The "College Degree" Approach to WSOs

by ShayB
18 replies
Over the years, I have seen a lot of people - some new, some not so new - asking many variations of the following question:

"Which WSO have you bought/can I get that will make me money?"

While it might seem like a legitimate question, it really isn't the right approach to take - especially for someone who is fairly new.

Take a look at what happens when you get a college degree:

1. You start off as a freshman. You then go and sign up for freshman orientation. Freshman orientation doesn't do anything to help you with your degree - all it does is help get you familiar with the campus. But it is required for freshmen.

2. You then start your basic courses. These courses also do not necessarily have to do anything with your major, but they are also required for your degree. In fact, if you do not have most of these prerequisite courses, you cannot take courses in your major.

So let's say that you're getting a degree in chemistry. In order to take your basic chemistry courses in a US college/university, you generally have to have English 101, a high enough score on a proficiency test that is given by the college or university, or you have to have a high enough score on the verbal section of your SAT.

Does the English have anything to do with chemistry? Not really, but if you don't have a basic grasp of English then you will not be able to comprehend your chemistry text or your chemistry professor.

3. After a semester or so of prerequisites, then you can start taking some of your classes with your major. With these classes, you have to go in a certain progression. There are certain things the need to know in order to progress to the more difficult classes.

4. After two or four years, you have your degree. You not only understand your major and have a good grasp of it, but you also have a general understanding of a handful of other subjects that will help you with your degree. For example, you have a degree in chemistry, but you also have skills with English, some history, perhaps a public speaking course or two, etc. all of the secondary courses will help you with the degree that you pursue.

5. Even after you have your degree, most people will go back and get a refresher course or they will have some kind of recertification down the road. This is to help learn new techniques, new material, new findings, etc.

So how does this apply to WSO's?

Stop looking for a magic bullet.

There is not a single WSO out there that will tell you every single thing that you need to know to have a business that is online or off-line.

There is not a single WSO out there - or any product, really - that is going to teach you everything you need to know about setting up a website, setting up a mailing list, what to send your mailing list, how to select a niche, how to drive traffic, how to get better conversion rates, how to select affiliate products, how to create your own products, how to utilize your material in different ways and repurpose it, how to use social media to help promote your business, how to run your business, etc., etc., etc.

There simply isn't anything that exists like that - not even a business in a box.

Because even if you had a business in a box that covered all of those topics, it would still be the perspective of one person and it would just be from one source.

To put it in the analogy of getting your college degree, it would be like handing you one big huge book that had the Readers Digest version of all of your prerequisites and your major topics crammed into one.

Stop looking for a magic coach.

When you go to college, you generally have dozens of professors over the course of 2 to 4 years. Some professors you may have for more than one class. But each professor will give you a different perspective of the subject material. Each professor will give you a different style of teaching. Each professor will have his or her own perspective, bias, and opinions.

Even though they will teach the same basic material, they each give a very unique perspective. In doing so, you learn much more than just the material. You learn from a professor him/herself.

There is no way that you would have one professor for your entire college career - nor would you want to have just one professor. Having more than one professor gives you a much broader knowledge of the material because each professor will draw on his or her own experiences in order to expand on the knowledge that is in the text.

The same goes for coaching.

While you would expect to have a level of success after going through any kind of coaching program that is decent, you can't look at it from the point of view of only wanting to have one coaching experience and that is all you are ever going to need or want. It's not practical, and it's not desirable.

Remember that practice, patience and experience mean something


Even if you could find a college that would let you buy all the books at once, have all of the professors in one room at once teaching you everything you once, it still wouldn't be the same as getting your degree.

You need to have some experience. Reading things in the book isn't the same as actually doing things yourself and learning from experience.

If you buy a WSO - even a dozen WSO's - and you don't have the basic knowledge or experience in order to put whatever business model you have in the WSO in place, it's going to be a lesson in frustration.

That doesn't mean that there's anything wrong with the WSO, necessarily. (Yes, I know there are WSOs that suck. They aren't part of this equation.)

As an example, you may find a WSO that has an excellent method for approaching offline business owners. Unfortunately, if you don't have any kind of sales experience, or if you don't know what services to offer business owners, or you simply don't have some basic knowledge that would be essential for keeping those prospects and clients long-term, it's not going to work. Let me clarify that: it's not going to work for you. It may work for 100 other people, but it won't work for you.

Building a business takes time. I don't care what anybody told you about how you can make money sitting in your underwear on your sofa while eating Capt. Crunch cereal - it's not going to happen that way.

However, if you take the time to build a business - a real, genuine online business and not just creating a job for yourself - then there will come a point where you make money when you sleep. It just won't happen overnight.

"But, Shay, I need to make money RIGHT NOW!"

Then, quite frankly, you are not ready to create and build a business. Stay away from the WSO section. You are in crisis mode. The last place you need to be in is the WSO section.

What you need is here:

http://www.warriorforum.com/main-int...desperate.html

You need to get yourself stabilized and make sure that your bills are paid. Once you have all of that under control then you can start on the process of building a business.

I would love to hear anybody else's thoughts about this.

This is, of course, JMHO and YMMV.
#approach #college degree #wsos
  • Profile picture of the author Alexa Smith
    Banned
    Originally Posted by ShayRockhold View Post

    I would love to hear anybody else's thoughts about this.
    You've virtually silenced me (not easily done); just can't add to so profound, accurate, and helpful a post, which should really be a "sticky" somewhere. Thank you for saying all that.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[5703013].message }}
  • {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[5703019].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author JohnMcCabe
      I don't know if there is something in the Warrior water supply or what, but there have been some incredible, valuable posts lately. [Cue southern drawl] Miss Shay, this here be one of them. Well done, ma'am, well done...
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[5703073].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author CDarklock
    So let's say you want to alter the face of IM forever.

    Originally Posted by ShayRockhold View Post

    1. You start off as a freshman.
    Free giveaway product teaching stuff like how to get hosting and register a domain and install WordPress. Stuff anyone building a business on the internet needs to know.

    2. You then start your basic courses. These courses also do not necessarily have to do anything with your major
    Low-cost products covering stuff you need in any niche and any business: how to position yourself on your website, how to build a list, how to use social media.

    3. After a semester or so of prerequisites, then you can start taking some of your classes with your major.
    Actual productive business advice, presuming you have all those basic requirements in place and don't need to be told what Twitter is or what's against the Facebook terms of service. Membership sites. Masterminds.

    4. After two or four years, you have your degree.
    High-end group and individual coaching offers.

    This would, of course, take a very long time to construct properly... but I'm sure someone is working on it.
    Signature
    "The Golden Town is the Golden Town no longer. They have sold their pillars for brass and their temples for money, they have made coins out of their golden doors. It is become a dark town full of trouble, there is no ease in its streets, beauty has left it and the old songs are gone." - Lord Dunsany, The Messengers
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[5703118].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Venturetothetop
    Was talking about this very topic on a webinar today. My uni degree was three years and even though i worked about 20 hours a weeks I could not go any faster as it takes time digest the information, process it, understand it, perhaps even try it before adding more onto it.

    My MBA was a year long Business Degree taken after years of first hand business experience... again I was adding to my learning with higher level skills.

    The exact same is said here. We are not capable of learning everything at once, that is precisely why education takes years. Even with my degree, I topped it up with more higher level education later...Yet people still believe that certain product online can teach them everything overnight...

    I have a six month coaching course and people ask me before buying if it can be condensed to a few weeks... the answer is no, not if you really want to learn, digest and try the methods yourself.

    Glad to see someone else promoting the concept of being realistic.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[5703218].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author CDarklock
      Originally Posted by Venturetothetop View Post

      Glad to see someone else promoting the concept of being realistic.
      There's a lot of that going around lately in most of the places I hang out. I think we have a new crop of graduates about to emerge.
      Signature
      "The Golden Town is the Golden Town no longer. They have sold their pillars for brass and their temples for money, they have made coins out of their golden doors. It is become a dark town full of trouble, there is no ease in its streets, beauty has left it and the old songs are gone." - Lord Dunsany, The Messengers
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[5703228].message }}
      • Profile picture of the author ShayB
        Originally Posted by Alexa Smith View Post

        You've virtually silenced me (not easily done); just can't add to so profound, accurate, and helpful a post, which should really be a "sticky" somewhere. Thank you for saying all that.
        *blushes* Thank you.

        Originally Posted by JohnMcCabe View Post

        I don't know if there is something in the Warrior water supply or what, but there have been some incredible, valuable posts lately. [Cue southern drawl] Miss Shay, this here be one of them. Well done, ma'am, well done...
        *blushes* Thank you.

        Originally Posted by CDarklock View Post

        This would, of course, take a very long time to construct properly... but I'm sure someone is working on it.
        LOL I'm sure he/she is. I hope numerous someones are.

        Originally Posted by Venturetothetop View Post

        Was talking about this very topic on a webinar today. My uni degree was three years and even though i worked about 20 hours a weeks I could not go any faster as it takes time digest the information, process it, understand it, perhaps even try it before adding more onto it.

        My MBA was a year long Business Degree taken after years of first hand business experience... again I was adding to my learning with higher level skills.

        The exact same is said here. We are not capable of learning everything at once, that is precisely why education takes years. Even with my degree, I topped it up with more higher level education later...Yet people still believe that certain product online can teach them everything overnight...

        I have a six month coaching course and people ask me before buying if it can be condensed to a few weeks... the answer is no, not if you really want to learn, digest and try the methods yourself.

        Glad to see someone else promoting the concept of being realistic.
        I see so many people making the same mistakes over and over.

        I'm hoping this kind of thinking (a long-term education vs. a magic button) can become the standard for IM people, not the exception.

        Maybe, over time, it can. *crosses fingers*
        Signature
        "Fate protects fools, little children, and ships called Enterprise." ~Commander Riker
        {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[5703333].message }}
      • Profile picture of the author Venturetothetop
        Originally Posted by CDarklock View Post

        There's a lot of that going around lately in most of the places I hang out. I think we have a new crop of graduates about to emerge.
        Now I have to be careful how I word this as not to offend...

        but I have noticed in my coaching course at least, an increase in slightly elder marketers and very educated marketers, who for various reasons have found their way to Internet Marketing. (I have so many unemployed Doctors, PHD grads and retired teachers etc - really surprised me when i asked what they did for a living)

        They are generally wiser/more realistic then the general crop and really value training and the time taken to perfect a task. They have been brought a really fresh and inspiring vibe to discussion and they really understand the step by step process of learning something new.

        Perhaps the current state of the economy will bring the kind of people to Internet Marketing that will help bring about the focus on realistic expectations.
        {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[5705201].message }}
        • Profile picture of the author ShayB
          Originally Posted by Venturetothetop View Post

          Now I have to be careful how I word this as not to offend...

          but I have noticed in my coaching course at least, an increase in slightly elder marketers and very educated marketers, who for various reasons have found their way to Internet Marketing. (I have so many unemployed Doctors, PHD grads and retired teachers etc - really surprised me when i asked what they did for a living)

          They are generally wiser/more realistic then the general crop and really value training and the time taken to perfect a task. They have been brought a really fresh and inspiring vibe to discussion and they really understand the step by step process of learning something new.

          Perhaps the current state of the economy will bring the kind of people to Internet Marketing that will help bring about the focus on realistic expectations.
          I wholeheartedly agree.

          I think that the "older, wiser" crowd (in which I include myself) understands (and to some degree expects) to invest time and money in order to make a career shift.

          I think that's a good thing.
          Signature
          "Fate protects fools, little children, and ships called Enterprise." ~Commander Riker
          {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[5707312].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author AuthorityRush
    Nice post Shay. The lesson I take away from this is is how you are mentally prepared before you go into IM that really counts.

    If you go in knowing it is going to take a year or two to learn and implement, make mistakes and correct, then you will have a much easier time sticking to it when things get tough.

    But if your mind set is, "I need money now, not tomorrow," well...you're probably not going to last very long.

    Would you start an offline business making money in a day from a PDF? Doubtful. So why do you think it'll work on the internet? Think restaurant, barber, whatever. It takes time to learn the skills to actually do the business. Then you need to advertise, build trust with customers, get people to tell their friends about you. Then you need to know or get help with simple things like bookkeeping, licenses, etc...

    Online and offline aren't so very different. Online is just usually a cheaper start up, sometimes. But the work is still there. It just has cool names like Internet Marketing (salesman), List building (referrals) or product creation (your product whether it be steaks or a hair cut).
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[5704026].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Jonathan Joseph
    Well written Shay!

    This is a very thought-driven approach you've about written here.

    When we think RATIONAL, and leave our emotions out (easier said then done at times), then we can think CLEAR about what we really NEED, instead of what we WANT.

    Having dedication from start to finish is crucial when creating a business.
    Signature

    Jon

    "Success comes when people act together; failure tends to happen alone." -- Deepak Chopra

    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[5704118].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author ShayB
      I'm loving the replies!

      It is late here (almost 4 am. LOL), but I just wanted to jot down a couple more thoughts before I go to bed.

      1. You never see a college promising a certain level of income once you graduate. They might say that college graduates average a certain percentage of a higher salary than non-college graduates, but you don't see them promising jobs or guaranteeing a certain income level once you graduate.

      They offer to train you in certain skills, and that's it. It's up to you to get a job in your field.


      2. There are so many different fields that you can go into. There are many people who start college with no idea what they really want to do. They declare an undecided major and they start taking their prerequisites.

      After they have had a few semesters of classes, they will find something that resonates with them. They can then declare their major, and they can start taking classes that are specific to that major. In the meantime, they still are working with the basic knowledge that they are going to need no matter what major they decide on.

      How different would a newbie's path be if it was perfectly acceptable to not know exactly what they want to do online, but they start getting the basics of Internet marketing so that they can start getting exposed to different aspects of the basics and the different avenues that you can take for making money online?

      You could have training that would consist of the basics of e-mail marketing, list building, website design, keyword research, etc.

      The whole time that they are learning the basics, they can start finding out what they're comfortable with and what they enjoy doing.

      After a while, they can start deciding that they want to create products or they want to do affiliate marketing or they want to do whatever.

      3. I really think that bright shiny object syndrome comes from a number of sources, but one of the most common is that somebody buys a product that they think is going to be a business in a box and they don't need any more knowledge in order to make it work.

      But some component in their (prerequisite) information is missing, so the product/system doesn't work for them.

      Instead of realizing that it's not the fault of the product but that it's a gap in their knowledge that is at fault, they mistakenly go to another product that they think is also going to be an all-encompassing product and a business in a box.

      Then they realize that some (prerequisite) information is missing, so the product/system doesn't work for them.

      Instead of realizing that it's not the fault of the product but that it's a gap in their knowledge that is at fault, they mistakenly go to another product that they think is also going to be an all-encompassing product and a business in a box.

      And the cycle continues.


      Maybe I am a little naïve in thinking that if you bring a newbie into the fold and you tell them that it's going to take about a year in order to get the information that they need, learn the basics, advanced to the more refined techniques, and then finally start turning a profit.... that people might actually start having some success.

      Would there be fewer people trying to get into online businesses? Absolutely. You would weed out every single one of the magic button seekers.

      But the ones that were left would be the ones that understood that it was going to take time, money, and work in order to create a profitable online business.

      Forgive me if this is rambling. It's a little bit late.

      JMHO and YMMV
      Signature
      "Fate protects fools, little children, and ships called Enterprise." ~Commander Riker
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[5705159].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author HeySal
    Gee Shay - that was just plain too logical. Quit making sense and come back to the OT forum and play a little bit before people forget about the great sense of humor attached to the wisdom.
    Signature

    Sal
    When the Roads and Paths end, learn to guide yourself through the wilderness
    Beyond the Path

    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[5709194].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author buckeyes09
    Fantastic post! That should really be attached to the WSO forum. It would greatly, greatly help many people.
    Signature

    Christian

    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[5709420].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author digichik
    Thanks for a really good 'tough love' post. If Newbies would concentrate on learning the basics of IM first, they would see how much faster they get to the good part -- making money.

    I sometimes think the learning curve for IM is soooo steep, because most people don't take the little bit of time, in the beginning, to learn the essential. Learning the fundamentals in the beginning can literally take 3-4 months off of the usual time it takes for Newbies to begin earning. If they really want to start earning quickly, this is the one thing they can do to make it happen.
    Signature



    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[5709493].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author ShayB
      Originally Posted by HeySal View Post

      Gee Shay - that was just plain too logical. Quit making sense and come back to the OT forum and play a little bit before people forget about the great sense of humor attached to the wisdom.
      I will!

      Originally Posted by digichik View Post

      Thanks for a really good 'tough love' post. If Newbies would concentrate on learning the basics of IM first, they would see how much faster they get to the good part -- making money.

      I sometimes think the learning curve for IM is soooo steep, because most people don't take the little bit of time, in the beginning, to learn the essential. Learning the fundamentals in the beginning can literally take 3-4 months off of the usual time it takes for Newbies to begin earning. If they really want to start earning quickly, this is the one thing they can do to make it happen.
      I agree.

      Spending time to learn the basics can really help prevent some mistakes and also help speed up the process.

      Ironically, taking your time to build a biz plan and marketing plan, learn the basics, etc. will save you time down the road. Unfortunately, a lot of newbies don't want to do this.

      What's the saying? "Measure twice, cut once"?

      Seems appropriate here.
      Signature
      "Fate protects fools, little children, and ships called Enterprise." ~Commander Riker
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[5715139].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author jason1985
    Im suprised to see this topic, lol that means im in the good mindset for a IM warrior and im on the right path. I too always looked at WSOs as Degrees, except that you can HANDS ON from the start, no need to apply for internships, and your on your way to make money faster. When my friends tell about where my college courses are I always show them my WSO stacks. I take them EVERYWHERE WITH ME. I take my bookbag FILLED with Wso as if i was going to school. I usually take my laptop with me to library early in the morning till closing and just read study and apply all day.

    I never been this engaged in the 8 plus years ive been in college so far. im in devry for computer forensics. But I already dropped out 'mentally' almost a year and been focusing on IM to make a great and better living. Im only using the school as a front for my family to lay off me abit when im only just going to school for the library. I havent registered for classes over a year now. Im just using my ID and school book center to use their bandwidth to do a course they dont offer on my own...Warriorism lol. I told my family and friends ill be graduating in may, but thats not true, I WONT be graduating because i technically already dropped it. im getting an accredited bachelors degree from converting my experience in the IT field for over 11 years. they only complain just get my degree for backup so thats what ill do once may rolls in, but until may, im doing my own studying, IM is my carreer not IT anymore.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[5715250].message }}

Trending Topics