Gypsies, Tramps and Thieves…
Over the past few months I’ve been hearing fellow consultants and coaches complain about how they’ve been screwed over by some very visible high-end gurus. You know the ones I am talking about (heck, you may even know them by name!)…
* The gurus who switches their niche or focus because they have a ‘higher calling’. (The reality is the calling is about cash… they had tapped out the market they were already in.)
* The high-end coach who won’t even stop to say hello to you at an event and actually has a ‘handler’ to keep you away. (If the customer is king, why are you treating them like peons?)
* The rock star Internet marketer who claims to be making a high six or seven figure income but can’t pay the money they owe to the outsourced people who created the programs that supposedly made them that money.
* The ‘How-To-Get-Rich-Like-Me’ guy who flashes a wad of money around to prove himself then calls you “retarded” if you don’t buy his $5000 package. (Name calling aside, what’s really insulting is that if you look at that stack of $100 bills you see that a majority of it is singles sandwiched between a couple of hundreds!)
* The high-profile guru who tells you the reason why their product/program/coaching isn’t working for you isn’t because their teaching isn’t good, but because you are not thinking positively/using the Law of Attraction/have a barrier deep inside your mindset. (This ‘it’s-not-me; it’s-you’ approach is the ultimate Catch 22: if your lack of faith is causing the program to fail, then every question you have can be thrown back in your face as “part of your problem”. How can you argue that?)
One (obviously) disgruntled person said this to me, “Internet marketing has become one giant incestuous circle of marketer selling hype to marketers so that they can sell hype to marketers.”
Basically some Internet marketers out there are in a sense in multi-level marketing. They make money by selling a product that tells you how to make money by selling a product that tells people how to make money selling a product that tells people…. Well, you get the picture.
They only make money because they are at the apex of the marketing pyramid, and as with all pyramid schemes, the people lower down the pyramid will lose the money they invest.
You may even notice that many of them ‘steal’ each other’s work, make it their own and sell it with a new label. (Is there anything original from them at all?)
Most just sell a formula, and if your business or niche doesn’t quite fit into that formula… oh well, that’s your fault.
Yet, I believe there’s a new ‘breed’ of marketer online – one that has not only seen this, but been burned by these people in one way or another. They are honest about their lives (the good, the bad and even sometimes the ugly!).
They know they aren’t perfect nor lead a perfect life. They understand that a business relationship is more than just taking, but giving as well. They are about their customers. They aren’t pretending to be gurus. They just do what they are good at. They will show you how to get the best results from their programs.
That’s what I want from one of my mentors and how I hope to be for you when you work with me in any capacity.
So let me be real here:
I own a public relations and marketing communications firm that happens to be a virtual firm. I’m not the biggest firm on the block, but I have had some great results. I get people into major magazines, newspapers, tv and radio where they are able to attract lots more clients and customers and really boost their bottom lines.
I also love teaching, and realized that I could teach others how to do what I do. So I created another company to do just that.
But I don’t consider myself a “guru.” I’m a marketing professional. In my view, “gurus” are people who demand unquestioning faith from their followers. I want clients not followers, and I expect my clients to rely on reason and evidence, not faith.
I’m a mom. And I’ll admit, sometimes I’m not such a great mom. My four-year old girls have autism. And although they are not high on the spectrum, I get frustrated sometimes. I am jealous of moms with typical kids who can bake cookies with their families. I am jealous of moms who can bring their kids out for neighborhood party and not have to keep an eye on them for every minute. I know I shouldn’t be jealous – and don’t get me wrong, I love my girls – but I want more.
I’ve had great successes and I’ve failed miserably. I’ve made tons of money on programs (tons meaning thousands) and I’ve made zip on others. (I didn’t sell one seat on a telecourse I offered.)
I have a decent list, but not tens of thousands of subscribers.
There are times my husband flips out (and rightfully so) that I give too much away and don’t value my work more. (I’m working on that!)
I’m afraid to ask for help. I find it a sign of weakness or failure.
So there you have it…complete transparency from me.
What do you think? Are you tired of the Internet marketing rock stars who aren’t as transparent? What qualities are you looking for in a mentor or teacher? Leave a comment and share your thoughts.
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Hi Shannon,
I have to agree with you on most, if not all, of the points you’re making about the gooroos. I have fallen for their spell in the past but have fortunately, for me, managed to break it.
I don’t know if you’ve seen it or not, but one of the blogs that really helped me break out from the gooroo spell was http://www.saltydroid.info/ It has very salty (as in sailor) language, but the Droid pulls no punches and does not mince words.
Thank you for all that you do, you’re one of the good people out there.
Rafael
I agree completely! The attitudes of some of these “gurus” have turned me off to some pretty popular forums because half of the stuff is “pie in the sky” hype.
No one wants to work for anything anymore. The gurus have conditioned people to think that marketing, specifically Internet Marketing, is an easy, “set it and forget it” type of business and t that if you aren’t successful by their standards, you’re lazy or not doing something right.
And, oh the incestous nature of it all…one pool of yahoos scratching each others’ backs. Turns me off. It’s hard to relate to people and learn from someone when they try so hard to set themselves apart from everyone else. If only some of these people understood that what you’ve done here in this post, Shannon, is exactly what most people who really want to succeed are looking for. Relatability, and the feeling that, “hey, if she can do this, so can I”!
Great observations!
Twitter: daniellemmiller
25 March 2010 at 5:37 pm #
Ahem!
Well my friend you are to be commended for telling it like it is and putting a voice to what so many (me included!) are thinking! The whole “get rich quick” or “change your mindset in 10 minutes and your life will be amazing”…gads, what total and utter bull@#&*.
As you and I both know, anything that you really want will require work, determination, commitment, perseverance and consistency. THAT is real Law of Attraction at work.
I admire you for showing your transparency, your vulnerability, and your “realism”…you rock!
Hugs~
Shannon, If I liked you before, I love you now. This needed to be said, not only to set the record place but to take the onus off the customer and put it back on the alleged guru.
Rockstardom is over-rated. Real people rule.
Twitter: shannoncherry
25 March 2010 at 5:50 pm #
I agree.
I tried the BS route, encouraged by a ‘guru’. It felt awful. I couldn’t do it.
I heart real people!
Shannon, I love this post. So well written with the right amount of frustration and direction.
Keep on being transparent and we’ll continue to learn from you.
Thanks, Shannon, good points about the whole business. While I understand the importance of community and supporting each other in business partnerships, there is a fine line between that and what you speak about as the incestuous relationships that abound. Just seems to be too many of those.
THanks for the thoughts.
Shannon,
Couldn’t have said it better myself! Thank you for saying what so many of us are thinking. I much prefer to work with Professionals and EXPERTS to Gurus. It sounds more like a Swami (not the good kind) the ones who sit on their throwns and smoke a lot of nonsense.
Thanks for being the voice of reason. You are a true professional and I am so glad to know you!
Happy Spring!
Heidi Richards Mooney, Author
Quirky Marketing Calendar
Shannon – you rock (again). And you basically summed up why I finally threw my hands up in frustration and left the business entirely – I was SO SO tired of competing against, working in the same realm, saving customers from the types of clowns you have mentioned, not having the heart of a snake oil saleswoman myself. It is a hard and lonely road to provide openness, transparency, honesty and commitment to clients – as you know. I’m glad you’re still out there telling it like it is.
Shannon,
My partner and I face this all the time. We too are a smaller size marketing and public relations firm, and we employ authentic and effective strategies, based on their particular goals. While we encourage our clients to use social media, we offer the following disclaimer items:
1. There are thousands of self proclaimed “gurus” other there. Do not worship false idols.
2. There is no “overnight” or “instant” product, program, or person who is going to change your life or your business instantly. Step slowly away from these folks.
I think we’re all tired of seeing these folks pop up and soil the landscape of what is actually a legitimate industry. Thanks Shannon!
Twitter: PattiWinker
26 March 2010 at 5:41 pm #
Hi Shannon!
Being a newbie blogger who has just discovered that she would like her blog to make her some money, I find I am quite naive when it comes to the big world of internet marketing.
When I attended NAMS3 I was surprised to find that most of the internet marketing people were really down to earth. Of course, there are always a few to feed the sterotype – the Internet Marketer slash Pyramid Schemer.
Sometimes I felt a bit like you said – marketers selling to marketers selling to marketers… I just feel lucky to have met so many genuine people (like you) and not so many like you are talking about. I like my little circle of friends who also happen to be Internet Marketers who have integrity. Thank heavens I don’t have to deal with those who aren’t.
Thanks for a great post, Shannon. You didn’t pull any punches. Of course, I knew you wouldn’t!
Twitter: FeliciaSlattery
29 March 2010 at 11:12 am #
Hey Shan,
This is one of the reasons why I think we get along so well. I treat my clients and business the same way. I love the transparency and being real.
I too have had classes not sell one seat. But overall I’m successful, as I know you are too.
How I define success: being able to be a Mom to my girls when they need me. Being able to be home to cook nice dinners (I love cooking!). Working in sweats/jeans/and yes sometimes jammies. Being able to come & go. Take vacations when I want. Getting new clients who are happy to pay my very reasonable fees. Helping clients and customers and seeing them succeed. And making a nice/comfortable living doing so. I couldn’t be featured in one of those 6 days to 6 figures or 7 months to millions or whatever things. And I’m good with that. I’m a professional making it in my own home-based business. And that’s something to be proud of!
Here’s what I’d add: determine how YOU define success. What does it look like to you? What are you doing with your work life and personal life? Then design your business around your area of expertise or a service you have mastered that allows you to achieve that vision for your life. Learn what you need to from great folks like Shannon, who can teach you skills that will get you to be where you want.
Thanks for the shot of honesty this morning!
Felicia Slattery
Twitter: shannoncherry
29 March 2010 at 12:00 pm #
It’s so true.
I know one goo-roo who told her clients they need to travel via private jet. Sure, that may work for her, but it doesn’t for the client who would rather invest in her children’s future. (Plus, let’s not get started about the environmental issue of this! What kind of role model would this client to her kids if she started ‘jet setting?’)
You shouldn’t want to be just like. You should want to be you.
And come to think of it, if you emulate your business based completely on one person’s stuff, you will fail. Your target market and your time will never be the same as that person, so why do it?
Twitter: loubortone
29 March 2010 at 11:26 am #
Great stuff, Shannon! I love the no BS approach! I say we start naming names!
Lou B.
Twitter: shannoncherry
29 March 2010 at 11:52 am #
I not sure if naming names would actually do any good. I certainly have a list in my head but what does it matter who they are? It’s not going to change them.
The key to this is ‘buyer beware.’
Twitter: jeannegrunert
20 September 2011 at 4:36 pm #
This post made me wish there’s a “love it” button here. My favorite part? You’re spot on about the industry starting to feel like a bunch of marketing coaches selling to other coaches. And I said last year I will never be called a guru, because gurus are spiritual leaders and I”m not. What I am is a damned fine copywriter with a strong direct response marketing background who loves to write and make information easily understandable. Awesome post!
Twitter: shannoncherry
20 September 2011 at 8:13 pm #
Thanks Jeanne! I wrote that one a while ago but it still holds true today!