The Vultures Are Descending Already

So, I finally got some needed sleep.. opened my email box this morning to find:

1) A teleseminar for the internet marketing community about 7 secrets to a million dollar business being used to pitch some sort of program

2) A pitch for a 6 week teleseminar series on how to get the maximum leverage out of your internet business.

Then I opened an email from a friend and he had found two other promotions geared for the budding internet entrepreneur.

Unbelievable. I guess I should take it all as a compliment, but I don’t. I have spent years perfecting what I now teach, and it all has been proven time and time again. These Johnny-Come-Latelys are just opportunists trying to feed on my table scraps – and they’ll end up hurting the people who put trust in them.

So, if you are one of the people who couldn’t afford what I have offered, please do not go looking for some cheap option. Instead go through my free materials, study them, do your best to apply them and I will have more free materials for you. Yes, I will be busy but I would rather do some extra work and get you what you need, even if I give it away, then be at all responsible for you going down the wrong path with the wrong people.

I know what I’ve said here is controversial, but for 2 years I was the only one working on strategy and systems for internet businesses and within 4 hours of my launch ending all of sudden there are quite a few popping up, it really make me sick, and it should make you sick too.

If you read my work, you already know how important a role I feel your business plays is in your life. That’s why I get so worked up about this. The wrong advice could literally set you years back. Be careful, before you take anyone’s business building advice, see if they have testimonials from people your respect and whose success you would like to emulate. Make them prove to you that they’ve been focused on internet businesses – and that they’ve had more than 10 internet businesses as clients.

OK, I am finished with my rant. Now on to some housekeeping.

I have sent emails out to clients on both of my client lists. If you paid and did not receive an email I need to know about it. Just post a comment here using your preferred email address when you sign in (don’t put it in the body of your post) and we will contact you.

My oldest daughter Ava has a tennis lesson so I got to run, but sometime soon I am going to tell you why my daughter Ava (who is 4 years old) already makes more money than most internet marketers do all by herself (no help from her old man).

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Comments:

Shawn T

Nancy-
one other resource you may be interested in is http://www.mindmappingstrategies.com. (One note though for full disclosure – I created that site.) There are sample maps, free resources, suggestions, etc. I will be adding more stuff to it in the near future including a downloadable maps gallery and some tips and tricks (all free, of course). One word of advice to help you avoid the mistakes I made initially with mind mapping – get the info on the map first, then arrange and format it. I used to spend a lot of time trying to get everything right first and that’s not very productive. I start by pouring everything I can onto the map, then figuring out where everything goes, how it relates, how to format it, etc. Good luck.
s.
Marlon Sanders Quote

I’ll keep this short and quick.

Very seldom do I write something like this. I do my
absolute best to keep things positive in the marketplace.

But I wanna set the record straight about something…

A high profile marketer who I respect is making claims
that no other marketer has been teaching business systems
for hiring employees, building, growing and expanding a
business.

I want to set the record straight right here, right now.

In Milcer’s (pronounced MILKERS) newsletters, this was one
of our 3 themes from day 1. Check archive.org. Or the
current sales letter that has been up there a long time.

You can read back issues that are available.

I didn’t email about this earlier because I felt it would
be innapropriate to detract from this marketer’s launch.

But I have studied systems for 5 years. Read probably
20,000 pages on them. Had them in my business for 6+
years.

And anyone who knows me personally knows that basically I
don’t work in this business other than reading and writing
my monthly newsletter and the occasional seminar or
conference call.

I’ve had people for 6 years. Systems for 6 years. Other
people doing the work for 6 years.

In terms of not doing actual “work” in their business, I
seriously doubt there’s anyone who has my lifestyle. Every
day you can find me at Starbucks, bookstores or wherever I
choose reading and learning, which is what I love to do
and love to share.

Now, having gotten that off my chest let me say several
things:

1. I have high respect for the marketer making these
claims. I think he has a LOT to offer the community.

2. I joined his program. I think it’s a good program. I
spend $20,000+ a year on education, so it isn’t a dent in
my monthly educational budget. But I think this marketer
has a unique and valuable contribution to make to people
who are at the level where they need it.

3. What I CAN show people how to do is get to the point
where I’m at. That is 2-5 people, either virtual or
employees helping you out in your business doing the work.
I call that putting your business on full or semi auto
pilot, and I’ve been teaching that in Milcers for several
years, however long I’ve been publishing. Can’t recall off
the top of my head.

4. What I have to teach about systems I’m sure is a
different and unique body of information. I don’t teach
process maps, although I think they’re a great idea. I
don’t teach growing BIG beyond 5 people because I haven’t
done it yet.

5. While I have taught and will continue to teach systems
to my Milcers, it isn’t the focus because to be honest,
most people don’t have a product, don’t have a target
market, don’t have a sales letter. So what is it you need
systems for other than to get those activities going,
which is what I teach?

Most people in this industry are stuck at a job they hate,
with only an hour a night, no revenue from their business,
no product yet of their own, and no target market or an
unclear one.

Thus, my main thrust has been getting people to square 1
which is income. At which you can turn up the systems. But
that doesn’t mean I haven’t in the mix been teaching
outsourcing, delegating and autopiloting.

6. From day 1 in Milcers, the theme has been create income
streams using the steps of “The Amazing Formula”, put them
on full or semi auto pilot and enjoy the Internet lifestyle.

Step two involves systems and hiring either freelancers or
employees. And I’ve been teaching and preaching that since
day one. To say that no one else has taught systems to
this market is not true. And if you maintain that, you
ain’t done your homework on Milcers.

And to say that if I talk about systems, I’m therefore
ripping off the “domain” of this other marketer is a
falsehood.

He’s marketing his territory and his positioning, and I
don’t blame him. It’s a smart thing to do. But I want YOU
as my customer to know I’ve been bringing the value on
this topic for a long time, and it isn’t true to say I haven’t.

However, I give him GREAT credit for recognizing the value of
it as a stand alone topic and making that “his thing.” Those
who are ONLY interested in that topic won’t be well-served with
my Milcer’s newsletter, since my primary focus there is helping
focus get the income streams to begin with by applying “The
Amazing Formula” to whatever topic or area they have an interest
in.

TO WRAP UP:

1. I think this marketer has a great deal to offer the
community in how to grow beyond the level I’m currently at
which is 5 and less freelancers/employees.

2. The claim he makes to be the first and only person
teaching systems and growing a business is to discount the
work I’ve done in and with our Milcers.

3. In all fairness to this other marketer, I doubt he’s a
member of Milcers, although I haven’t checked. So he isn’t
aware of what I have or haven’t taught. I’m NOT in any
way, shape or form criticizing or attacking him in the
slightest.

But I think it’s fair and my duty to point out the service
I HAVE performed for my Milcers since day one. And not to
do so is to allow another to INVALIDATE the value I’ve
delivered and continue to deliver.

4. I’ll continue to teach what I’ve always taught — which
is to create income streams, put them on full or semi auto
pilot and enjoy the Internet lifestyle.

The one thing I CAN say definitively is that this marketer
did a 10X TIMES BETTER job than I have done or anyone else
has done (other than Michael Gerber) for convincing people
they need systems and so forth.

For that, I feel the industry as a whole owes him a debt
of gratitude. I welcome any contributions made to this
industry by anyone who can help all of us put more to the
bottom line.

I apologize for the direct nature of this email. But
sometimes, on rare occasion, I think you need to set the
record straight, at least with your own customers.

Best wishes,
Marlon Sanders “Innovator since day freakin’ one”
Michelle

Also signed up/submitted payment for the 12-month program, no emails.
David

12 month program, waiting on email.
Nancy

Shawn, congratulations on your Masters. It is no wonder you love mind mapping :) That is Awesome!!

I looked through your mind mapping website – thanks for the URL to that. I bookmarked it to visit again for tips as I’m doing mind mapping.
Shawn T

Considering how long it took I refer to it as my “gradual” degree instead of my graduate degree.

Let me know what, if anything, you’d like to see on the site to help you get started with mind mapping. Feel free to email me directly with suggestions.
s.
Chris

Truth is, it’s not who is first, it is who is SEEN first.

And Rich has done a fine job of grabbing the business growth / systems ring in the IM world, if you consider IM a “business.”

As a “real” coach who has made a mill+ a year in coaching since 1994 (teaching business growth and systems we all learned/modeled from Jay, Gerber, etc.), I recognize that Rich is only doing what most of Jay’s, and especially Dan K’s, students did beginning in the early 90s: marking his territory in the online world.

And based on the fact that there are many real (certified coaches) with seven figure business experience who have coached hundreds of small business people online B.R., it could be argued that Rich is in fact the johnny-come-lately. But I’m not here to challenge him, I’m here to observe, learn and contribute.

I love how he has brilliantly “avoided” being called on his “coaching” or “Internet marketing” pedigree by reframing the conversation. This is awesome to watch.

BTW, I’ve taken a look at his potty training, breastfeeding, escort and child obesity sites/products… And though I don’t know his numbers, he is definitely in the game cranking out sites and products.

Another thing, from the looks of it, there are a lot of new-to-the-game people here. I was at 300k before Gerber even made sense to me. I think you need a certain level of success to even appreciate this level of information. I may be wrong, but MBA’s get this stuff at Harvard… and I’ve met very few who can run a real business.

My suggest to the new guys: converse your energy, you’re going to need it to connect the dots that transfer the strategic into action.

Moving on…

Like Marlon, I too invest heavily in my own education. And I must say, the chuckle-value here has been worth the price of the first month. :-)

Jay I know.

Dan I know.

Gerber I know.

Marlon I know.

My banker knows me.

Rich?

The next 11 months will tell.

I can’t wait.

Let’s get on with it…

A “Rich” fan.

Observation: probably not a good idea to spend so much time dealing with copy-cats while so many wait for days for a basic “welcome to the program” email. I’ve actually added a welcome series to my own cart autoresponders to run for the first week. Thanks Rich.
bill

Rich

With all due respect I have been teaching strategy for offline and online business for over 12 years, so your not the only one.

I also know of at least 12-15 other guys doing the same thing they just keep quiet about it like me. To be fair it is easy to keep quiet when you are offline as the only people who know about me are one’s I want to know about me and it’s simply by word of mouth.

I am seriously considering coming online and I am sure I will have to make some of the same claims as you….. at least like you I have years of testimonials so I can prove that I have been there and done it. Most of the fly by night guys will not have these.

Good luck with your program I am sure the participants will do well.

Billy….
http://none Greg Peake

Rich:

I am way out of my dept and age is one of the reasons. I am 62, not computer literate (I type well)but sincerely believe that I have a very marketable product. I live in England, am American and have for the past 6 years been going into businesses (large and small) deliverying a seminars that actually helps business.

I have for some time realized that I cannot really make an serious money this way and need to embrace the net. I have no real clue or inclination to become an expert with this contraption and it’s obvious potential.

Question: Who do you know (reputable company with great track record)that you can refer me to in order that I can get off track and begin to make serious mulla?

I hope that this does not sound like some crackpot, attempting to waste anyones time. I’m dead serious but need to be involved with someone who knows what to do with my very good material. It sadly isn’t me!!!!

I am thanking you in advance for advice or recommendations.

All the very best,

Greg
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