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The Why and the When are more important than the How

by Robert Puddy
11 replies
Over a number of years i have been trying to figure out why people cant get this IM stuff, when others all round them are filling their boots...

Its my belief that too many people concentrate on how to do something (which can be outsourced) instead of understanding the why and when to apply the Howto.

Copying someones step by step howto instructions are never as succesfull as learning why it works and how to apply it, its for this reason we get all the IM is a scam posts on the forum. Because they never learnt the why and the when

Thoughts anyone
#important
  • Profile picture of the author Lee Wilson
    I'm not sure I'm with you on the 'when' but I totally agree on the 'why'. I get tired ranting about it!

    Lee
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    • Profile picture of the author Robert Puddy
      Originally Posted by L Wilson View Post

      I'm not sure I'm with you on the 'when' but I totally agree on the 'why'. I get tired ranting about it!

      Lee
      When you apply a technique is as important as how.

      I guess it comes down to the one thing you cant teach in an ebook or ecourse (to teach them to think for themselves)

      Which again in my opinion is where personal responsibility comes in, in most cases the marketer didnt lie, he just left it to peoples own thought process (as he must) to know when to apply it... And more importantly for them to work out why it works

      Knowing why it works is the most important aspect of any knowledge...

      Other wise you have no hope of making things work as they should

      Here is a personal example...

      I cant write html to save my life, but i know how it works and why. So I am able to trouble shoot html thats already written. And find the small mistakes that break it.

      I never needed to know how, i just needed to know why
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  • Profile picture of the author Tom B
    Banned
    Originally Posted by Robert Puddy View Post

    Over a number of years i have been trying to figure out why people cant get this IM stuff, when others all round them are filling their boots...

    Its my belief that too many people concentrate on how to do something (which can be outsourced) instead of understanding the why and when to apply the Howto.

    Copying someones step by step howto instructions are never as succesfull as learning why it works and how to apply it, its for this reason we get all the IM is a scam posts on the forum. Because they never learnt the why and the when

    Thoughts anyone
    That is the problem with many people. They want step by step but somehow can't make it happen even when you do give them a step by step. Let's face it, most of us can't follow details exactly as written.

    Mainly because they don't know why they are doing it and thus can't start tweaking the concepts to make it work for them.

    All of a sudden this stuff is BS and they will post it on the WaFo to complain about it.
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    • Profile picture of the author Frank Donovan
      Even more fundamental, IMO, is the 'what' and the 'who'.

      As in: What is my business? (clue: just saying "Internet Marketing" isn't enough)

      And who are my customers?

      Answer these questions and everything else should start to fall into place.


      Frank
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  • Profile picture of the author Ruth P
    I think this is very smart. Something that most of us come to learn the hard way. Many of us complain that, even when we're handed step by step guides, things just aren't "working". But, you're right: we need to get out there are learn from experience why we're doing what we're doing, instead of blindly following someone's information. I guess we get lazy and want to be spoonfed, but it ultimately makes getting success slower (in my opinion).
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    • Profile picture of the author Robert Puddy
      Originally Posted by Ruth P View Post

      I think this is very smart.

      Something that most of us come to learn the hard way. Many of us complain that, even when we're handed step by step guides, things just aren't "working".

      But, you're right: we need to get out there are learn from experience why we're doing what we're doing, instead of blindly following someone's information.

      I guess we get lazy and want to be spoonfed, but it ultimately makes getting success slower (in my opinion).
      Thank you... Is that a testimonial i can use Puddy is smart and always right
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  • Profile picture of the author Debbie Allen
    I never thought of it this way - but it makes perfect sense. And if more of us would 'listen' to this there would be fewer complaints about information overload. It seems that most people begin working online with the intent of learning how to do everything and they quickly feel overwhelmed because there is so much to learn.

    Focusing on the why and when would eliminate much of the confusion, which is probably what happens naturally if you stick around long enough. Unfortunately, rather than working through this confusion or being wise from the start with a focus on the 'why' and 'when' lots of people do give up or simply complain. I certainly remember those overwhelming feelings of information overload. In fact, things have only become 'clear' to me in the last 12 - 18 months. Thanks for stating what should be obvious but isn't.
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  • Profile picture of the author Asher
    My politically correct answer would be that
    WHY and HOW are both equally important.
    The WHEN is really just a matter of whether
    the person has a habit of taking action.

    Knowing the reasons why something works
    can spur a person to actually do it.

    Whereas just knowing the how-to's can also
    spur a person who doesn't know what he's
    doing... but wants to achieve a certain
    result just by following step-by-step instructions.

    A good example I can think of is when I had
    spyware installed in my computer and I have no
    idea how to get rid of it... a step-by-step
    online instruction really helps.

    I don't care for the WHY... just the HOW to
    get it fixed.

    But that's a non-make money example.

    The reason I think the WHY is important in
    business niches is because of habits instilled
    into people when they were young...

    They have to bypass their own internal
    auditors, internal board of directors... before
    the "Okay, let's do it" is issued.

    Asher
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    Asher Aw
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    • Profile picture of the author bretski
      Being a parent of a 2 year old I guess I often gloss over the "Why". On the other hand I think that it is necessary for me to know why something is important because I am skeptical by nature.

      For instance, I never did much with social media and deemed it just bs in my mind... until I was bored one day and decided to do some testing. It may not be the end all, be all of backlink building or a primary part of my marketing strategy but it is now a part of my plan for marketing any site or product.

      I don't know if someone explaining to me exactly why it worked would have helped but it could have i guess.
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  • Profile picture of the author mikemcmillan
    Nice thought Robert.

    I remember someone talking about guitar songs and commenting on playing the blues. He said, It isn't WHAT notes you play--anyone can play the notes, it's why you play them--that's what playing the blues is all about.

    I think a lot of people try to copy WHAT the gurus do. But often the WHY behind what they do is not apparent. To copy the "what" (just like you said), without understanding the "why" probably won't get one far.

    That's my response. I know what I just said, now I have to go figure why I said it
    --Mike
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  • Profile picture of the author jazbo
    People are basically lazy (well those that fail are).

    Of the range of products I created, my best one is a really great method for creating motivation and taking action. It is my worst seller by a mile. Why? because most people do not understand the importance of looking behind the method.

    People think you can get a method and press a few buttons. Those that succeed online, as in any business, are those that goal plan , who understand themselves, who nail down their motivations, and who take the time to understand what motivates others.

    Those that fail spin crap content and put it on crap sites.

    So for me its about personal motivation above all else.
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