10,000 Posts - A Milestone Or Mindless Drivel?

10,000 posts...I never thought I'd see this day.

A lot has gone down for me since post number 1. My history here
alone has been quite a wild ride.

On my first day I answered 80 members questions.

I was almost run out of town. LOL.

Along the way, I made more mistakes here than most people
can make and still retain membership.

In other words, I was quite a big mouth. I had some very
strong opinions and wasn't afraid to make them public.

I was almost nailed to a cross when I was considering selling
a book on gambling. I now know what the number 3 evil of the
world is behind drugs and Brady Bunch reruns.

I can't even count the number of arguments I've had with other
members on a variety of subjects. Seems that I have some
pretty radical views on several subjects related to marketing.

I've made some friends here. I've probably made a lot more
enemies. I can be very opinionated and can become
extremely defensive when attacked. I don't play well with
others, as I am sure you've seen.

I guess what I am trying to say is that I have my faults...plenty
of them. I'm not even going to try to deny them. Several of
my supporters have felt that others have taken pot shots at
me. Well, in many cases, it was deserved.

In either case, I'm a big boy. I can take it. If I can't, then I
have no business being in such a public forum with such a
large member base filled with so many knowledgeable
people who I really look up to...some of whom have been
my biggest critics.

My list of Warriors who I would listen to over myself in a
heartbeat?

Paul Myers
Allen Says
John Taylor
Andy Henry
Bev Clement
Big Mike
Chris Rempel
Vegas Vince
Dee Power
Tiffany Dow
Andrew Cavanagh
John Ritz
George Sepich
Judy Kettenhoffen
Dr. Mani
Willie Crawford

All the above for different reasons as they all bring something
different to the table. But these are people with really brilliant
minds. And there are so many others.

Me?

I'm just a hard worker. I never was the brightest kid in school.
I finished college with a C+ average. I could never keep a job
and even with IM, it took me 5 months to make $28.

No, I'm not very smart. I'm just a hard worker.

Fortunately, for me, it has been enough...up to now anyway.

I don't post as often as I used to because, quite honestly, I've
grown weary of the knock down drag-outs. Besides, I need to
spend more time on my business.

My business?

It has more than tripled since coming here. I have no doubt
that the Warrior Forum played a huge role in that, even though
lately things have been relatively slow. But I'm not worried.
I've learned a lot in 5 plus years and I know that whatever
happens, I'll be fine.

I know some of you have been waiting for this 10,000th post
hoping that I'd have something intelligent to say.

So that this post hopefully fulfills that, I am going to leave you
with 10 things that I feel will make all of us better marketers and
better people, and ultimately, make us more money. No, I haven't
forgotten. This forum is for discussing about making money. So
after I present my 10 things, I will ask for discussion on them,
thus keeping this a legit post. For those who detest my long
intros to this stuff, my apologies to you.

Here is my top 10.

1. Be yourself. If you try to be something other than who you
really are, you're not going to succeed. It's like a person trying
to remember all his lies. Eventually they all unravel. Be yourself
and your business will prosper.

2. Treat your customers with respect. They are essentially putting
food on your table. Without them, you have nothing. Don't ever
forget that.

3. It's only business. Don't kill yourself over it. Tomorrow is
another day. Don't stress over each one. Some days you'll
make sales and some days you won't. If you micro manage
your emotions, you'll go crazy. Take the ups and downs in
stride.

4. Be good to your family. Remember, they're the ones you're
doing this for. I do this for my wife and kid. So I don't want to
start taking things out on them when times get tough. Leave
your work in the office.

5. Everything you say and do is going to be out there for all
time, especially if it's in print on the Internet. So make sure
that what you put out there is something you want everybody
to see. You can be controversial, as long as it's who you are.
Just understand what the consequences might be and be
prepared to live with them.

6. Don't ever stop learning. If this business really means
anything at all to you, you'll always strive to improve yourself.
Those who don't get left behind.

7. Pick your battles. Not everything is worth fighting about.
Some things are just better left ignored.

8. Don't think you're better than everybody else. You're not.
There is always somebody out there who is going to be
better than you. Confidence is one thing, but shoving it in
the faces of others may not be taken too kindly by those
around you. Nobody likes the smartest kid in the class
especially when he spends all day telling everybody how
stupid they are.

9. Keep an open mind. Somebody may just have an idea
that will help you. I truly believe that anybody can learn
from anybody else.

10. Finally, what goes around comes around. I am a firm
believer in karma. I'll leave it at that as I don't believe this
point needs any further explanation.

That's it.

So now, I'll open up the discussion. Couple of easy questions.

1. Do you think this post was a milestone or just mindless drivel?
Yes, I made a poll.

2. Do you agree, not agree, with my 10 points in helping to build
your success? Anything you want to add?

For those of you who took the time to read this, thank you. You
may not know it, but you're all important to me. I won't even try
to explain why because it gets into stuff that is just way too deep
for a marketing forum. Suffice it to say, it isn't all about making
money for me. I'll leave it at that.

I hope to be around for the next 10,000 posts. I have a feeling
that it's going to take me more than just a couple of years to
get there. I'm realizing that I need to spend more time with
my business and less time doing other things. And as much as
I love this place, my family and my business have to come first.

But make no mistake about it...I DO love this place. And I feel
so close to so many of you. If this forum disappeared tomorrow
I don't know what I'd do. This is like a home to me. So...

I'll still be around...Just not as visible as prior to this post.

I hope it didn't disappoint those who were waiting for it.

Sincerely,

Steven Wagenheim

PS - As a special gift, because let's face it, 10,000 posts is
still a milestone, even if it IS just mindless drivel, I am
giving any one of my products to the first 10 Warriors who ask
for it. You have to know what the product is that you want. So
do your research and then come back and make your request. I
will then PM you with details on how to get it.

** EDIT ** Offer All Gone...Thanks to all who asked