There is a reason that I dont over-hype Internet Marketing, boast about money or commission figures, or constantly flash pictures of material possessions.
First, I think its tacky and I dont particularly like it when other marketers do it. I'm not even sure if I believe it half the time, or if its just hype. And second, I dont want to attract the type of people who are only interested in a "get rich quick" scheme and not in building a solid profitable business model.
That said, I know a lot of people (personally, even) that make GOOD money online and plenty that have even "gotten rich" off of their online business. Ironically, these are not the same people I hear boasting or bragging about their income, or about how successful they are...
As for me, I live a very comfortable lifestyle and have tons of free time. People who know me personally know that I am a simple, easy-going woman - and not at all materialistic. I live debt-free, on a non-schedule, and up until very recently drove a paid-off car (I bought a new one over the weekend).
Being debt-free definitely has its perks, but it has its drawbacks too. I am in the process of buying a home and have found it necessary to put my life "back on paper" - very carefully, mind you (lol). In fact, I just financed a car that I would have normally paid cash for, as a means of improving my credit score to get the interest rate I want on the house purchase.
My loan officer has been very cool, and is working with me strategically to get in the position I want to be in. Sitting across the desk from him is always an interesting dynamic. He is about my age, married with children, very ingrained in the local community, nice home and car - and basically represents "The Ideal 30-Something American Male". He is also busy, tired and always comments that he'd "love to do what I do".
On Friday while we were running some numbers, he said to me that was I was far more "wealthy" than the typical person who earns twice my gross income, or more. I took that as a very high compliment.
I have no interest in owning an island, living in a mansion or lounging my life away at some exotic beach. My ambitions are much, much larger than that!
Why I do what I do...
There are a combination of reasons behind my motivation to wake up and work online every day. There are reasons that I have done this for over 10 years - and counting. Getting Rich is not on that list. Money and financial stability are results - not goals. In my mind, at least.
Sure we all need to earn a living. And yes, I do well with my business. But without a greater goal, self-motivation can be hard to come by.
Staying home with my children ranks at the top of the list. I have been a single mother for almost 8 out of the 11 years that I have been working online, and my career affords me the flexibility to be a full-time parent and pursue a rewarding career at the same time.
I also truly enjoy my line of work, which is helping others start and manage a successful business. It's challenging and it's fun, and it keeps me on my toes. In order to write tutorials and case studies and offer hands-on help, I have a variety of websites and campaigns in many different niches.
Keeping up with current trends, cashing checks from niche affiliate sites, trying out new creative campaigns - and then sharing it with my readers - I wake up early and cant wait to sit down to work!
Behind the scenes I have even bigger goals. Things I want to accomplish long-term, and have been working on for quite a few years now. Having access to time and money, both provided by my career in an internet-based business, gives me the opportunity to achieve those goals.
I wont deny that I love my lifestyle. There's a lot of freedom, tons of flexibility, and plenty of time to pursue personal interests. I have no desire to be a vagabond or get caught up in material wealth just for the sake of having it. It's all about figuring out what you want in life, and then doing whatever it takes to achieve it. Which is exactly where I'm at.
So I dont boast about income figures, because I dont think its relevant or even important. I dont write to you from a laptop on some exotic beach, because I like raising my children in a small town in the south. I dont wear a rolex watch because I dont want to get mugged when I take my evening walk.
But I do well at this - and so can you.
Best,
Technorati Tags: get rich quick, financial freedom, internet marketing, internet business, online business, making money online
About Lynn Terry
Lynn...
This is exactly why I look up to you because of what you just wrote in this post. You are a genuine woman not looking to boast everyone, but to live your nice debt free lifestyle all the while helping others to made the same succeeds in life!
Thank you Lynn!
Lynn,
Very inspiring. The greatest joy in life is to know what truly makes you happy. You have achieved that.
Wait a second...would you REALLY get mugged in that sweet small town of yours? 😉
Great blog entry, Lynn. See you in just over a month in Atlanta. I won't be wearing a Rolex watch either, so you'll recognize me right away! Ha ha.
You can never be too careful 😉
I think its important to recognize that not everyone wants to be "filthy rich" - but that some have different goals for their life, and that's OKAY.
A lot of the marketing talk in this industry points towards extravagant cars, homes and lifestyles - but most of that talk is to make sales that will get *them* there (the publisher).
I've said it before, and I stand behind it: there's nothing at all wrong with the woman who wants to earn $500/week or $1,000/month working online so that she can stay home with the kids.
Not everyone needs "Six Figures" as much as they need flexibility and free time to pursue other (more important) goals in their life.
That's not to say that you cant easily earn that (with motivation & dedication) - just that money itself isnt the goal for everyone who looks at Internet Marketing as a solution.
For those that are looking for that, its certainly there.
I would much rather see people pursue a fulfilling life and an ideal lifestyle. To have true goals, and to create a solid financial plan.
Great post, Lynn. Over the years, I know we've seen more than enough hype to go around and I've always found it a turnoff.
I've never posted my income because it really doesn't matter what I earn.
In talking with a lot of new marketers at the Agora conference last month, the resounding theme was that people were not looking for an extravagant lifestyle of fancy cars or big homes.
They just wanted to be comfortable and to not have to depend on a job or other means for their income.
They just want to be able to independently support themselves, have the time freedom to do what they wanted to when they wanted to and to raise their own kids.
Thanks for sharing, Patty - I'm glad to hear that's the general line of thinking.
Mind you, there's a time and place for "proof of income" - such as when sharing the potential of a new business model or possible venture, etc. Its the hype and the blatant boasting that really put me off.
Lynn it seems that the lifestyle is much more important than the numbers, and you have the lifestyle you want. How many people can say that?
Most people hate that they do, or hate how many hours a week they have to do it, and the jerks they have to do it with. 🙂
To me the best thing about internet marketing is the lifestyle benefits, not income potential. And I like what you said about income goals - the money can't really be the end because there's no real joy in that. Providing value and giving (which, at the risk of sounding cheesy, is just about love really) is the end, and the money comes.
Yes it does 😉
I agree that the larger market is just people who want to make $500 a month. There are 100 times more of those people then the folks trying to make $100k or more a year.
However, when selling to the crowd that wants to make 6 figures there is no better way to cut through the hype then to just show income earnings.
Now I'm not talking about lavish Lambroghini's and Ferrari's and Million Dollar Mansions.
But people who spend $1000 on a course want to make damn sure that the vendor is truly making enough money to justify this purchase.
I respect that you aren't in this industry solely for money, and it's not your number one agenda.
I'm pretty much the same way.
However, when it comes time to actually make the sale, having verifiable PROOF dramatically increases the conversion rates.
I don't think it's done primarily for bragging and ego purposes (although that does exist all over the place) but rather it's just a $$$ thing.
People know if they place proof of income in a sales pitch that it will be taken way more seriously.
Someone like yourself Lynn has such a good reputation that you don't need to show these types of things to gain respect and trust.
You can't say that about most marketers, and that is primarily why they show the income claims.
It cuts right through the B.S. and let's people know exactly what is real.
Of course there are photoshop experts out there faking up earnings claims, and some people fail to mention all the ad costs they have, but all in all, I don't mind seeing the earnings because at least I have a better idea of what I'm dealing with.
And when making decisions online, I want as much as possible to work with before I spend my money with anyone.
As a trained private investigator I know how to sift through the B.S.
Without PROOF, I have a hard time buying anyones stuff.
I agree with you on those points, Jason - right on. I think Proof of Income has its place as I said above.
And if I were doing a JV with someone on my latest launch, I'd gladly disclose gross revenue on past ventures and details on the conversion rates.
There were two things that prompted this post. One was a revived discussion of the 4-Hour Workweek, the other was a blog post about me that has since been deleted. It was a nice post, and I originally set out to respond to it, but the author removed it for some reason.
I also get asked that question almost *every* time I am interviewed (i.e. "How much do you earn?"). I dont answer it, because I think its irrelevant.
Part of that may just be the way I am too. I think my CPA and my banker are the only two people that actually know my gross income.
I do quite well at this, which must be obvious considering this is my 11th year 😛
I beg to differ about the proof, because ...
there IS no proof.
Anyone can claim anything.
It's all about credibility and reputation.
Trusting someone with your money is the assessment if someone with good credibility and reputation is willing to lose it in exchange for
a couple of dollars.
That's all you can do.
The rest can be faked.
Just my 2 cts.
True enough.
Hi Lynn,
Yes, I agree, there is definitely a time and place for income / conversion statements as per your examples.
Sure, proof can be faked -- but if you test a page with "proof" vs a page without "proof" and the one with the proof converts better...
...then it does matter. You and I and everybody else knows it can be faked, but if it makes you more sales, isn't that what you're looking for?
Lynn - great post. I'm still looking for the kind of business where I can lay on the beach while the money rolls in automatically, but until then I'm fine working my butt off so that I can take my kids to sports practice, etc., when I want.
Doing stuff with my family when WE want, rather than when a Boss says I can, is my biggest reason for doing what I do.
Jay
Lynn,
You've done a great job rising above the melee and realizing it's about the universe and not the forest. But to effectively share that vision is your greatest talent.
Fortunately, I share a parallel lifestyle.
I wholeheartedly concur with your view. You'd make a wonderful partner.
Thank you for the wordsmithery and the mental movie clip it triggered.
Brad M. Kaplan
Thank you, Brad - I appreciate your kind words 🙂
What a wonderful post Lynn. Flaunting how much you earn is a complete turn off to me as well, and like mentioned here already - easy to fake.
On the flip side, I'm also turned off when I see people "begging" for money by spouting off their sob stories. Aren't we all in business to make money? Because we all have bills, responsibilities, and necessities. We all "want' things, no matter if it's a new car because the old one is becoming unsafe, or a bigger house in a nicer neighborhood, or just to pay our bills without worrying. As you said, it's not about being rich, it's about living comfortable.
I know my rant is a bit off topic of yours, but it did remind me of it.....that's been bothering me for awhile now.
I hear you, Kara- I really dont like that angle either. I think the focus should be on the customer and on the product/offer.
So happy to hear someone who is down to earth with their Internet marketing. I, like you, get tired of seeing all the hype. As you said, you can't really tell if it's b.s. or not. There are many IM's that claim they make a killing, but really don't (I read a lot in the forums). I think it's good for new online marketers to hear that this can be a viable and rewarding business.
So happy I found your site. I will keep checking in to see what's new and get an honest opinion.