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Will You Do Whatever It Takes?

by Steven Wagenheim
10 replies
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I'm posting this in OT because nothing sticks in Main Discussion anymore.

Simple question, will you do whatever it takes to be successful, outside of
breaking the law or doing something extremely unethical?

I say no. And I have the proof to back it up.

Without naming names, I have a student who I told needs to have a custom
site if they're going to have the best looking site out there. A stock template
isn't going to get it done. If it could, everybody would just get stock templates.

Their answer?

I can't afford it.

Then you're not serious about your business...period.

I know this post is going to get a lot of flak from people who have no funds.

Guess what? If you have no funds, you have no business trying to create
a business.

Now go ahead and flame away. I'm wearing my Teflon underwear.
  • Profile picture of the author WebDorkette
    Banned
    You know Steve I have to agree with you, I feel that anyone who claims they will do anything for x y or z but puts no effort into making that happen is wasting their breath. There have been plenty of people who ask for advice on how they can get something done better, faster, more efficiently, etc. but then do the complete opposite of what you suggested. What's the point? I feel that those who want something for free are typically just those that enjoy sitting on their hands with nothing but dust in their pockets! I try to steer away from those types of people but it's hard sometimes to deal with the ones you do run into!

    Hang in there and to your student...well...it's their funeral right? You need money to make money unless you're into the whole illegal way to get funds. Ok I'll stop ranting and raving now!
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  • Profile picture of the author DianaHeuser
    Originally Posted by Steven Wagenheim View Post

    Guess what? If you have no funds, you have no business trying to create
    a business.

    Now go ahead and flame away. I'm wearing my Teflon underwear.
    Hi Steven,

    I am not about to flame you BUT I am going to give it to you from my perspective. When I started I had NO MONEY. It's the reason why I decided to do something different with my life.

    It took me 3 months before I earned any money from my efforts online. I had to learn to do everything myself and I had to do it all with a very tight budget.

    With the first bit of money I earned, I reinvested in my business and I will keep doing that until my business becomes sustainable.

    If I had followed your advice and not started this business because I did not have any money, then where would I be today?

    Sometimes you have to do what you have to do to get it done.

    Just a bootstrapper's point of view :p

    Di
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    • Profile picture of the author ThomM
      I've got to agree with Di on this.
      When I started a lawn care business I had to borrow $10 for gas for the mower and to get to my first lawn. Three years later I had turned it into a small landscaping company with 5 employees.
      Saying if you have no funds you have no business starting a business is simply wrong.
      I have a feeling John Paul DeJoria would also agree with me.
      Before he started Paul Mitchell Hair Products he was sleeping in a broken car his friend owed with his 2 month old son. Now he owns 6 mansions and is a billionaire.
      Signature

      Life: Nature's way of keeping meat fresh
      Getting old ain't for sissy's
      As you are I was, as I am you will be
      You can't fix stupid, but you can always out smart it.

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      • Profile picture of the author Steven Wagenheim
        Originally Posted by ThomM View Post

        I've got to agree with Di on this.
        When I started a lawn care business I had to borrow $10 for gas for the mower and to get to my first lawn. Three years later I had turned it into a small landscaping company with 5 employees.
        Saying if you have no funds you have no business starting a business is simply wrong.
        I have a feeling John Paul DeJoria would also agree with me.
        Before he started Paul Mitchell Hair Products he was sleeping in a broken car his friend owed with his 2 month old son. Now he owns 6 mansions and is a billionaire.
        Key is, you DID do what it took. You borrowed $10 for gas for the mower to
        do your first lawn. Do you know how many people can't be bothered to do
        THAT?

        I admire people who go out and hustle for things. Yes, borrow. Wash cars.
        Deliver newspapers. Babysit. Do something. There's always a way to get
        some money.

        But to just say, "I don't have the money" and make ZERO effort to get it?

        Sorry, those are the people who have no business going into business.

        Maybe I should have been more clear.
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        • Profile picture of the author ThomM
          Originally Posted by Steven Wagenheim View Post

          Key is, you DID do what it took. You borrowed $10 for gas for the mower to
          do your first lawn. Do you know how many people can't be bothered to do
          THAT?

          I admire people who go out and hustle for things. Yes, borrow. Wash cars.
          Deliver newspapers. Babysit. Do something. There's always a way to get
          some money.

          But to just say, "I don't have the money" and make ZERO effort to get it?

          Sorry, those are the people who have no business going into business.

          Maybe I should have been more clear.
          Exactly Steve.
          I had enthusiasm and a passion.
          Now your statement above is the truth. Those are the people that have no business going into business.
          When I started my business my goal wasn't to make a ton of money. It was to do something I loved and to work for myself doing it.
          I can (and do) come up with business ideas all day, but if I don't have the enthusiasm to act on one of the ideas it's a waste of time starting that business.
          When I gave up my landscape business I gave it to a friend who happened to work for me. I did it because he showed me he had the passion to run it and because he truly enjoyed doing that type of work. The only condition I placed on it was that I would be able to work for him whenever I needed or wanted to. This year I've been working a couple days a week for him, mainly mowing lawns. In that area I've found that I'm much happier just doing the work and not running the whole show.
          In the other ventures I'm involved with I run the show and success or failure are all on me. I've noticed that when I have the passion I do well, when I don't, I don't.
          Signature

          Life: Nature's way of keeping meat fresh
          Getting old ain't for sissy's
          As you are I was, as I am you will be
          You can't fix stupid, but you can always out smart it.

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  • Profile picture of the author Fernando Veloso
    Some people don't have $ to kick start a "business" (read: buy a custom website) BUT they have money for MacDonald's, cinema, cigars, beer, gadgets, nightclubs, etc etc...

    And THAT is their main problem... Quite common among younger folks, actually.
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    People make good money selling to the rich. But the rich got rich selling to the masses.
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  • Profile picture of the author KimW
    I understood you Steven,and I believe like you and Thom do.
    If I was getting training form someone anad they said I needed such and such,and I didn't have money to get it,then I would figure out a way,sell something,give up my Big Mac,barter services,etc etc,.
    What your student is saying,and you have it correct,is "I'm not willing to do what it takes".
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  • Profile picture of the author DianaHeuser
    Steven,

    Are you saying then I should never have gone into business then?

    Despite all odds, I actually managed to make some money eventually even though I did not have any to start with.

    I am just confused now.


    Di
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  • Profile picture of the author KimW
    Diana, I can't speak for Steven, but my opinion is that is not what he is saying.
    Your orginal posts shows that you did have the drive,or as Steven put it,what it takes.
    Kim
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    • Profile picture of the author HatKing
      I would definitely do whatever it takes to be successful, aside from breaking the law.
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