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Do You Believe A Newbie (With No Knowledge) Should Pay For Education?

by Tom Addams
7 replies
Just for anyone not reading every word below: I'm not a newcomer.

And now . . .

Coaching is, I believe, a valuable element of our industry. I we compare it to a college education, it is really no different: you are paying for knowledge, valuable knowledge in many cases, and knowledge that you can utilize to enhance your business and, indeed, your life. So, in a nutshell: I strongly advocate worthwhile coaching and worthwhile informational products (e-Books, Lists, Forums, Courses, and the like).

But my question is this: do you believe a newbie, with no knowledge of our industry, should dive in and - straight away - purchase coaching and informational products?

Here's what I think . . .

Places like Warrior Forum are a true treasure. I can, indeed, only imagine how much sooner I would have attained success in the beginning had I had access to such vast quantities of freely available information. Going back 20 years (was WF around then?), I found sources of education, free education, to be few and far between, and experts were quite tight-lipped on worthwhile information. How times change! I can now come on a place like WF and, even in the free areas, have my questions answered by intelligent, experienced, veterans and the cost to me is merely the time it takes to read their altruistic replies. How wonderful, right?

So - enough gushing over WF (though it deserves it, and then some) and let me make my point.

I think if you're a newbie (horrible phrase; newcomer, beginner, neophyte), and if you have zero knowledge of our industry, your initial foray into education should embrace all of the freely available information at your disposal. You should spend time - not money - on reading through the threads, reading the blogs, asking questions and reading the replies. Here, in my opinion, you begin to build the foundation of knowledge that is required.

When should you spend money on your education? In my humble opinion: when you know how to spend it well. It takes education to know how to educate yourself. To know which coach is valuable. To know which product is worthwhile. But more than this, it is entirely possible that, as you expand your awareness of our industry, utilizing free information, you begin to notice markets and niches that hold strong appeal for you. At this point, and if the information about it is not available without cost, it is my assertion that then would be a good time to spend your hard-earned money.

What you do think?
#education #knowledge #newbie #pay
  • Profile picture of the author Marked09
    you will be surprised that the most successful people have coaches. There's no such thing as you know everything. So I would say that you should invest on your learning and take action.

    However before you find a mentor, you should first know what you really want. Legit mentors has different style and method and you should pick one that is aligned with the business model you really want to pursue.
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    • Profile picture of the author amuro
      Originally Posted by Marked09 View Post

      you will be surprised that the most successful people have coaches. There's no such thing as you know everything. So I would say that you should invest on your learning and take action.

      However before you find a mentor, you should first know what you really want. Legit mentors has different style and method and you should pick one that is aligned with the business model you really want to pursue.


      I do agree with Marked09 on this.

      Internet marketing is a very general term for making money online. Underneath there are many different business models like list building, local business consulting, e-commerce, mobile marketing, SEO etc.

      Besides these, there are also many different niches.

      You need to know what you are good at and what you are passionate about before finding someone who has similar ideals with you but already succeeded in what you want to accomplish.

      Don't just go into internet marketing for the sake of making $ otherwise you will be mightly disappointed.

      Because besides thinking of what you can benefit, you have to think about what others can benefit as well. By doing this and helping others as well, you are also helping yourself in the long run.

      This is what all successful people do.
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  • Profile picture of the author Mark Singletary
    I agree to an extent. I believe that a newbie needs to know what kind of direction they want to go and how they want to get there.

    I think someone that says "I want to make money online so tell me which coach is the best to hire" is going to be sorely disappointed most times. Why? Because they don't even know enough to know what a coach does, they don't know what questions to ask, they don't know the difference between an ebook and an autoresponder, etc. And many times they get led down the wrong path for them - simply because they don't know anything.

    It's like if I say "I want to get fit help me find a coach" without any other qualifying information. The coach that I hire may be an expert in cross country snow skiing as the way to get fit and I may hate cold weather. Or they may be into Yoga but I think that's for girls only so I don't apply myself. Or a thousand other scenarios where we aren't a good fit just because I'm too new to know better and I haven't done any research myself on the direction I want to go.

    However, much of the free information (as well as information from some coaches to be fair) is the blind leading the blind.

    How many of the "valuable" threads are started with information copied and pasted from somewhere else in the attempt to get a signature seen and a reputation built?

    How much is written on these forums by people that don't even have their own website?

    How can you prove anyone knows anything from real life experience since most people won't reveal their money sites or even their niches/markets? (This goes for posters as well as coaches).

    There is a lot of illogical, stupid, unethical, illegal junk posted by many people here and elsewhere. By people that are respected and have high post counts. People that seem to know what they are talking about but really are clueless themselves.

    In summary I agree that people should know what they are getting into, have gotten their feet wet, know the landscape, done some research, etc. before hiring a coach.

    At the same time I think people can waste time in the search for valuable free information, especially when they are new because they don't know how to sort through the junk to get to the gems and a trusted person (coach, mentor, teacher, friend, advisor, whatever) can help speed up the process.

    Too soon and they waste time and money. Likewise too late and they waste time and money. It's a balancing act that each individual needs to figure out according to their specific situation.

    Mark
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  • Profile picture of the author Kevin Williams
    Keep in mind that talking about the WF as free education is slightly misleading. Yeah, you can learn a lot of IM on here - and on BHW - and on DP... but it takes time. Not to mention you have to be able to avoid poor advice and obvious marketing (which is rampant here).

    If someone is new and already has a job/money, but wants to get into internet marketing - having a coach may be the best way. Even then, you need enough experience to find a coach that knows what they're talking about...
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  • Profile picture of the author Vincent Denali
    I think when you hit a plateau, a mentor can help you get to the next level. As far a newbies, they should spend a little time learning the basics (using free resources like the warrior forum) before diving into programs or mentor.
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  • Profile picture of the author Steve B
    Originally Posted by Get Rich Methods View Post

    But my question is this: do you believe a newbie, with no knowledge of our industry, should dive in and - straight away - purchase coaching and informational products?

    I think you've answered your own question in your post. There is enough good information online to start and run a successful and profitable business and many people have done it. It's not always easy, especially for those that lack discipline, consistency, focus, hard work ethic, etc.

    If the business owner is not able to find what he needs that will help his business, then it is always an option to pay for the specific education (via a mentor or otherwise) that is lacking.

    Steve
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  • Profile picture of the author Tom Addams
    Excellent replies.

    You'll have to excuse me if I'm unable to address them as well as they deserve right now. I'm at the end of a long day and quite tired, but your responses have made for fascinating reading.

    Just to clarify: I'm not a newcomer myself. I've worked in the industry, under different "monikers," for 20 years. The subject, however, fascinates me and I'm gearing up to talk about it on one of my sites. Your input will surely aid - invaluably - what I have to say.

    That's all from me for now. I'll let people of a more lively and wide-awake mind take over!
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