Originally posted by nationwidepi:
There is another thread about guru or expert. The word guru is no synonomous with a lier/cheat/fraud/etc. in the RE investing world beacause there are so many out there who promise the dream and deliver the nightmare, the nightmare being the realization that money does not magically fall in your lap from the "secrets" disclosed, but quite the opposite, money has left their pockets and arrived in the guru's.
Hope I didn't get too far off track from the topic (it's late) but I will say to Ryan that sinc eyou are a successful wholesaler and want to monetize some of your time teaching, do it, just do it honestly and give a real value for the charge.
Will I am going to agree and disagree with you here about "gurus" delivering the nightmare that money doesn't magically fall in your lap from the "secrets" disclosed.
Seriously, we are talking about adults purchasing a book, training or system to accomplish a desired objective. Regardless of the road and methodology by which they attempt to get there, the ONLY purpose people are seeking with such products is an education by which to make money.
Obviously, adults know that there is no magic bullet for making money and most certainly, anyone on Bigger Pockets who makes their living from whatever variant of real estate investing they do certainly knows that.
Frank Lloyd Wright said it best when he said, "I know the price of success: dedication, hard work , and an unremitting devotion to the things you want to see happen."
At the end of the day, irrespective of any training, the only person responsible for your success or failure is you.
To say that gurus deliver the nightmare that people using their systems must actually work them to make money is like that scene in, "The Matrix". Was Morpheus delivering a nightmare with the blue pill or exposing Neo to the sometimes harsh realities of the world that existed whether he wanted to believe them or not?
It is a vicious cycle. In this world, people don't respect you or want to hear what you have to say unless you are making money.
So, understanding this, you develop an ability to get what you have to offer to the largest possible base of people. This costs money. In order to pay for it and grow it, you monetize it. This is entrepreneurialism and capitalism 101. Then, because you monetized it and make money at it, you get the label of guru, snake oil salesman, etc.
Yes, it is true and well documented that Carleton Sheets makes more than $60 million dollars per year from his No Money Down courses. And yes, it is true and well documented that he does not make that much from his active real estate deals annually. In what way does that make him a fraud or lessen the value of the material contained in his course? It is the definition of stigma.
The sad reality is that 97% of the population does not want to work. They want a handout. Untrue? It is a documented fact that 97% of the earth's wealth is held by 3% of the earth's population.
Take a look at the current elected administration and their platform of taking from the evil rich (who work, have liability and inherent risk) and giving to the deserving poor (who complain about that their 40 hour work week is too long because it interferes with their TV watching time).
So, the gurus do not deliver the nightmare, they merely reveal the inner man or woman's work ethic unto themselves. The naked truth can be a harsh reality to swallow. It is easier to point fingers at the evil guru who made money and say that he is a fraud than look in the mirror and admit one's lack of desire to do what it takes to be successful. Much easier to watch another episode of CSI and crack a beer.
I buy books and systems from "gurus" all the time. In fact, this week alone we have purchased training or systems from CopyBlogger (copywriting and SEO) and Russell Brunson (Micro-Continuity so we can deliver and monetize our methodology of making money). Brian Clark (CopyBlogger) reportedly makes $100k per month from his website which is ranked in the top 100 by Technorati and Russell Brunson reportedly makes $800k per month from his Internet marketing machine.
Have we gotten any value from their systems? You better believe it.
Did money magically appear?
Of course, not.
As with any course from any guru, we have to put in the blood, sweat and tears to reap the rewards.
One of my Investor mentors told me about 15 years ago, "Everything worthwhile in life is hard. If it was easy, everybody would be doing it."
Now having said that, I applaud you for developing a system and you absolutely should monetize it to the nth degree. Your time and experience have value and presented in the proper medium deserve financial success.
On the journey to success, there will be many naysayers and detractors who attempt to dissuade you from your chosen path.
The sad reality is that most people do not want to see other people succeed.
These same people become your devoted fans once you have battled the demons and won and are a huge monetary success.
Go Man Go!