Why How Much Money I Make Has Nothing To Do With You…
by Jackie
Yesterday I received an email from a gentleman who had just downloaded my Squidoo Christmas Cash blueprint report. It is a blueprint of how I go about creating profitable lenses on Squidoo. But, the email wasn’t about the blueprint, no, in the email he wanted to know if building lenses was going to be worth his time. To identify this worth, he demanded that I tell him how much money I make with Squidoo (and NOT from teaching people how to use Squidoo). He knows people don’t like to talk in specifics, but this isn’t a legal question… just tell me how much you make.
He’s not the first… and I’m sure he won’t be the last.
However, yesterday I was offended. I replied to him and asked him how often in real life he walks up to people he doesn’t know and demands they tell him how much money they make so he can see if something is worth doing.
My email went on, but here’s the crux of it.
How much money I make ~ has absolutely NOTHING to do with you.
Here’s why.
I’ve put in the time to learn the techniques, to learn good keyword research, to learn how to build links, and I’ve busted my ass to do those things and do them well.
I don’t know you from Adam… and I have no idea whether you will be willing to do those things or not.
How much money I make reflects completely on who I am, and how much money you will make reflects on who YOU are.
There is no overlap.
I received a reply shortly after I sent my email…
Geez… is all he said.
It appears I have offended his sensibilities asking him to be accountable to himself, and for his actions. Go figure.
You see, here’s the thing. I have taken the time to learn these things, and I quite freely give people a TON of the stuff I have learned to hopefully lessen their learning curve. So if you’re asking me how much money I make ~ you’re asking the wrong fucking question.
You should be asking things like:
What can I do to get my page to number 1?
What can I do to better connect with my community?
What can I do to pick products that will convert?
What can I do to create content that converts better
What can I do to create better headlines that get people to read my stuff
Do you see the difference? These questions all have something to do with YOU, and the things you can control. They have nothing to do with me.
Please, stop putting people on a pedestal. It doesn’t matter if someone makes a hundred dollars a month or 10 grand ~ what they make has nothing to do with you. It is not at all indicative of how much money you can or may make.
What you’re willing to do to start building your business. What you’re willing to do to start getting traffic to your site. What you’re willing to do to start building trust with your community.
Those things are the indicators of how successful you will be, of how much money you may make.
What are you willing to do? How far are YOU willing to go?
Those are the questions you need to be asking…
Not how much money I make.
image credit: Gudonark
In my books you are one of “The Three Musketeers” who so willingly and freely give of your hard earned and won knowledge.
The question your inquisitor should be asking is “what do I have to offer, with passion?” ” and can you help me realise this dream?”
‘Nough said. Close the subject!!
Continue your excellent service
Jucebone
Jackie,
I love this post!
It’s so true and yet so many people miss the boat here. Your list of questions are exactly what people need to be asking themselves.
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Wow – you really put a finger on why this question bothers me so much. I mean, sure, I know that hearing that question in the first place is generally an indication that I’m dealing with someone who isn’t serious about what I’m teaching. But the way you phrased that really hits the point home, that how much I make isn’t anyone’s business but my own.
Great post
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Sarah,
Thanks for stopping by and taking the time to leave a comment. I really appreciate it. The question has always bothered me but it wasn’t until this weekend that I really got a handle on why. I’m glad it spoke to you as well.
Jackie.. this is my first time here and I’m glad I stopped by. This line was awesome: “if you’re asking me how much money I make ~ you’re asking the wrong fucking question”
It’s a known fact that there are marketers, leaders, “gurus” (whatever) out there, that create courses on topics that they haven’t experimented with themselves – and sell them on HYPE. This is the CRAP we have to deal with from people who have been jaded by the typical, hyped up sales letter, and no result.
But, you have every reason to be upset. I understand that being in the “make money” space, we have to show that we’re “doing” what we’re “teaching” – but to actually demand to know if a method is making you money has nothing to do with the other person. Even if you had told him that you made $2,358.78 last month, that would not have made a difference in his ability to get it done.
Thanks for sharing this.. I’m glad fear didn’t stop you from pressing publish
Hector
Hey Hector,
Thanks for stopping by. I appreciate it. It is difficult in the “make money online” niche. AND I’ve been thinking since I got that comment about whether or not it’s a valid position… the whole teach vs. do. It’s been a sticking point for me. I teach a LOT of different things, I can’t possibly DO all of those things and still have time to teach them. I’ve done them in the past, and they worked, or I wouldn’t teach it. But does someone really have to be DOING something for YOU to do it? I don’t think so. I think it’s another excuse people throw up so they don’t have to try.
That’s definitely true. I’m sure if you had told him that you HAD made money in the past, his next question would had been, “well, if you’re not doing it now, then does that mean it doesn’t work anymore?”
Those are simply excuses to justify their lack of motivation.
Man the nerve of some people. Just because you make a certain amount of money does not mean everyone will. I agree…it does depends on the amount of work YOU do. It is no one’s business how much you or I or anyone else makes. Thanks for all you do Jackie!
I’m sorry to disagree with you, Jackie, but I think he had a valid question. I appreciate very, very much that you give away so much advice free of charge but I think it is perfectly reasonable to ask if you or anyone else using your methods has actually made decent money with it. You certainly didn’t need to provide your exact income but it would have been enough to say something like you make less than $100 per month from Squidoo lenses or you make enough money to pay the mortgage. Of course that wouldn’t mean he would do the same, but he would know what has been done by others. Remember the old saying, “those who can, do, and those who can’t, teach.” I imagine he just wanted to know if you “do”.
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However Debbie, it completely depends on the topics you choose, the work you put into it, the search volume, and a variety of other factors. . I may make 5 thousand dollars a month in lenses (which I don’t lol), and if he made 200 lenses and yet made them all with targeted keywords with no search volume HE would make nothing. Which was the point.
He could have asked is it possible to make money with Squidoo? What are the factors I need to consider when starting out with Squidoo to really make some money. What’s the one thing I need to make sure I do to make profitable lenses.
It wouldn’t matter if I told him how much I made. It’s irrelevant to how much he can make. and whether I “teach” or “do” is irrelevant to whether he could do it or not. See what I’m saying?
Yes, it’s definitely possible to make money from squidoo. I wouldn’t be showing people how to use it if it wasn’t possible. But that possibility complete rests on the person… and what they are willing to do.
Actually I agree with Debbie. Sure the person asking won’t make the same amount as you do. They know that. But when people ask that question they want assurance that it’s worth it to try AND it’s worth it to follow your methods. Will they waste time following your techniques? They want to know how much you make because they want to know whether or not you know what you are doing. I think it’s silly of you to get offended and act like it’s a question people shouldn’t ask. It’s very valid and you could easily give a ballpark idea for someone who wants to know instead of writing a rude email back and a post like this one. Why not just share the numbers? Is it because you only make money teaching people what to do?
Hi M,
No, it’s not because I only make money teaching people how to… In fact, a good portion of my income comes from Squidoo in one shape or form. And I’ll stand by the fact, that it doesn’t matter how much I make, because as with anything in internet marketing, it only matters what YOU are willing to do, how often you’re willing to do it and for how long.
It took me probably a year before I finally created a profitable lens. Are you willing to stick it out a year before you make any money? Is the guy that asked? I don’t know. I know I was. Yeah, you’ll have a head start because you get the benefit of my experience. But will you still be here a year from now, spending hours a day creating and working, doing the mind numbing tasks that actually have to be done to be successful?
That’s what it’s about. What you’re willing to do, and for how long you’ll do it, not about how much money I make all these years into the game.
The man didn’t ask you how much money he could make. He asked how much you made. Your twisting of his question and refusal to answer are disappointing to readers who want to believe you are honest and open. Why should anyone follow your advice if you won’t offer any proof as to how well it worked for you? “The lady doth protest too much.”
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Actually, his questions was asked so he would know if it was “going to be worth his time”. So he did actually want to know if he was going to make money. And from his email it definitely seemed that he would think if I was making money he would then make money.
I guess we’re just going to have to agree to disagree.
I agree you had every reason to be upset, Jackie. For one thing, the blueprint is clearly written, is superior to a number of other (costly) make-money-online courses, and is free. Not only is it free, but when people have questions, you take the time to answer them. Before I started using your system, I paid good money for some of these courses, and then when I had questions, the creators of the products were ‘too busy’ to answer them. Also, I have personally come to believe that a lot of the creators of those courses have been mendacious about their earnings…maybe not all of them, but a good number of them. Everything you teach is clear…but the steps you delineate are for us to take. In the end, our success depends entirely upon the effort we ourselves put into it…and frankly, I’m glad it works that way.
Agreed Jackie. To be honest with you I have had that question sticking in the back of my mind to ask you for a long time, but I never had the kahones to ask. Now I realize that the truth is it doesn’t matter…how much I make is in direct proportion to how hard I’m willing to work ~ PERIOD. Thanks for this today!
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