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Interpreting Gary Halbert's Boron Letters

Learning how to write copy and have a good life without getting yourself all screwed up.

Author

Hatibu Lweno
August 21, 2023

I never took writing so seriously. I mean— I did it mostly for work. It wasn’t something I actively enjoyed doing. If you know what I mean?

It's taken a long time to really enjoy writing.

Learning about marketing helped bridge my understanding of effective writing. Finding the words to explain something in the simplest way possible. It’s actually fun. Working on it is fun.

I want to write exactly how I speak. It should flow naturally. And I think this stems from my experience in broadcasting and production. It should all be seamless. Something you never notice. This is how I came across the Boron Letters.

Written by Gary Halbert, in the letters, Gary teaches his son (Bond) how to: write copy, sell by mail, get and stay healthy, get along with people, and "in general, how to have a good life without getting yourself all screwed up".

You see — Gary was a direct response marketer and copywriter. He's remembered for spotting and exploiting marketing opportunities with strong, killer copy. Check out some of his work below (Click images to read clearly).

Reading his copy makes me feel like Im there listening. It feels personal and to the point. I guess that’s why he got the big bucks back then.

But I digress.

You’re here to learn about the Boron Letters. I read all 25 letters. I love how he mixes life lessons with business know-how. And the copy? A masterclass in writing. Saying much with less. The art of storytelling.

I took notes and came up with my own interpretations. I share some of Gary's quotes from the letters as references — And you can read the original letters at the end.

Before you start …

I’d appreciate you sharing this newsletter (or any of my others) if you find what I write valuable.

Anyhow, happy reading!

The Boron Letters: Interpreted

  1. Get the most essential things in your day done first. Attack the day before it gets ahead of you.

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Of everything I have learned about in my entire life, this stuff about doing road work the first thing in the morning is very close to being the most important thing of all.

  1. Don't waste time and energy trying to convince people or rely on people to get things you want to do done. Think and use your time wisely to learn and advance yourself.

❝

Don't depend on your mother or anybody else to buy or cut up your vegetables for you. You should, instead, develop a tough independent attitude.

  1. Go over your plans again and again by yourself and with others to remember the small details. This helps to reinforce it in your mind. It also keeps you on the same page with everyone else you're dealing with.

  2. You influence your circle of life. Find a support system that works with and for you. This can be family, or friend(s). Be ready to change it should the need arise.

  1. When it comes to business, you want to know what people do rather than what they say they do. Be a student of the markets — not products or techniques.

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The very first thing you must come to realize is that you must become a "student of markets". Not products. Not techniques. Not copywriting. Not how to buy space or whatever.

  1. The best type of market or audience for you is the one ready and willing to buy from you. You can measure their interest by how far they're willing to go to interact with you.

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constantly be on the look out for groups of people (markets) who have demonstrated that they are starving (or at least hungry!) for some particular product or service.

  1. Sell people what they want to buy. They come to you for help to remove their paint point.

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You know, Bondo-Dog, people don't always put their money where their mouths are; but they do nearly always put out their money where their true desires are.

  1. Stick to dates and numbers. Numbers don't lie regardless of what surveys, questionnaires and testimonies say.

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I want to burn this message into your mind. Be skeptical of what people say. Be skeptical of surveys. Of questionnaires. Instead, believe in numbers. For example, if everybody you talk with says they like plays more than movies and yet the numbers say that 10,000 times more people buy movie tickets then you believe the numbers!

  1. Ideas create other ideas. If you can find the formula for doing something well, you'll always be able to tweak it to your benefit. For example: in business, customise conversations and engagements to win your ideal customer.

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Know this: Ideas breed other ideas.

  1. Movement unblocks any obstacle in your path. Do something. Do anything to get you moving around or away. Don't sit around.

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And the lesson is that when you get stuck or emotionally jammed up one of the ways to get yourself unclogged and flowing again is just to keep moving. Run. Walk. Jog. Write. Do the dishes. Or whatever. But don't sit around waiting for a flash from Heaven. As someone once said, "Most of the world's work is done by people who didn't feel much like getting out of bed."

  1. When trying to communicate in any way or form, think about ways to stand out. Be personal. You'll be divided into "A" and "B" options by the person on the receiving end. The more bizarre or different you are, the better. They'll want to know who you are.

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It is my contention that everybody divides their mail every day into two piles. An "A-Pile" and a "B-Pile". The "A" pile contains letters that appear to be personal. Like letters from friends, relatives, business associates, and so on.t.

  1. Always be personal when addressing the person on the receiving end. Use captivating words to describe your actions when telling a message.

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I put all this data in each of my letters to you? I think so. I think this way of doing things bonds the writer and the reader closer together. It also gives our transmission the quality of immediacy. And, while I'm on the subject, it just occurred to me that I should tell you that another additional way to achieve this bond of intimacy and immediacy in your letters is to describe where you are and what you are doing as you are writing the letter.

  1. When things get tough, keep going.

  1. When writing, do the research first. Take notes on what pops into your mind as you find new things. Don't worry about it being messy or too long or too short. You'll go back to it later to review.

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When you are taking these notes don’t stuff yourself. Sometimes, my nugget notes consist of just one word. Sometimes they consist of meaningless phrases. Many times my notes make sense but many times they don’t. No matter. I never worry about it. I just keep writing. I write what occurs to me.


  1. Engaging with a reader means steering them to where they should go. What action do you want them to make? As a writer, you'll have a lot of power in the attention you seek to have. You use it well. - Use facts often to confirm what you're saying - Create desire by describing the benefits the reader will have or take away from continuing to read.

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One thing I want to stress is that you must be very clear, very specific about what you want him to do. Lead him by the hand and take him exactly where you want him to go.

  1. The best writing goes unnoticed. If you're reading the work of a good writer, you don't struggle to understand what they're saying. The best way to become a good writer is to copy good writing (by handwriting it out). It is also a great memorisation technique.

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What is a good writer? Well, in my opinion a good writer is one who makes things perfectly clear. He makes it easy for the reader. Easy-to-understand what he is saying, easy to keep reading.

  1. When writing, try your best to get your point across without sounding like a 'know-it-all'. The best way to avoid this is by inviting the reader to cast their own judgement while reading. Use short, sharp paragraphs, wise die margins, large type and white space as often as possible.

  1. First Impressions matter. This matters in most scenarios (including writing). Once someone sees your writing, they immediately decide to continue reading or not. Presentation matters.

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Most of the time a person will never alter his original impression. Most of the time he will simply "edit" all new info that comes to him and "process" it in such a way as to validate his original opinion.

  1. You don't have to get everything thing right. Sometimes you'll fail— a lot. It won't always go your way or how you planned it. Keep moving. Learn to clear the deck. Movement (See points 10 and 13) helps you get clear ideas, find, and make future strategic decisions.

  1. Readers appreciate vivid, imaginative storytelling and writing. The best why needs a strong proposition. Use descriptive words to sell this.

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So, write like that. Bring your story down to earth and hit 'em where they live. (In their hearts and their pocketbooks!)

  1. Find a market first. If you find a market, you'll always have a crowd needing your support. Then come up with the product or service you wish to offer.

  1. Improve your copywriting by reading what you write out loud.

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What happens when you read your copy out loud is that you will verbally stumble over all the places that are not smooth. Then, of course, what you do, is rewrite the rough spots and read the copy out loud again. And, what you do, is you keep repeating this process till your copy is completely smooth and you can read it without stumbling at all.

  1. Don't bury your head in the sand. Be aware of the things that happen around you. You never know when the opportunity will come calling.

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You can't waste time feeling sorry for yourself. You can't stay lost in fantasies about your woman or what you are going to do when you hit the streets. No. What you must be here (and it's a good idea wherever you are!) is alert, on top of things and ready at any time to "catch a break".

  1. Don't use cheap tricks to gain attention or make an impact. Use your imagination to come up with clever ways to do things and delight.

  1. You'll have times when everything feels off. No matter what you do or try, you get it wrong. During these times, go underground. Find solace in strengthening yourself.

Have you made it this far? Wow! I'm impressed.

The real gold is in Gary's letters. Please, take your time reading them if and when you want to.

The Boron Letters

  1. Chapter 1: http://www.thegaryhalbertletter.com/Boron/BoronLetterCh1.htm

  2. Chapter 2: http://www.thegaryhalbertletter.com/Boron/BoronLetterCh2.htm

  3. Chapter 3: http://www.thegaryhalbertletter.com/Boron/BoronLetterCh3.htm

  4. Chapter 4: http://www.thegaryhalbertletter.com/Boron/TChapter4.htm 

  5. Chapter 5: http://www.thegaryhalbertletter.com/Boron/TChapter5.htm 

  6. Chapter 6: http://www.thegaryhalbertletter.com/Boron/TChapter6.htm 

  7. Chapter 7: http://www.thegaryhalbertletter.com/Boron/TChapter7.htm 

  8. Chapter 8: http://www.thegaryhalbertletter.com/Boron/TChapter8.htm 

  9. Chapter 9: http://www.thegaryhalbertletter.com/Boron/TChapter9.htm 

  10. Chapter 10: http://www.thegaryhalbertletter.com/Boron/TChapter10.htm 

  11. Chapter 11: http://www.thegaryhalbertletter.com/Boron/TChapter11.htm 

  12. Chapter 12: http://www.thegaryhalbertletter.com/Boron/TChapter12.htm 

  13. Chapter 13: http://www.thegaryhalbertletter.com/Boron/TChapter13.htm 

  14. Chapter 14: http://www.thegaryhalbertletter.com/Boron/TChapter14.htm 

  15. Chapter 15 http://www.thegaryhalbertletter.com/Boron/TChapter15.htm 

  16. Chapter 16: http://www.thegaryhalbertletter.com/Boron/TChapter16.htm 

  17. Chapter 17: http://www.thegaryhalbertletter.com/Boron/TChapter17.htm 

  18. Chapter 18: http://www.thegaryhalbertletter.com/Boron/TChapter18.htm 

  19. Chapter 19: http://www.thegaryhalbertletter.com/Boron/TChapter19.htm 

  20. Chapter 20: http://www.thegaryhalbertletter.com/Boron/TChapter20.htm 

  21. Chapter 21: http://www.thegaryhalbertletter.com/Boron/TChapter21.htm 

  22. Chapter 22: http://www.thegaryhalbertletter.com/Boron/TChapter22.htm 

  23. Chapter 23: http://www.thegaryhalbertletter.com/Boron/TChapter23.htm 

  24. Chapter 24: http://www.thegaryhalbertletter.com/Boron/TChapter24.htm 

  25. Chapter 25: http://www.thegaryhalbertletter.com/Boron/TChapter25.htm