Are you a But person?

[Andyhenry]

I don't mean 'butt' but 'but'.


There was a thread today where someone asked is "....." really possible.

Now, the method isn't what I want to talk about - the real thing that stood out was the amount of negative comments.

Not negative necessarily is a nasty or aggressive way - but just listing reasons why it isn't or couldn't be true.

Now, I know there are a lot of scammers around and plenty of people who are lining up to sell you regurgitated crap just to make a buck - I'm not going to pretend that's not true.

However, in a place like this where people come for inspiration and to revel in the success of others and get motivated to create their own - there are a LOT of people who get their Buts out whenever an example is given.

They come along the lines of:

"But, I bet they're paying people to do the work"

"But, that's ok if you have the money to do it"

"But, it probably doesn't work any more"

But, but, but, but, but.

These are all just excuses for why they think THEY couldn't get the results being suggested.

It's a FACT that people are making money all over the Internet in thousands of different ways - every minute of every day.

If YOU are not - that has nothing to do with what's possible.

I know a LOT of people that make significant money online - When someone says "is it possible to make $10k a month" of course I'm not going to argue - I KNOW that it's a realistic possibility for almost anyone.

If they is $100k possible - Yeah, it's possible - of course, but the list of people doing it is much smaller, but sure it's possible.

So what?

In the thread I was reading, it consisted pretty much entirely of people who hadn't bought the product/method and had already decided it was impossible.

That really surprises me.

So - most of the comments were that it wasn't possible - or a list of buts.

How did we get to this point?

Surely - the default answer is - Yes, of course it's POSSIBLE - but the devil's in the details, so you need to do due diligence on any product or person trying to sell you the solution.

But the default position seems to be - It's impossible and don't trust anyone who says it is.

Surely most people here want to make that sort of money and are actively looking for ways to do it??

Have we really reached the point now where so many people are failing that every mention of success is viewed with skepticism?

As a member here you do realise that there are many fellow members making a nice living online - don't you?

This isn't just a chat room where people 'talk about' making money but don't do it.

Where's the line at? how much can someone say is possible before you kick back and argue that it's not? Do you really think there's a limit to what you can make?

/rant
Andy

[Matt M]

But Andy,

you didn't lay out a step-by-step hand-holding outline for me to follow so I would no longer be a "but" person.

Must be your fault

Matt

[Martin.Avis]

But ... I agree! How did that happen?

Good points well made Andy. But there are none so deaf as those who will not hear and none so blind as those who will not see.

Martin

[policy]

I just got done reading that particular thread a minute ago, and after the first couple of responses, I was thinking to myself, "why are these people saying it isn't possible and knocking it?"

Now, I am not close in earnings to what that thread said, or in general, what a lot of internet marketers on here make a month/year, but I surely know that it is possible.

There are some people that are comfortable making a set amount of money a month, but then there are other people that take that money and make more out of it, or work more efficiently or longer, etc.

Possibly it is some of the scams that really turns people's mindset into "nothing over $xx,xxx is possible". Or maybe they say it to make themselves feel more comfortable so they don't have to work so hard?

I am just spewing out stuff now, but yeah the main point here is: I agree with you, and I was getting pretty upset with how people think about someone that does make a significant amount of money, or has a plan that works for them.

[InternetMarketingCenter]

I think we need to get to the point where we see the action we take for ourselves as the true measure of success.

Yes, results matter, but effort and faith in ourselves have to matter first. If you only take action based on the promise of what someone else accomplished, you'll never find a sense of personal satisfaction.

Try, do your best, keep at it, and things will happen. Maybe not $1 million a month, but 100% more than if you never tried at all.

[phil.wheatley]

Great points Andy. At the end of the day, making money online isn't all that hard, it just comes down to whether people want to put in the effort. The 'but' people are normally the same who want a turn key system...and then say, oh, this system is rubbish as I now have to get traffic (Etc). People are always searching for the big secret...and here's the answer...it's called Work!!

[Andyhenry]

I'm beginning to think that some people just aren't happy - and if you can't be happy with a few dollars, you'll never be happy with a lot.

Just getting to the point where you're happy with what you have is WAY more important than having more.

Making money is easy - you can fill envelopes, fill out forms, take surveys, write articles, write code, create, graphics, convert text to speech, convert speech to text, etc. etc...

Making money isn't the problem - being happy with how you do it is where the issue is.

Most people can't be bothered to work hard for little money and don't want to work hard for a lot of money.

If you don't believe you can make a lot of money (whatever a lot means to you) - how do you expect it to happen?

Whatever you believe about yourself has NOTHING to do with what's possible for other people.

There are people making millions of dollars selling socks online.....

There are people making millions of dollars selling phones online......

There are people making millions of dollars selling ring tones, mobile phone apps, exercise equipment, computers, clothes, shoes.... look around.

Making money is easy and is happening all the time.

Why would anyone think that they can't do it to a level they consider good?

[Mark Dulisse]

And just think, instead of spending 15 minutes and writing this thread, you could have been blogging and made 30k instead.

You are a generous guru my friend....lol.

[Valorie]

You guys kill me every time you say making money online isn't hard. I believe it isn't hard for you And I know there was a time when you weren't making money, so you started from nothing too. BUT I have a hard time believing I can make money online. Crazy, huh? I believe others are doing it all day long.

I wonder how someone who hasn't made money online can grow the belief that they can make money online too? Anyone have any ideas?

[Mark Dulisse]

I wonder how someone who hasn't made money online can grow the belief that they can make money online too? Anyone have any ideas?

You just have to THINK IT into being. You haven't read The Secret?

[Valorie]

Well, watched it. Maybe I need to chant like the little engine that could, "I know I can, I know I can, I know I can."

Really, I do make money online, I'm a ghostwriter and I get paid with Paypal. What I really want to build up on the side is affiliate marketing. For some reason, it seems to fight me.

[Steven Fullman]

I used to be, Andy.

Then I realised perfection is for the other guys/gals.

We live in a "good enough" age, and that suits me much better.

Steve

[debra]

I agree with most of your view points. But...to have a different out come would be to expect everyone to move their comfort line.

Believing the possibilities of an outcome differiants the Bill Gates from the Gomer Pile’s. Sure the Gomer Pile can make huge amounts of money on the net, But…you would have to ask him to move his comfort line into a place it’s never been before.

I was always told that “Before change can begin there has to be conditioning.” I guess what my grandmother was talking about was in order to accept change you also have to agree to be open minded to be conditioned.

Wow…that sounds like I’m giving up some control. Don’t know if I like that.

I want change in my life. But…I don’t want to give up any control even if it’s to allow room for change.

I hear what you saying and it sounds good and I think I want that, but…now I’m indecisive. If I give you some of my control, I feel threatened. I don’t like not being in control so I’m going to defend my comfort line instead.

Besides...it validates where I'm at.

[Andyhenry]

Originally Posted by Valorie

You guys kill me every time you say making money online isn't hard. I believe it isn't hard for you And I know there was a time when you weren't making money, so you started from nothing too. BUT I have a hard time believing I can make money online. Crazy, huh? I believe others are doing it all day long.

I wonder how someone who hasn't made money online can grow the belief that they can make money online too? Anyone have any ideas?

THAT is the thing driving many limiting beliefs in the IM niche.

It's not surprising when you consider how many people get in to the IM niche - trying to get away from poor paying jobs, debts etc...

If you've never experienced being paid $100k a year - why would you expect that the Internet can suddenly make it happen? It's not a surprise.

The thing is.....

A belief isn't a 'thing' - it's a process.

You have to keep it alive and maintain it, and you can choose to believe something different.

Someone mentioned the law of attraction and The Secret and that works in the same way - if you don't believe you are worthy of the success you want, you won't attract it to you and you'll be looking for evidence to support why you can't have it.

This very situation is the reason why some self help Gurus will have you walk on fire - to break your generalisations about things which are/are not possible. If you don't believe you can walk on fire and then you do - the idea is that you'll generalise this to - what else did I think I couldn't do but perhaps could...

The easiest way to break this thinking is by starting small and making your first dollar - then aiming a little higher and making your first 10, then 100, then 1000. Pretty soon you'll stop thinking about the amount and understand that the amount is just a matter of scale and leverage - the system that makes any amount is the thing to focus on.

If you can make 100 bucks - why wouldn't you think you can do that again - and again - and again?

Any artificial limit your place on your potential is something you will believe limits you.

Look at the first 4 minute mile - once people believed it possible - it got smashed time and time again.

people used to think your body would explode if it went at 50 miles an hour.

Just stop believing there are limits and get focused on moving forward from your current position. As long as you don't stop and you find a way to make more than you're spending - you should start to feel good about this.

I think if this continues I'm going to have to start running - You can believe workshops.

Andy

[Amir.S]

Originally Posted by Andyhenry

I don't mean 'butt' but 'but'.


Now, I know there are a lot of scammers around and plenty of people who are lining up to sell you regurgitated crap just to make a buck - I'm not going to pretend that's not true.


/rant
Andy

"But" Andy I thought that nearly all if not all the info is out there, so when you launch a product it has probley already been said. The only thing that you would do is put it in your own words and give it a new title.

As for all the "but" guys and gals, I think they just want a plug n play metod of making $1 million over night, then they will be happy. lol

[KristieDean]

Some great points. I think that it is possible to make any amount of money IF you are willing to put the work into it. The problem with "but" people is that their "but" is bigger than their "why".

[Andyhenry]

Originally Posted by Amir.S

"But" Andy I thought that nearly all if not all the info is out there, so when you launch a product it has probley already been said. The only thing that you would do is put it in your own words and give it a new title.

Actually, many times people are perfectly happy to pay to access information on a subject they already know about - just to hear someone they respects perspective on it - I've done this many times.

[Matt Peters]

There is actually a management science called Theory of Constraints (Rich Schefren is big on it) that uses a logical thinking process to solve "Yeah, But's". Its kind of cool to go through the process and come up with solutions to the buts.

[Mr Money Maker]

no I am not....LOL....have a good day

[CDarklock]

I call them "but-heads," myself.

[tomw]

Andy and CDarklock, I feel like I'm following you guys around the forum thanking you today.

Great stuff and "thanks" for the lessons.

Tom

[zapseo]

I'm not readin' this whole thing (sorry, time, and money. limited.)

And maybe that's part of the point.

In a world where people write "hideaway" copy, where the pull is some secret piece of information, it seems pretty natural for people to try and understand the pros AND THE cons of a system.

Someone says -- I can show you how to make $100/hr. But, in fact, your chances of getting that work in hour increments is pretty unusual.

I could go on and on about the "missing pieces" that are so often left out.

Attempting to understand how someone would accomplish something is good analysis. People SHOULD be wondering how someone can obtain results that seem hard to believe. I will not, for a minute, want to stop people from asking questions or even theorizing how someone may have done something.

Does it limit what people then think is possible for them? It might. But a bit of conservatism in rushing off to the Next Big Thing can only seem to me to be beneficial.

Understanding that many amazing results spouted about often have unstated gotchas.

I can only applaud the maturity of those people who stop to ask the question, rather than falling blindly any shiny objects. Such behavior may, once in a blue moon, result in someone having success with the shiny object. More often, I think the result is empty-pocket-syndrome.

(Nevertheless, I'm all in favor of questioning what might be limiting beliefs, as well as outrageous results.)

Live JoyFully!

Judy

[CDarklock]

Originally Posted by zapseo

Someone says -- I can show you how to make $100/hr. But, in fact, your chances of getting that work in hour increments is pretty unusual.

Another point is that you might need to do 100 hours of work to make that $100 an hour for the last ten hours.

That's not $100 an hour. It's $10 an hour.

It also might cost you $500 to get that running. That's not $10 an hour. It's $5 an hour.

And it may take three months to do all 100 hours of work. Most people work 500 hours in three months. So if this was all you were doing... it's really just $1 an hour.

But nobody's going to buy that system, so you ignore all the early stuff and the time involved, and you just count the part that makes money.

That's not really dishonest, but it sure feels that way when you get the system and find out about all that.

[zapseo]

CDarklock -- it isn't ?

How about "deceptive", then?

It's unfortunate that people think they have to slime their way into people's pocketbooks when they can create good products and make a decent living being honest.

I love how someone wrote recently (as part of the WR contest thread, I think, or was one of the entries) -- about how Paul Myers makes it cool to be ethical.

Thank God for that.

But CDarklock -- your examples are right on target.

It's right along with the story about Picasso who dashed off a sketch for a woman in a restaurant, at her request. Then when he gave her the price (let's say, $500) -- she was shocked, and said "but it only took you 5 minutes." "Yes, madam, but it took me a lifetime to get to the point where I could do that in 5 minutes."

Thank you.

Live JoyFully!

Judy

[csc4u]

I agree, but...

All great points

[Razer Rage]

Andy, I completely agree. Interestingly enough, I recently read a report that said one reason why people can't take action is because their subconscious finds reasons for why it shouldn't/can't be done.

What these people need to do is to find EVERY "reason" why they can't make $100,000+ per month using X method, and then write down why those reasons are false and counter them with reasons why they CAN do it.

Then they just need to visualize the benefit of earning $100,000 per month (i.e. how would it change your life) to make it more real.

Maybe if they tried that and saw some success they wouldn't be so skeptical.

[Ehanson]

Good points all around.

Limiting beliefs are one determinants of success or failure. How can someone succeed if they don't even think they can succeed? Whether you think you can or can't- you're right.

The "yes but" excuses throw up a brick wall and all you can focus on is how you can't do something, not how you can do it. I think a lot of people underestimate themselves and what they're really capable of. Being negative gets you nowhere. Thoughts lead to feelings which lead to beliefs which lead to action.

When I'm working I like to focus my thinking on how can I make more money come my way so I can be financially secure and help others if they need it (especially in these times) Many times it involves thinking out of the box.

[DogScout]

MY Take,
Several years ago 'The Four Hour Work Week" came out. Lots of people quit their jobs and read the book and started blogging. Few replicated the results in the book and a year later, with their retirement wiped out most went looking for new jobs.

Any of those people if not lured by a 'magic pill' could have done some work and maybe made enough to live on comfortably with a web based business. BUT they were lured into believing 4 hours a week was ALL it took. Now some one says one hour and forty-five minutes is all it takes.

I am NOT saying it is not possible. I am saying, if you make it seem that 15 minutes a day is ALL that is needed to make 30k, you are not doing the 'typical results' guy any favors.

I don't know how much time you have devoted to an on-line business, I would bet everyone here has averaged way over 15 minutes a day. In my opinion, big results take big work AND big leverage/duplication. The ones that 'work' 15 minutes a day are anomalies. The richest people in the world worked 10+ work days for years and years before they 'hit it'.

To promote the lack of work ethic and riches for it, in my opinion is a disservice to the average IMer. It is a common topic of conversation that procrastination, laziness, and a general lack of implementation is responsible for the delay of many Imer's solid incomes. (If it really took only 15 minutes, Allen would be out of a job.)

With that said, I know people (and people NOT connected to large corps.) that make a million a month. Not too long ago a well know personality made (I hear) $5,000,000 in one week. In none of these cases did that income come with less than hours and hours of 'work'. (I use quotes on 'work' because it doesn't have to seem like work, it can be fun.)

The doubt I hear is (in my opinion) good doubt, because to advocate to a newbie that he/she only needs to work 15 minutes a day to get a good wage most times does not work out.

In my 3D job $100,000/yr was a poor job. 300k was a great job. It took more than 15 minutes a day and I am betting few (if any) can replicate that 15 minute/30k a month success. I could be wrong. I followed a similar plan to the letter. I made $47 in 6 months. I followed everything to the letter (I repeat). Maybe the universe just had it in for me (and 30+ others that also 'failed at it that I know of...in fact I know of no one it worked for except the guy selling the system made HIS first million.)

It is too bad that "If you work your butt off you will make a really good income." doesn't sell.

[JayXtreme]

One of the reasons I spend less time on the forum recently...

Too many butt's, errrr.. I mean 'but' people... ummm... I dunno.


Laterzzz.. [caffeine] is required

Peace

Jay

[SusanneUK]

Originally Posted by debra

I want change in my life. But…I don’t want to give up any control even if it’s to allow room for change.

I hear what you saying and it sounds good and I think I want that, but…now I’m indecisive. If I give you some of my control, I feel threatened. I don’t like not being in control so I’m going to defend my comfort line instead.

Besides...it validates where I'm at.

BUT if you make the decision you need to change something (you want change, you said so) and perhaps that change is to learn a new skill which can take you towards your goals - then YOU are still in control because YOU made the decision to change something.

Sue

[Karen Connell]

I read that thread and couldn't help wondering if these guys ever do anything.

My main problem is not the 'but' - it is the 'why' and 'how'.

I know that I can achieve anything I set my mind to when I have found the 'how' and the 'why' answers.

It's an uphill task for a middle-aged non-techie but I''m going to get there - and soon!

Karen

No negative stuff here! No 'ifs' or 'buts' either!

[bon8699]

Keep on trying and your bound to succeed

[Mark Dulisse]

BUT...

There, I said it....

BUT, BUT, BUT, BUT, BUT, BUT, BUT.....

hmpf.....

Time to get back to work now. yawn....

[glide21]

Yep, got it in one, no more buts and ifs

[Valorie]

Originally Posted by Andyhenry

If you've never experienced being paid $100k a year - why would you expect that the Internet can suddenly make it happen? It's not a surprise.

The thing is.....

A belief isn't a 'thing' - it's a process.

You have to keep it alive and maintain it, and you can choose to believe something different.

Someone mentioned the law of attraction and The Secret and that works in the same way - if you don't believe you are worthy of the success you want, you won't attract it to you and you'll be looking for evidence to support why you can't have it.

Well, that makes sense. It also explains why I sometime read posts from people trying to help you "make your first dollar" with affiliate marketing/blogging/whatever they are promoting.

-Valorie

[seven7bh]

I think a lot of new marketers and people who aren't marketers but got sucked into the IM niche are approaching making money in all the wrong ways.

They have heard all the "Get rich Quick" schemes and read all the "I made $50k in a day" mumbo jumbo and that's what they know. They become like zombies just waiting for the day when THEY are the first in line for a program that solves all their money problems.

Their minds are ingrained that making money,

1. should take only 30 minutes a day
2. can be done without much work
3. Is just as easy as turning on a light switch
and the list goes on and on

But, that is what a lot of IM sales letters preach, over and over again. So yes they get the sale, but the marketing also seeps into people's brains, and once there is so very hard to remove. Imagine if someone told you that what you know is the color black, is now not even a color and you need to do months of research and trial and error before you can even understand what a color is. How many heads would explode if that's how school worked.

Well the IM niche is filled with Guru's and Masters and Million Dollar Makers that most people, well above 90% don't actually DO anything to make money accept try to sell other products, which would be ok, but they never learned how.

That's where all the "But's" come from.

Robert

[Keith Boisvert]

{humming} I like big butts and I cannot lie....

Anyway, I hear what your saying in the OP. We as IMers tend to see through a lot of the hype and most of us at some point have bought a product that was less than stellar...which tends to sour us or at minimum make our radars go off when certain claims are made.

I have no issue with any products, it is all up to us whether we purchase or not, and we of all people should be able to identify the hype.

However, for me the "But's" come in mainly when the reports/products tend to leave out the important aspects of a specific system, or they failed to mention in the 100 pages of sales copy that they had top dollar affiliates, industry contacts, or already had a large assortment of resource the average person does not.

Again...I don't care because I always find useful information in everything I get. The skepticism and "but crowd" are right to be hesitant...BUT not so much as to disregard every offer or put one down if they have not read or tried it.

Nothing is possible without work ethic. We all know that nothing comes as easy as it looks...that some degree of work must be put into it.

I also believe anything is possible online with the right knowledge, skill and determination. I personally believe that $30,000 a DAY is attainable to the average hardworking person. Limits are pushed everyday, and the only thing limiting you is YOU and your beliefs.

If everyone put as much energy into being positive as they did in their piss and moan efforts, well, we all would be substantially better off.

If you wanna roll in my Mercedes {Yeah!}
Then turn around! Stick it out!
Even white boys got to shout
Baby got back!~ Sir Mix A Lot

[Andyhenry]

Originally Posted by seven7bh

Their minds are ingrained that making money,

1. should take only 30 minutes a day
2. can be done without much work
3. Is just as easy as turning on a light switch
and the list goes on and on

But, that is what a lot of IM sales letters preach, over and over again.

That's where all the "But's" come from.

Robert

The reason those sales letters say this is because that's what people want to hear.

It's a chicken and egg thing. If people weren't looking for the golden goose - those sales letters would be ignored and stop.

[Andyhenry]

Originally Posted by CDarklock

I call them "but-heads," myself.

I was going to use that as my thread title "are you a but-head", but I thought it might come across the wrong way - but I laughed when you said it, so I might have been wrong

[debra]

Originally Posted by SusanneUK

BUT if you make the decision you need to change something (you want change, you said so) and perhaps that change is to learn a new skill which can take you towards your goals - then YOU are still in control because YOU made the decision to change something.

Sue

That post was actually me being very sarcastic after a days work. My kind of satire...I guess. Anyway...I must not have come across right. Sounded good in my head though

Change Is Good! as long as it's not on the wrong end of a diaper

[achivement84]

Nice post, althought i think there`s always a limit to what you can do , and that`s not a problem if you have the desier to remove the obstacles to expand that limit.

[4success53]

Try and Try again. Work hard. Think positive.

A wise old man once told me,
If you throw enough against the wall, something will stick.

[SusanneUK]

Originally Posted by debra

That post was actually me being very sarcastic after a days work. My kind of satire...I guess. Anyway...I must not have come across right. Sounded good in my head though

Change Is Good! as long as it's not on the wrong end of a diaper

Lol and ewwwww!

So glad those days are over for me - well for the moment I guess until daughter decides to have second grandchild..

Have a good week

Sue

[writermommy6]

I totally understand the whole "but " thing. It's all about what you believe can happen and how much you're willing to change. Not everything will work BUT if you don't try to accomplish it then nothing will ever work. Some people take years to acquire internet success, some take only months. Some invest a few hours a week, while some go at it full force at 40 hours a week. It's all at how bad you want it and how many times you're willing to get back up.
The lightbulb didn't happen overnight. The true measure of whether a person is a success or a failure is not how many times they have failed, BUT how many times they've gotten up and tried again.

Just my 2 cents.

[tmitchison]

On a lighter note, if not for our buts, we would all have to stand up and do something . Now I go back to work, BUT i dont like it lol.

[Mary Gallivan]

Hi Andy

Actually, many times people are perfectly happy to pay to access information on a subject they already know about - just to hear someone they respects perspective on it - I've done this many times.

LOL - I've just reached this thread after buying a WSO for that very reason

If people believe that they can't do something or they can't make a lot of money online then they don't feel so bad when they don't manage to do it. It doesn't enter their minds that they didn't achieve something because they didn't apply themselves to it or work at it.

Since starting in IM I've always had the belief that you can make money on the internet - I haven't always made a bundle and I've had my ups and downs. My belief is still strong though or I would have given up a long time ago.

Mary

[Ian Jackson]

Nice OP & thread. Butts & legs for me

I was having a bit of a "but" moment earlier, so the timing of your post Andy, couldn't have been better!

Seriously, to complement the Law of Attraction comment and other such material, I'd just like to add another little +'ve thinking product that my Wife bought me for our anniversary recently. IMHO it's pretty good stuff;

Barbel Mohr's "The Cosmic Ordering Service"

...not the book, but the twin CD set (although the book may be as just as good). We've found it really interesting, and it's starting to work for us too

Thanks again for the OP Andy

cheers
i

[allthesp]

I am an economist at heart, so of course I am a "but" man!

But in all honesty, great motivational post

[Victor Edson]

I love ALL the parts...

Buts
As Ifs

and everything in between!