Fastlane paradox?

[Newpollz]

While reading more awesome posts today on the forum and hearing people's advice I couldn't help but wonder...

All the members who post actively, why are you not posting your views and advice on your own blog, and monetize it instead of doing it here?

 

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[AllenCrawley]

Some do. Some have podcasts. One even had a radio show for a while.

 

[AllenCrawley]

Oh, to answer your question. Most of us are happy to give back to a community that has helped us so much. Not to mention the feeling of indebtedness that I have towards @MJ DeMarco personally. I want to do what I can to help him... and his forum. This forum also gets a crazy amount of traffic that one would have to work for a long time to build for their own blog.

 

[Newpollz]

Some do. Some have podcasts. One even had a radio show for a while.

That's awesome, hit me up with a link to your blog/podcast I'd love to check it out.

 

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[AllenCrawley]

I don't have a blog, podcast or radio show.

 

[Newpollz]

Why not do it on the side? You are a LEGENDARY CONTRIBUTOR, that means what you produce is epic and I've witnessed it myself on here for over a year.

 

[adoredunchin]

Join the INSIDERS and you know why he chooses to put his time in 'something' else

 

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[jon.a]

For the most part this is an anti-guru community.

 

[Choate]

The origin of a forum dates back to ancient Rome when people met in big open spaces to share goods and ideas.

This is like saying: forget about the huge gathering every 4th of the month in the year 142 where the greatest philosophers meet on Via Del Corso and share ideas, and instead create your own philosophy group. The problem is your own philosophy group is not going to have any followers, you'll be missing out on cutting edge information, and you'll most likely be talking to a tree and your closest friends.

I took my horse drawn carriage down this road to end up this forum, because this I find this to be a highly concentrated source of ideas, positive energy, motivation, connections, etc.

I could try to create my own forum, but I'm kind of like a nomad: I don't have the knowledge nor time to build my own but this is a great place to stop in the middle of my journey.

If I go make my own blog, who can I chat with on it and get feedback in the next week? Month? Year? Maybe some people in a year. When do I need to work on my business and read about other like-minded individuals? Today.

 

[Newpollz]

Join the INSIDERS and you know why he chooses to put his time in 'something' else

Ah I get it now I just might once I finish eating up all the delicious posts on the regular forum.

 

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[Newpollz]

For the most part this is an anti-guru community.

Definately, I still hate it how to this day I point TMF to friends and they're like "Oh here goes another Become a Millionaire Book". It's not.

 

[Andy Black]

All the members who post actively, why are you not posting your views and advice on your own blog, and monetize it instead of doing it here?

What if I just want to help more people?

I have a Wordpress website. (Hmmm... does that make it a blog?)

It's primarily used to house articles I can point my clients to, so I don't keep repeating myself. I wrote each post because I kept replying to the same questions.

I don't promote my website in any way. I barely log into it from one quarter to the next.

I dropped all my content in here because I thought it would help more people.

If my goal is to help more people, why does it have to be on *my* website?



What if I wasn't "making money blogging"?

A lot of people believe they can "make money blogging", or "make money podcasting".

For most of us, blogging or podcasting is just a way of getting more leads, sales, and customers to our business.

For most of us, it's our business that makes money.

If you're selling a service, then blogging and podcasting is just a way to demonstrate your expertise in an area so more people can hire you. (Ok, Ok, ... and to get more people to find you.)

If you subscribe to the view that the internet is one big lead generation machine, then why don't I try and get the good people on this forum to come over to my blog, join my email list, and allow me to build a relationship with them there?

Why don't I build a watering hole next to the busy watering hole and try and get people to come over to mine?

Errr... because I don't want to build a watering hole, website, blog, or forum.

What I want to build is relationships.

And online, there's no better way I can think of to build relationships than in a forum of like minded people - because it's a two way street - we can all see what everyone else posts, what their views are, how they interact with people, and we can gravitate to people we know, like, and trust.

So, does it matter whether I own the platform where I share my knowledge or not?

Business is ALL about building relationships, and that happens better in a forum than on a blog or podcast.

I think it's better not to think about building platforms, and just build relationships instead.


I love forums

Personally, I love forums. I can help people much better because it's a dialogue, not a monologue like normally happens on your own blog. And I can learn from all the people who are sooo much better than me at all the stuff I don't specialise in.

Also, I can "test" out whether my content helps people better in a forum, because I'll get feedback to improve it, or it will sink without a trace.

In fact, I'll let you into a little secret, of how I've been totally ABUSING this forum and the good people in it...


Here's something I posted on the inside in @MTF 's Gold progress thread (here):

I'll let you all in to a secret... (shhh)...

I've been totally using this forum for my own purposes.

There, I said it.



I came here, and dropped my AdWords articles left right and centre.

Instead of creating one monster thread with all my posts in them, I created individual threads for each.

I observed which sank without a trace. I wondered if it was the headline, and then the content.

I observed which got traction. I wondered if it was the headline, and then the content.

I noted people's feedback. Did it help them? Did it confuse them? Did they have any questions? Did it help them enough for them to click "Like"?

Because we're in an active forum, I can then find out more about the people my posts have really resonated with. What level are they at? Are they other media buyers? Are they "already in motion" with a successful business? Are they wantrapreneurs who are chasing a shiny object (not so much actually... I think my content is too "boring" and "meaty" for lookie-loos).

If anyone follows me or sends me rep, I send a quick PM to thank them (since I consider it manners), and I then ask them how they're finding the forum, or how their business is going (often going back through their posts to find out more about them). I was mostly doing this out of manners, but also out of curiosity. What did all these people have in common that my content resonated enough for them to follow me or send me rep?

I also did a few free calls with people who seemed stuck, or needed help. That also helped me understand how better I could serve people.


You'll notice I've not created an AMA though. I see people with AMA's losing the will to live after a few pages in. They're just getting asked questions that can either be quickly Googled, or they're asked questions they've already answered further up.

I might do an AMA, as I'll find out where people get stuck all the time. Except they look so much hard work...

@JasonR has done a great job doing this without creating an AMA in his "What's stopping you?" thread.



I produce my best work when I'm helping someone. I knew not to try and learn to create a website, and back in 2009 I picked an electrician who needed more work as my way to learn how to add more value.

I'm sure many of us are like this. Our content bubbles to the top when people ask questions and we have the answers. If we sat down to write some content, we might just sit staring at the screen.

Case in point, I was trying to create a quick video yesterday to show the potential for local lead generation. I recorded for a minute and couldn't work out how to even start. I was talking to thin air.

Then the locksmith who was round fitting a lock said he'd finished, and I told him in 5 minutes exactly what I wanted to record in the video. (We'd chatted earlier and he'd asked me what I did - hahaha... little did he know).


When people say they don't know what to write about, or can't find problems to solve, I just scratch my head.

Help people.

It will show you what problems need solving.

Talk to people.

It will bubble up the content you ALREADY have inside you.

It all stems from a mindset of trying to help. As per @IceCreamKid 's Astonishing Secrets thread.


Hope that helps.​

These posts might interest you:

• The WHAT and WHY of Lead Gen
• Article from Justin Jackson: Just Help People

EDIT: Saying all that, I've had enough people asking me to do talks, videos, courses, etc, that I'm probably going to do so, and venture outside this forum and see if I can help even more people.

But even then, I'll likely add content to YouTube, Udemy, Slideshare, LinkedIn, etc.

Why do I need to own the platform?

Which reminds me of this post:

• Why not take off your coat and stay a while?

 

[Vigilante]

The reason is pretty simple.

If you TAKE from here, but don't GIVE to here, we don't want you here.

If you find, as in life, that the more you GIVE the more you learn, you will start to understand how to add value to life.

I can tell you that I have learned more here than I have ever given.

Last year, I was teaching a few classes as a guest lecturer.

For free.

And I learned more than I gave.

There's a word for people who pimp themselves for money.

It's called a hooker.

 

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[Andy Black]

Last year, I was teaching a few classes as a guest lecturer.

For free.

And I learned more than I gave.

I've gained more from doing free calls with people than I've ever gained from doing paid calls.

If you aren't paid, then you've created an inbalance in the world. It will work to pay you back.

If @Vigilante was paid for those lectures, the "transaction" would have been complete. There'd be nothing extra to come back.

That might sound foo-foo to you, so let's frame this with the cold lense of ROI. You help someone for free. You have no expectation of anything in return. The person you helped is going to be much more inclined to do business with you again in the future, and much more inclined to refer you on.

Not because you're free, but because they know what you can do for them, and for their friends.


I've done free calls that lasted two hours.

Give away my knowlege for nothing? Am I crazy?

But I realise a busy business owner just gave me two hours of their time.

Wow.

And then, because I was helping them with no expectation of anything in return, they finished the call with their advice on how I could better grow my business or change my offerings.

All because they could see first hand how I can help businesses.

How much do you think I would have had to pay for advice like that?

And multiply it by all the business owners I've helped?


Please please please believe it. Give, and you'll receive more than you can ever comprehend.



EDIT: I write this after just getting back home from giving a Maths grind to someone's teenage son. Last week was Calculus, this week was Permutations and Probability.

I didn't get "paid" with cash. But the look in his eyes last week when I was leaving was GOLD. He "got" it. He was delighted he got it.

His Mum told me he was delighted with himself. She's over the moon.

Most importantly.... That look told me he now realises he's not stupid - just that he's been taught badly.

That realisation is MASSIVE, and is going to return and compound MASSIVELY over his lifetime.

To me, that's absolutely PRICELESS.

 

[Newpollz]

Please please please believe it. Give, and you'll receive more than you can ever comprehend.

Don't sell your soul. Invest in "People Currency" instead.

 

[Andy Black]

Thanks for the thread @Newpollz

It was a very good question because we see many people join the forum hit-and-run style. They drop content, then tell people to sign up to their "list".

They're missing the point, and doomed to chase whatever shiny new lead generation strategy the gooroos or Warrior Forum says is working.

They don't hang around long, their content just ends up deleted, and they likely get themselves banned anyway.

What are they missing out on by not taking off their coat and staying a while?

 

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[Newpollz]

Thanks for the thread @Newpollz

It was a very good question because we see many people join the forum hit-and-run style. They drop content, then tell people to sign up.
They're missing the point, and doomed to chase whatever shiny new lead generation strategy the gooroos or Warrior Forum says is working.
They don't hang around long, their content just ends up deleted, and they likely get themselves banned anyway.
What are they missing out by not taking off their coat and staying a while?

I understand, but you've got to give me a chance. I have read the book, spent over one year on the forum lurking and besides this tread where I link to my youtube videos : How I got valuable marketing material for 25$.

I have never actually linked directly to my website. I consider this place a temple for the mind and even though sometimes I think my time should go toward something more "productive" (as in making money), I always end up checking out the top articles daily.

 

[Delmania]

I have a blog, but I lost my way on it. However, a post of mine just appeared on SimpleProgrammer.com, and even though I only got a few comments, it did recharge me and gave me some ideas for more posts.

 

[biophase]

All the members who post actively, why are you not posting your views and advice on your own blog, and monetize it instead of doing it here?

Why would I want to start another business where the ROI sucks. I can be making more within my businesses than blogging.

 

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[TonyStark]

Why not do it on the side? You are a LEGENDARY CONTRIBUTOR, that means what you produce is epic and I've witnessed it myself on here for over a year.

Because they make more money in their own business already. I don't think MJ would want to start a blog, when he already makes millions off of Limos.com.

 

[RHL]

How could I have been so blind? Think of the fives of dollars I've thrown away by not blogging!

 

[Newpollz]

How could I have been so blind? Think of the fives of dollars I've thrown away by not blogging!

So nobody sees the paradox? How much are you contributing to the forum in terms of plus value, how much is the site generating and how much are you getting out of it in terms of "investment income" ? What about the commandments of time and control. What if you are a legendary contributor and all of a sudden MJ thinks you are irrelevant, thus banning your a$$ forever?

Aristotle said that it is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it.

I was just trying to spark a discussion but I have the feeling some of you guys are taking it a bit too personally. I understand that you do as I love this forum too.

 

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[Newpollz]

The reason is pretty simple.

If you TAKE from here, but don't GIVE to here, we don't want you here.

If you find, as in life, that the more you GIVE the more you learn, you will start to understand how to add value to life.

I can tell you that I have learned more here than I have ever given.

Last year, I was teaching a few classes as a guest lecturer.

For free.

And I learned more than I gave.

There's a word for people who pimp themselves for money.

It's called a hooker.

@Vigilante Did an event trigger that "wanting to help people to add value to life" or is it still part of an ongoing learning process (as in you must always force yourself to think about others)? Also what did you learn during the time you taught classes as a guest lecturer?

 

[biophase]

So nobody sees the paradox? How much are you contributing to the forum in terms of plus value, how much is the site generating and how much are you getting out of it in terms of "investment income" ? What about the commandments of time and control. What if you are a legendary contributor and all of a sudden MJ thinks you are irrelevant, thus banning your a$$ forever?

First you are assuming that making money on a blog is as easy as putting up a post. I can tell you that they are two totally different things. With a blog you need to schedule posts, write good content, promote the blog, etc... It's just like running a business. It is nothing like posting on a forum.

We are not spending time on here to make money. There is no commandment of time for being on here. If I have more important things to do, I don't come here. I'm not wasting any of my time because it's leisure time.

As far as control. Nobody is making money by posting here. I really don't think many of the Legendary contributors would care financially if they got banned. Sure their feelings would be hurt personally. But they would just move on and there would be no financial impact.

You are basically asking me why I volunteer at a dog shelter walking dogs when I could be running a dog walking business during the same time. I'm doing the same activity but my reasons for doing so are 100% different.

 

[Andy Black]

@Newpollz

Are you asking why someone like @biophase doesn't blog to promote the products he sells on his websites, or as you asking why he doesn't create a blog to teach people how to sell products from websites?

They're two different things.

I don't know whether @biophase creates content to help sell his products.

I'd guess as a practitioner that he's not going to sell his processes and strategies to his competitors, and that he'd get a much better ROI sticking to what he already does well, rather than getting into the "info product" business.


I know I currently do neither. I'm a practitioner first and foremost. I make money doing it, not teaching it. The AdWords content I drop in here brings me the odd small client via the forum, but it's negligible and I do it because I like to help the smaller guy, and I'd like to eventually do it at scale.

I get my main clients via word-of-mouth and my network, not from paid ads or content on my blog. I created the content on my blog to point clients to, so I didn't have to keep repeating myself.

Much like @biophase, I write in here in my downtime. I enjoy teaching and coaching, and generally helping people. I am in the forum instead of watching TV.

I also learn a LOT from participating in the forum.



I've spent the last 6 years creating and optimising AdWords campaigns (and landing pages) to generate more leads, customers, sales, revenue, and profit for my clients.

I've not spent the last 6 years teaching, coaching, or creating info products.

If I was to move to the info product world, then I'm moving away from what I do best.

Sure, I've dabbled a bit with paid teaching, paid coaching, a paid forum, and a paid eBook (the second link in my signature). But I've found that people don't really want to learn, they just want the results of the learning - and they'd get a much better result by focusing on fulfilling leads and hiring me to generate them.

The people who want to learn are typically the people who don't have a business profitable enough to hire me. So they aren't going to be my ideal clients (the way my service business is currently set up).

As I mentioned in a previous post, if (when) I do start creating more content and publishing it outside this forum, my goal will be to generate more clients for my service business, and I will be publishing it to YouTube, Slideshare, LinkedIn, Udemy, etc.

I don't care who own's the *platform*. I created the content. If someone wants to hire an AdWords consultant, then they'll hire me, not MJ just because my content is on his platform.

I don't care where my content is hosted, just that it's attributed to me if it's published anywhere.

I won't "make money blogging". The "blogging" will just be an inbound marketing strategy. I won't give away the shop, but will use it to generate more leads for my business.

Look at all the great content Gary Vaynerchuk creates. He tells you what to do and why. Knowing what to do and why is the sign of an expert. He doesn't tell you how to do it (and I'm not even sure a practitioner *can* tell you how to do it as well as they do - you have to learn by doing it yourself).

What he's doing is building his personal brand, so that it generates more business for his service business. (Which is also a reason why my avatar is my name, and biophase's isn't.)


Why would a practitioner like Gary sell the details of how he does what he does, when he can make so much more money doing it?

Something to ponder...

 

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[AgainstAllOdds]

This forum is like my wealth creation family.

Our goal isn't to pretend to be great businessmen, but to actually be.

The opportunity cost of starting a blog is greater than jumping into an infrastructure with amazing individuals that already exists.

I'm here to have a conversation, get feedback, and for people to talk trash when I'm an idiot. You don't get that on a blog. On a blog you preach and get followers. I'm not here for followers. I'm here to get rich.

 

[Newpollz]

This forum is like my wealth creation family.

I'm here to have a conversation, get feedback, and for people to talk trash when I'm an idiot. You don't get that on a blog. On a blog you preach and get followers. I'm not here for followers. I'm here to get rich.

What about the comments section and the emails people send you?

I'm not here for followers. I'm here to get rich.

I actually get it, but this is part of the paradox I was talking about.

1) You help people for free on here --> 2) ??? ---> 3) profit? , so does that mean you still have an agenda or are your intentions 100% altruistic?

You are basically asking me why I volunteer at a dog shelter walking dogs when I could be running a dog walking business during the same time. I'm doing the same activity but my reasons for doing so are 100% different.

@biophase Yes this is exactly what I am asking. Tell me more about the reasons and how they are 100% different.

 

[Newpollz]

@Newpollz

Are you asking why someone like @biophase doesn't blog to promote the products he sells on his websites, or as you asking why he doesn't create a blog to teach people how to sell products from websites?

What I am really asking is if you are helping people

1) altruistically (without expecting nothing in return), the sole act of helping others gives you immense satisfaction
2) have an agenda (you are trying to eventually promote brand, get followers etc.)
3) as part of a learning/teaching process (the forum is your school , your temple)

I now have a better idea thanks to all of your responses. Thanks.

 

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[Newpollz]

We are not spending time on here to make money. There is no commandment of time for being on here. If I have more important things to do, I don't come here. I'm not wasting any of my time because it's leisure time.

@biophase So what you are saying is that the time you spend on the forum would be equally spent playing video games, since it's leisure time?

 

[biophase]

@biophase
"You are basically asking me why I volunteer at a dog shelter walking dogs when I could be running a dog walking business during the same time. I'm doing the same activity but my reasons for doing so are 100% different."

Yes this is exactly what I am asking. Tell me more about the reasons and how they are 100% different.

To be quite honest I don't see how you do not see a difference there. To me it just makes me think that you fixate on making money or that you've never run a business before.

Let's look at the effort for each one:

Volunteer at a shelter:
Drive to a shelter
Walk dogs
Drive home

Running a dog walking business:
Create company
Get insurance
Market and Advertise
Create and manage website
Sign up clients
Drive to many client's houses
Walk dogs
Drive home
Collect income
Do paperwork
Do taxes

Gee, the only fun part of the whole business is the part that I do at a shelter. This to-do would be pretty much the same as posting on the forum vs your own blog.