Long-time Renaissance Club member Tom Meloche mentioned this to me the other day. He’s absolutely spot-on. The Big Bad World Out There has a big giant buggy whip and it’s driving people into doing something for themselves.
Do you remember a time when a concept known as ‘job security’ actually existed? I’m not sure anyone even uses that term anymore.
Then there’s the reality that a vast number of politicians seem to believe the public is a horde of mindless cattle whose only function is to be made empty promises and milked for everything they’re worth until their dried-out carcasses are ground into fertilizer.
There’s also the fact that in a democracy the public elects precisely the politicians that it deserves. And if the public appoints a parade of whores and flimflam men to mind the cash register, we have no one to blame but ourselves.
In the short term, I do see some trends that seem to indicate the economy is improving. However there is a about 12 Gigatons of stupidity that have yet to be pounded out of most every industry. As Roundtable Member Thor Sheffield said, “Businesses scale up linearly. Screw-ups scale up exponentially.”
I recommend that whatever new years plans you are making NOT include any sort of generous ‘golf handicap’ or ‘Happy Happy Joy Joy optimism factor.’ Rather I humbly suggest that you arm yourself to the teeth for battle and be well prepared to fight a blood sport.
If you’ve got a list of skills you need to acquire, you betta get busy acquiring them.
And whatever you do, make sure that you learn how to MAKE ONE DOLLAR. Make sure you know how to PROVE it. And make sure you discipline yourself to reinvest that dollar.
I also suggest you craft a plan for offering your customers something worth ten thousand dollars – and getting paid for delivering it. Because there’s one person in every crowd who wants to buy the Whole Enchilada, not just bits and pieces.
Right now unemployment is 10%. Let’s say it goes up to 20%.
That means the buggy whip that’s driving people into entrepreneurship becomes a lead pipe.
It means the hackers and desperadoes will be out in droves.
And it means that if you, as a marketing alchemist, possess the ability to MAKE ONE DOLLAR then you’ll have six hundred people lined up to apply for a job working for you.
You might not feel worthy, but you still get the pick of the litter. You get to buy low and sell high. It works to your advantage.
I feel sorry for all the MBA’s out there who spent 2 years and $40,000 and still don’t know how to buy traffic, put together an irresistible offer and collect the dinero.
But it was their two years and their forty grand. If they didn’t learn anything, if they never bothered to check how many of their professors know how to MAKE ONE DOLLAR and could prove it, then they have nobody to blame but themselves.
(Hint: Most people think that having a job working for a Fortune 500 company is proof of making one dollar. Actually it’s only proof of having wrenched one dollar from the corporate udder.)
Tom Meloche was discussing online marketing with one such MBA. He shared some common sense Planet Perry stuff for a half hour. The guy told him he’d just learned more about marketing in 30 minutes than he had in 2 years of grad school.
Not surprising.
You probably know more than you think you know.
It’s your responsibility to APPLY it.
Get busy.
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.
66 Comments on “Planet earth is FORCING you into entrepreneurship”
Hello Mary Blanc, thank you for your reply.
The IMF (International Monetary Fund also use the same chart in their report: “Assessing risks to global financial stability”, chapter 1, page 8, found here:
http://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/gfsr/2007/02/pdf/chap1.pdf
It is also shown in the financial times newspaper. I just thought that the layout of the other aticle was easier to read
The word education is derived from the Latin word “educo” which means “to draw out from within” Meaning that an education can be found anywhere, not just in the classroom. An education in the classroom will give you a degree if you need one for self validation or to work in a job which requires one by law such as medicine but for us marketers and entrepeneurs education is everywhere and we dont need to wait for someone to hand us a piece of paper to tell us we can do it :-)
(PS- the word mortgage is derived from the same French word as the word mortuary, because the origianl meaning the word mortgage is “contract until death” which I’m sure a lot of people can identify with these days)
I know where you are coming from though when you talk about professors being important. I totally agree that they are very important and they are great at what they do, but to fit it into the frame of refernece of the forum, they are not entrepeneurs. I mean how many professors have you seen rocking up to school in a ferrari?
I know that one has to choose mentors carefully, thanks for that. I do choose them very carefully indeed. Millionaires are very kind and love to mentor others.
Where you say “History reveals that the US Economy looked to be “Bankrupt” at the end of WW II”, well the U.S. economy and all other Western economies have been printing money and expanding credit since the end of World War 2, the biggest credit binge in history and now it’s all about to come crashing down on the whole Western world, Australia and America included.
Printing so much money leads to inflation and then hyperinfaltion which means really bad inflation. That is when the price of everything goes up because money is worth less. That is when people put money into the fire to burn it because it is cheaper than fuel for their heaters. That is when you need a whole armful or a whole wheelbarrow full of money just to buy basics. That is when kids play with banknotes instead of toys because banknotes are not worth anything. That is when money gets blown down the street in the wind and nobody picks it up because it is worthless. The only reason they pick it up is whne they sweep it up to put it in the bin. Here is a video with actual photos from history that show everything I just said:
http://vimeo.com/14896663
The truly bankrupt nations of the world are the ones who printed too much money, just look at Zimbabwe. It used to be called Rhodesia and was the glittering jewell of world trade, then they printed too much money and now their money is worthless
Here is a quote from the bible: Nehemiah 5:3-5, “…We have mortgaged our lands, vineyards, and houses…We have borrowed money for the king’s tribute, and that upon our lands and vineyards…and, lo, we bring into bondage our sons and our daughters to be servants, and some of our daughters are brought unto bondage already: neither is it in our power to redeem them; for other men have our lands and vineyards.”
Perry Marshall teaches us how to be responsible and nake our own money and wealth, so that we can get our families and ourselves through the crisis and beyond, and so that we can help poor people.
Hello Mary, thanks for your reply :-)
My mentor said to me that lots of people go to college for years and years to get a degree and then they go to work for high school dropouts (who had the guts to start a business).
I read that it doesn’t matter if you have a degree or not because there in one thing that a degree can’t give you and that’s guts. Guts to take the plunge and start your own business in the real world. No degree can give you guts no matter how many letters are after your name on a degree (alphabat soup as my mentor calls them)
The only degree that you really need to succeed is a degree from the University of Hard Knocks
The good old yellow pages! We have them here in Australia too. One mentor said to me “I can’t beleive anyone still uses those antiquitated door stops :-) Everyone is searching on the internet now he said.
Ps- with utmost due respect, the American economy is bankrupt, not vibrant. The economy is now in the “eye of the hurricane” which is a term which is used during hurricanes when the first violent bit of the hurricane passes through and destroys everything in its path, and then the eye or the middle of the hurricane passes through and everything goes peaceful for a while and everyone thinks the hurricane is over, but then the second part of the hurricane comes and destroys everything. Check out the first graph on this page and you will see what I mean:
http://www.dailyreckoning.com.au/mortgage-crisis-shark-with-an-appetite/2009/11/06/
I’m not being difficult or mean, I just thought I’d let you know as it will give you time to prepare a survival strategy, as denial is not a stategy. Back then in the first stage of the subprime crisis they lowered interest rates to try and stay afloat. This time they have no ammunition left to lower rates. After residential property tanks then commercial real estate will tank and then credit cards and personal loans. And then the whole world will fall into an economic depression that will last 20 years. If you study back throughout history, there has been a depression every 80 years. The time is now for the next one. History is full of the same cycle of booms and busts. Winston Churchill was right when he said “the further back in history you look, the further into the future you can see”
Don’t be scared though, Perry Marshall is teaching us exactly what we need to not only survive but thrive through it all and beyond. Perry Marshall is the best!! :-) Are you there Perry Marshall, you’re the best!! :-)
I’m glad you’re here sharing your insights. Best of success-
These Are All Good & Challenging Points–Christina–Let Me Address Them In Order:
1) RE: “My mentor said to me that lots of people go to college for years and years to get a degree and then they go to work for high school dropouts (who had the guts to start a business).
I read that it doesn’t matter if you have a degree or not because there in one thing that a degree can’t give you and that’s guts. Guts to take the plunge and start your own business in the real world. No degree can give you guts no matter how many letters are after your name on a degree (alphabat soup as my mentor calls them)
The only degree that you really need to succeed is a degree from the University of Hard Knocks”
Yes– I’ve heard This One Before … and certainly have known of some “Professional Students” … ‘tho–They Couldn’t Have Continued On At The Universities Collecting Degree After Degree If Their Research Wasn’t THE SOURCE of SOME AMAZING FINDINGS That Garnered Continuing Funding For Their Work Plus A Stipend For Living.
One of THE RULES for Grad School IS:
“If Somebody Isn’t PAYING YOU To Be There–
You Probably Don’t Belong.”
(-Physics Professor at Case Western Reserve University … I forgot His name)
It’s TRUE–A LOT of Guyz&Galz ARE VERY “Risk-Averse” … They Work FAR BETTER In An Employment Situation Where SOMEBODY Guarantees Them A Defined Paycheck. Furthermore … The Cutting Edge of Our Sciences NOW IS Located At The Atomic & Sub-Atomic Levels … And The Cost of This Equipment IS PROHIBITIVE To MOST INDUSTRIES–So–Similar To What Happened To DESIGN DEPT’s In The 1980’s … Many Industries Have Outsourced Their Research&Development (R&D) Depts–ESSENTIALLY–To Various Universities. Corporations Partner With The Universities–Underwrite The Purchase of The Latest&Greatest Equipment AND Fund The Scholarships To Key Professors & Grad Students … Because–of course–The Best Equipment In The World Does NOT Make “Discoveries” ALL ON ITS OWN … THAT REQUIRES THE HUMAN ELEMENT.
A generation or 2 ago it was fairly common to see situations where Employers–who had no more than a High School Diploma (if that) themselves … Hired College Grads to work Under Them–AND GAVE THESE COLLEGE GRADS THEIR NEXT DEGREES of EDUCATION … Dispelling Any WRONG IDEAS That They May Have Had That–Graduating From College Was THE END of Their “Education”…
THE POINT IS That–A College Education Should SHARPEN YOUR INTELLECTUAL SKILLS & EXPOSE YOU TO MANY-MANY OTHER WELL-EDUCATED MINDS FOUND–In History–In Current Events–AND In Your College Classrooms&Laboratories&Dorms&Yes–Even In The Campus Bars !!! We Are All–INTELLIGENT BEINGS–Who Are … AT THE SAME TIME … All Capable of Doing Colossally Stupid Things …AND… Hopefully An EDUCATION Helps You TO BE A LIVE LONG LEARNER–Learning From All People & Experiences That … Come Your Way–By “Chance” or By “Purposeful Effort.”
“Success” IS A LOT Like “Happiness”…
-Elusive When Pursued–Directly–
-More Often Encountered While You Were Putting Your Whole Heart&Mind&Soul&Work Into SOME DIRECTION That You Somehow Just Seem To Be … MEANT TO DO.
2) RE: “The good old yellow pages! We have them here in Australia too. One mentor said to me “I can’t beleive anyone still uses those antiquitated door stops :-) Everyone is searching on the internet now he said.”
Beware of “Mentors With Agendas” … My Sister had to go up against a lot of the “Everyone is searching on the internet now–DUDES” while steering National Geographic’s Maps Division through Choppy Waters of earlier this decade when Many of the recently graduated Eager-Beavers thought that National Geographic’s “Antiquated” (And EXPEN$IVE) Map Making Should Now All Be Shifted To “The Latest” (And EVEN MORE EXPEN$IVE … And Less RELIABLE … And NOT AVAILABLE IN MANY REMOTE PLACES WHERE MAPS ARE NEEDED MOST … AND NOT CAPABLE of GIVING–THE EXTREMELY-IMPORTANT “BIG PICTURE”) Online Aps.
…And… For Much The Same Reasons (Parenthetically Stated Above)–Slimmed&Trimmed Down Versions of the “good ol’ yellow pages” will be With US for the foreseeable future–as well.
3) RE: “Ps- with utmost due respect, the American economy is bankrupt, not vibrant. The economy is now in the “eye of the hurricane” which is a term which is used during hurricanes when the first violent bit of the hurricane passes through and destroys everything in its path, and then the eye or the middle of the hurricane passes through and everything goes peaceful for a while and everyone thinks the hurricane is over, but then the second part of the hurricane comes and destroys everything. Check out the first graph on this page and you will see what I mean:
http://www.dailyreckoning.com.au/mortgage-crisis-shark-with-an-appetite/2009/11/06/
I’m not being difficult or mean, I just thought I’d let you know as it will give you time to prepare a survival strategy, as denial is not a stategy. Back then in the first stage of the subprime crisis they lowered interest rates to try and stay afloat. This time they have no ammunition left to lower rates. After residential property tanks then commercial real estate will tank and then credit cards and personal loans. And then the whole world will fall into an economic depression that will last 20 years. If you study back throughout history, there has been a depression every 80 years. The time is now for the next one. History is full of the same cycle of booms and busts. Winston Churchill was right when he said ‘the further back in history you look, the further into the future you can see'”
Yes–Christina AND Chris Mayer (the author of the mortgage crisis article that You linked–who has an entire decade plus 2-3 years of financial writing experience)–WITH ALL DUE RESPECT:
History reveals that the US Economy looked to be “Bankrupt” at the end of WW II–ALSO–And History Reveals That America’s Wealth … And Australia’s Wealth–And The UK’s Wealth–And The Wealth of All Nations–IS FOUND IN THE GREATNESS of ITS PEOPLE … NOT on some chart depicting monetary cycles.
The TRULY Bankrupt Nations of This World Are The Nations Where “Aristocracies” of Greed & Corruption STILL RULE.
Remember That–To Be In The Eye of A Hurricane–
Is The Moment That You CAN SEE CLEARLY…
If Have The Courage TO OPEN YOUR EYES & TAKE A LOOK–Before…
“The Winds of CHANGES! SHIFT” (Thanks–Bob Dylan)
…And LOOK OUT–Baby–‘Cause Here IT COMES…
GenNEXT–Whose “Playgrounds of Their Minds” Will Be Stocked With The AMAZING&WORLD-WIDE&WORLD-CLASS *FRUIT of THE INTERNET*…
Upon Which OUR ABILITY To Hold This Discussion Rests…
AND–Which Was Developed AND Is Maintained AND Further Refined AND Advanced–FOR THE MOST PART–By Those Very Same Guyz&Galz–That You Like To “Pick On”–Who Work For Universities & Large Corporations That Are The Architects & Builders of This “VIRTUAL UNIVERSE”…
Marketers–Let’s All show ’em “ThaLuv”–AND RESPECT–THEY DESERVE…
Shall We ??
Please don’t use all caps.
I agree to some extent on MBA. I am nearing complete my MBA course. The real problem is the curriculum designer. I agree that many MBA don’t know how to buy traffic or spend $1 and earn $1 back. Apparently, it is not a core element in academic circle. I once wrote a paper with solid financial planning on minimize risk loss when it come to buying media and roi on different area. The professor slinged back that it is nonsense and who is qualified to do those work are the one with PhDs. Jeez! I am going to prove my professor wrong.
However, MBA is great when it come to strategic thinking and percieved expert.
But, listen to Marshall. He knows what he is doing and you should read hte “El Presidente” fight saga. It is inspiring and authentic.
btw … One more observation RE: “Job Security” [NOTE: Remember? … “Job Security” was The Starting Point of This Discussion … Way … Way Back in the 2nd paragraph of Perry’s Original Statements–“Planet earth is FORCING you into entrepreneurship”]…
ANYWHO … In the US of A–The difference between being “An Employer” v. “An Employee” amounts to little more than … who’s paying the Employer’s portion of Social Security & Medicare Taxes–You or Somebody Else ??
By the 1980’s–Many US Corporations had “Let Go” of their “Design Departments” … and “Outsourced” this work. One of My Relatives–a talented commercial designer–picked up SO MUCH Work designing Ads for the St Louis Area Yellow Pages that … In order to keep up with the Demand–He Rented A Large Space–Bought The Computers/Phone Systems/Office Furnishings/etc. & Employed Several of His Good Friends (from Church) To Work With/For Him. This EXPLOSION of Economic Activity … in no time–Dried Up As The St Louis Yellow Pages now… “Let Him Go” and MovedOn to “Other Designers.”
Because This Relative had “employed” Close Church Friends–He Didn’t “Feel” That He Could Pull The “Proverbial”–Rug Out From Under Them–AS IT HAD JUST BEEN PULLED OUT FROM UNDER HIM !! Was He Failed To Realize–AT THAT TIME–WAS That … HE WAS AN “EMPLOYEE”–IN FACT–If NOT On Any W-2 Statement … of The StL Yellow Pages.
“In-House” Employee v. “Outsourced” Employee…
“Tomato”–“Tomahto”
“Working For Yourself” IS A COMPLETE MISNOMER … If–IN FACT– You Hope To Receive Compensation From OTHER ENTITIES For Your Work … YOU ARE “THEIR EMPLOYEE”–Once Removed.
THIS IS A MAJOR REASON WHY OUR GOVT HAS ADDED ON SO MANY ADDITIONAL PROGRAMS & TAXES TO CORPORATIONS IN THE PAST 30-40 YEARS…
As The US Workforce has shifted from being Largely–Unionized Construction Workers Whose Union Dues Helped To Tide Families Over During Periods of Economic Downturn &/or Strikes…
AND–As Corporations … “Let Go Of” / “Outsourced” / “Downsized” / “Rightsized”–WHATEVER–Name You Choose To Put On–Suddenly Firing Large Sectors of Their Workforce…
The Federal Govt–
With Their Constitutional Authority…
(Article I, Section 8, Clause 3)…
To Regulate International & Interstate Commerce…
[IMPORTANT NOTE: THESE DAYS–There Are D*** Few Major Corporations That AREN’T BOTH–Interstate AND International … Take “Perry’s Planet” for an example… ]…
Imposed Taxes & Other Regulations On Corporations–
FORCING THE CEO’s & CFO’s & Boards of Directors & Shareholders To Fund–UP FRONT–Monies To Compensate & Otherwise Benefit Their Workforce In The Events of Injuries of EITHER or BOTH–
Physical Natures (severed hand–for example)…
AND/OR…
Economic Natures (Firing &/or Furloughing)…
OTHERWISE–AS WE KNOW TOO WELL–The Top “Playas” Are ALL TO HAPPY To Perceive Their Corporation’s Profits As Being–LARGELY–THEIR WORK … And THEREFORE–THEIR OTHER PERCEPTION IS That–The LARGEST & JUICIEST Shares & Slices of The Corporation’s Profits Should ALSO GO LARGELY INTO–THEIR HOT-POCKETS…
AND–As To The Rest of Their “Minions” … Top “Playas” TOO OFTEN WORK OVERTIME–Trying To Figure Out New&Different Ways To Cut Their Workforce NO MORE Than … A Rat’s Tail’s Worth of Pay&Benefits.
Is Federal Govt Oversight & Regulation A HELP or HINDRANCE To Building Vibrant & Healthy Economies ??…
It Depends…
Federal Oversight & Regulation of Commerce serves Our US Body Politic much as Our Immune Systems Serve Our Own Body…
Immune System “Oversight & Regulation” Carried Out TO EXCESS Results In Various Degrees of Allergic Reactions & Other Auto-Immune Diseases…
While Immune System “Oversight & Regulation” That Is TOO INEFFECTIVE OR TOTALLY ABSENT Results In “Opportunistic Infections & Diseases” … Including Many Forms of Cancers … And–There Is Of Course–Death By Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome … better known as–AIDS.
OF COURSE FEDERAL GOVT OVERSIGHT & REGULATION IS NECESSARY … Our Entire Nation’s History Is Replete With Example of What Amounts To “Economic Rape” of “The Workforce” AND of “The Environment”…
And what do “The Rich” do once they’ve Made Their Millions? [IMPORTANT NOTE: A Million Just “Ain’t What It Used To Be” … Today’s “RICH” Command Many-Millions-to-Billions]…
Why–They Run To SOME OTHER–AS YET–“UNSPOILED” PLACE … Or … Someplace that might have been spoiled Long Enough Ago … To Have Learned Their Lessons–And Cleaned Up Their Acts.
P.S.
That Relative who had “His Own” Design Corporation? … He got back on His feet … After Learning Far More About Bankruptcy Proceedings Than He Ever Wanted To Have To Know…
The USofA Has The Most Liberal Bankruptcy Laws ANYWHERE–Now & In The History of The World–It’s ANOTHER of THE REASONS WHY … Our Economy IS The Most Vibrant—EVER—We Offer Respect & Protections To Debtors—As Well As To Creditors … Which—of course—is a version of Christ’s instruction to love “enemies” & “neighbors” as “thyself” … Among OTHER THINGS … Christ REALLY Was A Great Economist.
WOW Christina–Excellent Post–THANKS !!
Just a couple notes / asides &/or refinements:
1) RE: “My mentor said to me ‘if you are waiting for all your ducks to be lined up in a row before you take any action, you are never going to take any action'”
Good Point.
NOTHING IS EVER “PERFECT” IN–THIS WORLD–SO IF YOU ARE GOING TO HOLD OUT FOR PERFECTION … YOU’LL DIE FIRST…
THAT SAID–You DO NEED To Line Up A “Prudent” Number of “Ducks In A Row” … Before Proceeding … If You Don’t–Your “Plan” Is NO BETTER Than Just Doing … Random Stuff. “Random Stuff” is like “Brainstorming”–A Good Way To Start–But NOT To Finish.
2) RE: “And then my other mentor said to me: ‘your problem is that you are waiting till you feel comfortable before you take action. But if you wait until you feel comfortable before you take action then you will NEVER take action, because change is an uncomfortable process.’ It really is. But after you do it and go through a bit of uncomfortableness, you will THEN be totally comfortable.”
Learn To BE COMFORTABLE With–BEING UNCOMFORTABLE–EXCELLENT ADVICE.
Too Many of US “Talk-the-Talk” of Wanting To Be At The “Cutting Edge” of Our–Chosen Field–But … In Our Minds … What We REALLY MEAN IS … We Want To Be At The “Butter Knife” of … ANY FIELD … We Don’t Really CARE–Just “Show Me The Money” !!
And…
Look What Your Started–Perry–Good Work…
Thanks !!
-Mary
Hello Paul Kemp, thanks for your answer. I was just like you! I kept thinking that I will wait till the time felt “just right” before I started to take action. Then I learnt off my mentor that the time is never just right, even if you wait 100 years you won’t feel like the time is right You just gotta do it!
My mentor said to me “if you are waiting for all your ducks to be lined up in a row before you take any action, you are never going to take any action”
And then my other mentor said to me: “your problem is that you are waiting till you feel comfortable before you take action. But if you wait until you feel comfortable before you take action then you will NEVER take action, because change is an uncomfortable process. It really is. But after you do it and go through a bit of uncomfortableness, you will THEN be totally comfortable.
The comfortable bit comes after you take action, not before. The only thng you will feel before you take action is fear. Not just normal fear but powerful mind gripping fear. The kind of fear that makes you curl up in bed like a baby and sook. You have to take action anyway. It’s the best!! Then the fear goes away. It really does. The antidode to fear is action.
If you can’t get around to writing an ebook, then just tape yourself on video talking out whatever you would have written in the book. Or talk it into the microphone on your computer. The customers just want the information, they don’t care what form it is delivered in. As one famous copywriter says “just say yes and then clean up the mess later” Just get it out there! Then you can perfect it and refine it if you need to.
I’ve heard that instead of saying ready, aim, fire. lots of us entrepeneurs say ready, ready, ready, ready etc then we don’t do anything. One mentor said to me just get the bloody thing out there and see if it has legs, and if it does you can refine it later
:-)
I saw your website is a health and fitness website, as I clicked on your link. Lots of people in the world right now have a New Years resolution to lose weight and get fit so you are in the right business at the right time, you are not like the blacksmith.
Or you could write an ebok called How to live to 100, by people who have” And target all the millions of baby boomers (the largest demographic in the world by the way) who are all scared of ageing and who want to stay young. Good luck!! :-)
Thanks, Christina, for your reply. I agree information products are the ideal products. I just haven’t found an offer “pure” enough for my audience on ClickBank yet, but I will intensify my search now that you remind me. There is just so much hype!
I remember Robert Allen talking humorously about the digital product revolution ten years ago, talking about the wisdom and economic sense of shipping bits instead of “heavy, lumpy objects”. (It’s a funny bit he did on “Multiple Streams of Income”, a tape collection. Remember audiotapes?)
I’ll have to look into becoming a Perry Marshall affiliate, because his stuff has the lasting value I could get behind. There must be a few others who are doing that quality of original thinking and avoiding the launch-a-month mentality we see so often among the gurus of info-marketing.
Eventually, I know I’ve got to write my own ebook. And sell it on Clickbank, but that will come later.
Thanks for the pointers. It’s nice to hear from someone so excited about what they’re doing to make a living — their own way!
And thanks again, Perry, for catalyzing this enlightening discussion.
Hello Paul Kemp, thanks heaps for your reply :-) The business I finally succeeded in is information marketing. It’s awesome! You can use Perry Marshalls methods to promote information products that you get for free on http://www.clickbank.com
Where else can you find a business where you dont have to buy any products to sell, you get them for free, you don’t have to ship any products, as it is all sent online, and you dont have to store any products, as they are all by someone else in mid air! (the internet)
Wow, imagnine telling the old merhcnats of old days who used to sail around the world hauling stuff on ships around the world to sell about this new business model! They would totally freak out
And then you can use Perry Marshalls methods to promote your stuff. If you are broke you can start off small.
And you can do it in different languages too, using google translate to translate it all for you and outsourced translators to make sure your translations are totally correct.
You know when it all clicked for me? When I was at a seminar and the speaker on the stage asked “what do people go to the internet to search for?” And the whole crowd (about 300 people) answered in unison “INFORMATION”. And then the speaker said: “So what is the best thing to sell them?” And the whole crowd had a think about it and then the whole 300 of them answered in unison “INFORMATION”
The light bulb totally went off in my head :-) I mean how logical can you get huh? :-)
Hi Mary Blanc, I just read your comment. Thanks for that. Yes, I sure do know not to give up when failure first strikes. I falied for 10 whole years before I succeeded. When it comes to failure as the saying goes, I’ve been there, done that, seen the movie and got the t-shirt :-)
It was hard and sad but it was also fun and enlightening at the same time. I read somewhere (I think it was in the book Think and Grow Rich) that failure is one of the richest experiences that can come to a man (or woman :-) but also one to get out of as quickly as possible. By rich he meant soul enriching.
All my friends partied through the boom years and teased me for reading books and studying. My other 23 Greek cousins all got married and had kids. You can imagine what a laughing stock of the family I was- the only girl out of all the Greek cousins who wasn’t married yet and I said that I wanted to be an entrepenur and then succeed and then I’ll get married later. This upset everyone immensly, so when we had visitors I would hide all my business books and scatter dolly and cleo magazines all around the room. Everyone was well pleased with that. If my cousins spent $300 on one new dress for a dance everyone was happy. If I spent $300 on an internet marketing course they all acted like it was the end of the world. It was quite funny now that I think about it.
Plus, my Mum and my sister have schizophrenia and every time I try to study, someone explodes somewhere and I have to stop what Im doing and go and sort it out. It sure is a hard thing to manage, poor things.
I remember when my first 2 businesses went bankrupt and I went and registered my third business. I went up to the counter and the old lady behind the counter looked at my form and she said “You already have 2 businesses?” and I said “yes”. And she said “then what are you doing here?” And I said “I’ve come to register my third business” And she said “Why?” And I said “because the first 2 went bankrupt” Then the old lady, she leans over the counter and whispers to me “you’re going to be a success” And I said “how do you know?” And she said “I’ve been in this business long enough, believe me, I know”
So I don’t know how she knew but she was right. I always think of that quote: there is no failure, only feedback.
I am so grateful that I got to be a bankrupt failure when I was young, if I had to do it all again I would do it exactly the same. Because failure is only a signpost, to point you in the right direction. It says to you “hey, over here stupid, not over there” And you listen to what it says and you go the right way :-)
Christina:
I’m curious what business you created that finally clicked for you, if you don’t mind me asking.
I thoroughly agree with your assessment of the history of going from being independent businesspeople and farmers 100+ years ago to now, being slaves to make someone else wealthy with our expertise.
To compound their folly, many are going back to school, loading up on debt so they can be more useful to the boss who can hire cheaper talent abroad. It doesn’t make sense.
Bill Bonner is another of my favorites, too.
This has been a hot topic. It’s the change of an economic era, thanks Perry for noting it.
I read that Henry Ford once passed a blacksmith shop and said “I’m gonna put that guy out of business” Everyone laughed at him. Poor blacksmith. He sure was in the wrong business at the wrong time. Just like a lot of employees are now, poor things. I read that instead of starting their own business now days, a lot of people are still stocking up on horse feed (metaphorically speaking) by being employees
I love your articles Perry Marshall! You sound just like my favourite economist Bill Bonner- are you sure you’re not related! I totally agree with you both!
A hundred years ago, having a business was considered normal. Everyone had a business back then, There was the blacksmith, the baker etc etc. Then the industrial stuff came along and stuffed it all up and people expected a job and job security forever. When you change your frame of reference, having a job semms totally silly when you think about it. If you imagine 100 years ago, imagine going up to the town blacksmith who had his own business and saying “hey dude, how about you come to my blacksmith shop and do all my work for me while I relax at home drinking ale, and then at the end of the week, I will give you 20 cents pay, and you have to give the rest of the money to me. What do you think that town blacksmith would have said? Do you think he would have grovelled and said “oh thank you thank you for giving me the privelege of a job” like people do now? No way, he would have told the other guy to get stuffed and he would have said “why the heck should I work for your blacksmith shop when I can do the same work for myself and keep ALL the profit myself?” Whereas now days if you have your own business, people look at you like you are an alien from planet Mars, especially if you are a young women like I am.
Christina- Of course You over-simplified Your example to make Your point … But in the interests of balancing Your Valid Observations … let’s also recall that “In The Good Ol’ Days” … Most of US started our years of INTER-Dependent Living [NOTE: None of US Are EVER-TRULY “Independent”]… in some form of Apprenticeship &/or Indentured Servitude.
It Takes Time To Master A Craft–And SOMEHOW We Need To Be Clothed&Fed&Sheltered During The Years That We Are Learning Our Trade & Acquiring Its Tools. Starting out as Somebody’s Employee Isn’t All Bad … But–At The Pace That The World Keeps CHANGING!–We All Need To Develop Ideas & Networks To Help Us Make A Move Forward Should We Find … As So Many Blacksmiths Did A Century Ago … That A Normally Reliable & HUGE Sector of Their Business–Shoeing Horses–Was About To Be “Gone With The Wind” of The NEXT AGE DAWNING–That of The Automobile.
As old forms of employment closed … many-many new forms of employment Opened Up. Most of the New Forms of Employment Do ANCIENT JOBS … Just In&By NEW Ways&Means.
Human Needs Remain LARGELY THE SAME … It’s The Systems & Equipment Employed To Serve Those Needs That Keep … Evolving.
Good For You On Starting Your Own Business … But REMEMBER That–It Is NOT FAILURE If You Decide–At Some Point To Shutter It. My Dad Had To Bankrupt 1 or 2 of His Corporations–It Was A Sign of His Intelligence & Business Acumen.
Cheers !!
-Mary
My experience is that job security is not dead.
It is very alive:
For example, my employer provides it, and this is a privately owned family business with 300+ employees.
They use job security as one of their USPs in the employment market.
This way they attract superior talent for relatively moderate salaries.
Also, they create stability for their customers this way
because there is long-term continuity in the relationships with people
and the knowledge of employees stays in the company.
( especially important for engineers, support, salespeople, … )
Providing job security as a business is really a win-win-win situtation.
But most business leaders don’t get that yet.
Especially those stock-traded companies who are run by MBAs prefer to go down the hire-and-fire road.
My guess is that the successful, new businesses that emerge during these challenging times will provide job security, long term stability to both employees and customers.
One of their primary assets will be well-managed long-term relationships with everybody involved in the business.
And, BTW, most of these new successful companies will never be traded in the stock market. ( the stock market is dead in my opinion, and is only artificially pumped up by government-forced “private” pension plans. )
Best wishes for 2011,
Chris
P.S.: I am building my own business besides my employee job.
So I am not building it because of job insecurity but rather because I am passionate about being an entrepreneur.
Chris- What You just described–Attracting Talent With Job Security Instead of By Dangling Potential Mega-Salary BONUS ROUNDS … which often go–Bust–is very much how the Mayo Clinic established & maintains their excellence–as well.
The Mayo Clinic attracts fine Physicians and Staff–NOT Medical “Rock Stars”–by offering a starting salary higher than what would be generally offered to a First Year New Practice Member … Then giving scheduled raises for the next 4 or 5 years where the salary Tops Out–generally at a salary lower than what Physicians who worked their tails off (and got lucky) would be earning after 15 or so years of practice. The salaries of Mayo Clinic Doctors are not affected by their patient volumes.
After making the capital investments to maintain & upgrade the Clinic Facilities & Equipment–investments that the Clinic does not … short … any remaining profits are shared among the Topped Out Physicians & Staff.
This is the Compensation & Business Model behind what has been for a over a century since its founding in 1889–The World’s Greatest Medical Clinic. Now–other Clinics … such as The Cleveland Clinic have also achieved excellence by following much of the Mayo Clinic’s example.
Thanks for Your reminder of how So Many Wall Street Investments became morbidly obese on BOOMER Pension Plan & IRA & 401(k) money. However–the Stock Market is not “dead” … it suffered a Major Swoon … and programs of serious “diet” & “exercise” are being prescribed–complete with Trainers to guide & monitor … Progress.
Best 2 All in 2011…
-Mary
Great article, Perry. I’ve picked up several tips from you over the last year. I haven’t tackled Adwords yet to any effect, but I’ve learned to build a few content rich websites that earn money from Adsense and affiliates over the last couple of years.
I’m utterly amazed that while so many I know in the US are struggling financially with the instability of their work, etc., I have made more money in the last year (online) than I’ve made in any other year of my life! I still pinch myself and wonder “how long it can last.”
I’m always humbly grateful for folks like you and Ken Evoy who have generously shared your knowledge and experience to help teach me a skill that has made such a difference in our lives.
All the very best for 2011!
Blessings,
Angie
Angie,
Don’t be surprised that you’re doing well. “Lazy hands make a man poor, but diligent hands bring wealth.” Proverbs 10:4.
You make a good point. ;) I do give the Lord the most credit for blessing my efforts, but He used you guys to help me know what effort to put forth and how!
Blessings,
Angie
Thanks for everything perry,
Your messages really change my life. Here in Nigeria unemployment is on the increase. The only remedy is for someone to apply the little skill he has to make money online. thanks once more
Isah- I don’t mean to sound as if I’m making light of a serious situation … BUT–The online money-making efforts that have been tagged to Nigeria are … Legendary.
People are more suspect of a Internet vendor who appears to be operating in relative … isolation … Is this yet another empty website set up by a scammer … Is the first question that I must get answered to my satisfaction before I’ll proceed with any further transaction.
First–Network With Other Good People…
IN REAL LIFE–As Well As Virtual…
Build A Strong Web of Dependable Work & Service–
WITH EACH OTHER–FIRST–
And Then–With Potential Customers.
You’ll Be Amazed At…
Just How Far YOU ALL TOGETHER Can Reach.
Internet marketing requires some spending to be effective in my opinion, you need to spend a little to get a lot, nothing’s really free, it either costs you time or money
Hi Perry,
Wonderful post! Hard truth and very well stated. I’m inspired to keep moving forward and getting things DONE.
Happy New Year …
Robin
Spot on post Perry at the perfect time.
I’ve made a grand total of 32.33 in online sales, Praise The Lord. It’s not much by no stretch of the imagination, but I’m very proud of it.
I’ve always said…If you can make a dollar you can make 10…then 100…then 1000 and so forth, as long as you apply focused action consistently.
To abundant prosperity in 2011,
Ron Brantley
To Ron Brantley, don’t give up. I started with $14.99 and I am closing out our 4th year at over $6500.00 in on line sales alone. And I STILL have not started my ADWORDS yet (will start in 2011 for sure). Do not despise the days of humble beginnings. You’ll get there.
It’s been two years of unemployment, and I have been sucking up everything that Perry Marshall offers – sometimes free, and sometimes paid for. Perry’s Adwords Bible has directed me away … from dumb failure due to little or no information … to kickass knowledge of Internet Marketing, courtesy of Perry Marshall..
The first months of 2011 will be devoted to writing a killer manual, after which I plan to have packing made, and distribution set up. The fact that I am on Gov.
Unemployment and will soon receive Food Stamps is a spur to succeed, not a surrender to the wheelchair.
Watch this 80 year old sizzle through 2011, and thank you, Saint Perry, ’cause you are soon to equal Mother Teresa’s work, but this time it’s for us poor Americans in the nationwide Calcutta created by politicians …
Perry
Thanks for the wake up call… actually a reminder call. I have been marketing a website for 2 years now. Made a few dollars but no where yet.
Your post is very timely, relevant and motivational.
Thanks again
Naveen
You know, I was saying this same thing to my closest friends… they don’t believe me.
In a report that I wrote I put in a paragraph that talks about how irrational people are.
They believe that one has a greater chance making money by winning the lottery than from starting their own business.
Well, it’s all good. Let’s just pray that God watches over all of us who cannot see the Truth.
Perry, Tom is correct!
Whether it is internet marketing, online marketing or any kind knowing the core elements are crucial to thriving (or surviving) in the cruel world of
SEO and PPC.
Virtually the only college professors who understand how
to make money are those rare adjunct professors who actual are real world practitioners, not the vast majority who are cloistered ivory tower clueless ones.
There’s no two ways about it:
We’re All Different & We’re All Here.
Someone posts:
“And if the public appoints a parade of whores and flimflam men to mind the cash register, we have no one to blame but ourselves.”
“Breathtaking”
And I’m thinking–I’ve heard this line from my Mom&Dad about 1000’s starting 50 years ago … what rock has this Guy been under?
My maiden name? … Why–Marshall–of course …AND… Smallest of Small Worlds–They live just up the street & around the corner from Planet Perry Corporate Headquarters in the Seniors’ High Rise at Ontario & Marion.
Dad has been a Beacon of Light in Dark Times … OFTEN giving better advice to His Advisers at Merrill Lynch–Than They Offered Him–His Investment Record HAS Their Attention.
My Sister–who’s retained Her Marshall surname–was a Beacon of Light at National Geographic–serving to build new “For Profit” Divisions that were actually profitable … as well as guiding their Maps Division through the CHANGING! Times–as more & more Maps Applications moved online and to GPS devises.
Me? My “track record” is … less impressive–teacher & stay-at-home Mom … who has time to pay closer attention to and serve family & community needs. Some MBA-types might consider me to be an … economic parasite … and often–They’re The Ones Who Long For The Good Ol’ Daze … When WASP Guys Had It “Made In The Shade” While … EVERYBODY ELSE HAD TO GO SCRATCH–Not Too Unlike The First Poster From South Africa.
Anyway–It’s True–We’re Learning Just How Over-Priced Many University Degree Programs Are … for the educations that their graduates actually received … It’s an analogous situation to the collapse of the Financial Markets caused by–Among Other Things–the bundling of many “Toxic Assets” with a few “Performing Assets” and then selling the entire package as if it were All–Premium.
Still–Your statement: “…Rather I humbly suggest that you arm yourself to the teeth for battle and be well prepared to fight a blood sport…”
…tells only the seriousness of the upcoming battles. [NOTE: Each & Every Day Is A Battle–And Has Been Since–FOREVER–So Don’t Get Overly Fearful … It’s Still Gonna Feel Like–Same Ol’ Same Ol’.]
Anywho … My Point IS–Very Much The Same As The 2nd Poster–Figure Out What You Can Do Better Than 96% of Everyone You Know … And That’s Probably Something That You Can Do Well Enough & Easily Enough & Enjoyably Enough To Make A Living At … And Then–Spend You Life Doing The Best You Can To Advance What IS TRUE & GOOD–For Everybody–In The Long Run … In The Context of Getting A Fair Return For Your Work.
Don’t Become Greedy.
You Are Part of A Huge Team–The Contributions of Others–Those You Do NOT Know & Never-Ever Think Of–Helped You To Achieve Your Successes & Advancements. Make A Living–NOT A Killing. Good Things Will Follow–even if they don’t always feel so good … at the time.
Don’t edit yourself Perry. Just come right out and tell us what your really think!!!
Killer email once again good sir!
“…until their dried-out carcasses are ground into fertilizer.”
That’s copy writing gold my friend :) who here didn’t literally see it happening as you read it?
BUT
The very best part of this message is MAKE ONE DOLLAR and the word Alchemy. Once you learn the Traffic-Offer-Collect Alchemy process you literally feel like you are in fact MAKING those dollars appear out of thin air.
Eagerly awaiting the next email,
Fred
P.S. I MADE A (few hundred)DOLLAR(s) appear yesterday and already a few more today.
Attaboy!
You nailed it again Perry.
I am reading Conspiracy of The Rich
which I got for Xmas.
Robert of course agrees with you.
Job security is history.
SKILLS are our new job security.
AS A BOOMER “AT THE APEX OF THE PIG IN THE PYTHON”
…I’M 55 IN ONE MONTH…I have watched this happen in my G.M. family.
My 50 year old Brother retired this year.
He was the last generation it looks like
that will get his benefits til death.
Unless of course you are working for the only growing and expanding entity…somewhere in our
N.A. governments…where unions still reign
over folks.
I work on my skills daily…since I must to get
6 figures online.
Making my first buck online was thrilling and keeps me going.
I love emails with money in them.
I just need to develop myself enough to get my six figures.
Hey God bless you and your family Perry!!
happy New Year also!!
I am an OWL. I read and absorb and study everything before taking action. Unfortunately, that often translates into taking no action at all, and my inclination is to go back to learning mode.
So, I have been reminding myself this last year that I know more than I think I know about marketing. I have to push myself to action and risk. It may not be my ‘natural inclination’, but I still believe I can be trained to change and grow and be enterpreneurially productive.
It convicts me to realize there are those who are succeeding online using the exact same tools I’ve been learning from Perry Marshall and others for literally years.
Thanks Perry for your posts, your words of encouragement, your insights, your wisdom in marketing and life, and your practices to share it with us. I think in 2011 I’ll see more action and less cloistered learning.
Happy New Year Perry!
Spot on as always and timing, magnificent!
All the Best to You and Yours and Everybody Be Glad the Reward For Hard Work is The Opportunity to Do More :)
Big 2011 !
-Seth
I did the corporate thing for 30 years. Degree in physics (professor was a farmer, then Standard Oil bulk distributor before becoming a prof — had more common sense than any prof I’ve ever met except one EE prof in grad school).
After a decade of engineering, I left R&D and went to marketing in what’s become a large computer company split from the instruments side of the original business. I was the most productive in the entire department spread across the country and ranked #1 out of 45 people on the pay scale. Did it working not more than 30 hours/week for 20 years before early retirement. [I learned many of my tactics while I was a ‘circle-drawiung machine’ in an earlier life.]
The manager of another group in our department wanted me “punished for being a ‘poor team player'” because I got in her face in a non-PC way for not doing her job. I was having to strip usability features from the product because they “didn’t have time and resources” to do their job and modernize the system and wouldn’t let me do it for them in half the time.
Six years earlier, they took over a project I did by myself for 4 years working <30 hrs/wk and replaced me with 10 full-time engineers (400 hrs/wk) who couldn't make schedule.
I owned a company while in college. In Corporate, it was my employer's CUSTOMERS who made my paycheck, not the company, and I knew it and I wasn't afraid to tell them.
When faced with "punishment" (my boss, a woman, was a real class act — competent, kind, balanced — a great boss for 5 years, just like my previous boss of 10 years.
A year after I left, they were asking if I'd like to come back. I was replaced by an MS-Computer Science grad (over 10 years experience) and TWO OTHER PEOPLE!
Before I left, I was supporting 22 software staff engineers, developing all of the online help for their products — by myself — working about 3-4 hours per day.
About 1-1/2 yrs after I left, my 10-year boss challenged me: "C'mon. You've got a price. What would it cost us to get you back in here?"
The secret? Agressive personal laziness is the key to productivity — and going to work every day willing to be fired. One boss before the last two was trying to set me up to be fired. When I found out what he was up to after a re-org, and caught him wiht his hand in the cookie jar, it cost him his job when I proved to the marketing manager he was hoarding people who could be better used elsewhere.
Most colleges have become little more than intellectually incestuous breeding grounds for screwed-up thinking, run by elites with "piled higher and deeper" degrees of more Baryard Solid waste they learned as undergrads. Without a lick of real-world experience, why would any parent subject his or her child to such inanity?
And the "prettiest" of the bunch is heading up the insanity in DC!
Bring out the lead pipes. It's time to clean house.
I'm doing my part…
Clarke
Absolutely true. I have one of those MBA’s, although earned part-time and for far less than $40,000. Still pretty much useless though. At age 60 my 35+ year IT career seems to count for nothing. The job is always “somewhere else” where I have to go live in a hotel, 6 months contract-to-hire, and those turn out to be sticks with no carrot. At 5 months, their budget changes.
So my response is entrepreneurship, and participating in a program at church to help others start businesses. Just today Forbes magazine is talking about mergers and acquisition boom in 2011, but the big guys are using their balance sheet cash to squelch competition, not generate jobs.
I don’t say “it is what it is”, “whatever”, “just living the dream”. No, these are the days of Elijah.
Thanks, Perry, for making this so clear and straightforward.
You are exactly right about people lining up at your door. I am always amazed at the resumes that find their way into my mailbox. Keep telling it like it is.
Happy New Year!
Love this post Perry.
I have been thinking focusing everything on entrepreneurship is the most constructive way of being solution orientated and improving life for myself and people around me.
The empire is crumbling, but its meant to because it must in order to bring in the world Socialist state they propose…take a good look at China because that’s the model for our future and will pick up the dead carcass of America if people dont start waking up FAST! Its pathetic how, particularly Americans, are so blind to the deliberate internal destruction of their country by their ‘so called’ leaders (puppet frontmen for gangsters out of public display who are really pulling the strings)
I think the middle class are finally starting to ‘get it’ now though that the global prison they have in store is not just for the old silly folk its for EVERYONE and your children and grandchildren too… nice thought ay!
And…in case anyones wondering, this is not the blue blooded critter brain spewing out conspiracy’s. There is going to be no ray of sunshine until people become accustomed to reality first, Im sorry.
“Something is wrong”. I just urge people to go and find out what it is, if you can handle the truth that is? Most people cant… thats why they never look…
I am just grateful I can make a positive contribution to society as I really seeing entrepreneurial skills being the glue that will hold our societies together.
And Perry I agree, its the peoples fault. Essentially we enslave ourselves though our own wilful ignorance laziness and stupidity that’s why:
“All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing.” (Edmund Burke)
We, the entrepreneurs – the ultimate individualists IMO are whats needed more then ever. We are ironically the ones more under attack then anyone. Because they* dont need anymore. We have built their* infrastructure, now we are just ‘the useless eaters’, taking up the world resources. The new ‘green economy’ is just a code world for a fascist world government.
I was going to say “just watch” but its sitting back and the watching thats the problem…
Sorry, im just very opinionated too ;-)
Wishing you a happy new year Perry and all, thanks for your great posts Perry.
Will
I’m a network marketer since 27 year. The industry that you don’t like, but I’m still allowed to like you and appreciate the incoparable way you write. Although, I have figured out how to make more than one dollar a day, it amazes me to see that 95% out there haven’t or, at best, give it a cheap shot without meaning. Your article is the most well written “slap in the face,” wakeruper I’ve read in a long time.
I so loved this post Perry…it’s what we all knew and to see it so eloquently put made me smile big.
Thanks!
Sarah Jayne
Good post, in my country unemployment is like 17% or 18% and as high as 21% in some cities, and many people think, they have to go back to college to get an MBA. But the worse is that some that already have an MBA, go back again to get an second MBA to be more “qualify” go get a job. That will be ok for while until they get fired and everything starts againg. They still haven´t understand, they need to become entreprenuers, they need to stard something on their own.
Perry, I agree it is time to get busy making money. I have worked on the Internet marketing/network marketing side of things for a year and a half with next to no sales.
Something must be done differently — I am not going to continue spending with no ROI.
Out of sixty Web pages created, I have 8 on the first page of Google for that keyword, so I have learned how to do that.
The bottom line is, nothing I recommend to my readers is selling. They, with few exceptions, don’t even want to communicate with me when I ask what they are looking for.
I’m not sure I want to venture more money into starting over again, building content in some other field. I’m stuck.
Any suggestions?
Perry
I totally agree with your Planet Earth comments. I’ve been freelancing for 12 years and am only too aware of the different ‘muscles’ you need to use when running your own business – it’s cold outside big corporates!
I wonder too though if the old correlation between effort and sucess has also been broken and what your thoughts on what the new model is?
To think the correlation between effort and success has been broken would be foolish. I still believe in 1% inspiration 99% perspiration. I also believe in 8020 which means there are points of huge leverage in the world.
Well said :)
My experience with corporate America, Bofa, provided a realistic view..if your position doesn’t contribute to the bottom line, its subject to removal at any minute.
Art
Unemployment is ~10 percent represents the number of people collecting unemployment, the actual figure is ~20 percent.
Makes perfect sense on a one-to-one level.
The info industry depends on the people who keep buying and accumulating “info solutions” to their economic problems- and never implement any of them.
Yours is one of the few emails that I receive that I read in their entirety. I agree that this economy is driving people into entrepreneurship entirely out of self preservation.
I live in South Texas and the schools here are a disgrace. Kids graduate from high school barely able to speak, read or write English. Much less being able to grasp the concept of business.
I have garnered much wisdom and insight into the business of online traffic and its applications just from reading your everyday emails. You have been an inspiration to me for over a year. Thanks.
Agreed, I have learned much more from Planet Perry and other experiments on my own than I did in two years gaining my MBA. Luckily enough it didn’t cost me $40k as the corporate udder picked up the tab, so no complaints there. The opportunity for 2011 is huge and I will be sure to get my fair share!
This is like getting hit in the gut. One may pick up a
few signs that the times are changing, Yet, instead of
learning, or relearning, that the old pieces don’t fit,
one may sit inert, not knowing what to do.
I think, Perry, that in this economy, finding your works, is like finding a gem.
Here are some skills I have that are valuable when delivered. But people don’t knock at the door unless you give them directions. My ability to deliver is not in question. My ability to create a product line is.
1. I have more than 5 websites that could be making money.
2. My mind creates, at least, one great new business idea/plan/model daily, that could work, if executed. So, I have the ideas.
3. Chances are I can make you or anyone else feel more fit, more relaxed, more energized by 5 minutes of martial exercise training with me, online or off.
4. Chances are I can make you appreciate doing physical training to stay healthy and can show you some ways to deepen your current training so that, if you stopped your workout, your body would maintain a higher level of fitness.
5. I can give marketing tips, online and off and, very often, give free tips to strangers who implement them successfully.
6. I can teach tai chi and kung fu and have a music background.
7. I consider it my duty to improve quality of life in everyone who crosses my path. I take action to improve myself on a daily basis.
8. I need help creating a product line from what I already have.
As martial arts teaches, the one-pointed path is the way. Focus is crucial to succeed. It is a personal decision, not a show of weakness, to put out your hand when you want help.
I have been gearing up to be part of a Planet Perry seminar for years, but I have not YET learned to MAKE A DOLLAR.
Since, in many ways, we are the masters of our fate, in the spirit of getting busy, WHO WOULD LIKE TO HELP ME FORMULATE A PRODUCT LINE OR PRODUCT OFFERS OUT OF MY WEBSITES THAT ALREADY EXIST?
Thanks for reading. Find the good, make someone’s day and Peace IN!
Love, D
P.S. A note about the affectionate sign off:
when Vimeo.com corresponds, they always sign off, Love, Vimeo. It always makes me smile, so I pass it on.
D — You said you want help creating a product. Go check out Matt Furey. He has something of the same background that you do, but is a rather successful internet marketer. Maybe you could get some good ideas about creating a product that sells from him.
Perry — as always, you completely rock. The messages you put out are the best available. I’ve made a few dollars myself, though from creative real estate rather than from internet marketing.
D- Like Perry–You Are A Teacher.
A couple posts after Yours … Peter Lara touched upon the disgraceful state of Public Education in His area of South Texas.
Let Me Tell You–Recently–The Reform of Health Care Got THE BULK of Media Attention … but the REAL ACTION IS Happenin’ Over With–Education Reform … As The Old Methods & Formats of Lecturing To A Group … Are Being Supplemented With Attention To Each Individual–MUCH AS THE PERRY PLANET ONLINE “TOPIC & FORUM” OPERATES:
Perry Delivers A Timely / Info&Truth-Filled & Possibly Provocative “Lesson”…
He&His Offices review & edit the responses submitted…possibly offering a brief nudge here & there to individual posters…but they then…
Largely leave the Further Discussion / “Color Work” & Networking Up … 2 US.
Your points 2 – 7 on Your List Tell Me…
[A former 2ndary Ed–Science & Math Teacher trained at the UofIllinois/Urbana-Champaign–Among the First of Education Colleges to Advance “Individualized Education Theory & Practice” since the 1960’s … Because Illinois–like Texas–is a state that is ALL OVER THE BOARD in terms of the Opportunities & Background & Cultural Habits&Bias of its Greater Population]…
…Tell Me–That You Would Make An Excellent Teacher–Who Receives A GUARANTEED PAYCHECK. Your Product Line Will Be The Product Line That Our Nation–MOST NEEDS RIGHT NOW–A Well & Effectively Educated GenNEXT.
The best Adwords in the world are of little use … if they are directed at “promoting stuff” devoid of Real Value … whether the “stuff” is a:
1. Product
2. Policy
3. Politician
America Has Built The Best Networked Nation In The History of The World … As We Should Have–After All–American’s Invented MOST of IT. HOWEVER–As We Were Witness To In The 1990’s … This Amazing Capability Can Be Usurped By Crooks & Spammers & Pornographers–AND–The Gains We Made In This Most Recent Decade To Rescue The Internet From Its Abusers Can Be Surrendered … If We Fail To Educate & Motivate & Compensate A Well Trained People To Protect-Defend-Advance ALL THIS GOOD WORK…
And D–You Sound Like Just The Kind of NINJA Required To … Get This Job DONE.
Think about it.
There are alternative routes to earning Teaching Certification for those already with a Bachelor’s Degree … and there are now More Options for earning a Bachelor’s Degree than Ever Before. Let’s Start Raising The Bar–Shall We ??
Perry, thanks for the lead pipe. I myself am a believer as well and I have had quite a few “confirmations” of where to walk and what to learn for 2011 includingthis latest message. Job security is non-existant. I currently have a full time government job that everyone always thought as a secure one. Well for the secod year in a row, lay offs are being enforced. Many people are being blown out of their comfort zone. It’s up to them if they thrive or die. But the skills to thrive are more than ever available. Forget only the strong survive, it’s more like only the hungriest ones survive.
Perry, This particular post reminded me most clearly of what the heck I’m doing “out here.” Thanks for the elbow jab.
The Truth – AGAIN!
By the way, Perry, yesterday I made ONE DOLLAR! I have been beside myself with delight ever since, although it hasn’t stopped me. I’m currently studying SEO (as well as reading up and listening to everything you have to say in the 12 Days, etc.) I’m a rank beginner in internet marketing lingo, but I’m getting there!
Thanks for your continued support,
Jet
Congrats!
And the weightly punch comes in at the end as a reminder.. APPLY it! Nice post Perry and timely as ever. Thanks
Hi Perry
Once again, managing to fit more pieces of usable, interesting and easy to read nuggets of information into an email than all your peers.
Thanks for everything this year, great stuff.
Have a wonderful break and a truly fabulous, successful and magical New Year
Chris
PS I loved the line;
“And if the public appoints a parade of whores and flimflam men to mind the cash register, we have no one to blame but ourselves.”
Breathtaking
In my 20 years as a corporate software developer. I’ve been there done it and then some!! Job security fell outta my vocab. almost 19 years ago! I realized the lie then and it has never changed my perception.
I try to teach my 2 boys the same thing – “DO WHAT YOU ENJOY … AND THE MONEY WILL ALWAYS FOLLOW!!”
I am now 47 years old and still developing software like a teenager. I love what I do so it’s an extension of my passion. But I have seen the industry change not for the sake of improvement of mankind, but to line the pockets of the corporate zealots!!
Indeed I will not learn from all this and maybe some day I too will have the balls to walk away and do IM full-time. It’s a life long dream for me – but i will succeed!
Thanks for listening…
Nitin
I so know that gnawing feeling about job security… Just this year, I was out of a job for about 3 months, after a contract expired. In South Africa the unemployment rate is reportedly 24%, I think it’s much higher. It’s very hard for a white, almost middle age male to get a job. Thanks to the black economic empowerment deal they have here.
So I eventually got a job at a business school, churning out MBAs. And I’ve been keen to see how the marketing is done here. I have to mention that I asked the Marketing lady here what they are doing about their Adwords and online marketing. She didn’t even know they had such a thing like that. The IT guy is throwing a few grand at it a month and told me “it pretty much runs itself”. I was horrified..
I’ve given them a few ideas on it, and I’m getting a few “I dont really know if that’s gonna work” looks..
Oh, I wonder how long I’ll last in my Dilbert’s cube? Meanwhile I’m reading your Renaissance letters and following Glen’s Livingston’s system. Here’s hoping 2011 will be very interesting..