Adopt This Billionaire Mindset For 2010

52 replies
You'll love this...

Cleaning up my desktop this morning and found this doozy of a chest-thumping "build my business now" quote by Mark Cuban... Dallas Mavericks owner and outspoken billionaire.

Take it away Mark...

"Every single day someone has an idea. Every day someone talks about some business they want to start. Every day someone is out there starting a business whose entire goal is to beat the hell out of yours. How cool is that.

Every day some stranger from any where in the world that you have never met is trying to come up with a way to put you out of business. To take everything you have worked your ass off for, and take it all away. If you are in a growing industry, there could be hundreds or thousands of strangers trying to figure out ways to put you out of business. How cool is that.

The ultimate competition. Would you like to play a game called Eat Your Lunch. We are going to face off. My ability to execute on an idea vs yours. My ability to subvert your business vs your ability to keep it going. My ability to create ways to remove any reason for your business to exist vs your ability to do the same to me. My ability to know what you are going to do, before you do it. Who gets there first? Best of all, this game doesn't have a time limit. It's forever. It never ends. It's the ultimate competition."
#2010 #adopt #billionaire #mindset
  • Profile picture of the author niac7
    Nice!

    Really great way to look at it.
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  • Profile picture of the author theemperor
    Originally Posted by Ross Bowring View Post

    You'll love this...

    Cleaning up my desktop this morning and found this doozy of a chest-thumping "build my business now" quote by Mark Cuban... Dallas Mavericks owner and outspoken billionaire.

    Take it away Mark...

    "Every single day someone has an idea. Every day someone talks about some business they want to start. Every day someone is out there starting a business whose entire goal is to beat the hell out of yours. How cool is that.

    Every day some stranger from any where in the world that you have never met is trying to come up with a way to put you out of business. To take everything you have worked your ass off for, and take it all away. If you are in a growing industry, there could be hundreds or thousands of strangers trying to figure out ways to put you out of business. How cool is that.

    The ultimate competition. Would you like to play a game called Eat Your Lunch. We are going to face off. My ability to execute on an idea vs yours. My ability to subvert your business vs your ability to keep it going. My ability to create ways to remove any reason for your business to exist vs your ability to do the same to me. My ability to know what you are going to do, before you do it. Who gets there first? Best of all, this game doesn't have a time limit. It's forever. It never ends. It's the ultimate competition."
    Thanks, but I hardly find that motivational :confused:

    Is this the level of Narcissism needed to become a billionaire .. if so I'll stick with the millionaire dream
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    • Profile picture of the author Ross Bowring
      It's far from the law of attraction. I agree.

      But in the real-world... with real-life competitors... and a real-life surge of IM'ers from India and China about to hit... you might need this kind of fire under your hindquarters to stay in the game.
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      • Profile picture of the author JohnMcCabe
        Ross, I like the quote and I like Mark Cuban.

        How do you not like a guy who owns a sports team, and budgets money for league fines for pinking officials?

        How do you not like a guy whose idea of fun is going on a pro wrasslin' show and letting some 280# steroid freak slam him through a table?

        Once you reach a certain level, you end up making money faster than you can spend it. At that point, money becomes a way of keeping score, and making even more money becomes a game to be won.

        By the way, I don't see a conflict between Cuban's comments and the Law of Attraction. He's simply trying to attract the thing which gives him the adrenalin rush.
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        • Profile picture of the author Ross Bowring
          Originally Posted by JohnMcCabe View Post

          By the way, I don't see a conflict between Cuban's comments and the Law of Attraction. He's simply trying to attract the thing which gives him the adrenalin rush.
          Good point, John.

          Thanks for chiming in.

          I also admire Cuban's cojones for getting in the WWE squared circle.
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          • Profile picture of the author amaechi007
            I think thats why some people hate business and prefer hiding behind a day job tittle. Its a dog it dog situation. If you can't stand the heat, get out.Lol.
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            • Profile picture of the author lexilexi
              Love it. You need to be able to shoot your own product down before other people do, otherwise they will! To be ahead of the game you need to find the chinks in your own armour. Life is competitive - be the best or be swallowed.
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  • Profile picture of the author Profit-smart
    I like it! I'm big on the competitive motivational stuff. But not everyone has a competitive personality-For them its more about improvement than superiority.

    Really it all leads to the same end result- a better, improved business or product.
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  • Profile picture of the author cosmolito
    Oh you bet I'll be adopting this positive attitude for 2010. I have already been thinking along those lines but there is always room for improvement.

    2010 is gonna be BIG! Best to all of you
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  • Profile picture of the author Sean Ski
    LOL All the top dogs in the IM field (as well as many other niche markets) work WITH each other not against... I agree there is strong competition out there but if you work on giving more than you receive and becoming a big name people will naturally want to work with you and you can help your business by helping their's.
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    • Profile picture of the author Ross Bowring
      Hey Sean, for me, I like the competitive nature of business. That's why this quote appeals to me. But there's obviously much hay to made from looking to team with others too.

      However, and as marketer's horror stories attest, there are sharks out there who'd rather bite into your profits than JV.
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      • Profile picture of the author RentItNow
        Originally Posted by Ross Bowring View Post

        However, and as marketer's horror stories attest, there are sharks out there who'd rather bite into your profits than JV.
        Which again comes to the law of attraction. Think you are going to attract bad partners and you will. I have a card I read three times a day that says, "I'm meeting like minded people daily and collaborating with them." And what is funny is since I have been reading this, ALL non-like minded people have mysteriously left my life. Even though I see "being an ahole will make you some money", I still refuse to operate that way. And now chose to beat all the aholes using my own rules which are be honest and help people and make millions instead of picking the carcass of people that are down for pennies! And succeed.
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        I have no agenda but to help those in the same situation. This I feel will pay the bills.
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        • Profile picture of the author Ross Bowring
          Originally Posted by RentItNow View Post

          I have a card I read three times a day that says, "I'm meeting like minded people daily and collaborating with them." And what is funny is since I have been reading this, ALL non-like minded people have mysteriously left my life. Even though I see "being an ahole will make you some money", I still refuse to operate that way. And now chose to beat all the aholes using my own rules which are be honest and help people and make millions instead of picking the carcass of people that are down for pennies! And succeed.
          The underdeveloped point so far in this thread is that the killer instinct Cuban is talking about in his quote is not in opposition to your great approach above. Getting one up on your competition often means providing more value by adopting people first approaches to marketing.
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  • Profile picture of the author manifestwithmichael
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    • Profile picture of the author inter123
      If everybody else is competetion why is this forum running?

      J
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      • Profile picture of the author JohnMcCabe
        Originally Posted by Sean Ski View Post

        LOL All the top dogs in the IM field (as well as many other niche markets) work WITH each other not against... I agree there is strong competition out there but if you work on giving more than you receive and becoming a big name people will naturally want to work with you and you can help your business by helping their's.
        If you believe the top dogs don't compete, wait for the next major launch.

        Look at the crazy bonus wars as these good buddies try to bury each other in the affiliate contests.

        The dozen or so in the inner circle may not be trying to put each other out of business, but that's by necessity - it's reached the point where they need each other. If you expand your definition to considering the Inner Circle gang as one entity, they are indeed trying to eat everyone else's lunch...
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        • Profile picture of the author theemperor
          I think the "Every day someone is out there starting a business whose entire goal is to beat the hell out of yours." way of thinking misses the point.

          Yes there is competition, but there is also room for competition. And its not a zero sum game. An example is a restaurant may do well if competing restaurants appear on the same street, as this creates a buzz about coming to that street to eat out and benefits all of them. I think this same principle happens online. My first exposure to IM was reading the rich jerk ads. I never purchased his book, but it made me more softened to the idea of buying an ebook, somethink that probably benefited one of his competitors.

          If you think only in terms of screwing the competition I don't think you'll get far. Giving as much value as possible to the customer is the main thing on my mind, not screwing the competition.
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          • Profile picture of the author JohnMcCabe
            Originally Posted by theemperor View Post

            I think the "Every day someone is out there starting a business whose entire goal is to beat the hell out of yours." way of thinking misses the point.

            Yes there is competition, but there is also room for competition. And its not a zero sum game. An example is a restaurant may do well if competing restaurants appear on the same street, as this creates a buzz about coming to that street to eat out and benefits all of them. I think this same principle happens online. My first exposure to IM was reading the rich jerk ads. I never purchased his book, but it made me more softened to the idea of buying an ebook, somethink that probably benefited one of his competitors.

            If you think only in terms of screwing the competition I don't think you'll get far. Giving as much value as possible to the customer is the main thing on my mind, not screwing the competition.
            Where in that quote did Cuban say anything about "screwing the competition"?

            There are a lot of ways to beat the competition that don't involve "screwing them" or even putting them out of business. One way is to dominate your market so thoroughly that it's more profitable for your competitors to work with you, sending you business for a cut of the take, than it is to compete with you.

            Even Attilla the Hun knew that one of the most effective ways to eliminate an enemy was to find a way to make him a friend while still furthering one's own objectives.

            Steel is tempered in fire, my friend; one gets better by competing with those better than you.
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            • Profile picture of the author discrat
              Originally Posted by JohnMcCabe View Post

              Where in that quote did Cuban say anything about "screwing the competition"?

              There are a lot of ways to beat the competition that don't involve "screwing them" or even putting them out of business.
              Cuban Quote :
              "Every day some stranger from any where in the world that you have never met is trying to come up with a way to put you out of business. To take everything you have worked your ass off for, and take it all away. If you are in a growing industry, there could be hundreds or thousands of strangers trying to figure out ways to put you out of business. How cool is that."


              Cuban clearly states how cool it is to put people out of business !!
              NOT COOL, IMO !!!
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              • Profile picture of the author JohnMcCabe
                Originally Posted by discrat View Post

                Cuban Quote :
                "Every day some stranger from any where in the world that you have never met is trying to come up with a way to put you out of business. To take everything you have worked your ass off for, and take it all away. If you are in a growing industry, there could be hundreds or thousands of strangers trying to figure out ways to put you out of business. How cool is that."


                Cuban clearly states how cool it is to put people out of business !!
                NOT COOL, IMO !!!
                Maybe we're reading different things...

                What I'm getting out this passage is that Cuban thinks it's cool that there are people out there trying to put him out of business. For him, it's fuel for the fire to make himself better so they can't do it.

                Let's take it out of the business arena and onto the golf course for a moment.

                When I lived up north, I had a regular foursome who were all relatively equal on our best days. Every week, we shot around the same average score.

                Then I got persuaded to join a league because I thought it would be fun. And it was, eventually. In the beginning, it was tough. These guys wanted to win, period. They could quote you the rulebook and why they could do something that didn't seem fair. They practiced. They held other players to the limits of the rules.

                I never came close to winning that league - but when I rejoined my regular foursome, I whipped their butts without trying. The intensity of the competition made me concentrate better, be more selective in my shots, just play the game better.

                I think that's what Cuban is getting at. At least, that's what I'm getting out if it...
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                • Profile picture of the author discrat
                  Originally Posted by JohnMcCabe View Post

                  Maybe we're reading different things...

                  What I'm getting out this passage is that Cuban thinks it's cool that there are people out there trying to put him out of business. For him, it's fuel for the fire to make himself better so they can't do it.

                  Let's take it out of the business arena and onto the golf course for a moment.

                  When I lived up north, I had a regular foursome who were all relatively equal on our best days. Every week, we shot around the same average score.

                  Then I got persuaded to join a league because I thought it would be fun. And it was, eventually. In the beginning, it was tough. These guys wanted to win, period. They could quote you the rulebook and why they could do something that didn't seem fair. They practiced. They held other players to the limits of the rules.

                  I never came close to winning that league - but when I rejoined my regular foursome, I whipped their butts without trying. The intensity of the competition made me concentrate better, be more selective in my shots, just play the game better.

                  I think that's what Cuban is getting at. At least, that's what I'm getting out if it...


                  Yeah, point taken. But you are talking about whipping people's butt in a sporting event. What Cuban talks about is whipping people's butt in their livelihoods and how they support their families and children.
                  Two different things in my view !!

                  I think it is just the way he expresses himself and the context in which he does it. I guess its just not my cup of tea when someone talks so flippantly about putting people out of business. Mainly because it can be such a terrible thing for that person and his family when they are put out of business !!
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                  • Profile picture of the author JohnMcCabe
                    Originally Posted by discrat View Post

                    Yeah, point taken. But you are talking about whipping people's butt in a sporting event. What Cuban talks about is whipping people's butt in their livelihoods and how they support their families and children.
                    Two different things in my view !!
                    Are you saying that we should all back off and make sure that no one ever fails at business?

                    Do I owe my competitors a share of the market that is somehow "theirs" by divine right?

                    Or do I owe my family the best livelihood I'm capable of providing?

                    I'm not talking about doing things that are illegal or unethical just to get ahead. I'm talking about using my competition, in business or on the golf course, to make me the best I can be.

                    Anything else, and we start creeping dangerously close to "from each according to their ability, to each according to their need" -- a system that has never worked and never will.

                    Fun discussion - thanks a lot. Seriously.

                    Time to click off, cobble up some dinner and watch the Vikings and the Bears try to take each other out.
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                    • Profile picture of the author discrat
                      Originally Posted by JohnMcCabe View Post

                      Are you saying that we should all back off and make sure that no one ever fails at business?

                      Do I owe my competitors a share of the market that is somehow "theirs" by divine right?

                      Or do I owe my family the best livelihood I'm capable of providing?

                      Time to click off, cobble up some dinner and watch the Vikings and the Bears try to take each other out.
                      No, but I think you owe other's in our Society the respect to not talk as Cuban does in such a flippant and arrogant way of 'how cool' it is to strive to put them out of business and be the ungodly conquerer !!

                      You can try to paint what he says in any picture you want to. Bottom line is gloating about other's misfortunes while finding glee in your Success (at the same time) is flat out wrong, imo !!
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    • Profile picture of the author Ross Bowring
      Originally Posted by manifestwithmichael View Post

      Hey There Ross,

      I like your post but unforunately it had to be from Mark Cuban....
      I'm an absolute die hard NBA fan and I honestly cannot stand that guy.
      Lol not to bring down the level in this thread or anything but I do appreciate
      that you took the time to add some value to the community. Keep it up!

      Speak soon and be well,
      Michael Stead
      Michael, see past the shenanigans! Cuban has his moments but he's a whip smart dude. Although I also wish he'd tone down his shouting at the refs.
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      • Profile picture of the author discrat
        Yeah, may be true but personally this dog eat dog personality is waaaay overrated in Life.
        You go thur a life threatening experience or liife threatening illness and you look at someone like Mark Cuban and this type of mentality ............and you laugh your arse off of how stupid he really is !!

        Life is way to short to look at Life that way, IMHO !!


        Remember, when you are ready to pass on from this Life nobody gives a sh!t how much Money you made or how much you kicked your Competition's arse. They really dont.
        Just ask Ty Cobb that. What do people remember about him ?? No they dont remember or really care that he was probably the greatest hitter of ALL time............Instead they will mostly remember him as being the biggest arsehole to ever grace the face of the Earth. And his Legacy is cemented as being the worst sport ever and one of the meanest SOBs ever !!
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  • Profile picture of the author discrat
    Originally Posted by Ross Bowring View Post

    You'll love this...

    Cleaning up my desktop this morning and found this doozy of a chest-thumping "build my business now" quote by Mark Cuban... Dallas Mavericks owner and outspoken billionaire.

    Take it away Mark...

    "Every single day someone has an idea. Every day someone talks about some business they want to start. Every day someone is out there starting a business whose entire goal is to beat the hell out of yours. How cool is that.

    Every day some stranger from any where in the world that you have never met is trying to come up with a way to put you out of business. To take everything you have worked your ass off for, and take it all away. If you are in a growing industry, there could be hundreds or thousands of strangers trying to figure out ways to put you out of business. How cool is that.

    The ultimate competition. Would you like to play a game called Eat Your Lunch. We are going to face off. My ability to execute on an idea vs yours. My ability to subvert your business vs your ability to keep it going. My ability to create ways to remove any reason for your business to exist vs your ability to do the same to me. My ability to know what you are going to do, before you do it. Who gets there first? Best of all, this game doesn't have a time limit. It's forever. It never ends. It's the ultimate competition."

    Hey, if this kind of mentality floats your boat then by all means go for it. Eat you heart out Jack !!
    But I think Colonel Sanders and Dave Thomas would wholeheartidly disagree with this assertion !!
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    • Profile picture of the author Ross Bowring
      Originally Posted by discrat View Post

      I think Colonel Sanders and Dave Thomas would wholeheartidly disagree with this assertion !!
      Maybe... at least their public advertising personas would. But you don't think they ever "hated on" Burger King... McDonalds... and secretly wanted to put them flat out of business?
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  • Profile picture of the author FreelanceSally
    I'm definitely working this into my way of thinking for 2010; But, maybe on a smaller scale. I won't try to necessarily put others out of business, but use my USP to make qualified buyers see that quality writing is actually a "better buy" than the ever-so-popular $2 article.
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    • Profile picture of the author Ross Bowring
      Originally Posted by FreelanceSally View Post

      I'm definitely working this into my way of thinking for 2010; But, maybe on a smaller scale. I won't try to necessarily put others out of business, but use my USP to make qualified buyers see that quality writing is actually a "better buy" than the ever-so-popular $2 article.
      Sally, great way to apply this. What Cuban is saying, as I read it, is to go nuts in trying to provide better value and user experience for customers. Good luck with your efforts.
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  • Profile picture of the author Tyler Pratt
    It helps to have a billionaire mindset like cuban when you have a billion in the bank.

    Or does he still have it?
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    • Profile picture of the author Ross Bowring
      Originally Posted by MarkAndrews IMCopywriting View Post

      Well, I only know one billionaire personally and
      his attitude completely stinks to high heaven.

      I grew up with the silly bugger.

      He might have that attitude too Ross but quite
      frankly, he can shove it straight up where the
      sun doesn't shine.

      There's more to life than just attacking other
      people in business, putting other people out of
      business etc just to get so far ahead for oneself.

      If one's value base is on this alone, if this is
      what money and life is all about to the detriment
      of everything else - not giving a flying stuff about
      others...I'd rather be poor and keep a big heart on
      me than to become so enraptured with my own
      sense of self importance and over inflated ego
      that I defeat the object of what life is really all
      about in the first place.
      Never said it should be the be all and end of life. And it's not necessarily about having an oversized ego. It's just a reality of the world you have to deal with if you own a business. People are out for a greater piece of the pie. And if it means taking a bite out of yours, they will.

      I don't think that's cynical. More a reality of business.

      And although I'm genuinely sorry the only billionaire you know needs an attitude adjustment, the richest man on the planet has a foundation that's saving millions of lives across the planet. He's a good guy... an infamously competitive guy... yet by all accounts he's doing more to help more people than anyone else in human history.
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        • Profile picture of the author Ross Bowring
          Originally Posted by MarkAndrews IMCopywriting View Post

          As for the comment about giving to charity etc,
          what the dickens has that to do with this thread
          topic? Sorry whatever the correlation there was,
          implied or otherwise, you completely lost me.
          Mark, sorry if I lost you. You cited an example of a billionaire with a bad attitude. Without a counter example I took it as an inference, perhaps mistakenly, of a broad brush stroke that billionaires can often be big meanies. So I offered an example of a guy who's crushing it... to use current parlance.. when it comes to philanthropic efforts.

          I've absolutely no doubt you know how to run a successful business. The hustle and guile you exhibit to drum up business on this board attests to that.
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          • Profile picture of the author JohnMcCabe
            And although I'm genuinely sorry the only billionaire you know needs an attitude adjustment, the richest man on the planet has a foundation that's saving millions of lives across the planet. He's a good guy... an infamously competitive guy... yet by all accounts he's doing more to help more people than anyone else in human history.
            Ross, this may sound like I'm putting down feet on both sides of the fence, but even the richest man on the planet isn't doing his philanthropy for purely altruistic reasons.

            Look at the charities and foundations started by the super rich, and look at their names. Almost all of them are named after the founder.

            Many of them are part charitable foundation, part tax shelter and part monument to the founder - a little piece of immortality. The fact that these foundations generally do good is admirable, but we shouldn't be fitting the founders for halos just yet.
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            • Profile picture of the author Ross Bowring
              Originally Posted by JohnMcCabe View Post

              Ross, this may sound like I'm putting down feet on both sides of the fence, but even the richest man on the planet isn't doing his philanthropy for purely altruistic reasons.

              Look at the charities and foundations started by the super rich, and look at their names. Almost all of them are named after the founder.

              Many of them are part charitable foundation, part tax shelter and part monument to the founder - a little piece of immortality. The fact that these foundations generally do good is admirable, but we shouldn't be fitting the founders for halos just yet.
              If your feet are on both sides I hope you're tall enough to avoid injury. Nasty splinters and the like.

              You make a good point, John. There was little nuance in my Gates example. There are, of course, many underlying motivations for philanthropy. And I didn't mean to suggest there are purer than driven snow motivation behind such acts.
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              • Profile picture of the author JohnMcCabe
                Originally Posted by Ross Bowring View Post

                If your feet are on both sides I hope you are a tall enough to avoid injury. Nasty splinters and the like.
                Actually, it was an electric fence that taught me to never straddle fences unless I was dead certain both feet would reach the ground...

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                • Profile picture of the author Ross Bowring
                  Originally Posted by JohnMcCabe View Post

                  Actually, it was an electric fence that taught me to never straddle fences unless I was dead certain both feet would reach the ground...

                  Nice combo. A priceless life lesson. And a party-piece scar you can whip out at weddings and bar mitzvahs.
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              • Profile picture of the author WhamSoft
                I often think of my business in sort of a game sense, I must win and you will not defeat me.

                Muwhaaa ha ha (evil laugh)
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  • Profile picture of the author Daniel E Taylor
    This isn't the mentality of a billionaire. This is the mentality of a sick world who minds are so closed to reality and what happiness is that they honestly believe that there aren't enough resources in the world for everyone to spread there message, and share their gifts, and at least have their basic needs met.


    This is the gutter mentality that is the reason why many people in the world live in poverty and really terrible conditions and honest hard working people have to give to charity or their considered "Greedy", when if people woudl wake the hell up adn realize that the real problem is that there is a need for charity in the first place.

    Daniel
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    else is an illusion.

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  • Profile picture of the author MichaelHiles
    I like Cuban.

    But let's put it on the table.

    He got extremely lucky. He didn't "compete" to build a business. He was in the right place at the right time when Yahoo got itchy grabby for market share, and bought broadcast.com, which ultimately failed as a site and a brand.

    There was really nothing there. It was a platform with not a lot of content back in Web 1.0 gold rush days, and Yahoo speculated and lost.

    Cuban took his cash and bought some other assets - smart on his part.

    But to suggest that he earned his billions by "competing" is somewhat of a misnomer.

    To have it to do over again, would he be as successful without Yahoo?

    Compare his story to a guy like Sir Branson, who started out hustling magazines on the street. Very different.
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    • Profile picture of the author Ross Bowring
      Originally Posted by MichaelHiles View Post

      Compare his story to a guy like Sir Branson, who started out hustling magazines on the street. Very different.
      Michael, thanks for bringing this up. Branson has a wonderful and inspiring story. Full of risk and legit adventure.
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  • Profile picture of the author LetsGoViral
    That's kind of depressing actually.
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    • Profile picture of the author JohnMcCabe
      Originally Posted by discrat View Post

      No, but I think you owe other's in our Society the respect to not talk as Cuban does in such a flippant and arrogant way of 'how cool' it is to strive to put them out of business and be the ungodly conquerer !!

      You can try to paint what he says in any picture you want to. Bottom line is gloating about other's misfortunes while finding glee in your Success (at the same time) is flat out wrong, imo !!
      You see Cuban's statement as arrogant and flippant, and it rubs you the wrong way. Fair enough.

      There's a reason the Dallas Mavericks have to budget money to pay his NBA fines.

      I would also agree that the kind of gloating you are reading into the statement is distasteful. Where we differ is that is not what I got out of it.

      In business, we all compete. Every freelancer, infoproduct seller or retailer competes. Every time someone makes a sale, it takes one away from someone else, potentially putting them one step closer to going out of business.

      You made the distinction between competing at sports vs. messing with peoples' livelihoods. Extend the argument to professional sports. PGA golfers competing for a purse are doing everything in their power to grab the biggest share of that purse knowing full well that if they do, someone else gets a smaller share. They also know that every other golfer in the tournament is trying to do the same thing.

      The alternative is to diminish that competitor and turn them into a charity case. Or diminish yourself by becoming one.

      discrat, you seem genuinely disgusted by Cuban's words, but others smack of jealousy and resentment. For those people, I ask this - if Cuban were not a billionaire a couple of times over and offered the same ideas, would you still be as upset? I deliberately specified 'ideas' to separate them from Cuban's brash rhetoric.
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  • Profile picture of the author Zach Booker
    Here's my two cents.

    Disregard your anger, hate, whatever you have against Mark and just focus on the statement. I don't know where all of you have been lately - but the online world isn't a pretty place where everyone has an equal share.

    Look at a keyword like "make money online". At least six people are actively trying to get to the number one spot that are currently on the first page not to mention the thousands of new comers trying to rank for that keyword.

    Black hat techniques are used against competitors to try and lower them - it's a messy game where the best site doesn't always reign supreme.

    I do believe, as Ross said, this is the mindset of an awful lot of billionaires. Maybe the disgust here is because you don't aspire to become a billionaire, or maybe not even a millionaire. There's nothing wrong with that.

    Pick up any book by Sir Branson, Donald Trump, or a biography on Warren Buffett. They got to where they were by doing a few dirty deeds, they knew success came at a price and they sure as hell put some people out of business, on purpose, to get to where they wanted to be. (Bill Gates is a perfect example - he royally did in countless people both when he started and now.)

    When I hear this quote I often think of CPA networks. There was once a time where NeverBlue and Hydra had huge market share - now they're disappearing with new comers like EWA, Copeac, and Convert2Media going above and beyond. It's all part of business and if you aren't ready to accept that there will always be someone smarter, working harder, coming after you you will ultimately fail as the online world gets more and more competitive.

    Things won't always be so rosy - you can already see the affects of tighter regulations both by the Government and by traffic sources like Adwords.

    I'm always amazed by the self righteousness portrayed by some members here - as if to say they are above and beyond doing anything to further themselves and their business.

    Zach

    P.S - What many members have said is simply the ideal. What they would like to see. Truth be known a lot of posters in this thread don't make a dollar a day online, and with the attitude of pure ignorance they won't ever. Any business that succeeds will negatively impact their competitors indirectly or directly.
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    • Profile picture of the author Ross Bowring
      Originally Posted by Zach Booker View Post

      Pick up any book by Sir Branson, Donald Trump, or a biography on Warren Buffett. They got to where they were by doing a few dirty deeds, they knew success came at a price and they sure as hell put some people out of business, on purpose, to get to where they wanted to be. (Bill Gates is a perfect example - he royally did in countless people both when he started and now.)
      Zach, thank you for the thoughtful post.

      Branson, in particular is famous for going into niches and shaking the boat. Using his vast resources to give his competitors fits. Air travel. Train travel in the UK. Cell phones. Check out Virgin's website and the niche list goes on... and on. Branson is a shark who looks for holes he can exploit. A charming shark. An eccentric shark. But still hungry for blood.

      That said, the balance is, as with any sensible business approach, that you collaborate if it's in the best interest of your business. That you seek out partnerships where the cost benefit analysis is prettier than with a dirtier takeover.

      It's not about not having principles and values. Far from it. It's all about... to paraphrase Cuban... can you bring more value to this customer than the next guy? If it's a cut-throat quest to do just that, then it's an admirable cut-throat quest.

      The equation changes when you put yourself in customer shoes. Don't you want people fighting tooth and nail to give you more value?
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      • Profile picture of the author Zach Booker
        Originally Posted by Ross Bowring View Post

        Zach, thank you for the thoughtful post.

        Branson, in particular is famous for going into niches and shaking the boat. Using his vast resources to give his competitors fits. Air travel. Train travel in the UK. Cell phones. Check out Virgin's website and the niche list goes on... and on. Branson is a shark who looks for holes he can exploit. A charming shark. An eccentric shark. But still hungry for blood.

        That said, the balance is, as with any sensible business approach, that you collaborate if it's in the best interest of your business. That you seek out partnerships where the cost benefit analysis is prettier than with a dirtier takeover.

        It's not about not having principles and values. Far from it. It's all about... to paraphrase Cuban... can you bring more value to this customer than the next guy? If it's a cut-throat quest to do just that, then it's an admirable cut-throat quest.

        The equation changes when you put yourself in customer shoes. Don't you want people fighting tooth and nail to give you more value?
        Very true.

        I love reading Donald Trump's books just because I enjoy his uninformative rambles.

        One thing he talks about in nearly every book is about holding a grudge and when someone screws you over to screw them back. Whether you agree with this or not doesn't really matter it just furthers the point that billionaires aren't always the "nicest" guys to their competitors - at least conventionally speaking - but when it comes to the people paying them, the consumer they always treat them with respect.

        I stayed at Trump International Hotel and Tower in NYC this summer and every guest, no matter where you stay, is treated like a million bucks.

        In the end you don't normally get to the billionaire status by screwing your consumers. Like you said you must create a balance.

        Zach
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    • Profile picture of the author Daniel E Taylor
      Originally Posted by Zach Booker View Post

      Here's my two cents.

      Disregard your anger, hate, whatever you have against Mark and just focus on the statement. I don't know where all of you have been lately - but the online world isn't a pretty place where everyone has an equal share.

      Look at a keyword like "make money online". At least six people are actively trying to get to the number one spot that are currently on the first page not to mention the thousands of new comers trying to rank for that keyword.

      Black hat techniques are used against competitors to try and lower them - it's a messy game where the best site doesn't always reign supreme.

      I do believe, as Ross said, this is the mindset of an awful lot of billionaires. Maybe the disgust here is because you don't aspire to become a billionaire, or maybe not even a millionaire. There's nothing wrong with that.

      Pick up any book by Sir Branson, Donald Trump, or a biography on Warren Buffett. They got to where they were by doing a few dirty deeds, they knew success came at a price and they sure as hell put some people out of business, on purpose, to get to where they wanted to be. (Bill Gates is a perfect example - he royally did in countless people both when he started and now.)

      When I hear this quote I often think of CPA networks. There was once a time where NeverBlue and Hydra had huge market share - now they're disappearing with new comers like EWA, Copeac, and Convert2Media going above and beyond. It's all part of business and if you aren't ready to accept that there will always be someone smarter, working harder, coming after you you will ultimately fail as the online world gets more and more competitive.

      Things won't always be so rosy - you can already see the affects of tighter regulations both by the Government and by traffic sources like Adwords.

      I'm always amazed by the self righteousness portrayed by some members here - as if to say they are above and beyond doing anything to further themselves and their business.

      Zach

      P.S - What many members have said is simply the ideal. What they would like to see. Truth be known a lot of posters in this thread don't make a dollar a day online, and with the attitude of pure ignorance they won't ever. Any business that succeeds will negatively impact their competitors indirectly or directly.
      But how much money have you made with this ignorant mentality?

      Whether your a greedy ******* who only cares about money
      by any means necessary or an enlightened individual with
      values you can become a billionaire.

      One person helps the other while the other tears it down.

      None of my mentors (Who all have million dollar businesses)
      have that greed based mentality. I don't have it an my businesses
      are going over a million this year.

      So your theory is full of crap.

      You're only talking this crap because you've been
      programmed with that believe system and your perception
      is now in such a way that you actually believe that's the
      only reality. That it's dog eat dog.

      The world is the way it is because sheep like you have
      been programmed to chase money instead of doing
      soul searching. Which is why the economy is crumbling
      now.

      To think you can become a "Millionaire" or "Billionaire" without
      cutting someones throat means you have a very limited
      perception of the world that was programmed by
      the power at be.

      Living from your primitive reptilian (survival) brain is the reason
      you have a mentality such as this.

      To call people "Self righteous" because they have values
      and probably done some soul searching and see reality for what it
      is.

      A few powerful greedy *******s manipulating the people
      such as yourself to focus on acquring material objects
      by any means necessary instead of being of service
      and using business to service humanity and solve
      problems and people's lives.

      No one is saying there isn't "Competition". In fact I've
      been jived by greedy *******s with the same mentality
      as you.

      And I could care less because my business took off
      while they were busy worrying about "Competition".

      I focused on the needs of my niche and building relationships.

      That wins everytime.

      And FYI your hero Mark Cuban couldn't build a successful
      business to save his life and got a lucky break when
      Yahoo bought out broadcast.com (horrible mistake)
      for 4 billion.

      Even with all of yahoo's money they couldn't make a dumb
      idea like broadcast.com a success.

      So if you want to take business lessons from a guy who
      couldn't build a successful business to save his life. Go right ahead.

      Daniel
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      Self Actualization is one's true purpose. Everything
      else is an illusion.

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      • Profile picture of the author Ross Bowring
        Originally Posted by Daniel E Taylor View Post

        I focused on the needs of my niche and building relationships.

        That wins everytime.
        Daniel, thank you for your passionate input. I see where you are coming from. Where you may have some crossover with Mr. Cuban is above...

        I'm guessing you focused on meeting the needs of your niche better than your competition. And build relationships which would reinforce your income and status in your niche. So although there's no need to frame it in Cuban-ese cut-throat terms... you're still sticking it to your competition who fail to see the value in providing value...

        Agreed, or not?

        Either way, much congratulations on your success.
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      • Profile picture of the author Zach Booker
        Originally Posted by Daniel E Taylor View Post

        But how much money have you made with this ignorant mentality?
        How much have you made with your ignorant mentality? You need to recognize the big picture.

        Whether your a greedy ******* who only cares about money
        by any means necessary or an enlightened individual with
        values you can become a billionaire.
        Billionaires may, once they are at the top, give back and become enlightened. But don't fool yourself into thinking that they always did the "right" thing to get to the top. I'm not saying they did horrible things, I'm just saying that you're giving too much credit to those of whom clearly chase wealth all their life.

        One person helps the other while the other tears it down.

        None of my mentors (Who all have million dollar businesses)
        have that greed based mentality. I don't have it an my businesses
        are going over a million this year.
        LOL, million dollar businesses. That's big time for sure. Again you need to realize the internet doesn't stop at just e-books. There's a whole different world out there where much more money is to be made.

        I'd recommend learning about that and investing some of your money/time so you can reach your goal in a few months - not by the end of the year.

        Greed isn't always bad. If you create the situation in which your consumers want more then by all means provide what they want. No need to view greed, like money, as evil.

        So your theory is full of crap.
        Oh, that's for sure! If your mentors have million dollar businesses, and you may too by the end of the year, you guys must be right. Nobody makes over that ... well except for that one guy who brings in around 100 million a year and has a 20 million dollar penthouse. But besides that no one even comes close to you guys.

        You're only talking this crap because you've been
        programmed with that believe system and your perception
        is now in such a way that you actually believe that's the
        only reality. That it's dog eat dog.
        Who's programmed me? The media? That's the typical response from those kind of statements.

        I don't think it's dog eat dog. There's opportunities for everybody who works hard and most importantly works smart. But as I've said all along it's getting more and more competitive. So yes you adapt and grow or you fail - just like in the wild. Is that wrong?

        The world is the way it is because sheep like you have
        been programmed to chase money instead of doing
        soul searching. Which is why the economy is crumbling
        now.
        Oh, please. Since I believe in Capitalism you say I chase the dollar and do no soul searching?

        Do you know how I treat the people who buy my products? Again you're assuming I do something illegal or unethical when that's completely false. Want to know what I do? Want to get an idea for the numbers I do? Go read reply 85 to "how much do you make daily".

        Also go read the "Trillion Dollar Meltdown" and learn something about the economy. You're in a losing battle if you really think we're in this mess because of greed alone - you will always have those who take things too far. Blaming everything on "them" get's you nowhere.

        There's no perfect solution. I'll be the first to admit that people I know have gotten caught up in the game and have taken things too far because money blinds them. It's a sad reality when they think having a Rolls Royce makes them somebody.

        To think you can become a "Millionaire" or "Billionaire" without
        cutting someones throat means you have a very limited
        perception of the world that was programmed by
        the power at be.
        Did I say you have to cut peoples throats?

        No. I said you may have to beat out competitors. You may have to take part of their market share in order to succeed, in order to grow, that's just the way it is. That's also what the consumer wants. More value for their money.

        When you beat someone in the search results you take away a large portion of their money. I've made them lose countless dollars in profit - I suppose that's like cutting someones throat but what else can I do. It's business.

        Living from your primitive reptilian (survival) brain is the reason
        you have a mentality such as this.

        To call people "Self righteous" because they have values
        and probably done some soul searching and see reality for what it
        is.

        A few powerful greedy *******s manipulating the people
        such as yourself to focus on acquring material objects
        by any means necessary instead of being of service
        and using business to service humanity and solve
        problems and people's lives.
        I call some self righteous because they feel then can get ahead without stepping on any toes. It's simply not true. Directly or indirectly you will have a negative impact on somebodies business if you succeed.

        Again there's nothing wrong with that but yet you make it out to be a sin. You're wishing for a world that will never be. Greed will always be here and there's nothing I'd like more then the world you describe. But let's be real.

        No one is saying there isn't "Competition". In fact I've
        been jived by greedy *******s with the same mentality
        as you.
        You mean people who outwork you and outsmart you and thus succeed?

        I'd be interested to know how you've been jived. If you mean someones taken part of your market share then you've done the same to others i'm sure.

        And I could care less because my business took off
        while they were busy worrying about "Competition".
        You don't worry about competition. You view competition as a problem you solve. I didn't say you should sit down just thinking, "I hope that guy doesn't out do me!" You need to be proactive and take the necessary steps to further yourself from your competition like you apparently did/are doing.

        I focused on the needs of my niche and building relationships.

        That wins everytime.
        Yes it does. I never said it didn't. You just appear to love to go on unrelated rants that have nothing to do with what I said.

        And FYI your hero Mark Cuban couldn't build a successful
        business to save his life and got a lucky break when
        Yahoo bought out broadcast.com (horrible mistake)
        for 4 billion.

        Even with all of yahoo's money they couldn't make a dumb
        idea like broadcast.com a success.

        So if you want to take business lessons from a guy who
        couldn't build a successful business to save his life. Go right ahead.

        Daniel
        Yes, he must have been a complete idiot to put together a four billion dollar deal. He must have been an even bigger idiot to obviously get the best end of the deal by far.

        Don't insult money. Are you telling me you couldn't learn a thing from what he's done? What about selling websites to Fortune 500 companies - that'd be a take away from what he's done indirectly.

        Did I say I loved Mark Cuban? No. When did I ever say he was my hero? Never. The first thing I said was to put aside your hate, and whatever else you have towards him and take the quote as it is.

        ...

        And here's the typical Warrior high poster group cutting down anybody who has a difference of opinion.

        Maybe my post came across as too harsh. I didn't mean to say that you have to be a "greedy *******" and go after every dollar you can possibly get, I simply meant, and said that you can't run a business without watching your back because not everyone is of such high moral standings as what you make out people to be.

        Ever had a site, for no reason, hacked and lost millions? I have. Just like terrorism there's no real rhyme or reason it just happens - thus you have to be prepared.

        You need to always move forward and be proactive.

        I honestly don't get what your trying to point out, Daniel. I said that traffic sources are dying, regulations are getting stricter, more people are entering the game thus you need to be more competitive and try to trump the people trying to take your market share. Is that wrong? Is getting ahead by providing more value, by working harder, by working smarter, a bad thing?

        Is becoming the leader of your niche and providing more value to your customers wrong?

        You're acting as if I'm the scum of the earth taking every person I can for all their worth when you have no idea what I do, what I sell, and how much I sell. You're taking a few lines I wrote and assuming what my further thoughts are.

        ...

        You need to look beyond the e-books. Beyond the Warrior forum and see where the real money is made, who makes it, and how they make it before going on egotistical rants.

        Networks float more then all your mentors combined make per top offer on a weekly basis. I'm glad you're doing well. I'm glad your happy with your "mentors" and I hope you reach your income goal.

        Just realize that things aren't as rosy as you obviously want them to be. When tweaking one thing makes the difference between making 15 million a year and 20 million a year, even though it's unethical, people will do it. People have always pushed the envelope thus why we go through cycles of self regulation and government regulation.

        We are now going through a period of government regulation and thus things are tightening up. This is what I said before. You are being ignorant for not accepting it and not understanding what is going on because yes it will affect your business tremendously (even if you are a "good guy").

        This is why I didn't come here for a long time. And this is why I shouldn't have come back. People like you, because you do six figures and your mentors have "seven figure businesses", try and force your opinion on others while swaying the opinion of newbies because of the authority in which you speak.

        There's a reason why networks have $40,000 rewards for those who do over two million monthly. There's a reason why networks throw parties that cost them tens of thousands of dollars. Ignorance is bliss and obviously because you don't understand the real issues facing the industry you act as if everything is okay.

        This will apply to your business. Who writes your TOS, privacy policies, etc? It better be a good lawyer if you want to make what you say you want to make. ABC agencies don't know internet marketing - they go where the money is. Protect yourself.

        I will not be making another reply.

        Time to take a permanent break from this forum.

        making money > replying to those that will just go on another big rant, talking authoritatively, trying to "win" when there's nothing to be won.

        Zach
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        • Profile picture of the author MichaelHiles
          Of course, knowing how to properly use a garrote and when to deploy such a weapon is essential.

          I find it ironic that so many who consider themselves "business people", openly display their contempt and fear at the simple disclosure of the concept of competition on a website called the WARRIOR Forum.

          Considering the membership base, I think Allen may need to rethink the brand.

          Maybe the "Pink Fluffy Clouds That Rain Money Forum", or the "Kumbaya We'll All Share Together Forum".

          Clueless.
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  • Profile picture of the author richjerk321
    The best SUCCESS QUOTE ever is by Earl Nightingale (The Strangest Secret):

    "You Become What You Think About Most Of The Time."
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  • Profile picture of the author ant_arias
    Wow...that's a mouthful there. To throw my 2 cents into this debate, I'd like to say that in this day and age you need to have a proper balance. You need the drive to want to be the best and a step ahead of the competition. But on the other hand you need be able to build relationships with them.

    The days of being a arrogant and cut throat business person are over. This is especially true online were our businesses are transparent to everyone that has an interest.
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    • Profile picture of the author MADULALI
      Great quote.

      That just about sizes up businesses. (competition)

      It's a dog eat dog world.


      Michael
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  • Profile picture of the author JFalcon
    I don't know if I'm scared or motivated. Have your primary focus on your goals not your competition. That is not to say that keeping an eye out isn't necessary.
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