Joe Vitale

This morning I met actor James Caan at Gold’s Gym here in Venice.

He’s the mega-star of numerous movies, of course, from The Godfather to Misery to Rollerball. And’s he’s in the weekly TV show Las Vegas.

I was in the gym, getting a nutritional assessment done, when someone tapped me on the shoulder.

I jumped up, turned around, and was facing the legend himself.

My first response was to act like a bug-eyed fan too tongue-tied to say anything but smirk and beam like an idiot.

But Jimmy — as he likes to be called — is about as down to earth as they get. He’s got a tough-as-nails exterior, a charming street-smart playful sense of humor, and an open heart.

He saw I was drinking a bottle of Muscle Milk, grabbed it and said, “What’s this shit here? Muscle Milk? The guys around here won’t let you have anything with the word muscle in it.”

At that point I was at ease with James Caan as I was with anyone. I started to get in the spirit of things and playfully said, “I’m not here to grow muscles. I was told they could help me grow hair.”

Jimmy said, “Yea, they helped me grow one or two hairs over the years.”

Outside of Gold’s Gym, in front of Jimmy’s Bentley, our trainer T.R. Goodman took our picture.

Jimmy said, “This is gonna cost you big bucks, Joe.”

“I left my wallet in my room,” I said.

James Caan turned to T.R. Goodman and jokingly said, “Why do you keep bringing me people who forget their wallets? I’m tired of this shit.”

Jimmy started to get in his Bentley www.bentleymotors.com but stopped and said to me, “Joe, if you want to see some lousy writing, come to the set. These guys write like they’re still in kindergarten.”

“You talking about your Las Vegas TV show?”

“Yea, that’s all I do anymore is the Vegas stuff. They need your help, I’m telling ya.”

Jimmy got in his black stallion and drove off. But I would see him again later. He even asked my opinion about a new reality TV show he’s part of — something brutal yet inspiring — and he amazed me by listening to my answer.

Stay tuned for more updates…Including Jimmy’s reaction when I gave him a copy of my book, The Attractor Factor…and including a personal tour of the set of Las Vegas.

Onwards,

Joe

www.mrfire.com

PS — I asked James Caan to sign a photo to me. He said, “What? A signed photo? Are you gay or what?” He got a picture and wrote, “To Joe, you’re the biggest pain in the ass.” Gotta love him.

This morning I met Ray Liotta, the intense actor of Cop Land and Goodfellas and Field of Dreams.

We both have the same personal trainer, TR Goodman. I’m visiting in LA, going to the famous mecca of bodybuilding in Venice: Gold’s Gym. Ray works out five days a week. I caught him this morning as he was doing crunches on top of a big ball. Though he was winded, he took time to shake my hand and smile. I love a celebrity who still acknowledges the common person.

I’m hoping to meet him again tomorrow and, if he doesn’t mind, have a picture with him.

Back in the gym, the place was packed with people, all friendly, all focused on improving their bodies. It was an inspiring sight.

I didn’t pay too much attention to the people there, but for a moment I caught a gorgeous blonde walking by me. I quickly turned back to TR and the equipment he was showing me. I wanted to stay focused and not get distracted.

Imagine my surprise when this hottie says, “Hi Joe!”

I knew this was a mistake.

I’m in LA.

I’m in Gold’s Gym.

Nobody knows me here.

I look at my shirt to see if my name was on it.

Then I look behind me to see if there was another Joe in the room.

And then I look back at the blonde, who’s still smiling at me.

TR says, “You know Ali, don’t you Joe?”

I take another look at this mysterious charmer and then it hits me — It’s The E-zine Queen, Alexandria Brown. www.ezinequeen.com

I ran over, hugged her, and chatted for a second.

It’s true: You never know who you might meet in La.

Or in a gym.

But let’s talk about Harry Potter.

He’s no doubt mad at me again.

My new podcast went from obscurity to #3 on Pocast Alley.

If this keeps up, I may beat him just like I did last April, when my book The Attractor Factor, became number one twice.

When will Potter ever learn?

Marketing is always more powerful than magic.

And I do both.

Joe
www.mrfire.com

PS — I’m supposed to meet actor James Caan tomorrow. I’m excited!

PPS — My podcast is now #1 — It beat Harry Potter!!! I’ll post a new audio on it tonight, thanks to my friend Mark Ryan, who called me earlier. Take THAT, Potter!

Well, my office is finally done.

Here are three pictures of part of it, taken today with my brand new Sony Cyber-Shot DSC-T5 (which is too cool for words).

The conference table and hand-made rocking chair are in the library area directly outside of my actual office. That’s a laptop on the table. I don’t normally use it at home, but I’m getting ready to take a trip and wanted to charge it up

The wall of books is inside the actual “command center” of my new office. When I’m sitting at my main computer, the wall is right behind me. Some of my most cherished books are on those shelves.

The shot of the two monitors is where I am sitting right now. The left monitor is for email and word processing; the right monitor is for web browsing. It’s a nifty sytem to have both working.

You can actually set up nine monitors to work on one computer, but I felt it would be way too distracting. I’d feel like I was sitting at NASA.

Obviously, you don’t need much to run an online empire.

A chair and a laptop could do it.

I do a lot of business by email on my Blackberry 8700.

But when you hit it big, spare no expense in making your work environment comfortable and efficient. You’ll be much more relaxed and productiive that way.

There is a lot more to my office — with many large glass-door book cases housing my private collection of rare books on P.T. Barnum, marketing, copywriting, publicity, psychology, metaphysics, magic, bodybuilding, success, hypnosis and more — but at least these pictures give you a sense of what Mr. Fire’s headquarters looks like on the inside.

Onwards…

Ao Akua,

Joe
www.mrfire.com

PS – I’m once again adddicted to the hit TV show 24. It’s the most hypnotic television show I’ve ever seen EVER. Long live Jack Bauer, or Kiefer Sutherland, or whatever his real name is.

PPS – I’m headed to LA today. I may post something from the road, but don’t expect any real updates for a week or more. I hope to have a major surprise for you when I return. Have a great one and…Expect Miracles.

I’ve discovered a site that can help you “Listen and Grow Rich.”

I’m serious.

I’ve been listening to self-help, personal growth, self-improvement, hypnosis, business, selling, marketing, spirituality, health, healing, and copywriting audios for more than 35 years.

When I was a teenager I listened to them on old reel-to-reel tapes. I still have a few of them.

When I was driving back and forth to work in Houston some thirty years ago, I’d listen to cassettes in my car. It was a university on wheels. It was a lot smarter to program my mind with success information than with the media’s gloom, doom and muddy gossip “information.”

I still listen to audios today, but on my Ipod Nano, my PC, or on one of my CD players.

One of my favorite places to get audios is from www.Nightingale.com I recorded my own audio set with them called The Power of Outrageous Marketing about six years ago. They still sell it today. I’m still proud of it.

But that’s not the site I just found.

Yesterday I learned of a site that sells old classic audios for low to half price. I found a few treasures there, including one by marketing wizard Jay Abraham. They offer material by legends like Tony Robbins as well as goodies from lesser known teachers and speakers. You might browse the site and see what you think. It’s at http://www.SuccessSuccess.net

All of these audios are a key to success. In short —

Listen and Grow Rich.

Ao Akua,

Joe
www.mrfire.com

PS – You can hear excerpts from my Nightingale-Conant audio program by going to www.Nightingale.com and then searching on my name: Joe Vitale. That will lead you to my program, The Power of Outrageous Marketing. Enjoy.

PPS – The top picture with the dog about to be frisked is there for the fun of it, though it’s a sad commentary on life today. It’s from www.cuteoverload.com

As I write this I am wearing a sharp black new T-shirt with a small logo on the front and a giant one on the back. It’s a fan t-shirt for my favorite blues-rock guitarist: Joe Bonamassa http://www.jbonamassa.com/

I have a lot of t-shirts. Out here in the Texas Hill country our dress code is typically shorts and t-shirts. And even though it’s Winter, it’s warm here. So I’m dressed appropriately.

But why this t-shirt?

Well, I love Bonamassa’s music. He’s a descendant of the late Stevie Ray Vaughan, my all time favorite blues-rock guitar-slinger. So I’m delighted to wear Joe’s new t-shirt. It makes me feel good, much like his music makes me feel. Plus I think I look good in black.

Now here’s the key question —

Am I marketing Joe Bonamassa by wearing his t-shirt?

And here’s another question —

Am I marketing him by writing this blog post right now?

My answer is this:

I am sharing my passion.

That’s it.

I’m not getting paid to wear this t-shirt or write this post. Bonamassa has no idea who I am. His Street Team http://www.jbonamassa.com/joe_bonamassa_street_crew.htm (of which I am now a member, like many other fans http://www.bonamassabluesrock.com/) doesn’t know about me, either.

So what am I doing?

And why?

I am sharing.

That’s it.

And that’s the best kind of marketing around.

When you have a business so terrific that people will advertise it for you by writing about it, wearing your t-shirts, and telling others about it, (think Google and Nike and “The Secret” http://www.whatisthesecret.tv/) you will have a success.

But the people raving about you won’t be marketing in their mind, they will be sharing their love.

I have t-shirts for Stevie Ray Vaughan, Melissa Etheridge, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Nike, Jack London, Mark Twain, the TV show 24, Steve Reeves, Frank Zane, Harry Houdini, my BMW 645ci, and of course for Joe Bonamassa.

I’m not marketing those people or products strictly speaking; I am sharing my passion for them.

I still remember the massage therapist who spent an hour massaging me while raving about the movie she had seen the night before. She saw What The Bleep Do We Know? http://www.whatthebleep.com/ Her contagious enthusiasm wasn’t “marketing” per se, but her passion got me to go see that movie.

Your marketing should be from that level.

It should be from your heart.

You should be sharing your love for your product or service.

If you don’t love what you do or sell, what are you doing it for?

Think about it.

Ao Akua,

Joe
www.mrfire.com

PS – See a picture of the t-shirt I bought and learn about Joe’s hard-rocking house-shaking blues-rock guitar driven music at http://www.merchdirect.net/x/c/home.php?csid=240

PPS – The same marketing=sharing trend is happening with the hot buzz around the movie The Secret http://www.whatisthesecret.tv/, to air Feb 15. I’m in it, and that’s one reason I’ll promote it, but I also believe the movie will awaken humanity. So I’m glad to share my passion for it. Again, contagious marketing works best when it’s not marketing but is heart-felt sharing. Dig?