Less Stress … More Cash, Part I

“ Singing sweet sounds. Of melodies clear and true. Saying this is my message to you.
Singing don’t worry about a thing. Every little thing going to be all right.”
-Bob Marley (Three Little Birds)

In Issue #212

Guest Essay: Less Stress … More Cash, Part I
by Tony Palmer

Early summer, 1973.

A squadron mate flew out to land on the rolling deck of an aircraft carrier.

This was it. The last step in qualifying for his Navy Wings of Gold. Pride and recognition were waiting for him at the end of the day.

The sky was clear, the sun glinting off the airplane’s metal surfaces. From 5,000 feet, the carrier looked like a postage stamp floating at sea. Seeking the glide path, he headed for that day’s glory.

He never returned.

He and his airplane went down by the side of the ship. Disappearing into the sea. Forever away from his wife, family and fellow pilots. What in hell happened?

Pilot error. A mind numbed by stress and negative thinking led his eyes off the prize and into a life-ending mistake.

Clearly, writing copy and landing planes on carrier decks are two very different things.

But in either setting, a distracted mind can wreak havoc on performance. Making us come with less than we need and therefore fail to get our best work done.

In our world, clients can be lost … or never found. Spec assignments rejected, copy never mailed and fees never realized. It’s not pretty. When it happens, it’s often because our copywriting abilities have been short-circuited by the toxic big meal combo of stress and fear, with a side of worry and doubt.

So what sucks us into this negative mindset, sending focus and confidence down the tubes?

Human nature. When it comes to brain habits, we are in a constant war with ourselves. For instance, studies confirm that we stress out by worrying excessively … and 95 percent of the time it’s about things that don’t happen or we can’t change. So while logic says no, stress and its sidekicks remain addictive.

What’s the fix? List all the possible stress-reducing remedies you know and then add one more … singing.

Huh? Hang with me.

The October issue of LiveScience reaffirms that “music can have a powerful influence over the mind and body. Music can reduce stress, better your brain and basically change how you experience life.”

The same article details how sports psychologist Costas Karageorghis created a unique half-marathon soundtrack for runners that was “just as powerful, if not more so, as some of the less legal substances that athletes commonly take to excel.”

Back again to that summer of 1973.

While earning my wings, a flight surgeon recommended singing as a technique to displace stressful thoughts. Just for long enough to regain my mental edge. I tried it, it worked, and it’s still working as a stress reliever today.

Try it for yourself right now …

Pick one of your favorite songs … any song that you know most of the lyrics to. Next, focus on a major worry, doubt or fear that is working you over right now … a real head buster.

Ready? Now, sing the words to your song. Humming won’t do it.

See what happens? Your mind can’t process two conscious thoughts at exactly the same time so one has to take priority over the other. The lyrics win out, pushing the negative aside. Hmmm. An upbeat song in place of a downbeat brain drainer … not a bad trade at all.

So put a personalized “stress busting “ play list together and upload it on your iPod. Sing along with three or four songs for a 10-15 minute mental break.

Stuck for ideas? Try Hold on Tight (Electric Light Orchestra), Stayin’ Alive (Bee Gees), Don’t Stop Believin’ (Journey), and That’s Life (Frank Sinatra). Feeling gutsy? Sing opera.

Belt them out loud and proud and feel the positive energy returning. Don’t have American Idol pipes? No worries. Just shut the office door, take a walk or a drive with the windows down and let ‘er rip. Hey, if anyone does hear you, it’s just a brief stop on Humility Lane.

Update your list frequently. Get new songs off borrowed CDs or from the iTunes store for 99 cents each. Remember, this tried and true remedy works best when you know all the words to a song. Go to lyricsdomain.com or Google to get the lyrics for free.

So, tune in, turn on and get your mental groove back. Then return to writing control-busting copy and filling up your bank account.

Wondering how to more permanently displace the brain drain of stress caused by fear, worry and doubt? Tune in next week for three techniques to do just that.

Tony Palmer brings 30 years of business writing to his emerging copywriting practice targeting the self-help, alternative medicine and financial markets. He lives in Atlanta with his wife (Chief Copy Editor), 4 children and 13 grandchildren. He can be reached at tonypalmer@mindspring.com.

Resource Referral: Don’t let this Deal Pass You By

I was concerned when I got back from bootcamp and checked my email this past Sunday. An email from Katie Yeakle indicated that you could still get Bootcamp-In-Your-Home at a discounted price, but only if you got it by midnight Sunday (November 16th).

I was worried that CP readers might not be online over the weekend and would miss the opportunity to get all of the DVDs at such a great price. So I shot Katie an email and asked her if there was any way she would consider offering our readers some other discount—maybe 20 or 30% off the full price.

Katie’s response was better than I had hoped for. The folks at AWAI are extending the 40% off offer until Friday. So you’ll get all three days of copywriting, marketing, and business-building information for only $299.

As Monica explained on Friday, you’ve got nothing to lose. Bootcamp-In-Your-Home is fully guaranteed and you won’t have to wait weeks to get it this year. So get it today while the price is a real bargain. Click here:

http://www.awaionline.com/cp/homestudy/

Quick Copy Tips: A Few Things I Picked Up at This Year’s Bootcamp

I learned so many powerful things over the course of those three days—and I attended

only a handful of presentations! Rather than share details of just one tip I learned, I’ll share three quick tips you can put to use right away. This will give you a very small hint of the things you’ll discover when you get Bootcamp-In-Your-Home.

Here they are: