We see the ads everywhere we go on the Internet.
The ones that promise to reveal the secrets of millionaires for just a few hundred dollars.
The ones that guarantee a residual income for life for just $9.95 per month.
The ones that write it is so simple that the prospects will be pounding on your door demanding to be sold.
The ones that give you access to a secret members only website where everyone will help you to succeed.
You click on the ad or link, and as soon as you get to the website you know it’s one of “those”. They have that same simple design. Lots of really big bold centered fonts. A little color to draw you to the headlines they want you to read. A long sales letter, that includes a lot of call to actions along the way for those of us with no patience. If you jump to the end you’ll see the super bonus offer if you join now. A couple of postscripts at the very end with their money back guarantee, affidavits from satisfied customers, and so much more…. When you try to leave the web site without falling for their pitch a pop-up window appears asking if you’re really sure you want to walk away without signing up. Oh and the current trend is the ubiquitous auto-play video that is straight from the late night infomercial pitch mold. Exotic location, fancy home, expensive cars and beautiful (sexy) people. A not so subtle message that if you send them your money NOW you can live in that exotic location, in a fancy home, with an expensive car, surrounded by beautiful people who are just like you, or rather just like you think you want to be.
Nine times out of ten the “secret” is to go out and sell the same system you just bought to the next sucker. In tough times, these types of programs multiply because people are desperate enough to try anything. They have a “willing suspension of disbelief for the moment” in hopes that their salvation is just around the next blind corner. We want to believe, and that is what these scum prey on.
Technology speeds up the process. It reaches a larger audience. But, there aren’t any secrets. Making money fast is never easy while simultaneously being legal and ethical. The only exception to that truism may be gambling. If you want to gamble go to a casino, at least they are up front about the odds being in the favor of the house.
There is no replacement for consistent hard work, knowledge, and experience. Applied to a product or service you truly believe in is the surest way to being successful. It doesn’t matter if it’s on the Internet, on Main Street, or in your home. Those keys to success in any business are always the same.
My purpose here is not to dash anyone’s hopes, burst their balloon, rain on their parade or otherwise fill their heads with negativity. In fact, quite the opposite. I truly believe that it is possible to build a successful home-based or traditional small business on and or off the Internet. I’ve seen too many people have their dreams destroyed by parasites that promise the moon and deliver nothing but dust. Once someone has a dream crushed, it’s hard to dream again. Each time it gets harder than the last, until finally some give up.
My message is one of hope and encouragement tempered by caution. You can succeed, just but be wary of the bottom feeders that don’t really care about you, your family or your success. Surround yourself with people you can trust, that have a healthy amount of skepticism, but are generally supportive of you and your goals.
Here’s to your success!
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