J.F. (Jim) Straw

The Most Respected Man on the Internet

 

Imagine our grief if we had to send out a message to say … “Jim Straw has died.”  Fear not, gentle reader. Jim is very much alive. 

But one day that message will go out about Jim, as it will for us all. And that is the reason for this “hijacked” e-Letter.   At the start of 2009, Jim set up the American Association of Business People & Entrepreneurs7 (AABPE7) and invited a number of his marketing colleagues to be on the Board. Today two of those Board members, David Breth and I, Martin Russell, have set up this Special Business Lyceum e-Letter.   We have something very important for you .  In his July edition of the “Business Lyceum e-Letter” Jim included this notice …

In loving memory…

Tuesday; 6/9/09, my beloved wife of over 42 years; Delores, passed on. Thankfully, she passed quietly in her sleep.   My heart is heavy right now but it is bolstered by the multitude of good memories we had together over the past 42 years.   Delores Satterfield Straw   The woman I loved, honored and cherished.   I have a long, lonely road ahead of me but with friends like you I will survive.

“With friends like you …”

This a deeply sad and significant change for Jim, and it brings a moment of pause.
As readers and colleagues, we are all Jim s friends.

Let s not wait until someone is gone to honor and acknowledge them … Not when we can do it while they are very much alive. When it can still matter to a person who has made an impact on our lives.

How has Jim J.F. Straw made a difference in your work and your life?

The purpose of this Special e-Letter is to let Jim experience a “Tom Sawyer moment,” if you will. The rare privilege of hearing what the people he s affected truly think of him, in their hearts, while the rumors of his death are still greatly exaggerated.

We want to give you the chance to let Jim know YOUR thoughts, relate YOUR story of the impact his work has had on your life, and acknowledge him, in a way he can treasure forever.

You’ll get YOUR chance below

But before then we contacted some of Jim s colleagues… some well-known and others unknown, but all quality independent marketers who have no need to ‘butter Jim up .

… and we were flooded with responses like this one.

Jim Straw is a legend of this business.

I ll never forget as a teenager seeing his ads in the magazines and getting on his list. From his vast network of resellers and dealers to his full page ads for the Burning Match in the Wallstreet Journal to his ads in the old inner circle of mail order publications … his work has been admired by marketers near and afar. I ll always remember the works and the legend of Jim Straw with a smile on my face and a pen in my hand.

– Marlon Sanders

And they just kept coming …

“How To Sell Real Stuff To Real People”

There s a lot of people out there that can teach you web tech and the latest sooper-sekrit stuff to get attention and get clicks. Jim can teach you something he s done more of in his life than most of them ever will: How to sell real stuff to real people.

It d be a good bet that Jim has personally sold more of that real stuff than most 10 of the top names in this business, and by a good margin, too.

Sure, lots of people can sell. Not many have sold as much as Jim Straw, or with as much good humor, but lots can sell. Some can even teach you to do it. What s missing from a big chunk of those people is something Jim has in spades: Genuine, good old-fashioned class.

Jim, one of the things I ve always admired about you is that, no matter what s going on around you, you re always a gentleman. An old-school wheeler-dealer, with manners that come from respect and a handshake that s worth more than a contract.

Thanks for the reminders, Jim. Here s hoping you ll be around another 20 years to teach it to a few of the new kids in the game.

Paul Myers – www.TalkBiz.com

“Demonstrates The Best Of What America Has To Offer”

I have known Jim Straw for 20 years going back to 1989. At this time Jim put out a piece that had to do with buying and selling merchandise, goods, services and commodities such as corn, oil cement and the such. We read each issue in our office diligently and looked forward to each issue. It was the early days of my business career and we used his publication to advertise items that I had and was developing for sale. I purchased many things over the years in the way of guides and helpful business tips and strategies from Jim Straw.

Eventually my business grew and I became one of the very biggest in my industry and field in the 90 s. I credit a GREAT deal of that to the help from having known Jim Straw. He is truly one of a kind. I would not even know who to compare him to. He is very much an original! Many, many people over the years have copied things he has been the author or inventor of and such is credit to him. As I have developed other businesses and now been written about and pictured in over 6000 different publications myself in this old world, I still have my hat off to a man that never let circumstances get the best of him and always had a glass half full mentality. He breeds and demonstrates the best of what America has to offer if you truly believe in yourself and your fellow man. I will never ever forget all the memories of both bad times and good times we have shared over the last two decades and look forward to watching as he helps shape the next generation of entrepreneurs!!

Jack Baugher – www.ClientsRFirst.com

“If There Is A Way He Has Done It”

Many years ago a colleague in executive search told me that if I was going into business for myself I better love marketing. You see, many of us in business perfect our professional skills and forget about selling and marketing. I spent years trying to figure out the best way to market my services. I read a lot of books and attended seminars that didn t really tell me anything new.

Well then, I met Jim Straw. He is a get to the point, tell it like it really is, coming from real world experience fine tuned and honed over more than 50 years, no BS, kind a guy. Oh yes, he is more c he really cares about making me successful. When he says that he responds, he does. And he does it with clarity and complete understanding of the process. In terms of marketing and selling c if there is a way he has done it. It doesn t matter what ‘it’ is. He can cut through the fluff and get to the heart of the matter. You need to appreciate how valuable this is. Not many people that have been in business as long as Jim has care enough to give up their secrets or give others the benefit of their experience. So, quick someone, clone him before it is too late!

Orlando Blake,PhD CPT – www.Blake-Group.com

“The Tiger Woods Of Making Money”

I can honestly say in my now 37 years of life there are less than a handful of people I strongly consider the ‘real Deal’ in regard to fruitful life experience, with integrity and selflessness.

One person who by no stretch of the imagination seemed to ‘appear’ into the ‘handful’ like a phantom is none other than Jim Straw. It was on June 9th, 2007 when I invested a measly $10 into the first information product of many I would buy authored and sold by Jim Straw.

I do not recall how I came across Jim Straw s name and or how I opted into his almost daily mailing list, but I am glad I did. Unlike 99.9% of those side-show medicine men like information product peddlers, Jim Straw s approach was refreshing due to the fact his ‘style’ came across as untraditional and non ‘pushy’ – you know the ones “Please buy, buy, buy something anything from me” … and … “I am selling something I know nothing about, but the commissions are an excellent way for me to generate some extra money fast and easy” … no, no, no … NOT Jim Straw – his simple to read, down home on the farm way of speaking throughout his ad copy was compelling and a real breath of fresh air apart from all the stale hype filled over-bloated sales pitch letters from the side-show medicine men like information product peddlers.

I paid my $10 just to see what this Jim Straw was all about. Was he another “swindler” sitting behind a computer screen waiting with baited breath as he hit send with the click of his mouse foe the next “sucker” to buy his latest and greatest pitch of the day or was this man who calls himself Jim Straw the real deal?

Well to answer this let me ask you a question.

If I said … Imagine… “The Tiger Woods of Making Money” – Jim J.F. Straw!

David Breth – www.DavidBreth.net

“Helped Me Achieve Success Rather Than Just Dream About It”

I would like say that Jim Straw has been one of those folks who helped me stay in the mailorder business long enough to see success which ultimately led to moving our services to the Internet. I was one of Jim s newsletter subscribers before becoming an affiliate and having access to Jim by phone really helped get me through some of the early rough spots when quitting seemed like a better option than going forward.

Jims personal life stories were also inspiring and motivating, and along with his style of writing will always be remembered.

Although it took me many more years than I had hoped, I stuck with my business and it ultimately allowed me to take an early retirement in 2003 and I firmly believe that if I didn t have access to good folks like Jim and a few others, I would still be working at a JOB.

I would just like to close by saying: Thanks Jim, you and your life experiences have been a great source of inspiration for me and I will never forget nor fail to appreciate how you have helped me achieve success rather than just dream about it.

Ron Coble – www.ImportExportHelp.com

“All The Answers I Was Looking For”

Almost 30 years ago when I first started in direct marketing and mail order, I was floundering trying to locate the information that could help me to succeed. After purchasing numerous manuals, reports, books and tapes from so-called industry experts, I was still getting nowhere.

Then I came across an ad for Jim Straw s Worldwide Opportunities Newsletter and I purchased his Mailorder Guide from it. It contained all the answers I was looking for in an easy to understand and usable format. Jim covered all the important topics in his usual honest, no-frills manner.

I was able to start my book marketing and book selling business which I am still running successfully today thanks to Jim s great counsel and advice.

If real success in any kind of business is your goal, Jim is one of the best mentors to have.

Al Galasso – www.BookMarketingProfits.com

“An Amazing Mentor”

I could not miss this opportunity to put in a word about Jim.

Jim Straw has been an amazing mentor to me in so many ways.

I first heard of Jim on two fronts; a friend told me to read “The Business Lyceum” of which I had never heard, and I saw an interview with Jim on Michael Senoff’s HardtoFindSeminars.com. Having gotten to know Jim I can say that I fully concur with the sentiments of Dan Kennedy [Editor: Dan’s comments are at the bottom].

As mentioned before, Delores Straw recently passed on to a better place…

It’s my honor to pen this short note in Jim’s honor, to wish him many good years of joyful life, and may he realize what an effect he has had on so many peoples lives.

Izzy Ginzberg – www.Issamar.com

“The Most Profitable Advice I Ever Received”

I have known and worked with Jim Straw for the better part of (yikes!) 17 years now. For the most part, my communications have been via email or, in the old days, via postal mail. On a few rare occasions, I have had the privilege of speaking with Jim on the telephone.

Of course, Jim s voice is one you won t soon forget. It is rich and slow with a touch of humor suggested much of the time. Whenever I have communicated with him, his advice has been direct and clear c and usually right. His suggestions contained in his newsletters, telephone calls and his many books have earned lots of income for me and my customers over the years.

The most profitable advice I ever received may surprise you. Of course he always said to test everything, including this idea, but it worked for me right from the start. He suggested including the letter or envelope of any request for information in the return envelope providing that information. My orders doubled from that simple act. Although I don t do this much any longer (thank you, Internet!), every time I fold a letter requesting information and stick it in my reply envelope, I think of Jim.

Jim Straw has been a friendly, accessible figure to me over the years. He readily provides advice and suggestions with humor and to those who disagree, without rancor. Thank you, Jim, and I look forward to working with you many, many more years.

Dennis Hessler – www.SpyGlassPoint.com

“A Completely Different Level”

First I want to say that it s a privilege and an honor to be given an opportunity to express my appreciation for a Guru of Gurus like J.F. (Jim) Straw. When I first started learning about internet marketing and affiliate marketing my good friend David Breth immediately pointed me to Jim s Affiliate Marketing program. As I began to read through it and implement what Jim was teaching (and actually started making money!) I realized that Jim was on a completely different level than most of the ‘so-called’ gurus out there. I ve enjoyed reading his insights and tips on how to ‘really’ make money on the internet, but more then that I appreciate his character and the moral compass with which he seems to live his life. He s shown himself to be a man of integrity and principles and for me that speaks louder then anything else … Thanks Jim!

Freddie Hornedo – www.TheMarketingMercenary.com

“Scholar And Gentleman”

I m sure many people have carried on about Jim s amazing marketing prowess. Before I say what I have to say, let me just say first: ditto. And punctuate that with an “and how!” What I have to say is a little more personal. Jim and I have never met in person, but he has demonstrated to me through things he has said to me privately via email, things he s written publicly on bulletin boards, and things I ve seen him do that he is a man who truly deserves the overused title of: Scholar and Gentleman. Let s those two words sink in this time without dismissing them as the overused compliment they are c and that s the Jim Straw I ve observed over the last 10 years.

Mark Joyner – www.MarkJoyner.name

“Dear Lord, This Is Good Reading!”

It was an honor to be invited by Jim Straw to be a member of the AABPE board of directors. I read Jim s mail order course some time back for the first time and thought, “Dear Lord, this is good reading!” I couldn t believe what a good course it was. I thought it left Melvin Powers infamous mail order course in the dust as far as practical application and usability goes.

And now, it s a real privilege to be working with Jim, helping folks find some answers to their questions in our new online magazine. Jim offers timeless wisdom, common sense and step-by-by advice that is hard to put a price-tag on.

Jimmy Krug – www.SimplePublications.com

“Doggone It, They Work”

Dear Friends,

My friend Jim Straw is a brilliant guy, in that way a guy who s sold some four-hundred million dollars worth of stuff, and is willing to clearly explain it all, can be. He s smart enough he s a member of Mensa, and wise enough to speak directly to people, without making a big deal out of how smart he really is.

I have been reading Jim s material since the 1970s, even before I had any idea who he was. I know because I went back through my library and found several of them. I didn t know Jim by name then. I just knew his articles and his books and pamphlets were “the good stuff.”

I produce movies in Hollywood. Movies are, between hits, not always a profitable business. I have (like most producers) had to find “other ways” between projects, to support my movie habit. I have bought and sold houses and apartment buildings, traded options and equities, and owned retail businesses … even a movie theatre.

I started buying Jim s courses again, about 10 years ago. I was looking for another “income stream,” and bought a compilation ebook. You know the kind, where a bunch of guys each tell how they would make money online, if they weren t so busy writing about it.

The rest of the book was pretty hokey, but Jim s article stood out as genuine. It was feet-on-the-ground no-nonsense “Here s what I would do, because this is what I HAVE done.” I read it, and of the thirty or so articles, I only printed out Jim s article. I put his information into action. Quite profitably.

I m not here to sell Jim s methods, but doggone it, they work. I think I ve tried 10,000 things that don t work, but Jim s do. If you know how rare that is, then we understand each other.

We ve corresponded mostly by email, and Jim is always most helpful and friendly. Whether text or phone conversation, I have always come away having learned something valuable. I know the money I spent on several of his courses was always “money well-spent.” The times I ve ASKed a question, Jim has always come through, with information, wisdom, and insight. Jim is great!

I am glad I spent the time getting to know him. It seems Jim has been everyplace, and done everything entrepreneurial. He s affected many people in the world, from Steve Jobs (an early client, before Steve invented the Macintosh computer) on down.

How has Jim Straw affected me? It s a big range. I have laughed when I see something funny Jim has written. I have cried for him, when he lost his beloved wife last February. Jim is a real person, and you always care about those.

Jim is one-of-a-kind, and always delivers the business information you want, in a way you can understand. He s good to his friends and family, and I would recommend his knowledge and generosity to anybody.

Anyway, Jim Straw is a Great Person, Teacher and Mentor. He s a Master Salesman, a Marketing Genius, and I am proud and glad he is my friend.

Sam Longoria – www.SamLongoria.com

“Incredibly Refreshing — Not To Mention Immediately Profitable”

While I do not know Jim personally, I have done business with him on multiple occassions, and of course, benefitted from his tremendous depth of experience and expertise in business.

Jim, thank you so much for contributing so much of your hard-won, real world, stuff that works experience with myself and thousands of others.

Your NO B.S. approach is incredibly refreshing c not to mention immediately profitable, no matter what level of experience a person may have.
Jim, you ARE the REAL DEAL …

Kelvin Parker – www.HowToCreateWealth.com

“At The Feet Of A Master”

“It was the best of times, it was the worse of times; it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness; … it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair; we had everything before us, we had nothing before us.”

Quoting Charles Dickens seems appropriate as I reflect on the 35 years I ve had the privilege of knowing Jim Straw and being nurtured by his wisdom and friendship. I first met Jim in 1974 when he visited my home after reading one of my full page advertisements promoting my first information product.

For me it was the best of times because my ads were working like crazy. I was becoming a mail order marketing success and hope sprung eternal in my heart of making millions of dollars in the mail order business.

There are in life those people who destroy your dreams and there are those like Jim Straw who help you make those dreams a reality.

I want to share with you a couple of the real gems of wisdom which Jim Straw shared with me. The first of these really turned me around. While sitting quietly in his office and exchanging “mail order war stories,” Jim looked me squarely in the eye and told me, “No one is going to do it for you Michael. You ve got to do it for yourself.”

It has always been Jim s ability to accept responsibility for his own success or failure which has separated him from the so-called ‘gurus’ and established him as a true legendary marketer. Through the best of times and the worse of times this has been his course.

Another gem of wisdom … probably my favorite … was when Jim and I discussed marketing and baseball. Sitting there, as it were, at the feet of a Master, Jim explained the “real” secret for success in marketing. He revealed that it was just like playing baseball. The most valuable player on a team wasn t the guy who hit homeruns. The most valuable player is the baseball player who consistently, day after day, gets the hits. It might be a single … it might be a double … and it could be an occasional triple. You don t have to hit home runs to be a success in baseball. And, you don t have to hit or have a home run in marketing. Just keep having those small successes which bring the runs around the bases (the money into your bank account). In the end you will finish the game of marketing with more success and more money than the guy who may have hit a home run.

Through the years I have seen Jim Straw give of his insight, his foresight, his marketing expertise, and his personal encouragement to the 22 year old kid he met that summer day in 1974. Other marketers, less successful than Jim, might have ignored me, feeling they just didn t have the time or had something more important for which to care. But Jim does care.

From the moment I met Jim’s wife Delores, I quickly understood from where Jim drew his strength. His gentle, loving, and respectful care for the “love of his life” showed in every aspect of his life. Delores was one of those behind-the-scenes people who make the superstar shine even brighter. She will always shine brightly in my heart and the heart of the man who loved her dearly, Jim Straw.

And that s what makes Jim, in my mind, a true legend in our industry. He does truly care about people … about helping those who want to succeed … about giving of himself and not just to himself. Jim and I have made good money together and that s important. But, what s more important is the friendship and loyalty to each other which we have developed over three and half decades.

That loyalty and friendship factor is essential in our industry because as Charles Dickens wrote, “the winter of despair” does come. It is during those periods of time that men like Jim Straw winter the storm and look forward to “the spring of hope.”

Without hesitation I can say that I love and admire Jim. Not because of the millions of dollars he has earned, but because of the man he is and the example he sets not only in our industry, but in life.

My dear friend Jim, even though a “winter of despair” has come with the death of your wife Delores, and it may seem that “we (have) nothing before us,” please know that “we (have) everything before us.”

You are the BEST … a true legend … and always a dear and cherished friend.

Michael Penland – www.StrategicMarketingSecrets.com

“A Practitioner Of What He Preaches”

Jim Straw s history and approach to business and making money is unique. He s been a practitioner of what he preaches for fifty-plus years. Not just some guy who copied somebody else s words and threw a page or two up on the internet. He s lived it, proved it and only then shared it!

I ve been following, reading and corresponding with Jim Straw for over five years. I am honored that Jim requested that I become a member of the AABPE Board of Advisors and I look forward to continued learning from the “Master”, working with other members of the AABPE Board, building the AABPE and fulfilling the Jim s vision of the most powerful Association in the business world.

Thank you, Jim, for your mentorship, and most importantly, your friendship,

Barry Rice – www.BWREnterprises.com

“A Model To Copy Of A Quality Marketer And Human Being”

I first found Jim as a black-and-white photo of a 1950 s mustacheod salesman in a pdf. It was in his rebuttal of the “The Death of Internet Marketing” report that did the rounds in 2006.

Maybe it was all the times he said crappola, but I didn t take him seriously. My mistake.

Fortunately quality finds a way, and I was pointed back to Jim about a year later. This time I immediately devoured three years worth of Jim s past newsletters, and posted him a card to express my gratitude for the value I got from even just his free stuff (You can go get it all back to 1999 in Jim s archives.)

Jim then floored me by not only taking the time to reply, but also genuinely asking about my work!

Ever since then, Jim has been for me a model to copy of a quality marketer and human being c honest, focused, successful, and best of all, he cares.

In this economy, Jim s wisdom is more needed than ever. With all my encouragement, Go get’em Jim!

Martin Russell – www.WordofMouthMagic.com

“I Couldn’t Have Said It Better Myself”

I knew of Jim long before we met. He was a regular advertiser in many of the small business magazines I read during my early years of learning about Mail Order. He was one of the few experts in the field actively teaching the subject.

But it was not until I was well established in my direct marketing and mail order career did I finally get to meet Jim in person and spend some time with him. It did not take long to realize what a caring and generous person he was. During my visit we cemented a friendship that previously was phone or email based.

Jim is a true “Wordsmith” His ability to write good articles always amazes me. Each month in his Business Lyceum e-Letter, his lead article always makes me say to myself, “I couldn t have said it better myself.”

His educational writings will transcend well into the future to help others seeking a path of financial independence.

Thanks Jim!

John Schulte – www.NMOA.org

“Elevated My Thinking”

Jim, your insight and strategies are revolutionary and everything you produce is written in such a readable style! Your Finders Fees product saved me years of mistakes and you have even elevated my thinking in my full-time Shaklee business. I can t thank you enough.

Lowell Sheets – www.ScrewAging.com

And the final word goes to Dan Kennedy, because it is one Jim himself quotes …

After Dan Kennedy read my mailorder course, he told the readers of his “No B.S. Marketing Letter” …

If you re interested in selling info-products via mailorder, one of the ‘quiet giants,’ a fellow I ve watched and learned from since I was in short pants, Jim Straw has finally put his experiences, personal secrets, tricks of the trade and how-to-advice together in a big manual: “Own Your Own Mailorder Business.” He s selling it for $49.95 and it s easily worth ten times that much.

Jim s one of the few ‘masters’ in the leagues of the late Joe Karbo, George Haylings, Dean DuVall, Ben Suarez, who, if you had a chance to pick his brains for an hour, you ought to pay any price,  fly anywhere.”

Don’t just try to “survive” during the current Financial Crises, turn it into an opportunity to make your personal fortune.

Get My Personal Help Making Tons of Money during the current Financial Crises, Recession & coming Depression.

Let someone else teach you how to just “survive” … if that’s all you want.

During times of Financial Crises … like now … opportunities to make BIG Money increase exponentially. — As a matter of pure fact, there were more fortunes made during the Great Depression of the 1930s than at any other time in our history, or since.

Those fortunes were made by people who either knew, or learned, “The Inside Secret to Making a Fortune During Financial Crises, Recessions & Depressions.”

After I learned that “Inside Secret,” I amassed fortune after fortune; over and over again.

Let me take you by the hand and personally teach you “The Inside Secret to Making a Fortune During Financial Crises, Recessions & Depressions.”

OR … You can wait for our economy to recover and starve to death waiting.

Sincerely,

Jim (J.F.) Straw