I've been a little disappointed in the recent influx of new posts and posters. It's time for some tough love.

Before I do this, don't get me wrong - I view this forum as a second home and everyone who comes here I see as family. BUT that doesn't mean it's not time for big brother to give a little a$$ kicking here today.

1. No plan? MAKE ONE!

I hear over and over (especially from new people) that say "I don't have a plan", "I can't do that", "That sounds like a good idea, but..."

The fastlane is for doers not whiners. You don't have a financial plan for your future? Find one! Can't find one? Make one!

Let me ask this question: do you have the opportunity, need, or value you can provide to the world in exchange for money? No? Well then how much time are you spending per week on finding one? Oh - you're not? Hmm... you mean to tell me that you don't have an opportunity, and you are NOT looking for one actively (as in a set amount of hours per week) and you believe this stuff just falls into your lap? Dream on Count Chocula, get real, Peter Pan!

If you don't have a plan you are working on right now, your plan needs to be searching for one. How many hours will you put in per month searching? Per week? Per day? How bad do you want it?

2. Motivation is not step one. Education is.

When I read the replies to some of these posts it is of motivational videos, inspirational words, lyrics to some song - the poster will often relate in both of their miseries. That is ok - only to a point! One conversation of misery is enough misery!

Motivation is not the first step. If you motivate an idiot you just have a motivated idiot! Someone who spins their wheels and gets no where. MJ's book is fantastic, really revolutionary, but do you think that any successful person has only read ONE book? Get moving. Education - then motivation. Often motivation comes from being educated. "I didn't know it was that easy," you're going to say. Getting into business ain't that tough. People on here are selling cell phones on craigs list - they are in business. Mowing lawns for your neighbor, hey! You're in business! Get into business.

3. Education is the first step, not the ONLY step.

Then I see the other people who are educating, educating, educating. People who can almost quote personal development, financial books, or any other program as well as I could... but they do... nothing.

The time for action was yesterday, if you aren't already working on your opporunity and fortune, you're late to work. Show up late too many more times and the opportunity boss will fire you, leaving you to wallow in your own disgusting existence of "I wish I could have..." (I hope I said that well enough that people take action!)

I'm off... to do what you ask? Get to work. As always! Good luck and have a fantastic day :smxB:

Ahhhh....how refreshing!

Thank you, big brother!!:eusa_clap:

For me though - I think the motivation part was #1. Maybe that's coz I've had some education and just needed to hear the right words to get me moving in the right direction, add to that - I stuck myself (unknowingly) in the rat race - I don't know.

But I'm MOVING, I'm DOING! Finally!! Took me long enough. Bye bye analysis paralysis!!

Nice theory. Can't say that I disagree but it's not the full picture.

Flaws?
-> Your plan may fail. You must be prepared for it to fail. And if you don't know what you're doing, it will fail. Fortune favors the bold, but there are a lot of bold people out there. If you think you're the only one trying to change your life around, you're going to have a surprise.

-> Depending on your field, education may be more or less important. If you're going to be a deal maker, then a few real deals will teach you more than 99% of all books out there. If you want to be a SEO person, then you'd better start learning how. It's not a one size fits all.

-> I know a lot of rich idiots. A motivated idiot is better than a not so motivated idiot. So if you know you are not so great, at least get motivated. You'll eventually get better.

-> Getting into business is tough. No, forget that. Getting into business is easy. Succeeding into business is tough. In the real world, the text book examples don't ever work. Succeeding in business is sometimes like keeping a relationship. The essence is the same - trust, love, respect. The day to day reality is different.

And when business go bad is like your spouse cheating on you. In those moments, can you keep yourself on track?

-> Opportunities ... I'm tired of this word. Everyone today has an idea and an opportunity.

GUESS WHAT?

Go outside, take a look around you and everything can be done better, faster, cheaper. Almost everything. Give me a notebook and in two hours I'll come with 50 business ideas.

Does this means you should pursuit all of them?

Not at all. Some ideas are too hard to implement. Some ideas require conditions you don't have (as in capital, experience, relationships). Some ideas are too risky. Some ideas are too late or too early.

In the end, the best opportunity is to take a proven formula and make it better. Why reinvent the wheel? You think that you are the first one to come up with this awesome idea? I doubt it. Chances are that someone else before you analyzed it and abandoned it.

Do you think iTunes is so out of the box?
That the Millionaire Fastlane is a innovative book?
That Avatar (the movie) is unique?

No, they are just better versions of what was out there before.

For example ... think about the Segway. It's a great piece of hardware. And a commercial failure? Why? Because no matter how fastlane does it sound, paying $12.000 for a "bike" that you can't even drive on the road it's not a good deal. The Segway is used in corporations, labs, etc. But it's still a financial failure. Or at least that's what I've read in the press.

On the other side there is the iPad. What does the iPad do better? Nothing. You can read mails, write new ones, watch pictures, watch movies, download apps. It's just an easier way to do all of those things.

There are only a few disruptive innovations that actually brought something to the real world. 3d television is one of them. USB 3.0 may be another. E-books and e-book readers.

But most innovative ideas are just innovative ideas that have little or no market value.

And to prove this, here I am. Next to me I have an iPad. I have a phone. I even have one of those digital pens that can record stuff as long as you're writing on special paper. And I'm using a simple journal and a gel pen to write my thoughts. It's easier and faster.

-> Maybe most importantly, you need to feel like someone willing to work before you do it. It's the concept of self-image. If you feel yourself a lazy person, you'll act as one.

So no matter how much you read motivational posts, things won't get better until you do. Things won't change until you change. MJ can't change your life if you'd rather play on the XBOX instead of doing something.

-> This no-pain, no-gain approach is old. People are not robots. If you haven't worked out in your life, you can't start and work out 10 hours a day. If you're lazy, no opportunity, idea, concept, book can help you become a work-a-holic. So, instead of looking for inspiration, look for an outcome. Look for a muse. Something outside of you that will push you towards achieving your goal.

I think that's all. Overall, I love the post. My only complain - too politically correct. Except that, read it again and again, you've got something good to learn from there.

RazvanRogoz said:

Nice theory.

Click to expand...

I don't do theory.

Everything is a theory until it's being put to test in real life.

RazvanRogoz said:

Everything is a theory until it's being put to test in real life.

Click to expand...

Methinks the OP is speaking from gained experience in the real world aka the marketplace, i.e. not speaking from theory but from proven results.

KFS does real life.

I was just thinking about this today and I'm trying to remain positive .... but...

I'm really tired of seeing "IDEA" threads (Is this Fastlane? I can't tell you - it's a secret!!) and "How do I learn to program?" -- this stuff should be elementary if you read the book ... really, if you can't figure this stuff out on your own, the Fastlane is probably not for you. I want to see EXECUTION threads. Threads that say "I did this ... this was the result" are 100X more valuable than the same old idea shit "is this Fastlane?"

NOTHING IS FASTLANE until you get your a$$ out there and do something.

Right now, it's all "this idea this, this idea that, blah blah" -- frankly, I'm tired of expending energy into idea threads because the person asking ultimately does nothing. I'm trying to make a conscious effort on commenting only on EXECUTION stuff (someone ACTUALLY doing something, not sitting on their couch *thinking* and dreaming about worthless ideas - yes, they're all worthless because they take 8 seconds to think about.)

Building something tangible and learning, failing, and succeeding... well, that takes months and we all know, people are more interested in the event (IS this FASTLANE?) than the process. (I DID THIS FOR X MONTHS AND THIS WAS THE RESULT.)

Perhaps it is time for an "idea lounge" for people that want to respond to this kind of stuff.

RazvanRogoz said:

-> Your plan may fail. You must be prepared for it to fail. And if you don't know what you're doing, it will fail. Fortune favors the bold, but there are a lot of bold people out there. If you think you're the only one trying to change your life around, you're going to have a surprise.

-> Depending on your field, education may be more or less important. If you're going to be a deal maker, then a few real deals will teach you more than 99% of all books out there. If you want to be a SEO person, then you'd better start learning how. It's not a one size fits all.

-> I know a lot of rich idiots. A motivated idiot is better than a not so motivated idiot. So if you know you are not so great, at least get motivated. You'll eventually get better.

-> Getting into business is tough. No, forget that. Getting into business is easy. Succeeding into business is tough. In the real world, the text book examples don't ever work. Succeeding in business is sometimes like keeping a relationship. The essence is the same - trust, love, respect. The day to day reality is different.

And when business go bad is like your spouse cheating on you. In those moments, can you keep yourself on track?

-> Opportunities ... I'm tired of this word. Everyone today has an idea and an opportunity.

GUESS WHAT?

Go outside, take a look around you and everything can be done better, faster, cheaper. Almost everything. Give me a notebook and in two hours I'll come with 50 business ideas.

Does this means you should pursuit all of them?

Not at all. Some ideas are too hard to implement. Some ideas require conditions you don't have (as in capital, experience, relationships). Some ideas are too risky. Some ideas are too late or too early.

In the end, the best opportunity is to take a proven formula and make it better. Why reinvent the wheel? You think that you are the first one to come up with this awesome idea? I doubt it. Chances are that someone else before you analyzed it and abandoned it.

Do you think iTunes is so out of the box?
That the Millionaire Fastlane is a innovative book?
That Avatar (the movie) is unique?

No, they are just better versions of what was out there before.

For example ... think about the Segway. It's a great piece of hardware. And a commercial failure? Why? Because no matter how fastlane does it sound, paying $12.000 for a "bike" that you can't even drive on the road it's not a good deal. The Segway is used in corporations, labs, etc. But it's still a financial failure. Or at least that's what I've read in the press.

On the other side there is the iPad. What does the iPad do better? Nothing. You can read mails, write new ones, watch pictures, watch movies, download apps. It's just an easier way to do all of those things.

There are only a few disruptive innovations that actually brought something to the real world. 3d television is one of them. USB 3.0 may be another. E-books and e-book readers.

But most innovative ideas are just innovative ideas that have little or no market value.

And to prove this, here I am. Next to me I have an iPad. I have a phone. I even have one of those digital pens that can record stuff as long as you're writing on special paper. And I'm using a simple journal and a gel pen to write my thoughts. It's easier and faster.

-> Maybe most importantly, you need to feel like someone willing to work before you do it. It's the concept of self-image. If you feel yourself a lazy person, you'll act as one.

So no matter how much you read motivational posts, things won't get better until you do. Things won't change until you change. MJ can't change your life if you'd rather play on the XBOX instead of doing something.

-> This no-pain, no-gain approach is old. People are not robots. If you haven't worked out in your life, you can't start and work out 10 hours a day. If you're lazy, no opportunity, idea, concept, book can help you become a work-a-holic. So, instead of looking for inspiration, look for an outcome. Look for a muse. Something outside of you that will push you towards achieving your goal.

I think that's all. Overall, I love the post. My only complain - too politically correct. Except that, read it again and again, you've got something good to learn from there.

Click to expand...

KungFuSteve said:

Then I see the other people who are educating, educating, educating. People who can almost quote personal development, financial books, or any other program as well as I could... but they do... nothing.

Click to expand...

Case and point.

Kung Fu Steve said:

Case and point.

Click to expand...

Exactly what I was thinking. Lol

MJDeMarco said:

Perhaps it is time for an "idea lounge" for people that want to deal with this stuff.

Click to expand...

Idea lounge.. Humm.. lot of the same type of threads being started lately..

Would that lounge be off limits if you don't have any idea? LOL

I kind of like the idea of an idea lounge!

Maybe we could create a thought couch and can think with our noodle, that way when we thoughtfully sit on the couch we can doodle with our noodle!

... too much wine while I'm working... think I'm going to finally go to bed... 6am comes really soon

In tandem with the idea threads that are proliferating (idea lounge is a great idea imo), I'm seeing alot of "I have this idea but I don't want anyone to know about it, is an NDA enough if I hire a programmer" type threads lately. MJ said it, ideas are worthless. Get something out to market and see the reaction. Most likely it isn't going to work. GREAT! Now you have something to tweak, or the opportunity to move on to the next idea to *implement*. And the next one. And the one after that.

MJDeMarco said:

NOTHING IS FASTLANE until you get your a$$ out there and do something.

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I am posting this beside my computer!

MJDeMarco said:

I was just thinking about this today and I'm trying to remain positive .... but...

I'm really tired of seeing "IDEA" threads . . .NOTHING IS FASTLANE until you get your a$$ out there and do something.

Click to expand...

Word of the day/week/month/year:


DO.


-Russ H.

doodle from your noodle, KFS has used this before, that was to eloquent to be from the top of his mind!! haha

MJDeMarco said:

Perhaps it is time for an "idea lounge" for people that want to respond to this kind of stuff.

Click to expand...

It would be money if the idea lounge posts were filtered out of the "latest posts" list. Seems like 99% of a lot of the recent threads would be in the "idea lounge", but it would make the threads that matter gain a lot more discussion. Would be great to see barely any posts in the latest posts, but have them be 100% quality.

snowbank said:

It would be money if the idea lounge posts were filtered out of the "latest posts" list. Seems like 99% of a lot of the recent threads would be in the "idea lounge", but it would make the threads that matter gain a lot more discussion. Would be great to see barely any posts in the latest posts, but have them be 100% quality.

Click to expand...

Money and a half

MJDeMarco said:

Building something tangible and learning, failing, and succeeding...

Click to expand...

More people should heed this.

1) Why do ya'll all of a sudden want to learn to code? Try selling it first then make the product. If this sounds confusing then I did not say take money without providing a product (illegal) but I said sell it and see if anyone is willing to buy. If you can't sell it now, you won't sell it when the product is finished either - no need or your offer is wrong.

2) If you can sell it, then make a beta product. Measure, listen to feedback, refine, add, correct, sell more...

3) Honestly, a lot of (us) new folk should be directed to Jack Edwards' progress thread first and only then post

roark said:

...Try selling it first then make the product. If this sounds confusing then I did not say take money without providing a product (illegal) but I said sell it and see if anyone is willing to buy. If you can't sell it now, you won't sell it when the product is finished either - no need or your offer is wrong.

Click to expand...

How could you sell something if it did not exist, or if you lacked the skills to produce it?

Please give an example.

Thanks,

-Russ H.

Selling a concept is easy:

- Direct mail a neighborhood with your promotion for the product you envision and measure the response to your mailing address/phone number/special website URL.

- Do the same thing via PPC traffic to a website online.

Refund, or don't even charge, any order information you receive. Inform the customer that the product is still in test phase or on backorder. This is called dry testing FYI

MJDeMarco said:

I'm trying to make a conscious effort on commenting only on EXECUTION stuff

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Can we start an execution thread? Seems paradoxical though. Maybe like speedway private? I dont need ideas; although, I am guilty of my fair share of whimsical discussion.

snowbank said:

It would be money if the idea lounge posts were filtered out of the "latest posts" list. Seems like 99% of a lot of the recent threads would be in the "idea lounge", but it would make the threads that matter gain a lot more discussion. Would be great to see barely any posts in the latest posts, but have them be 100% quality.

Click to expand...

Perhaps snowbank has a better "idea" :smx4:

roark said:

More people should heed this.

1) Why do ya'll all of a sudden want to learn to code? Try selling it first then make the product. If this sounds confusing then I did not say take money without providing a product (illegal) but I said sell it and see if anyone is willing to buy. If you can't sell it now, you won't sell it when the product is finished either - no need or your offer is wrong.

2) If you can sell it, then make a beta product. Measure, listen to feedback, refine, add, correct, sell more...

3) Honestly, a lot of (us) new folk should be directed to Jack Edwards' progress thread first and only then post

Click to expand...

I agree with the importance in measuring however I think it's pretty obvious why everyone wants to learn to code if they have the patience and ability to learn. Look where the world is headed, in the next 20 years coding will be a part of grade school.

77startup said:

I agree with the importance in measuring however I think it's pretty obvious why everyone wants to learn to code if they have the patience and ability to learn. Look where the world is headed, in the next 20 years coding will be a part of grade school.

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Actually I'm thinking everyone here wants to learn code because that's what MJ did and they think it's going to make them rich like him...

Not how it works...

(but you could be right too :smxB

Actually I think that must ring true for a large number of people. I cringe everytime someone tries to copy Mj's marketing strategy. I mean he had limos.com and alt vista...

77startup said:

Look where the world is headed, in the next 20 years coding will be a part of grade school.

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Hmm, don't know about that, but your first step is to sell the concept, then if you do, worry about coding and finding coders. Why waste time and energy on something that is a dud or on a wrong marketing concept?

Iqen said:

This is called dry testing FYI

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Thank you for writing this, sometimes it's good to spell it out.

Just remember to keep it stealth and do only limited local or particular target client roll-out. Don't go all out without a product and fall flat on your face.

Adwords is OK too, but why pay when you can do it for free robots.txt can be your friend...

77startup said:

I mean he had limos.com and alt vista

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As far as I know (and MJ can correct me if I am wrong) MJ didn't start with that domain name. He only bought it from someone later on when his site was already successful with some other (longer) domain name. I am sure the bought domain helped rankings afterwards, but that wasn't the key.

Google is a tougher nut, for sure, but I once heard a wise man say "F*** Google until it loves you". You should see this as an opportunity not a bad thing. The more difficult it is the less people you have who are willing to enter and compete - to the brave and experimental go the spoils

77startup said:

I cringe everytime someone tries to copy Mj's marketing strategy.

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So do I.

roark said:

MJ didn't start with that domain name. He only bought it from someone later on when his site was already successful with some other (longer) domain name.

Click to expand...

Correct. And I might add, I bought it via an expensive credit card advance.