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We all have stories. Here's mine:
8 Years ago I lost $77,310 dollars in advertising before I learned the fastlane. What happened? Simple; I followed the advice I learned in college about marketing and created what I thought was a winning marketing campaign.
The Advertising Breakdown:
$30,000 In Billboards (the Freeway kind)
$20,000 In Rush Hour Radio Ads (Radio plus road visual, oh boy!)
$7,500 In Newspaper Ads (Included sticky note ad on the front page of every newspaper! Yipee!)
$5,000 In 24 Hour Call Center (...1-800 number for my ads. Gotta have it!)
$4,500 In Window Decals & Stickers (...Free adversting-- I'm genious!!)
$3,200 In Car Wrap (...More Free adversting, right?)
$2,500 In Gold Embossed Folders (...for all the orders, right?)
$800 In Website Design (...everyone else was doing it. I want one too!)
$500 In Gold Printed Frisbees (...still not sure about this one, probably sounded fun. Frisbee anyone?)
$350 In Printed Table Skirts (...Hmm Sexy, and I know it.)
$250 In Custom Printed Pens (... come on, every successful business has these; no brainer!)
$200 In 4 Embroidered Polos (... gotta look good, and I did!)
$10 In Business Cards (... I'm so smart-- I saved $40 using vistaprint! AND they were double sided.)
+ Non Advertising Start-up Cost
$10,800 For Office Space (1 Reception, 2 Offices, 1 Conference Room)
$2,500 For Gold Letter Signage for the 1 Man Office (...look big to make it big!)
$4,500 For Office Furniture (Desks, and Chairs only)
$4,200 For Office Phones (I'm so smart-- I bought used off ebay)
$1,500 For Office Decorations (Trees and art work a must!)
$1,500 For Color Laser Printer (I'm super professional now!)
$1,500 For Projector and Audio (Not much of a conference room with out it, right?)
$300 For LCD Monitor (not to be fivolous I used my own PC! Wow I'm awesome.)
Total Spent on Advertising: $77,310
Total Spent on Office Space: $26,800
... that's over $100,000 for those keeping track.
Let's get to the good part... Results from my super awesome "college education" marketing campaign?
--wait for it--
--almost there--
--still waiting?--
Boom! $484 Dollars. Yep, that's right... my college education taught me how to spend $77,310 on an awesome marketing campaign that would generate a 2 whole sales. (1 @ $395 and the other at $89.)
I failed. Miserably. ... don't get me wrong. My college degree wasn't to blame, I was.
That's when it hit me. Why does anyone go to college? When was the last time you took a business or marketing class from a multi-millionaire? Probably never, I surely didn't. I spent 4 years learning about business from people that weren't in business. How stupid was that? ... well, the numbers don't lie.
I spent the next 3 years of my life learning how business really works; and it was freaking tough!! ...survived off Ramen noodles and few hours of sleep. I literally spent over 100 thousands dollars to learn the fastlane through the school of hard knocks. Had I read MJ's book in 2006 (not published yet)-- this whole fiasco might have been avoided (assuming I was wise enough to follow).
A couple weeks ago I picked up MJ's TFLM book. I was completely shocked! In fact, I couldn't put it down. I usually take a couple months to finish a book that size, but I finished MJ's book in 3 days. Finally, a book that actually shows the path to wealth.
We all make dumb mistakes, hopefully you can learn from some of mine. I wouldn't replace my "hard knock" lesson for anything. Someone once said "Good lessons cost money; Great lessons cost a lot!"
My Fastlane lesson cost me $104,110. ... but it made me who I am today.
You don't need money to make money. If so, I'd be screwed; because I blew all my start-up money on stupid stuff. After my massive advertising fail (yep all eggs in one basket) it took me 3 years to build back up before I actually started making a profit.
I love business! Nothing in this world (other than my family) is more rewarding to me than business. Where else can you make money while you sleep, vacation, and play with the family?
Today, I've built up several online brands that practically run themselves. I focus entirely on internet marketing and could retire today if I wanted. No, I'm not an affiliate marketer (no offense if you are). I build scaleable businesses and brands; one being fairly well known in the USA.
I've joined this forum because I've learned that success is multiplied when you network with other highly successful people. Hopefully I'll see you around the forum.
Please, don't settle and be a time trader. Life has too much to offer. I promise if you trust in yourself; you won't regret it. ... as the saying goes-- "If I can do it..."
8 Years ago I lost $77,310 dollars in advertising before I learned the fastlane. What happened? Simple; I followed the advice I learned in college about marketing and created what I thought was a winning marketing campaign.
The Advertising Breakdown:
$30,000 In Billboards (the Freeway kind)
$20,000 In Rush Hour Radio Ads (Radio plus road visual, oh boy!)
$7,500 In Newspaper Ads (Included sticky note ad on the front page of every newspaper! Yipee!)
$5,000 In 24 Hour Call Center (...1-800 number for my ads. Gotta have it!)
$4,500 In Window Decals & Stickers (...Free adversting-- I'm genious!!)
$3,200 In Car Wrap (...More Free adversting, right?)
$2,500 In Gold Embossed Folders (...for all the orders, right?)
$800 In Website Design (...everyone else was doing it. I want one too!)
$500 In Gold Printed Frisbees (...still not sure about this one, probably sounded fun. Frisbee anyone?)
$350 In Printed Table Skirts (...Hmm Sexy, and I know it.)
$250 In Custom Printed Pens (... come on, every successful business has these; no brainer!)
$200 In 4 Embroidered Polos (... gotta look good, and I did!)
$10 In Business Cards (... I'm so smart-- I saved $40 using vistaprint! AND they were double sided.)
+ Non Advertising Start-up Cost
$10,800 For Office Space (1 Reception, 2 Offices, 1 Conference Room)
$2,500 For Gold Letter Signage for the 1 Man Office (...look big to make it big!)
$4,500 For Office Furniture (Desks, and Chairs only)
$4,200 For Office Phones (I'm so smart-- I bought used off ebay)
$1,500 For Office Decorations (Trees and art work a must!)
$1,500 For Color Laser Printer (I'm super professional now!)
$1,500 For Projector and Audio (Not much of a conference room with out it, right?)
$300 For LCD Monitor (not to be fivolous I used my own PC! Wow I'm awesome.)
Total Spent on Advertising: $77,310
Total Spent on Office Space: $26,800
... that's over $100,000 for those keeping track.
Let's get to the good part... Results from my super awesome "college education" marketing campaign?
--wait for it--
--almost there--
--still waiting?--
Boom! $484 Dollars. Yep, that's right... my college education taught me how to spend $77,310 on an awesome marketing campaign that would generate a 2 whole sales. (1 @ $395 and the other at $89.)
I failed. Miserably. ... don't get me wrong. My college degree wasn't to blame, I was.
That's when it hit me. Why does anyone go to college? When was the last time you took a business or marketing class from a multi-millionaire? Probably never, I surely didn't. I spent 4 years learning about business from people that weren't in business. How stupid was that? ... well, the numbers don't lie.
I spent the next 3 years of my life learning how business really works; and it was freaking tough!! ...survived off Ramen noodles and few hours of sleep. I literally spent over 100 thousands dollars to learn the fastlane through the school of hard knocks. Had I read MJ's book in 2006 (not published yet)-- this whole fiasco might have been avoided (assuming I was wise enough to follow).
A couple weeks ago I picked up MJ's TFLM book. I was completely shocked! In fact, I couldn't put it down. I usually take a couple months to finish a book that size, but I finished MJ's book in 3 days. Finally, a book that actually shows the path to wealth.
We all make dumb mistakes, hopefully you can learn from some of mine. I wouldn't replace my "hard knock" lesson for anything. Someone once said "Good lessons cost money; Great lessons cost a lot!"
My Fastlane lesson cost me $104,110. ... but it made me who I am today.
You don't need money to make money. If so, I'd be screwed; because I blew all my start-up money on stupid stuff. After my massive advertising fail (yep all eggs in one basket) it took me 3 years to build back up before I actually started making a profit.
I love business! Nothing in this world (other than my family) is more rewarding to me than business. Where else can you make money while you sleep, vacation, and play with the family?
Today, I've built up several online brands that practically run themselves. I focus entirely on internet marketing and could retire today if I wanted. No, I'm not an affiliate marketer (no offense if you are). I build scaleable businesses and brands; one being fairly well known in the USA.
I've joined this forum because I've learned that success is multiplied when you network with other highly successful people. Hopefully I'll see you around the forum.
Please, don't settle and be a time trader. Life has too much to offer. I promise if you trust in yourself; you won't regret it. ... as the saying goes-- "If I can do it..."
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