I’m writing this to anyone who’s read about a cool program or course and genuinely could not afford it.
I’ve received a few emails as a result of offering mentoring for the first time.
YouTube - Is Ed Dale Finally Doing A Mentor Program?
Admit it, your reaction will sit on a spectrum of zen like acceptance to “Rage against the machine”
But before I get into this.
A little bit about location.
I’m writing this on a Macbook Air (don’t get fixated on the machine, a netbook would do…) in the waiting room at learningland, at 11 o’clock (that’s cool Jack Bauer location speak , not time) Annabelle is belting out the Annie Apple song.
At 10.00 o’clock some of the kids who have “older” siblings in the class are trying to recreate the epic 1987 WWF cagematch between a returning Hulk Hogan and a young up and comer.
Bless their little cotton socks.
My Chair is “Mommy Bear” soft and it’s bloody hot.
BUT
I’m still typing.
Trust me - I still struggle at this every day. EVERY DAY!
However, the difference between people who are a success in their on-line business and those that fail is, for somewhere between 30 mins and two hours each day, they sit on their ass in a chair and type (or write, or record, or photograph etc, etc, etc)
If by some miracle you’re still here, dear reader who can’t afford that rocking course, the past paragraph contains the key to success.
Now, let’s go back in time, to the dawn of the nineties. A near bankrupt and paying back to the people he owed money to, Ed Dale, had managed to scrape together 90 bucks to spend a day with this new motivational speaker on the scene.
A guy called Tony Robbins.
I’d read “awaken the giant within” and it had really turned me around. I HAD NO IDEA that you could actually do courses outside of school to better yourself!!!
I know, IRONIC.
So I rock up to the Melbourne Entertainment centre with 4000 or so of my closest friends and do this one day training on Sales.
It was brilliant.
Then the thing before lunch happened…
Just as we were winding up the session, Tony launched into a brilliant presentation on this three day course - the Unlimited Power Weekend.
It just sounded AWESOME!!!
But not two minutes into the pitch, my stomach started to knot, “unless this thing is free, I can’t go, It’s in Sydney and I’m worse than broke”
When (the magnificently price justified) amount of $397 was written out on the laminex projector with removable pen I was screwed.
It may as well have been a million dollars.
I didn’t have it, was not going to have it, it was not going to happen.
Now, if you’re expecting one of those “if you believe enough “secret” style, things happened” and I manifested the $397
You’re not at the right blog.
Check out www.disney.com - much more your style.
Nope, there was no happy ending. I tried to figure out a way (and I was pretty resourceful) but I was snookered.
“No, UPW for you.” said the Seminar Nazi.
BUT
I didn’t take it personally, it wasn’t Tony’s fault. I didn’t rage against the machine (Nowadays people can “socialmedia” their upset and bitterness and wallow with fellow rejectees)
I learn’t a lot from that day and I started to apply it, not with laser like precision, you wouldn’t see my work efforts over the 90’s featured in some action movie montage.
BUT
By the end of the decade, I’d achieved some success.
I did that by doing the bare minimum of work which actually creates something. BARE MINIMUM. If I was like, disciplined - who knows where I could go!!
I’m not.
The cool thing is, most of the super successful people I know are also in the “barely disciplined” category.
The difference is they spend 30 minutes to a couple of hours doing stuff that matters.
Every Day….
Well, at least five days a week…
With some Holidays…..
The difference between you and someone is the number of “stuff That Matters” hours they do compared to you.
Another cool thing.
It doesn’t cost money to do it, it’s not about the gear!
I still use a pen and a yellow legal pad (which has the side benefit of reminding me of Halbert every time I write P.T.O) to do my brainstorming and design.
Yes, I’m using a Macbook Air now and damn straight I’ll be using an iPad in 45 days from now.
But it would be no better (or worse depending on how well I edit this) if I wrote it on stolen photocopier paper from the church photocopier at nine o’clock and then walked down to the Moonee Ponds Library, typed it up and posted it on the blog - Using free google docs for storage.
(Please don’t steal from your church photocopier - I’m sure the pastor would not only give you the paper but probably throw in a pen as well just like that priest did in the opening scene of Les Miserable)
When your broke you have one valuable resource and decision. How you spend your time.
Most broke people confuse reading about cool techniques that make you money or make you a better photographer or a better dancer in the Touring Thai Man Boy troupe with DOING something.
And all affirmation bust-a-moving aside - that’s the difference between broke and not broke - we are talking NO MORE than a couple of PRODUCTIVE hours a day.
EASY FOR YOU TO SAY - YOU”VE MADE IT AND HAD THE ADVANTAGE OF STUNNING GOOD LOOKS TO GET YOU THROUGH.
It’s true, I’m totally beautiful.
BUT
Beauty is no substitute for a couple hours a day of regularly taking action on stuff that matters.
You can choose to be bitter about it - broke people still have the power of choice, you can “socialmedia” yourself into a frenzy of jealousy and blame.
Or.
You can sit on your but, “borrow” the paper from the church photocopier. Write something. Put it in your pocket. Take it out the next day. Correct the obvious stuff, walk down to the local library, type it into your free google docs account. Open a free posterous blog. Post your article and then spend twenty minutes, bookmarking it and participating in the forums.
Then you do it again the next day.
And the next.
Wax On
Wax Off
Or you can watch “Jersey Shore”
It’s YOUR choice.
Ed
Ed, as always you are an inspiration to so many of us! Thanks!!
[...] I need right now but is something that some of you might need to keep in mind. The link is here. The post is all about doing what needs to be done to get the results you want and doing them [...]
Former 30DC student writes;
A little wordy because that’s how you are Rd but that is it in a nutshell a big one at that.
What ever you do you need, G.U.T.S. = to Go Use The Stuff you learned.
Ed, you have given away more than anyone could expect. I struggled for a year trying to grasp the intricacies of doing business online. The TDC was a God send and while I am still trying to make a full time living from it I can see the opportunities at my finger tips. I also cannot afford to go to a seminar but when I can I will gladly pay whatever price you ask. Thank you for the free instruction and motivation.
awesome post. Thanks. It’s really up to each one of us.
So true, now if I can get to the point of knowing what those productive things are and be organized enough to spend my time doing them. It is so easy to get caught up in “learning” and not doing.
This is the best and most potent article you have done Ed) This is it, stuff that matters vs hours stuff that doesnt! THis is also the key in ‘4 hour work week.’ Thanks! Now, what was i doing…..ah yes!.. Tidy the desk!
Yep, I was one of those 4000 friends you went with to see Tony R.
Still has an impact on me. One thing that stands out for a marketer like moi was Tony saying “people don’t buy things - they buy FEELINGS”
(well, yes they do buy things, but only as a way to the feelings) (which may of course be long-term feelings)
(Incidentally, Ed, as a complete and utter aside, I need to impart and important message to you about the intro to Day 21, the “Roof is leaking.. etc.” as a fellow Phil Collins mega-fan. It’s about the crickets)
Cheers.
Peter
GREAT post!! So true.
However, I think it is one thing to work in a focused way for a specified time every day. It is another thing entirely to KNOW what it is you should be focusing on in order to get the maximum result. It is the latter that I need to learn, and your 30 Day Challenge has been showing me. The mentoring opportunity would take that to a whole other level, I hope.
I’ve spent years developing sites in the blind belief that “If you build it they will come”, and that the magic Google spider will find me and correctly index me etc. Hmm, that was years my life wasted chasing my tail not paying any attention to marketing.
I have almost finished the 30 Day Challenge and feel like someone has just taken off my blindfold and given me a compass.
Thanks for everything. You are a champion mate! Catch you at Coming Home 2.
PS
You are right, Anthony Robbins is a legend! Did you ever get a copy of Personal Power? GREAT course, pure gold.
Hi Ed,
Thanks for being so open and honest ! Loving the 30 day challenge and looking forward to the conference next week, painting fences and having lots of focused fun!
Clodagh
Gift of a post, Ed!
Wax on Wax off
“Im traveling from Manchester To Durham To London.
I have a yellow legal pad, pilot G2 pen”-@Ed_Dale Aug 30, 2008
http://twitter.com/Ed_Dale/status/903786952
Love/Hate
I love it and I hate it! I love it because I think you nailed it and I desperately want it to be the thing that I point back to and say “that was the moment, the idea that started it all for me”.
I hate it because it says exactly what my problem is. I love it because its a frighteningly simple solution.
But finally I hate it because I don’t know what stuff matters. You say “The difference is they spend 30 minutes to a couple of hours doing stuff that matters.” In general I get the idea that this means doing something, making something of our own instead of reading about others.
On the other hand I try so many things and since I don’t get results I questions if I am doing stuff that matters. So is there a short list of stuff that matters?
Thanks Ed for all the free Stuff you have given those of us who can’t dish out the cash. This is a great reminder - it’s so easy to get distracted.
What you say is very true. If you don’t have money, then use your time wisely. I’ve been on both sides of the coin and the other thing you brought home is you have to actual DO something. Learning is great. Taking it and doing something with it is the difference between whining about not having enough and actually doing something about it.
Thanks Ed.
Laura Betterly
Ed,
Spot on. Just do something with what you’ve got. Someone is always going to whine. You’ve done so much for us by giving us the 30DC that i still haven’t caught up.
Dear Ed, that was a good story. Seems Tony Robbins left his impact in Australia as well. I could almost tell the same story, besides that I made it to the UPW.
Thanks for this great course. It is very, very, very good.
Greetings from Hamburg
Broke we say?This has happened to me more often than I like to confess.I have these real good plans work them so it is impossible to fail.Then the last minute this gremlin called Murphy. This time some one stole all my work.I have invented a clean burning machine for garbage.No gases going in the air,not one speck of greenhouse gas.Spend 150,000 dollars mine and some one else.Then because it is on wheels it was stolen and disappeared into night and fog.I got pissed off got the cops, and guess what they said CIVIL MATTER none of our business.find them take em to court.I almost got arrested myself.Lost my cool demeanor and was taken to the back of the station.so i am broke again.But you know being mad made me do something in a week.With Divine assistance I invented a whole new process to make Household garbage into CRUDE OIL .Then crude oil into FUEL ,Cement and Fertilizer.So you see it was a good thing the vortex was swiped.Other wise I never have invented the new process.Being broke you can’t help it happens what you can help is sitting in corner with a woe is me.I have never been poor.Which is an attitude of soul.I have known poverty and am experiencing it again.But poverty and being broke is a temporary condition which will change into positive cash flow with getting off my butt.I just have to remember to learn the PYAF rule. LOL
As far as all these positive thinkers are concerned.They live to far left of reality.My secret is I am connected to the Source of it all.so there is nothing I can not overcome.
Ed, thanks a lot for kicking my butt with this one!! I admit, I have been waiting and wishing for the apple to fall..way too long! Now it’s time for action! I have been dreaming that one day I can be a good internet marketeer just like you and the rest. My only hindrance is that I lack the knowledge on how to do it, and the money! I could not afford those expensive coaching sessions and seminars. The only thing I have is my passion for writing. But like you said, whining, blaming and doing nothing doesn’t help. So here I am, awake and with the right attitude! You all keep saying that it’s that simple. Right now,it’s still Chinese for me. But not for long I hope. I’m going to do everything to find out the “hows” of internet marketing. And when I’m successful, I’m going to fly all the way from Belgium to thank you personally.
I wish you love and blessings, and massive success in all your undertakings..
Greetings from Belgium,
Inday
We keep hearing this stuff over and over again. When we don’t have access to the financial resources to grow us more, we need to tap into our mental resources and focus on being productive, as opposed to mindlessly entertaining ourselves with any one of the many channels of media around us.
Start by setting a goal, something like writing 3 articles this week, then divide it into tasks(you know like what to write about, the research, your keywords, etc) and then date it and prioritize them. Next, commit to doing it and nothing else until they’re done.
Success is just a learned habit. Anyone can do it with some practice!
If your friends are a problem as they were for me, you may have to introduce some new words to your vocabulary, like “no” and “I’m busy”.
Ed, So right. I have recently learnt that all it takes is putting in real persistent effort. The difference is doing the action instead of thinking of the action. Stop thinking to hard of what your going to do or how your going to do it and just make a start at anything. Allow your inner self or your intuition to be your guide.
One year ago I signed up for my first blog. The End. Thats right, The end. I signed up but took no action.I had no idea what to do , or even how to write, or what to write about or what I was going to try to sell. Then there was the self doubt of who cares what I think, or what do I know.
This time (around 2 months ago) I signed up a whole new blog site called http://www.thebridgetjones.blogspot.com and this time I took action. Around 1.5 hours each day everyday at first.
There isn’t a great deal on the site right now but here’s the thing. I have 6 children the youngest being 8 monthes, my husband works away (hense the reason of searching of ways to make money on the net)but I made an effort. I took action. Sounds like I’m quite busy, hey. I am and I still make time to do a small amounts EVERYDAY either on my blog or learning from other sites or reading internet marketing books. Whatever it is I have made a pact with myself to learn something new everyday, then once I have mastered the skills I will then pass on the knowledge that I have.
You don’t need money to make a start. You can even use the computers and internet for free in the librarys. The only money that I have spent so far is $2.20 on a company to drive more traffic to my site.
I know very little about the net so far. The bits I’ve done so far just seem to work, as in; the adwords and affliate links on my site. Something I’ve done seems to be working and it all starts with taking ANY kind of action NOW. If I can make a start with 6 children then you can to
Doggone it, Ed,
Have you and my husband been talking long distance?
Seems I have to take ACTION (I hate it when he’s right!), instead of continuously LEARNING.
Oh well, if you and Don are in agreement, it must be true.
Now, watch my smoke!
Your friend,
Brennan
P.S. I LUV the 30DC!
Ouch! It is a struggle to find a balance between learning and action. I have to use a timer to make sure I don’t spend too much time on email and no time on writing or too much time on social networking and none on income producing activities. Thank goodness the iPhone has a timer feature on it as that has helped me tremendously!
Now I’m going to go list a couple of domains on Flippa so I can afford to be in your mentor program!
Thanks for the spanking Ed! lol
Blessings,
Wendy
Great post Ed …. you couldn’t lend me a few quid could you?
Ed,
I’ve always admired your work. I needed to say that knowing that neither you nor almost everyone else will read this comment.
That’s ok. I’m smiling.
Just found your site today via twitter. I am taking the 30 day challenge. You are such an inspiration and I wanted to thank you for all the great resources. Congrats on stepping out on faith and making the call to Gary!
LaTOnya, Arkansas USA
And he’s using an overpriced POS laptop. Go figure.
[...] On Being SO BROKE You Can’t Come To That Seminar « Thirty Day Challenge [...]
Ed, I love you and what you do. May I always remember to keep it simple. With my deepest gratitude.
Marie
Ed! I REALLY enjoyed your writing here - but then again - I always do!
I am reminded of that great saying by the late Jim Rohn. He said ‘It’s not that something is too expensive - it’s that you can’t afford it’.
That really hit me! As did ‘Don’t wish it were easier, wish you were better. ‘
Great post Ed,
My best to you,
Kindest
Chris Farrell
Voted No. 1 Internet Service by IMReportCard.com
the simplest way to put it is you have to DO the best you can with what you’ve got… and the biggest emphasis is on the word DO