Hi Everyone!

It is with the most profound sadness I acknowledge that iCop Founding Member, Joe Robson, has left this life.

Many of you already know this from his son, Steve's, email to Joe's lists last week. Because of this, I didn't feel the need to write another announcement at that time. Instead, I chose to honor Joe by dedicating this issue of the Trade Journal to him.

I actually took out the Top Spot ad for this. Then, I clearly heard Joe’s voice, British accent and all, saying, “NEVER pass up a chance to make a sale – no matter WHAT you’re doing!”

So, I laughed and put it back in – again in his honor. When your mentor speaks, you do as you're told!

Joe was ill with cancer for a bit over two years. With few exceptions, Joe kept the fact to himself and kept on keepin' on for as long as he could.

As Steve wrote:

He would not hear of letting you know what he was going through. He would say "people have enough problems of their own without hearing mine.

His closest friends did our best to support him, and I watched a quiet transformation as Joe finally had to accept the outcome.

He fought a mighty fight and, at one point, we thought he had won the battle. Unfortunately, the cancer came back with a vengeance, this time, not to be beaten.

Joe wrote the website copy not only for iCop but, also, for The MASTER COURSE. Everything I (painfully) learned about copywriting, I learned from Joe. But, that was the least of the things he gave me.

Joe and I came together in early 2000 - rewriting and renaming iCop. He became a true and dear friend - like minds and all that.

Joe quickly became iCop's biggest supporter for all these years. He did everything he could to both support and promote iCop. He was proud of iCop, and iCop was proud of him.

I learned all about Joe's life and loves. His wonderful children, the one he lost, his lovely wife, Rita, and their love story over many, many years, his love of travel (to Africa in particular) and, well ... his love of life.

Before his illness, many's the evening Joe would call me from "across the pond" in the UK - usually when he was fed up with something. We'd cuss and laugh and carry on about "internet marketing" until tears ran.

But, fed up, or not, Joe created and grew The Newbie Club into one of the biggest, most successful websites online. He is a man truly loved by his "newbies" and anyone who ever did business with him. He will be sorely missed.

Another friend of mine sent condolences and wrote:

Joe was definitely not one to sit on the pitty pot. The candle he lit should burn for a long time, not only for his program The Newbie Club, but for his outstanding example of taking what life delivers and making the best of it.

John Grafflin
JWG Marketing Group

Joe, true to form, made plans for the business. He trained his son, Steve, to pick up and carry on with the load Joe has laid down. Just shortly before he laid it down, he and Steve completed a project dear to his heart - his new copywriting membership site.

Joe didn't just hop online and declare himself a copywriter. He was a professional copywriter long before the internet happened. He knew his stuff!

I've come to know Steve a bit, and I'm sure he'll do a bang-up job of carrying on. He is - as you would expect of Joe's son - a terrific guy. I'll tell you more about the new site when Steve feels ready to fully launch it.

Steve was beside his dad every inch of the way. He may need a bit of a breather to regain his own strength and enthusiasm.

Joe was truly a great internet star. His talent, his wildly popular websites, his top-notch professional products, his positive attitude, his huge heart, his ethics, his love for, and caring about, people - all combined to make him one of the TRUE success stories of our realm.

Even though I knew it was coming, Joe's passing sucked the breath right out of me. It leaves a huge hole in my heart. No matter what I write here, I simply can not do the man justice. But, ...

Joe's light will continue to shine, simply by virtue of his having been with us. And, another brilliant star has been added to the heavens.

In loving memory of my beloved friend and mentor - Joe Robson.

Have a light-filled week, and ... Keep on Keepin' On!

     jl

Join me on Twitter - twitter.com/jlscott_iCop