Joined: 04 Jun 2007 Posts: 231 Location: Gainesville Florida USA
Posted: Thu Nov 13, 2008 4:41 pm Post subject: What Do You Want?
Allan, thanks for your recent newsletter entitled "What People Want." Nice job! Perhaps the ezine might be continued on the forum.
Here's what I want.
Discussions that combine the clear eyed bottom line focused pragmatism of the business community, with a relentless passion for getting to the heart of a subject, that is perhaps more typical of philosophical types.
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Are you leading a rich life? It's something worth thinking about.
This is a very practical question, I love it. Can we pursue it?
On the surface, there is "I want this, and I want that" which creates the lists Allan referred to in his recent newsletter (required reading for this thread).
Just below the surface, just underneath the specific things we want, is want itself.
An experience of reaching, craving, of living continually on a path from here to there, a sense of motion, always moving forward to the next thing we want.
The specific things each of us want may differ widely, but the process of wanting is something we all likely share.
To me, imho, diving below the target of our desires, to desire itself is, in the language of business, the point of greatest leverage.
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Are you leading a rich life? It's something worth thinking about.
Or, is excessive thinking, a constant ongoing desire to be someplace other than where we already are, the chief obstacle to a rich life?
Normally, I'm a rather manic thinker, especially online. But when I get out in the woods I can usually more or less let it go.
I was walking out in the woods the other day thinking about what I want. Tiring of that life long grind, I decided to sit down and give it a rest.
After a bit my mind slowed to a crawl, and I looked up. And saw the wind dancing through the top of an autumn colored tree.
And there it was. The wind, in the trees. Enough.
Once I was able to mentally shut the $#^&#$ up, I discovered that what I really wanted, enoughness, was already there, waiting patiently for me to set aside the future for the present, fantasy for reality, and discover it.
And then I came home, jumped back online, and now my mind is jammed with what I want again. No time for enough, gotta get busy!
Oh well, Rome wasn't built in a day. _________________ http://Affiliate-Programs-for-you.com/
A search engine for finding products and services you can sell on your site.
Joined: 02 Jul 2003 Posts: 5914 Location: by the beach, Australia
Posted: Thu Nov 13, 2008 8:23 pm Post subject: Re: What Do You Want?
Great stuff, Phil.
Publisher-For-You wrote:
Or, is excessive thinking, a constant ongoing desire to be someplace other than where we already are, the chief obstacle to a rich life?
Could be.
Two goals I'm working on are to declutter and to live a more simple life.
(My silly spellcheck thinks "declutter" is not a word, but more than a million web pages prove it's wrong.) _________________ Allan Gardyne
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Joined: 04 Jun 2007 Posts: 231 Location: Gainesville Florida USA
Posted: Fri Nov 14, 2008 12:49 am Post subject: Re: What Do You Want?
AllanGardyne wrote:
Two goals I'm working on are to declutter and to live a more simple life.
Ok, cool. Good luck with that!
Why? Whatever our goal, why do we want it?
To me, not asking this question is like having a web business where we never test and track anything, and are doing lots of work, without really knowing why we're doing it. Probably not the best way to reach a goal.
Perhaps we can boil the "why do we want whatever we want" question down to two answers.
1) To meet our bodies needs, and 2) to meet our minds needs.
In developed countries, meeting the body's needs requires a trivial amount of income, so this doesn't require a lot of analysis.
The real answer to why we rich folks want whatever we want is to establish some psychological state of mind. Right?
Allan, I've always enjoyed what you've written about finding points of leverage in business. Where can our efforts be most effectively applied to achieve the greatest effect? It seems the most successful people online take the time to answer this question.
If the goal line for all our efforts, what we really want, is some psychological state of mind, maybe the point of greatest leverage might be a better understanding of how our minds work?
It seems what often happens in business is that we get so caught up in means, that we forget what the end really is, and thus take our eye off the ball. _________________ http://Affiliate-Programs-for-you.com/
A search engine for finding products and services you can sell on your site.
Joined: 02 Jul 2003 Posts: 5914 Location: by the beach, Australia
Posted: Fri Nov 14, 2008 2:55 am Post subject: Re: What Do You Want?
Publisher-For-You wrote:
It seems what often happens in business is that we get so caught up in means, that we forget what the end really is, and thus take our eye off the ball.
Been there, done exactly that!
Before I got involved in the Internet, I'd had a high-pressure job, left it and spent 10 years working only three days a week. Having four days off every week gave me lots of time for reading novels, finding new hobbies and walking on the beach. They were 10 good years, without much money.
When I set up my online business, my original goal was simply to replace that part-time job.
Somehow I lost sight of that, ending up working every hour possible and setting ever more challenging goals.
It took a serious illness before I woke up. For three years now, I've been gradually delegating and decluttering. I'm still not quite there yet but I've reached the stage where I can take a month off for a vacation, so I've made big progress.
Now I'm searching for new goals that make more sense to me than the old ones. That's why what Yanik is doing resonates so well with me.
As you say, leverage is so important if you want a regular stream of revenue coming in while you walk on the beach or in the forest. I reckon every affiliate should think right from the start about aiming for streams of revenue, not just one-off sales that have to be repeated.
I'm sure it's not a coincidence that Yanik's latest project will bring him a steady revenue stream. Also, he doesn't know how to build a website so he's obviously delegating lots of stuff.
As for trying to figure out how my brain works, I think that would be a tough task! _________________ Allan Gardyne
... earning a good living from affiliate programs since 1998.
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Joined: 04 Jun 2007 Posts: 231 Location: Gainesville Florida USA
Posted: Fri Nov 14, 2008 10:48 am Post subject: Re: What Do You Want?
Thanks for the conversation Allan, it's always a pleasure.
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They were 10 good years, without much money.
It's amazing how much attitudes towards money have changed since we were young. Yea, I did that too, pony tail and all. Pass that joint over here, wouldya?
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I'm still not quite there yet but I've reached the stage where I can take a month off for a vacation, so I've made big progress.
Well done sir! Come to Florida next time, ey? You and yours can sit comfortably in the back of our EuroVan while I play tour guide, pointing out historic raccoons and such.
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As you say, leverage is so important if you want a regular stream of revenue coming in while you walk on the beach or in the forest.
That's what you wisely say. It's a great teaching.
I really respect the clear eyed, practical, bottom line focused approach you use to come to your understanding of leverage. Really, I do. I'm trying to ride that very same kind of analysis through to it's logical conclusion.
When I do that I see success, money, vacations, freedom etc, are all means to an end, not the goal line itself.
It seems important to know what the real bottom line is, and keep our eye on it, as we proceed with all our efforts.
You're talking about leverage in regards to means which approach the desired end indirectly.
I'm trying to explore whether approaching the desired end more directly gives greater leverage.
That's why I loved your article "What People Want", as that is a truly excellent question.
What do we really want? Might be good to know!
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Also, he doesn't know how to build a website so he's obviously delegating lots of stuff.
I need to learn that very same skill, in reverse. Delegating marketing seems harder than delegating nerd work, but maybe it's just me.
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As for trying to figure out how my brain works, I think that would be a tough task!
Oh stop whining, and just be happy it's not my brain you have to figure out.
Seriously, what exactly is it that separates your impressive success from millions of other affiliates who are struggling?
It's not money, you started with none. It's not information, thanks to you, everybody can read the same affiliate marketing info. It's not tools, everybody has access to the same tools.
So what then? What is it that makes you much more successful than the majority of your newsletter readers?
The way your mind works.
Analyzing customer psychology is nothing new in the world of sales, right? Copywriters would consider it 100% on topic.
I'm trying to suggest that analyzing seller psychology could be a point of even greater leverage.
If we want to have success like yours, we need to learn to think like you. _________________ http://Affiliate-Programs-for-you.com/
A search engine for finding products and services you can sell on your site.
Joined: 04 Jun 2007 Posts: 231 Location: Gainesville Florida USA
Posted: Fri Nov 14, 2008 4:55 pm Post subject:
Um, wow, I think I figured out exactly "What People Want", and, how they're going to get it.
As a lead in teaser, I want you to think about that million dollar beach house you've been working your butt off for years to get. This post will show you how to get that beach house in minutes, for just $29.95.
As webmasters, we're intensely aware of the relentless competition on the Net to capture eyeballs and market share. Millions of savvy intelligent people working around the clock trying to figure out what will inspire us to visit and talk about their site.
It's the same in other media like TV, music, radio, video games etc.
An enormous effort is underway to figure out "what we want" and then give it to us. Each media company tries to out do the others by providing an ever more immersive and compelling experience.
Do you ever wonder where the historical progression from print to radio to TV to Internet and beyond will take us?
What is it that we really want, and how will we finally really get it?
We might guess that we really want is to be Gods, and eventually a device like the Star Trek Holodeck is how we'll get there.
As Star Trek fans will recall, the Holodeck is a room that can provide a fully realistic virtual reproduction of just about any experience the user might wish to have. A true alternate reality, where the user is in control of what happens, ie. is God.
Can you imagine what it will be like when we can easily have a fully convincing virtual experience of whatever we want?
Why bust your butt making a million bucks for that beach house, when you can slide the $30 BEACH HOUSE DVD in to the Holodeck Player, and experience a virtual beach house that feels just as real as a real beach house?
The social implications of such devices are staggering, beyond my imagination.
The Holodeck experience may sound hopelessly futuristic.
But 10 years ago there were already multiplayer virtual reality games (such as flight simulation) that could be experienced with others over the Net. The graphics were cheesy and the screens were small, but still these experiences were remarkably compelling.
To conclude, if you'd like to go ahead and talk to God right now about your plans to become a God yourself, He's standing by ready to take your call at this site.
Joined: 04 Jun 2007 Posts: 231 Location: Gainesville Florida USA
Posted: Sun Nov 16, 2008 12:17 am Post subject:
Larry Chamberlain wrote:
Oh heck, a philosophical Phil thread and I'm late to the party
Uh, philosophical Phil threads rarely rise to party status, so you're safe.
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I'd say that there are some things that it would not be possible to reproduce in virtual reality.
True, but...
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A full belly being one.
Ok, you got me there.
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Then there is love.
How about appreciation?
Ah, good job, surely these are high on the list of what we all want.
I'd say these emotions would be pretty easy to create in ever more realistic virtual reality, and that whatever business leads the way will rule the world.
Example. Take a good movie of today. It will create all kinds of emotions in us, right?
Ok, now take this movie, project it in to a 3D space, make it interactive, and let us give ourselves a role to play in the movie.
Dear reader, if you currently spend a couple hours a day watching TV or surfing the Net, how much time are you going to spend in the Holodeck when that is available?
That is, as simulated realities become ever more realistic, what effect will that have on all of us?
If there's a room in our house where we can have whatever psychological experience we want to have, how long will it be before we stop seeing the point in going outside in to the real world?
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And offspring? When a couple are desperately trying to have kids, having a child is always number one on their list of wants.
How about kids that you can turn off whenever you feel like it? How popular do you think that's gonna be?
Seriously, this is NOT futuristic, it's happening right now.
As we speak, all across the globe, millions of people are gradually withdrawing from their real world social lives, in to increasingly online based social lives.
Why?
Because in a virtual environment, we are in control. One step close to being God.
If you are bored with this thread, you don't have to be polite and listen to the rest of my rant.
In a single second, you can click out of this thread, go some where else, and create another experience for yourself.
As you read this, in this moment, you are choosing a virtual social experience that you control over real world relationships that you don't control.
Do you really care that much that this forum is a "fake reality" and that you'll probably never actually meet anybody here in person? _________________ http://Affiliate-Programs-for-you.com/
A search engine for finding products and services you can sell on your site.
Joined: 02 Jul 2003 Posts: 5914 Location: by the beach, Australia
Posted: Sun Nov 16, 2008 2:56 am Post subject:
Larry, Thanks for joining in. Sounds as though one of your wants would be a penthouse - or soundproofing.
Publisher-For-You wrote:
Do you really care that much that this forum is a "fake reality" and that you'll probably never actually meet anybody here in person?
Well, I like the fact that on this forum I can think for half an hour or a day before I answer a question. That wouldn't work so well if we were in the same room. But if I ever get to Florida, I'll make sure I look you up.
It would be really useful for forum members to have Affiliate Breakfasts or Affiliate Lunches in their area. People are often willing to share a heck of lot more in person than they're willing to share in a public forum.
Talking about what people want... One thing they want is for people to like and respect them. Some are also very keen to be seen as a winner. So at a lunch they're often likely to reveal stuff they wouldn't reveal on a forum. _________________ Allan Gardyne
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Joined: 01 Aug 2003 Posts: 1146 Location: London, England
Posted: Sun Nov 16, 2008 9:01 am Post subject:
Quote:
If there's a room in our house where we can have whatever psychological experience we want to have, how long will it be before we stop seeing the point in going outside in to the real world?
As it happens I do avoid "going outside" as much as possible. There is violence out there. Maybe it's an age thing.
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How about kids that you can turn off whenever you feel like it?
Those are called grandchildren
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Do you really care that much that this forum is a "fake reality" and that you'll probably never actually meet anybody here in person?
No it does not matter to me. I take the point that you are making but is it really fake? The reality of online interaction is that you don't meet folks in person. Hey, we sell stuff and never have to meet our customers in person, a bonus as far as I am concerned, I don't do face to face that well.
Allan said:
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Sounds as though one of your wants would be a penthouse - or soundproofing.
Joined: 04 Jun 2007 Posts: 231 Location: Gainesville Florida USA
Posted: Sun Nov 16, 2008 10:39 pm Post subject:
AllanGardyne wrote:
Well, I like the fact that on this forum I can think for half an hour or a day before I answer a question.
Yep, me too, same way.
For print oriented people like you and me and Larry, this is already a fairly compelling virtual reality type environment.
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Talking about what people want... One thing they want is for people to like and respect them. Some are also very keen to be seen as a winner.
Yes, of course. Great example, well said sir.
To be a bit more precise, we want to see ourselves as winners worthy of respect. That's the real goal line.
We are hoping other people will help us talk ourselves in to this self image. That is, if you call me a winner, that helps convince me it's true.
We can observe that those who are truly confident that they are [fill in the blank] aren't overly concerned with what other folks think about it.
Thus, something that on the surface might look like an external issue, is really an internal one.
Getting back to leverage...
Which is smarter?
1) Working my butt off for years to convince others I'm a winner, so that they will hopefully convince me I'm a winner?
Or...
2) Laying back in the easy chair, and convincing myself to make peace with whatever I am?
Which approach is more direct, focused, and bottom line oriented?
If we confuse means with ends, we may spend a lifetime pursuing other people's opinions, when a more clear eyed analysis reveals it's our own opinion that we're really concerned with.
Getting back to business, does anybody want to chew on this proposition?
Markets are driven by demand. Thus, whoever understands what we really want is best positioned to predict where the market is going, and get there first.
Thanks for the conversation guys! _________________ http://Affiliate-Programs-for-you.com/
A search engine for finding products and services you can sell on your site.
He's hilarious. We were watching him last night, laughing our heads off.
The illusion he creates is remarkable, when you consider how blatantly unreal the dummies are.
I was struck by how ready we were, eager even, to accept the illusion being presented, because this illusion delivered a psychological state that we welcomed.
Here's a guy who has turned an ancient virtual reality system in to a thriving business. _________________ http://Affiliate-Programs-for-you.com/
A search engine for finding products and services you can sell on your site.
Joined: 01 Aug 2003 Posts: 1146 Location: London, England
Posted: Mon Nov 17, 2008 5:07 pm Post subject:
Quote:
Markets are driven by demand. Thus, whoever understands what we really want is best positioned to predict where the market is going, and get there first.
Joined: 04 Jun 2007 Posts: 231 Location: Gainesville Florida USA
Posted: Wed Nov 19, 2008 12:04 am Post subject:
Larry Chamberlain wrote:
Yep, if you can fulfill the want . . .
Well, it's tricky isn't it? It seems like business is really giving folks what they think they want, eh?
Someone says they want a new car. But what they really want is social status. But wait, that's not even quite it, they really want self esteem.
If the customer hasn't thought any of this through, it won't do us much good to try sell them a self esteem solution for $15, because what they think they really want is a $40,000 car.
Here's a classic. Someone says they want to make money online. But what they really want is a pretty site they can show their friends. You can show such a person a classic SBI site that makes $7,000 a month, but if the site design is kinda basic, they may very well turn up their nose.
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But I'm not entirely sure that demand starts with the consumer. Don't you sometimes feel that we 'want what we can get', rather that getting what we want?
Well, that's a good question. Hmm...
I'd guess you could hype up a specific product on the Net and get a lot of buzz going about it, even if folks weren't thinking about it before.
But the Internet market as a whole probably wouldn't exist unless there is a built-in innate need to communicate, obtain info etc.
If you can trace a need back to it's roots in human nature, that need is likely to be around in one form or another for a long time to come. _________________ http://Affiliate-Programs-for-you.com/
A search engine for finding products and services you can sell on your site.
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