, educate, and leave lasting value for the audience. That’s a big responsibility! Of course, public speaking is also advantageous for the presenter because it’s a big deal and an honor. I wanted to share my extreme gratitude with Ginny and the entire Self Storage Association team. You had many pitches to choose from and you trusted Christine and myself. We sincerely hope that we exceeded your expectations and truly thank you for the honor of presenting at this world-class conference. We also look forward to future opportunities as well.

We want to thank each and every person in the audience. We hope we made great use of your hour and left actionable insights for immediate implementation in your marketing programs. Please do not hesitate to reach out if you were at the conference and have any questions for Christine or myself.

More Fun Photos

The Five Minute Journal: My Review and Experience

By PPC Ian Leave a Comment Feb 27 4

Ian Lopuch The Five Minute Journal The growth I have experienced in the last few years has been tremendous on all fronts. One of the main drivers behind my growth has been a thirst for adopting the latest and greatest practices that fuel winners. I recently signed up for Mentor Box and have experienced outstanding knowledge, motivation, and excitement from their wonderful program. For busy professionals with lofty goals like myself, I view Mentor Box as a game-changer. Today, I’m excited to share with all of you another game-changer: The Five Minute Journal (my affiliate link).

I actually just reached my one year anniversary since I made The Five Minute Journal part of my daily routine. Let’s start with the basics: How did I get started with this journal that I now carry everywhere with me?

My Five Minute Journal Story: How It All Started

Almost two years ago, I made an exciting career jump! I went from the environment of a large publicly traded company to the wild and exciting world of commercial real estate development. This transition marked a big change in my career. Instead of managing some of the largest digital marketing budgets on the Internet with the support of a huge team, I became an entrepreneur. While our company has been around for 40 years, I opened our new Bay Area office and am responsible for the next phase of growth in the greater Northern California area.

I have found that change is good, and change can ignite growth. I have also found that lots of change tends to happen at once. This wasn’t just a time for career change. I wanted to grow faster, learn more, get in better shape, embrace spirituality, increase my happiness, and so much more. (As a side note: There was nothing wrong with my prior career. In fact, I loved it. It was great, and shaped my ability to take on this new role. It’s all about evolution and enjoying change when the time is right.)

During my journey, I started seeking answers from other successful entrepreneurs, those who I view as really mastering life to the fullest. I started watching interviews and absorbing as much knowledge and information as possible. One entrepreneur in particular caught my attention, Alex Ikonn. One day, I was on YouTube and found this entrepreneur who started several successful companies with his wife, Mimi Ikonn. Despite his success, Alex remains humble. This is someone I wanted to follow.

After following Alex’s journey, I found that he had started a company called Intelligent Change. Intelligence Change is the company behind The Five Minute Journal. As I heard Alex speak about the journal he co-founded with his business partner UJ Ramdas, I was immediately intrigued. I instantly knew that this would become part of my routine. So, what exactly is The Five Minute Journal?

Ian Lopuch Writing The Five Minute Journal

What Is The Five Minute Journal?

The Five Minute Journal is a physical journal. (Well, they have an app too, but I highly recommend the physical version.) It’s a journal that you update twice per day, once in the morning when you first wake up and once in the evening right before you go to bed. Some of my favorite features include:

Daily inspirational quotes.
Weekly challenges that keep life interesting.
Focus on gratitude. Gratitude is one of the most productive forces around, and a practice that propelled Alex and Mimi Ikonn to great success in their portfolio of businesses, including Luxy Hair.
Affirmations. Another incredibly powerful force that some of the best entrepreneurs in the world practice, including Alex Ikonn, are daily affirmations. Basically, you’re able to speak of yourself and your personal mission statement, as if you have already achieved your dream. The more you write something and the more you believe something, the faster it will happen. The universe will reward your vision!
Accountability. The journal holds me accountable to specific goals each and every day. It has supercharged my productivity and helped me focus on what matters.
Trend recognition. I’m able to uncover trends in my life, and optimize.
Documentation. The Five Minute Journal becomes a really fun record to reflect back upon.

Overall, The Five Minute Journal has brought more excitement, productivity, and happiness into my life.

The Five Minute Journal

How I Personally Leverage This Amazing Resource

While The Five Minute Journal comes complete with instructions and a great primer on how to get full results, I want to share my personal experience, since I’ve uncovered some strategies that work quite well for me (and hopefully for you too).

Get the physical journal. There is so much power in the written word. We are all too tied to technology. Having a moment to take a break from technology and really reflect is transformative. Bonus tip: Consider going outside or to a favorite location to really meditate and think while filling out your journal. Don’t be tied to your smartphone and computer, as those can stifle idea generation.
Don’t be afraid to mark up the quotes. Each day, I’m greeted with a new inspirational quote. Some really resonate with me. Others don’t hit home as much. I like to circle my favorite quotes and take notes in the margin.
Don’t get discouraged if you miss a day or two. It happens to the best of us. Just get back on the program.
- Bonus tip: It’s ok, also, if you miss half a day. This happens to me often on weekends. I do my morning update Friday morning, but then am so tired and in weekend mode, so I’ll forget Friday night. Not a big deal. I just pick it up when I can.
- Another Bonus Tip: Forget your nighttime update? Complete the nighttime update the next morning, along with your morning update.
Add extra lines where it makes sense. Sometimes I have one of those really amazing days. There aren’t just three great things to record for that day, but five or even more. I’ll add more lines to capture it all.
Don’t get into a rut with your daily gratitude. I like to vary it a bit each day because I’m thankful for so many different things in life. Conversely, it’s ok to be in a rut with your affirmations. In fact, my affirmations are the same every single day (actually, I changed them one time over the last year). I’m completely focused on the vision I have for myself.
It’s not all about business. As you leverage your Five Minute Journal, think about the big picture. What do you really want out of life and out of the specific day at hand? It’s ok if your goals do not relate to work. It’s all about your dreams and aspirations, after all.
Travel with your journal. Sure, it adds some weight to your carry on. Good! That’s how you build muscles. I like to bring my Five Minute Journal everywhere.
Moleskine pens work great. I really like the rectangular-shaped Moleskine pens. They clip so easily onto your journal and are a pleasure to write with. They may not look like they’re worth the money, since they’re just plastic pens, but trust me… These are the best pens ever for journaling.
Buy a few extra journals. Don’t want any downtime when you get to the end of your journal? Buy a stack of them like me.
More than anything, think big (really big) and get inspired. You can achieve anything you want. Allow The Five Minute Journal to help you get there. Keep evolving and dream big!

Team Leaders and Those That Care About Others: It Makes An Amazing Gift

Over the last year, I have become such a fan of The Five Minute Journal that I’ve given away a multitude of free copies to friends, family, and business colleagues. As a business leader, I want those around me to grow. I want them to live their full potential. The Five Minute Journal makes such an incredible gift. I recommend buying a stack of them, like me, so you always have a few ready to give away.

Conclusion

These days at PPC Ian, I really want to help you grow, not just in digital marketing, but in business and life. I want to share the specific strategies and tools that I’m leveraging for success. My last post was all about Mentor Box and this one is all about The Five Minute Journal. And, it won’t end there. I’ve got some other really neat posts planned, more game-changers.

If you like what you’ve read here and decide to move forward, I please ask you to use my Five Minute Journal affiliate link. If you decide to purchase via my affiliate link, your price is the same (however I’ll receive a small commission, 15% to be exact). These affiliate earnings help me pay the bills here at PPC Ian, and help me add continued value to everyone reading. Thanks so much, and dream big!

My New Five Minute Journal Video Review

I’m thrilled to share my brand new video review of The Five Minute Journal. In my video, you’ll view an actual page out of my journal, and see my gratitude, affirmations, goals, and more. Also, I share my personal tips on how I get the most out of this amazing gratitude journal. I hope you enjoy the video!

My Mentorbox Review

By PPC Ian Leave a Comment Feb 9 27

If you’ve been following my blog for a while, you can probably tell that I’m heavily invested in my career and professional success. This can be a good thing, a great thing. It can also be a risky thing if you forget to invest in yourself. After all, you are your greatest asset and any investment you make in yourself will multiply many times over in your career, life, and overall success. Even during the busiest times at work, make time for yourself.

For me, 2016 was all about getting into great physical shape. Thanks to my amazing wife engineering a complete overhaul of my diet, thanks enjoying a more active lifestyle than ever before, and thanks to a renewed fitness routine, I lost 25 pounds while gaining lean muscle. I’m in the best shape of my life.

Continuing my theme of growth and personal improvement, 2017 is my year of knowledge. Many of you know that I made a career shift from technology into commercial real estate. I’m like a sponge, absorbing everything I can. My knowledge growth is in full effect, and I couldn’t be more excited about my professional growth.

However, I have long been aware that the greatest leaders are not just proficient within their area of focus. Rather, they become experts across a variety of subjects. They bring forth knowledge from different corners of the world to create something completely new. In fact, this is why many believe Bill Gates has his famous book retreats. It’s said that he’ll sit down with a stack of books, all of which are completely different, and read them in parallel. This process challenges the mind and forms new connections.

This all got me thinking: I want to invest more time reading. I want to greatly expand my knowledge. I know that this process will trigger exponential growth in my career, life, and overall success. However, like many of you, I realized that I just don’t have spare time. I’m willing to make some spare time, but cannot read all day.

Then, while on Facebook one day, I noticed that Tai Lopez (avid reader and social media legend) and Alex Mehr Ph.D. (previously co-founder, CEO, and President of Zoosk) launched a new business called Mentorbox. As soon as I learned about this new product, I was immediately intrigued and signed up. Now, three months later, I want to share my experience with all of you.

What Is Mentorbox?

Here are the basics on Mentorbox:

It’s literally a box that you receive in the mail each month, packed with two curated books, helpful materials, and knowledge.
Each month’s Mentorbox includes: two curated books (related to health, wealth, love, and/or happiness), two cheat sheets that summarize the books, two study guides that transform reading into action, two bookmarks with notes specific to each book (a small but very helpful feature), a USB flash drive with helpful videos walking you through the books, and a motivational quote magnet. It’s a lot of value for sure!
Mentorbox costs $89.95 per month.
It appears to be easy to cancel at any time. Before my order goes through each month, I get an email asking me if I want to keep going or cancel. I have no intention of canceling anytime soon, but feel good about the way Mentorbox treats customers.

Why Do I Love Mentorbox?

I truly look forward to receiving my Mentorbox each month. Here’s why:

As a really busy professional, I don’t have a lot of time to curate my own books. I want to read the best books, the ones that will give me the most value. However, I just do not have hours on end to research. It has been said that Tai Lopez has the second largest book club around, second only to Oprah’s. This is the guy who reads a book a day and has leveraged his knowledge to do some pretty amazing stuff. As someone with a digital marketing background, I respect what Tai has accomplished in social media. I find incredible value in the fact that Tai and Alex are personally curating books each month, keeping me focused on the books that will drive the most value for me.
Continuing upon the last theme, the cheat sheets and study guides save me a tremendous amount of time. It can take a lot of time to read a book, especially when one of them is 660 pages (Money: Master The Game By Tony Robbins). Here’s my strategy: I like to start with the cheat sheets. Then, I proceed to go through and start filling in the study guides. Then, I’ll read the book. I will not read every single word. Rather, I will really hone in on the chapters and concepts that appear most interesting to me. As I read through, I like to refer to the reminders on the bookmarks, too. Last, I’ll fill out the study guide if I have additional time. This process not only saves me time, but also increases my comprehension, retention, and action.
Given all of my responsibilities, I feel like two books per month is an aggressive cadence for me, a perfectionist. I’m the kind of person that has to read books cover-to-cover, and therefore I’ve historically been a slower reader. This new Mentorbox paradigm has challenged my process and pushed me out of my comfort zone. Two books per month is currently challenging me (along with all my other responsibilities in life), but I enjoy the challenge.

What Could I Be Doing Better?

As mentioned earlier, Mentorbox comes with a USB drive each month with helpful videos. I have not taken full advantage of these yet. Why? It really comes down to time. I just don’t have much time. I have found that Mentorbox works for me without the videos. Could my experience be enhanced with the videos? Without a doubt.

I just checked out the latest USB drive and it includes so much value, including a proprietary video interview with the author of one of this month’s books, The Obstacle Is The Way by Ryan Holiday. In fact, Ryan worked with the Mentorbox team on the study guide. How amazing is that?

Here’s the critical point, however: You don’t have to take advantage of everything in Mentorbox to get tremendous value. The key point, in my opinion, is to just get started and then grow from there. I’m still evolving my own process.

Is It Worth The Money?

The value created, in my opinion, far surpasses $89.95 per month. Just think: How much do you spend on your cable television each month? What’s more important to you: reading/learning or watching TV? I’m not saying to give up TV. In fact, I do enjoy watching some good shows. That being said, $89.95 seems so reasonable to me. How much of my time would it take to simply curate two books each month? How much faster am I at reading and absorbing the concepts thanks to the cheat sheets and study guides? Can I even put a price on the fact that I truly look forward to Mentorbox each month and it motivates me to stay in my high growth zone?

Conclusion and A Closing Idea

These days, you’re going to see a lot more posts on my blog about business, investing, and growth in general. I’ll continue to include digital marketing-specific posts, from time-to-time. However, my mind is in other places these days. I’m thinking beyond digital marketing, and want to share that journey with all of you. I hope you find this review helpful, and I hope I’m able to impact at least one of you to pick up reading.

As a closing thought, I want to share an idea… Do you manage a team at work? If so, you’re probably looking for ways to add value and keep your team in high growth mode. Why not purchase Mentorbox for your company? This could be an amazing team exercise and team motivator to have this wealth of knowledge coming into the office each month.

Anybody else reading on the Mentorbox program? Please share your experience, would love to learn what you think about Mentorbox.

Support PPC Ian By Signing Up For Mentorbox

If you find this review helpful and are considering signing up for Mentorbox, I encourage you to use My Mentorbox Affiliate Link. I’ll earn a commission which helps me keep the lights on here at PPC Ian. If you sign up via my affiliate link, I’ll be forever grateful. Thank you in advance for supporting my blog.

My Mentorbox Video Reviews: Why I Love Mentor Box

If you found this written review helpful, you may want to watch my video reviews as well. In my first video, I’m thrilled to share the top five reasons why I love Mentorbox.

In my second video, I’m thrilled to unbox my newest Mentorbox right before your eyes. If you’re wondering exactly what you’ll receive in Mentorbox, this video is for you.

In my third video, I share my top five lessons learned from Mentorbox so far. You’ll get to see all of the books and materials I have received, and enjoy insights from my personal journal.

In my fourth video review, I address specific questions from Mentorbox skeptics. If you’re still unsure whether Mentor Box is for you, and you may even have some active concerns running through your mind, this video may be of particular help.

My Mentorbox 15-Day Challenge: How I Like To Experience Self-Education

As a new update, I just completed my first ever 15-Day Mentorbox Challenge. What’s this challenge all about? I pushed myself to complete this month’s Mentor Box program in just 15 days. I actually ended up finishing in 8 days (since 7 of the days were sick days). Read about my experience and check out my extensive Mentorbox diary, highlighting my challenge in its entirety. (Also, my write-up has a really neat video review too.) My conclusion: This experiment worked really well and I will always be experiencing Mentorbox this way going forward!

My Newest Mentorbox Blog Post

Learn even more about Mentorbox in my brand new blog post titled Is Mentorbox Worth It? (Is It Worth The Money?) This blog post highlights (in great detail) my journey to complete Mentorbox in 7 days! And, it goes through the question of whether Mentorbox is worth it. (Hint: It’s totally worth it.) As an added bonus, my new post has a really detailed video review of my latest Mentorbox! I put a ton of effort into this blog post and hope you enjoy it thoroughly.

My Favorite Mentorbox Book (So Far)

Here on PPC Ian, I receive many questions about Mentorbox. One of the very popular questions goes something like this: "Ian, Is Mentorbox primarily focused on sales, marketing, and business books?" While these topics are represented (and I love reading about them), Mentorbox features an amazing mix of books covering a variety of topics (all pertaining to improving one’s life). While the program includes sales, marketing, and business titles, there is also strong representation from other topics such as health/wellness and spirituality. In fact, my absolute favorite book from Mentorbox so far, a game-changer for me, is one all about spirituality. My latest Mentorbox Book Review covers my favorite book in great detail (and also offers a video review too). If you are considering Mentorbox, you will certainly find a great array of books!

Affiliate Disclosure: I am a Mentorbox affiliate. If you find my review helpful and end up purchasing via my affiliate link, I will earn a commission and be grateful for your support.