"It's ok for you......" Reality Check.

6 replies
Ok - it's a little bit of a rant but it's happened so many times that I want to say something.

What I'm talking about is when people say "what makes you successful?" or "how should I start out in my new business?" and I reply with something that includes a comment like...

"Make sure you start as you mean to go on and with your end goal in mind. So create your business in a way you'll enjoy when it takes a lot of your time and work with the sort of people who can inspire and motivate you aswell as make you money".

Then I get all sorts of excuses why people think they can't create a business that they enjoy, or they think they have to work with people they don't like/respect if they're to make any decent money.

I've spoken to a lot of IMers that sell products of people they think are unethical, or they sell stuff they don't believe will help people - because they think that's what you have to do to make money.

Now, I'm not knocking people for doing whatever they think they need to in order to achieve their version of success - but when they say "it's ok for you - you can choose who you want to work with, but I don't have that luxury" - that's what gets to me.

The reality is - in MY situation my ethics and personal preferences have ALWAYS been the driver for my business - even when I had massive debts and personal problems.

These things haven't changed just since I started making good money online.

There seems to be a misconception in some people that you don't get to do business in the way you want until after you've been successful.

I believe that is backwards and that you will ultimately become successful because you are already doing business in the right way.

Many people come to this forum and won't say what they think because they're thinking they might upset someone who they want to sell their stuff later.

I know there are people who are making great money by lieing and cheating people out of their money and that might make it seem like that's what you have to do to milk the IM opportunity, and I certainly have left a lot of money on the table by not getting involved in some things that have made others good money.

I've also seen this in offline business where really nice people act like idiots at work because they've been trained that that's the way to get results.

So in some cases it might be that behaving badly is the only way to successfully exist in that system/company - but this is not the case online.

You CAN create a successful business doing what you love and only working with people you like and respect.

It's really not necessary to compromise on your ethics and standards in order to be successful and I would suggest that if you think this - you're probably using a warped version of what success means.

So - if you've started to get the impression that making money online is just a numbers game and you should just get busy selling whatever will make you money because you can change your model later to one that you enjoy - please think twice.

Most of my coaching clients have an element of this when they come to me and by realigning their goals to match their real aspirations and they immediately get more fired up and motivated because they suddenly see their business as something they can believe in and get behind with money being a natural outcome of them taking action they love.

It pains me to see people struggling when they've been misled into thinking that their business shouldn't be personal and are struggling to things that they don't really believe in just because they think it'll get them started.

You don't have to wait untilafter you're successful to run your business in the way that fills you will passion and expectation.

/rant

Andy
#check #it ok for you #reality
  • Profile picture of the author Shaun OReilly
    Great points.

    Unfortunately, a lot of people don't realize just how 'at
    choice' they really are.

    I have always run a principle-based business that allows
    the alignment of my goals, values and vision.

    That way, I get to enjoy the process as well as the end
    goal.

    This is key.

    People who bend their ethics to seemingly get faster results
    in the short-term will pay the price - eventually.

    Karma rules baby.

    Some people need to learn that they really are free to choose
    how they run their business and who they choose to associate
    with.

    It's your business and you get to run it anyway you want.

    It's up to everyone to use their power of choice wisely.

    Dedicated to your success,

    Shaun
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  • Profile picture of the author indexphp
    When people ask me how to become successful in business... I tell them 2 things.

    1) Learn how to market. Most businesses are 100% marketing driven. Learn ALL the different ways to advertise. Because I understand marketing (and continue to learn more and more), I can absolutely destroy mom & pop shops
    ...or
    2) Provide a service that you love to do and let all your customers refer you new biz. Easy. This method probably wont make you a million dollars, but if you have pride in what you do and youre good at it... you'll surely develop into a successful biz that you enjoy, which is a success in my book.
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  • Profile picture of the author pearlydean
    I agree with the ethical approach completely Andy.

    My main experience is in offline direct sales. I have worked for ethical companies in my career until last year. I started working for a National UK company in my offline "niche" and found them to be completely unethical in their approach and treatment of customers so I left. I also explained to them that what they were doing was morally wrong an didn't add to the value in the marketplace...but they didn't care!

    I now work full time online and maintain my good values so I can sleep at night!

    Great post Andy.
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  • Profile picture of the author Michael Oksa
    People are also choosing to fail, but they don't realize/admit it.

    Everything we do is a choice, and nobody should be making those choices for us.

    Oh, and excellent post, Andy.

    All the best,
    Michael
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    "Ich bin en fuego!"
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    • Profile picture of the author Steven Wagenheim
      Andy, personally, I agree with you. I get tons of requests from people to
      promote their stuff. I tell them up front that I have to see the product so
      I can review it and if I don't like it, for whatever reason, I won't promote it.

      End of story.

      Having said that, let's be honest about this. There are tons of people out
      there making a boat load of money because they're selling stuff that they
      know people will gobble up...even if it's pure crap.

      It is what it is.

      My point is this. Sadly, it is just as easy to make a killing in this business
      selling crap as it is selling quality. If it wasn't, people wouldn't be doing it.

      Ultimately, it comes down to your own moral compass as to what you
      will and won't do.

      Nobody is going to change the world we live in. Many, I am sure, have
      tried or thought they could. I have long since gotten rid of any notion
      that I can turn Mr. Hyde into Dr Jekyll.

      People will do what they want.

      Cynical view of life?

      Maybe. But it's probably pretty close to the truth.
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  • Profile picture of the author Ernie Lo
    Great post Andy, youve made many think about things from the opposite side.

    Im sort of half way about this, I truly understand the point of view of those who just want to make a success at first doing no matter what.

    Some people may use "its ok for you" as an excuse to make their failures seem not so much their fault, but some people truly feel like they have no choice and will do things differently once they make the money they feel they need in order to do things the right way.

    I mean how many friends do we have that use a illegal copy of photoshop or dreamweaver and keep saying, "ill buy the software once I make some money"...or "its ok for you, you can afford it"

    It may not be exactly what you're talking about but I bet some people would find downloading software without payin for it very unethical......where I understand fully their point of view...whether its right or wrong.

    Im not saying I dont pay for software but I just understand how some would find hundreds of dollars for Adobe Software too expensive for a newbie

    People have different views for ethics. What 1 person thinks is unethical, another might thinks its not so bad.

    OK im rambling....good post anyway
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