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Andy Black

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Thank you everyone who replied. I hope you throw away that spectator badge for good and join us in the arena.

For those of you who don’t feel you can add value, check out this thread:

(And thanks MJ for the Gold badge. I hope this thread is found by new members for many years to come.)
 
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Roido

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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.
I'm going to start by thanking you. Thank you for your post, for your encouragement. I'm new in this forum and I'm quite struggling how to participate in any way, so you're idea was like a light bulb showing how easy it should be.
 

Andy Black

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I'm going to start by thanking you. Thank you for your post, for your encouragement. I'm new in this forum and I'm quite struggling how to participate in any way, so you're idea was like a light bulb showing how easy it should be.
Great work. Keep giving thanks and supporting people and watch what happens. It’s a lifelong skill.
 

Fasoon

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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 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.
 
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Mezy

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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

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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.
 

Diego Liu

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Thanks a lot @Andy Black

I’d long held the belief that I’m not “qualified” to post here since I’m not banking millions, but enough with that limiting belief.

I have a lot to offer simply by documenting my journey and how I overcome obstacles similar to the ones that others here (will) face.

I have some value bombs coming for y’all. Be prepared! ;)
 
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Dino_saur

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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.
Thankyou sir! I’m new here, very useful to me :)
 

fastlaner_1992

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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.
So true brother,

I used to feel I'd need to have built something significant to participate, but then I realised that I always grow and that growth no matter how small or insignificant my (at times) insecure self believes it is, I actually have value to share and insights people can use.

So I agree guys/ gals on the forum don't lurk - jump in and enjoy the ride because....

you miss 100% of the shots you don't take.

Thanks Andy
 

ahti92

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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

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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!
 

shanprit

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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!
 

Koen_88

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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 Andy. Good post. Made me reconsider my activities on the forum. The feeling of posting to "The Void" is also a good one, I can resonate with that (not on the FFF persé).

My reason is that I'm not doing anything business wise, I had one freelance gig in the 4 years on the forum, and it didnt even ended very succesfull (got paid though). So I dont consider myself as someone who has anything to contribute.
 
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Last edited:

Andy Black

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I dont consider myself as someone who has anything to contribute.
This is very common. Except now you realise "giving thanks" contributes a lot of value.
 

Andre Aguiar

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Thanks a lot for the tip. It's just what I needed to read today.
My wife said to me yesterday that I was becoming a little too selfish.

When I appreciate other people's efforts, I become happier with myself, but sometimes it's hard to do this everyday.

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.
 

Brent Moeshlin

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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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Lyev

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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.
Well Andy, you just managed to break my 5 year lurking streak.
I'm definitely ashamed, but it was time to make the transition.

That's the power of words. Thank you.
 

BD64

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

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Thank you for the eye-opening post.
As a person who always lurks, this was important to hear.
It's a simple but powerful tip to get involved and improve.
I will try it out.
 

Vinz

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This applies to other parts of Life too. Work is much better since I started partecipating instead of minding my own, and I made some good relationships in the meanwhile.
 
Last edited:

farouqali

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This applies to other parts of Life too. Work Is much Better since Is started partecipating instead of minding my own, and I made some good relationships in the meanwhile
Its true, it builds confidence and character to appreciate what is worthy.
 
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chaoticbusiness

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

Developing a habit of expressing gratitude towards others has some spiritual benefits, no doubt. Saying/typing "thank you" means a lot more IMO than hitting a like button.

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

The consumer trap is very hard to escape and very well designed. There have been a few times where I've temporarily switched to a producer, but the vast majority of my life has been consumer. But, nothing is stopping me from switching to team producer 24/7, especially armed with the knowledge from TMF (about 80% thru). I'm excited to give value to as many people as possible!

Come back and thank me later.

Oh, I will, many times

But seriously, thank you, Andy. I've been browsing the forum for the past 2 weeks while reading and digesting TMF for the first time, and you're obviously one of the biggest names around these parts - helps that you present yourself as a human, too!

Thank you for the incredible wealth of knowledge you've shared, for free, thus far. I can't imagine how many entrepreneurs your guidance as helped, I'm very grateful for your presence here!
 

Burtronnegut

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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.

Thank you so much for posting this.

I'm poor at getting involved with online forums. In fact, this is the only one I ever engage in. This might be only the second time I've commented, so I'm the lurker you point out above.

There are several posts on this forum that have changed the way I think about the world. I'm going to comment and say thanks to those authors now. Thank you!
 

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