Thinking out loud……long-ish rant ahead.
Rick Bell tells the story about the time he asked Gerry Ghionis to speak at NSI (Niagara School Of Imaging…five day program, like Texas School).
Gerry said thanks, but no thanks and explained to Rick he was making about $35,000.00 in sales that week selling info and teaching. Point made. Gerry has made, and likely still makes a lot$ teaching and inspiring others.
Sue Bryce has a private FB page for her members. She has eight thousand+ members. They pay her $37. a month. Do the math. 🙂
Sarah Petty is a marketing maniac. I don’t know how many members, but one thing I know is she’s in it for the money.
He’s very expensive. And seems very busy.
When I started nobs photosuccess back in 2003 with James, we had within a year about 1,000 members paying us $19.97US a month. This went on for years, until about 2010 when memberships started a slow decline due to competition, lackluster market and many quitting the dream to become photographer. I also had a few coaching/mastermind groups where I charged 80. a month. I eventually stopped those because of time constraints (costa rica…:)…).
This income, Plus I was selling/shipping marketing DVD’s and manuals, adding about another $30,000.00 yr on top of what I was making with James (I sold those on my own) and my studio was going gangbusters busy.
I eventually took over the corp from James when things got really tough. Around 2014. Truth is, I lost faith in him as a partner. We needed to innovate and ramp things up. He simply didn’t have it in him. I still run it on my own, and have about 50 paying members.
I struggle with where to go nowadays. I like selling information. I have one foot in the pool, so to speak. I’m turning 61 next month. I don’t have the same ambition/energy/drive/motivation as I once did. Maybe because I’m older? Maybe because I don’t need it as much?
Who knows. But the pie is still large, and there’s room for market to be shared from those who are already selling to this market. Maybe it needs a Maggie?
All that aside, I like being in business, and I see opportunity when I see it. James and I made a great team. Until we didn’t. I often wish he had more business savvy. Is what it is.
I see similar possibilities in you and I. Maybe. Who knows… One thing I do know is I am in it for the money. The results, the people inspired, the lives changed are powerful, but they are the results. And, in truth, many don’t succeed. There’s only so much one can do.
Of course, I love helping, teaching, pushing myself, others, seeking new ways of inspiring, coaching, spreading the love, art and business…and all that. But the bottom line is, the more I pursue legit profits, the more it helps others. Oddly enough. And the more opportunities reveal themselves. Doing this for altruistic reasons never works. Unless one has a profit motive.
Some truths are hard to swallow. Like, most members will never succeed in business. They still want to be members however. Why? Who knows… they like the feeling of belonging, feeling inspired, plugged into the community, being close the the ‘guru’…
SOME rough IDEAS I have had bouncing around in my head:
*Live streaming? DittoCam? I keep thinking about the live streaming idea. I’ve done many in my day, but the tech is clunky and expensive. I do believe it’s getting faster, easier and cheaper. My eye is on this!
*Monthly coaching program, with about 3-4 live events-members only- a year. With coaching webinars in between.
A private section for members with access to questions, replays, resources etc etc.
I have ALL the tech skills, writing, communication, managing, knowledge and such for setting up anything to do with a coaching program. If we pursued this, all you would have to do is present. Teach. Inspire. I’ll make it easy for you. If we do this. One of my apprehensions, and likely the motive behind putting this page together, is a fear that you want to save the world and do it for free, or ‘minimal’ cost. Which to me, again, is a losing proposition.
I thought I’d post this video below, in case you might find it insightful.
Dan Kennedy is considered the biggest player in the coaching arena, as the coaches coach, and he has spawned more coaches and gurus in niches and markets than anyone. There’s a good chance he may have inspired some of the names I mentioned above.
This is dry and technical. It gets very relevant, some hard truths, especially around the one hour mark, but the whole thing is rich in information. Some would be offended by the truisms he extols.
This is the first hour and a half , of a two day event he hosted for coaches, where he charged attendees no less than $5,000.00 per to attend. He sold it out. He sells the replays for almost as much. I split the cost with a friend back when and bought it.
This is his no nonsense, nobull approach. Valuable for those who value same.
Anywho….some comments from FB to use as testimonials?
“John Butler I had the most amazing time. Thank you Robert Provencher and Maggie Habieda for giving you time, expertise and knowledge. Maggie, thank you for using your studio space and showing you love and passion. Rob, your always teaching me something and your mentorship mean a lot. Until next time. “
“Chris de Laat What a fantastic day full of information AND inspiration.I can’t wait for the next seminar/ summit! You guys ROCK!!!! “