Seven... thousand? Srsly?

53 replies
So I just noticed that I have 6,999 posts in the sidebar of my reply in another thread.

Which makes this one #7,000.

Traditionally, at every 1,000 post border, you're supposed to drop a major post about all the stuff you've learned and how important the forum has been.

So here's the thing I've been learning over the last thousand posts.

Most of the people here don't really know or care what internet marketing is. They think it's a kind of business. But "internet marketing" in and of itself is not a business, any more than "computer programming" or "egg frying" is a business. It might be something your business does, but it is not your business.

Businesses do something people want done. That's the key. Every business, no matter what it is, has some product or service that its customers want and will pay for.

If you are in the "internet marketing" business, what exactly is it that you are offering your customers?

If you were in the "computer programming" business, you would offer them a computer program.

If you were in the "egg frying" business, you would offer them a fried egg.

What is it, exactly, that you are doing for your customers?

Do you know?

Do you care?

Because, increasingly, I am seeing people here who don't care.

They don't post much. They just run WSOs and mail affiliate offers. That's pretty much it.

What good is that?

Because it can be good. You can run badass incredible WSOs that are worth several times the cost. And you can mail affiliate offers for products that are just as badass and incredible. You can, in fact, care about your business and your customers and make an honest-to-God difference in this industry.

Do you?

Look, I'm not saying you have to be Mahatma freakin' Gandhi or anything. I know we've all got bills to pay and goals to reach and families to support. And there's nothing wrong with focusing on that more than on the deep questions of what you are doing and why. Especially in the early days, when you're struggling.

But sooner or later, you won't be struggling. You'll be looking at your business from the opposite end of the Maslovian heirarchy, and wondering where your social consciousness and self-actualisation are.

Just think about it. Not obsessively, but a little. Every so often, stop and take stock, and go "hey, what am I doing, and why am I not just some low-life thieving internet scumbag?"

If you can't answer that, you've got a problem. And the sooner you find it, the sooner you can fix it.

It's not all about the money. In fact, at a certain point, it's not about the money at all. So go ahead and make it about more than just the money.
#srsly #thousand #wtf
  • Profile picture of the author chemo38
    Well stated, C,

    Everyone on this forum needs a reminder like this. I see you have learned quite a bit in your time here. I agree with you 100 PERCENT!

    chemo38
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  • Profile picture of the author Chris Chicas
    Great post.

    All too often I come across people that are at a loss on "what niche to promote" And when I respond that they should follow something that they are passionate about and enjoy developing a site in that subject, I am viewed as being illusive.

    I could go on and on, but rather keep your words in mind.

    Congrats, all the best.
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  • Profile picture of the author Jasonsc
    Really excellent post. I too am noticing many people as of late who are purely interested in the cash. I mean let's be honest that's the main goal behind anyone's activities here.

    But I for one could not rest easy by making a quick buck through cheap tactics.

    I HAVE to offer something, something of quality. Otherwise I wouldn't sleep at night.

    Excellent excellent post, thanks.
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  • Profile picture of the author Steven Fullman
    CD,

    I remember you back in the halcyon days of '09, when you were a fresh-faced punk with a lot of ideas.

    Now look at you.

    ...you've still got ideas, I'll give you that.



    Cheers,
    Steve
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    • Profile picture of the author CDarklock
      Originally Posted by Steven Fullman View Post

      ...you've still got ideas, I'll give you that.
      I'm still a punk, too.
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      "The Golden Town is the Golden Town no longer. They have sold their pillars for brass and their temples for money, they have made coins out of their golden doors. It is become a dark town full of trouble, there is no ease in its streets, beauty has left it and the old songs are gone." - Lord Dunsany, The Messengers
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      • Profile picture of the author Jeremy Gatica
        Originally Posted by CDarklock View Post

        I'm still a punk, too.
        Thats what she said!

        Great post CD!
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      • Profile picture of the author Sandor Verebi
        Originally Posted by CDarklock View Post

        I'm still a punk, too.
        Caliban - as everyone knows - a punk also can have good ideas.

        Ideas are needed for people in order to realize themselves, I think.

        And if you've a feasible idea then the result depends on what you do with that.

        Congrats on your 7th milestone,

        Sandor
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  • Profile picture of the author davejug1
    Now that was the best post I've read all damn week!
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  • Profile picture of the author David Mcalorum
    If only there was a way to get this message to all those people
    pushing clickbank offers everyday.

    Or the people who pump out 20+ WSO's a year.

    Or the people who.... Oh nevermind. We know who these people are.
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  • Profile picture of the author alcymart
    Originally Posted by CDarklock View Post

    It's not all about the money. In fact, at a certain point, it's not about the money at all. So go ahead and make it about more than just the money.
    Oh, do I ever agree with you on that point! In fact, it has more to do with purpose. If one has purpose, and ignores the money aspect, the money will follow. By the way, those who "don't care" will never find real success whatever they try.

    Billionnaires all have "purpose", and it has little or nothing to do with Money!

    Bernard
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  • Profile picture of the author The Copy Warriors
    This is one of the best posts I've ever read here on the WarriorForum, and I couldn't agree with you more.

    If you think all your business does is market on the internet, then ooooh boy, you're in trouble. Marketing can only come as a very, very distant third after products and customer service. Almost by definition, if you put marketing before everything else, you're spamming.
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  • Profile picture of the author chasnsx
    Darklock, I always read your posts, because there is always something to be learned. With that said, I am in the business of providing content in a hobby related niche. Sometimes I provide free content and derive advertizing income from it, and sometimes I sell content directly.
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  • Profile picture of the author John Romaine
    Great post dude
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  • Profile picture of the author salegurus
    Cheers CD good post.
    re: "It's not all about the money. In fact, at a certain point, it's not about the money at all. So go ahead and make it about more than just the money"

    Unfortunately for some people it is only about the money and they don't really care how they get their hands on it either.

    >Theo<
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  • Profile picture of the author Randall Magwood
    Congrats on your 7,000th post. That's a major milestone. Thanks for sharing your words of advice.
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  • Profile picture of the author sshusain
    Really very good lesson, get a very good picture of IM and WF in a nutshell.

    Thanks

    Shahid
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    • Profile picture of the author jadesource
      CD, thanks so much for saying this, exactly as you did.

      In the end, I want to look back on my work and be proud of what it gave people, and hope that he earnings from it grow from that.

      It inspires me to slow down, and I thank you for that too.
      Mark
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  • Profile picture of the author Alan Petersen
    Originally Posted by CDarklock View Post

    Traditionally, at every 1,000 post border, you're supposed to drop a major post about all the stuff you've learned and how important the forum has been.
    Never understood that tradition.
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  • Profile picture of the author Intrepreneur
    Business is not the art of intelligence but the art of using your intelligence to invest it towards turning a profit.
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    • Profile picture of the author azmanar
      CD,

      Correct me if I'm wrong.

      IM is just a function of business ( if they want it to be) and not a business by itself.

      Is that what you mean?
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      • Profile picture of the author barbling
        Originally Posted by azmanar View Post

        CD,

        Correct me if I'm wrong.

        IM is just a function of business ( if they want it to be) and not a business by itself.

        Is that what you mean?
        I'm not CD but I can compete with him as a BOFH.

        It's like saying that you're in the goldmining business when you're solely selling pick axes.

        You *are* in that business.....but methinks you'll never see a real live gold nugget in the wild.

        Internet marketing is kinda sorta like that in the opposite way. You can niche it to say you're in the Internet marketing aspect of selling to realtors, or the Internet marketing aspect of selling to recruiters, or the Internet marketing aspect of selling to moose wranglers, etc.etc.etc.

        There are so many online "gold seekers" that Internet marketing can be viewed as simply an online way of selling "pickaxes".

        Back to the topic at hand...if you're a rich hermit type of marketer (ie, you focus solely on high SEO and keywords and portal sites and everything), focusing solely on money generated is to be expected, because you're not providing any value to the visitor, you're simply providing the links from which they can buy. I did that meself in 2004-2005 (which was why I disappeared from the IM scene back then. Glorious days those were, glorious!).

        But when you move to interacting with actual living breathing peoples, then you have to take that into the IM equation.

        All of a sudden, the more helpful you are (to a point), the more money you make. Why? Because people start going to you for answers and buying on your recommendation.

        The "to a point" part refers to giving stuff away for free. Give all your great info away in blogs and many folks will start to expect all your great info for free.

        I too have seen people getting into things here just for the money. Thing is , though, there's a living breathing human bean at the end of every one of your interactions.

        Do IM so that every evening, you can look at the person in the mirror and be proud of whom is looking back.


        I personally think it's the only way to do business.
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  • Profile picture of the author the_icon
    I would hazard a guess that the bulk of people find the WF as a selling place for people who are looking for a quick and easy buck.

    Lets face it the WSO section must be the busiest section, maybe after this one lol, and every time I visit it there are new WSO's popping up, new next big things etc etc.

    I mean surely we have hit every possible way to make money on the net at least ten times over (and thats a conservative estimate) on that page.

    I dont care what anyone says re the WSO's. The bulk of the audience they are selling to are sheep that are looking for guidance. They are looking for a good looking sales page, good fluff and the promise of money for little work.

    It doesnt work like that in the real world. You have to work at it. The funny thing I find is that most of these people that buy the WSO's dont even implement them, thats assuming they havent hit the refund button 2 seconds after ordering it that is.

    I wasnt here when the WF was created, so dont know what it was like in the beginning, but often wondered if the way it has panned out is what the creators were looking for?
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    • Profile picture of the author azmanar
      Originally Posted by the_icon View Post


      I dont care what anyone says re the WSO's. The bulk of the audience they are selling to are sheep that are looking for guidance. They are looking for a good looking sales page, good fluff and the promise of money for little work.
      Hi,

      After buying scores of WSOs here is what I have to say.

      WSO Section is a digital forest.

      Some plants are therapeutic, some worthless, some poisonous and some even bite chunks off of you.

      Got to choose well.

      Some public comments are truthful and some are set up. The PM is quite handy to ask people around.
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  • Profile picture of the author sal64
    Great message CD... sadly the very people you mention aren't listening.

    Internet Marketing?

    Hmmm an interesting term really. The internet is just another advertising medium. Just because you sell stuff on a website does make you an internet marketer.

    For those who ain't noticed... the phrase consists of 2 words. Most get the Internet part, but very few understand the marketing aspect.

    It's the only industry I know where people allegedly go into business with a proper plan and analysis.

    Go figure.

    Sal

    PS: Here's to 7000 more posts!!
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    • Profile picture of the author azmanar
      Originally Posted by sal64 View Post


      For those who ain't noticed... the phrase consists of 2 words. Most get the Internet part, but very few understand the marketing aspect.
      Hi Sal,

      Educate us on that part.

      Sometimes things are not meant to be broken down into parts because as time passes, they became new terms with new meanings.

      Examples are Social Media, Social Bookmarking, Web Analytics, Google Traffic and many more. Probably so is Internet Marketing.

      Some people see Internet Marketing as a whole new business by itself - an offshoot of Internet-based Economy and not just a function of it.

      PS : Long time no see.

      PPS : See how CD spelled seriously as "srsly". He must be doing lots of "mobile marketing".
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      • Profile picture of the author sal64
        Like I said...

        the internet is simply an advertising medium much like TV, radio or print advertising.

        People use it because it is a low cost alternative and easy to access. Anyone can create a product and site.

        The marketing is the difficult part. This is where the rubber hits the road. Granted, there are different levels of marketers and their income reflects their skill level.

        But what we see here is that many see this is a low cost opportunity to make some money. Everyone has different levels of expecrtations as to how much they can make.

        But the bottom line is the the difference between opportunity seekers as opposed to business builders. Everyone tells you that they are the latter, yet the great majority do not understand or are not prepared to do what is required... and are exposed as the former.

        Sal

        Originally Posted by azmanar View Post

        Hi Sal,

        Educate us on that part.

        Sometimes things are not meant to be broken down into parts because as time passes, they became new terms with new meanings.

        Examples are Social Media, Social Bookmarking, Web Analytics, Google Traffic and many more. Probably so is Internet Marketing.

        Some people see Internet Marketing as a whole new business by itself - an offshoot of Internet-based Economy and not just a function of it.

        PS : Long time no see.

        PPS : See how CD spelled seriously as "srsly". He must be doing lots of "mobile marketing".
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      • Profile picture of the author CDarklock
        Originally Posted by azmanar View Post

        Sometimes things are not meant to be broken down into parts because as time passes, they became new terms with new meanings.
        If you break them down into parts, the parts stay the same.

        Examples are Social Media
        Social media are lists. Just like AWeber. When you really break it down, you have a group of people on any given social platform who will get a message if you send it there. If you think about who those people are and why they are on that list, you can target those messages and make them part of your marketing.

        Lists worked like this before AWeber, too. The fundamental principles of developing and maintaining a relationship with the people on your list are the same ones used to develop and maintain a relationship with the people who walk into your store, which dates more or less back to the beginnings of time.

        There's a basic guide to this in Leviticus, for God's sake (Parshat Kedoshim, Leviticus 19:9-18) - so we have actual definitive evidence that these concepts go back over 3,000 years (as proven by science) and ostensibly 6,000 (as asserted by experts).

        LOL, "for God's sake." I kill me.

        Some people see Internet Marketing as a whole new business by itself
        Some people think QR codes are a new technology that's going to change the world because, you know, those 17 years of tracking auto inventory in Japan was just a proof of concept. I mean, it's not like matrix barcodes have been in use since the 1970s or something... oh wait

        Most people today have no perspective. They don't know their history and they don't bother to check it. Yes, it is very very cool that everybody on the planet can now use their phone as a barcode scanner.

        Do you know what Wired magazine was sending out to customers in 2000?

        Barcode scanners.

        Here's what generally-brilliant businessman Joel Spolsky had to say about that.

        Wasting Money on Cats - Joel on Software

        All three criticisms he offers of the :CueCat are equally applicable to QR codes. The major difference is that QR codes are not being promoted by a single central company, but by a loose confederacy of dunces to offline business owners who don't know any better.

        So instead of a bunch of shareholders who know they're taking a risk and a single distinct company acting like a jerk, the money being wasted is being taken from small business owners by IM entrepreneurs for something that is basically a complete waste of time and energy.

        Jackals. That's what they remind me of. Circling the herd nervously, waiting for something to fall over so they can run in and eat it. That's what I envision when people talk about how internet marketing is a whole new kind of business: a bunch of jackals, vultures, and insects proclaiming loudly that the new business paradigm is scavenging carrion.

        PPS : See how CD spelled seriously as "srsly". He must be doing lots of "mobile marketing".
        I have been spotted of late lurking around Ron Gat's mobile marketing mastermind... but I'm not ready to talk about anything concrete yet.
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        "The Golden Town is the Golden Town no longer. They have sold their pillars for brass and their temples for money, they have made coins out of their golden doors. It is become a dark town full of trouble, there is no ease in its streets, beauty has left it and the old songs are gone." - Lord Dunsany, The Messengers
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  • Profile picture of the author ShaneGorry
    Internet marketing in my understanding is the marketing of your business via the Internet so that people know your business can do what people want done.
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  • Profile picture of the author thebitbotdotcom
    LOL! You're funny CD. Your posts always make me laugh and I always read them closely.

    Funny thing. After hanging around WF for a couple of years now, I only recently learned for myself what you laid out in your post.

    IM is a part of a business, not a business in itself unless your product is the "teaching of it".

    I think that is where many newbie's (yes, I still consider myself one in the grand scheme of things) falter...we are overwhelmed by the MMO niche and somehow get it confused with "Business" and "IM" at the same time.

    It's some type of psychological paradox that traps 99% of people like a whirlpool in open water in a small boat.

    However, I now have a product and a real business model for which both IM and even SEO for that matter are simply tools that drive the business forward.

    So...thanks for your confirmation of what I have found to be true and thanks for your contributions here. I know that when you post, your information is always certified and BS-FREE...
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    • Profile picture of the author CDarklock
      Originally Posted by thebitbotdotcom View Post

      IM is a part of a business, not a business in itself unless your product is the "teaching of it".
      Even then, you're not really in the internet marketing business - you're in the teaching business. People don't pay you for the marketing, they pay you for the teaching.

      I occasionally get criticised for selling "make money" products when I don't actually have a single product about making money. You can use the products I sell to learn the skills you can use to do the work that will make you the money. But what I'm selling is learning the skills. It's a feature -benefit - advantage thing:

      - I will teach you to do something. (Feature)
      - Then you can go do it. (Benefit)
      - And then you can sell the results. (Advantage)

      You might want to sell the results, but first you need to go do the work, and you can't do that unless someone teaches you how.

      Being honest about that rather reduces my sales figures, unfortunately, since people would really rather buy the money outright.


      But it's not about the big sales figures. It's about a higher principle than that. I used to have a business that made big numbers because we only cared about the money, and I was miserable.

      There are a lot of people out there right now preaching "it's all about the numbers" and that's all they care about, but they're still fighting to get where they're trying to go. Once they get there, they'll look around and notice they're standing in a pile of cash that doesn't really matter. They don't stand for anything. They don't mean anything. It's all just ashes and dust.
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      "The Golden Town is the Golden Town no longer. They have sold their pillars for brass and their temples for money, they have made coins out of their golden doors. It is become a dark town full of trouble, there is no ease in its streets, beauty has left it and the old songs are gone." - Lord Dunsany, The Messengers
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  • Profile picture of the author Jere Kuisma
    This is one awesome thread. Sorry for posting without actually contributing to the conversation but I just had to say.
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  • Profile picture of the author Arroway
    Yes indeed, I have seen too many people who are looking for a "method" to "make money online". They never realize it's all about building a business, which is more like combining certain kinds of methods into a greater whole. I frown when I see people who have lurked for a year or more and don't even have a website.
    I've had people send me messages, saying: "So how do you make money online?" Like it's some kind of game: "So how do you beat that boss?" It's a process of many parts, and most people fail to realize that.

    I for one am someone who cares, and I can't imagine just doing things to rake in some money, without actually providing much value. When I create a product, I want to achieve at least the level of quality that I want to see in products I buy myself.

    Allen
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  • Profile picture of the author Bredfan
    Nice post. I agree completely - excellent food for thought.

    Anyone ever tell you your pic looks a little like Cliff Burton? :-)
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    • Profile picture of the author CDarklock
      Originally Posted by Bredfan View Post

      Anyone ever tell you your pic looks a little like Cliff Burton? :-)
      Yeah, when I'm around people who actually remember who Cliff Burton was.

      I tend to hang out with a younger crowd, so that's not usually the case. I was actually mistaken for Zakk Wylde at Guitar Center once.
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      "The Golden Town is the Golden Town no longer. They have sold their pillars for brass and their temples for money, they have made coins out of their golden doors. It is become a dark town full of trouble, there is no ease in its streets, beauty has left it and the old songs are gone." - Lord Dunsany, The Messengers
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  • Profile picture of the author jacksonlin
    Finally, someone is saying something about what we're all thinking about.
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    • Profile picture of the author JohnMcCabe
      Great post, Caliban. Hope you don't take another 7k to come up with something this good...

      When someone tells me "I'm an Internet Marketer", I have to choke down the urge to ask them how many Internets they've sold this month...:p
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  • Profile picture of the author AndrewCavanagh
    Originally Posted by CDarklock View Post

    You can, in fact, care about your business and your customers and make an honest-to-God difference in this industry.

    go ahead and make it about more than just the money.

    If you do that either at some point you'll be making enough money that you won't need to really worry about that any more or...

    You'll be so genuinely fulfilled with what you're doing that the money won't be so important to you.

    Either way you win.

    Great post.

    Kindest regards,
    Andrew Cavanagh
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  • Profile picture of the author Steven Miranda
    Best post I had read in a few months!
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  • Profile picture of the author accendo
    Great Post - It is important that we take the time to remember why we started. Sure, many wanted to money, but we also wanted to provide a service to our customers. To bring value to their lives which in return, brings value to ours.

    Thanks for sharing
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  • Profile picture of the author Vtoy
    Banned
    Just passed my 7 post count mark too, congratulations to the both of us.
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  • Profile picture of the author samuraig
    That's awesome! Congrats on 7,000 posts! You definitely enjoy helping people. I do have a bunch of blog posts and guest posts on other blogs and counting... I'm working on 10 posts here in Warrior Forum, so far. :-)
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  • Profile picture of the author Mike Ogbin
    Waaaw 7 014 posts, that's great! Congratulations.

    I am agree with you 100% without any doubt at all.

    Happiness does not come from doing easy work but from the afterglow satisfaction that comes after the achievement of a difficult task that demanded our best. I am sure that you enjoy helping people in the first place. Thanks for this great feeling. I am sure that 7 000 posts is not easy to reach it.
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  • Profile picture of the author Brenden Clerget
    <3 That's why from day 1 I've really respected and loved your outlook on the business CD.

    Can't argue with anything that you've said, and more importantly, you've made me think a lot about where my business is going and my outlook for the future.

    Interesting ideas floating around my head, interesting indeed...
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  • Profile picture of the author Austin357
    I think in the beginning most people are just trying to figure out the madness. All the different guru teachings, whether to start a blog, CPA, PPC, Media buys, Social media, List building, etc... Then for those who start doing their homework, sticking with a plan and following up with massive action, success slowly starts to appear. They then scale up and make those changes and can start realizing that they crossed over to the other side of the fence.

    New people come and go on here looking for that secret WSO or magic pill that will make them money. Like CD mentions on this post, what is your business offering your potential customers? We overlook the simple aspects of this business sometimes and over complicate it. The KISS method is my favorite.
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  • Profile picture of the author HeySal
    So 7,000, eh? Wow - didn't realize you yacked as much off TMN as on it.

    I think your words are great ones, but I also think they will be ignored by those who need the most to understand them. Still doesn't hurt to try. If they sink in to even one head, they are not wasted.

    It's all about the money is just too often the point of view in an increasingly fascist minded world. If people would get off that kick so we could all normalize again, this world would be a safe and wonderful place for everyone. Utopian dreams. Keep on talking, though. Some day it might make the difference.
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    • Profile picture of the author CDarklock
      Originally Posted by HeySal View Post

      I think your words are great ones, but I also think they will be ignored by those who need the most to understand them.
      I'm not offended when I can only help people with moderate need.

      Seriously, most of the people you actually help with stuff like this will never tell you and you'll never know. They don't post "wow, this really helped me." They probably don't post anything at all. They just quietly nod their heads and go live a slightly better life because of it. And I'm fine with that.
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      "The Golden Town is the Golden Town no longer. They have sold their pillars for brass and their temples for money, they have made coins out of their golden doors. It is become a dark town full of trouble, there is no ease in its streets, beauty has left it and the old songs are gone." - Lord Dunsany, The Messengers
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      • Profile picture of the author Sandor Verebi
        Originally Posted by CDarklock View Post

        Yeah, when I'm around people who actually remember who Cliff Burton was. ...
        Caliban, please, don't get me wrong, but besides the look, I discovered another similarity between both of you.

        Cliff Burton as a bass guitarist played heavy metal music in the Metallica.

        I think, what you say here, also has a 'metal' character sometimes. Even though everyone would understand it!

        Originally Posted by CDarklock View Post

        ... Seriously, most of the people you actually help with stuff like this will never tell you and you'll never know. They don't post "wow, this really helped me." They probably don't post anything at all. They just quietly nod their heads and go live a slightly better life because of it. And I'm fine with that.
        I like this paragraph. Really, the limelight is not a vital element for everyone. I also l let others keep the spotlight.

        Cheers,

        Sandor
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  • Profile picture of the author meltingwaves
    Dayum man far more posts than me. That's awesome though! Looks like you've been providing a ton of value to tons of people, so kudos to you!
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  • Profile picture of the author Andyhenry
    Hey Caliban,

    This was quite well timed. I had a very similar conversation with my sister yesterday. She's a life coach and asking me what I was planning to do to move my goals forward over the coming year.

    After doing a personality profiling session we were speaking about what my strengths and weaknesses were.

    I've always had an issue with talking myself up to other people. I love marketing and I can talk forever about how great someone else is or about technical or marketing stuff.

    One of my clients was telling me on Friday that they're actively looking for ways to pay me more money as they're over the moon with the results I'm getting them and they're getting a huge new customers because of my work, and I don't actively offer them enough 'extra' things to pay for. In fact, often I do extra things just because I know they'll help but don't charge them for that. Because I don't "need" the money and I do love helping them and seeing them get good results, I'm leaving a lot of money on the table just because I don't actively focus on getting paid or increasing my revenue. It seems that up to now I've just been going with the flow and naturally doing well, but I could be doing so much better just by focusing on some of the areas outside my natural comfort zone so that people who want to pay me more have a natural opportunity to do so.

    I've always had a bit of an issue with telling people how good I am at things and I don't always take compliments easily, so I've decided that I need to reframe the situation and start to create ways to share my success (and my clients success and happiness) with others in a way that fits my beliefs and personality, so that I'm not selling myself, but selling the great experience that my clients get.

    I know there are plenty of IMers who don't have such issues and I've seen a lot of people who don't really know what they're talking about positioning themselves as experts and charging top dollar, so I'm sure there are probably a few variations on this theme and many opportunities for us as IMers to step up our game and make more money, even if we're already doing well - doubling or tripling our income can often be much easier than we realise.

    Andy
    Signature

    nothing to see here.

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    • Profile picture of the author CDarklock
      Originally Posted by Andyhenry View Post

      I've always had an issue with talking myself up to other people.
      I have trouble telling people what to do.

      I had a "whack on the side of the head" moment from Mike Carraway at one point when he pointed out that in every email he ever saw from me, not once did I ever tell anyone to DO anything.

      I never actually said "click the link" or "buy the product." I just said "this is a good article" or "this is a good product." Basically, there's no call to action. And people kept emailing me to say how much they loved my emails, but I wasn't selling squat.

      What was really happening there was that people read my emails and wanted to do something. But since I didn't tell them what, they just came up with something on their own, and what felt the most natural to them was to hit "reply" and tell me how great the email was.

      Pretty obvious, when you look at it.

      I'm leaving a lot of money on the table
      More accurately, you're leaving it in your customer's pocket, which most customers tend to like.

      For me, a large part of the equation is deserving it. I'm working on a series of products about stuff you can do for money that isn't selling services or product creation, but in order to do that effectively I had to stop selling services and creating products for several months... turning instead to affiliate marketing and listbuilding... so I would actually know what I was talking about.

      I think that's going to produce a much higher-quality product which will be more successful. And chances are it will make a lot more money, too. But an awful lot of people have been calling me stupid while I did my research.
      Signature
      "The Golden Town is the Golden Town no longer. They have sold their pillars for brass and their temples for money, they have made coins out of their golden doors. It is become a dark town full of trouble, there is no ease in its streets, beauty has left it and the old songs are gone." - Lord Dunsany, The Messengers
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  • Profile picture of the author revstan
    This is right, a lot of the people who don't understand the way IM works, just don't understand how to run a business.

    Simple Stan
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    • Profile picture of the author Josh880
      Great Post Man....You learn so much with time
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