Doing These 3 Things Almost Guarantee You Become Successful

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Been a while since I actually posted something that could be really helpful, but I keep my nose to the grind stone as much as possible. But I wanted to share this so those starting out and those struggling will hopefully get something out of it they can use.

I see all the time, how do I do this, how can I do that, why can't I get this to work, why are some people successful and others not, etc etc. Same questions that you see all the time on all forums such as this one. Here's three things that have yet to fail me and were and are huge launching pads for the success I've had online in less than 4 years.

First, get rid of your "comfort zone" and get out of your own way. Do one thing every day to step outside of it. EVERY DAY. Do that, and imagine how big your comfort zone will be in a week, a month and then a year! You won't have a comfort zone by then. More on that in a minute.

Second, don't ask questions in general, ASK INDIVIDUAL PEOPLE QUESTIONS!

Third, work at it like you really want it.

My entire online success can be boiled down to three things and only three things.

1.Got rid of my comfort zone
2.I asked individual people questions
3.My ability to put my head down, nose to the grind stone and flat get to work.

When I first started in August 2008, I bought a course from a couple guys named Don and Jeremy. I asked those guys a bunch of questions. I asked those guys for their personal emails. I asked so many questions that I asked and they gave me their phone number so that they didn't have to answer my 200 emails anymore. I stepped out of my comfort zone and I ASKED for their phone numbers! What was the worst they were going to say? No? So what, if they said no, was I in any different position than I was before? But if they said yes, now was I in a different position? Absolutely I was. With what they taught me and I implemented, I went on to start making 300.00 a day and more and created my first product which sold over 2600 copies at a time there was no affiliate programs in the WF like their are now.

When I wanted to get access to someone who was way above my level, I ran across something Brad Gosse was offering at the time. A one on one phone call for 30 minutes for 30.00. He was already extremely successful, but at the time was just introducing himself to WF. What did I do? I asked him if I could have TWO sessions for 30.00 each. He told me it was only for one really as it was a way for him to introduce himself. I asked again, does that mean no or can I have two? I told him I wouldn't bother him with random garbage and I would prove I was willing to follow what he said. He agreed and gave me two of them.

Three years later, I consider Brad a good friend and one I've done various projects with. The best part is I can pick up the phone and call him and ask him anything and he knows he can do the same. All because in the beginning I asked for something that he wasn't really offering. But again, would I have been in any different position if he said no? But if he said yes....

Last year after leaving the WF event in Raleigh, I asked a programmer named Chad Casselman, who I had never met if he'd like to partner up and build some things. Then somehow (don't remember honestly) I met E. Brian Rose and saw he was doing something similar to some things I was working on and asked him if he'd like to do somethings together. Then we all asked each other if we'd all like to work together. From that question both Webinar Swaps and JVZoo were created in less than a year. All because of questions that were asked.

Then just this week, I pulled off something I never thought I would have a prayer in hell of getting, but I got it. I got one of the top autoresponder companies in the internet marketing world to give JVZoo something that no other affiliate network has as far as integration and list opt ins goes. Honestly I never thought they would even consider it, and it took months to put it all together. But it all happened BECAUSE I ASKED FOR IT!

If you look at those things, and there are more, just not going to write a novel anymore than I already have, they all tie together.

I started out, I stepped outside my comfort zone and I asked individual people questions. I took what I learned and the success I had and I used it as leverage in meeting other people and asked them for things. I took that and used that as leverage to meet other people who had more things that could help me and kept building on that all the way to now.

The bottom line is IF you are willing to put in the work, there are people that will help you because they know down the road your friendship and leverage may very well be worth 1000 times what you might pay them now. But you never know until you ask. Trust me, go back and look at some of the first posts I made on this forum. "how do I upload a PDF", "how do I make a PDF". Hell, I honestly didn't know how to use an email address until August 2008. I was a construction worker and was as "newbie" as it gets with computers period, let alone IM.

If you ask 100 people and all 100 say no, what's the worst that can happen? You're in the same spot you were before you started. No harm really. BUT if you ask 100 people and 10 of them say yes, or even 1 says yes, are you in a better position now? Absolutely you are, especially when you do it consistently.
#guaranteed #successful
  • Profile picture of the author tpw
    Most people give up too soon.

    We tell them to ask 100 people and they ask 3, then complain about how we held them back.

    But, if you ask 100 and 100 say no, you should recognize that you asked the "wrong 100 people," because more people should have answered yes. Since 100 people said no, then you should ask another 100 people.

    No one has an utterly useless offer... Some percentage of people will always buy what is offered to them. And if they don't, then you should realize that you are just asking the wrong folks.
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    Bill Platt, Oklahoma USA, PlattPublishing.com
    Publish Coloring Books for Profit (WSOTD 7-30-2015)
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    • Profile picture of the author CDarklock
      Originally Posted by tpw View Post

      more people should have answered yes.
      Just be aware that answering yes does not necessarily translate into real action, especially if people can make more money doing something else.

      Never lose sight of that. Most people are in this game to make a buck, not to make a difference, and making a difference is usually something they are actively trying to discourage.
      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
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      • Profile picture of the author asiancasanova
        This post was god damn amazing.

        "Ask and you shall receive."

        This is not about internet marketing guys.

        This post is about succeeding in LIFE.
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      • Profile picture of the author ShayB
        Originally Posted by CDarklock View Post

        Just be aware that answering yes does not necessarily translate into real action, especially if people can make more money doing something else.

        Never lose sight of that. Most people are in this game to make a buck, not to make a difference, and making a difference is usually something they are actively trying to discourage.
        Nice to see you had a big helping of Cynical Flakes this morning. :rolleyes:

        ================

        I've found an overwhelming number of people in this business that are willing to help others.

        No, it doesn't mean that they will coach you one-on-one for 20 hours for free,
        but they will take time out to help in a number of ways - if you ask, and you are willing to work.

        JMHO and YMMV
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        "Fate protects fools, little children, and ships called Enterprise." ~Commander Riker
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        • Profile picture of the author CDarklock
          Originally Posted by ShayRockhold View Post

          I've found an overwhelming number of people in this business that are willing to help others.
          And I've found that "willing" doesn't always translate into action.

          Furthermore, I've been listening to an awful lot of people reading me the riot act for expecting people to keep their promises. After all, it's business, not a social thing. Nobody owes you an email to their list, and promises are not contracts, and it's all about the money.

          Funny. I thought it was all about the people. That's what everyone says when their customers are looking. Odd how the message changes behind closed doors.
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          "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
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          • Profile picture of the author Michael Oksa
            Originally Posted by CDarklock View Post

            And I've found that "willing" doesn't always translate into action.

            Furthermore, I've been listening to an awful lot of people reading me the riot act for expecting people to keep their promises. After all, it's business, not a social thing. Nobody owes you an email to their list, and promises are not contracts, and it's all about the money.

            Funny. I thought it was all about the people. That's what everyone says when their customers are looking. Odd how the message changes behind closed doors.
            ...or how the message looks different when it's coming from the other side of burned bridges.

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            "Ich bin en fuego!"
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            • Profile picture of the author CDarklock
              Originally Posted by Michael Oksa View Post

              ...or how the message looks different when it's coming from the other side of burned bridges.
              Words are cheap. Actions speak louder than. Trust people's actions, not their words.

              Seems like good advice to me.
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              "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
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          • Profile picture of the author ShayB
            Originally Posted by CDarklock View Post

            And I've found that "willing" doesn't always translate into action.

            Furthermore, I've been listening to an awful lot of people reading me the riot act for expecting people to keep their promises. After all, it's business, not a social thing. Nobody owes you an email to their list, and promises are not contracts, and it's all about the money.

            Funny. I thought it was all about the people. That's what everyone says when their customers are looking. Odd how the message changes behind closed doors.
            We've all had affiliates that have signed up and not mailed for us.

            Schedules change, things happen.

            It's not that people are scum or anything else - it just happens.
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            "Fate protects fools, little children, and ships called Enterprise." ~Commander Riker
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            • Profile picture of the author tpw
              Originally Posted by ShayRockhold View Post

              We've all had affiliates that have signed up and not mailed for us.

              Schedules change, things happen.

              It's not that people are scum or anything else - it just happens.

              Yes, it just happens...

              And, some people just pout about it when it does happen... :p
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              Bill Platt, Oklahoma USA, PlattPublishing.com
              Publish Coloring Books for Profit (WSOTD 7-30-2015)
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              • Profile picture of the author cashp0wer
                Thanks for the inspiring post. Many, many, people quit for so many different reasons. I truly people most people quit not because they are lazy but because they just don't know what to do! This business can be very intimidating but stick with it and don't quit.
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                My Internet Marketing Blog - Warts And All!
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            • Profile picture of the author CDarklock
              Originally Posted by ShayRockhold View Post

              It's not that people are scum or anything else - it just happens.
              I never said people are scum. I just said that some people don't keep their promises, which is true. I also said that if you rely on people keeping their promises, you might be disappointed, which is true.

              It's all well and good to say "lots of people will help you." But it's just happy-path garbage to pretend there aren't also people out there who will promise to help you for the express purpose of ripping you off, and that between them is a vast sea of people who won't do a damn thing.

              And as Bill quite eloquently points out, nobody will give a crap if you get ripped off. Everyone will blame YOU for it. It will all be YOUR fault that people lied to you and said "I will do this," then didn't do it. You will be "cynical" and "pouting" and "avoiding responsibility" for actually daring to suggest that hey, maybe people should keep their promises.

              Because that's how "willing to help" everyone really is.
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              "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
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              • Profile picture of the author ShayB
                Originally Posted by CDarklock View Post

                I never said people are scum. I just said that some people don't keep their promises, which is true. I also said that if you rely on people keeping their promises, you might be disappointed, which is true.

                It's all well and good to say "lots of people will help you." But it's just happy-path garbage to pretend there aren't also people out there who will promise to help you for the express purpose of ripping you off, and that between them is a vast sea of people who won't do a damn thing.

                And as Bill quite eloquently points out, nobody will give a crap if you get ripped off. Everyone will blame YOU for it. It will all be YOUR fault that people lied to you and said "I will do this," then didn't do it. You will be "cynical" and "pouting" and "avoiding responsibility" for actually daring to suggest that hey, maybe people should keep their promises.

                Because that's how "willing to help" everyone really is.
                Then you and I have had completely different experiences.

                Enough so that your post baffles me.

                I've - with very, very few exceptions - found people in this business/on this forum to be helpful and quite willing to do what they say they will. (Unless things, like I said, get in the way. In which case they will most certainly help when circumstances permit. Life happens.)

                However, if someone doesn't carry through (for whatever reason) and then they are blasted for it, then I can see why they may not be inclined to offer again.

                Maybe I'm just more forgiving about it. I know that things just happen. I know not every affiliate is going to mail. It's a numbers game.

                But I give the benefit of the doubt, because there may come a day when they can/will help.
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                "Fate protects fools, little children, and ships called Enterprise." ~Commander Riker
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                • Profile picture of the author CDarklock
                  Originally Posted by ShayRockhold View Post

                  Then you and I have had completely different experiences.
                  Which is precisely why both experiences need to be expressed, and not just the happy friendly one that makes everybody cheer and high-five and commence the jigglin'.

                  It is dishonest to pretend "the worst they can say is no." The worst they can say is "yes," followed by you doing your work and them not doing theirs.

                  This happens. No, it doesn't happen every time. No, it doesn't happen to everybody. But neither does your experience.

                  And all you have to do is bring in something that doesn't fit the party line to see just how "helpful" people really are.
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                  "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
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                  • Profile picture of the author Bryan Zimmerman
                    Originally Posted by CDarklock View Post

                    It is dishonest to pretend "the worst they can say is no." The worst they can say is "yes," followed by you doing your work and them not doing theirs.
                    Nope, you're dead wrong and the way you are looking at it also explains a lot of why it's probably happened to you maybe more than once.

                    The worst that can happen is they say no and you never ask anyone else. Because even if they say yes and YOU do your work and they don't, you still have something that you can use. You still have something that you can bring to someone else who will do the other person's part. You have something that shows that YOU are not just all talk and will do the work. So no, the worst that can happen is not them telling you yes then not doing it. The worst thing that can happen is YOU not asking and then still doing nothing with what YOU have done just because someone else didn't.

                    You could go with the "is the glass half empty or is the glass half full" way of looking at it from what your saying.

                    Personally I think that's a stupid phrase and way of thinking to begin with, because my answer to that has always been who gives a sh$t what it is, either way I NEED a refill.

                    Again, your business, your responsibility to make it happen no matter what happens along the way. The fault falls on no one but yourself no matter what anyone else has done or will do because YOU are the only thing they have no control over.
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              • Profile picture of the author Bryan Zimmerman
                Originally Posted by CDarklock View Post

                I also said that if you rely on people keeping their promises, you might be disappointed, which is true.
                Have to agree with CD on this one. Yes there are lots of people that will help, but there are also people that will say they will and then don't. BUT...

                That's not their problem, it's mine or yours. At the end of the day, IF you truly rely on anyone else besides YOURSELF to carry and make your business succeed then you have already set yourself up for failure and that is your problem. The person you look at in the mirror had better be the one that can hold it together and find a way to get it done because relying on anyone else to do it is dangerous.



                Originally Posted by CDarklock View Post

                " But it's just happy-path garbage to pretend there aren't also people out there who will promise to help you for the express purpose of ripping you off, and that between them is a vast sea of people who won't do a damn thing.
                Don't completely agree with this as I don't think most people go into things attempting to rip people off. If you do have a bad experience like that then it's your job to learn from it and make sure that it doesn't happen again. Again, I go back to the person you look at in the mirror in the end holding all the responsibility for their own business. Would that suck? Yes. But grab your sack and man up and move on with it because the person who ripped you off isn't looking back and watching you cry about it.

                Originally Posted by CDarklock View Post

                And as Bill quite eloquently points out, nobody will give a crap if you get ripped off. Everyone will blame YOU for it. It will all be YOUR fault that people lied to you and said "I will do this," then didn't do it. You will be "cynical" and "pouting" and "avoiding responsibility" for actually daring to suggest that hey, maybe people should keep their promises.
                Because that's how "willing to help" everyone really is.
                No, what they will blame you (not saying YOU, just you in general) for is crying and whining about it to the point that you stop trying to do something about it and push on with a hard lesson learned. Couple minutes to be mad and complain about it, cool. We all deserve a release, but if you let it drag down your whole business and your whole mindset and you start that "oh poor me, nobody did what they said they were going to do", that's on that person and no one else wants to listen to it for more than those first few moments. I want to hear about how you learned something and are going to make sure it doesn't happen again. Grab your sack, man up, realized you just learned a good lesson and move on.

                There are tons of people out there that will help, there are those who won't. But if you stop seeking out the ones that will, then that's on you, not them because they are out there. I've found plenty
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                • Profile picture of the author CDarklock
                  Originally Posted by Bryan Zimmerman View Post

                  Don't completely agree with this as I don't think most people go into things attempting to rip people off.
                  I absolutely agree it's not "most." It's a tiny minority.

                  No, what they will blame you (not saying YOU, just you in general) for is crying and whining about it to the point that you stop trying to do something about it and push on with a hard lesson learned.
                  That, people deserve to be blamed for. Get up and do something.

                  What most people are missing about my situation is that I have not stopped doing anything. I have simply moved my operation behind closed doors, because I've been burned enough times that I can't afford it anymore.

                  So I've shut down all my free broadcasts and advance previews and product calendars, but I continue to do a buttload of research and produce a buttload of content back here.

                  I'm just not drip-feeding it to the general public for free, like I did for over a year. Nor am I sending review copies to people who rush copycat products onto the market, like happened a couple months ago. Nor am I accepting just anyone into the affiliate program. And you can chalk that up under "this is why we can't have nice things."

                  My philosophy has not changed. I still believe there are good people out there. I still believe in partnership and cooperation. And I still believe in high-quality products over two-hour garbage, no matter what the difference in ROI may be.

                  But I no longer believe in pretending everyone else believes in those, too. And since I turtled up my operation and pulled everything inside where people can't see it, everyone assumes there's nothing going on back here.

                  If they looked, they'd find evidence. But they're not looking. And I'm going to enjoy the hell out of their surprise.
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                  "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
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                  • Profile picture of the author tpw
                    Originally Posted by CDarklock View Post

                    But I no longer believe in pretending everyone else believes in those, too. And since I turtled up my operation and pulled everything inside where people can't see it, everyone assumes there's nothing going on back here.

                    If they looked, they'd find evidence. But they're not looking. And I'm going to enjoy the hell out of their surprise.

                    You should not be doing anything, so that you can enjoy someone's "surprise" at you for actually doing something.

                    You should be doing it so that you can have pride in yourself and to earn a living.

                    Anyone who is not paying you doesn't care what you are doing, and those who have paid you only want from you what they have paid to receive.
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                    Bill Platt, Oklahoma USA, PlattPublishing.com
                    Publish Coloring Books for Profit (WSOTD 7-30-2015)
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                    • Profile picture of the author CDarklock
                      Originally Posted by tpw View Post

                      you are telling our readers in advance that you are only selling part of the entire system NOW... Our people would have been pissed about that and held it against us....
                      Would your people have preferred to find out after the fact that this was not the full system, or to be forced into buying all twelve parts or nothing at all?

                      Oh, wait, that also would have pissed them off.

                      I don't care why you didn't promote. I didn't come and ask you to promote because I didn't think your customers were a good match for the product. You clearly agree with me. What's the problem?

                      Originally Posted by tpw View Post

                      You should not be doing anything, so that you can enjoy someone's "surprise" at you for actually doing something.
                      I'm doing it to change the world for a couple thousand people.

                      There will be other effects, of course, and some of them are desirable and enjoyable. But those are not the reason I'm doing it.
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                      "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
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                      • Profile picture of the author tpw
                        Originally Posted by CDarklock View Post

                        I don't care why you didn't promote. I didn't come and ask you to promote because I didn't think your customers were a good match for the product. You clearly agree with me. What's the problem?

                        There is no problem, EXCEPT for the one where you are mad at a whole lot of people who did promise to promote you, then didn't promote you.

                        There are perhaps many reasons for which they did not promote you, yet you attribute it solely to their dishonesty?

                        I would never have mentioned it, but you keep returning to it as a "topic worth discussion". You brought it up in this thread, as you have in many threads before this one.

                        If it doesn't bother you, why keep mentioning it?
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                        Bill Platt, Oklahoma USA, PlattPublishing.com
                        Publish Coloring Books for Profit (WSOTD 7-30-2015)
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                        • Profile picture of the author David Keith
                          Originally Posted by tpw View Post


                          There are perhaps many reasons for which they did not promote you, yet you attribute it solely to their dishonesty?
                          I have never seen a story like the one here without at least 2 sides. Usually there is some degree of truth on both sides along with some not very clear expectations of the responsibilities and conditions made by one or both parties.

                          ie... I will promote if....
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                          • Profile picture of the author CDarklock
                            Originally Posted by David Keith View Post

                            I have never seen a story like the one here without at least 2 sides. Usually there is some degree of truth on both sides
                            Nobody has done anything illegal or unethical. They have simply lied to me, and then acted like this is perfectly fine because we are all marketers and marketers tell lies.

                            There is a great deal of truth to that side of the story. Some people would say it is unethical to break a verbal promise, but I am not certain that is accurate. I think there's a point where the promise becomes a verbal contract, but I don't think any of these promises reached that point.

                            There is also a great deal of truth to the criticism that I did not have an effective risk management plan in place. I normally take the time to do a proper risk analysis and mitigation strategy.

                            What pisses me off is that so many people have told me that my entire problem is that I do not trust people, that I am not asking for help when I need it, and that I spend too much time worrying about what might go wrong instead of getting things done.

                            So I trusted people, asked for help, and just got things done without worrying about what might go wrong. That was me stepping FAR outside of my comfort zone.

                            And when things went wrong, I had no system in place to deal with it.

                            So that won't happen again. I will go back farther than I came forward: I will trust people less, be slower to ask for help, and spend more time on risk management. This is arguably the wrong thing to do, but it is what I am doing nonetheless.

                            Meanwhile, as people run around saying "Trust people! Ask for help! Stop worrying!" I think it is somewhat important to say "sometimes that doesn't really work."
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                            "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
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                        • Profile picture of the author CDarklock
                          Originally Posted by tpw View Post

                          There is no problem, EXCEPT for the one where you are mad at a whole lot of people who did promise to promote you, then didn't promote you.
                          I believe it is perfectly reasonable to be mad at someone for breaking a promise.

                          There are perhaps many reasons for which they did not promote you, yet you attribute it solely to their dishonesty?
                          I am not mad at the people who were not dishonest. That would include you.

                          If it doesn't bother you, why keep mentioning it?
                          I didn't mention it. The closest I came was to say "nobody owes you an email to their list." Meanwhile, you call it "That deal you are holding a grudge about," when I'm not holding a grudge at all.

                          The reality is that some people are going to be scum. Not most. Just some.

                          And yes, that bothers me. Because a lot of the people going around saying "just do it!" and "get out of your comfort zone!" and "take massive action!" are the same ones who will say "it is your own stupid fault for doing business with scum."

                          No, it's not. Part of the skill set for being scum is not looking like scum. There's no "scum look" any more than there's a criminal look. I carefully hand-selected people who didn't look like scum, and whom I trusted not to be scum, and pre-qualified them to obtain firm commitments on promoting the product.

                          Anyone might have done this. And some of the top IM coaches - people you can trust, who are not scum - would have told them this was exactly the right way to go about it.

                          And the same thing could have happened to them.

                          The very crux of what we do here is to relate our own experiences to others, so we can help them.

                          I don't see how it's more helpful to pretend everything's flowers and rainbows because nobody will ever screw you in this industry.
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                          "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
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    • Profile picture of the author Kim Standerline
      Maybe they are asking the wrong questions...

      Originally Posted by tpw View Post

      Most people give up too soon.

      We tell them to ask 100 people and they ask 3, then complain about how we held them back.

      But, if you ask 100 and 100 say no, you should recognize that you asked the "wrong 100 people," because more people should have answered yes. Since 100 people said no, then you should ask another 100 people.

      No one has an utterly useless offer... Some percentage of people will always buy what is offered to them. And if they don't, then you should realize that you are just asking the wrong folks.
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  • Profile picture of the author Cee
    Congratulations on your success! When opportunities present themselves you have to grab them and go with them. Thanks for the inspiring post.

    Jack Canfield from 'Chicken Soup for the Soul' series was turned down by 144 publishers before he signed a book deal. He's now sold something like 500 million books.
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    • Profile picture of the author Bryan Zimmerman
      Originally Posted by Cee View Post

      Congratulations on your success! When opportunities present themselves you have to grab them and go with them. Thanks for the inspiring post.
      Thanks for that, the success I've had is great, don't get me wrong, but what I wanted people to take from that was if you just do some things you're not used to doing and ask some things you think you would never ask and be consistent with it, so many good things can happen for you. If you do nothing, the only thing you're ever going to get is what you already have.
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    • Profile picture of the author jwmann2
      Great post. I will admit, there is a comfort zone you have to grow out of because what I ended up doing was putting things off and putting things off. By the time I had got around to make the intitial contact, I was almost always told yes. You cannot be afraid to venture out and pitch ideas in this business.
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      • Profile picture of the author ShayB
        I love this thread.

        When I first came to the WF, I asked a ton of questions. I'd ask, get answers, go work, then ask more, work more...

        It's paid off in amazing ways.

        People want to help - if you show you're willing to work. And stepping out of your comfort zone opens up a whole new level of opportunities.

        Thanks for the great OP.
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        • Profile picture of the author Bryan Zimmerman
          Originally Posted by ShayRockhold View Post

          I love this thread.

          When I first came to the WF, I asked a ton of questions. I'd ask, get answers, go work, then ask more, work more...

          It's paid off in amazing ways.

          People want to help - if you show you're willing to work. And stepping out of your comfort zone opens up a whole new level of opportunities.

          Thanks for the great OP.
          I remember when you first got on here Shay, I think we both started about the exact same time. I also remember you asking a lot of questions and then not long there after putting out a ecourse that was delivered by email about writing I believe. I think I actually bought that course now that I think about it
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          • Profile picture of the author ShayB
            Originally Posted by Bryan Zimmerman View Post

            I remember when you first got on here Shay, I think we both started about the exact same time. I also remember you asking a lot of questions and then not long there after putting out a ecourse that was delivered by email about writing I believe. I think I actually bought that course now that I think about it
            I did!

            You bought that? Awwwwwwww. I am so happy to hear that. (Hopefully you liked it. )

            That seems like forever ago. So much has changed! (For us both - and for the better. )

            Yes, lots of questions, LOTS of work!

            But it was an amazing time, and it's led to many more amazing things.

            (Loving this trip down Memory Lane! I'm all sentimental now. )
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            • Profile picture of the author daveaball
              Hi Byran, would you recommend an A to Z course on internet marketing or is there such a thing, I have looked at a few, I have been online for a couple of years without making serious money, any monies I did make went back into it. I Dont mind paying monthly for something if I can get the results that I need.
              Maybe there are course I can buy to learn more, would you recommend any, I am a web designer and have decided to concentrate selling info products as a living instead as the web creation business in Ireland is at a low point, hope you can advise, many thanks and a great article, thanks
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              • Profile picture of the author Bryan Zimmerman
                Originally Posted by daveaball View Post

                Hi Byran, would you recommend an A to Z course on internet marketing or is there such a thing, I have looked at a few, I have been online for a couple of years without making serious money, any monies I did make went back into it. I Dont mind paying monthly for something if I can get the results that I need.
                Maybe there are course I can buy to learn more, would you recommend any, I am a web designer and have decided to concentrate selling info products as a living instead as the web creation business in Ireland is at a low point, hope you can advise, many thanks and a great article, thanks
                Hey Dave,

                There's no such thing as a all in one course from A-Z honestly as there are so many different avenues to go down. If you've got a skill like design and you want to sell info products, why not start a membership site that teaches people how to do design? I don't see anything like that anywhere.

                You could have multiple levels in it, beginner, advanced, provider level and teach people the ins and outs of design work. Start a designer directory even with your students that you can point people to that need design work done as a way to help them make some money. I know I always like to have three or four design people a phone call away if I need something right away. And I also know that there was a time I would have paid to learn how to do it. So would many others.

                There's lots of roads you could go down, but there is no A-Z book. Find a group of people that do what you do and start talking to them. See how they do it, where they make their money, analyze it, see how you can do something with a different twist. Once you make a decision, put your head down, keep your nose to the grind stone and bust your ass to make it happen. Do that and you'll find the success you want.
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  • Profile picture of the author LegionNate
    I've had two different experiences over the past few weeks where I thought it was a long-shot, that I was way out of my league... but I 'asked' anyway, and they both worked out, and honestly I still kind of have to pinch myself to believe it's true. Great post, thanks.
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    • Profile picture of the author Bryan Zimmerman
      Originally Posted by LegionNate View Post

      I've had two different experiences over the past few weeks where I thought it was a long-shot, that I was way out of my league... but I 'asked' anyway, and they both worked out, and honestly I still kind of have to pinch myself to believe it's true. Great post, thanks.
      Amazing how that works out for you isn't it. Even at a long shot, what was the worst that was going to happen? People would be amazed how often it actually will work for them if they just do it
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  • Profile picture of the author warriorkay
    Absolutely powerful post, Bryan. I agree with you about asking - the worst
    that can happen is they will say NO, and if they say YES... BINGO, jackpot, !

    A man may fulfill the object of his existence by asking a question
    he cannot answer, and attempting a task he cannot achieve.

    Oliver Wendell Holmes


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  • Profile picture of the author Will Edwards
    Great post Bryan.

    And if you ever get stuck with PDFs again, just ask

    Will
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  • Profile picture of the author ReplenishSEO
    Congrats ! looks like your on the right track!
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  • Profile picture of the author twentytwo
    Awesome post, thank you for taking the time to write it!

    @ Cee thanx for that share also ;]
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    • Profile picture of the author sidcandid
      I would like to congratulate you on your success. I would say that hard work and perseverance are key be a successful online entrepreneur. Anyone wanting to succeed online need to understand that its not a Get Rich Quick scheme and like anything else requires time and effort to show results. I would like to thank you for great post which should serve both as a guide as well as source of inspiration for others to succeed online.
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  • Profile picture of the author Brandon Sean
    Thanks Bryan for this.

    I really really like your attitude. Thats how anyone can be successful even in the real world. Just keep pushing yourself and get out of the comfort zone!


    When I first started back in 2009, it was my self doubts that really held me back plus I was too comfortable my comfort Zone.Although I was rather obsessed in trying to make things happen and I think about making it happen everyday but with all those thinking I actually get "defeated" thinking about the steps I need to take and alot of "what If" moments and in the end I didn't take any action at all.

    I keep thinking to myself..

    What If my product isn't good enough?
    What If I spent all that time and effort and not make any money?
    What If this, What If That..


    In the end of the day I GET NOTHING DONE..

    If i just stop overthinking things, I'd just get alot of things done and not worry too much about things. This was( is ?) my main weakness and I learnt as long as i just throw myself out there I usually am forced to get things done.

    Again thanks Bryan

    -Brandon
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  • Profile picture of the author fated82
    Nice post. I believe a very good way of standing out and being notice is to join groups relevant to your interest or trade and contribute your talents. Have high quality network and support group will have a direct impact on the success in life. Like saying goes: Your network will determine your networth.
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  • Profile picture of the author jeffster
    Thanks Bryan for your inspirational story. There truly is no way to lose unless you give up.
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  • Profile picture of the author owenlee
    A great wake up call for most of us here..We got nothing to lose even if others reject...
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  • Profile picture of the author coljwood
    This reminds me of a little experiment i'm doing at the moment that is completely unrelated to Internet Marketing, but at the same time it proves that if you don't ask, you don't get.

    It started when I was at a takeaway in Bournemouth about a year ago. I'd had quite a bit drink that evening. I ordered myself a small portion of whatever it was I was having, when it was at that moment I decided to try my luck. When the guy behind the counter went to hand over my food to me, I simply asked him if he could give me more than what he was giving, and then a bit more again! Needless to say he did it, no arguments, no asking for more money. I found myself with a large portion despite paying for a small because I asked for more.

    Anyway, since this event i've decided I would experiment a little back home. In my city centre there is a street full of countless takeaways. I have visited about 8 or 9 of them in the past year and tried this little experiment at each one. I still hold a 100% success rate. Each time I have asked for extra they have given it, no questions asked. I've even asked for things like extra chicken on a meal that shouldn't have any. Not once have they said no.

    Again it's no use from an IM perspective but it really does interest me from a psychological perspective. It's got to the point where I don't ask for these things because I actually want more, i'm now genuinely interested in what they are willing to give away just because i've asked nicely.

    I suppose I should probably be a bit more productive and start testing this on things that can actually be of use.
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  • Profile picture of the author RichWill
    People buy People, People buy on emotions, People buy on feelings, People buy you if they like you. When they tell you no it means tell me more. People like you. ANd JVZoo. . Always forward and capture the moment...
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  • Profile picture of the author RichWill
    People buy People, People buy on emotions, People buy on feelings, People buy you if they like you. When they tell you no it means tell me more. People like you.Good for Get Response.
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    • Profile picture of the author Alminc
      Brian,

      After signup for JVZoo account there is a message: " You MUST link your PayPal account to your JVZoo account..."

      Can you tell me what that exactly means, I mean what can JVZoo technically do with my pp account when it's linked?

      I have mid five figures in my pp and I don't want to do anything I don't fully understand.
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      • Profile picture of the author Bryan Zimmerman
        Originally Posted by Alminc View Post

        Brian,

        After signup for JVZoo account there is a message: " You MUST link your PayPal account to your JVZoo account..."

        Can you tell me what that exactly means, I mean what can JVZoo technically do with my pp account when it's linked?

        I have mid five figures in my pp and I don't want to do anything I don't fully understand.
        Hi Alminc,

        This will explain everything: Linking Your Account To JVZoo

        It's perfectly fine, it's just how adaptive payments works. We don't have your login, password, any of that stuff. That knowledge base article will explain it all for you.
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  • Profile picture of the author Ron Douglas
    That's what's up Zim. It's amazing how quickly you can get results just by knowing what you want and asking for it. Congrats on your deal with GetResponse. That's going to be huge.
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    • Profile picture of the author Bryan Zimmerman
      Originally Posted by Ron Douglas View Post

      That's what's up Zim. It's amazing how quickly you can get results just by knowing what you want and asking for it. Congrats on your deal with GetResponse. That's going to be huge.
      Thanks Ron, appreciate it! The GetResponse deal is crazy, never thought we'd pull it off to be honest.

      Ron is another person I met in a very similar way that I met Brad Gosse. Keith Doughtery introduced us at an even here in Orlando back in 2010 I believe. Ron probably had no idea who I was, but I knew he was a NY Times Best Selling Author and someone I wanted to get to know better. So after Keith introduced us, I just kept asking Ron questions lol. We went back into the conference room and I pulled up a chair next to him and kept the conversation going. Before we had left the seminar, we had decided to do a project together.

      Now I consider Ron a good friend and we've hung out multiple times at various conventions over the last couple years and bounce idea's off each other quite often. Again, all that happened because I simply asked.

      Ron's a smart guy and a good marketer, if your not on his list, you should get on it.
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      • Profile picture of the author Chris W. Sutton
        Originally Posted by Bryan Zimmerman View Post

        Ron's a smart guy and a good marketer, if your not on his list, you should get on it.
        I took two of my daughters to Barnes & Noble this past weekend and one of my daughters bought a recipe book. I saw that it was one of Ron's and I told her that I knew him. Just to be impressive I asked her if she wanted me to get it autographed by him? Was she impressed? Was she excited to get a possible autograph? No, not really! She asked me, "Can you get it from him for free?" Kids!!!
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  • Profile picture of the author dannn1
    If you start online with the mindset that quitting is an absolute impossibility, that failure will come, that you will overcome it, and that you will work until you reach the level of success you desire, it is impossible not to be successful.

    It think this applies to anything you want to accomplish, and it is especially true in Internet marketing. Starting in this business requires tremendous internal motivation because you are often going it alone.

    If you stay focused on one plan and do everything in your power to see it realized, you cannot ultimately fail. The only thing that can ultimately cause you to fail is yourself - what other people say and do has NO impact on you other than what you let it.
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  • Profile picture of the author RedShifted
    Yeh if there is one thing I certaintly learned as far as sales are concerned you can NOT sell anything to someone who does not first like and respect you first.

    I wound up doing a lot of cold calling this week and noticed when I actually went off topic, and began to talk about random things, focusing more on the person, their interest in me would become more apparent. They'd pick up the phone acting bitchy, but then eventually I'd say something they weren't expecting, to throw them for a loop. Like "Did you know that I hate cold calling people? You probably hate telemarketers too just be honest?". Even if they said no, I'd justify WHY I was calling and would make it sound as honest as possible. It turned out to be a great way to get people to open up oddly enough. Although it wasn't the very first thing I said as that would come off weird, I waited a few minutes into the conversation to say it.

    They would become much less resistant in hearing me out, feeling I was more authentic, and I guess it has a lot to do with that "people" element. Sensing I'm a human being and not a machine, and becoming interested in what I have to say because of that.

    -Red

    ps. I don't feel this is something that anyone can do, you really need to do in a good spirits otherwise the conversation can get weird fast. =]
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  • Profile picture of the author Chris W. Sutton
    Bryan, I have always advocated the benefits of networking, relationships and mastermind groups. They are some of the best ways to get ahead in this business and you are proof positive of that! If you aren't in a mastermind group, social group, chat, etc. what is holding every single one of you up?

    And as for people who have given freely of their time, there aren't many who have given as much as Shay has.
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  • Profile picture of the author JimDucharme
    I have to jump in and just offer a little anecdote here. I was at the WF live event in Raliegh, standing around outside in the fine Feb weather and Bryan introduced himself and we started chatting. I couldn't help getting caught up in his enthusiasm and we hit it off right away. That's where the roots of his partnership with GetResponse took hold. It wasn't laywers sending letters back and forth or administrators stumbling through impersonal paperwork...it was people, meeting, talking and connecting first on a personal level then on a business level. If there is one thing Bryan understands it's the importance of relationships and I think that's why he and I connected.

    Now here we are with a new integration which brings a lot of value to all our customers and on top of that, we are teaming up for a great VIP event at next week's Rockstar Summit in Vegas! I'm also proud to say I'll be speaking at the event.

    All of this came out of that one WF Live event and happened because of the great people I had the opportunity to meet there and the great people I work with such as our dev team and especially Mick Kitor (our affiliate manager). When I sit down and think of all that has happened since I started with GetResponse less than a year ago, I am humbled and amazed...not by how fast it's happened, but because it's all boiled down to focusing on building relationships with good people. I'm not lying when I say that many people in this community have helped me prove time and again that relationships are key to success.

    So, I hope I won't come off sounding "schmoozy" when I say thank you to Bryan, EBR and every one of you here who whether you know it or not, make every work day for me, not work at all.

    Regards,
    jim
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    • Profile picture of the author Bryan Zimmerman
      Originally Posted by JimDucharme View Post

      I was at the WF live event in Raliegh, standing around outside in the fine Feb weather and Bryan introduced himself and we started chatting. I couldn't help getting caught up in his enthusiasm and we hit it off right away. That's where the roots of his partnership with GetResponse took hold.
      Yep, I can't remember who I was talking to, but they told me that the GetResponse people were at the event and then pointed you out. So at that point, we were going to have a conversation one way or the other

      What I remember most about that meeting though was the fact we were all on break hanging out outside. I told you what I had in mind and what we wanted to do at JVZoo and what I thought the benefits for not only us but GetResponse as well would be. You didn't hand me your card and tell me to get with you when we got back from the conference, nor did you act like I was crazy with the idea that I had.

      What you did do was tell me to let's go shoot an email out to the owner of GetResponse explaining everything we wanted to do and see exactly how and if we could make it happen right now! That to me was impressive honestly, but any one that's spoken with you can tell in the first 30 seconds that you actually listen and that you give a damn about the community and how your company interacts with it.

      Mick's the same way. I've enjoyed talking to him and working with him over the last few months to get this thing in place. We've had quite a few laughs about programmers proof reading copy and a few other things. For a company of your size, to say I'm impressed with the level of accessibility to key people within your company is an understatement. And that's not just us, I see you guys all over the forum and talking to everyone at the event. I see a lot of people switching to use you guys in the very near future.

      Originally Posted by JimDucharme View Post

      Now here we are with a new integration which brings a lot of value to all our customers and on top of that, we are teaming up for a great VIP event at next week's Rockstar Summit in Vegas! I'm also proud to say I'll be speaking at the event.
      Pretty cool how in 3 months since that event, we've built something together that nobody else has, we're teaming up to co-host an event with you guys in Vegas and there's no question we're going to push somethings out together in the future. All of this came about from a 10 minute conversation.

      And by the way, your new drop and drag editor is awesome. There's been a lot of complaining about the new editor in Aweber, but yours is easy as hell to use. Topping it off with being able to demo it and enter into a contest for a nice $1000.00 first prize makes it even sweeter. Stupid question, but I'm going to assume that we are not eligible for that contest anymore lol.
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  • Profile picture of the author Adam Humphreys
    Great post Bryan and all of your points in the post are things I am currently working on in my business. It's been my biggest restriction staying in my comfort zone or thinking I can treat my business like a hobby

    At long last I am finally starting to do the things you state and guess what? I'm seeing results and positive movement in my business. Thanks again and for everyone who needs a push, keep reading Bryan's post until you realise just how important these steps are...
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  • Profile picture of the author Jrivera680
    Yea some people just give up when there on the brink of success
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    • Profile picture of the author daveaball
      I agree that a lot of people just give up, I would imagine its information overload a lot of the time, there should be a clear path to success like a blueprint.
      Would anyone recommend such a blueprint , either online tutorials or videos etc, thanks
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  • Profile picture of the author goindeep
    Great points.

    I got asked something the other day.

    The email said: Halo sir, my name is Gwan Nrinidarra I am the chief of the National Banking associations for bannana production in my country. I have $5,000,000 hidden away in a secret cave that my parents built during the civil unrest of 1998 which mainly happened due to fears that Prince would start partying like it's 1999 and wouldnt stop. Because my house is surrounded with armed guards that are from the royal alliance against bannana flavored frozen yoghurt, I need a way out. I have found a gentleman FROM eBay called CatLover273 offering his mercenary service, he says he has watched enter the dragon 12 times, owns chuck norris's total gym and has taken 1 free kickboxing class. I know he can get me out of here but for this he needs 100K. Will you be so kind and transfer him the monies and then I will pay both you and CatLover273 250K.

    --

    Nah but seriously, great advice.

    I also think that people need certain bits of information, knowledge, training, coaching and some even therapy at certain points on their journey.
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  • Profile picture of the author martimoney
    Awesome post! I agree. Courage is a quality everyone starting a business needs to have. I would also add that asking 100 people and getting 100 "no's" probably means you're asking the wrong people, but it could be your asking the wrong questions as well. If you get 100 "no's" then think of how you can reword the questions to get a few "yes's."

    Again awesome and inspiring post. It has pushed me to ask 25 more people today a question I have been afraid to ask. Onward and upward...
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  • Profile picture of the author Zults
    Awesome post,

    I agree you need courage, you need to get out of your comfort and experience more.
    You'll only become successful if you can fail and get back up again.
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  • Profile picture of the author KeithSneed
    Thanks for that post Bryan. I needed to hear that.

    I wrote down your 3 step process on my white board, and I'm going to make all of those happen every day. I just shortened step 3 to "work your a** off". lol
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  • Profile picture of the author Jordi
    I deleted my facebook and realized it's time to be serious as well. So far so good, facebook deletion was a good idea as I remember it was very addictive. I learn that sometimes we have to give something up for something we really really want to see happen
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  • Profile picture of the author Drew Cleveland
    Nice info! I think going outside your comfort zone is really important too.
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  • Profile picture of the author tpw
    People say they will promote. Some will apply to be an affiliate, some won't.

    That is just life... It happens...

    Whaa...

    People apply to be affiliates, you approve them, then you wait... Sometimes they mail, sometimes they don't...

    That is just life... It happens...

    People apply to be an affiliate, then they mail... Some will give you a good product review... Others won't...

    That is just life... It happens...

    Some people will apply to be an affiliate, mail, and give a good review, and their lists still won't buy your crap...

    That is just life... It happens...

    What do you want us to tell you about this?

    I know this problem from both sides of the aisle... You are just one product vendor, with one product available for sale...

    If someone is converting better than you, we may mail for you later, but not today...

    If your conversion sucks, we may never mail...

    We are here to make money... Sometimes your offer will fit our schedule and look good for our readers, and other times it won't.



    That deal you are holding a grudge about is one that had weak sales copy on it to start with....

    You were cursing like a sailor, even before you said, "**** this ****"... LOL

    Why would we send our readers to your sales page? Just to piss them off?

    And then we would be sending our readers to your crappy sales page, and you are telling our readers in advance that you are only selling part of the entire system NOW... Our people would have been pissed about that and held it against us....

    And you are mad at all of those folks who did not keep up their end of the deal? Seriously? There are multiple reasons why people were not keeping up their end, because you failed to deliver on your end...

    Whose fault was that really?

    That is right... It was THEIR fault!!
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  • Profile picture of the author Joseph Robinson
    Banned
    I'm never going to bed.

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  • Profile picture of the author andreekriz
    Originally Posted by Bryan Zimmerman View Post

    Been a while since I actually posted something that could be really helpful, but I keep my nose to the grind stone as much as possible. But I wanted to share this so those starting out and those struggling will hopefully get something out of it they can use.

    I see all the time, how do I do this, how can I do that, why can't I get this to work, why are some people successful and others not, etc etc. Same questions that you see all the time on all forums such as this one. Here's three things that have yet to fail me and were and are huge launching pads for the success I've had online in less than 4 years.

    First, get rid of your "comfort zone" and get out of your own way. Do one thing every day to step outside of it. EVERY DAY. Do that, and imagine how big your comfort zone will be in a week, a month and then a year! You won't have a comfort zone by then. More on that in a minute.

    Second, don't ask questions in general, ASK INDIVIDUAL PEOPLE QUESTIONS!

    Third, work at it like you really want it.

    My entire online success can be boiled down to three things and only three things.

    1.Got rid of my comfort zone
    2.I asked individual people questions
    3.My ability to put my head down, nose to the grind stone and flat get to work.

    When I first started in August 2008, I bought a course from a couple guys named Don and Jeremy. I asked those guys a bunch of questions. I asked those guys for their personal emails. I asked so many questions that I asked and they gave me their phone number so that they didn't have to answer my 200 emails anymore. I stepped out of my comfort zone and I ASKED for their phone numbers! What was the worst they were going to say? No? So what, if they said no, was I in any different position than I was before? But if they said yes, now was I in a different position? Absolutely I was. With what they taught me and I implemented, I went on to start making 300.00 a day and more and created my first product which sold over 2600 copies at a time there was no affiliate programs in the WF like their are now.

    When I wanted to get access to someone who was way above my level, I ran across something Brad Gosse was offering at the time. A one on one phone call for 30 minutes for 30.00. He was already extremely successful, but at the time was just introducing himself to WF. What did I do? I asked him if I could have TWO sessions for 30.00 each. He told me it was only for one really as it was a way for him to introduce himself. I asked again, does that mean no or can I have two? I told him I wouldn't bother him with random garbage and I would prove I was willing to follow what he said. He agreed and gave me two of them.

    Three years later, I consider Brad a good friend and one I've done various projects with. The best part is I can pick up the phone and call him and ask him anything and he knows he can do the same. All because in the beginning I asked for something that he wasn't really offering. But again, would I have been in any different position if he said no? But if he said yes....

    Last year after leaving the WF event in Raleigh, I asked a programmer named Chad Casselman, who I had never met if he'd like to partner up and build some things. Then somehow (don't remember honestly) I met E. Brian Rose and saw he was doing something similar to some things I was working on and asked him if he'd like to do somethings together. Then we all asked each other if we'd all like to work together. From that question both Webinar Swaps and JVZoo were created in less than a year. All because of questions that were asked.

    Then just this week, I pulled off something I never thought I would have a prayer in hell of getting, but I got it. I got one of the top autoresponder companies in the internet marketing world to give JVZoo something that no other affiliate network has as far as integration and list opt ins goes. Honestly I never thought they would even consider it, and it took months to put it all together. But it all happened BECAUSE I ASKED FOR IT!

    If you look at those things, and there are more, just not going to write a novel anymore than I already have, they all tie together.

    I started out, I stepped outside my comfort zone and I asked individual people questions. I took what I learned and the success I had and I used it as leverage in meeting other people and asked them for things. I took that and used that as leverage to meet other people who had more things that could help me and kept building on that all the way to now.

    The bottom line is IF you are willing to put in the work, there are people that will help you because they know down the road your friendship and leverage may very well be worth 1000 times what you might pay them now. But you never know until you ask. Trust me, go back and look at some of the first posts I made on this forum. "how do I upload a PDF", "how do I make a PDF". Hell, I honestly didn't know how to use an email address until August 2008. I was a construction worker and was as "newbie" as it gets with computers period, let alone IM.

    If you ask 100 people and all 100 say no, what's the worst that can happen? You're in the same spot you were before you started. No harm really. BUT if you ask 100 people and 10 of them say yes, or even 1 says yes, are you in a better position now? Absolutely you are, especially when you do it consistently.
    Yes you are so rite! If we just all got out of own way...
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  • Profile picture of the author David Keith
    Not that anyone cares, but here is my 2 cents.

    Bryan, you are absolutely right about taking action and getting outside your comfort zone. When i consult with wanna be IMers who struggle with this I always ask them when they decided to quit trying.

    I ask them where they would be if they never got on that bike or if they never leaned in to kiss a girl?

    At the same time, I also see some of what CD is saying. Having watched the IM game from the outside, yet pretty darn close for longer than most have been involved in it, I can safely say it is one of the least moral niches out there.

    There are countless examples, but this is not the time or place for that discussion. But needless to say, I find it very hard to believe that people who often push the products they push are really truly upstanding people who are motivated by both a desire to help people and profit...not just the later.

    BTW, my broad brush painting of the IM niche is not directed at anyone personally, just my opinion of an industry i have watched closely for 16+ years now.

    Great post Bryan.
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    • Profile picture of the author CDarklock
      Originally Posted by David Keith View Post

      Not that anyone cares, but here is my 2 cents.
      I think your two cents generally tends to be pretty worthwhile.

      Bryan, you are absolutely right about taking action and getting outside your comfort zone.
      I agree with this, and don't want that to get lost. Bryan and I are NOT on opposite sides of this issue.

      For God's sake, there have been recent months where I was eating ramen every 28 hours because six meals a week is cheaper than seven. That's not a "comfort zone" by any definition. Sometimes you have to suffer for what you want, and I do my share of that. And that comes down to a central philosophy of mine: Discipline is doing what needs to be done, even when it is not convenient.

      That's also about comfort zones, when you come right down to it. Growth is uncomfortable. You can't stay comfortable and grow. If you don't move beyond the bounds of your current existence, you will never be anything more than you are.

      Having watched the IM game from the outside, yet pretty darn close for longer than most have been involved in it, I can safely say it is one of the least moral niches out there.
      This is largely because we excuse it. I'm simply appalled at the number of people who, upon hearing that someone flat-out lied about promoting my launch, blame me for believing them... because everyone lies, and you should just expect that; whenever anyone tells you something, just assume it's a lie.

      Wait, what? That's no way to live. I mean, the picture's all over Facebook saying "You can't change the people around you, but you can change the people you choose to be around." Since when did we all just throw up our hands and say "I'll just continue hanging around all these liars" instead of trying to find and join or even form communities where lying isn't the norm? I mean, when you look around and see that everyone in the room except you is a jerk, maybe it's time to leave.

      Of course, the jerks will call you a quitter and label it "sour grapes," but they're jerks.
      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
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  • Profile picture of the author Davipet
    This is my first post in WF but I just found something very inspiring. Bryan Zimmerman's story is very similar to mine. I'm Italian and a beginner internet marketer. Why am I here? I asked an advice to my "guru" for improve my english and he told me " read and write a lot, a perfect place could be WF". So here I am. I asked for advice to people above my knowledge level, and I found an expert that became also my mate and... yes, a friend.
    I write alla without translator, so I hope it's quite understandable (ok I admit, I use translator for "understandable") ...
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    • Profile picture of the author sammib01
      Originally Posted by Davipet View Post

      This is my first post in WF but I just found something very inspiring. Bryan Zimmerman's story is very similar to mine. I'm Italian and a beginner internet marketer. Why am I here? I asked an advice to my "guru" for improve my english and he told me " read and write a lot, a perfect place could be WF". So here I am. I asked for advice to people above my knowledge level, and I found an expert that became also my mate and... yes, a friend.
      I write alla without translator, so I hope it's quite understandable (ok I admit, I use translator for "understandable") ...
      Good to have you here. Your English is better than 99.999% of the people Italian here, it is very good and easy to understand with very few mistakes.

      Do you live in Italy?
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  • Profile picture of the author madhushan
    Wow... Bryan...

    That was one hell of an inspiration to me.

    Now, this has made me wanting to get out of my comfort zone and do something worthy...

    thanks a lot bro...
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  • Profile picture of the author sammib01
    Great story Brian. It is true if you do not start it wan`t happen. Or as the chinese say "The journey of a thousand leagues starts with the first step"

    People are my business. I am what you call an International Business Negotiations Expert, which is a fancy name for someone doing something simple. I go into countries and setup networks of people and link them through contacts with other countries and in the end you have a network in many countries. I also negotiate deals with companies for international business. Anyway, you are right you only get what you ASK for. If you do not ask you do not GET. Almost everything you get in life you ask for; a date, a job, a raise, a deal, a partner (business or personal) but it starts when you ask.

    You start with nothing and if you ask and they say no what do you get? Nothing. So what did you LOSE? Nothing.

    The POWER of asking and the pwoer of negotiating are the same. If you know how to ask you will get a YES in many cases, but if you do not ask you will get a NO in 100% of all cases. At the moment I am in Europe setting up a system in over 50 countries for companies to sell their goods and services. The reason I am here is because so many people here have helped me with questions, products, plugins, etc. that I used in international business so I decided to give something back. I want IM people to have the oportunity to sell their stuff internationally. I will be working with many companies not in the internet marketing world but if I have the system in place why not use it for all of you to make money.

    As for believing people, I would love to but experience has proved time and time again it is very often the wrong choice. Trust and believe people you know and can depend on and let people PROVE they are believable. In the end you will be better off. Just my opinion...

    I am going on and on here, sorry. Thanks Brian.
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  • Profile picture of the author JasonParker
    Bryan, your persistence is rare to come by.

    So are your guts

    I've got a similar background as you by the way. Doing construction, painting, landscaping...

    Reaching out to a known marketer and showing him I'm serious as a heart attack about this business is the same exact thing I did.

    Heck, I ended up working in the guy's office for a while too, learning by osmosis.

    I got to sit in on his high dollar training classes.

    I got to split test with him and see all the numbers and where the money was coming from.

    And working in an office after working outside for $9 to $10 per hour for years? Was it weird and outside of my comfort zone? Heck ya. But was it worth it? Heck ya.

    Anyway, awesome post. Those aren't just the qualities of a successful Internet marketer, but the qualities of a champion.
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    • Profile picture of the author Bryan Zimmerman
      Originally Posted by JasonParker View Post

      Bryan, your persistence is rare to come by.

      So are your guts

      I've got a similar background as you by the way. Doing construction, painting, landscaping...

      Reaching out to a known marketer and showing him I'm serious as a heart attack about this business is the same exact thing I did.

      Heck, I ended up working in the guy's office for a while too, learning by osmosis.

      I got to sit in on his high dollar training classes.

      I got to split test with him and see all the numbers and where the money was coming from.

      And working in an office after working outside for $9 to $10 per hour for years? Was it weird and outside of my comfort zone? Heck ya. But was it worth it? Heck ya.

      Anyway, awesome post. Those aren't just the qualities of a successful Internet marketer, but the qualities of a champion.
      Thanks Jason, I didn't know you did construction too at one point. Awesome back ground story there too. I've enjoyed talking to you over the last year and picking your brain a bit on what you do since it's quiet a bit different than what I do

      If anyone's thinking about list building, listen to this guy. He takes it to a whole other level of integration and monetization I hadn't thought of.
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  • Profile picture of the author JimDucharme
    The exchange of views here in this thread nicely sums up why online communities such as this are so valuable. Perception is nine tenths of the law and unless you have others to challenge your perceptions, you have no perspective. One thing I like about CD (among many others here) is his frank honesty -- plus his picture vaguely reminds me of some of my favourite rock bands from the 70s. Of course, most of my memories of the 70s are vague in any case, which is probably why I'm so nostalgic for 1977.

    Regards,
    jim
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  • Profile picture of the author Challendge
    They say, "it's not what you know, it's who know". I say that it's both! You obviously agree. Loved this post. The best way to lead is by example! If you had just posted this because you read it in a book and were looking for attention then it would have had no use.
    Because you have accomplished so much, you COMMAND respect and, at the very least, a serious consideration of your point(s).

    Maybe you can even create a quick PDF outlining these points....that is, of course, if you know how to do that
    You've come a long way! We're all cheering for you!
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    • Profile picture of the author Bryan Zimmerman
      Originally Posted by Challendge View Post

      Maybe you can even create a quick PDF outlining these points....that is, of course, if you know how to do that
      LMAO, nice! That actually made me laugh outloud for a second. Yea, I've learned how to do that now. Funny part of it was I actually paid 7.00 for an ebook that told me how to do it

      I'll save anyone else that has that question the money or time. Download Open Office or Microsoft Office, click on "save" select "PDF" and click "save" again. That's what I paid 7.00 for lol. Please PM me if you'd like to send me a donation for the PDF tip
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  • Profile picture of the author MagLyn
    Thanks sharing, Bryan. Truly inspiring, esp for a newbie like me. There's much to learn.
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  • Profile picture of the author kayfrank
    This was a really great post. Thanks Brian. It has come at just the right time for me. Today I found out that I have won a 6 month IM coaching course with Dean Holland! I am excited but also scared - its outside my comfort zone! I'll definitely take on board your thoughts.
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    • Profile picture of the author Bryan Zimmerman
      Originally Posted by kayfrank View Post

      This was a really great post. Thanks Brian. It has come at just the right time for me. Today I found out that I have won a 6 month IM coaching course with Dean Holland! I am excited but also scared - its outside my comfort zone! I'll definitely take on board your thoughts.
      Congratulations on the win! I remember when Dean was first starting out. He's come a long way himself, should be a great prize you won.
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  • Profile picture of the author romanos8
    Banned
    wow what a inspiring post When you find a chance you have to take it and make the best out of it oh and good job with your success
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