You can't consume your way onto Team Producer

[Andy Black]

Please please please…

Don’t consume your way onto team producer.

 

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[MJ DeMarco]

I pulled this quote out of an INSIDERS conversation because I thought it needed to be highlighted.

You can't consume your way onto Team Producer.

I noticed this pattern here over the years after someone reads my messages.

After reading TMF , Unscripted , TGRRE , or any combination above, they don't start a business, they ramp up consumption...

More books...
More coaching programs...
More training programs...
More social media accounts...

In the end, it is MORE CONSUMPTION with no production. A lot of times we call this "action-faking" around here.

Yes, getting launched in business might require some consumption, but here's the thing: Only start CONSUMING when you've identified the problem, solution, value skew you're going to provide. Then your consumption is TARGETED.

Instead of taking a Udemy course on Python for the SAKE of TAKING IT, you're taking it to move the meter on your new venture.

PURPOSEFUL CONSUMPTION can help you get closer to your goals.
ACTION-FAKING CONSUMPTION will not.

Unfortunately, too many people around here continue to consume, thinking it will get them on board with Team Producer. Instead, they just remain on Team Consumer, another "mark" on some hustler's marketing funnel.

 

[Yasser]

You can't consume your way on to Team Producer.

Indeed.
What I see is significantly scarier than action faking. This turned into an addiction. Some people develop an addiction to this lifestyle: Consume self-help and other books in similar genre to feel energized and motivated.
As your dopamine baseline falls, you buy another book or course to feel motivated; however, this motivation soon wanes, and the cycle repeats indefinitely.

 

[_donut_]

The only thing you need to consume is other peoples time as wage slaves, er "employees". Also, getting people to do work as interns for free and have salesmen work for free (the trick of commissions) is important too. Sell your vision and create enthusiasm and people will give you their time for free and venture capitalists will throw money at you. Then you simply hire people for the things you dont know. Also, right place and right time and right business scope is extremely important, are you fishing a pond (little podunk town) or at sea? (The whole world) Jack Ma built one of the biggest ecommerce site, or did he? He doesnt even hardly know coding...he just had the gift of gab and knew how to rally people to work for free by motivating them on his vision, then he hired the coders, engineers, marketers ect. He was quoted that for $50k-$100k you can hire one software developer in Silicon Valley, but in his town in China, the same amount can hire 10-15 coders and "keep them happy" cant have the hired help going rogue.

 

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[Kirk84]

Tank you! I really needed this today!

What I see is significantly scarier than action faking. This turned into an addiction. Some people develop an addiction to this lifestyle: Consume self-help and other books in similar genre to feel energized and motivated.
As your dopamine baseline falls, you buy another book or course to feel motivated; however, this motivation soon wanes, and the cycle repeats indefinitely.

Guilty! What do you suggest to get out of this rut?

 

[Yasser]

Guilty! What do you suggest to get out of this rut?

Being aware of the problem is the first step to finding a solution.
Ask yourself : Did I accomplish anything after reading these books ?
Here’s a video that discusses this subject :

View: https://youtu.be/dmLTLkCBSN8


Honestly, the solution depends on each individual. Do you prefer to live in the illusion of progress or are you capable of facing yourself and making changes?
And as MJ said, don’t consume what you don’t need

 

[NickVGreen]

#iresemblethatremark

This kind of action-faking is many things:

• addicting (just take another course or read another book without doing any of the assignments or applying them in any way; more, more, more!)
• comforting (you never have to stumble and fail if you never practice applying what you've read/studied; you also don't have go through another "I suck at this" process)
• self-perpetuating (the more you read and learn, the more aware you become of how much you don't yet know and the easier it becomes to justify that you have learn more before even starting)
• self-indulgent (by taking all of these courses and reading all of these books, I must be really smart and probably smarter that those that don't)
• familiar (for many of us who have gone to universities for arts and non-physical sciences, it's easy to get used to the accumulation of knowledge/trivia for its own sake rather than for its application outside of quiz night)
• delusionally obsessive with quality over quantity (when I start, I will be awesome from the get-go because I spent all this time preparing rather than practicing badly at an earlier stage)

It reminds me of that study (or is it an anecdote) of the photography students where one group is assigned with taking and submitting a hundred photos each while the other group is assigned with taking and submitting a single photo each for review. The group where the students took a hundred photos for submission produced far better results than the group that focused on a single photo.

 

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[Andy Black]

I pulled this quote out of an INSIDERS conversation because I thought it needed to be highlighted.

You can't consume your way on to Team Producer.

I noticed this pattern here over the years after someone reads my messages.

After reading TMF , Unscripted , TGRRE , or any combination above, they don't start a business, they ramp up consumption...

More books...
More coaching programs...
More training programs...
More social media accounts...

In the end, it is MORE CONSUMPTION with no production. A lot of times we call this "action-faking" around here.

Yes, getting launched in business might require some consumption, but here's the thing: Only start CONSUMING when you've identified the problem, solution, value skew you're going to provide. Then your consumption is TARGETED.

Instead of taking a Udemy course on Python for the SAKE of TAKING IT, you're taking it to move the meter on your new venture.

PURPOSEFUL CONSUMPTION can help you get closer to your goals.
ACTION-FAKING CONSUMPTION will not.

Unfortunately, too many people around here continue to consume, thinking it will get them on board with Team Producer. Instead, they just remain on Team Consumer, another "mark" on some hustler's marketing funnel.

100%

And not only does all that consuming take time and money, it also makes people less confident they can start already.

As discussed here:

• What if you already know enough?

 

[Rauschmi]

100%

And not only does all that consuming take time and money, it also seems to make people less confident they can start already.

As discussed here:

• NOTABLE! - What if you already know enough?

Consuming more books, more YouTube tutorials, more podcasts, more classes, etc seems to always lead to “needing” to learn the next missing piece of the pie.
I have jumped from book to book to solve EVERY issue I saw in each subsequent book. And I never know enough.
I finally took @Andy Black advice: you just need a sale.
I posted up a quick Facebook post to friends and family for my web design skills. That was 2 days ago. I already have 4 businesses wanting my services. I finally found that, I do know enough to start. I don’t have to know much of anything really. I just need to be willing to find answers as questions arise and implement the solutions to make clients happy.
Thanks for the great post.

 

[Andy Black]

Consuming more books, more YouTube tutorials, more podcasts, more classes, etc seems to always lead to “needing” to learn the next missing piece of the pie.
I have jumped from book to book to solve EVERY issue I saw in each subsequent book. And I never know enough.
I finally took @Andy Black advice: you just need a sale.
I posted up a quick Facebook post to friends and family for my web design skills. That was 2 days ago. I already have 4 businesses wanting my services. I finally found that, I do know enough to start. I don’t have to know much of anything really. I just need to be willing to find answers as questions arise and implement the solutions to make clients happy.
Thanks for the great post.

Good for you! Not just in getting 4 potential clients so quickly, but also in forever changing your mindset.

The first two rows of links in my signature are different ways to help people get out of their own way and just start.

Here’s three of them:

• You don't need to be an expert
• Just start already
• Who have you helped?

 

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[Ronnie Bryan]

Hello, and thank you, Mj still working on my ten year goal the plan is to have a fully functional online social media company. I have seen that offline businesses are moving in the direction of hiring entire teams to do their social media. Interns, representatives, content creators, specialist and managers. This is going with what I know. working and using my income to improve my workspace with better equipment,while doing that I am working on memory and communication. These have and will continue to improve.Two books I am reading ," Unlimited Memory" and "Listen to where other's talk."but my main focus is studying to pass Google Analytics to increase my value. Once, I achieve that certificate time to look for and hire at least one other person to help with content.Then it is balls to the walls with prospecting small business and non-profits I know people that I can approach to introduce me to potential customers .I can also broadcast across all my social media.

I have 15 years internet experience and from that two skills that seem to have rose above the rest. Customer Service and Social Media Engagement these skill sets helped me to determine what business model to chose. If you read my post I was confused on what path to follow.But now I am laser beam focused.

If you even think I am action -faking in the slightest bit Please, call me on it . I am still deciding if I should do a off line store front but my gut tells me wait until I have something built online then take it offline.

All this will take time, reason giving myself 10 years. I do have a hope . I hope it will manifest much sooner than that. for now, I just shut out distractions .Other's have told me try something else, look for a job because the place I work at is being sold. I say follow my gut. I know what I am doing WILL WORK! it is hard to explain but I have CONFIDENCE!

 

[calebbschilling]

I pulled this quote out of an INSIDERS conversation because I thought it needed to be highlighted.

You can't consume your way onto Team Producer.

I noticed this pattern here over the years after someone reads my messages.

After reading TMF , Unscripted , TGRRE , or any combination above, they don't start a business, they ramp up consumption...

More books...
More coaching programs...
More training programs...
More social media accounts...

In the end, it is MORE CONSUMPTION with no production. A lot of times we call this "action-faking" around here.

Yes, getting launched in business might require some consumption, but here's the thing: Only start CONSUMING when you've identified the problem, solution, value skew you're going to provide. Then your consumption is TARGETED.

Instead of taking a Udemy course on Python for the SAKE of TAKING IT, you're taking it to move the meter on your new venture.

PURPOSEFUL CONSUMPTION can help you get closer to your goals.
ACTION-FAKING CONSUMPTION will not.

Unfortunately, too many people around here continue to consume, thinking it will get them on board with Team Producer. Instead, they just remain on Team Consumer, another "mark" on some hustler's marketing funnel.

This has been a big part of my issue recently and it's starting to reveal itself here... thank you!

 

[DuncDad]

I pulled this quote out of an INSIDERS conversation because I thought it needed to be highlighted.

You can't consume your way onto Team Producer.

I noticed this pattern here over the years after someone reads my messages.

After reading TMF , Unscripted , TGRRE , or any combination above, they don't start a business, they ramp up consumption...

More books...
More coaching programs...
More training programs...
More social media accounts...

In the end, it is MORE CONSUMPTION with no production. A lot of times we call this "action-faking" around here.

Yes, getting launched in business might require some consumption, but here's the thing: Only start CONSUMING when you've identified the problem, solution, value skew you're going to provide. Then your consumption is TARGETED.

Instead of taking a Udemy course on Python for the SAKE of TAKING IT, you're taking it to move the meter on your new venture.

PURPOSEFUL CONSUMPTION can help you get closer to your goals.
ACTION-FAKING CONSUMPTION will not.

Unfortunately, too many people around here continue to consume, thinking it will get them on board with Team Producer. Instead, they just remain on Team Consumer, another "mark" on some hustler's marketing funnel.

I'm learning on Codecademy and instead of doing the assigned 'projects' to build, I am making prototypes and websites for my new venture. Thanks for your books

 

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[Iso]

#iresemblethatremark

This kind of action-faking is many things:

• addicting (just take another course or read another book without doing any of the assignments or applying them in any way; more, more, more!)
• comforting (you never have to stumble and fail if you never practice applying what you've read/studied; you also don't have go through another "I suck at this" process)
• self-perpetuating (the more you read and learn, the more aware you become of how much you don't yet know and the easier it becomes to justify that you have learn more before even starting)
• self-indulgent (by taking all of these courses and reading all of these books, I must be really smart and probably smarter that those that don't)
• familiar (for many of us who have gone to universities for arts and non-physical sciences, it's easy to get used to the accumulation of knowledge/trivia for its own sake rather than for its application outside of quiz night)
• delusionally obsessive with quality over quantity (when I start, I will be awesome from the get-go because I spent all this time preparing rather than practicing badly at an earlier stage)

It reminds me of that study (or is it an anecdote) of the photography students where one group is assigned with taking and submitting a hundred photos each while the other group is assigned with taking and submitting a single photo each for review. The group where the students took a hundred photos for submission produced far better results than the group that focused on a single photo.

I'm guilty of this, I realized how much I don't know that I got lost in the possibilities and the variables of what could happen instead of just taking action and stumbling. I feeling the need to have everything be perfect before I take action because of the possibility I mess up and lose a potential client or if I land the client and issues arise I will look bad because It's not "professional" to have issues I am supposed to be the knowledgeable person in the situation.

 

[Andy Black]

I'm guilty of this, I realized how much I don't know that I got lost in the possibilities and the variables of what could happen instead of just taking action and stumbling. I feeling the need to have everything be perfect before I take action because of the possibility I mess up and lose a potential client or if I land the client and issues arise I will look bad because It's not "professional" to have issues I am supposed to be the knowledgeable person in the situation.

Clients hire you to solve problems, not be knowledgeable.

 

[Iso]

Clients hire you to solve problems, not be knowledgeable.

It goes hand and hand doesn't it. You need to be knowledgeable to solves problems but you also need to solve problems to get that knowledge . I just worry about roadblocks along the way If I am hired to solve a problem and then other problems happen along the way to solve the original problem It gives the impression I'm not as competent and as knowledgeable as I lead on even if we reach the end goal and and the original problem is solved.

I am building up my portfolio for Web Design so I am working for free or low cost and I worry about saying something and having to take it back which then in turn cost the client money. I had to tell a client he had to buy entirely new hosting since his hosting wouldn't cut it for what he wanted to do and I got told by another designer in the Legends program that I was talking to and was helping me that I am supposed to be the competent one and not let on that I don't know what I am doing. On the bright side of it though he ended up really liking the site and said I was professional about it and to work with.

 

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[Andy Black]

It goes hand and hand doesn't it. You need to be knowledgeable to solves problems but you also need to solve problems to get that knowledge . I just worry about roadblocks along the way If I am hired to solve a problem and then other problems happen along the way to solve the original problem It gives the impression I'm not as competent and as knowledgeable as I lead on even if we reach the end goal and and the original problem is solved.

I am building up my portfolio for Web Design so I am working for free or low cost and I worry about saying something and having to take it back which then in turn cost the client money. I had to tell a client he had to buy entirely new hosting since his hosting wouldn't cut it for what he wanted to do and I got told by another designer in the Legends program that I was talking to and was helping me that I am supposed to be the competent one and not let on that I don't know what I am doing. On the bright side of it though he ended up really liking the site and said I was professional about it and to work with.

1) "Overthinking is the art of solving problems you don't have."

2) One of the main reasons I get hired is I don't gaf about looking like I know it all. "Oooo. I've not seen that before. I wonder if it's like XYZ. Let me do some research and come back to you."

 

[OMDA]

Excellent thread topic. I've fallen in this trap and digging my way out.

 

[hodio]

Please please please…

Don’t consume your way onto team producer.

Wow! I just put down a book that I've been reading and tell myself: "Do I actually need this book?". I stopped reading it and hop on to the forum and saw this post. A coincidence indeed, one that i needed to start actually doing. Thank you!

P.s: The book was some combination of mindset hacking and bio hacking. And I have read 2 books on this before and I sure don't need a third one

 

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[Saad Khan]

I pulled this quote out of an INSIDERS conversation because I thought it needed to be highlighted.

You can't consume your way onto Team Producer.

I noticed this pattern here over the years after someone reads my messages.

After reading TMF , Unscripted , TGRRE , or any combination above, they don't start a business, they ramp up consumption...

More books...
More coaching programs...
More training programs...
More social media accounts...

In the end, it is MORE CONSUMPTION with no production. A lot of times we call this "action-faking" around here.

Yes, getting launched in business might require some consumption, but here's the thing: Only start CONSUMING when you've identified the problem, solution, value skew you're going to provide. Then your consumption is TARGETED.

Instead of taking a Udemy course on Python for the SAKE of TAKING IT, you're taking it to move the meter on your new venture.

PURPOSEFUL CONSUMPTION can help you get closer to your goals.
ACTION-FAKING CONSUMPTION will not.

Unfortunately, too many people around here continue to consume, thinking it will get them on board with Team Producer. Instead, they just remain on Team Consumer, another "mark" on some hustler's marketing funnel.

Funny thing I have only completely read the following books

1. TMF
2. Unscripted
3. TGRRE
4. Cashvertising
5. Elon Musk's biography

I have countered many obstacles along the way. I feel like the solution comes for it almost naturally.

 

[SpaceDoggo]

Don’t consume your way onto team producer.

I found this thread (or it found me), when I really needed it. And just to give Andy even more credit, I found it because I took his advice and stopped "lurking". That anti lurking post is what encouraged me to finally write an intro and start participating, which led me here. So yeah, thanks guys!

 

[piano]

I'm not sure whether I knew this subconciously before or not, but in either case, I know it now conciously as well.
Thank you!

 

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[BaiAnrui]

Great quote @Andy Black !

To many people take te wrong action, you have to be pragmatic about this!
Dont forget, the self devolpment industry is an billion dollar industry, so the producers don't mind that we keep consuming their books and programs. We think personal growth is so important that we all buy the Napoleon Hill stuff

 

[Andy Black]

Great quote @Andy Black !

To many people take te wrong action, you have to be pragmatic about this!
Dont forget, the self devolpment industry is an billion dollar industry, so the producers don't mind that we keep consuming their books and programs. We think personal growth is so important that we all buy the Napoleon Hill stuff

The best self-development journey I know is from team consumer to team producer. Realising it's not about you is the hardest part.

 

[Lethabo]

The best self-development journey I know is from team consumer to team producer. Realising it's not about you is the hardest part.

Very profound

 

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[BrazenFoxx]

Please please please…

Don’t consume your way onto team producer.

OMG this is so me... but I'm new... I can change that, today! Typically I've just bought the rest of MJ's books online today as well lol