31 replies
Ok.. purposely abrasive thread title - but I want to duke it out with someone regardless (in a competitive sense)..

I am a new marketer, but a respected authority in my niche (Photoshop), where I have been actively involved for 16 years. My website is chugging along really well. Im proud of our content, and enjoying a fair amount of good press online.

Ive planned a product for a long time, and finally reached a point where everything is in place and I can get started.

..Im finding the 'getting started' part quite difficult though. Kind of like 'performance anxiety' or some other debilitating head f*ck.

I have to record around 35 videos for my course - is there anyone else out there that has a similar volume goal, that would like to go 'head to head' as it were, in getting shit done?

I don't want to instigate a bet, as a challenge like this is too difficult to quantify, but Im fiercely competitive - having a similar positioned nemesis would really light a fire under my ass. For bragging rights only!

Experienced Warriors, Marketers etc. I know you'll say 'stop posting on a forum, and just get on with it' - in this one instance, I am struggling. I really think this strategy will help both myself and my potential 'adversary'


I look forward to all replies

Conzz



Edit: This won't be a 'Follow Me' thread - I'd be happy to keep this on Skype, between me and the respective challenger
#fight
  • Profile picture of the author Michael Ten
    I try to adhere to The Art of Peace rather than The Art of War. Both of those are books.
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    • Profile picture of the author SurrealPSD
      Originally Posted by Michael Ten View Post

      Both of those are books.

      Thankyou Michael.

      I am sure you are aware that the vast majority of technical innovations are conceived when nations try to destroy each other - are they not?
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    • Profile picture of the author Benny L
      Alright, CHUMP!

      I know diddly about photoshop. I use GIMP because I am poor and photos aren't that important to my business or my life at this time. But whatever.

      I just hired a guy to write me an ebook and I am going to market the hell out of it and make a BUNCH of money. I'm actually going to make more than you. And you can SUCK IT!!!

      I'll have my ebook ready in 2 weeks, it'll be tweaked, a title will be selected, and it will be submitted to Clickbank within another week or two, and then another week or two to get the website up and running and I will pwn you and your silly website that you've been running for... 16 years? WTF?!!!

      I'm gonna get shit done faster. I will make more money. And you'll probably just be on like your fourth of 35 videos without even having a product ready to release. And I'm going to mock you and make fun of you for it.

      But if your loser ass needs some help along the way, let me know. Still though, I'm going to make you wonder why the hell you wasted 16 years of your life to get to the lame ass "I haven't really made anything significant yet" point that you're wallowing in right now. Shit, I could become a photoshop expert in a few months if I wanted. And I'd have something to show for it shortly thereafter.

      16 years with little to show for it? LMAO!!! That's actually pretty pathetic. I just came up with my own idea about 2 days ago.. And I'll be smoking your ass within a few months. WTF is wrong with you?


      (Note to moderators: I'm not being hostile. I'm writing this with a laugh and a smile on my face. It is my belief that this is what the OP is asking for - a little kick in the arse. No disrespect intended. If it gets the guy off his butt and moving, then I think it's a good thing.)
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  • Profile picture of the author SurrealPSD
    LMFAO.. I love it Benny

    If you do have that project on the go, I'll be interested in talking. Sending PM

    @ Art, cheers mate!
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    • Profile picture of the author Benny L
      Originally Posted by SurrealPSD View Post

      LMFAO.. I love it Benny

      If you do have that project on the go, I'll be interested in talking. Sending PM

      @ Art, cheers mate!
      Have you considered giving up Photochop and switching to Instgram? I hear they have some really SWEET filters that look AMAZING!!!!


      Yes, my project is very much real. PM replied to.
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      • Profile picture of the author Jill Carpenter
        Originally Posted by Benny L View Post

        Alright, CHUMP!

        I know diddly about photoshop. I use GIMP because I am poor and photos aren't that important to my business or my life at this time. But whatever.
        Actually, if you could do a video course on Gimp you may have a buyer already lined up.
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        • Profile picture of the author Benny L
          Originally Posted by Jill Carpenter View Post

          Actually, if you could do a video course on Gimp you may have a buyer already lined up.
          That's actually not a half bad idea. Maybe after the OP finishes up his work there, he can mentor me about how he did his thing, and then it wouldn't be that hard for me to make something for Gimp. But right now, I've got 2 or three products in the pipeline, so I'm a little tied up.

          I'll definitely keep it in the back of my head though!
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  • Profile picture of the author Brendon Zahrndt
    I finished reading this thread and I am gritting my teeth begging to join in since I love a good challenge...grrrrr

    Unfortunately I have entirely too much going on or I would jump on it - but I know exactly how you feel Surreal and it's a great challenge. I hope someone takes you up on it and you two knock it out of the park.

    It's probably better I don't join anyway. I would destroy you in your challenge

    Brendon
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  • Profile picture of the author John Romaine
    Originally Posted by SurrealPSD View Post

    Im finding the 'getting started' part quite difficult though. Kind of like 'performance anxiety' or some other debilitating head f*ck.
    While you're dibble dabbling around wondering when to get started, established marketers are pumping out product.

    Originally Posted by SurrealPSD View Post

    I have to record around 35 videos for my course
    Why 35?

    I told you - create a minimum viable product, and get it moving. Do a product with 5 videos - just do something. Unless you quit dicking around trying to make everything "perfect", nothing is going to change.

    Originally Posted by SurrealPSD View Post

    I know you'll say 'stop posting on a forum, and just get on with it'
    Stop posting on a forum, and just get on with it.

    No one is going to take you seriously, and help you, if you ignore the advice they give, and you continue to muck around on forums.

    Remember that.
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    • Profile picture of the author SurrealPSD
      John, you know I respect you and hold your insights in high regard. The logic behind what you are saying is spot-on, but Im not going to create a minimum viable product, there's just no way Im going to be a 'me-too' product vendor.

      I know the above will probably have you thinking that Im doomed to failure. I have a lot of eyes on me in this niche, Ive got to create the right product - not something pumped out.

      I may have stuttered on the starting line, but this project is getting done (come hell or high water).. I know my credibility here is pretty low at present, but I just have to see it through as envisioned.

      Appreciate the tough love mate.

      Conzz



      Originally Posted by John Romaine View Post

      While you're dibble dabbling around wondering when to get started, established marketers are pumping out product.



      Why 35?

      I told you - create a minimum viable product, and get it moving. Do a product with 5 videos - just do something. Unless you quit dicking around trying to make everything "perfect", nothing is going to change.



      Stop posting on a forum, and just get on with it.

      No one is going to take you seriously, and help you, if you ignore the advice they give, and you continue to muck around on forums.

      Remember that.
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      • Profile picture of the author Marc Rodill
        Originally Posted by SurrealPSD View Post

        John, you know I respect you and hold your insights in high regard. The logic behind what you are saying is spot-on, but Im not going to create a minimum viable product, there's just no way Im going to be a 'me-too' product vendor.

        I know the above will probably have you thinking that Im doomed to failure. I have a lot of eyes on me in this niche, Ive got to create the right product - not something pumped out.

        I may have stuttered on the starting line, but this project is getting done (come hell or high water).. I know my credibility here is pretty low at present, but I just have to see it through as envisioned.

        Appreciate the tough love mate.

        Conzz
        Hey man. I know how you feel right now. I one of those types of people who just has to have this amazing attention to detail.

        But really, you're setting yourself up for a trap. Right here, right now, in full view for us all to see. There's NO REASON why you can't release a 35 video product...

        After you release a PERFECTLY GREAT 5 video product.

        Dude, here's what you need to do, pronto...

        Create a ONE PROBLEM one solution Photoshop product and just. get. it. out. there. Use it to build a list as an information front-end and lead generator.

        That way when you actually FINISH your 35 video thing in 4 weeks or whatever, you'll at least be building a customer/prospect pre-launch list.

        You know damn well you can create a great Photoshop product that isn't 35 videos long and charge a reasonably priced amount for it, and have perfectly satisfied customers.

        Here's the thing about marketing that John is tipping you off on...

        Marketing is a "work in progress". You're going to get your ABSOLUTE BEST feedback from the marketplace. THAT is what's going to allow you to create a really stellar product.

        I don't care if you've been doing it for 16 years or not, the questions your customers will ask you about your first product will ASTOUND you.

        You will ask yourself, "Really? Isn't that totally obvious?" etc. especially since because your'e an expert. But that's where the actual gold is.

        You should definitely do this in chunks. Not create an all out big box course, and then have to start generating leads... ANYWAY.

        At least this way, when you do your first 5 videos, man, just do them about ONE SECTION of your big box, and release it as a product. That way you have something NOW...

        And a much bigger, much more exciting goal in the future to move you forward. The immediate income and customers will be a lot more motivating...

        Than waking up 4 Sundays from now with 25 more videos to create, or whatever.

        You dig?

        Marc

        Originally Posted by Benny L View Post

        Well it wouldn't hurt to create a series of introductory videos because you will want to create a mailing list and the best way to do that is to offer a freebie. So you really should have some kind of lesser product to put out there and get more attention to your site.
        THIS.

        Except a better mailing list is a customer list. But still. One or the other is great.
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      • Profile picture of the author John Romaine
        Originally Posted by SurrealPSD View Post

        Appreciate the tough love mate.
        lol.

        You're a tough cookie.

        I'm going to be watching you.

        Very closely.

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  • Profile picture of the author thedanbrown
    All you need to do is sit down and think out a plan of how you will finish putting together the product and then launch it. What does your business need to succeed? Flesh out an outline of what you need to do and then complete each piece in the order you mapped it out.
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  • Profile picture of the author Benny L
    Well it wouldn't hurt to create a series of introductory videos because you will want to create a mailing list and the best way to do that is to offer a freebie. So you really should have some kind of lesser product to put out there and get more attention to your site.
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  • Profile picture of the author Social App Zone
    Let's create a video series on a topic that has an endless supply of free resources. No body will EVER pay for Photoshop information. That would make as much sense as expecting to pay to use Google. Like air it's free ..

    Canned air anybody? Only Three Fiddy a can.. PM me.
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  • Profile picture of the author Randall Magwood
    Just focus on making money and not doing contests and challenges. If you want to prove yourself to be a legit "contender"... go to EzineArticles and participate in some of the challenges there. You should never want to do a bet for the heck of it. Stick to making money.
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    • Profile picture of the author Daniel Evans
      Originally Posted by Michael Ten View Post

      I try to adhere to The Art of Peace rather than The Art of War. Both of those are books.
      Originally Posted by mamadou douka View Post

      Originally Posted by Art of Marketing View Post

      Hey Conzz,

      Congrats on your photoshop success thus far and where you are going.

      -Art
      There's a hell of a lot of Art in this thread!
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      • Profile picture of the author Jill Carpenter
        Originally Posted by Benny L View Post

        That's actually not a half bad idea. Maybe after the OP finishes up his work there, he can mentor me about how he did his thing, and then it wouldn't be that hard for me to make something for Gimp. But right now, I've got 2 or three products in the pipeline, so I'm a little tied up.

        I'll definitely keep it in the back of my head though!
        I can help you on getting the videos done and on the web. That is the easy part.

        Send me a message when you're caught up.
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  • Profile picture of the author Benny L
    Re: Stop posting and get to work.

    There is nothing wrong with seeking a little accountability. The one thing many solo entrepreneurs lack is a sounding board and a time table. It is easy to put things off when the only person who knows is you. So you tell somebody you're going to do something by a certain date and you have that person saying, "Well....?" If it doesn't get done. It can only help.
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  • Profile picture of the author rleejr
    Will you call me a villain if I sincerely hope that no one would take your challenge seriously? I do not think it would work - this challenge. Along the way, it would be just an additional pressure.

    I believe that you just have to reassure your self that you can do this - cause YOU CAN. You've done this for 16 years, haven't you? You are ready for this big break! You deserve it! You earned it! BELIEVE IN YOURSELF.

    I sound like I'm going to give a speech so I'm going to stop now. But seriously man, break a leg!

    Hope this helps!
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  • Profile picture of the author Allan_Gardyne
    SurrealPSD, If you don't manage to get a good competition going, here's another approach you could try. It works for me.

    Set yourself deadlines. Then reward yourself with something nice - a walk on the beach works for me - when each task is achieved by the deadline.
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  • Profile picture of the author WillR
    I had to record about 20 tutorial videos a few weeks ago. I also sat on it and was very reluctant to get started. One day I then snapped and realized I had to do the videos to move forward and so there was no other option. I took the whole day and recorded all of the videos. I felt much better.

    Nike. Just do it.
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  • Profile picture of the author IM Alex
    Yeah? Yeah??? U wanna fight? Bring it! Have a load of this; You Suck At Photoshop!

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  • Profile picture of the author ioan draniciar
    Since you're sitting on your arse, plan on working on your project for 1 hour straight. Don't get off your arse until you complete a video even if you have to piss in your pants! No sniffing on your emails, tely, skype or the warrior forum. Capisch

    That's how it's done when there really is a fire up your arse
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  • Profile picture of the author rondo
    You don't need to create all 35 videos at once if you are going to drip feed them over time. Create the first few then start selling the course.

    Having paying customers waiting for the next videos will provide plenty of motivation for you.

    Also, you can ask early customers what they would like to see in your future videos.


    Andrew
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  • Profile picture of the author John Romaine
    Its more about damage control than anything else - unless you have been paid in advance.

    You don't want to spend 12 months and thousands of dollars creating a 35 video course and have it flop.

    If you do something in a week, and it flops, you wont feel so bad about it.

    If it sells and its a winner - then add more to it - build upon it.
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    • Profile picture of the author fin
      Good to hear it's finally coming to fruition.

      I would do 1 video every morning BEFORE anything else. Plan it the night before if you have to.
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      • Profile picture of the author Plugin Profits
        You don't need a competition. Just get a JV partner or manager and announce a set launch date on your site and everywhere, and there's your accountability and deadline. Make sure to set a pretty tight deadline, like 2 weeks. They won't be able to move forward until you do to get their parts of the work completed, so you'll always be on task. Your problem is you have no one waiting for you.
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