FEBRUARY 2005
Greetings & Salutations:
In last month's issue, I asked you ...
Do People Really Believe They Can Get Rich ...
Overnight ... Without Working ... Using Some 'Secret' Method
or Technique?
Can the absurdity of the get-rich-quick, bullstuff-ads
be justified or, at least, defended?
The answers I received from you ran the gamut from light-hearted
smart remarks to the officiously serious.
From those answers, I have confirmed my own opinion
that we ALL want to believe there is an easier way - and
- someone just might know a "secret" we can use - but
- we must recognize the fact that ...
"You cannot teach a man anything; you can
only help him to find it within himself." -- Galileo
So, even if only 10% of the information provided by the less-than-totally-truthful
guru is factual, there will be those among his (or her) customers
who will find what they need within themselves. Those people
will attribute their success to the promoter who awakened the
'spirit of success' within them. -- They won t even realize how
much they had been mislead until much later, when they look back
and compare what they have done to what they had been lead to
believe they were supposed to do.
To illustrate, let me tell you...
A true story from my own experience.
As you know, back in my younger days, I made some outrageous
money as a Finder. Then, in 1978, I created my Finder s
Fee course ... which has since become the 'bible' of that industry.
-- I have often told the story about how that course came into
existence.
Back when I was just a kid, growing up on the farm, I discovered
that I could make a few extra bucks by putting buyers and sellers
together and charging a 'commission.' -- If farmer Brown had
a tractor (or whatever) for sale, I would make an arrangement
with him to give me a commission if I could find him a buyer.
Then, when I found another farmer who needed such a tractor,
I would introduce him to farmer Brown and, if he bought the tractor,
I would get my commission. t It was 'easy money' because I knew
almost everyone in the county, what they had for sale, and what
they might buy.
Later, when I was in the Army, I learned that used car salesmen
would pay me what they called a 'bird dog' fee, if GIs I brought
to their lots bought a car. -- Again, I was earning Finder s
Fees, introducing buyers to sellers, but I didn t know it at
the time.
Sometime during my stint in the Army, I somehow acquired an old
book about unusual businesses. In that book, there was
a rather lengthy chapter about earning Finder s Fees. That
chapter mentioned that Finder s Fees could be earned in the fields
of Industrial and Oil Field Equipment (just like farm tractors),
Closeouts, Liquidations, Collectibles, and a whole world of areas
I had never even considered.
Even before I got out of the Army, I had started earning bigger
and bigger Finder s Fees on all kinds of products and services
... just introducing buyers to sellers ... as I had 'learned'
in that old book. -- By the mid-1970s, I was known internationally
as a successful finder ... earning some outrageous fees for 'finding'
some of the most diverse products and services you can imagine.
For 10 years, I firmly believed that my 'success' as a finder
was due to what I had 'learned' from that single chapter in the
old book I had read. And, had anyone ever asked, I would
have 'testified' that I owed my success to that author.
As I pursued my career as a finder, I read everything I could
find about Finder s Fees. -- Everything I read was 'bullstuff.'
None of it even vaguely resembled the 'truth'
about being a finder - and - when I was able to actually speak
to the authors, I learned that they, personally, had never earned
any Finder s Fee, but they had 'read' about it (maybe in the
same book I had read).
In 1978, when I decided to 'teach' people how to really and truly
earn Finder s Fees, I went back into my archives and retrieved
the old book I had read ... thinking I would use the chapter
on Finder s Fees in it to start my course.
Guess what? -- Rereading the chapter on Finder s Fees in that
old book, I learned that what the author had written was actually
even more misleading than the 'pure bullstuff' I had read since.
(It s a good thing I had never given the author a testimonial.)
But, something in that book had inspired me to decide to become
a finder.
So ... you see ... even though over 90% of the information provided
by the less-than-totally-truthful guru is factual, there will
be those among his (or her) customers who will find, within themselves,
the inspiration to succeed. Those few will give glowing
testimonials to the efficacy of the promoter s teachings ...
fully believing that the information he (or she) provided was
instrumental in their success ... not realizing that it was their
own thinking that produced the results.
Once those people have made the decision to succeed, it matters
not that over 90% of what they have read is worthless.
They will ... as I did in my pursuit of finder s fees ... adapt,
adopt, develop, and implement the methods necessary to achieve
their success.
By the way, I m talking about 'bullstuff information' here, not
'bullstuff advertising.' -- Even 'bullstuff information' can
inspire a person to succeed. -- 'Bullstuff advertising' only
benefits the promoter.
Although 'bullstuff advertising' is a corruption, until a person
is well versed in a business method, technique or application,
it is almost impossible for them to discern the difference between
bullstuff information and the real thing. Therefore, unfortunately,
even the very best of information may be, and often
is, unwittingly labeled as 'bullstuff' by those who do not know.
But ...
All it takes to succeed (in any business) is a
decision to be successful.
Once the decision is made, you will do it!
It really doesn t matter what inspires you to make that decision.
Whether the information you are relying upon is the best, most
reliable and factual dissertation ever written on the subject,
or pure 'bullstuff,' your decision to do it ... no matter what
it is you decide to do ... will produce the results you anticipate
and expect.
Think about it! Relate your decision making to anything
(or everything) in your life. -- When you are indecisive, you
wander around in a state of perplexity ... nothing seems
to be going right. Then, when a decision (about anything)
is finally made, the stress is relieved and you can go on about
whatever you are doing and accomplish your intended goal.
Even if the decision is to give-up, or quit, or just forget it
... the result is the same. -- You do it!!
When YOU finally and unequivocally decide that you are going
to succeed at something (anything), you will do it. -- That s
why all of the great teachers of 'success motivation,' emphasize
goal setting. Because, once you decide upon a goal, you
will find a way ... even though you stumble and fall along the
way ... to get to that goal. -- The decision to get to your goal
is all it takes!
Decide, today, that you will have a successful, profitable business.
Once your decision is made and you know without doubt what your
goal is, forsake all other avenues to success. -- Then, whether
you follow my teachings or the teachings of a less-than-totally-honest
guru, you will succeed.
The decision is yours and yours alone!
Well ... that's it for this month. -- In order
to make every issue responsive to YOUR needs, please send me
your questions; or tell me what sources or resources you need
to build your business; or give me any thoughts you want to share
with your fellow members.
Believe it or don't ... I ain t a mind-reader.
-- If n you doesn't tell me what you need, I may never touch
upon the information, sources or resources you need.
This is your publication for you to use to your benefit
... I am just your moderator.
Until next month, keep well ...
J.F. (Jim) STRAW
Grande Panjandrum
Can you stump the old master? --
Betcha can't!
Over the past 40 years (man and boy), I have made bundles
of money in direct selling, service contracting, wholesale merchandising,
entertainment (I was a professional Trumpet player, vocalist
& Radio Announcer), freight forwarding, import/export, retail
merchandising, warehousing, real estate, electronics manufacturing,
finder's fees, closeout merchandising, financial brokerage, business
consulting, steel fabrication, gold and coal mining, offshore
banking, mailorder, writing, and publishing. -- That being the
case ...
No matter what business you're in ... whether you're just
starting, well on your way, or at the top of the heap ... I've
probably been where you are, done what you are doing. -- So ...
Anytime you have a question about 'how' to do something in
your business - or - if you have any comments about anything
I've said in issues of this e-Letter; or if you want to add your
2 cents worth ... just "ask" me or "tell"
me.
Send your Questions, Comments or 2 Cents Worth
to ...
with "Question" - "Comment"
- or, "2 Cents Worth" in the SUBJECT.
If I, personally, don't have an answer to any question you
may ask, I will contact some of the professionals in your field
of endeavor (I will probably know one or more personally) to
get the real 'skinny' for you.
Note: If you want to ask a question anonymously
just tell me so when you send in the question. -- Nobody but
you and I will know who asked the question.
Copyright - 2005, J.F. (Jim) Straw. All rights reserved.