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Hi Blog,

The classic 1983 film, _A Christmas Story_, features Ralphie, a kid growing up in Cleveland of the 1940s.

He dreams of getting one particular Christmas gift:

_An official Red Ryder carbine action 200-shot Range Model air rifle with a compass._

To which he is always told, _“You’ll shoot your eye out”._

If you have seen the movie, then you knew instantly what I was talking about in the subject line of this email.

At one point in the film, the family is driving home after purchasing their Christmas Tree and their car gets a flat tire.

Ralphie’s dad didn’t mind having to change the tire.

He likes the challenge and believes he can do it in less than 4 minutes.

Ralphie went out to help his dad, a proud first for him. His dad gave him the task of holding all the lug nuts in the hubcap, when all of the sudden, his dad knocked them all out and they went flying into the air.

That was the moment he uttered the fudge word, _but he didn’t say fudge._

I wonder how many millions of people use that phrase now when something doesn’t quite go their way?

I know I do.

Take an interview I did with Honorée Corder. She is a top tier expert in book publishing.

The interview was going fine until she made a comment about some secrets to making your self-published book polished like a professional publishing house.

I asked her to give a couple of examples. The two she gave, I had not done myself (on any of my 20 odd books I have published).

Using my inner monologue, I pulled a Ralphie.

I said the famous phrase in my head,_ “Aw FFFFudge. Only I didn’t say fudge.”_

I tried to admit to her that I was not doing those things during the conversation, without looking like a complete fool.

I don’t think it worked.

But the upside is, if you are always in learning mode, you are going to get something good from everyone you meet.

And you don’t need to shout out _fudge_ to do it.

_Leap. Love. Grow._

RAY BREHM

P.S.

You can hear about those two things I was not doing and am now implementing in the latest episode of the Book Profit Secrets Podcast.

https://ray.fm/17 [https://raybrehm.krtra.com/c/DvIAk5SwV8Xc/DGoV]

And if you want some advanced info on building a business out of your book, tune in to her free Empire Builders Summit. There are just a few days left. It is specifically for authors.

https://ray.fm/empire [https://raybrehm.krtra.com/c/YvUQaIzofha4/DGoV]