Why is IM looked so down upon?

73 replies
So here I am in college, halfway through first semester, and I have made up my mind that I'm going to dropout. I'm already making a good amount online and know I will do even better full time and if I had a good mentor. My dad, mom, brother, cousin, nobody believes in it, just wondering why? They think college is the only way to success, which is completely wrong I think. My Dad is a very successful entrepreneur who makes a couple million in the insurance industry/building industry.

How I put it though, why put up such a huge investment in a house, when you could probably take that in IM and do more with it? Just my two cents, don't know why everyone is so against IM. Hopefully after I make my first 100k I can take them all out to dinner on me.
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  • Profile picture of the author redfoxseo
    Sounds to me like your are talking about your family and.or people that do not understand it. What if you fail at it? I do understand where they are coming from in a sense.
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    • Profile picture of the author SantiSantana
      Originally Posted by redfoxseo View Post

      Sounds to me like your are talking about your family and.or people that do not understand it. What if you fail at it? I do understand where they are coming from in a sense.

      Sadly I do. You see, generally speaking, entrepreneurship is seen as something positive in USA and when you fail it is seen as just one more step in getting it right.

      I live in a country in which the minute you go out of the " Go to college, get good grades and you will have good job for life" you are seen as an outsider. God forbid you also decide to go the entrepreneurship way. Business owners are seen as "the evil man" over here.

      People will generally try to convince you not to do it and even find someone who tried it and failed befoe you. When you go through with it anyway you will be seen as the one making a mint form day one and they will thinkyou probably do it by exploiting your staff/hiding income from IRS/your conspiracy theory here.

      People are afraid of what they don´t understand. They are also envious. Everyone will tell you what you should do. Notice most of them do not follow their own advice.

      That said, I´m 34. I now understand that if Ihad furthered my education towards what I want to do now it would have saved me a lot of time/effort.

      Having a degree is not only about a qualification. It´s about the experience and what you learn form it and VERY IMPORTANTLY, the people you meet there.

      I wouldn´t turn down the opportunity to get a degree if I went back in time. I just would make sure it helped me in what I want to do.

      Which means I would either do Marketing or Computer Science.

      Hope this helps.
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  • Profile picture of the author yankforlife41
    Can't see myself doing anything else though. Don't like college at all, what if I fail after college? Why not go with something I enjoy, and could see myself making a couple million dollars in?
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    • Profile picture of the author inter123
      You never know how a college degree could help in the future and while studying you learn all manner of skills. It may not be possible to learn these things while spending all day staring at a computer screen. If was me, I would finish the college and do IM part time.

      About 10 years ago when I was a student, I don't recall students doing much in the way of studying until a few weeks before the exams. Assuming this as norm, its possible to both. Things may have changed, students may well be busy studying hard all day and every day nowadays.
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      • Profile picture of the author tpw
        There are a couple of reasons:

        1. Most people don't understand it, so they want to believe it must be shady...

        2. Most people have eaten from the school, college, job for life, sheeple cookbook... They believe that the only hope for us to be a success is to get a high-paying job... Going on your own is a fool's game in their thinking...

        p.s. I would not advise dropping out of college...

        I can see a day where you might want to do a big internet product launch, and you may find getting the investor support a difficult go unless you have the treasured "college degree"...

        Additionally, the government may one day outlaw IM, and what will you have left if you are put out of business?
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  • Profile picture of the author redfoxseo
    In reality it's your choice... Whatever you choose, make it work..
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  • Profile picture of the author Slade556
    Ha, kindred spirits I guess. I go by 'the College Dropout' for a reason. I came across the same realization and have never looked back. It is frowned upon sometimes because it seems like a hobby or as something very unstable to make income. The irony is that with today's economy most 'regular' jobs no longer provide any security at all. Halfway through college I realized how deep into debt I was getting with student loans and I was making good money online so why continue piling it on. I paid it down and have saved since.

    While I feel college has its place for many people and IS necessary for some jobs, it wasn't prudent for me when I was already having some success with something I wanted for myself anyway.
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  • Profile picture of the author mattjay
    I would agree that perhaps dropping out may not be the solution. i do okay online and i still work a part time job. if you are making something decent online, then work on studying and evaluating and scaling things up. i'm not planning on quitting my real job untill i have made a very consistent amount, what i want to make, for at LEAST six months time. and i just had an outstanding october. but i want to be absolutley save and sure it's the right thing to do. this is coming from a college dropout too mind you college is not the end all be all of being succesful in life. there are other options besides online work. in fact, i hear alot of stories of college grauduates standing outside stores on the roads holding signs right now for extra money.

    i'm sure you're family is just concerned. once you start earning into the ks every month, they may reevaluate how they view your work. but i would say think LONG and HARD about the decision before jumping into it full time.
    my two cents
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  • Profile picture of the author yankforlife41
    Thanks for the input guys, have done 3k-4k a month consistently and right now am tweaking a new product.

    It's not like I'm gonna be put out on the road with no food or anything. I figure I go home, keep working on what I'm doing and create a team after I'm making enough of money and keep scaling and keep learning.
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    • Profile picture of the author Hviews
      Originally Posted by yankforlife41 View Post

      Thanks for the input guys, have done 3k-4k a month consistently and right now am tweaking a new product.

      It's not like I'm gonna be put out on the road with no food or anything. I figure I go home, keep working on what I'm doing and create a team after I'm making enough of money and keep scaling and keep learning.

      I am a recent college grad. I graduated from a decent university and well everyone should know that the job market in the U.S. is tough right now. A lot of my friends who have graduated with me are either working minimum wage jobs, or basic entry level jobs where they make less than you even though they have 40 hour work weeks. As a matter of fact, after applying for many jobs and not getting any responses I don't even want to try anymore. I am really focusing on making it full time as an Internet marketer. My degree? I got a B.S. in Business Administration and it is pretty useless to me. The only good thing about college was the experiences and people I met. Education wise, it is mostly studying textbooks on your own, which you can easily do without attending a school. College is NOT for everyone. You seem to have established yourself as an Internet marketer and you have tried college and have discovered that it is not for you. That is perfectly fine. Of course not everyone understands this. Society has been brainwashed to thinking higher education is the path to success. WRONG. It may have been in the past, but times have changed. There is no security in jobs, and college is filled with kids who have no idea what they want with their lives.

      College is only necessary if you have a specific career path that requires a degree. Such as becoming a lawyer, teacher, doctor, etc. Otherwise whats the point of having a degree if you aren't going to use it?

      Since you want to do Internet marketing, I honestly see no use for you having a degree other than being able to show off a pretty piece of paper. Do you really want to spend thousands of dollars more to obtain that piece of paper? Not to mention deal with bull**** classes that don't teach you any real life skills, deal with crappy egotistical professors, and idiot TAs. You are quite fortunate to be making a steady income from Internet Marketing because I am trying to do that myself and well since I am currently jobless, finances are tight. I am thinking of doing a crappy part time job so I can at least have some money coming in until my Internet marketing starts to take off.

      Want to know what happens to a lot of graduates like me? Spend a couple months looking for a job, and eventually break our spirits and end up working jobs that we could have done straight out of high school. So we spend 4 years and thousands of dollars to end up there. Only difference is we have an "edge" in moving up within a company. It's all a bunch of crap!

      So your family might not understand, but it is YOUR life, and in the end, you have to live with your decisions. DO what feels best for you, and not what anyone else THINKS is best for you. No one knows yourself better than you do.
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      • Profile picture of the author hometutor
        As a teacher I have always promoted education.

        Why not study business?

        However, there is the other side of the coin and perhaps what you want to hear. A very successful Amway Global person who goes to the same church as I do stated they never showed him how to make money with his Engineering degree. Just how to be an Engineer.

        That said he had some pretty impressive companies on his resume for which he was a major executive. Even one job he had for the government which paid $200.00 an hour to solve a problem they need to have solved he stated was a restriction because he was paid by the hour.

        I quit college for a year, went to work at a factory, then went back to college after having a reason to go.

        Your choice, do what is best for you not what is best for those who wish the status quo upon you.

        Rick
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  • Profile picture of the author Rob Howard
    I dropped out and never looked back.

    Some of the richest people in the world lack college degree's.

    Here, read this: The College Dropouts Hall of Fame: Famous college dropouts, successful college dropouts, and rich college dropouts

    Believe me, it's possible to achieve immense financial success without college.

    Rob
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  • Profile picture of the author bwgrit
    It sounds like your mind is made up, so I'll continue you to encourage you to Go For It!

    As for why people don't believe in it, I agree some just don't understand it. But let's not count out the fact that there are a lot of shady characters selling garbage which brings the industry down as a whole.

    Lastly, I'd say fear of your success. People are afraid of you taking a risk and succeeding. They wish they had the guts to take those risks, but they don't. So they don't want you to succeed, either.
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  • Profile picture of the author rolough
    Going along with what everyone else said, people fear what they don't understand. So most people don't question assumptions and do what everyone else is doing. So they are ignorant to the face that you can make a living without a college degree, such as doing Internet Marketing or something else. All I have to say is that there is not one sucessful person who does not have critics. Also, try to make your decision by removing emotion. You could also change your major to something different (I don't know what is is right now) that pertains more to IM
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  • Profile picture of the author Rob Howard
    Originally Posted by Ken_Caudill View Post

    Nothing takes the place of an education. It's not about making money. It's about being part of a culture, knowing who you are, where you come from.
    Which I argue that paying 100 grand for experiencing culture and finding out who you are is ridiculous.

    You can get that same thing by, you know, getting outside and making friends.

    You can then supplant your "missed" education by utilizing the library, museums, the internet, mentoring, etc. etc.

    Colleges and Universities don't hold exclusive rights to education. Everything you can learn in college can be learned elsewhere, on your own, and the only real need for college is if you are pursuing a future that requires official certifications of some kinds (like the medical field)

    Rob
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    • Profile picture of the author sal64
      Originally Posted by ccmusicman View Post

      Which I argue that paying 100 grand for experiencing culture and finding out who you are is ridiculous.

      You can get that same thing by, you know, getting outside and making friends.

      You can then supplant your "missed" education by utilizing the library, museums, the internet, mentoring, etc. etc.

      Colleges and Universities don't hold exclusive rights to education. Everything you can learn in college can be learned elsewhere, on your own, and the only real need for college is if you are pursuing a future that requires official certifications of some kinds (like the medical field)

      Rob
      Want education? Quit college and travel the world.
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    • Profile picture of the author Robert Puddy
      Originally Posted by Ken_Caudill View Post


      Ignorance is much more expensive than education.
      Quote of the week right there, and a brilliant sub headline for a coaching course...consider it stolen
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  • It is very possible to become successful without having a college degree. I have many friends that have accomplished that but I also have many friends that have gone to college and have succeeded. Unfortunately, I've seen failures come out of both sectors. It really does depend on what works for you and how much you're willing to work.

    One thing that I didn't see mentioned is the college experience. That was the best part of it for me. Those were truly some of the best years I have experienced. Basically ended up with life long friends through the whole thing. Wouldn't trade that experience for anything. There is something to say for the social aspect of life.

    You mentioned you are halfway through your first semester. Why not give it a year and see what happens? Don't rush back home quite yet. Maybe the best thing will be to experience both worlds at the same time.
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  • Profile picture of the author Sue McDonald
    For many years now there have been many successful people who have not completed college and some not even secondary education. It is all about mind set. If you believe you can achieve and you work towards your goals there is no reason why you should not succeed.
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  • Profile picture of the author rmolina88
    At least try to get the degree to post on your wall.
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  • Profile picture of the author eSubmarine
    Where do you go for dinner?? At a 100k that place must be pretty expensive!

    In all seriousness though, I don't think people see as much value in something that is not physical. Its difficult sometimes for people to see value and skill in online marketing....

    Maybe from your dads point of view as well. I assume went through college and higher education and came out as what he views as a success. As this was the route he took he may believe that this is the right one for you to take as well.

    Some people as well just don't understand the true power of the internet! A friend of mine a few days ago asked me "how does Facebook make money."

    Things that seem obvious to some people don't to others. Some people see the internet as a fad and trust stuff that is empirical, that they can touch and feel like real estate.

    Lastly, a huge number of people are against IM because they ended up buying maybe 1 or 2 products that were of low quality or over hyped and failing with them. Denting their perception of the whole industry. This type of failure is so widespread in internet marketing because of the hype some people give their products without having substance behind it.

    It dents peoples confidence in the industry and could be another reason why their is such negativity towards IMers.



    Originally Posted by yankforlife41 View Post

    So here I am in college, halfway through first semester, and I have made up my mind that I'm going to dropout. I'm already making a good amount online and know I will do even better full time and if I had a good mentor. My dad, mom, brother, cousin, nobody believes in it, just wondering why? They think college is the only way to success, which is completely wrong I think. My Dad is a very successful entrepreneur who makes a couple million in the insurance industry/building industry.

    How I put it though, why put up such a huge investment in a house, when you could probably take that in IM and do more with it? Just my two cents, don't know why everyone is so against IM. Hopefully after I make my first 100k I can take them all out to dinner on me.
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  • Profile picture of the author Matt MacPherson
    I dropped out over 3 years ago when I first started making a full time income online. I have no regrets. Once people see you're making consistent money online, they will respect you and even become interested in what you are doing.

    Being risk averse in todays world is the most risky thing you can do.

    Cheers,
    Matt
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  • People will always find an example to support their opinion.

    If you want to drop out, you will find many examples of people who dropped out and made it but the first thing those people pay for with those riches is the best education for their children. So even those who never went to college understand its value.

    An education does not guarantee you anything more than the opportunity to learn something but isn't that important?
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  • Profile picture of the author mojojuju
    Originally Posted by yankforlife41 View Post


    How I put it though, why put up such a huge investment in a house, when you could probably take that in IM and do more with it?
    Because it's nice to live in a house?
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    :)

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    • Profile picture of the author yankforlife41
      Originally Posted by mojojuju View Post

      Because it's nice to live in a house?

      My Dad builds houses, I was just comparing a High Risk High Reward outcome, where I feel IM is low risk high reward if you do it right.
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      • Profile picture of the author Matt MacPherson
        Originally Posted by yankforlife41 View Post

        My Dad builds houses, I was just comparing a High Risk High Reward outcome, where I feel IM is low risk high reward if you do it right.
        Most any business model is low risk, high reward if done right. Most people don't do it right though...
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      • Profile picture of the author southwestjoe
        Maybe because many people don't really consider it a "job" and can't make real money from it? Or perhaps people think it's scammy and underhanded? Or they just don't understand IM? The notion still seems to stand "go to college, get a degree then work for a big company...blah blah etc" but nowadays this almost doesn't work anymore. People are making money in all sorts of ways never imagined before. New entrepreneurs are born every minute and beating the old system.

        I'd keep working IM and clean up as much as you can, but don't ditch college just yet. With the way things are going, it would be wise to hold onto whatever you have and hone those skills. You may find out soon enough those skills you've developed will pay off in other ways. Keep up the good work and keep doing what you're doing. Best of luck to you!
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  • Profile picture of the author FranciscoDancon
    I went to college, and now I'm in medical school. I am genuinely fascinated by the science, so it is something I intend to finish, but I'm not sure I'm going to practice medicine. Hopefully by the time I finish med school I'll be making enough online for that to be a choice.

    Unless college is a means to a specific end, I don't think it is worthwhile.
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  • Profile picture of the author Dean Jackson
    I'd suggest you finish college... but you should seriously consider internet marketing as your main career.

    Entrepreneurship is the ultimate skill of the 21st century. Employers are tooling people for minimum wage because they don't know any better. And I know sometimes my comments attract a lot of fire, but that's just the way the system has programmed people.

    People can't see past slaving away for someone else to make a living. I've never followed trends and I NEVER understood why we spent so many years in school learning and regurgitating pointless facts.

    I would much rather live my life the way I want. I make the rules. With nobody to tell me when I can take 30 minutes for lunch or get on my ass if I'm a few minutes late for work every now and then (got me fired - best thing that ever happened to me).

    The point is this: "When people can't do something, they try to tell you YOU can't do it. Don't let anybody tell you what you can't do..."

    That's a quote I remembered from the "Pursuit of Happyness" with Will Smith in it. I highly recommend that movie. And yes the spelling mistake is intentional.

    Do what you love to do. When the online marketing industry becomes "legitimate" in the eyes of the rest of the world then they will be begging for someone to teach them how to do it.

    If you're like me, sitting in a classroom trying to learn theory behind every little thing just doesn't cut it. I dive in, make mistakes, learn, and grow until I make it. I've also studied thinking patterns in different people and classrooms really only cater to one type (logical, linear left brained, thinking, whereas I have to see the big picture and basically reverse engineer my way to the answer).

    Agree with me or not, do what makes you happy - you make the decision because it's your life.

    - Dean
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    • Profile picture of the author kakaboo
      Well you gotta think of which generations your parents lived in. I presume most of our parents are in the age ranges of 40-60years old, so when they were teenagers during that era education was the next big thing. Only a few rich families or students that did very well could be able to afford a solid college or university education.

      Which meant that only a handful of students could get into college or university, and obviously they were highly sought after by businesses, be it big or small, that were just starting out. Naturally your parents had friends or siblings who could get into college at that time and wham they easily earned a good stable 5 figure income by the time they graduated. And of course your parents would feel jealous that they didn't have a chance to study and deep down in their heart they didnt want this to happen to their children of course.

      But over the years, things have changed. EVERYone is able to go to college as long as you got the money and the time to spare. The filtering process is much more thinner as compared to the past, which is why a degree is basically close to useless right now. People fail to see this , or maybe they choose not to, because education has turned into a profitable business for most government bodies. Cut all the subsidies crap and stuff and just do a count on how much they can earn every year just by encouraging EVERY single citizen to go to school and get a degree.

      Most people are scared and do not want to face this as they don't know what else to do with their life if you ask them to stop studying totally and go out and follow their passion..seriously. But if you already have a steady income coming in from IM or somewhere else, then there's no need to worry as you can just do whatever you like. If you can't make any money anywhere else yet, then of course it's still better to stick to college and finish it first before deciding what else to do.
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  • Profile picture of the author shireen
    Hi:

    I have a Master Degree in Economics majoring Finance.

    But now I'm making full time living online

    Keep it up!!
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  • Profile picture of the author Rex.T
    Continue college not because you have a qualification and thus get a good job...BS.

    Do it for the experience and because it helps you grow as a person. However, I'm saying this based on the assumption that you plan to continue your IM business fulltime...ie interacting with the computer for 10-15 hours a day without real human touch. That's not really healthy. That would take a toll on your social and verbal communication skills.

    However, if whatever that you're doing involves real life interaction, then it's not too bad.
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  • Profile picture of the author Randy Daugherty
    I am also earning online for a couple of years now however I still believe that education should be the first priority of each individual. You really can't tell until when a certain online job will suit your skills, it's still best to have back up and of course a foundation of this is through finishing your college education...This is just my notion...If you believe it or not its okay, I'm just sharing this to you...
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    • Profile picture of the author JDArchitecture
      For the most part, the segment of IM that is looked down upon is the segment that is IM for IM -- all the get rich quick crap -- and much of the reputation is well deserved.

      That's what people see. But the truth is, the IM for IM's sake market is tiny compared to the likes of Amazon, distance learning, etc.

      Regardless, the issue is not really how you're making money, it's the fact that the people who love you do not want to see you drop out.

      I agree with them.

      Stay in school. Go part time if you want. Change majors or change schools and find a program that will support your desires.

      There are many good entrepreneurship programs out there.
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  • Profile picture of the author Extreme Falcon
    IM is great and all, but I want to do more with my life than just make money off of internet trickery. That's why I'm persevering through college even though it frustrates me and often feels like a waste of time. Personally, I want to have a skill and that coveted piece of paper that tells my potential employers and coworkers that I am competent in said skill. That's my take on it.
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  • Profile picture of the author paulie888
    Don't make any rash decisions just yet. You could do both, and I know of at least several big internet marketers who didn't drop out of college just to make it big in IM right away. Bide your time and go to your classes, but work diligently on your IM during your spare hours in the meantime. The beauty of IM is that you do NOT need to go full-time in order to start earning significant amounts of money.

    You'll have even more to brag about to your friends and family if you can reach your $100k target while still going to college full-time!
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  • Profile picture of the author Godaxe
    Being entrepreneur is a very very hard thing to do yet to have a lot of discipline understanding patients, and many more things that you may not be expecting. It sounds like your dad is a very successful entrepreneur and he has a very good insight on what it will take to get through some of the hard times ahead. He obviously knows a lot more about you than I do personally.

    So I would take his recommendations to heart and follow his advice into Internet marketing on the site. Either way, one of the things are in the kickoff and make you a lot of money. Might as well do them both just in case.
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    • Profile picture of the author sal64
      There's an old story about a warrior (Chinese I think) who would take his men into battle on an island and have them burn their boats...

      They had no option but too succeed.

      Going to college so you can have a fall back position is dangerous in my opinion.

      Stay there because you enjoy it, and want to learn.

      Otherwise, it's just like wasting your life in a dead end job.

      A precious life that you won't get back.
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      • Profile picture of the author JDArchitecture
        Originally Posted by sal64 View Post

        There's an old story about a warrior (Chinese I think) who would take his men into battle on an island and have them burn their boats...

        They had no option but too succeed.

        Going to college so you can have a fall back position is dangerous in my opinion.

        Stay there because you enjoy it, and want to learn.

        Otherwise, it's just like wasting your life in a dead end job.

        A precious life that you won't get back.
        Worst advice I've ever heard.
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        • Profile picture of the author Matt MacPherson
          Originally Posted by JDArchitecture View Post

          Worst advice I've ever heard.
          Far from it. He makes a great point. If failure isn't an option, you're 1000x more motivated to win.

          Matt
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  • Profile picture of the author King Shiloh
    Banned
    Simple! IGNORANCE. You can always ignore what you are ignorant of.
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  • Profile picture of the author alextuder
    Originally Posted by LD Carter View Post

    Don't make any drastic decisions just yet. I agree with you 200% about college not being the only way to success. But don't drop out just yet. If you're gonna do that, at least wait until IM starts putting some good money in your bank account.
    A wise advice. Plan for future and do not get carried away by the initial success.
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  • Profile picture of the author gotti3636
    My 2 cents worth:

    I think you should do IM part time while you finish off your studies at college. I started IM about 2 years ago, a bit before I started at college (I'm 19). Even though I probably earn more than 95% of the people on this forum with IM, I am still studying now and plan to finish off my degree regardless. It is very possible to earn a significant income while studying at college so my advice would be to do it part time for a few years or until you finish your studies. It is always good to know that you have a reliable backup plan in case IM does not work out for you
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    • Profile picture of the author JohnMcCabe
      Unless you want to go into one of the professions that require a college degree (medicine, law, engineering, etc.), there are only two good reasons to stay in college - education and experience.

      Notice, I said 'education', not 'job training'...

      A good liberal education gives you a solid base for life-long learning. Having some exposure to history, literature, the arts, psychology, economics and so on will help you in the future. Not only do you become more cultured, you learn different ways of thinking about things.

      You may have to deal with 'egotistical professors and idiot TAs', but that's good experience for life in general. As is learning to network with people from a variety of backgrounds.

      Before you actually drop out, ask yourself if it's college you dislike or just the program you are following. If it's the latter, many schools will allow you to design your own course of study.

      Last bit of free advice...

      If you do decide to drop out, don't 'burn the boats'...

      I dropped out twice before finally getting that sheepskin. I have a BS in engineering, and even though I haven't been a practicing engineer for several years now, what I learned has been helpful to me.

      So, if you drop out, leave the door open to returning on your own terms and timetable. You never know what life will throw at you.
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      • Profile picture of the author mld_publishing
        I too am a college dropout. I came to the realization that it was one of the worst investments I could make at the time. I was making more money than I would make at an entry level position in pretty much any industry. Plus, I am just NOT a good employee. I don't like to be told when to work, how much to work, in what fashion to work, etc. It always made me feel like a child.

        This is a decision that can only be made by you...not your family, not your friends, not anyone on this forum.

        Whatever you believe you can do, you can do. Just keep believing and focusing on what you want and FAR MORE IMPORTANTLY ... how you're going to get there.
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        • Profile picture of the author Dean Jackson
          Ahhhh someone who understands my views too

          As I mentioned earlier, that's pretty much why I got fired a few years back. I HATED being told what to do, how to do it, and when I could take myself to lunch for a measly 30 minutes, before the metaphorical "bell" rang.

          And yes, I think everyone has to cop atleast some flak when your oldies don't take you seriously. Just use it as motivation and push yourself to succeed. Don't waste time surfing and start looking for reliable Warriors that you can trust.

          Hint: They have been here for years, get great feedback, and have products backed up with experience from the "school of hard knocks".

          By the way, if you didn't already pick up the undertone of the chinese warriors burning their boats... Just give up lol.

          When you are put in a position where you HAVE TO succeed then trust me - all the procrastination, info overload, and "this doesn't work" laziness crap goes out the window and you'll finally start seeing results.

          Originally Posted by mld_publishing View Post

          I too am a college dropout. I came to the realization that it was one of the worst investments I could make at the time. I was making more money than I would make at an entry level position in pretty much any industry. Plus, I am just NOT a good employee. I don't like to be told when to work, how much to work, in what fashion to work, etc. It always made me feel like a child.

          This is a decision that can only be made by you...not your family, not your friends, not anyone on this forum.

          Whatever you believe you can do, you can do. Just keep believing and focusing on what you want and FAR MORE IMPORTANTLY ... how you're going to get there.
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  • Profile picture of the author mark587905
    The goal posts have moved since the internet was invented. Do what makes you happy but know that working online is a lifestyle choice and there are never enough hours in the week. It tales a certain mindset to work, work, work. Th rewards totally out weigh the 9-5 working for someone job though.
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  • Profile picture of the author Chris Munch
    Well IM does not mean much by itself, it is an obscure concept covering a lot of different things. Its like saying I am going to get rich by 'building stuff'.

    Also there are so many online scams people generally associate it with that, especially if you talk big but have little to show for it so far. There's so many scams it encourages people to be skeptical.

    Also take into account the tech bubble crash of 2000. Again this has swung people to be wary of internet businesses which actually had little to offer.

    In general I would not worry about what other people think. When you are making decent money they then become a bit more interested and their attitudes towards what you are doing will change. Like with life, don't expect respect as a given, you have to earn it.
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  • Profile picture of the author lisaann
    I never understand why 19 -21 year olds are so focused on making money that they want to drop out of college. I had a great time in college and wouldn't trade that for anything.

    It's also nice just having a college degree, there's a sense of accomplishment in that. If you start and drop-out you might eventually have that hanging over your head (I guarantee people will try to hang it over your head if they're already giving you a hard time). And that's going to be true even if you do go on to be successful as a business owner.

    I like being a successful business owner with a college education. It's opened many more doors for me. There's no reason you can't have both if it's something you want, which is what I guess you need to figure out on your own.

    You have the rest of your life to worry about making money so I would try not to factor that in to your decision. Now if your going to a crazy expensive school and taking out huge student loans to pay for it, that's a different story ...

    Lisa
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  • Profile picture of the author john17
    Many of the richest, most successful people in the world graduated college also. They are all not college drop outs as many in this thread make it seem.

    Finish school. If you can't even finish school, you probably can't finish anything. It's not that hard and many who drop out of school - drop out of everything and never do anything.

    The percentage of people who drop out of school and make billions is next to nothing.

    Unless you see yourself as the next Richard Branson type - listen to your parents.

    Kill two birds with one stone and do your college projects in relation to actual projects that can make you money.
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    • Profile picture of the author Rob Howard
      Originally Posted by john17 View Post

      Finish school. If you can't even finish school, you probably can't finish anything. It's not that hard and many who drop out of school - drop out of everything and never do anything.
      This is complete BS.

      I dropped out of school and I have finished quite a bit. 18,000 dollars in 30 minutes is one of my "finished" accomplishments, thank you.

      While I agree that a lot of people never do anything, I doubt there is a correlation between college and never doing anything.

      There is just as many failure graduates as there is successes - it isn't school that determines your success in life...it's YOU.

      I strongly believe that the OP should do what he desires, that will make him happy, and he shouldn't listen to anyone who will tell him otherwise.

      If he wants to stay in school and finish, good for him. Do it and make the best of it. If he wants to drop out and pursue IM full time, do it and make the best of it.

      Rob
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      • Profile picture of the author john17
        Originally Posted by ccmusicman View Post

        This is complete BS.

        I dropped out of school and I have finished quite a bit. 18,000 dollars in 30 minutes is one of my "finished" accomplishments, thank you.

        While I agree that a lot of people never do anything, I doubt there is a correlation between college and never doing anything.

        There is just as many failure graduates as their is successes - it isn't school that determines your success in life...it's YOU.

        I strongly believe that the OP should do what he desires, that will make him happy, and he shouldn't listen to anyone who will tell him otherwise.

        If he wants to stay in school and finish, good for him. Do it and make the best of it. If he wants to drop out and pursue IM full time, do it and make the best of it.

        Rob
        I wasn't downing on you nor anyone for not finishing school. Kudos to you Rob. I was only stating the fact that people who graduate college typically finish things more than those who don't. They also typically make more money in their lifetime. Look it up.

        I don't think anyone in this room has the right to tell this guy that he should drop out of college.

        Poor advice IMHO.
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  • Profile picture of the author mrdomains
    Originally Posted by yankforlife41 View Post

    So here I am in college, halfway through first semester, and I have made up my mind that I'm going to dropout. I'm already making a good amount online and know I will do even better full time and if I had a good mentor. My dad, mom, brother, cousin, nobody believes in it, just wondering why? They think college is the only way to success, which is completely wrong I think. My Dad is a very successful entrepreneur who makes a couple million in the insurance industry/building industry.

    How I put it though, why put up such a huge investment in a house, when you could probably take that in IM and do more with it? Just my two cents, don't know why everyone is so against IM. Hopefully after I make my first 100k I can take them all out to dinner on me.
    Most people are afraid of what they don´t understand. When family is against it they are probably trying to protect you.. from that which they don´t understand History also plays a part. Compared to traditional occupations, IM has no trackrecord at all.. it hasn´t been around long enough to establish itself as a serious, respectable, credible, safe and logical way to earn a living.. yeah well. :rolleyes: But there is some food for thought when comparing IM to other business opportunities. Will IM be able to foot your bills for the next 10 years? 20 years? Possibly, but it is a extremely competitive market. You can be an accountant, lawyer, dentist, even lab assistant and not have to sweat it too bad while probably earning a safer living for the rest of your life.

    Not as exciting though
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  • Profile picture of the author pheonix44
    The percentage of people who drop out of school and make billions is next to nothing
    High school maybe, but most billionaired did not finish college and our lives are better because of them. Henry Ford and Bill gates would be examples, even though Bill got an honorary degree from his college.
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    • Profile picture of the author raylm123
      Originally Posted by pheonix44 View Post

      High school maybe, but most billionaired did not finish college and our lives are better because of them.
      Care to substantiate this with any data???

      According to Forbes magazine, in 2010 there were approximately 1,011 billionaires in the world. Only 36 were college dropouts.

      Hmmmm....
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      • Profile picture of the author James Clark
        To the OP,

        I would stay in school and make as much money as you can in IM, Its that simple. Period! But if you want to learn as much as possible don't click on the link below:

        Don't Click Here
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      • Profile picture of the author LovelyCornSyrup
        Originally Posted by raylm123 View Post

        Care to substantiate this with any data???

        According to Forbes magazine, in 2010 there were approximately 1,011 billionaires in the world. Only 36 were college dropouts.

        Hmmmm....
        That whole discussion is moot point. Because you're never going become a billionaire thanks to the variant of Internet Marketing discussed in these forums. People who make millions or billions using the Internet personally create something that's social, wanted by the general population, and it converts. Simply put, they're outliers. You don't calculate the average by including the lowest of the lows and highest of the highs.

        Unless the author of this thread is running a website that's seeing a crazy upsurge in traffic, and is unable to do both school and web site management he should stay in school, period.
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        • Profile picture of the author raylm123
          Originally Posted by LovelyCornSyrup View Post

          That whole discussion is moot point. Because you're never going become a billionaire thanks to the variant of Internet Marketing discussed in these forums. People who make millions or billions using the Internet personally create something that's social, wanted by the general population, and it converts. Simply put, they're outliers. You don't calculate the average by including the lowest of the lows and highest of the highs.

          Unless the author of this thread is running a website that's seeing a crazy upsurge in traffic, and is unable to do both school and web site management he should stay in school, period.
          Some point out the fact that some people become billionaires even though they drop out of college. I'm simply pointing out that even in the world of billionaires, the percentage is small.
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  • Profile picture of the author mahesh2k
    People look down on IM for plenty of reasons - scarcity sales pages, fake payment proofs, subscribing users even after their unsubscription etc etc. are some things that makes non-IM people look down on IM.

    They think college is the only way to success, which is completely wrong I think.
    College education does help if you are having low sales in IM side and want part time job that pays rent, bills etc etc.
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  • Profile picture of the author raylm123
    Getting a college degree is like doing anything else in life. You get out what you put into it.

    If you’re just after a piece of paper you’ll probably find it frustrating and a waste of time. If you approach college with the attitude that you can’t possibly learn anything because college isn’t the “real world” and “professors don’t know anything about what they teach”, then save yourself the cost of tuition. This type of attitude is no different than the people who come to this forum and say things like “all IM is a scam” and “why is this guy selling me a IM guide if he’s making all this money using this method?”

    If you truly want to learn about various academic subjects and are willing to throw yourself into the entire process, you’ll get a lot more out of it. Taking a 10 week course, or series of courses, is not the same as spending the day at a museum. Universities offer you the opportunity to learn and study from people who have devoted their careers to trying to understand very specific phenomenon. You learn how to analyze history, art, science, and social phenomenon using multiple models/perspectives. Most “egotistical professors” are more than willing to discuss their work with you. After all, it’s something they are truly passionate about! It’s no different than you wanting to discuss IM with others!

    That being said, it’s not enough to just go to class, read the book, study for and take exams. If you truly want to get the most out of your college education you need to meet with all of your professors, attend lectures and guest speakers in the evenings and on the weekends, and make the most out of every opportunity that presents itself while you are there.

    Will you learn things at college that will apply directly to IM? Maybe. Maybe not. To me that’s not the point.

    Ultimately, only you can decide if college is for you. And your decision doesn’t have to be a permanent one. I know many people who dropped out of college only to return at a later point in their lives. There's no shame in deciding to pursue a liberal arts education at this time of your life, and there's no shame in deciding that you've currently got a great opportunity to make some money.
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  • Profile picture of the author vok
    I'm thinking of going to college to get a degree even though I'm successful now, that's mainly because I want to get more into financials in around 5 years or so, maybe start my own hedge fund. But in order to do that I'll need a degree because nobody in in the financial world will take you seriously unless you have a high degree of education they don't care how much money you make or made it's all based on education in that industry.

    My dream job would be to become an investor, IM is a capital grower for me.
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  • Profile picture of the author jointaldc
    Maybe because internet isn't so traditional as going to college and getting your degree, because in a way, that's proven. My family was skeptical as well when I first started out, you get those comments, but when you buy your parents a new car, they stop making comments. Good luck to you, and don't just drop out of college so quick, there's a wealth of knowledge there...
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  • Profile picture of the author Chris30K
    Let them see the consistent checks. My parents were highly skeptical at first, and believd that I was just wasting my time and setting myself up to be heart broken.

    But I eventually pulled through, and they found that it was a sustainable business model; and after my Father got laid off, it was definitely more stable than even a JOB. Which is what college is for right?

    I don't recommend dropping out, however, simply just in case your business model completely disappears or fails (not likely, but always possible), you still have your education to fall back on.
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  • Profile picture of the author Adam James
    Good luck whatever you decide to choose though it seems you have the passion to do IM, and if your already making money then if you put more time into it then you can go full time with it.

    If you had not made any money from IM I would say stay in school.
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  • Profile picture of the author Owen Smith
    I think their is a common misconception that IM not a business and just a get rich scheme, people associate it with the adverts they see around websites saying 'Mom makes $400 an hour'

    They are pushed into the field of non belief and believe it is safer to stay in college.

    I would personally recommend you stick to college if you have already started and doign well as a fall back.

    This is what I am doing, although IM is going very well for me.

    Regards
    Owen
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