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  #1  
Old July 4, 2024, 03:27 PM
Dien Rice Dien Rice is online now
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Default "Do what you love and...?" Bah! Hooey!

"Do what you love, and the money will follow..."

...So some people claim! I think it's obviously not necessarily true...

Not everything you may "love" is commercially viable...

I know of a guy who was a fan of Australian "old time radio"... Those radio serials they used to do, back in the 1940s or whenever... His love was specifically Australian old time radio serials...

He, in fact, wrote a whole book about it.

Sadly, he passed away quite a while ago, maybe 15 years ago. He left a whole garage full of his unsold books...

His interest in Australian old time radio was so narrow, that it was apparently not commercially viable, no matter how much he loved it... not enough others shared the love of it too...

But...

Business can be hard. There are going to be setbacks. Dead ends. Potholes in the road. All kinds of difficulties...

You have to "power" through those somehow, and keep going!

If you're "doing what you love", you're more likely to do that!

So, I think the answer is neither one extreme, or the other... You need to be doing something commercially viable, but ideally, there should be some kind of "love" there too - to help power you through the difficulties you'll undoubtedly face somewhere on the journey!

Just my 2 cents...

Best wishes,

Dien
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  #2  
Old July 4, 2024, 05:38 PM
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GordonJ GordonJ is offline
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Default Sell astrology. The answer.

Reminds me of Ben Suarez' garage full of books with money tables in them, a product he loved and was proud of...but didn't sell a single copy, so along comes who? Gary Halbert. And sez, "Sell Astrology Ben."

Ben HATED the idea, initially refused, but desperation set in, and he gave it a try, next thing he knew, his stars aligned and he never looked back (at least not until he went to prison, had that in common with Gary too).

Now I am an MGM logo guy; "ars gratia artis" (art for art's sake)...and if one is an artist, and still wants to make money, he should consider a profitable side hustle. And maybe loving an above poverty lifestyle is love enough to keep one going.

I believe the mistake is made, about 98% of the time, with the initial choice to do something to make money. Or choosing what you love to do and commercializing that...not a great idea for most of us.

My broken record is ASSESSMENT, goal, view from rooftop, begin and adjust when the dogs in the street are getting ready to bite you in the ****.

Now it is possible for some to really do what they love, but I agree with Dien, not the best start up advice for anyone serious about making some moolah, especially with any speed at all.

Gordon



Quote:
Originally Posted by Dien Rice View Post
"Do what you love, and the money will follow..."

...So some people claim! I think it's obviously not necessarily true...

Not everything you may "love" is commercially viable...

I know of a guy who was a fan of Australian "old time radio"... Those radio serials they used to do, back in the 1940s or whenever... His love was specifically Australian old time radio serials...

He, in fact, wrote a whole book about it.

Sadly, he passed away quite a while ago, maybe 15 years ago. He left a whole garage full of his unsold books...

His interest in Australian old time radio was so narrow, that it was apparently not commercially viable, no matter how much he loved it... not enough others shared the love of it too...

But...

Business can be hard. There are going to be setbacks. Dead ends. Potholes in the road. All kinds of difficulties...

You have to "power" through those somehow, and keep going!

If you're "doing what you love", you're more likely to do that!

So, I think the answer is neither one extreme, or the other... You need to be doing something commercially viable, but ideally, there should be some kind of "love" there too - to help power you through the difficulties you'll undoubtedly face somewhere on the journey!

Just my 2 cents...

Best wishes,

Dien
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  #3  
Old July 5, 2024, 05:23 AM
Dien Rice Dien Rice is online now
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Default My two brains at war with each other!

Hi Gordon,

Here's something "triggered" by your post... Could be relevant!

As you know, I was a band manager (I'm no longer a band manager - that's another story)!

Why do bands need managers? (And many other artists... actors, comedians, etc.)

Often the "creative" people are not so good at business!

I'm in a weird position, in that (for myself) I try to do both...

But I'm realizing (it's taken me a while)... When I'm in the "management" state of mind, I'm not that good at the creative stuff. And when I'm in the "creative" state of mind, I'm not that good at the management stuff...

It's like these are two different parts of my brain. And when one is "dominant" - the other one suffers!

So... What I'm trying to do now is to do the different types of activities during different parts of the day.

The "management / strategy" part during one part of the day... The "creative" part during another part of the day... And to try to keep these two things as separate as possible...

I think it will work better than letting the two mash together...!

Ben's money tables is a very left-brained endeavor... And his computer science background, likewise...

Astrology of course is very right-brained...

So I can see a little of what I'm talking about in that example...

Best wishes,

Dien

Quote:
Originally Posted by GordonJ View Post
Reminds me of Ben Suarez' garage full of books with money tables in them, a product he loved and was proud of...but didn't sell a single copy, so along comes who? Gary Halbert. And sez, "Sell Astrology Ben."

Ben HATED the idea, initially refused, but desperation set in, and he gave it a try, next thing he knew, his stars aligned and he never looked back (at least not until he went to prison, had that in common with Gary too).

Now I am an MGM logo guy; "ars gratia artis" (art for art's sake)...and if one is an artist, and still wants to make money, he should consider a profitable side hustle. And maybe loving an above poverty lifestyle is love enough to keep one going.

I believe the mistake is made, about 98% of the time, with the initial choice to do something to make money. Or choosing what you love to do and commercializing that...not a great idea for most of us.

My broken record is ASSESSMENT, goal, view from rooftop, begin and adjust when the dogs in the street are getting ready to bite you in the ****.

Now it is possible for some to really do what they love, but I agree with Dien, not the best start up advice for anyone serious about making some moolah, especially with any speed at all.

Gordon
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  #4  
Old July 5, 2024, 12:58 PM
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GordonJ GordonJ is offline
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Default When one brain is dominant, discipline is needed for the lesser one.

Dien, you have a knowing, which is better than most...many artists struggle with the juggle between left and right side activities.

This might be one of the best arguments for TOOLS, to be engaged on behalf of the lesser hemisphere, the right for many artists.

Tools like software; basecamp, smartsheet, quickbooks, any and all that help organize and manage the day to day basics...and these along with the discipline to USE them at a set time every day (or as close to it being set as is possible).

Knowing that 90 mins midday is time to fill in the software, and making a habit or routine of it, will play wonders for the creative that may get lost in his own clouds of creativity.

Likewise, the right side dominant, should have daily time set aside for whatever is the most creative thing they do. That includes scribbling, scrying, and staring into space. Right sides, like Ben in this instance, have/had a hard time letting go of the control they need, the order, the precision.

Chaos is not a place right siders enjoy.

Anyhow, glad you are figuring out your personal circadia, your rhythms for getting the best from yourself. I think that band adventure provided some good fodder for future exploits too, would love to hear the full story on that one.

So, for all of us, who have to use both or all of our brain power, give the less dominant side routines...and you will be amazed at its productivity.

Gordon


Quote:
Originally Posted by Dien Rice View Post
Hi Gordon,

Here's something "triggered" by your post... Could be relevant!

As you know, I was a band manager (I'm no longer a band manager - that's another story)!

Why do bands need managers? (And many other artists... actors, comedians, etc.)

Often the "creative" people are not so good at business!

I'm in a weird position, in that (for myself) I try to do both...

But I'm realizing (it's taken me a while)... When I'm in the "management" state of mind, I'm not that good at the creative stuff. And when I'm in the "creative" state of mind, I'm not that good at the management stuff...

It's like these are two different parts of my brain. And when one is "dominant" - the other one suffers!

So... What I'm trying to do now is to do the different types of activities during different parts of the day.

The "management / strategy" part during one part of the day... The "creative" part during another part of the day... And to try to keep these two things as separate as possible...

I think it will work better than letting the two mash together...!

Ben's money tables is a very left-brained endeavor... And his computer science background, likewise...

Astrology of course is very right-brained...

So I can see a little of what I'm talking about in that example...

Best wishes,

Dien
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  #5  
Old July 8, 2024, 10:19 AM
MikePT MikePT is offline
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Join Date: Aug 2018
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Default Re: Sell astrology. The answer.

Gordon,

What is up with Ben Suarez nowadays?

His 7 steps to freedom II, made me a very big lasting impression on me... That book shows what the American spirit is... Freedom, self-sufficiency, self-made... A beautiful book.

I had read, in fact, Ben had some problems with the justice.

And I remember you saying that Ben is working on a modern actual version of the 7 steps book. Am I right?

I simply would LOVE to see that book come to life.
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  #6  
Old July 8, 2024, 11:51 AM
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GordonJ GordonJ is offline
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Default Worthless today, 7 Steps.

Quote:
Originally Posted by MikePT View Post
Gordon,
What is up with Ben Suarez nowadays?
His 7 steps to freedom II, made me a very big lasting impression on me... That book shows what the American spirit is... Freedom, self-sufficiency, self-made... A beautiful book.
I had read, in fact, Ben had some problems with the justice.
And I remember you saying that Ben is working on a modern actual version of the 7 steps book. Am I right?
I simply would LOVE to see that book come to life.

Dien would know more about what Ben is doing today. From my perspective, his old world 7 Steps way is antiquated, not very useful today. I don't know of any updates, but I will say what he is doing today is not something anyone can duplicate, unlike the Mail Order heydays of yesteryear.

After bankruptcy, I think he has rebuilt his company, leaner, less family (dead weight), higher profits, maybe. I don't know.

I seldom refer anyone to read 7 Steps today, especially if under 40.

Too many other models out there, much easier, faster, and less slop and mess than what was done way back then.

I still think the NPGS Formula is worthwhile: Prospect, Product, Promotion and Media all have equal weight in success. But of all of those, with the Internet as it is, finding PROSPECTS is far easier and less time consuming, and more affordable than it ever has been. The SCI I knew no longer exists, but if you like overpriced products and are susceptible to their advertising methods, you might still like them.

Gordon
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  #7  
Old July 11, 2024, 05:17 AM
Dien Rice Dien Rice is online now
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Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 3,431
Default Re: Sell astrology. The answer.

Hi Mike,

I believe there is still much of value in 7 Steps to Freedom!

It is one model... It is the model of setting up a corporation. Ben did it extremely well. It's the only book I know of where he tells you how to do it, in detail...

Harvey Brody's model is different. He's a pioneer in setting up the "virtual corporation"...

Most successful entrepreneurs do it Ben's way. Fewer do it Harvey's way...

They are both excellent models!

Ben's "Edenpure" line of products are still selling like crazy. So are Harvey's products too!

Best wishes!

Dien

Quote:
Originally Posted by MikePT View Post
Gordon,

What is up with Ben Suarez nowadays?

His 7 steps to freedom II, made me a very big lasting impression on me... That book shows what the American spirit is... Freedom, self-sufficiency, self-made... A beautiful book.

I had read, in fact, Ben had some problems with the justice.

And I remember you saying that Ben is working on a modern actual version of the 7 steps book. Am I right?

I simply would LOVE to see that book come to life.
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