“We’re not full of shit.”
Those eloquent words were spoken by my friend Marty McDonald, owner of a 7-figure social media marketing company (one of those rare social media marketing companies that actually knows what they’re doing).
He was talking to a potential client about why they should hire his company.
And, he told me he got the gig, on the spot.
And the reason why he did, is because so many so-called “specialists” in all kinds of areas in marketing and advertising and copywriting are simply full of horse shyt. The ones who aren’t stand out like a fart in a library. And the good news is, this is finally starting to dawn all these poor schlubs who have been getting dazzled by a hot pair of bewbies and a pretty face from a social media queen, or a smooth talking guy hawking a bunch of fluffpreneur law-of-attraction feel good nonsense on Facebook.
This isn’t about any particular person.
(I don’t call people out by name, I simply describe “types”, deal with it.)
But, this is becoming an epidemic to anyone with ears to see and eyes to hear.
Case in point:
The esteemed Ryan Stewman — a “for real” world class sales trainer & coach, he doesn’t just play one online — wrote in one of his facebook groups about this with masterminds which I found interesting because it so closely parallels what I keep hearing. Specifically, he was talking about people joining these high paid masterminds he’s in, who offer crappy products with crappy execution, and who have never done anything other than sell their own $25k masterminds to unsuspecting noobs and can’t deliver.
“Email Players” subscriber Sean Kaye recently made a similar observation.
He got a cold email from a self-professed “marketing specialist.”
And, this specialist spelt their own name wrong in the “from” field (unless someone is actually named Julieann without the “e”). Yet, I would not be shocked if this specialist got lots of schlubs buying because it’s from a girl (probably an attractive one, even if it’s a fake person with a fake picture), and they’re so desperate to talk to girls they’ll respond.
It’s amusing to think about.
But, at the same time, I wonder how these frauds get away with it.
It reminds me of the scene in “The Wolf Of Wall Street” when Jordan Belfort is getting interviewed for his first job selling penny stocks. He sees the nonsense penny stocks being sold and says:
“Hey, come on. Who buys this crap?”
The answer he gets?
“Well, I mean, honestly mostly schmucks…they see our ads in the back of Hustler and Popular Mechanics, and our ads actually say they can get rych quick. [laughs]”
If you are looking at buying coaching and masterminds, watch that scene.
Then watch it again.
Especially the guy’s laugh.
He’s potentially talking about (and laughing at) you.
Yes, my little droogie, it’s no different with a lot of coaching and masterminds.
My friend Dan Meredith and I were recently laughing at people who think they can get by in this business long term just because they have a hot azz, pretty face, a bubbly personality, and big bewbs — or if they are simply a highly charismatic, smooth talking guy who can get people swooning with horse shyt fluff that gives people the feelz, but does nothing to prepare them to do battle in the marketplace.
In fact, I was telling him the Jim Camp quote of the century:
“The more effective we are, the more respected we are.”
It’s one of the most important (and true) business quotes you’ll ever hear.
And you know what?
A lot of people selling high priced and trendy coaching, services, events, and masterminds are not effective at all, and are always struggling to be respected — often latching onto someone who *is* respected (who paid their dues over long years of hard work, failures, and experience) and riding their coattails while saying they did it on their own, when they haven’t really “done” anything. If I’ve seen this happen once, I’ve seen it happen a dozen times over the past few years alone — including to a friend of mine recently. Just talking to these ex-spurts (as I have done many times with many of these types, especially lately it seems) for just a few minutes, you can tell they lack even the basic fundamentals of direct marketing, copywriting, branding, or whatever it is they think they are teaching to the great unwashed asses who fall for their pitches.
But, it doesn’t matter in the short term.
Because all they have to do is toss around “cool” sounding words and catch phrases.
Be in all the right pictures with all the right people.
(For that luscious social proof.)
And, post “mindset” videos and essays on flakebook to get lots of “likes” (if it’s a girl) from thirsty guys who just want to get laid or talk to a pretty girl, or (if it’s a guy) from vulnerable women who are desperately looking for a male leader.
(Somewhere a feminist just sneered at elBenbo for that zinger…)
True, these frauds will sell the useful idiots who don’t know any better.
And, probably make a pretty penny from it, too.
But, in the end, they’ll be exposed for what they are.
And when that happens?
Well, that *won’t* be pretty…
All right, enough.
There are two lessons here:
1. Stop coaching anyone if you don’t have actual experience doing what you’re coaching, just because there are noobs willing to pay you for it. You’re not doing anyone any favors, and are, in fact, harming these customers with your theory and lack of experience.
2. If you’re a customer, do your due diligence if you don’t want to get fleeced.
This goes triple if you want to subscribe to my “Email Players” newsletter.
Do your due diligence on me first.
I’m all over Google — the good, the bad, and fugly.
Ask around.
Talk to actual paying subscribers.
Speak to people who shyt talk me especially (go ahead, do it) — just don’t wallow in their feelz about me… get them to tell you *why* they despise me, see if it’s legitimate or just feelz.
Then, and only then, subscribe.
Or don’t.
But if you do want in, you can see if you qualify to join us here:
Ben Settle
