Don’t lurk, do this instead

[Paul David]

You may be tempted to lurk - in this forum, in other forums, or in life.

I urge you to participate instead.

Worried you don’t have value to add?

The easiest way you can participate is to “give thanks”.

If you read something you like then don’t just hit the Like button. Quote it, thank the poster, and explain why it helped you.

Here’s what’ll happen:

1) You’ll help the poster realise they’re not posting to the void.

2) You’ll encourage them to post again.

3) You’ll support them and help them keep going, possibly through dark times.

4) You’ll get into the habit of “giving thanks” properly (where you explain how it’s helped you).

5) You’ll start being seen as someone who appreciates and supports others.

6) You’ll slowly move from team consumer to team producer.

7) You’ll start making friends, building relationships, and creating win-wins (the essence of business).

Try it and see what happens.

Come back and thank me later.

Great post.

I'll never forget the time I was lurking on Periscope and someone was streaming live from a pub in Ireland, I clicked the video and low and behold it was you!

Small world my friend.

 

[doster.zach]

You wouldn't believe how many new users I delete because their first post is promotion, mediation spam, backlinking, and other no-value posts. You would not recognize this place if all that got thru.

Sounds like a business opportunity with a first customer

 

[Mezy]

This is a very good point, Andy.

Admittedly, I often fall into the camp of a lurker. At its core, this principle is a mindset shift that turns you from a passive person into a proactive person. You never know what will lead to what – your contributions may not have an apparent effect but who knows how far the butterfly effect goes?

 

[Mezy]

Thanks for this.
The point about liking the content vs engaging really hit home with me. I guess in engaging with the content by writing does move a lot more of the grey cells and helps to internalize it a lot better.

This is a really interesting point. I tend to agree with you and think that the emotional investment of putting yourself out there does require you to internalise the details more. Also, the social implication requires you to have understood the concept somewhat rather than indifferent scrolling through and ultimately a consumer.

 

[Saad Khan]

Thank you @Andy Black, you just made me realize the value I can give! I'll try my best to turn this into a habit.

 

[RVF]

Try it and see what happens.

Thank you @Andy Black, for making me realize that I was only "lurking" ever since I joined this forum. So from now on, I will try my best to "participate". Thanks again!

 

[ahti92]

Thanks for the kick Andy! Driven by egotism, this lurking seems to be the default autopilot mode for many folks and needs regular unweeding. Asking the right questions is often the best help you can give

 

[Senecal]

If you read something you like then don’t just hit the Like button. Quote it, thank the poster, and explain why it helped you.

Thanks for this timely reminder Andy.

Super simple yet super valuable advice as always!

 

[Joejordan95]

Thanks for the post @Andy Black your post helped by calling me out on just consuming everyone’s else content

 

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[StephanBg]

Great advice. Thanks for making this clear. I definitely have to make some room in my calendar again.

 

[shanprit]

You may be tempted to lurk - in this forum, in other forums, or in life.

I urge you to participate instead.

Worried you don’t have value to add?

The easiest way you can participate is to “give thanks”.

If you read something you like then don’t just hit the Like button. Quote it, thank the poster, and explain why it helped you.

Here’s what’ll happen:

1) You’ll help the poster realise they’re not posting to the void.

2) You’ll encourage them to post again.

3) You’ll help them keep going, possibly through dark times.

4) You’ll get into the habit of “giving thanks” properly (where you explain how it’s helped you).

5) You’ll start being seen as someone who appreciates and supports others.

6) You’ll slowly move from team consumer to team producer.

7) You’ll start making friends, building relationships, and creating win-wins (the essence of business).

Try it and see what happens.

Come back and thank me later.

Thank you!

 

[Brent Moeshlin]

You may be tempted to lurk - in this forum, in other forums, or in life.

I urge you to participate instead.

Worried you don’t have value to add?

The easiest way you can participate is to “give thanks”.

If you read something you like then don’t just hit the Like button. Quote it, thank the poster, and explain why it helped you.

Here’s what’ll happen:

1) You’ll help the poster realise they’re not posting to the void.

2) You’ll encourage them to post again.

3) You’ll help them keep going, possibly through dark times.

4) You’ll get into the habit of “giving thanks” properly (where you explain how it’s helped you).

5) You’ll start being seen as someone who appreciates and supports others.

6) You’ll slowly move from team consumer to team producer.

7) You’ll start making friends, building relationships, and creating win-wins (the essence of business).

Try it and see what happens.

Come back and thank me later.

Thanks Andy for posting this. I don't lurk much but I do see the immense value in this forum. Thanks to MJ too for helping to transform my mental frameworks around scaling my business with Fastlane 3+ years ago. Doubled our revenue YOY for our business every year since.

I'm going to make more of an effort to get on here to give back, read threads and build relationships.

 

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[EMH]

Thank you @Andy Black - this is precisely what I will be doing. Glad you took the time to make your post.

 

[BD64]

Thanks Andy, you are right I've been lurking and skating by with hitting the like button too much lately

 

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[stavedeve]

You may be tempted to lurk - in this forum, other forums, or in life.

You'll do better to participate instead.

Worried you don’t have value to add?

Start by giving thanks.

If you read something you like then don’t just hit the Like button.

Quote it, thank the poster, and explain why it helped you.

Here’s what’ll happen:

1) You’ll help the poster realise they’re not posting to the void.

2) You’ll encourage them to post again.

3) You’ll help them keep going, possibly through dark times.

4) You’ll get into the habit of “giving thanks” where you explain how it’s helped you.

5) You’ll start being seen as someone who appreciates and supports others.

6) You’ll slowly move from team consumer to team producer.

7) You’ll start making friends, building relationships, and creating win-wins (the essence of business).

Try it and see what happens.

Come back and thank me later.

I Love this and just took your advise. Lurking is easy; contributing is hard.

 

[Andy Black]

Thanks Andy!

That's the exact same "strategy" I used when joined INSIDERS last year and got back to activity here on this forum.

What first was only "thank you" posts suddenly became long posts I've no idea I wanted to create and contribute.

Inspiration really strikes when you fingers just start hitting the keyboard after you decide to write a reply.

Thanks again for bringing this up and make it even clearer to me.

As always, I appreciate your posts!

That's interesting. I hadn't thought of that.

It reminds me of Gary Halbert's copywriting advice to "Darken the page" (start scribbling and the rest will start forming).

 

[instant.change]

You may be tempted to lurk - in this forum, other forums, or in life.

You'll do better to participate instead.

Worried you don’t have value to add?

Start by giving thanks.

If you read something you like then don’t just hit the Like button.

Quote it, thank the poster, and explain why it helped you.

Here’s what’ll happen:

1) You’ll help the poster realise they’re not posting to the void.

2) You’ll encourage them to post again.

3) You’ll help them keep going, possibly through dark times.

4) You’ll get into the habit of “giving thanks” where you explain how it’s helped you.

5) You’ll start being seen as someone who appreciates and supports others.

6) You’ll slowly move from team consumer to team producer.

7) You’ll start making friends, building relationships, and creating win-wins (the essence of business).

Try it and see what happens.

Come back and thank me later.

Hi Andy, thank you very much for your words. I just registered on this forum and this was the third thread I was lurking around in - so your reminder to produce and not only to read and consume came at the perfect timing! It also got me thinking in which ways I could contribute best on this platform and provide value. Awesome!

 

[Drchainsaw]

Thank you @Andy Black for this amazing post, I really appreciate you pushing us to get involved with the community.
while reading your post i had an epiphany. Being a producer is not just about creating things for others to user , its about creating in general. lurking around the forums taking in content is the actions of a consumer. I WILL be making my introduction post here soon , I'm working on the details at the moment. Thank you for taking time out of your schedule to help (especially us introverts ) feel like our contributions are wanted.

 

[KushShah9492]

You may be tempted to lurk - in this forum, other forums, or in life.

You'll do better to participate instead.

Worried you don’t have value to add?

Start by giving thanks.

If you read something you like then don’t just hit the Like button.

Quote it, thank the poster, and explain why it helped you.

Here’s what’ll happen:

1) You’ll help the poster realise they’re not posting to the void.

2) You’ll encourage them to post again.

3) You’ll help them keep going, possibly through dark times.

4) You’ll get into the habit of “giving thanks” where you explain how it’s helped you.

5) You’ll start being seen as someone who appreciates and supports others.

6) You’ll slowly move from team consumer to team producer.

7) You’ll start making friends, building relationships, and creating win-wins (the essence of business).

Try it and see what happens.

Come back and thank me later.

Wow Thanks Andy

 

[FNeu]

I'm seriously going to start forcing myself to participate the forum. I get so nervous about posting anything online. I'll (re)start here. Thank you for the post. It speaks to me and you're right I all i want to do is lurk. This helps me see that maybe I do have something to contribute to this forum. And you can't argue with the pros you listed!

Heck yeah get after it!

 

[arukomp]

You may be tempted to lurk - in this forum, other forums, or in life.

You'll do better to participate instead.

Worried you don’t have value to add?

Start by giving thanks.

If you read something you like then don’t just hit the Like button.

Quote it, thank the poster, and explain why it helped you.

Here’s what’ll happen:

1) You’ll help the poster realise they’re not posting to the void.

2) You’ll encourage them to post again.

3) You’ll help them keep going, possibly through dark times.

4) You’ll get into the habit of “giving thanks” where you explain how it’s helped you.

5) You’ll start being seen as someone who appreciates and supports others.

6) You’ll slowly move from team consumer to team producer.

7) You’ll start making friends, building relationships, and creating win-wins (the essence of business).

Try it and see what happens.

Come back and thank me later.

Thanks a lot for this post, Andy! Definitely a great reminder to be more involved in the community and simply saying thanks is a great way to start.

 

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[istiger]

You may be tempted to lurk - in this forum, other forums, or in life.

You'll do better to participate instead.

Worried you don’t have value to add?

Start by giving thanks.

If you read something you like then don’t just hit the Like button.

Quote it, thank the poster, and explain why it helped you.

Here’s what’ll happen:

1) You’ll help the poster realise they’re not posting to the void.

2) You’ll encourage them to post again.

3) You’ll help them keep going, possibly through dark times.

4) You’ll get into the habit of “giving thanks” where you explain how it’s helped you.

5) You’ll start being seen as someone who appreciates and supports others.

6) You’ll slowly move from team consumer to team producer.

7) You’ll start making friends, building relationships, and creating win-wins (the essence of business).

Try it and see what happens.

Come back and thank me later.

Hi Andy, I find yourself first on YouTube. You pleasantly surprised me for being here in this forum. Great Post and get going

Ps: I found you in the video about talking head video, nice tips

Pps: I check now your YouTube account but I doesn't found it. Do you delete it?

 

[Lorerosso17]

A different perspective! Sometimes is useful to have a reminder, thanks!

 

[Tim K.]

You may be tempted to lurk - in this forum, other forums, or in life.

You'll do better to participate instead.

Worried you don’t have value to add?

Start by giving thanks.

If you read something you like then don’t just hit the Like button.

Quote it, thank the poster, and explain why it helped you.

Thank you Andy for this callout. I've been lurking, not just on here but in a lot of other places online, until I saw this post. Your advice gave me the little push into the mindset of gratitude, I needed to take action and I did. I got to really thank the people who added value to my life.

1) You’ll help the poster realise they’re not posting to the void.

2) You’ll encourage them to post again.

3) You’ll help them keep going, possibly through dark times.

4) You’ll get into the habit of “giving thanks” where you explain how it’s helped you.

You helped me see the value I can add to another persons life just by taking the time to thank them. I went all in, starting from my circle of friends, all it took was some descripted genuine complements and we saw immediate improvements in our relationships.

5) You’ll start being seen as someone who appreciates and supports others.

6) You’ll slowly move from team consumer to team producer.

I've starting seeing it in myself. It was the first step to really do something. The best part is, it requires NO CAPITAL to do and really does help with a (emotional) need.

7) You’ll start making friends, building relationships, and creating win-wins (the essence of business).

Try it and see what happens.

Come back and thank me later.

I tried it outside of my social circle and it was immediate gratification, funny how that works, self gratification from a selfless act.

You provided not just me, but the whole world with immense value when you didn't have to, for that you deserve respect.
Thank you.

-Tim

 

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[Paul Flint]

You may be tempted to lurk - in this forum, other forums, or in life.

You'll do better to participate instead.

Worried you don’t have value to add?

Start by giving thanks.

If you read something you like then don’t just hit the Like button.

Quote it, thank the poster, and explain why it helped you.

Here’s what’ll happen:

1) You’ll help the poster realise they’re not posting to the void.

2) You’ll encourage them to post again.

3) You’ll help them keep going, possibly through dark times.

4) You’ll get into the habit of “giving thanks” where you explain how it’s helped you.

5) You’ll start being seen as someone who appreciates and supports others.

6) You’ll slowly move from team consumer to team producer.

7) You’ll start making friends, building relationships, and creating win-wins (the essence of business).

Try it and see what happens.

Come back and thank me later.

Thanks for the Pro tip!

 

[matduans]

You may be tempted to lurk - in this forum, other forums, or in life.

You'll do better to participate instead.

Worried you don’t have value to add?

Start by giving thanks.

If you read something you like then don’t just hit the Like button.

Quote it, thank the poster, and explain why it helped you.

Here’s what’ll happen:

1) You’ll help the poster realise they’re not posting to the void.

2) You’ll encourage them to post again.

3) You’ll help them keep going, possibly through dark times.

4) You’ll get into the habit of “giving thanks” where you explain how it’s helped you.

5) You’ll start being seen as someone who appreciates and supports others.

6) You’ll slowly move from team consumer to team producer.

7) You’ll start making friends, building relationships, and creating win-wins (the essence of business).

Try it and see what happens.

Come back and thank me later.

wow nice suggestion

 

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[Andy Black]

Thank you for this post Andy. Sometimes all a person needs is something like this, quick call to action that will wake you up. I am a person that usually consumes 95% of content, and very rarely produces something. But this post gave me the "permission" to go and write something mine. Immediately went to forum that I lurk onto since a long time and I commented like 3 different posts.

And also here I am commenting this thread.

That’s great! Let us know how you get on.

 

[ronlugo]

You may be tempted to lurk - in this forum, other forums, or in life.

You'll do better to participate instead.

Worried you don’t have value to add?

Start by giving thanks.

If you read something you like then don’t just hit the Like button.

Quote it, thank the poster, and explain why it helped you.

Here’s what’ll happen:

1) You’ll help the poster realise they’re not posting to the void.

2) You’ll encourage them to post again.

3) You’ll help them keep going, possibly through dark times.

4) You’ll get into the habit of “giving thanks” where you explain how it’s helped you.

5) You’ll start being seen as someone who appreciates and supports others.

6) You’ll slowly move from team consumer to team producer.

7) You’ll start making friends, building relationships, and creating win-wins (the essence of business).

Try it and see what happens.

Come back and thank me later.

@Andy Black. Great post and for the reminder!

 

[Andy Black]

I realize that's starting a business and posting on an online forum are not apt comparisons

Actually, I think they're very similar. It's all about getting out of your own way and just starting. One of the biggest reasons people don't start a business is because they don't think they can add value (yet). One of the biggest reasons people don't post in this forum is because they don't think they can add value (yet).

I created a thread a few years ago after PM'ing over 700 members who followed me or sent me rep. It's over 3,000 PMs now.

Anyway, I send a message to say thanks and I ended up getting into conversation. A common theme in those conversations was that people loved the forum, were super enthusiastic about business, but hadn't posted yet because they didn't think they could add value.

You can read more about that here:

• Learnings from 700+ PMs with fellow forum members

Look at the first row of links in my signature and you'll see they're a common theme.

 

[the_daniele]

You may be tempted to lurk - in this forum, other forums, or in life.

You'll do better to participate instead.

Worried you don’t have value to add?

Start by giving thanks.

If you read something you like then don’t just hit the Like button.

Quote it, thank the poster, and explain why it helped you.

Here’s what’ll happen:

1) You’ll help the poster realise they’re not posting to the void.

2) You’ll encourage them to post again.

3) You’ll help them keep going, possibly through dark times.

4) You’ll get into the habit of “giving thanks” where you explain how it’s helped you.

5) You’ll start being seen as someone who appreciates and supports others.

6) You’ll slowly move from team consumer to team producer.

7) You’ll start making friends, building relationships, and creating win-wins (the essence of business).

Try it and see what happens.

Come back and thank me later.

Excellent post @Andy Black it reminds us how important is for both sides to participate

 

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