MARCH 2008 Greetings & Salutations: It seems all of you ... well, a ho'bunch of you anyway ... liked the Q&A format from last month. -- So, I'll do some more this month. Q: What are the biggest mistakes you've made in your career? A: Mistakes? Who, me? Never! But, there was this one time ... All kidding aside, there are really no mistakes that I've made that stick-out as being "the biggest" or even the most important. Babe Ruth was known as the "Home Run King" - but - he had more strike-outs than he did home runs. I can count my successes on my fingers - but - when it comes to mistakes, I couldn't count them on all my fingers, toes and hairs on my chest. The secret to real success is to make mistakes. -- You don't learn anything from your success but mistakes teach you valuable lessons ... IF you don't make the same mistakes over & over again. It's like the one-time wonders who hit one big success, then never do it again. They couldn't learn anything from their success, so they are locked-in to telling the story of their one big success over & over & over; ad naseum. Q: What would you say are the best offline opportunities? A: Who is the most beautiful woman in the world?? -- Depends upon who's looking, doesn't it. Look around you. There are millionaires in every field of business endeavor. There are millionaire garbage collectors ... millionaire bankers ... millionaire shop keepers ... millionaire day-care operators ... millionaire internet marketers ... etc., etc., etc. As Albert Einstein said, "Anyone can be a genius, if they pick just one specific subject and study it diligently just 15 minutes each day." The same holds true in business. -- Just pick one specific business. Do it every day until you do it successfully. Most people don't fail, they just fail to stick with any ONE thing until they have mastered it. Q: What do you see as the best opportunities online at present, and in the next 2 years? A: Again, it's all in the eye of the beholder. There are very, very few opportunities that couldn't be the "best" for someone. It is all a matter of persistence. As Benjamin Disraeli said, "The secret to success is the constancy of purpose." What would be "best" for me ... since I have a very high risk threshold ... wouldn't be the "best" for anyone seeking any kind of security; or privacy. To succeed in business, you must leave your comfort zone and tread into untried waters ... willing to take the risks. Q: Do you treat your online business as you would a brick and mortar business? A: Yes. -- As Benjamin Franklin said, "Keep your business and your business will keep you." Unfortunately, all too many online business people treat their business on a catch-as-catch-can basis. They don't establish office hours or keep with any established schedule ... worst of all are the ezine publishers who set a circulation date for their publication then allow almost anything to keep them from meeting their own deadlines. -- Even while I was in the hospital; after my heart surgery, my publications went out on schedule. If you are going to have a business; any kind of business, you MUST establish all the "rules" you will follow ... then, follow them. Q: In the respect of customers there is a kind of unwritten rule that says the customer is always right. Does this apply in the online world as well? A: The customer may not "always" be right - but - a customer is always a customer. Too many wannabees want to "make sales." -- Those of us who succeed "make customers" ... then, we do everthing in our power to keep those customers. Our customers are our only real asset -- BUT ... Unfortunately, there are some customers who become a liability; rather than an asset. When a customer costs more than that customer is worth to keep, it is best to drop that customer from your roles. Q: How important is a business plan if you don't need to raise funding to start your business? A: A business that doesn't plan, plans to fail. Even when financing is not required, a wise business person writes a plan ... even if it is just a list of gonna do's ... to keep track of what they are doing; what they are going to do - and - what results they anticipate. -- Of course, the plan is subject to change at any time.
MARCH 2008
Greetings & Salutations:
It seems all of you ... well, a ho'bunch of you anyway ... liked the Q&A format from last month. -- So, I'll do some more this month.
Q: What are the biggest mistakes you've made in your career?
A: Mistakes? Who, me? Never! But, there was this one time ... All kidding aside, there are really no mistakes that I've made that stick-out as being "the biggest" or even the most important. Babe Ruth was known as the "Home Run King" - but - he had more strike-outs than he did home runs. I can count my successes on my fingers - but - when it comes to mistakes, I couldn't count them on all my fingers, toes and hairs on my chest. The secret to real success is to make mistakes. -- You don't learn anything from your success but mistakes teach you valuable lessons ... IF you don't make the same mistakes over & over again. It's like the one-time wonders who hit one big success, then never do it again. They couldn't learn anything from their success, so they are locked-in to telling the story of their one big success over & over & over; ad naseum.
Q: What would you say are the best offline opportunities?
A: Who is the most beautiful woman in the world?? -- Depends upon who's looking, doesn't it. Look around you. There are millionaires in every field of business endeavor. There are millionaire garbage collectors ... millionaire bankers ... millionaire shop keepers ... millionaire day-care operators ... millionaire internet marketers ... etc., etc., etc. As Albert Einstein said, "Anyone can be a genius, if they pick just one specific subject and study it diligently just 15 minutes each day." The same holds true in business. -- Just pick one specific business. Do it every day until you do it successfully. Most people don't fail, they just fail to stick with any ONE thing until they have mastered it.
Q: What do you see as the best opportunities online at present, and in the next 2 years?
A: Again, it's all in the eye of the beholder. There are very, very few opportunities that couldn't be the "best" for someone. It is all a matter of persistence. As Benjamin Disraeli said, "The secret to success is the constancy of purpose." What would be "best" for me ... since I have a very high risk threshold ... wouldn't be the "best" for anyone seeking any kind of security; or privacy. To succeed in business, you must leave your comfort zone and tread into untried waters ... willing to take the risks.
Q: Do you treat your online business as you would a brick and mortar business?
A: Yes. -- As Benjamin Franklin said, "Keep your business and your business will keep you." Unfortunately, all too many online business people treat their business on a catch-as-catch-can basis. They don't establish office hours or keep with any established schedule ... worst of all are the ezine publishers who set a circulation date for their publication then allow almost anything to keep them from meeting their own deadlines. -- Even while I was in the hospital; after my heart surgery, my publications went out on schedule. If you are going to have a business; any kind of business, you MUST establish all the "rules" you will follow ... then, follow them.
Q: In the respect of customers there is a kind of unwritten rule that says the customer is always right. Does this apply in the online world as well?
A: The customer may not "always" be right - but - a customer is always a customer. Too many wannabees want to "make sales." -- Those of us who succeed "make customers" ... then, we do everthing in our power to keep those customers. Our customers are our only real asset -- BUT ... Unfortunately, there are some customers who become a liability; rather than an asset. When a customer costs more than that customer is worth to keep, it is best to drop that customer from your roles.
Q: How important is a business plan if you don't need to raise funding to start your business?
A: A business that doesn't plan, plans to fail. Even when financing is not required, a wise business person writes a plan ... even if it is just a list of gonna do's ... to keep track of what they are doing; what they are going to do - and - what results they anticipate. -- Of course, the plan is subject to change at any time.
Now, let's do some ... Questions & Answers, Comments & Other Good Stuff! Richard F. Curry, Jr. wanted to know ... "You mentioned on many occasions that if you had to do it all over again you would not create your own products. I have read other successful people say the opposite. Rosalind Gardiner (very successful affiliate marketer) and Terrance Smith (Terrance makes his own videos, turns them into dvd's about travel, car shows, any major event, and sells them on ebay). Both seem to do very well and believe a person has more control with their own product. -- I can understand both sides. In your experience, have you made more income with your own products or in marketing other people's products?" Richard ... What they don't tell you is that having your own products requires an assumption of obligations and responsibilities which eat away at your living your life. And, if you hire people to do all of the work, you have an even greater obligation and responsibility because you are responsible for your employees as well as your customers. Selling other people's products eliminates those responsibilities. I have made most of my money with my own products - but - if I had applied the same effort to other people's products, I could have made just as much money without the obligations and responsibilities.
Now, let's do some ...
Richard F. Curry, Jr. wanted to know ...
"You mentioned on many occasions that if you had to do it all over again you would not create your own products. I have read other successful people say the opposite. Rosalind Gardiner (very successful affiliate marketer) and Terrance Smith (Terrance makes his own videos, turns them into dvd's about travel, car shows, any major event, and sells them on ebay). Both seem to do very well and believe a person has more control with their own product. -- I can understand both sides. In your experience, have you made more income with your own products or in marketing other people's products?"
Richard ... What they don't tell you is that having your own products requires an assumption of obligations and responsibilities which eat away at your living your life. And, if you hire people to do all of the work, you have an even greater obligation and responsibility because you are responsible for your employees as well as your customers. Selling other people's products eliminates those responsibilities. I have made most of my money with my own products - but - if I had applied the same effort to other people's products, I could have made just as much money without the obligations and responsibilities.
Steve Gibson wanted me to share this with you ... "The haves and have nots, usually comes down to the do's and didn't do's." -- Dennis Kembro Amen, Steve.
Steve Gibson wanted me to share this with you ...
Amen, Steve.
Ravi Jayagopal is giving away the farm ... "I'm Going to Shamelessly Bribe You With A FREE RSS-Feed Publishing Script That Will Let You Publish Any Feed (like your blog, or even my blog!) On Any Page Of Your Web Site Within Minutes! - PLUS - 14 Other PHP Scripts ... All Yours For Free - Simply For Signing Up For This Free Newsletter below." By the way, I have 3 of Ravi's scripts working on my website right now. So ... go get the free scripts. FreeScripts
Ravi Jayagopal is giving away the farm ...
"I'm Going to Shamelessly Bribe You With A FREE RSS-Feed Publishing Script That Will Let You Publish Any Feed (like your blog, or even my blog!) On Any Page Of Your Web Site Within Minutes! - PLUS - 14 Other PHP Scripts ... All Yours For Free - Simply For Signing Up For This Free Newsletter below."
By the way, I have 3 of Ravi's scripts working on my website right now. So ... go get the free scripts.
Edgar Reeder said ... " You can be a Finder of Commercial Real Estate Properties and earn $50,000 to $100,000 (or more) per deal finding properties for investors. No License ... None Of your Own Money ... No Experience Required! -- Just find Real Estate for established investors/buyers." I took the course. -- It is based upon the same premise I have used for over 50 years ... 100 buyers are worth far more than 1,000 sellers. The list of hundreds of "real" Real Estate investors/buyers in the course alone is worth 10 times the cost of the course. Do yourself a big favor ... go get it, today! REFinder
Edgar Reeder said ...
" You can be a Finder of Commercial Real Estate Properties and earn $50,000 to $100,000 (or more) per deal finding properties for investors. No License ... None Of your Own Money ... No Experience Required! -- Just find Real Estate for established investors/buyers."
I took the course. -- It is based upon the same premise I have used for over 50 years ... 100 buyers are worth far more than 1,000 sellers. The list of hundreds of "real" Real Estate investors/buyers in the course alone is worth 10 times the cost of the course. Do yourself a big favor ... go get it, today!
Charles was a bit confused ... "I read an e-book from Janiece Smith that startled me. She took other training (not yours) to acquire/sell liquidation and closeout merchandise. She readily found the merchandise and writes: "I found lots of products, in fact I found TONS of products from companies needing someone to move them." -- But, she claims she could not find business takers: "I then started calling retail stores letting them know I have access to products they sell at about 50% below what they were currently buying them for. Most of them were interested in this type of merchandise but had so many liquidation brokers calling them everyday they just didn't have a need for me ... I was calling around 50 to 100 retailers per day trying to sell my liquidation products...and after one full month I hadn't made one red cent!!" -- This flies in the face of what you teach, that it should be readily possible to move the merchandise. So she gave up trying to sell to merchants and instead began selling merchandise on Ebay. -- Do you have any way to reconcile your experiences with hers? What could she have been doing/doing wrong? I don't want to turn to Ebay and I certainly don't want to call 1000 retailers as she did and not turn a cent or maybe even worse look like a fool to those I call. After all I have not called 1000 retailers (not even one, I am not a salesman, have no idea who/how), so her experience discourages and scares me off, if she had no success how will I ever succeed in attempting to sell to businesses? Is it in what one says, does one have to schmooze like a politician to get in the door, a thousand questions and doubts crowd in. And I sure resist shelling out bucks beforehand to buy liquidation merchandise if trying to sell it will be so problematic or improbable. What can you advise about these things?" Charles ... Having done it all my life, I know exactly why it didn't work for her. She told them she had "access to products they sell" - but - she didn't offer them anything. If she had chosen a product that she had access to, and offered that product at a price they couldn't refuse, she would have had sales. The way she did it, she was just another "broker." If she offered them a specific product, at a specific price, she would have been a "seller." She had the right idea but she didn't do it right.
Charles was a bit confused ...
"I read an e-book from Janiece Smith that startled me. She took other training (not yours) to acquire/sell liquidation and closeout merchandise. She readily found the merchandise and writes: "I found lots of products, in fact I found TONS of products from companies needing someone to move them." -- But, she claims she could not find business takers: "I then started calling retail stores letting them know I have access to products they sell at about 50% below what they were currently buying them for. Most of them were interested in this type of merchandise but had so many liquidation brokers calling them everyday they just didn't have a need for me ... I was calling around 50 to 100 retailers per day trying to sell my liquidation products...and after one full month I hadn't made one red cent!!" -- This flies in the face of what you teach, that it should be readily possible to move the merchandise. So she gave up trying to sell to merchants and instead began selling merchandise on Ebay. -- Do you have any way to reconcile your experiences with hers? What could she have been doing/doing wrong? I don't want to turn to Ebay and I certainly don't want to call 1000 retailers as she did and not turn a cent or maybe even worse look like a fool to those I call. After all I have not called 1000 retailers (not even one, I am not a salesman, have no idea who/how), so her experience discourages and scares me off, if she had no success how will I ever succeed in attempting to sell to businesses? Is it in what one says, does one have to schmooze like a politician to get in the door, a thousand questions and doubts crowd in. And I sure resist shelling out bucks beforehand to buy liquidation merchandise if trying to sell it will be so problematic or improbable. What can you advise about these things?"
Charles ... Having done it all my life, I know exactly why it didn't work for her. She told them she had "access to products they sell" - but - she didn't offer them anything. If she had chosen a product that she had access to, and offered that product at a price they couldn't refuse, she would have had sales. The way she did it, she was just another "broker." If she offered them a specific product, at a specific price, she would have been a "seller." She had the right idea but she didn't do it right.
Christopher Flores wants to give you ... "I want to give your readers a $675 gift certificate for free consulting on how they can profit big time from powerful audio marketing. -- I'm looking to personally walk them through the methods they can use to build trust, deliver value, and bond with hundreds of people who want what they have to offer. Best of all, I'll put them in touch with a professional who does this every day and makes thousands of dollars. He can provide them with a way to start in 7 days. --But they have to take up the free offer first." Okay, Gang ... Read his open letter to readers at ... http://christradeandcommerce.blogspot.com Or if you don't want to wast any time, email him directly
Christopher Flores wants to give you ...
"I want to give your readers a $675 gift certificate for free consulting on how they can profit big time from powerful audio marketing. -- I'm looking to personally walk them through the methods they can use to build trust, deliver value, and bond with hundreds of people who want what they have to offer. Best of all, I'll put them in touch with a professional who does this every day and makes thousands of dollars. He can provide them with a way to start in 7 days. --But they have to take up the free offer first."
Okay, Gang ... Read his open letter to readers at ...
Or if you don't want to wast any time, email him directly
Justin Hitt had a tip for you ... "Have multiple websites and want to cut your costs quickly? Look for a provider who offers unlimited websites to be supported under a single hosting account. Setup a subdirectory "/_website" under your main site (use a space holder domain for your main site) then subhost each website you own under a separate under the "/_website" directory, like "/_website/domainname" If you have a bunch of landing page sites or moderate traffic volume, you can spread your sites over a few of these low-cost shared accounts, saving hundreds each year. -- I was able to cut my hosting costs in half (saved about $1,500) and still have room on several hosting accounts for more sites if I choose to expand. Readers can visit http://hpdhosting.com/ (my GoDaddy reseller account) with coupon code 5NC25 for a 5% discount off any order $25 or more, good till 3/31/2008; or recommend your favorite hosting affiliate. -- Reducing costs like this made a few postcard campaigns break even and put more money back into my bottom-line." Thank you, Justin.
Justin Hitt had a tip for you ...
"Have multiple websites and want to cut your costs quickly? Look for a provider who offers unlimited websites to be supported under a single hosting account. Setup a subdirectory "/_website" under your main site (use a space holder domain for your main site) then subhost each website you own under a separate under the "/_website" directory, like "/_website/domainname" If you have a bunch of landing page sites or moderate traffic volume, you can spread your sites over a few of these low-cost shared accounts, saving hundreds each year. -- I was able to cut my hosting costs in half (saved about $1,500) and still have room on several hosting accounts for more sites if I choose to expand. Readers can visit http://hpdhosting.com/ (my GoDaddy reseller account) with coupon code 5NC25 for a 5% discount off any order $25 or more, good till 3/31/2008; or recommend your favorite hosting affiliate. -- Reducing costs like this made a few postcard campaigns break even and put more money back into my bottom-line."
Thank you, Justin.
Michael Vidale wanted me to tell you ... "What I would like to tell your readers is that there's a business opportunity in internet streaming video with a company called VMDirect. -- Internet Streaming Video is booming globally and VMDirect offers their affiliate the chance to build their own network of distributors and custtomers and thus get some of this global business. Companies such as Google , Yahoo , Microsoft plus the many Telcos are not giving anyone part of this business, VMDirect does. -- VMDirect markets an Online Web2 based Video Broadcast Studio called "helloWorld" ... and thus is a level beyond sites such as YouTube, MySpace, Facebook, etc. which are merely places to post prerecorded video and are generally fully of predatory advertising practices . No other company offers the range of video services in one comprehensive studio site as we have with helloWorld. VMDirect also offers a business version of their studio called "FirstStream" in which the video services can be brought in to the existing domain name of the business. -- VMDirect offers a great business to be in right now with it's brilliant personal and businness broadcasting studios." If'n you're interested, you can check it out for your ownself at: http://www.vmdirect.com/vidalemedia -- click on the USA flag for a personal video greeting.
Michael Vidale wanted me to tell you ...
"What I would like to tell your readers is that there's a business opportunity in internet streaming video with a company called VMDirect. -- Internet Streaming Video is booming globally and VMDirect offers their affiliate the chance to build their own network of distributors and custtomers and thus get some of this global business. Companies such as Google , Yahoo , Microsoft plus the many Telcos are not giving anyone part of this business, VMDirect does. -- VMDirect markets an Online Web2 based Video Broadcast Studio called "helloWorld" ... and thus is a level beyond sites such as YouTube, MySpace, Facebook, etc. which are merely places to post prerecorded video and are generally fully of predatory advertising practices . No other company offers the range of video services in one comprehensive studio site as we have with helloWorld. VMDirect also offers a business version of their studio called "FirstStream" in which the video services can be brought in to the existing domain name of the business. -- VMDirect offers a great business to be in right now with it's brilliant personal and businness broadcasting studios."
If'n you're interested, you can check it out for your ownself at: http://www.vmdirect.com/vidalemedia -- click on the USA flag for a personal video greeting.
Michael Haltman wanted to let you know ... "If you have ever thought about becoming a Commercial Mortgage Broker, we can teach you how." I took the course. It is go-o-o-d. Check it out your own self at: CommercialMortgageBroker
Michael Haltman wanted to let you know ...
I took the course. It is go-o-o-d. Check it out your own self at:
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
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
Thoughts For The Month! "In the business world, everyone is paid in two coins: cash and experience. Take the experience first; the cash will come later". -- Harold Geneen "Success is a lousy teacher. It seduces smart people into thinking they can't lose." -- Bill Gates
"In the business world, everyone is paid in two coins: cash and experience. Take the experience first; the cash will come later". -- Harold Geneen "Success is a lousy teacher. It seduces smart people into thinking they can't lose." -- Bill Gates
Can you stump the old master? -- Betcha can't! Over the past 50 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.
Over the past 50 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.
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.
Return to the Archives
Home FREE Reports FREE Newsletter About Us
Copyright - 2008, J.F. (Jim) Straw. All rights reserved.