For Those Who Think Anybody Can Do This

by 167 replies
189
We've had many a discussion the past couple of weeks about running your
own home business and many here have said that anybody who wants to do
this can make this work.

I've said the opposite, that not everybody is cut out for this and got plenty
of slack for it.

Well, here is just one sample of the proof that not everybody is cut out for
this business.

This is an email I received recently. The only thing I edited was the person's
name so as not to embarrass them.

***********************************
Hello!

I need Help I do not have a penny to use how can i make an internet
business ...


Regards,
<name withheld>
***********************************

Okay, at the risk of sounding prejudice, this person is from a non English
speaking country (obvious from the email) and can just about communicate.

In further correspondence, trying to actually help this person, I tried to
get some idea of how bad their financial situation is and what skills they
have so as to find out if there is anything they could do to maybe earn
just a few dollars.

After countless hours of assistance, the person has almost no command
of the English language, has no money and has no skills. I tried to suggest
Bum Marketing but there is no way this person can write an article that
will get read. His English is that bad. He can't afford to outsource to get
the articles written and has no skills to barter to have the articles written
for him.

In short, I wracked my brain trying to think of something that this person
could do. And with 5 plus years of marketing smarts behind me, I couldn't
come up with a thing.

Okay, maybe I'M the stupid one. Maybe a real crackerjack marketer could
turn this person into a profitable home business owner.

If so. If you still believe that anybody can do this, post your suggestions
below.

Remember, he has no skills and no money and can just about speak English.

I couldn't help him.

Maybe YOU can.
#main internet marketing discussion forum
  • Doing what Rich? He has no skills, no knowledge of anything, no interests
    that are marketable (been down that road too)

    So doing what?
    • [3] replies
    • Perhaps he can learn English?????

      You're kidding right?

      The language with to, two and too?

      The language where read and read are spelled the same but sound
      completely different when spoken and where red, that sounds like one
      of them, means something entirely different?

      The language where dove and dove are spelled the same but sound
      completely different and mean two completely different things?

      The language where even I can't spell half the words in the frickin
      dictionary and I've lived here all my life?

      You're kidding right?

      But I'll tell you what Rich. If you're so sure you can help this guy, why
      don't I give YOU his email address and you work with him.

      I'll write to him first and tell him that I have a friend who can help him.

      And I'll make that offer to anybody else who thinks this person has a
      snowball's chance in hell of running a successful home business.

      Oh, and about the portal site Rich.

      How's he going to put one up? He has no money for hosting. He has no
      web design skills and no money to outsource to have it done. So how's
      he going to get this done?

      A portal site? Are you smoking crack? I can just about put one of those
      together and I have 6 months of solid web design training.
      • [2] replies
    • I'm not sure I buy that. Everyone has some knowledge or interest that they can use. Sure it might not be marketable in the sense of being able to make millions, but there might be enough there to start something small.

      Is it possible that you've been unable to determine much from your conversations precisely because of the language gap?

      I've had conversations with minimal-English speakers before where I knew that they weren't understanding what I was asking, and I was finding it difficult to determine what they were saying.

      My suggestion to this fellow would be to work out what interested him and start a blog targeted to his nationality and language.

      That will teach them how to write, how to drive traffic, and perhaps how to market the blog. After the blog is established, then he can figure out how to monetize it.

      Will this give him a home business? Not necessarily, but even if it doesn't, he will have increased his knowledge in a lot of areas. With that knowledge he may be able to leverage into a real home business down the track.
      • [1] reply
    • Steve,

      Tell him to start copying PLR reports into his own language and copycat marketers but in his own language for his own country!

      Mike Hill
      • [1] reply
  • Steven

    I think the kindest thing would be not to get his hopes up.

    If the oft-quoted 95% failure rate among native speakers of English is true then he has the proverbial snowball's chance in hell.

    That's not to say he might not make it, but . . .

    Whatever you tell him, if he's really got what it takes he will overcome the odds.

    Martin
  • Steve can yu please not publishings my private e-mail correspondings with you on here..

    It's embarassings that you would do this to me... I came to you for helpings and you showed the whole forumings my e-mailings..

    I only wanted to maek teh monizes... :rolleyes:

    Peace

    Jay...ings


    p.s. I happen to agree with you Steve.. some people are in no position to be running a home based business.. well.. not one that involves producing written content.
    • [3] replies
    • Steven

      Given the information you've supplied I think you've done the right thing. It's not just about whether this guy could make something out of IM, it's about whether he could run a business. No money, no skills, no clue = no business.

      It was very nice that you gave of your time to explore the possibilities but the end conclusion has to be, for now, he shouldn't start a business. You've got to be cruel to be kind sometimes, you'd be doing him no favour if you were to give him false hope.

      Peter
    • Bravo to you, Steven, for all the effort you gave this person.

      "All men are" NOT created equal. Neither are they born in equal circumstances.
      • [2] replies
    • Jay,

      do you sell ringdings? Or internet service providings?
      • [2] replies
  • Well there is free hosting from 000webhost which I use but the domain is a problem. Damn.....
    • [2] replies
    • IMO whether anyone can do it is somewhat an argument of semantics.

      Technically, everyone CAN because we all have the physical and mental capabilities necessary.

      However some CAN'T because they don't recognize that they have some of the necessary mental capabilities. They're the ones who believed their mothers when they told them that they could BE whatever they wanted when they grew up. What they failed to realize is that their mothers meant to say BECOME.

      I'll stop now before I get off on a tangent about "earn vs. entitlement".

      But when it comes right down to it, I agree with you Steven. This (or any) business is not for everyone. The possibility exists (in theory) that it could be, but it's NOT.
      • [ 1 ] Thanks
    • Some people you can help and some people you can't. This guy seems firmly in the second category.

      Steven obviously has limited time and he has to make a judgement call on who would benefit from his input.

      Speaking as an English teacher with 20 years' experience I can tell you that, apart from motivation, the number one thing you need to learn English is money.

      Money buys you time, money buys you teachers, money buys you holidays in the UK or USA where you can accelerate your learning. It's a fact. Without resources it could take this guy all his life to learn English.

      Yes, he could start off blogging for free in his own country but is there any money in that? If he's outside the developed world he is going to struggle earning anything much from Adsense and affiliate programmes. Steven would be doing the guy a disservice advising him on his local market because how can Steven know the local conditions?

      A new teacher here in Turkey was going to make a killing writing and publishing an English coursebook designed especially for Turkish students.
      Problem is, in Turkey, schools buy one original book then make cheap copies for the students. The guy didn't know the market.

      If Steven doesn't know the market he shouldn't advise on it.

      Martin
  • Banned
    [DELETED]
  • Ok. Thought I'd throw my 2 cents worth in here.

    The truth almost always lies somewhere in the middle.

    This guy apparently can speak enough English to get by.

    He could possibly find a product on Commission Junction Junction that might appeal to people in his country.
    Join their affiliate program and use forums in his own country.

    Zero cost. All he needs is access to a computer, which he obviously has.

    eBay or Craigslist are other possiblities.

    I'm not saying this could get rich, or even make one damn dime, but, You don't need skills or money to pick up a few bucks on the 'net.

    LC

  • Tell him to sign up at ODesk and bid on projects which take lots of effort but don't require strong English.

    Or, he could contact webmasters and offer to do grunt work for them.

    A "business" to him could simply mean $100 per week. Why can't he do things such as:

    - article submission
    - social bookmarking
    - sending pre-scripted emails
    - doing research
    - gathering data
    - posting comments on forums and blogs with links back to your site
    - populating messages into an autoresponder
    - converting articles into videos and posting them on video sites
    - converting articles into podcasts and posting them on podcast sites
    - shipping packages
    - burning CD's / dvds

    If he's not cut out for info-product creation or affiliate marketing, he can start out as an assistant until he learns more.

    Never tell a person with drive and determination that they can't make money.
  • Well, I'm assuming he has a computer. And he does have a rudimentary grasp of English.

    He could find someone in his local market who has an amazing talent - like an illustrator or dressmaker or something - who has no grasp of English at all and no computer, and get them to produce a product for a % of the profits. As long as the sewing patterns or plans didn't need any written instructions they should be ok.

    Maybe set up a free blog on Blogger and post with mostly pictures to promote? Let the work sell itself.
  • I do NOT want this guy's email address but if he had emailed me here's what I would have suggested.

    Go onto Digital Point and start offering your services to do data entry, uploading videos for people, forum posts etc. Those people don't care if your posts are any good. They just need posts.

    Keep doing it and build up your reputation as a really good worker.

    Learn English at the same time with all the free resources and videos available online.

    In a few months his English will be good enough to at least deal with serious business owners. Then he can use the money saved up and invest in a course and learning a skill like PPC management, web design, or graphic design. Then offer those services on Elance, GAF, DP and the Warrior forum.

    Reinvest the money to make a website for your services and promote the hell out of it.

    But this of course all applies only if he really WANTS to run his own business.
    He might just think he wants to but really needs to get a job.

    I've seen a guy who became a successful athlete with no legs. Much greater challenges have been overcome before.
    • [1] reply
    • I just got back from my weekly visit to the allergist and I returned to some
      excellent posts with some great suggestions, things I didn't think of because
      I was thinking "business" and not "job".

      Yes, there are some "grunt work" things this guy could do like making posts
      and social bookmarking things that don't require a ton of intelligence. So
      maybe he can handle these. No, he won't make a lot of money, and quite
      honestly, I don't know where it will lead, if to anything, but it's something.

      So thanks to Kurt and those few of you who actually dug into your brains
      and came up with some useful, if not knock 'em out of the ball park, suggestions.

      It's a start and I will email him with your suggestions and see what he says
      and if he takes action on them.
  • Sounds like he's perfectly qualified to write PLR. Maybe he can't make money with quality PLR, but he can go for the quantity angle. Given some of the PLR I've seen lately, strong English skills evidently are not a requirement to break into that market.

    And, for every writer that can barely write in English, there are probably at least 100 readers who can barely read English. They can probably understand each other. So, there's a market for him.

    Also, given that many native English speakers can't write very well either, barely understanding English shouldn't hold anyone back.
  • Hi, if he has no skills and no money and can just about speak English he has no chance in the world to make a successful on-line business.
    Nice of you to try.
  • Within every single person, is something lying around that another person will pay for. You just have to find it.

    That's from someone's signature, I'm not sure who's so I apologize, but the point remains.

    Internet marketing is a joke compared to starting an actual business. If you have any level of intelligence at all it's easy to think of a good plan, and attack it. If you don't, it's too easy to just copy what other people are doing and slap your name on it and profit from it.

    Tell the guy to go to elance and find projects that require submission. If writing isn't his forte, why only worry about writing skills?

    He might be a shakespeare in his home language, who knows. Have him try that market.
  • Also, I'm not defending "the secret" or anything like that, but you do NOT have to very intelligent to pull something great off.

    In fact, often intelligence will hold you back from achieving something new and profitable.

    It can lead you to think, over anaylze, see the negatives which may or may not be there. When it comes to business, you really need to be a risk taker, at least in the beginning, or you may never find a breakthrough. Sometimes that perfect blend of naive and a willing to work are why people you'd never imagine are suddenly on a beach somewhere thinking "did I really just do that?"

    I know at least 30 multi millionaires on a personal level:

    25% roughly I'd say were just pure genious, and got there with skill, creativity and everything in between.

    25% were just handed it through close connections through various people (wealth attracts wealth, whether you watched the secret or not)

    The rest just had an idea, and ran with it. It didn't happen over night, they just worked and worked and worked. Some worked from the bottom up, some started it themselves, some joined in later, the common denominator was that they all WORKED.
  • If this guy knows somebody that can help him translate my stuff into his language I'd be more than happy to sign him up as an affiliate and sell my stuff to his country

    The skill he has could very well be simply knowing his own language.
    That could open up a whole new market.

    All he has to do is translate it and I'll do the rest.

    LC
  • Very interesting post Steven, but I found that there is a way around it.

    During my keyword researches I have come accross keywords that have thousands of search results and almost ZERO competition and if there is competition, it is not in the form of a product/service, these keywords were in spanish and there are MANY out there (thousands, if not millions).

    So I started investigating the demand of some niches in spanish and I found two things.

    1. There is huge demand for certain niches in that language.
    2. Most latin/hispanic people understand english quite well, they just don't dominate it.

    So I figured, why hasn't this been exploited? The only answer I could think of is because most internet marketers focus on english marketing (with reason because it's the most known language there is).

    Point is, foreign language niches/markets have HUGE potential and people's understanding of the english language is enough for you or anyone to market them in their foreign language directed to an english product/service or simply create a whole product around that language.

    The only exception to this would be, people who use a native language of some sort, that very few people know or use, and don't know any other language.

    Some food for thought,

    Daniel

    P.S: Everyone must have a skill or something they are good at, right? Maybe the person you speak of actually writes quite decently in his/her language.

    P.P.S: I do agree with Steven that there are exceptions of people who cannot do very well in this line of business, but they are fewer than you would think.
  • Not going to mention any names but, I know of one well know "guru" who's dumber n a bag o' rocks.

    if it wasn't for a few friends he'd still be living in his car.

    LC
  • I haven't read all of the replies on this thread but I want to add my 2cents - this foreign guy's case is very difficult because he is asking someone who does not speak his language to help him out....the communication barrier is a big issue there but I don't believe that he is hopeless but he will need more help than your average IM'er.

    If he had someone who was in this IM business and spoke his native language in addition to English perhaps this would be the solution that this guy is asking for....

    I think there is always a market or a skill, maybe his writing skills are in his own tongue - I mean if he is able to go online, I'm sure there are resources available to him....he just has to look for them in his native country/language.

    I do understand your point Steven, but i think its better to say this guy has a very low chance within the English market.....
  • The only thing you've proven to me in this thread is...

    "You are just one sample of the proof that not everybody is cut out..."
    to be a useful teacher or effective mentor, in any regard.

    PS: Too many of your threads are such a waste of time.
    Several, like this one, offer nothing of any value.

    .
    • [3] replies
    • I'll accept the waste of time comment for this thread, but you know NOTHING
      of my skills as a mentor. There are people right here at this forum who I
      have personally helped and they will tell you themselves.
      • [2] replies

    • I thought I would chime in on this. First, Steve is correct in his stance. Not everyone is cut out to run an internet business. If they were there would be a lot more competition for all of us. If this was really easy to do we would all be in a lot of trouble because we would all be going after the scraps. Granted, most people could learn to run an online business to some degree but it would take them a long time to learn the technical skills needed to succeed.

      Now, why is it that everyone thinks that people should mentor a person for free? Why is it our responsibility to give up time and money to show someone how to do what we do? There is a scary idea going around with a lot of people that they can just randomly email someone they found and ask them to teach them for free. A lot of people make a killing charging huge fees for mentoring and membership sites. Sure, you could offer to mentor him for a hefty fee for the time and money that you would be losing but he can't afford that.

      The idea of making money online makes a lot of people think they can do it for little or no cost and make a ton of money in the process. Part of this mentality I blame on all the ebooks out there promising the world. These people will go around and read through sales pages and the dreams they promise and think it is really easy to get into this gig. A lot of them can't afford the $27, $47, or $97 dollar price tag so they seek out people in the business and ask for a handout. I don't believe it is anyone's responsibility to help out for free. Some people do it out of the kindness of their hearts and that is great. But, I bet not many people in this thread would do that without getting anything back in return.

      Now, I know there are people on here that sell these ebooks and if it wasn't for people looking for this dream to make money online you wouldn't have a business. SO, you better thank whoever your god is that there are a ton of people that are willing to spend a little bit of money to learn this business. If everyone was like this person who emailed the OP you wouldn't have any sales at all.

      Now, in defense to the person who sent the email. I don't know what their native language is but I do know how hard English is to learn. I am a little disappointed some of you generalized this person as unintelligent, illiterate, and lazy because they don't speak English. All you read is one line of an email and you jump to these nasty conclusions. For all you know this person could be very intelligent but doesn't speak English that well. I am very disappointed in a lot of people on here for immediatley jumping to judge a person based on one email.
    • The fact that there are three pages of discussion would seem to indicate that there is some value here.
  • No way! Everyone is not cut out for this.

    In this case, I'm sure that there is something that can be done to help this guy. But, let's say that he does get over the hump and learns a few skills. How is is mental fortitude?

    I know that he is already used to living without any money but, that can't last forever.

    Will he be able to handle self-employment?

    Even, if he decides to be an internet marketer on the side, it takes time to get figure this stuff out.

    Unless you have the time to take on the project of helping this guy... I would move on. Sure, you can try but, it's impossible to help everyone. And, that's not a knock on you, I'm sure you are a great teacher/trainer. But, everyone isn't a good student.

    My wife has taught at the middle school and high school level for 7 years... she's a math teacher. This past year she was recruited to be the head of the math department... middle school level. All of the 7 years that she's been teaching, her students consecutively outscore all of the students at other schools in the entire district by margins that range from 10-15%. So, she's a great teacher.

    But, regardless of her skills and percentages, some kids still fail.

    I just don't think that it's worth the time, in this case.
  • Hi,

    He emailed you. I have a LOT of friends who do not know how to eMail. One of them called me the other day to come to his office and teach him. He works in an office with his son who is very computer savvy. Also in his office are two ladies who email clients all day.

    Is it that they couldn't teach him? No for some strange reason he did not want them to teach him.

    Don't get me wrong he uses his PC every day. He reads his emails and tells his staff which ones to answer, he's the boss.

    Something came up that he wanted to do that required emailing that had nothing to do with his business.

    I taught him with no thought of charging but he insisted on paying me $50+ lunch.

    If your friend can email (he emailed you) there are probably other things he knows. I'd think he is on the Computer a lot or why would he want to get into IM?

    Yes, he can be helped, however his desire has to be much bigger than his pride or wallet.

    George Wright P.S. I'm going to reveal another true story. As I typed the words desire and pride I remembered this. And I posted it on the old forum but it seems appropriate here also. I "prided" myself on knowing a few things about PCs that others did not know. A few years ago I got a call from a man at his office who had no less than 5 PCs.

    I had mentioned to him that I could "clean everything up for him" for around $100.

    OK, its sometime after that that he called me and said he thought $100 was too high and he would give me $50.

    It was a particular day where an extra $50 sounded real good to me so I swallowed my pride and said OK. I was Kicking myself on the way to his office because I was going to have to remove viruses and spy ware from 5 PCs for a lousy $10 each but also consoling myself because the $50 was going to come in handy.

    When I got the office he showed me to the room, not the computer room, the restroom.

    You see he had known me years before that when I owned and operated a cleaning business and when I said "Clean up" meaning PCs he heard "Clean up" meaning toilets.

    Now I REALLY swallowed my pride. But the good thing was it only took me an hour instead of the 3 or 4 hours that the PC job would have taken.

    Moral: Your friend might have to take on some really weird jobs on the way to Internet Marketing Success. GW
  • If you think you can or if you think you can't you are Wright uh, I mean right.

    George Wright
    • [1] reply
    • wa wa wa waaaaaa......

  • I just contacted Steve to get the email for this guy. I would be more than willing to work with him. I have MANY MANY options that I can setup from employee free lance to grunt work etc.. and from my experiences with mentoring over the last 20 years I can get results for just about anyone that is willing to make an effort.

    Though sadly Steve responded to me that he has deleted all correspondance with this individual shortly after making the initial post in this thread and wont be able to pass contact information on.

    Anyway, if anyone here is not able to make a go of it let me know, I maybe able to help. No guarantees or promises of any kind mind you. You can reach me at the site in my sigfile.


    - Terry
  • Maybe that guy could create a local community website and market to the local businesses or sports teams???

    AL
  • Why not tell him to find a job somewhere where he can trade his time for money. Then say to him after a certain amount of time, he can come back to you for help. Maybe even also saving up the amount of money you think will be a good start in an online business.

    Rick
  • I have worked with people like this before. The key factor is if they are willing to put in effort and do something, to actually take action.

    If not then there is nothing anyone can do. Most people either disappear or dance around from one idea or thing to the next idea or thing. My success rate with my coaching clients comes with my ability to get them to focus and take action.

    The problem I see with most coaches in the IM niche is that they have a limited box of resources. They know a few things and they know them well but when they come up against something or someone that doesn't fit into their few expertise then BOOM.. It blows up and they can't go further.

    I get a lot of coaching referrals from some of the well known "Guru's" or past clients of theirs that found me through various channels. I personally may not be able to help them but I have a larger box of resources to draw from than most and refer them on to an actionable plan or opportunity.

    I have taken hopeless cases before or what others labeled as hopeless. Some as Steve state are just not ready, others I think it was a combination of mismatched personalities, limited narrow of expertise or the so called coach just didn't want to put in the additional effort to explain in a way that the person could understand it. I am not talking about Steve here I am talking about my experience with a wide range of other coaches out there.

    I started out online with little to no money myself. I have gotten results lets say, creatively, and have developed a knack for starting projects that end up funding themselves with no out of pocket expense on my part. Isn't really that hard to do but without the experience and knowledge to do it, there is a lot of trial and error and either they succeed or they do not.

    So we have a lot of people here that have proven to themselves that it can not be done and there is a lot of support for that view. There are a few people with optimistic views that state the possibility but in this case with this individual we do not know really. At least I am not convinced that this person is a waste of space because I have not had the chance to talk with him.

    I got a lot out of this thread and the various types of mindsets we have here. I appreciate everyone's participation here, it is a good read, thanks.


    - Terry
    • [2] replies
    • Wild Boom,

      I can see that impossible is not your dictionary since you can't even spell it correctly. Just kidding -- spell check is a wonderful thing! Or perhaps it was a deliberate misspelling.

      Terry, I hate to be a me tooer, but I do concur on some parts, but...

      If you are going to market in the United States or any other English-speaking country is obvious that you at least have a command of the language.

      I don't think no matter how good a coach I am that I can overcome that obstacle.

      Just my two cents,

      Mad Money
      • [1] reply
    • What we are really talking about here is Probability vs. Possibility.

      While it is possible for this guy to make a living online....because of his circumstances it is not very probable.

      Hell, how probable was it that Bill Gates or Warren Buffet or Donald Trump would pull themselves from the lower class to become the worlds richest men?

      Not very.

      How probable is it that a member here will a billionaire one day?

      Again...not very.

      I do not believe this means it is impossible for this guy to pull himself up though. Everyone on the planet has a certain mental programming. Some people are more probable and some are less probable to really make in this life.

      On the other hand....I have seen people who had everything going for them and should be very wealthy...fall flat on their faces.

      I have seen others who didn't have a chance in hell...who are very, very successful.

      All this means is that we all have our work cut out for us. We all must overcome our weaknesses and mental and physical blockage.

      If this guy has average IQ, access to ways to learn, and the drive to overcome any obstacle...after 10 tries and failures in business, he may just make it.

      Just judging from his situation, he has a long way to go.

      Is it possible he can cover the distance before he dies?

      Yes.

      Will he actually cover the distance before he dies?

      Probably not.

      But, I for one would never, ever throw a stumbling block in someones way. I will always throw the hungry dog a bone. I will always give a homeless person a burger. And I will always encourage people to follow their dreams...even if they may never happen.

      Hope is the greatest, most essential thing that people have.
  • Ok.

    My 2 cents again.

    I think Steven posted a philosophical question.

    Then, when a debate began, he became very defensive.

    The camps divided.

    I agree with RRicart.

    The language barrier is huge.

    Who knows what this guy is capable of if they don't speak his language?

    No offense Steven but, 4 hours with someone whose language you don't speak isn't enough to know what he is or isn't capable of.

    Personally, I believe anyone is is capable of doing whatever they set their mind to.

    What one man can do, so can another.

    The only thing that keeps us from acheiving our goals is our own mind.
    ( barring any physical or mental defects).

    The only thing that will keep this guy from succeeding is his belief in himself, and his desire to acheive it.

    He needs to learn English. if his desire is stong enough, he will.

    Not cut out for it?

    Maybe.

    Not capable?

    No one in this forum knows his mental capabilities.

    No one is willing to put in the time and to help this guy?

    From what I've read there are plenty of people right here.

    If he can find some one to translate our communications I'll give him all the help I can.

    He's apparently willing. That's half the battle.

    Send me his email address Steven.

    Maybe I can pick up where you left off.

    LC
  • I was looking through all the posts and I dont understand why people think since someone doesnt have a skill they cant do this?

    Internet marketing is a skill in itself and I surely didnt have any skill for it before I started. I am still learning the skill of internet marketing.

    I think that everyone CAN do internet marketing if they set their mind to do so. You may have to crack a book open and read up on some stuff. I have my wife who couldnt even type a year ago running a couple of her own blogs now so its doable. You just have to learn a skill and go with it.
    • [1] reply
    • Jason, my wife's a school teacher and HAS TO use a PC for her school to
      keep her grades and other things.

      She STILL can't do it without my help. And she's been at this since the
      days of Windows 3.1.

      So obviously just to say go and learn a skill is not sufficient. People have
      to be ABLE to learn a skill and obviously that is where I and a lot of
      people seem to be in disagreement. They think that anybody can learn
      anything. I don't.

      So maybe my wife is stupid, right?

      Well, guess what? Stupid or not, doesn't matter. She can't wrap her head
      around computers and nothing I've done has been able to make it happen.

      SOME PEOPLE JUST CAN'T LEARN SOME THINGS.

      Believe it...don't believe it...whatever.
      • [1] reply
  • Steven, what the hell is wrong with you man.

    I have something to share, so here goes:
    Im from Denmark and in our schools the grades looks like this: 00, 03, 05, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 & 13..

    I got 05 which is F for you. Now 3 years later I don't know what my grade is, but now I can talk english, not very good english, but you do understand me right?

    Now here is the funny thing, the way I learned english is here at warriorforum. How? Simpe, read, and use a dictionary. Now I can create articles, make posts, and talk to people. I got no marketable interests. I do like everyone else thought, find a profitable niche, read and learn, then sell.

    I make money online now, and I did it from SCRATCH, like the one you are talking about. You are lucky, you can english, because for us, it's freakin' hard!

    He can make money like I could/can!


    And dont be so mad because you where the one asking us, and you're are asking everyone to have his email. Like an offended little girl
  • Hi Steve,

    Thanks for this post. I think Internet Marketing is a lot like Real Estate Investing -- people think it's a get-rich-quick strategy and that they just "add water" and the funds start pouring in.

    My experience shows me that there is money to be made in the Internet Marketing field - but it requires a lot of time, diligence and some money. Add to that keeping yourself motivated and pumped . . .

    For me, fear was my motivator as I was out of money with thousands of $$ of bills coming up. I didn't have the option to try various strategies and buy every WSO or new system that came along. I had to choose what I thought to be the best system, then follow it to the letter. I had to stay focused . . . I had to work long hours . . . I had to stay on task. The alternative was very dark and I didn't want to go there . . .

    So, anyone thinking this is a get-rich-quick scheme and that anyone can do it is indeed wrong . . . but the right people it's fun, exciting, challenging and rewarding!

    Thanks again for sharing this thought.
  • Why is it that everyone thinks that to make any money online you HAVE to know how to read and write english?

    People who do not read or write english learn in their naitive language every day. First and foremost, someone from a non english speaking situation should start out working within their own language.

    There is little stopping this guy from writing a few articles or ebooks in his own language and selling to his fellow countrymen. Even the poorest of countries have people wanting to learn things in their own language so why does everyone here ASSUME that you have to market to them in english and force them to learn english just to access information?

    Granted, you won't become a millionaire marketing to naitive language customers only, but then again the odds of becoming a millionaire marketing to english customers is pretty much non existant anyway.

    From what I see the guy just wants to learn how to make money using the internet as a medium. He can do this in his own language. Once he gets a general idea of what to do using his naitive language then its much easier to slowly branch out to the english speaking customers.
  • This thread has officially entered the Twilight Zone, where it's travelling into a neighbourhood of cul-de-sacs and dead ends. No matter how many signs are thrown in front of the wheels we're still going down the same roads and getting nowhere.

    Time to give up and go home.
    • [1] reply
    • Peter, this is probably the most sensible thing (including myself) that
      anybody has said here.

      I'm officially ending my involvement with this thread with this post. Some
      agree with me, some don't.

      That's kind of like anything else in life.

      Like my grandmother, God rest her soul, used to say.

      "As long as there are two people on this earth, there will always be war."
  • Sometimes people want something they are not ready to have at this point in time. However, there is a solution to him having a business of his own and he will get the help he desires.

    I'm speaking of several international lending institutions in undeveloped countries that help people get their own businesses and support them through the business ramp-up process. I don't know the name of any of these but surely someone else has heard of these besides me.

    As far as giving this gentleman information is concerned, it is best to encourage him in any way possible. I can only imagine that his desires are just like ours, his hopes just like ours and his drive just like ours. There is help for him; it would just be great to find it and connect him with it.

    I'll start looking myself; these banking operations have been showcased on shows like 60 Minutes and 20/20. They are funding business start-up projects all over the globe. He can get the help he desires. I know he can.

    Estelle
  • So, did anyone say that they would help this guy that Steven talked about 172 posts back?

    Did anyone say that they would:

    1. Locate an IMer in his country to help him actually determine if IM is something he will actually want to do?
    2. Locate an international banking community to help him secure the money he needs to get started?
    3. Locate someone to help him learn English and stay by him to encourage him when times get harder as they will?
    4. Offer him something other than negative criticism to help him get started?
    5. Tell him of success stories in far off America that will help him salivate over the possibilities?
    6. Give him website addresses that will help him locate a community of IMers in his own country that may be able to help him get accustomed to and acquainted with IM and all its glory and pitfalls?
    7. Did anyone do anything other than gripe and dissect him to the inth degree to the point of KNOWING that he will be a failure just BECAUSE?

    No, I don't mean to insult, demean or castigate anyone here. I really love this place. My only regret is that I've not really seen an unbreakable chain put together to help support this struggling person. Yes, obviously he is from another country with seeming very limited skills but does that mean he can't make it in IM?

    I don't think so. That is evidenced by someone way up on page 3 that told of his own struggles and how the WF helped him not only learn to speak English but also start making money online. So, it can be done.

    What better way to enjoy greater success than to put this person in touch with someone in his own country that has already garnered IM success to help him get started.

    That way, we're all the more successful for it. And then, if he doesn't work at it it can be said that he is less than stellar in his pursuit and is deluding himself. But, we must wait until then in order to come to an honest conclusion about his intentions and work ethics.

    Whatever the outcome, let's at least offer a helping hand instead of a dissecting scalpel. Bleeding doesn't look good on us.

    Thanks.

    Estelle
  • So far what he was doing for his lively hood. I think he just need to be do that and that also in his local language. Now internet is everywhere and google adsense is the best option.

    So just tell him to write on those thing which he have command ... and I am sure this will works

    Best of Luck
  • Well, here is my take on the whole thing. Rather than look at his weakness, reposition them as strengths. Buy him a small camera from Bestbuy that can shoot video. Should be no more than $99 and get some girl from his village to sew him a costume.

    He can do videos as the "Love Guru" and post them on Youtube. His exotic locale and strange accent will make him look legit. He can dole out ancient wisdom to a happy crowd.

    Possible advertisers to sell space to are "Psychics, Astrologers, Tarot Readers" It should not take too long before he is rolling in millions.
  • let him do some surveys!
  • Oh? I don't agree with that at all.

    Give me an hour on the phone with anyone, and I'll set them up with a way to make money. I'll take a bum off the street and teach them how to make some money.

    Sure, when someone first starts off in IM, they won't think they know anything about anything, that's when you need to spend some time digging to find out what works for them, OR create the knowledge.

    Anyone can become an expert on any topic. The first thing I would have had this guy do was to research a market. Read books, ebooks on the subject and even take some free online classes to speak better English.

    Even if he can't speak good English, he can get by with forum marketing. Also, I would have set him up with a landing page for an affiliate program and have him do forum marketing. ANYONE can make money online. For some it just takes more time.

    Be it research, or creating a system for the person. It's easy, and yes, anyone can do this
  • Some people suck @ business and you can do nothing about it...
    In fact- it's actually most of the population...

    It's a lot easier to work at mcdonalds than running your own business
  • Nick, I like your style. At least you're willing to not only talk to someone but also travel with them down the road while teaching them what you know and expanding what they know.

    "Give and it shall be given to you; good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over shall men give into your bosom; for with what measure ye mete it will be measured to you again."

    That's what I'm talking about.

    Estelle
  • You're right, Chris. Some people do suck (me included) but some are hungry to "get it" and with a little help, hand-holding and prodding, will get it because they're "hungry". They (we) may be a little slow but those patient, kind-hearted people who stay with them (us) are rewarded when we make some strides that help us leap to the head of the class.

    Thanks to those who help instead of sharing a battering ram. You're good as gold.

    Thanks again.

    Estelle
  • Interesting social experiment Steve.

    I really admire the philanthropic part of you too; but you will do more good (overall) just being who you are and doing what you do, the way only Steve Wagaheim can do it.
  • After owning several businesses offline, all but one good, and knowing quite a a few successful business owner, not every one can do something just because someone else did it. This is nieve and ignores the complexities of the human experience.

    Great book by Wharton professors about the power of impossible thinking talks about mental models and the way we look at things.

    Just because person A did it, he looks through a narrow lens and thinks he has made it simple. Problem is, by the time he has figures it all out, it is simple to him, not necessarily to anyone else.
    Each person brings their own unique personality, experience, skills and much more to any opportunity.

    What should be is rarely what is.
  • Why not get him to put up a website about his frustrations trying to learn english? Im sure theres a big market for people who are frustrated trying to learn english. It would give him instant rapport with people in the same situtation and its pretty comical reading and listening to people who speak and write broken English. Get him started on blogger! lol
  • It is absolutely not impossible for the subject in question to start a successful online business.

    However, it will never happen.

    The impossible part is motivating him to do what it would take. If he were willing to invest the time (months, or maybe even years), he could master our language and learn to put up a website. He could develop interests that could be developed into products. He could learn the techniques that the big names use and he could implement those techniques.

    The fact is, he doesn't want to put that much effort into his IM business. He feels it would be an unreasonable expenditure of energy. Maybe it would, maybe it wouldn't, but it doesn't matter what we think: what matters is what HE thinks, what time he's willing to devote and what things he's willing to sacrifice to make it happen.

    He has access to a computer. That gives him an advantage over a large number of people around the world.

    He knows how to use a computer. That gives him an advantage over many people (like my grandparents, for instance).

    He doesn't sound as if he's mentally handicapped. He may not have a genius IQ, but an IM business doesn't require a genius IQ. All he needs is a solid command of his mental facilities.

    He already has a start in English.

    Given the skills and resources we already know he has, it is entirely possible for him to find (and participate in) a free online english course.

    After he has a firm grasp of English (or maybe before!), he could spend time with one of the thousands of free HTML/CSS tutorials.

    In the time it takes him to do these things, he could enrich his life and gain fodder for future products by developing interests and hobbies. He could join forums like this one and make friends in the IM world. IMers, more than any other group I've encountered, get a kick out of helping newbies join them in success.

    Where there's a will, there's a way. Where there's no will, there's no way. I think this is a case of the latter. He COULD make it happen. But he won't. It's not worth it to him. End of story.
  • Years ago I owned a tire store. When someone was interested in working for us we always had them start with an old tire and wheel. We would show them how to use one of the machines to put the tire on, and then take it back off. We would do it several times and them watch them do it several times to help them understand the basics. You could almost always tell at this point who was going to make it and who wasn't. Then we would walk away and come back in an hour or so to see their progress.

    At the end of an hour we would know if they were going to cut or not and so would they. Usually if they were not cut out for the job then they would politely thank us and then leave. One time a friend asked us to give his son a try as a favor. In the first hour he had torn the tire to pieces but refused to give up. We let him work the rest of the day and then the next. Because of his dad we let him work all week. By the end of the week he was not any better than the first day. We ended up paying him for a weeks worth of work for nothing. At this point he was even more determined than ever to make it. Letting him go was quite hard and both he and his dad took offense to it.

    I guess if I still owned the store (10 years later) and had kept him on there is a slim chance that he might be able to cut it. I highly doubt it. I think that we made a wise choice in letting him go. Hopefully he found a rewarding career, that he is good at.
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