37: Dog-fighting Secrets to Turbocharge Your Business with the Real Life Maverick, Ed Rush

In this episode, Dave is excited to welcome welcome 4 time best-selling author, internationally recognized speaker and adviser…and former Marine Core fighter pilot, Ed Rush. Ed has an incredible story and background. He flew over 50 missions in combat and was the #1 instructor in the Marine Core for 1 against 1 dog-fighting. He was also instrumental in training development for the new F-35 Lightning 2 strike fighter.

After leaving the marines, he has become one of the most sought after speakers and business advisers on the scene today. He has been featured on CBS, FOX, ABC, NBC, and tons of other outlets.

Ed has taken the principles learned in the cockpit and turned them into solid, time -tested business strategies and systems that get results.

www.EdRush.com

www.EdRush.com/NoPartyRevolution

Ed was a former F-18 fighter pilot and top instructor in the marines for 11 years, but as he says, he was the guy who failed kindergarten. Ed talks about how he learned to get ahead and overcome his shortcomings. He talks about how he figured out that when everyone was out partying or taking time off on the weekends, he had the most access to flight simulators, so he could get more time in and more practice than the other guys who went during normal hours. He would practice hand movement to give him just a slight edge or a millisecond or two. And a millisecond can make a huge difference in a dogfight. He also memorized to the exact number, every metric that the airplane had, so he did not have to think at all and just react.

From this he realized: The key to success is not about being the best or most gifted or even having the best tools or systems, what matters are the small, incremental adjustments that you do over time that create a wave of disciplined success.

He took that philosophy and started building and growing businesses.

At the 10 min mark, Ed talks about what is needed to build successful business systems.

Most importantly he gives the following and goes into detail on it: TLCFL - Traffic, leads, customers, and then Customers for life.

Business comes down to simple systems working in tandem to get a result

"It is anywhere between 20 to 100 times more lucrative to market to your current customers…"

At the 14:30 mark: Ed gives examples for each of the areas: Traffic, Leads, Customers, and Customers for Life. He also talks about his strategy for Facebook ads and promotions.

You are always testing the forest, then the leaves, then the branches, and then the trees…When testing your ads, start with the big stuff (price, colors, etc.), then go down to the little stuff from there.

Where is the best place to start working on as a business owner and why? M

• Market, Message, Media
• Start with the market
  • Who are they?
  • Where are they?
  • What do they want?
• What do they want leads to message
• Then from there, you can figure out the places you need to be (media) to deliver your message to your market

What are 2 things that you would consider critical for success in today’s world?

• Speed: Markets move very fast. Things are becoming obsolete quickly and you have to move fast in the market to keep up. You can also make adjustments, so don’t wait.
• Adjusting: you have to move quick, but realize, most of the time, things won’t work the way you want. You need to be ready to make adjustments to things and test.

Secrets of Building a Great Funnel:

• You have to start with a great offer. You have to give something that they really want with great value. Books work well.
• The old days of warming people up to an offer are over. People want to get things now, so once they opt in and you give them something they really want, then get them to an offer as quickly as possible.

How do you create and leverage content?

• Ed uses WebinarJam and EverWebinar to manage webinars and automate them
• Create the “self-licking ice cream cone.”Leverage what you have done to keep working for you, but realize it still takes work to test, adjust, etc., but you can use the content and work you have done multiple ways.

At the 39 min mark, Ed talks about the most important thing in maximizing his impact and value.

Hallmarks of a great leader?

1. Leaders need to move fast, cast a vision, and back it up
2. Congruence and consistency in who they are in their ethics
3. They know what they want and are crystal clear in communication

The most important duties of a business: 

• Create a return on investment for the shareholders
• Create incredible product or service in the marketplace that changes people’s lives and helps them. ​

At the 43 min mark, Ed gives some thought on who he would go back in time and visit with as well as other thought leaders that he follows and looks to for insight. Specifically, John Eldridge – Wild at Heart book is a must read.

What’s next for you? Listen at the 46 min mark to find out where Ed is going next…

 

Best Quote: "The key to success is not about being the best or most gifted or even having the best tools or systems, what matters are the small, incremental adjustments that you do over time that create a wave of disciplined success.”

 

Ed's Misfit 3

1. Ready, Fire, Aim – Fast action, speed to market and adjust from there.
2. Get help – Seek out the advice and help you need
3. There is no such thing as enough. You are always growing, learning, and experiencing new things. Never stop