Wednesday, [12:23] AM

Dear Friend,

I’m still down in Colombia South America on vacation… but no matter what I do, I can’t seem to keep from writing.

I’m writing a blog post for you every couple days, finishing up the November issue of The Doberman Dan Letter… revealing some killer “stick” strategies that QUADRUPLED retention in one of my supplement continuity programs… and also working on copy for a new product I’m releasing soon in the health market.

I could just goof off on my vacation if I wanted to. I don’t need to do all this stuff for the money. But I HAVE to keep writing… even when I don’t want to.

See, the remote possibility that something I write could motivate someone into action and rescue them from a life of quite desperation (like I had before discovering direct response) COMPELS me to keep writing.

I was VERY reluctantly pushed into this role and have fought it every step of the way. But I’ve now come to accept my fate… just like Gary Halbert did.

I simply CANNOT quit. Even when I try, I’m pulled right back into it… usually in 24 hours or less after “quitting.”

Although my blog subscriber list and Doberman Dan Letter paper & ink newsletter subscriber base is starting to grow rapidly… you’d be surprised at how few “you’ve changed my life” letters I get.

When I do get them, I cherish them.

Just a few weeks ago I got an interesting one.

One of my blog readers, a full-time freelance copywriter, sent an e-mail explaining why he was NOT subscribing to The Doberman Dan Letter.

It was one of the nicest letters I’ve ever gotten.

I translated it to the Colombiana and she had tears in her eyes. Like me, she sometimes doubts I’m actually reaching anybody… and questions the huge investment of my time into this stuff.

I guess we were BOTH wrong.

Dan,

Out of the few marketing blogs I do read, let’s see, Makepeace doesn’t write much anymore, Carlton’s good, love Ben Settle’s list, there’s a few others I dig. Garber is hit or miss but he occasionally amazes me when he’s on his game.

But I want you to know why I’m not buying your newsletter…

I should be. I’d be chomping at the bit to sign up and waiting like a giddy school girl for it to come in the mail.

And it’s completely your fault that I’m not.

You said something that made me feel worse about myself than I’ve ever felt in my life.

Remember your post a few months ago about taking a vacation from your problems?

Right when you published that (or at least when I read it), I’d just got out of a 6-month relationship that I was miserable in.

I was coming off of an easy 100-hour week busting my ass for a client who had me on a (very nice) retainer.

I read that post at 7am.

I’m 29. Joined the Air Force when I was 20 after realizing I wasn’t cut out to deliver pizzas my whole life.

I got out at 24, worked a couple of sales jobs, struggled like crazy, and turned to the Internet full time when I was 25. I still struggled until I was about 26-27, and finally started to develop enough chops and results to have the balls to charge a little more.

I’d been on ONE vacation in my entire life, for 5 days, to Vegas. That was years ago.

I read that post, and I thought to myself “man, I’m making money, but all I do is work and I’m miserable”. I realized then and there I was in this business to be fucking happy, to be free, and I wasn’t either one.

I hopped on a plane that night for San Diego.

I went back home to Missouri a week later for 5 days to sell my stuff.

I’m writing this from my balcony, I can see the Pacific Ocean from here and it’s *fucking amazing.*

I went on vacation and I’ve been gone for over 3 months.

I’ve been working about 10-20 hours a week to keep afloat, those bad habits of eating and having a place to sleep at night cost more out here.

But I’ve been loving life.

I don’t know where I’ll be a month or two or a year from now.

I’m staying in a monthly vacation rental.

Next month I could get a place here, maybe head across to your side of the country, maybe jump on a plane and check out Asia or New Zealand, I have no idea.

I do know that I’ve never felt more relaxed or free in my entire life.

That blog post was the kick in the teeth I needed to just let everything go.

It was just the right message at the right time. It struck a nerve with me.

If I knew where I’d be when the newsletter was coming in the mail, I would have already signed up.

I more than likely will subscribe soon. (I temporarily cancelled Ben and Craig’s newsletters when I took off).

I know in this business that we judge the impact we have on people by how many of them pull out their wallets.

I just wanted to let you know you’ve given me something much more valuable than a print newsletter, and when I get to somewhere semi-permanently to call home again, I’ll buy whatever you’re selling at the time.

In the meantime, I’m going to work a few hours a day, not worried about stress or being burned out, and spend my free time enjoying my life. I’m still on vacation.

That blog post was the last straw, and it couldn’t have come at a better time.

You’re (IMHBAO) a very rare breed these days.

I’d say that Ben is about the only guy whose talent scares me on the same level yours does, but that’s because he pulls it off daily and he’s just seems too good to be younger than 40.

But yeah, I owe you a big “thank you”, and I just wanted to let you know that.

Take care.

Your Future Subscriber,

Happily Stress Free At The Beach,

Scott Murdaugh

P.S. This post is hands down my favorite out of any of your stuff I’ve read. When I moved into this place, there was a 60″ plasma TV in my bedroom. I asked the property owners to please take it out the day I got here. I’ve never been huge on t.v. but I actively avoid it at all costs after reading your thoughts on it. I even canceled Netflix.

Is it hot in here? It must be. My eyeballs are sweating. 😉

There is NOTHING Scott could have said that could have made me happier.

If he’d told me he made $10 million bucks this year from something he learned from my blog or newsletter, even that would take 2nd place to what he just shared.

I can go to bed happy every night knowing…

SOMEBODY actually got it!

Every time I feel like quitting (which is several times a day) I’m gonna come back and read Scott’s letter.

And I’m going to keep doing what I do, hoping one day I’ll get a letter like that from you.

Because I sincerely appreciate you.

And even though I don’t know you (yet), I truly care about your success and happiness.

All the best,