So happy I found your site. I will keep checking in to see what’s new and get an honest opinion.

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.

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

…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

Yes, I agree, there is definitely a time and place for income / conversion statements as per your examples.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.