“If you can lead a horse, you can learn to lead your life again.” – Karah Powell Some people show up to life. Karah Powell shows up to lead it. Not with fanfare. Not with flair. But with the kind of quiet presence that makes people feel like they belong. In our latest Rock Solid podcast episode, I sat down with Karah—veteran, nonprofit leader, and the heart behind ROCK (Ride On Center for Kids). And as we talked, I realized…
Over 25 years ago, we wrote our first book called Persuasive Online Copywriting. It was the business card packaged as a book to help people understand the value of increasing conversions. Back then, people didn’t take words seriously. They still believed marketing was about fonts, flash intros, and button colors. I knew better. I had seen it firsthand. The right words, spoken to the right person at the right moment, could change everything. Today, as I release I Think I…
Last week on the Rock Solid podcast, I sat down with fitness and menopause coach Karen Cerezo. I expected a great conversation. What I didn’t expect was to feel so seen. Because as Karen talked about brain fog, fatigue, and aching joints… about the slow erosion of identity that hits so many women in midlife… I felt my own story echoing back. Let me be real. Before my transformation, I knew the weight I carried wasn’t just physical. It was…
Here’s why that’s killing your growth…You know that song you can’t shake?The one that hijacks your brain on repeat — “Don’t Stop Believin’”… “Happy”… Baby Shark (sorry)?That’s called an earworm. And it turns out, businesses get them too.They fall in love with their own tune.Their origin story. Their shiny product. Their 5-step proprietary process.And then? They crank it up. Over and over. Louder. Tighter. Glossier.But here’s the truth: nobody’s dancing.Because customers don’t care about your song — they’re already humming…
In the middle of the Great Depression, when wallets were thin and hope was even thinner, a young copywriter named Elmer Wheeler said something that changed everything: “Don’t sell the steak. Sell the sizzle.” That line crackled its way into the halls of marketing history. Because Wheeler saw something others didn’t. While companies pushed facts, he pulled feelings. While they talked features, he told stories. He realized that people weren’t buying what was being sold. They were buying how it…
It was a product nobody wanted. Then one man touched it, and it became a $200 million phenomenon. No new features. No redesign. No big marketing budget. Only one thing changed and everything exploded. Here’s the story: In the 1990s, a small company created a fat-draining countertop grill. It worked. It solved a problem. But no one cared. Sales flatlined. The product sat on shelves, ignored and forgotten. They tried different strategies. Nothing moved the needle. Then came a breakthrough…
You know what’s underrated? Belief. Not “hope.” Not “manifestation.” Not even “confidence.” I’m talking about conviction. The kind that gets you moving when you’ve got no traction, no approval, and no real roadmap. David J. Schwartz nailed it: “Believe you can succeed and you will.” It’s not just a nice quote – it’s a demand. Because belief changes what you attempt. And the minute you attempt, you create momentum. Action breeds confidence. Not the other way around. Most people are…
Lee Linton, owner of Office Evolution Round Rock and recently opened Office Evolution Georgetown has a clear message: Round Rock isn’t just another Texas city. It’s a place where businesses come to grow and thrive. During a recent podcast, Lee shared his perspective on why this community has become such fertile ground for entrepreneurs. For Lee, the magic lies in Round Rock’s blend of opportunity and support. With its strategic location near Austin, the city offers access to a vibrant…