I was reading a post by Wes Wyatt yesterday, and it made me start thinking. He wrote about Don Lapre allegedly committing suicide. He went on to say that Don was the one who sparked his entrepreneurial spirit.
I have to say Don Lapre did the same for me. His program was the first program I ordered. I had so many dreams to work from home many years ago. (I just want to say, I don’t agree with the things he done.)
I do not regret buying his program, even though I did not make any money. In fact, I do not regret buying any programs, courses or books that claimed where going to show me how to make money from home.
How many programs, courses, and books have you bought? I couldn’t begin to list all of them I bought, but here are a few.
I bought some program that had to do with liquidation. I can’t even remember the name of it. I ordered it all it excited to find out it was a scam. Anyway, I ordered another one that was going to teach me how to help people by showing them mistakes on their phone, medical and other bills. Needless to say, I didn’t find many mistakes.
Later on, I bought a course on how to make Ebay Secrets. I was really excited about this one. I went out to storage unit auctions. I bought many storage units that people defaulted on. I was time consuming, packing everything up, unpacking it and then sorting through everything. I sold a few things, but when I averaged everything up, I was getting paid about 50 cents an hour.
The day came when I knew I was going to make the big bucks…I purchased Jeff Paul’s Internet Millions. When I received my books and audios. I was glued to them.
After about a week, I got a call from Jeff’s staff. The guy on the phone said, “ To make the big money on the internet, you need to take Jeff’s extensive course. It will be one on one with your personal online coach that will teach you everything.” So I pulled out my credit card and paid $3500. I couldn’t wait.
I was taught how to use their system to build a website. It was a product site full of clickbank products. Yes one website with over 20 clickbank products on music.
I was not taught about autoresponders, branding, SEO or marketing. I was paying out around $50 for them to host my site. Like I said, it was their platform. I didn’t have a cpanel or anything. In fact, they owned everything. I didn’t know how to purchase my own domain name at the time. So really it was not my site at all.
Do I regret buying that course? No, I did learn a few things of not to do. As long as I learn, I have no regrets.
Not too long ago, I bought one more off of an infomercial. It was Kevin Trudeau’s “Your Wish Is Your Command”. I love the cd set. It is something everyone needs to listen to. I think the price is to high on the infomercial. You can find it cheaper elsewhere, but the material on that cd set is absolutely great.
At the end of his training, he asks you to join his Global Information Network. I joined it for $1000 and a $150 a month, and I ended up quitting. I like the company, but I had to cut out a few things to be able to move to the coast. (Mine and my wife’s dream) When I did quit, I was told that I could not join back unless I paid $250,000. Yeah, you read it right. $250,000. I realized then, this company is not something I want to do. But since then I have received letters asking me to rejoin for the $1000. I am not joining.
As you can see, I have made mistakes even before there was internet. I also have made many mistakes online, too.
My goal is to help people not do the same. In my next post, I am going to reveal some of my mistakes online. Afterwards, I want to share a few steps I think will help you prevent the same mistakes I have made.
What mistakes have you made? How much money have you wasted? Please share with them with me in the comments area.
I look forward hearing from you.
{ 15 comments… read them below or add one }
Love this post Jaden! I never think about things with regret either if they are learning experiences. I sure have had a lot of learning experiences. I have not heard about a lot of the things you mentioned in this post but I have bought my fair share of training. The nice thing about having training is you can take bits and pieces of all of it and start figuring out how to make it all work for you. Thanks for sharing this!
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The thing that stands out about you Jaden in this post is that, you are not a quitter!
Congratulations on succeeding in failing forward! I’ve done it, probably with everyone else. But you’ve got what it takes, because you are not a quitter!
See you at the top buddy
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Hi Jaden. I am so happy to read this post. I’ve spent thousands too when I first started two years ago. Did programs make me money? No. Did I learn to do and what not to do. Yes!
I’m at the point now where I working on my own project. I also became more savvy and came into my own personal power and know what I need to do on the internet.
People think nothing of spending thousands of dollars going to college and learning something that is outdated by the time they graduate. We live in a fast paced ever changing world.
I think you learned and grown as I personally did at a fraction of the cost. There is nothing lost in knowledge.
Now you know your direction my friend. I’ve known you a while now and seen the wonderful changes you have gone through. In such a short time, you are mastering your business. If you were to go to school for this it would take you 6 years and you wouldn’t know a thing. BRAVO Jaden!
Donna
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Hi Jaden,
Your post made me sit back and realise that I too have spent heaps of money in my effort to build a business online.
Some of the Gurus who market online do know how to set up a sales page that makes their product sound like the one that will finally set you free….. however most of them are a let down.
As you mentioned as long as we learn something we should not regret buying the system.
Great attitude mate!
Thanks for sharing.
Cheers
Bryan
Very nice post Jaden.
To be very honestly, I appreciate your will and efforts. You have shared your experience in order to help those who are going to buy the informercials. I have been also thinking of buying some stuff like that in order to do some site flips. But now I am convinced that I have to be very much skeptic while purchasing any informercial.
Thanks for such info my friend.
Atif
Hi Jaden,
Excellent article! thanks for your honesty.
I love your attitude towards your mistakes… with that type of attitude your mistakes become learning experiences and that will catapult you forward.
I look forward to reading your next post!
Thanks for sharing your experience.
Talk soon,
Kevin
Hi Jaden:
Wow! what a post! I must say that your experience is very inspiring and I have no doubt this blog post will save someone money, time and headache. I have had my own share of mistakes too both online and offline but you learn from your mistake. As long as you are passionate about your dream and you just don’t give up, like John Maxwell says, you fall forward to success. Thanks for sharing and being so open with us.
I believe a lot of people can relate to your story and I know we all have them. It is a shame that their are people and groups out there that are aet up just to sell dreams and get your money. I remember when I was looking for something to do at home, I got like 3 calls a day everyday for months. The one thing I dis like the most about this is that they target people who want to make a living for themselves and their family and these companies know this and use that against them. Now people do need to ask questions and do their reseach before they make those kind of choices, but the point that these companies are set up just to get poeple to sign up and pay to me is just wrong. Like you I had to learn the hard way, but a least I did learn something. Thank you so sharing this, it was a good reminder. TTYL
Jaden,
there are those who complete due diligence and some who will always act on impulse. That is just human nature.
We live and learn yet, never change the hunger for a lifestyle so few of us have.
Your a great inspirational speaker as we both know. Your story should be shared globally. That is your calling as I feel. Your experiences though not generating any revenue. Can help massive people not be taken in by all the gimmicks and hidden agendas.
Now, its about taking one person at a time and making a real relationship bonded on trust. Teaching, mentoring and coaching them to enjoy life and understand this is a journey. I live and breath this lifestyle. It’s not a hobby nor something that you just talk about.
Action is required from day one. Yet, if your not passionate about what you do. Find your passion and monetize it. That is what your business should be. If you don’t know how to monetize your passion. Just ask me.
Jaden, we are on the same path of sharing real content to help massive people avoid mistakes that would cost them their families and bank accounts. It’s about awareness and not taking advantage of people.
Daily wisdom from those of us who made the huge mistakes. They loss of friends and love ones. Never giving up with our dreams until they manifest into our new lifestyles to be shared.
Thank you for sharing such painful experiences. Jaden I look forward in growing with you. I love your site all all that your doing. See your on the journey. Keep us smiling.
I can really relate to this. I have been in the network marketing industry for 16 years. Actually, if you count my 3 years in Avon that makes it 18 years. I think I lucked out 14 years ago and found the right company for me. I have stuck with that company but I have spent a pile of money on other things in an effort to learn how to build my business. Even joining other companies on the side to see how they do things and find something that paid more. I don’t regret any of it. I learned from it all.
Hello Jaden, I can relate to this. I’ve often looked back at all the books, courses, and tools I’ve purchased over the years that are just sitting there now, stuffed in storage boxes or collecting digital dust. It’s tempting to think “if I just had all that money back…” but then I realize something good has come from all that. Knowledge and experience. Many things I purchased turned out to be nothing more than rehash of someone else’s work. Others were very valuable. Overall, the education and experience has been worth it.
Hi there Jaden,
Your experiences have been shared, my friend. I think I have spent over $10,000 dollars over the last three years learning how to create an income online. And now I am launching my new blog I am back getting the benefits from TSA. As I syndicate around the group, now and again I see real future internet superstars, people with commitment and passion to help people. I see that in you and I am positive that anyone following you will have a leader with integrity to follow.
Great post and reminder to me that we are all learning, each and every day… we just need to learn from our mistakes and go forward to the next hurdle!
Thanks very much
Pete
First of all – thank you very much for the link in your post! I appreciate it my friend!
Next – I DO have an Entrepreneurial Spirit. I’m probably one of THE most psychologically unemployable people most will ever meet – and like I stated in my post it was all put in motion by Don Lapre.
I’ve fallen on my face and had runaway victories in this industry, befriended snake oil salesman that belong in jail and REAL successful entrepreneurs (Of all degrees – marginal to millionaires), and have bought and/or participated in just about everything that’s come out in some way, shape, and/or form!
Like you Jaden – I don’t regret ANY of it! It made me what I am today!
I appreciate you as a friend – and wish you all the success in the world going forward! And I know the education and life lessons you’ve received from your journey so far will be payed forward in helping others not make the same mistakes and/or benefit from your knowledge!
Have a DYNAMITE day!
Thanks for sharing Jaden. We all make mistakes, that’s how we learn. I admit I’ve never purchased anything from an infomercial, but I’ve certainly invested in my “education” with various online courses and products.
Hey Jaden,
Ah, you made me smile … Don Lapre! There’s a name from the past isn’t it. I too remember buying his program along with many others over the years. I believe that the most that I ever put down on any one particular program was around $10,000.00 for a Casino site.
Like yourself I do not regret purchasing any of these programs, I have lived and learned through both my failures and my success and some of these programs are partly responsible (in a very small way) to where I am today.
The real message of this article isn’t about the different programs which we have purchased in the past. Instead I believe what you are showing here is your true entrepreneurial spirit!
Focus on your goals, Learn from your mistakes, Never give up!
Thanks for this awesome little trip down memory lane my friend,
Kevin