Starting a rant today, until Sept. 1, 2022.

[GordonJ]

Foundations are what you build your framework upon.

Since 1985, I've watched ONLINE morph into the greatest thing ever invented, the INTERNET (subject to much debate, of course).

And I've seen thousands of marketers WIN, and make it big, make it small and many who have decades like Dien and I do. And of course, a lot of losers too.

Back in the last century, near the end, the DOT COM implosion happened, and for sure, that was to be the end of this novel idea. Not exactly, eh?

For this post, I'll try to stay in the present, TODAY, now, and take a look at the models of foundations and frameworks.

In a recent post, I stated there are Parade of Life foundations which we can use to build a framework around.

In that example, I showed that the boom in novelty products sold to the baby boomers in those HappY Days of the 1950's was a form of appeasement of the children.

Dien has a toddler in the house, his wonderful journey is near the beginning, whereas my mid 30's kids are "appeased" in a much different way.

But as to the money making/business discussion...and FOUNDATIONS....

Take Gerber's Baby Food, they own over 60% of the baby food market, it has a Parade of Life (pol) FOUNDATION: Babies.

Johnson and Johnson might take over with Toddlers, with shampoo, baby oil, powder...or actually they share the baby, but J&J stays with the kid a bit longer.

Crayola has a POL Foundation on crayons, and now, all things coloring.

These Parade of LIFE (POL) foundations can be seen throughout the lifelines of many generations. Or, they can be seen as EVERGREEN markets, and within those are niches.

Take Magic (Millard). Still today, a rite of passage for 8-12 year olds is a magic kit, it has been a staple TOY item for over a century.

Or little Princess costumes are as Evergreen as they get and the likes of DISNEY, and 1001 toy companies, exploit the FOUNDATION of childhood want/need...and the ADULT desire to APPEASE those wants and needs.

See? Making any sense yet?

My older brother started driving at 10, literally a little Fiat in our back yard. I was never interested in driving, or cars, or mechanics. In fact, I was 24 and out of the Navy before I drove a standard stick shift, although, that is what my father and brother drove and what all the cars we had were.

I drove an automatic, just not interested in all that work of shifting.

However, AUTOS and all things automotive are one of the largest market places in the world. TODAY, the demand for mechanics is high, and as more and more of a recession appears, we'll see people holding on a bit longer to their used cars...although right now, not much recession in New Auto sales.

As I understand it, the DEMAND IS THERE, however, supply side, and chip shortages, etc., are apparently going to show lower sales figures than during the Pandemic.

But TRANSPORATION IS a huge market. Autos are a huge market. Both huge foundations to build upon.

So a high school kid today, who wants to be an auto mechanic is probably going to be better off in the future than his class mate who goes to college and becomes a high school English teacher.

They are building their futures on different FOUNDATIONS.

Many of the biggest foundations are seen in Maslow's Pyramid of Needs. Food. Clothing. Shelter...MONEY, all the way up to self actualization, whatever that means.

Dien and I chose the foundation of Money/Business to build Seeds Of Wisdom upon. It was a topic we both had some passion and interest in. I've been involved in the Business Opportunities Market for over half a century. Starting a business, making money, investments are a POL foundation...

Selling Information Products is one of the FRAMEWORKS we use.

Using the Wikipedia definition: Framing, in construction, is the fitting together of pieces to give a structure support and shape. Framing materials are usually wood, engineered wood, or structural steel.


In marketing or making money or in business it is the fitting together of PIECES TO GIVE A STRUCTURE SUPPORT AND SHAPE.

My go to Framework for money has been

PROSPECT
PRODUCT
PROMOTION
MEDIA

The old, tried, tested to the tune of a few BILLION dollars, NPGS formula as postulated by Ben Suarez.

I've yet to uncover a better framework for making money. If you have one, please share.

Over the many decades, no matter what FOUNDATION (MARKET) I may have been working in, those four components came into play and were useful in building any business or money making ventures around.

Sometimes, we start with product, because that is THERE...as in Chatteling, or buying and selling, starting with our own junk in the basement, attic, garage and storage bins.

Other times, we start with the PROSPECT. I can argue a case for either side, it really doesn't matter, although I think, most of the time PROSPECT first is an easier route to travel, or faster one.

22 years ago, on a veranda overlooking the crooked river, I told Dr. Rice I wanted him to do all the work, and I'll just make the money...and he agreed.

Well, I just wanted to CREATE or write some reports (MISSION ACCOMPLISHED, take that George W.) .

And 22 years and over 100 scribblings later, here we be.

From different perspectives it could be argued that my foundation was WRITING. And my framework was either HOTSHEETS or Specialty Reports. I wouldn't have a problem with that perspective.

Another foundation beneath my money grubbing was CHATTELING, or buying and selling personal and corporate property. The framework was the step by step SPRINT TO FREEDOM found in recirculating the cash into higher priced items and building networks.

Another foundation I've built on was SELLING, as documented in Spiders, Snakes and Mice, OH MY. Through the many sales jobs I've held

Combine the foundations of selling and writing, I guess we might come up with salesmanship in print, and although I've never ran ads or promoted myself as a "copywriter", those two skills combined made me an in demand commodity, albeit, a pretty expensive one at that.

I'll pause at this point of my RANT for the week, to see if there any questions or other comments on all this so far.

If you want some specifics, I might be able to come up with a few cool stories, and I've known some pretty interesting characters too.

Gordon




.
Save here.

[GordonJ]

Shorthand summary.

You don't get paid for doing nothing. More money comes from: more exchanges of value, larger exchanges (price increases/higher ticket items).

Create or acquire a product/service.
Begin with either product or PROSPECT (avatar/profile), it may be faster or easier to find a buyer first.

Scale up: Other People; affiliate, employees, Joint Ventures, Dealerships, licenses, etc.

Money is math. If you can't add and subtract and put the $$$$ in the right columns of your spread sheet, how can you know how much you make?

Passion can be both whimsical and lifelong. It may or may not be a good way for you to make money.

VALUE your time. Set financial goals, then plan and backward chain the MATH involved to take you there. Motion over meditation, except during assessment.

I think that pert near covers it, if not, ask away, I'll give my very best well thought and meditated upon answer...maybe.

So, money is not a worry. You have it under control, your business is working, and you are spending the exact right amount of time on it/in it and drawing satisfaction as well as $$$ from it.

How are your RELATIONSHIPS.

I have to tread lightly here, my drift might get political, and Dr. Rice does not care for his forum to take on political issues...so, I'll do my best to avoid being too overt with my righteous indignation toward politicos of all persuasions.

But, young men...the INCELS. I think they are one of the most dangerous groups of people or CULTS, we have living loudly among us.

A dictionary definition has incels as: young men who consider themselves unable to attract women sexually, typically associated with views that are hostile toward women and men who are sexually active.

Well, that is OK as it is, but my lifetime experience, says that "men who are HOSTILE toward women", come in all ages, sizes and shapes.

But the self proclaimed ENTITLED Incels are dangerous because of their loud and public stance and Internet groups.

These are guys who can't get laid, but feel they DESERVE to have sex and it is the woman who is to blame.

BLAME is a topic I can rant on for the rest of the week, it is at the root of many of societies ills, including political, International and personal problems.

If any of you are also students of Persuasion and Influence and are familiar with Blair Warren (I'm big on his FORBIDDEN PERSUADERS work) might recognize his one sentence idea:

People will do anything for those who encourage their dreams, justify their failures, allay their fears, confirm their suspicions, and help them throw rocks at their enemies.

It is an oversimplification of a much deeper understanding of human behavior but it is the ROCKS at the enemy part I alluded to.

BLAME is the opposite side of Responsibility, which might be a bigger PANDEMIC than any "germ" warfare we must deal with. We live in the age of ENTITLEMENT, and that is across the board, around the world and is NOT limited to any political or any other group...it appears to be generational.

Although, I know a boat load full of Old people who are the most entitled group there is, especially old white people with money...however, race, creed nor ethnicity doesn't really matter...almost all OLD people with money have a sense of entitlement...and maybe they actually earned it.

Anyhow, we can now see this sense of Entitlement, as INCELS believe, through the eyes of Young professional athletes. Hard to go a day without someone from the NFL, NBA, MLB being charged or sued over a sex act.

Are there millions of young men who feel that they should be entitled to sex?

Odd thing in today's culture, isn't sex just a swipe away? A lot to be said for legalizing sex workers in places other than Nevada...I mean, after all, the show and movie was a hit (TEXAS HAS A WHORE HOUSE IN IT)...






Save here.

[GordonJ]

Originally Posted by GordonJ

How are your RELATIONSHIPS.

I have to tread lightly here, my drift might get political, and Dr. Rice does not care for his forum to take on political issues...so, I'll do my best to avoid being too overt with my righteous indignation toward politicos of all persuasions.

But, young men...the INCELS. I think they are one of the most dangerous groups of people or CULTS, we have living loudly among us.

A dictionary definition has incels as: young men who consider themselves unable to attract women sexually, typically associated with views that are hostile toward women and men who are sexually active.

Well, that is OK as it is, but my lifetime experience, says that "men who are HOSTILE toward women", come in all ages, sizes and shapes.

But the self proclaimed ENTITLED Incels are dangerous because of their loud and public stance and Internet groups.

These are guys who can't get laid, but feel they DESERVE to have sex and it is the woman who is to blame.

BLAME is a topic I can rant on for the rest of the week, it is at the root of many of societies ills, including political, International and personal problems.

If any of you are also students of Persuasion and Influence and are familiar with Blair Warren (I'm big on his FORBIDDEN PERSUADERS work) might recognize his one sentence idea:

People will do anything for those who encourage their dreams, justify their failures, allay their fears, confirm their suspicions, and help them throw rocks at their enemies.

It is an oversimplification of a much deeper understanding of human behavior but it is the ROCKS at the enemy part I alluded to.

BLAME is the opposite side of Responsibility, which might be a bigger PANDEMIC than any "germ" warfare we must deal with. We live in the age of ENTITLEMENT, and that is across the board, around the world and is NOT limited to any political or any other group...it appears to be generational.

Although, I know a boat load full of Old people who are the most entitled group there is, especially old white people with money...however, race, creed nor ethnicity doesn't really matter...almost all OLD people with money have a sense of entitlement...and maybe they actually earned it.

Anyhow, we can now see this sense of Entitlement, as INCELS believe, through the eyes of Young professional athletes. Hard to go a day without someone from the NFL, NBA, MLB being charged or sued over a sex act.

Are there millions of young men who feel that they should be entitled to sex?

Odd thing in today's culture, isn't sex just a swipe away? A lot to be said for legalizing sex workers in places other than Nevada...I mean, after all, the show and movie was a hit (TEXAS HAS A WHORE HOUSE IN IT)...

ANYWHOO...Who I don't like isn't helpful or relative, and although I call it a rant, I will rein myself in. WHOA there Gordon, Whoa.

As for romatic/love/even brief sexual encounters...it does NOT require hidden persuaders, NLP secret techniques, hypnosis or any other crap...it is very simple actually...

BE THE THING THEY ARE LOOKING FOR.

Oh gosh, just saved someone a few thousand dollars, now you don't have to attend that seminar with all the other losers to learn how to manipulate your self into some unsuspecting girl's underwear. YIKES, probably going to get blasted from the PUA crowd.

What do you offer? If looking for love, a life partner, romantic long term relationship, what do you OFFER to them? See?

A few years back an up and coming Marketer/Copywriter announced he was going to manifest his perfect wife, at the top of HIS list, she had to have big boobs. A bosom of substance, a gigantic rack...and I felt sad/sick at the time for his future wife, whom he has since found...and he and his twin copywriting "brother" have had some success. And all that with time...just do something continuously for a period of time until a whole new part of the parade passes by, and VOILA, YOU BECOME the expert/god/guru or cult leader.

At least he knew what he was looking for.

The thing is, that all Pick Up "Artists (HA!)" including the Incels of today, is that they fail to realize that RELATIONSHIPS are two sided.

Gone are the days of Game of Thrones, when fathers could marry off their 12 year old daughters to gain a political advantage. The Incels and PUA folk, think only of their entitlements, their wants, their own selfish needs.

And as far as it goes, it works the same in business relationships, or Joint Ventures or partnerships...BOTH sides bring something to the table.

So, to sum up my rant on the RELATIONSHIP part of it all...

when you begin to make your relastionships mutually beneficial, then you will find all of them take a turn for the better.

Continue to Want/NEED for your own self...and, well, you get what you sow.

Gordon









Save here.

[GordonJ]

End of rant. Sept. is my busy month.

So, this: ALL THE ANSWERS YOU NEED ARE FOUND IN THE QUESTIONS YOU ASK.

If I have a one sentence piece of advice, this would be it.

Over the several decades, I have found that most people don't know how to ask the right kind of questions, and if they learned how, it would make their lives so much better by saving time and money while working on their business goals, or money making goals.

All the answers you need are found in the questions you ask.

In the past 30 years, I think I have been asked over 25,000 questions, probably more. And truthfully, it is more like 100 questions asked 2500 times over and over...and of those 100, few are the right questions to ask.

I am adept at Socratic questions, enhanced with studies of Barry Neil Kaufman's work: POWER DIALOGUES, which I have written about here. It is one of the most useful books I own, and has a special place on my desk.

Asking the right questions, and asking the right people at the right time, is the greatest shortcut, fast track, and rabbit quick way to reach your goals.

Yet so few do it. Or know how to.

See, a question starts a series of questions, like a ball in a Pachinko machine. One thing I do when working with people is asking a lot of questions, to the point of being annoying...annoying because they want simple answers and to be told what exactly to do...and I can't get there until I have a firm grasp of what and or where they want to go.

I call myself a mapmaker, able to give you a pretty good map to show you how to get to your goal, however, I need to know what that is. So, my first two questions, What do you want? and Why? are often the first stumbling blocks those folk have.

My favorite metaphors are Harvey Brody's view from the rooftop, his flight plan and pre flight checklist, my PYRAMID OF ACTIVITY, aka Plan of Action, and the whole of the Square One Workshops.

My most used VISUAL metaphors are a path around a bend and a bridge across the river, with YOUR goals being either around that bend or on the other side of the river.

What I like about Dien Rice's HIDDEN BUSINESS IDEAS (http://www.hiddenbusinessideas.com/ ) is how he includes the MARKETING plan, which is left off of so many of these business idea anthologies. One complaint I had over the years was that these didn't tell anyone how to go about marketing.

The foundation of ENTREPRENEUR MAGAZINE and its founder, Chase Revel, sold little reports which included some semblance of a marketing idea, and that is what made his little INSIDER REPORTS so popular, but he then only offered a genetic, general marketing plan which was the same for all of his business plans.

The DETAILS of how to get customers, IS the thing most often left out of these business presentations...and when they are included, they are glossed over and made to sound so simple and easy, oft found in the words of some dork who sez;, "If I can do it, so can you." Ever hear that one?

So, when I do, or better yet, when I did CONFER or consult with someone, it was one of my up front questions, what is your marketing plan? Right after what do you want and why?

Ideas are literally a penny a dozen. Ideas without action are just wasted mental activity, akin to fantasizing or wishing or day dreaming. Just wool gathering.

A PLAN OF ACTION has to accompany a goal, and here is where the asking of questions, the right ones, will help you determine your potential success.

In case you don't know, my preferred method is to BACKWARD CHAIN the events from the delivery of whatever goods or services you are offering...how is the money/value exchanged? How do they find your offer? WHO are they that want/need what you offer? Where are they now? What are they buying? From whom? For how much?

Baselines. Foundations. A well thought out plan of action in incremental steps, with markers along the route. All because you asked the right questions first.

Save yourself time, money, and frustration with your biz ventures, simply by learning how to ask the right questions.

So now, are then any questions about asking questions? If not, I'll get to work, got a lot to do in Sept.

Or if you do have any or comments make them here.

Gordon