Fraternities are well known for “hazing” – forcing new recruits to endure grueling punishments and all manner of shameful behaviors before being accepted as members of the tribe.
“OK, you guys have to drink a pint of Vodka, spend 10 minutes on the merry-go-round, then run nekked from the park to the Frat House without getting arrested….”
Harrowing experiences bond people together.
Such punishments exist for a reason: they really do work. They cause some recruits to bail, but they engender fierce-blooded loyalty in the ones who remain.
They do this in the military too. It’s part of “boot camp.” Fear, terror, imprisonment, beatings. Machine guns and razor wire and all manner of abuse. Fun, fun stuff.
In the Army, it’s arguably necessary. It’s preparation for war. It’s might not be war now, but it will be later, so toughen up, Bucko.
In Frats, it’s artificial. It’s not like any 19 year old young buck really needs a torturous experience to prepare himself for four years of booze and debauchery.
Which is to say:
Some hazing is “real.”
Some hazing is “imaginary.” Like, totally unnecessary.
EVERY profession has a hazing ritual. In Med School, it’s 48 hour shifts. In counseling it’s six years of doing therapy sessions for little or zero money until you’re finally granted your coveted certification.
So what about the entrepreneurial game?
There’s the real stuff and the imaginary stuff, both.
Bankruptcies and employees and product development schedules and lost lines of credit and divorces and partners embezzling money…. that’s all for real.
But then there’s also the pitchman at the real estate seminar who lightens your wallet in exchange for a pile of information that was out of date 10 years ago…. that’s artificial hazing. Totally unnecessary. (And voluntary, I might add.)
So in the interest of full disclosure, I should tell you that in AdWords Boot Camp we bring everyone to Chicago and it’s like that scene in Cool Hand Luke where Luke spends the night in “the box.” That’s right, we strip everyone nekked and lock them up in a tiny little compartment.
Then we make them dig trenches and then we make them fill the trenches up and then we whip ’em until they dig the trenches again and finally their will breaks and they plead us for mercy.
Well…. sorry if I sound cynical, but a lot of guys WILL put the online version of that on you. “Build these web pages… oops no, that’s obsolete now, build THESE web pages… sorry, that’s out of date, write THESE articles and submit them to the search engines…”
Ain’t it fun, digging holes and filling them?
Are you tired of it yet?
Seriously, in AdWords Boot Camp there are NO artificial tasks.
There is NO make believe.
There is no “fake” hazing.
It’s all real-world, in-the-trenches, with your website, your traffic, your machine, your baby. A hard-charging 30 days with the real world as your laboratory.
Why no fake stuff?
Cuz it’s not necessary. Don’t you think you’ve got enough real challenges without adding fake ones to the mix?
And we guarantee if that if you dig the trenches and do the work and you don’t get results, you get your money back.
The Army doesn’t offer you that deal. Your friendly neighborhood Fraternity doesn’t offer that deal. But we do.
Join us Tuesday June 9 at 9:00am Central Time for AdWords Boot Camp. In 30 days we’ll arm you with everything you need to succeed on the world’s largest advertising network.
http://www.perrymarshall.com/adwords/bootcamp
Perry Marshall
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About the Author
Perry Marshall has launched two revolutions in sales and marketing. In Pay-Per-Click advertising, he pioneered best practices and wrote the world's best selling book on Google advertising. And he's driven the 80/20 Principle deeper than any other author, creating a new movement in business.
He is referenced across the Internet and by Harvard Business Review, The New York Times, INC and Forbes Magazine.
7 Comments on “A pint of vodka and a trip around the merry-go-round”
Speaking of sick to my stomach… I just picked up the emails about the Sunny recording. That was a short window of opportunity!
Unfortunately the window closed on my fingers and I am left on the outside to only wonder what amazing info was shared in that call.
Perry – any chance you can release that recording for an encore presentation. Perhaps to your R-club members…??? of whom I am one.
Thanks for your consideration of this.
Matt,
We will post this for Renaissance Club members. ‘Twas a great call!
Perry
OK Perry,
Some of us could not make it to the first Adwords Bootcamp, however, that does not mean that we are not sick to our stomaches about not harnessing the unfair advantage we would have gained.
Please take this as my personal plea to create a pre-registration list for the next session and to host it as soon as possible. I, and probably many others, would find a way to prepay if necessary.
Perry, I wish everyone who participates in this session more success and more business than all of their competitors. I’m looking forward to your team discovering hidden gems of knowledge and hosting a more powerful Adwords Bootcamp in Session II. We are eager for our chance to run with the baton.
Thank you in advance.
Leslie
Perry,
My freshman year first semester was a huge party. I did the frat thing for a couple of weeks….and…then…it happened.
…When I failed my first mid term.
That got me in shape pretty quick!
…Never drank a pint of vodka.
Now tequilla, thats a different story! I thought my time was done of this earth that night. Ah, mexico. If its not swine flu or the women, Jose can finish you off!
…I think if kids knew just how much fun college is, more would go. The kids that are good in high school get the opportunity to be wild in college.
Someday I’ll say to my kids, “Do good in high school. Don’t drink too much, don’t do drugs until college, don’t sleep around. Just wait. Just wait. It will be worth it.”.
College!
ps. as you know,concerts are now my passion and addiction. U2 is coming to Chi-Town on Sept 12-13 @ Soldier Field.
Adam,
I’m going to see U2 Sept 12. Never seen them live before. My wife bought me tix for my 40th bday, that was her big gift idea for the big 4-0. Looking forward to it!
Perry
ah college.
I miss those days ;)…Waita second, I can’t remember if I did go, lol.
Adam,
Maybe someday we can go together. In college I was a “commuter student.” Never did the frat thing, never drank a pint of vodka and climbed on the merry-go-round.
Did I miss anything?
Perry