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I wrote a really good book about making money online, and then...

by DeadRooster
74 replies
I might be making a big mistake...

Recently, I wrote an online marketing book.

Don't get me wrong; it's a REALLY GOOD book and those who read it will definitely have a lot of "aha" moments, but the purpose of writing it was not necessarily to make money from it, it was more to use it as a tool--a way to get more live coaching clients.

It goes without saying that if you're going to do something like this the book HAS to be good, otherwise it can have the opposite effect.

Anyway... my vision was to do more free instructional videos and at some point during the video hold up my book and say, "And, don't forget to get my book."

Again, this was NOT to make money from book sales, but to give myself the added coaching credibility that comes with authoring a book in my niche.

But, here's where things went wrong (sort of).

After putting my heart and soul into this book and making sure it was genuinely helpful, I discovered something crazy... I no longer want to be a business coach.

What!

The main reason I wrote that book (aside from helping others) was to use it as a tool for getting more clients!

But, I've concluded that teaching people online marketing really doesn't change the world much.

Besides, a lot of my best coaching advice is now in the book (in fact, the core of the book was taken from the original guidebook I wrote for my private clients).

So... after spending more than 20-years in online marketing and sales and then showing others what I've learned and what to avoid, I've decided to switch niches and do something that is not only more beneficial to the world at large, but in the process build a better life for myself and my family.

I'm still going to coach my current business clients because I've got that down to the few individuals I really like working with, but I'm not going to take on those types of clients anymore.

So, what's my plan?

I'm going to be what I'm tentatively calling a "Happiness Coach."

Never heard of it?

Nether have I.

I don't even know if it's a "thing."

But, being happy and getting those around me to feel happy too has always been my superpower--even more so than teaching online marketing.

I'm not talking about being a therapist. I'm not going to take on chronically depressed clients nearing suicide. That's not what this is about. This is about greatly enhancing the quality of an already decent life.

My first step will be to write another book. Once again, the purpose is not to make money off the book itself. This time, though, in addition to the credibility factor, it's more to align my thoughts and hammer out an underlying foundational system. Writing a book will force me to clarify that foundation.

Once I get the system in place I can offer live coaching to those who want personalized guidance.

That's the plan, anyway.

Maybe what I'm defining here is actually a "Life Coach."

I don't know because I've never really looked into what a Life Coach does. Maybe what I'm looking at is a Life Coach with the emphasis on "Happiness."

If Health, Wealth and Happiness are the big three, then happiness definitely enhances, if not directly increases, the magnitude of the other two.

Would you rather be rich or happy?

If you answered honestly, I think you came to the same conclusion I did.

What good is being a billionaire if you're not happy?

Flying around on a private jet is fun and can give you a certain amount of temporary happiness, but at the end of the day, you'll still have to jump in bed and watch cartoons until you fall asleep, just like everyone else.

So, what do you guys think... am I crazy, or what?


P.S. Up until now, I've never shared this with anyone. I haven't even discussed it with my wife.

But, I wanted to put it out there in front of other online marketers--those who would be more apt to talk me out of it--in order to really put this idea to the test.
#book #good #internet marketing books #life coach #make money online #making #money #online #private coaching #then… #wrote
  • Profile picture of the author Frank Donovan
    Hi William, nice post.

    I'm not sure if anyone can actually "coach" happiness. In my experience, people are either happy at heart or they're not. You might end up with clients who are looking for the kind of therapy you're hoping to avoid getting involved with. Otherwise, why would they be hiring you?

    Nevertheless, getting your thoughts down in a book would be a good way to see if a clear direction or workable system to the ideas you have start to emerge as you write. So that's probably the best first step to take.

    Good luck!
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  • Profile picture of the author OptedIn
    Originally Posted by DeadRooster View Post

    I'm going to be what I'm tentatively calling a "Happiness Coach."
    That might just be the saddest thing I have ever heard.

    We get it. You're bored after 20 years. That's no reason to jump into a fantastical niche. The world doesn't need another Tony Robbins. It really, really doesn't.

    Why not make the focus of what you currently teach, more about 'achieving happiness through financial independence?' Focus less on the money and more on the mental and physical benefits of working toward making money in a more holistic fashion.

    Anyone who tells you that money doesn't buy happiness simply didn't have very much money. Of course I'm being facetious, but truth be told, I'd rather be rich with problems, than poor and carefree.

    After 70 years on the planet I believe that for myself, I'm able to make that statement as honestly as I can. Fortunately, I have found a meaningful balance between my financial state and my psychological well-being. I have enough money to live comfortably, want for nothing and have no major concerns outside of health issues, which are common for anyone at my age. That said, I'm sure if I were poor, I would not be as happy as I am and my medical woes would have a much stronger deleterious effect on my ability to extend my life.

    You can't teach happiness. You can teach the things that give people a better chance of achieving what they perceive as happiness - and unfortunately, money (financial security) still ranks high on the list - and this is coming from a dyed-in-the-wool hippie. lol

    Do what you've spent a lifetime learning. Just do it differently - in a way that serves your happiness better, which will trickle down to your students.

    Happiness Coach, indeed. :-) I hope in some small way that I have saved you from yourself.

    P.S. I do Life Coaching. PM me. lol
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    "He not busy being born, is busy dying." - Bob Dylan • "I vibe with the light-dark point. Heavy." - Words that Bob Dylan wishes he had written.

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    • Profile picture of the author discrat
      Originally Posted by Frank Donovan View Post

      Hi William, nice post.

      I'm not sure if anyone can actually "coach" happiness. In my experience, people are either happy at heart or they're not.
      Good luck!



      Originally Posted by OptedIn View Post

      That might just be the saddest thing I have ever heard.

      We get it. You're bored after 20 years. That's no reason to jump into a fantastical niche. The world doesn't need another Tony Robbins. It really, really doesn't.



      You can't teach happiness. You can teach the things that give people a better chance of achieving what they perceive as happiness - and unfortunately, money (financial security) still ranks high on the list - and this is coming from a dyed-in-the-wool hippie. lol


      You two must never have looked or know much about Neuroscience, then. You can absolutely teach Happiness. Happiness is NOT always this abstract touchy feely "heart" based ideology that you either have or don't have.

      Happiness can actually be attributed to certain brain mechanisms, structures, and bio chemicals like Dopamine, Oyctocin, Endorphins, Serotonin to name a few.

      And you can literally teach people how to access these neurotransmitters more frequently by different Techniques and Exercises.

      One way is building new neural pathways in your Brain and bypassing the old ones that promoted bad thinking and bad experiences. And ones that promote Happiness

      If you have more of these flowing in abundance ( neurotransmitters) guess what...viola you will be more Happy

      It's as simple as that. this ain't brain science ( oh wait ,it is )

      And this is actually Science backed up by Controlled Experiments where these Exercises are Performed on Subjects.... and MRIs and PET Scans are taken to see which part of the brain is affected and the activity in those regions..Exercises that include Meditation, Breathing, Physical Exercise, Imagery, Visualization, Hypnosis etc..etc..

      Happiness is based much less on the circumstances and environment around us ( having money, materialistic stuff , etc..etc.. ) and based more on the Physiology of the actual human body and the Brain itself.

      That's true Power, when you come to this realization and when you learn how to access it.
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      Nothing to see here including a Sig so just move on :)

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  • Profile picture of the author DeadRooster
    Thanks for the responses so far!

    What I'm taking from this is to, first of all, NOT call myself a "happiness coach." LOL.

    But, I kind of knew that going in.

    Also, I think I need to clarify that I'm not saying "wealth" is bad, or that it isn't a part of being happy--it absolutely is and it's something I would cover. I wrote an eBook years ago called Instant Wealth Report that had nothing to do with online marketing, it was all about mindset. So, I'm somewhat hip to that stuff too.

    OptedIn...

    Point 1: The world DOES need another Tony Robbins. It really, really does!
    Point 2: I have no intention of being anything like Tony Robbins.

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    • Profile picture of the author OptedIn
      Originally Posted by DeadRooster View Post

      Point 1: The world DOES need another Tony Robbins. It really, really does!
      Well, that's a matter of personal opinion. He definitely appeals to a certain segment of our society that I take great pride in not being a part of. Thankfully. Although I may have meandered and had many stumbles while traveling on life's path, I have never felt the need for anyone to show me the way. Especially someone so obviously full of shit. :-)

      To each, his own.
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      "He not busy being born, is busy dying." - Bob Dylan • "I vibe with the light-dark point. Heavy." - Words that Bob Dylan wishes he had written.

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      • Profile picture of the author Daniel Evans
        Originally Posted by OptedIn View Post

        Well, that's a matter of personal opinion. He definitely appeals to a certain segment of our society that I take great pride in not being a part of. Thankfully. Although I may have meandered and had many stumbles while traveling on life's path, I have never felt the need for anyone to show me the way. Especially someone so obviously full of shit. :-)

        To each, his own.
        Bravo.

        Despite having a paradigm which doesn't tend to be phased by what I see on-screen, I found myself in a petulant state of actually getting seriously frustrated with the guy after I watched the first part of his movie on Netflix, having been interested in him previously as a reader of his books.

        Bullying people, shouting and swearing at those who are clearly having a breakdown (as one example) and communicating concepts with ongoing sexual profanities, isn't the quality of someone I'd even contemplate in following, even as a person who'd generally easy going and open minded.


        Originally Posted by DeadRooster View Post

        Princess B -- Although you make some fine points, your whole post is a bit too "Shakespearean Po-TAH-to" for me.
        If that's 'Shakespearean', Tony Robbins is a goodwilled angel.

        To invent a term, what you've witnessed is 'Milkshake Street' Talk.
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  • Profile picture of the author JohnMcCabe
    William, I think that you may be underestimating the impact you might be having.

    Kay King uses the following as her sig:

    Saving one dog may not change the world - but forever changes the world of one dog.
    I'd paraphrase that to something like:

    Helping one business owner succeed may not change the world -- but forever changes the world of one business owner, and everyone they touch.

    Add in the Butterfly Effect, and you have no idea how much one small action may change things in the future.

    Ditching everything you've built to become a "happiness coach" sounds a bit crazy to me.
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  • Profile picture of the author Princess Balestra
    Thing about the makin' money online deal is you got all kindsa step-by-step techniques an' plans you can outline so people can follow 'em.

    It's the essential Expert's "How To" formula -- an' it is repeated over an' over with great success in bookstores, in cheat sheets, on the internet.

    Problem I see with the Happiness angle been touched on by Opto.

    Bcs some people say potatos while other people say potatos.

    Canya hear the difference?

    First is potatos.

    Second is potatos.

    Course, if I were to drag Benedict Cumberbatch along to smooth his gorgeous vowels over my obtuse argument, we'd all hear him say ...

    Po-TAY-tos

    an' then

    Po-TAH-tos

    (after which there gonna be a loud KER-LUNK as my legs give way beneath me, an' I fall to the floor, red-faced & fightin' for breath).

    Gotta figure happiness is so subjective it ain't gonna transmit in any pure form between individyools without sum kinda extra information.

    Soon asya question what that information might be, the expertise required to help sumone else become happy depends more on their requirements for happiness than your viewa what happiness might mean.

    We all had conversations in college with sumone read a book changed their lives ... but when we read it ourselves we are like WTF?

    Gotta figure happiness, like personal change, manifests in idiosyncratic ways outta superspecific circumstances an' genetic predispositions -- which is why alla that 7 Habits of Successful People schwango 'pon my boobiture doth get.

    A "How To" for your original enterprise is easier to figure in termsa definable steps & method.

    An' if goobers complain it don't work, you can retrace steps an' point out how they never followed procedure -- hence guarantees & T&Cs.

    Happiness is real mix & match, on-the-fly, hard to define -- an' you got real problems when people part with a tonna cash an' then complain cos they still a miserable f*cker.

    Way I see it, you got 20 years xp in sumthin' specific not evrywan can do but which they might wanna pay ya for (in order to boost their happiness alongside similar decisions 'bout apparel, travel, books).

    versus

    limited xp in a general parta the hooman condition still baffles governments, phiosophers & religions.

    As for "happiness coach", first thing came to mind was a buncha teen boys bein' driven at speed along the highway while a buxom stripper plies 'em with alcohol an' makes exotic with a cucumber.

    Like Frankie says, good luck -- but I figure your prior venture mebbe less dependent on that commodity for its success.
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  • Profile picture of the author Randall Magwood
    The problem with being a "happiness coach" is that clients will think "If he's so happy, why isn't he living like a glutton, making crazy money, and having sex all day?" Most people attribute happiness with wealth, free time, and some sort of *secret* in life. Why would you trade YOUR happiness time, to earn a little bit of more money teaching someone how to be happy in their own way?
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  • Profile picture of the author Frank Donovan
    Princess, just for the record - nobody says "Po-TAH-tos".

    Ever.
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    • Profile picture of the author DABK
      Princesses don't count?

      Originally Posted by Frank Donovan View Post

      Princess, just for the record - nobody says "Po-TAH-tos".

      Ever.
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  • Profile picture of the author rhealy29
    Happiness is internally derived. It can not be delivered by any job, any car, any partner, any trip, any possession, any system, any book, any person.

    There are people that have everything and are genuinely miserable and there are people that have nothing that are genuinely happy.

    Promising people happiness in exchange for significant sums of money sounds like a scam to me. But that's just me.

    Write a book. If people buy your book on how to be happy for $20 and it doesn't make them happy, which it almost certainly won't, then they're out $20 and they'll probably at least still learn something.

    Taking on coaching clients, which I can only assume will come with the kind of price tag that personal coaching tends to come with, is, in my opinion, dishonest, because not only is your system unproven, (because it can't be proven), but there is absolutely no way for you to know what it is inside any given person that is keeping them from being happy - because odds are that person can't even pinpoint it themselves - so how could you possibly know how to help them as individuals?

    If you want to try to teach people to be happy for honorable reasons, I think that's awesome. But do it on the cheap or give it away, because the fact is you can't teach someone to be happy. You might be able to guide them down a path, but the reality is, it's entirely on them. Happiness is not something you can offer a 60-day moneyback guarantee on.
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    • Profile picture of the author OptedIn
      Originally Posted by rhealy29 View Post

      There are people that have everything and are genuinely miserable and there are people that have nothing that are genuinely happy.
      And most of the world's population live somewhere between those two extremes.
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      "He not busy being born, is busy dying." - Bob Dylan • "I vibe with the light-dark point. Heavy." - Words that Bob Dylan wishes he had written.

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      • Profile picture of the author rhealy29
        Originally Posted by OptedIn View Post

        And most of the world's population live somewhere between those two extremes.
        Exactly. External factors are not the source of happiness even in the most extreme of situations, let alone for the average person who already has a pretty comfortable life in the grand scheme of things.
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  • Profile picture of the author Brent Stangel
    Would you rather be rich or happy?
    The two are not mutually exclusive.

    Money can't buy happiness but it can damn sure rent some first-class accommodations.

    Brent
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    Get Off The Warrior Forum Now & Don't Come Back If You Want To Succeed!
    All The Real Marketers Are Gone. There's Nothing Left But Weak, Sniveling Wanna-Bees!
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  • Profile picture of the author Mike Anthony
    The way I read the Op nothing has changed

    He is just repackaging for a wider audience

    Its all the same ole marketing including this thread itself.
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  • Profile picture of the author Tsnyder
    Being rich or happy is not a choice... they aren't mutually exclusive... so
    right away I'm skeptical of your premise. Sounds a bit touchy feely for me.

    Call me crazy but I think anyone who has to be coached on how to
    be happy probably isn't going to find much happiness in their life.
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    If you knew what I know you'd be doing what I do...
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    • Profile picture of the author OptedIn
      Originally Posted by Tsnyder View Post

      Call me crazy but I think anyone who has to be coached on how to be happy probably isn't going to find much happiness in their life.
      That's not completely true. Many people can't see the forest for the trees or have never learned how to cope with certain parts of their existence that renders them unhappy and oftentimes feeling hopeless.

      Developing a close friend that can tell you what you ned to hear, looking for guidance from your religious contact or going to therapy can certainly make the human condition much happier to experience.

      Wouldn't any of those individuals be considered a 'life coach' and if their interaction resulted in bringing a modicum of happiness to that person, would it be invalid to call them a 'happiness coach?' Certainly not in the broadest sense of the term. That said, the only person that I would consider a happiness coach charges $250 an hour and can be found in the lobby of most reasonably upscale hotel bars. Puts a happy, happy smile on my face.
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      "He not busy being born, is busy dying." - Bob Dylan • "I vibe with the light-dark point. Heavy." - Words that Bob Dylan wishes he had written.

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  • Profile picture of the author Steve B
    Originally Posted by DeadRooster View Post

    After putting my heart and soul into this book and making sure it was genuinely helpful, I discovered something crazy... I no longer want to be a business coach.

    DR,

    I would take some time off, a vacation maybe, and seriously think about what it is that you want to do in your remaining years.

    So you've come to the realization that you don't want to be a business coach. What is it about being a business coach that you don't like?

    I ask because being a "happiness" coach (or whatever you call it) probably won't be much different than what you're doing now. Maybe you don't like the daily routine, having to continually search for new clients, or being tied down to a consulting schedule. Well, all of these things probably won't change much from one type of coaching to another. So I'm saying, find out right now what you don't like doing in your current profession and what you would really like to do in a new one.

    To jump ship and change what you're doing in mid-career is a big step. Maybe you're independently wealthy - I don't know - but be sure you can make the transition without putting your family at risk.

    The best to you,

    Steve
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    Steve Browne, online business strategies, tips, guidance, and resources
    SteveBrowneDirect

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  • Profile picture of the author GordonJ
    Originally Posted by DeadRooster View Post

    I might be making a big mistake...

    Recently, I wrote an online marketing book.

    Don't get me wrong; it's a REALLY GOOD book and those who read it will definitely have a lot of "aha" moments, but the purpose of writing it was not necessarily to make money from it, it was more to use it as a tool--a way to get more live coaching clients.

    It goes without saying that if you're going to do something like this the book HAS to be good, otherwise it can have the opposite effect.

    Anyway... my vision was to do more free instructional videos and at some point during the video hold up my book and say, "And, don't forget to get my book."

    Again, this was NOT to make money from book sales, but to give myself the added coaching credibility that comes with authoring a book in my niche.

    But, here's where things went wrong (sort of).

    After putting my heart and soul into this book and making sure it was genuinely helpful, I discovered something crazy... I no longer want to be a business coach.

    What!

    The main reason I wrote that book (aside from helping others) was to use it as a tool for getting more clients!

    But, I've concluded that teaching people online marketing really doesn't change the world much.

    Besides, a lot of my best coaching advice is now in the book (in fact, the core of the book was taken from the original guidebook I wrote for my private clients).

    So... after spending more than 20-years in online marketing and sales and then showing others what I've learned and what to avoid, I've decided to switch niches and do something that is not only more beneficial to the world at large, but in the process build a better life for myself and my family.

    I'm still going to coach my current business clients because I've got that down to the few individuals I really like working with, but I'm not going to take on those types of clients anymore.

    So, what's my plan?

    I'm going to be what I'm tentatively calling a "Happiness Coach."

    Never heard of it?

    Nether have I.

    I don't even know if it's a "thing."

    But, being happy and getting those around me to feel happy too has always been my superpower--even more so than teaching online marketing.

    I'm not talking about being a therapist. I'm not going to take on chronically depressed clients nearing suicide. That's not what this is about. This is about greatly enhancing the quality of an already decent life.

    My first step will be to write another book. Once again, the purpose is not to make money off the book itself. This time, though, in addition to the credibility factor, it's more to align my thoughts and hammer out an underlying foundational system. Writing a book will force me to clarify that foundation.

    Once I get the system in place I can offer live coaching to those who want personalized guidance.

    That's the plan, anyway.

    Maybe what I'm defining here is actually a "Life Coach."

    I don't know because I've never really looked into what a Life Coach does. Maybe what I'm looking at is a Life Coach with the emphasis on "Happiness."

    If Health, Wealth and Happiness are the big three, then happiness definitely enhances, if not directly increases, the magnitude of the other two.

    Would you rather be rich or happy?

    If you answered honestly, I think you came to the same conclusion I did.

    What good is being a billionaire if you're not happy?

    Flying around on a private jet is fun and can give you a certain amount of temporary happiness, but at the end of the day, you'll still have to jump in bed and watch cartoons until you fall asleep, just like everyone else.

    So, what do you guys think... am I crazy, or what?


    P.S. Up until now, I've never shared this with anyone. I haven't even discussed it with my wife.

    But, I wanted to put it out there in front of other online marketers--those who would be more apt to talk me out of it--in order to really put this idea to the test.
    First, I actually read your book. A solid B. But that is neither here nor there.

    I get what you are thinking of. But why write a book? You're seeking an "underlying foundation" THEN you will personalize it. Is this correct or am I misinterpretting?

    Wouldn't it be better to hammer out the concept, and then write a book, it just seems cart before the horse sort of thing. You don't need any cred to be a life coach, just call yourself one. More than a few Warriors over the years have taken on that mantle. If memory serves even the SaltyDroid took on one of those self proclaimed "life coaches".

    I don't get it. I understand coaches, being a one time golf coach and all. But for life?

    It is akin to the daily, "What should I do?" question asked here. Who are we, in the collective or as an individual to tell anyone what they should do.

    The problem is in the question. Say, I want to do this, HOW? Then we are in a position to offer qualified responses.

    First, what makes you think you can help other people as it is today? You don't have a book, and from your post, you don't yet have a solid FOUNDATION to build on. What makes you think you can "enhance the quality of an already decent life"? What are your methods?

    What techniques do you offer which enhances your own life?

    For what it is worth, write out a simple outline of what you think the book would look like, put in sample chapter headings. Is it a start here go to there book?

    Is it a pick any page and find your nuggets of gold book?

    Do an outline and see on paper what you think you want to tell people. Then ask why?

    What gap in this market will your experience fill? Tony Robbins may be king of the hill, but he is one of thousands of so-called life coaches.

    OPINION. I would offer your services as an ACCOUNTABILITY COACH. I get that. It is helpful, especially when working at home, or alone or on an IM project which may be long term, to have someone to account to. The WF new section THE WARRIOR PATH is exactly that.

    Why do people need a life coach? The answer is, or must be, they don't know how to live their life so need someone to tell them how to do it.

    Just doesn't make sense to me. But if someone doesn't know what they want or which of many skills or interests to focus in on to get some results as opposed to spinning their wheels, then those kinds of tools are already in abundance.

    If someone needs to be told what to do, as opposed to making a choice and HOW to do it, then you've got the worst client you will ever have or had.

    You may be jumping out of the frying pan and into the fire.

    GordonJ

    PS. Different thing completely if you have life experiences you want to share which have worked for you, and you write a book about that and ALLOW them to take your wisdom and put it to use, then by all means, join Wayne Dyer, Cheryl Richardson, Louise Hay, Eckhart Tolle, Don M. Ruiz, or 1001 other people who offer guides on how to ENHANCE THE QUALITY OF A LIFE via their own prescriptions. But life coaching,,,NO.
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  • Profile picture of the author rhealy29
    This is what I think of when I hear about these kinds of coaching programs:

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  • Profile picture of the author DeadRooster
    Wow! So many great responses!

    This is precisely why I posted this here.

    JohnMcCabe -- I might be underestimating the impact I'm having on the world with the Butterfly Effect and all. My clients do get results and make positive impacts on their clients. Maybe this is more for selfish reasons than I'm willing to admit. You got me thinking.

    Steve B -- You make a great point that this new coaching gig will probably be a lot like my current one. That's probably true and I definitely need to take time and think that through. This could be the show stopper right there. Hmm.

    GordonJ -- You read my book! Yay! That makes you and my mom.

    You also make some great points. One of which I'll address below. I do have the general concept and I literally wrote the book on outlining, so I'm right with you on all that.

    Princess B -- Although you make some fine points, your whole post is a bit too "Shakespearean Po-TAH-to" for me. It hurt my brain and I had to take an Advil. But, don't go changin'.

    OK, many of you believe you cannot "coach" happiness. I beg to differ. I've done it and made tremendous impacts on people's lives already. People have come to me YEARS later and told me I completely changed the course of their lives.

    If you're not a happy person but you want to be, it means you're going to have to change your thinking and that can be difficult. And, it also means you're going to have to let go of some naturally occurring beliefs and that is going to be even more difficult.

    Growing up I was always a happy person and I literally could not understand why people couldn't be happy most of the time. Sure, everyone gets sad or angry once in a while. So do I. But, my basic nature is to be happy.

    It took me a lifetime (I'm 58-years old) to understand much of what made me different.

    I don't have all the answers yet; that's something I'm still working on. But, I know enough to help others.

    So, here's my new (slightly) updated plan...

    I'm definitely going to ditch the "happiness coach" title and think up something else. It's going to be more than just happiness anyway.

    I intend to cover the big three: Health, Wealth and Happiness.

    I'm going to write my book on how to be happy and get some feedback. If it's a hit, I'll take it to the hole. If not, no real worries, it will be something I can give to my daughter (who is not quite 3) and tell her this is what daddy lived by to live a happy life.

    I'm not going to throw away everything I've built up 'til now. I still love online marketing, copywriting, creating digital products, etc. I will be continuing on with this stuff for some time. My family won't starve.

    Anyway, thanks to everyone for their feedback. You've all had an impact on me and given me a lot to think about.

    Keep the thoughts/advice/hate mail coming. I'll read it all.
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  • Profile picture of the author quadagon
    "Sad, it's like happiness for deep people"

    - Dr Who
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  • Profile picture of the author DeadRooster
    rhealy29 -- Wow! That dude comes across as a desperate used car salesman. If I ever do something like that, someone please shoot me.
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  • Profile picture of the author MichaelRayInc
    Wow, i admire your courage for sharing this. That says really great things about this platform that you all are comfortable and connected enough to be open with each other!

    I'm new to the WF family, it's a pleasure!
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  • Profile picture of the author O0o0O
    Great post. I like how you express your ideas. I would definitely bring this up with your wife, but I do understand you want professional opinions first.

    Whether or not you're making a mistake really depends on what you consider to be a mistake. How much are you willing to risk losing to do this? How will your wife react? How much might your business suffer or thrive?

    Those are questions I would ask myself before I make the leap.
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  • Profile picture of the author Jessica Ambos
    If you feel like you need to make the world a better place, then go. Millions of people are suffering with no one caring for them which eventually results to some of them committing suicide. You can still be a business coach anyway. You can be a business and happiness coach at the same time.
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  • Profile picture of the author kmnkumaran
    Originally Posted by DeadRooster View Post

    I might be making a big mistake...

    Recently, I wrote an online marketing book.

    Don't get me wrong; it's a REALLY GOOD book and those who read it will definitely have a lot of "aha" moments, but the purpose of writing it was not necessarily to make money from it, it was more to use it as a tool--a way to get more live coaching clients.

    It goes without saying that if you're going to do something like this the book HAS to be good, otherwise it can have the opposite effect.

    Anyway... my vision was to do more free instructional videos and at some point during the video hold up my book and say, "And, don't forget to get my book."

    Again, this was NOT to make money from book sales, but to give myself the added coaching credibility that comes with authoring a book in my niche.

    But, here's where things went wrong (sort of).

    After putting my heart and soul into this book and making sure it was genuinely helpful, I discovered something crazy... I no longer want to be a business coach.

    What!

    The main reason I wrote that book (aside from helping others) was to use it as a tool for getting more clients!

    But, I've concluded that teaching people online marketing really doesn't change the world much.

    Besides, a lot of my best coaching advice is now in the book (in fact, the core of the book was taken from the original guidebook I wrote for my private clients).

    So... after spending more than 20-years in online marketing and sales and then showing others what I've learned and what to avoid, I've decided to switch niches and do something that is not only more beneficial to the world at large, but in the process build a better life for myself and my family.

    I'm still going to coach my current business clients because I've got that down to the few individuals I really like working with, but I'm not going to take on those types of clients anymore.

    So, what's my plan?

    I'm going to be what I'm tentatively calling a "Happiness Coach."

    Never heard of it?

    Nether have I.

    I don't even know if it's a "thing."

    But, being happy and getting those around me to feel happy too has always been my superpower--even more so than teaching online marketing.

    I'm not talking about being a therapist. I'm not going to take on chronically depressed clients nearing suicide. That's not what this is about. This is about greatly enhancing the quality of an already decent life.

    My first step will be to write another book. Once again, the purpose is not to make money off the book itself. This time, though, in addition to the credibility factor, it's more to align my thoughts and hammer out an underlying foundational system. Writing a book will force me to clarify that foundation.

    Once I get the system in place I can offer live coaching to those who want personalized guidance.

    That's the plan, anyway.

    Maybe what I'm defining here is actually a "Life Coach."

    I don't know because I've never really looked into what a Life Coach does. Maybe what I'm looking at is a Life Coach with the emphasis on "Happiness."

    If Health, Wealth and Happiness are the big three, then happiness definitely enhances, if not directly increases, the magnitude of the other two.

    Would you rather be rich or happy?

    If you answered honestly, I think you came to the same conclusion I did.

    What good is being a billionaire if you're not happy?

    Flying around on a private jet is fun and can give you a certain amount of temporary happiness, but at the end of the day, you'll still have to jump in bed and watch cartoons until you fall asleep, just like everyone else.

    So, what do you guys think... am I crazy, or what?


    P.S. Up until now, I've never shared this with anyone. I haven't even discussed it with my wife.

    But, I wanted to put it out there in front of other online marketers--those who would be more apt to talk me out of it--in order to really put this idea to the test.


    all very good i would say , except the part about money and hapiness

    Those who dont have money will definitely be happy with more money.

    I think its a classical mistake to try to compare money to happiness

    Most rich people I know are happy about most part of their lives as they dont have "lack"

    My experience is that wealth doesnt make people unhappy but most wealthy people pretend to be unhappy when speaking with others

    happiness and unhappiness may come from lots and lots of reasons...lack of wealth is the main cause of unhappiness for majority of the population

    Many rich people do have "unhappiness" in their lives due to many other factors

    but people who dont even have enough money , trying to compare happiness with wealth, is I feel a negative attitude towards money

    In my country there is a saying

    " a badguy without money is a poor badguy , and a badguy with lots of money is a rich badguy

    though badguy was not the word actually used, it got censored
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    • Profile picture of the author DeadRooster
      Originally Posted by kmnkumaran View Post

      all very good i would say , except the part about money and hapiness

      Those who dont have money will definitely be happy with more money.

      I think its a classical mistake to try to compare money to happiness

      Most rich people I know are happy about most part of their lives as they dont have "lack"

      My experience is that wealth doesnt make people unhappy but most wealthy people pretend to be unhappy when speaking with others

      happiness and unhappiness may come from lots and lots of reasons...lack of wealth is the main cause of unhappiness for majority of the population

      Many rich people do have "unhappiness" in their lives due to many other factors

      but people who dont even have enough money , trying to compare happiness with wealth, is I feel a negative attitude towards money

      In my country there is a saying

      " a badguy without money is a poor badguy , and a badguy with lots of money is a rich badguy

      though badguy was not the word actually used, it got censored
      I agree and I shouldn't have made it a comparison between rich and happy.

      That's not what I was trying to say. I should have left out that comparison and just asked the "What good is being a billionaire if you're not happy?" question.

      That's all I was getting at. There's nothing wrong with being rich.
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  • Profile picture of the author Ngọc Tuấn Trần
    This is a great post, thank you for sharing.
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  • Profile picture of the author JohnVianny
    I think true Happiness belongs within, and it's Bliss, i achieve it through Trancendental Meditation: everything can make you happy, but everything is gonna change sooner or later, you need to have something behind that never change, which is the Self. The experience of the Self which is beatitude.

    Howevr, you can now teach to be an Online Happy Internet Marketer: how to make things, proccesses without strugglin in between, without destroyin other people's dreams etc.
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  • Profile picture of the author Brandon Lemonds
    I been in those moments when you realize something is not for you right when you get it. Now, I like your idea, a nice cause. Same as others down here state, happiness is something you can't teach because happiness works differently with people. With that said, I think you should totally do it! If you think you got the ingredients to teach people how to enhance their life, go for it.

    I see great opportunity in your idea. There will be people (important people too) that will want to meet the man that wrote this book. I would like to read a book that teaches me how to improve my well being

    Wish you luck!

    PS: Let me know if it published
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    • Profile picture of the author DeadRooster
      Originally Posted by Brandon Lemonds View Post

      I been in those moments when you realize something is not for you right when you get it. Now, I like your idea, a nice cause. Same as others down here state, happiness is something you can't teach because happiness works differently with people. With that said, I think you should totally do it! If you think you got the ingredients to teach people how to enhance their life, go for it.

      I see great opportunity in your idea. There will be people (important people too) that will want to meet the man that wrote this book. I would like to read a book that teaches me how to improve my well being

      Wish you luck!

      PS: Let me know if it published
      Thanks! I really appreciate the positive encouragement. I've been compiling my ideas for the book and should have a detailed outline worked up in the next few days.

      I've got to admit... I'm pretty jazzed about this.
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  • Profile picture of the author Kent Hopkins
    Wow it would be a shame to let what sounds to be a quality work you have so much time into go to the wayside. And to be honest, it has been my experience (as I believe someone else already mentioned) that although this may be a bit of a generalization: Either people are happy at heart or they are not.

    No matter how much you help others become happy around you, it seems that it is oftentimes short-lived and only a matter of time until they need a third party to pep them up again.

    A coach of this nature would have to plant some very deep seeds within the person he is helping that could grow within so that eventually they can learn to find their own happiness. It is true that happiness to a great extent is made of one ingredient - hope.

    What your book taught and any online marketing courses teach at the core is that there is hope. A better way, freedom, self improvement. The biz opp and internet marketing niche essentially is hope and by helping people even find the tiniest bit of success, it helps continue this hope.

    For whatever it's worth, that's my two cents.
    Kent
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    • Profile picture of the author DeadRooster
      Originally Posted by ebraininc View Post

      Wow it would be a shame to let what sounds to be a quality work you have so much time into go to the wayside. And to be honest, it has been my experience (as I believe someone else already mentioned) that although this may be a bit of a generalization: Either people are happy at heart or they are not.

      No matter how much you help others become happy around you, it seems that it is oftentimes short-lived and only a matter of time until they need a third party to pep them up again.

      A coach of this nature would have to plant some very deep seeds within the person he is helping that could grow within so that eventually they can learn to find their own happiness. It is true that happiness to a great extent is made of one ingredient - hope.

      What your book taught and any online marketing courses teach at the core is that there is hope. A better way, freedom, self improvement. The biz opp and internet marketing niche essentially is hope and by helping people even find the tiniest bit of success, it helps continue this hope.

      For whatever it's worth, that's my two cents.
      Kent
      I still have passion for my online marketing work and won't let that just fall to the wayside. My current clients are great and I have no intention of giving them the boot anytime soon.

      Also, the online marketing book I wrote is largely comprised of universal concepts every online entrepreneur needs to run a successful online business and those concepts will stand the test of time. Stuff that's true now and will continue to be true for years to come. So, that book isn't going to fall to the wayside either.

      I believe I can teach people to change their perspective, let go of the thinking processes and habits that work against them, show them what has worked for me and others, and permanently bring more happiness into their lives.

      When I read what you wrote about "hope," I had to laugh because I devote quite a few paragraphs explaining the very same thing in my online marketing book! LOL

      Anyway, thanks for the great response!
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  • Profile picture of the author ryanbiddulph
    Hi DR,

    Does being a Happiness Coach make you feel alive? I mean, SUPER excited?

    Do it. This energy precedes greatness. This energy cuts through all the resistance you will face by following your passion - see the low energy responses below - and it'll detach you from outcomes.

    Some folks beg me wanting to know how I was featured on Dirty Dick Branson's blog and Fox News and why I spoke at NYU. I practiced, I created, I connected, but so do thousands and thousands of entrepreneurs. But not too many get featured on sites like this. Passion my friend, passion. Makes you shine like a lighthouse in a dark storm.

    Ryan
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    • Profile picture of the author DeadRooster
      Originally Posted by ryanbiddulph View Post

      Hi DR,

      Does being a Happiness Coach make you feel alive? I mean, SUPER excited?

      Do it. This energy precedes greatness. This energy cuts through all the resistance you will face by following your passion - see the low energy responses below - and it'll detach you from outcomes.

      Some folks beg me wanting to know how I was featured on Dirty Dick Branson's blog and Fox News and why I spoke at NYU. I practiced, I created, I connected, but so do thousands and thousands of entrepreneurs. But not too many get featured on sites like this. Passion my friend, passion. Makes you shine like a lighthouse in a dark storm.

      Ryan
      Yes! You get it. Following your passion is an important component of happiness and it's sad a lot of people feel they are stuck in a situation where they cannot follow it. They think it's impossible to make the necessary changes.

      I want to help those people and this is a great example of coaching happiness.

      For those who say you can't coach happiness, what if I were able to show you how you could make the changes necessary to follow your passion? Wouldn't you be a happier person with that result?

      Ryan does that (I checked out his blog). He made that happen. And, so can you.

      Yes you can.

      By the way, Ryan, I was featured on both CNN and USA Network (the actual TV broadcast, though, not the blogs). Welcome fellow traveller.
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      • Profile picture of the author rhealy29
        Originally Posted by DeadRooster View Post

        Yes! You get it. Following your passion is an important component of happiness and it's sad a lot of people feel they are stuck in a situation where they cannot follow it. They think it's impossible to make the necessary changes.

        I want to help those people and this is a great example of coaching happiness.

        For those who say you can't coach happiness, what if I were able to show you how you could make the changes necessary to follow your passion? Wouldn't you be a happier person with that result?

        Ryan does that (I checked out his blog). He made that happen. And, so can you.

        Yes you can.

        By the way, Ryan, I was featured on both CNN and USA Network (the actual TV broadcast, though, not the blogs). Welcome fellow traveller.

        This is exactly why this stuff is gobbledeygook.

        Ryan just spewed a bunch of his patented power-word-salad at you, telling you about how your energy precedes greatness and will cut through all outcomes (whatever that means).

        He also explained how people beg him for the secret of how he was featured on this site and that site. Which is odd for a guy whose entire character is based around the concept of giving.


        ASIDE ---

        Also, I think some people need to learn what featured means. Ryan was mentioned in an unpaid, user submitted guest post on Entrepreneur.com, that was then picked up in syndication by Fox News' website.

        I don't know if anyone remembers former Warrior Ron Douglas, but when he was asked to be on the Today Show to talk about his receipe book, that was being featured. THAT was something that deserved an "as seen on" logo. When a publication or show runs a piece specifically about a person or business, they are being featured.

        Providing a quote for a section of a guest post that gets picked up on an inside page of Fox News' website is not "being featured on Fox News", and its dishonest to present it as such, but hey, the energy was good!

        ---END ASIDE


        Yet despite all Ryan's sage advice (that didn't actually say anything - a staple around here), your response was "YES! YOU GET IT!"

        That terrifies me. It also tells me that your mind was made up well before you posted this thread.

        But, I'll provide you with a little personal anecdote on why Ryan's advice is such utter bullshit.

        My passion in life was always aviation. From the time I was a small child, all I ever wanted to do was be a military pilot. But, as I got into my teens, I started to realize I'm not so great at being told what to do, and I gave up on that dream. Except I didn't, and it always burned in the back of my mind no matter what job I was doing.

        As I got into my mid-20s, I realized I wanted a change of direction, and I wanted to fly goddamnit. I'd flown on the civy side a bit and loved every minute of it. It's friggen' expensive though! So I said to myself, "self, this is your passion, and all you've ever wanted to be since you were a little kid was a pilot in the Air Force, so why aren't you going for it?"

        So I decided to! I went back to school and finished my degree (a requirement for all officers), I went through the long and frustrating application process. I went to aircrew selection and FAILED. I waited the required year and went BACK to aircrew selection and passed. I got the call, I was in. It took two years just to get in! Then I went to basic training in Quebec in the winter for 15 weeks - NOT fun. Finally, it was time to start flight training.

        I was sent to the Canadian prairies for my first flying course, which is a fairly short but intense selection course where they're still trying to weed you out. I had maybe the two best instructors a guy could ask for. I was surrounded by people who will be lifelong friends. Yet for some reason, I wasn't happy. I pushed through and finished the course and looked forward to the next one.

        Fast forward a year and I'm on the second flying course. Now I'm flying a T-6 Texan II - a beastly and awesome airplane that almost no civilian will ever get to fly anything like. Was the flying awesome? Yes, yes it was. Was I happy? No. In fact, my time on that course, doing what I loved and had always dreamt of, was probably the least happy time of my life.

        So much so that I opted to withdraw from training and leave the military altogether.

        So what happened? I followed my passion! Man, did I ever follow my passion! I worked so friggen hard to get to the point where I had successfully made my passion into my career, against huge odds. So what happened???

        I'll tell you what happened. Successfully turning my passion into my work made my passion work. It brought all of the things that come along with work - long hours, stress, bosses, etc. - and it spread those things all over my passion. And what I realized was that suddenly I wasn't enjoying flying the way I used to. I wasn't willing to let that happen, which was a huge factor in my decision to leave.

        I also realized that there are certain things that are very important to me that couldn't be accommodated by that job. My desire for control over my own life and freedom of movement were big ones - the military doesn't jive so well with those. That was a huge factor in my emotional state, and it clarified a lot of things for me as to what I feel is really important in life.

        Do I regret trying to be a military pilot? Hell no. Do I miss it sometimes? Absolutely. Was the whole thing an amazing experience. Absolutely. Am I a far better person for having done it? You betcha. Am I happier now than when I was pursuing my passion and living my life-long dream? Absolutely.


        The fact of the matter is, this whole narrative of "pursue your passion and happiness will follow and tra-la-la unicorns" is complete and utter bullshit. It might work for some people, and for others, like myself, it won't.

        That's the problem with people like Ryan who take on these rainbows and unicorns personas and spew feel-good word salad about energy and passion. It's not real. It's advice designed to be vague and ethereal in order to make the person giving it sound sage and expert even though they're actually saying crap-all. Oh, and buy their book!

        This is why I don't believe anyone can coach happiness. Because you don't have clue one what's going to make someone happy, and if you think you do, you're arrogant. Had I hired you as my happiness coach in my mid-20s, you'd have surely told me the path to happiness was to finally pursue my dream and follow my passion. I'd be looking for a refund!

        Like I said in an earlier post, wanting to help people be happy is an honorable thing. But anyone who tells you they can teach it or coach it - if just you pay them this hefty coaching fee - is a charlatan. If you truly believe you have some secret to happiness that you can provide to others, give it to them for free.


        TL;DR: Ryan Biddulph is full of shit. If he's your idea of a "YES! YOU GET IT" person, then you should run from 'happiness coaching' as fast as you can. I followed my passion and achieved my life's dream and was less happy than I've ever been. "Follow your passion and you'll be happy" is complete and utter bullshit. Anyone who tells you that is trying to sell you something or increase their post count. If you actually have some magical power to teach people to be happy, give it away, don't sell it.
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        • Profile picture of the author OptedIn
          Originally Posted by rhealy29 View Post

          I'll tell you what happened. Turning my passion into work, made my passion work. It brought all of the things that come along with work - long hours, some stress, bosses, etc. - and it spread those things all over my passion. And what I realized was that suddenly I wasn't enjoying flying the way I used to. I wasn't willing to let that happen, which was a huge factor in my decision to leave.
          Probably the most important point presented in this thread so far. The fastest way to kill your passion is to turn it into what you do for a living. It will suck the joy out of it and turn it into a shriveled husk of what used to be a thrilling part of your existence.

          Your passion should be reserved for what you do when you are NOT working, NOT looking to have something produce an income. It should be your respite from your workaday toils - an activity that replenishes your soul, your spirit and your zest for life. "Follow your passion," may be the single worst piece of tripe that can be told to people that are searching for happiness. It's a lazy concept, but it sounds great. That's why it won't die. Unfortunately, some people believe it to be not only true, but of paramount importance as they search for their path through life. SAD!!!

          Ryan Biddulph is full of shit. If he's your idea of a "YES! YOU GET IT" person, then you should run from 'happiness coaching' as fast as you can. I followed my passion and achieved my life's dream and was less happy than I've ever been. "Follow your passion and you'll be happy" is complete and utter bullshit. Anyone who tell you that is trying to sell you something or increase their post count.
          Agreed.

          Thank you!
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          • Profile picture of the author rhealy29
            Originally Posted by OptedIn View Post

            Probably the most important point presented in this thread so far. The fastest way to kill your passion is to turn it into what you do for a living. It will suck the joy out of it and turn it into a shriveled husk of what used to be a thrilling part of your existence.

            Your passion should be reserved for what you do when you are NOT working, NOT looking to have something produce an income. It should be your respite from your workaday toils - an activity that replenishes your soul, your spirit and your zest for life. "Follow your passion," may be the single worst piece of tripe that can be told to people that are searching for happiness. It's a lazy concept, but it sounds great. That's why it won't die. Unfortunately, some people believe it to be not only true, but of paramount importance as they search for their path through life. SAD!!!



            Agreed.

            Thank you!

            I'll say this, I don't believe that work killing passion is a universal rule. Far from it. To go back to my story, some of my best friends from back then were not affected the same way I was, and still woke up every day with the same excitement to go flying that they always had. They were, in my opinion, the lucky ones. Then there was a group of people in the middle, who were kind of take-it-or-leave-it, and then there was a group of people who were clearly miserable in their jobs despite the fact they'd been life-long flying enthusiasts.

            I'll never forget when one of the more clearly unsatisfied instructor pilots came into the student lounge and proclaimed that Moose Jaw (the base we were at) was the Hotel California because he'd checked out long ago, but he could never leave. What a miserable existence.

            Still, some lucky people can mix passion and work and be happy as claims. I truly envy those peeps. A lot of people, unfortunately, can't. But the "pursue your passion" thing as the one-size-fits-all silver bullet its made out to be is complete and utter hogwash.
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            • Profile picture of the author OptedIn
              Originally Posted by rhealy29 View Post

              But the "pursue your passion" thing as the one-size-fits-all silver bullet its made out to be is complete and utter hogwash.
              Almost all of the people that I know that took this path regret it. They're always pissing and moaning how it's the biggest mistake they ever made in their life.

              Of course, nothing in life or work is one-size-fits-all, but I will always believe that if you have something in life that you truly love, you should not make it business. But that's just me and the people in my life that have come to develop that attitude. Seeing them live with so much regret is quite painful. They're really unhappy over their life choice. For most of them, it's too late to do anything about it.

              Let's be honest. It sounds like it would be great to do what you love, all day, every day - and get paid for it. Like most things, though - the reality never truly measures up to the fantasy.
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              • Profile picture of the author rhealy29
                Originally Posted by OptedIn View Post


                Let's be honest. It sounds like it would be great to do what you love, all day, every day - and get paid for it. Like most things, though - the reality never truly measures up to the fantasy.
                Bingo. And that's what this whole "following your passion is the path to success and happiness" sales-tactic is. It's the emotional equivalent of a get-rich-quick scheme that can never actually measure up to the picture the snake-oil-salesman paints for you.

                "If you just follow my system you'll earn six figures a month!"
                "If you just follow your passion you'll be successful and happy!"

                It couldn't be more transparently aimed at the almost universal human desire for an easy answer.
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        • Profile picture of the author DeadRooster
          Originally Posted by rhealy29 View Post

          This is exactly why this stuff is gobbledeygook.

          Ryan just spewed a bunch of his patented power-word-salad at you, telling you about how your energy precedes greatness and will cut through all outcomes (whatever that means).

          He also explained how people beg him for the secret of how he was featured on this site and that site. Which is odd for a guy whose entire character is based around the concept of giving.


          ASIDE ---

          Also, I think some people need to learn what featured means. Ryan was mentioned in an unpaid, user submitted guest post on Entrepreneur.com, that was then picked up in syndication by Fox News' website.

          I don't know if anyone remembers former Warrior Ron Douglas, but when he was asked to be on the Today Show to talk about his receipe book, that was being featured. THAT was something that deserved an "as seen on" logo. When a publication or show runs a piece specifically about a person or business, they are being featured.

          Providing a quote for a section of a guest post that gets picked up on an inside page of Fox News' website is not "being featured on Fox News", and its dishonest to present it as such, but hey, the energy was good!

          ---END ASIDE


          Yet despite all Ryan's sage advice (that didn't actually say anything - a staple around here), your response was "YES! YOU GET IT!"

          That terrifies me. It also tells me that your mind was made up well before you posted this thread.

          But, I'll provide you with a little personal anecdote on why Ryan's advice is such utter bullshit.

          My passion in life was always aviation. From the time I was a small child, all I ever wanted to do was be a military pilot. But, as I got into my teens, I started to realize I'm not so great at being told what to do, and I gave up on that dream. Except I didn't, and it always burned in the back of my mind no matter what job I was doing.

          As I got into my mid-20s, I realized I wanted a change of direction, and I wanted to fly goddamnit. I'd flown on the civy side a bit and loved every minute of it. It's friggen' expensive though! So I said to myself, "self, this is your passion, and all you've ever wanted to be since you were a little kid was a pilot in the Air Force, so why aren't you going for it?"

          So I decided to! I went back to school and finished my degree (a requirement for all officers), I went through the long and frustrating application process. I went to aircrew selection and FAILED. I waited the required year and went BACK to aircrew selection and passed. I got the call, I was in. It took two years just to get in! Then I went to basic training in Quebec in the winter for 15 weeks - NOT fun. Finally, it was time to start flight training.

          I was sent to the Canadian prairies for my first flying course, which is a fairly short but intense selection course where they're still trying to weed you out. I had maybe the two best instructors a guy could ask for. I was surrounded by people who will be lifelong friends. Yet for some reason, I wasn't happy. I pushed through and finished the course and looked forward to the next one.

          Fast forward a year and I'm on the second flying course. Now I'm flying a T-6 Texan II - a beastly and awesome airplane that almost no civilian will ever get to fly anything like. Was the flying awesome? Yes, yes it was. Was I happy? No. In fact, my time on that course, doing what I loved and had always dreamt of, was probably the least happy time of my life.

          So much so that I opted to withdraw from training and leave the military altogether.

          So what happened? I followed my passion! Man, did I ever follow my passion! I worked so friggen hard to get to the point where I had successfully made my passion into my career, against huge odds. So what happened???

          I'll tell you what happened. Successfully turning my passion into my work made my passion work. It brought all of the things that come along with work - long hours, stress, bosses, etc. - and it spread those things all over my passion. And what I realized was that suddenly I wasn't enjoying flying the way I used to. I wasn't willing to let that happen, which was a huge factor in my decision to leave.

          I also realized that there are certain things that are very important to me that couldn't be accommodated by that job. My desire for control over my own life and freedom of movement were big ones - the military doesn't jive so well with those. That was a huge factor in my emotional state, and it clarified a lot of things for me as to what I feel is really important in life.

          Do I regret trying to be a military pilot? Hell no. Do I miss it sometimes? Absolutely. Was the whole thing an amazing experience. Absolutely. Am I a far better person for having done it? You betcha. Am I happier now than when I was pursuing my passion and living my life-long dream? Absolutely.


          The fact of the matter is, this whole narrative of "pursue your passion and happiness will follow and tra-la-la unicorns" is complete and utter bullshit. It might work for some people, and for others, like myself, it won't.

          That's the problem with people like Ryan who take on these rainbows and unicorns personas and spew feel-good word salad about energy and passion. It's not real. It's advice designed to be vague and ethereal in order to make the person giving it sound sage and expert even though they're actually saying crap-all. Oh, and buy their book!

          This is why I don't believe anyone can coach happiness. Because you don't have clue one what's going to make someone happy, and if you think you do, you're arrogant. Had I hired you as my happiness coach in my mid-20s, you'd have surely told me the path to happiness was to finally pursue my dream and follow my passion. I'd be looking for a refund!

          Like I said in an earlier post, wanting to help people be happy is an honorable thing. But anyone who tells you they can teach it or coach it - if just you pay them this hefty coaching fee - is a charlatan. If you truly believe you have some secret to happiness that you can provide to others, give it to them for free.


          TL;DR: Ryan Biddulph is full of shit. If he's your idea of a "YES! YOU GET IT" person, then you should run from 'happiness coaching' as fast as you can. I followed my passion and achieved my life's dream and was less happy than I've ever been. "Follow your passion and you'll be happy" is complete and utter bullshit. Anyone who tells you that is trying to sell you something or increase their post count. If you actually have some magical power to teach people to be happy, give it away, don't sell it.
          Believe it or not, R29, I agree with a lot of what you wrote. Especially this:

          "The fact of the matter is, this whole narrative of 'pursue your passion and happiness will follow and tra-la-la unicorns' is complete and utter bullshit. It might work for some people, and for others, like myself, it won't."

          Absolutely true, because hanging everything on a "pursue you passion" narrative isn't a strategy for happiness. It's basically just a slogan.

          In fact, my guess is that the majority of people who pursue their passion will ultimately be disappointed with the results or find it wasn't what they expected. However, I would also like to point out that the vast majority of those people would also say they were glad they gave it a shot.

          What's worse is NOT pursuing your passion and going to your grave wondering if you could have got there.

          If you think I'm going to make "pursue your passion" the centrepiece of my coaching and hang a bunch of magical or faith-based ornaments on it, you are mistaken.

          Would I recommend to someone with a dream to pursue their passion? Eventually, when they're ready; because ignoring your passion is... well, kinda sad. But, it's not like it's the linchpin philosophy of my training.

          But, all this is going way beyond where I'm at right now. I'm still compiling my ideas and outlining my new book. I test everything. I'll be putting the book out there and measuring the responses and reactions. It may be that the book is only good for teaching my daughter what I know about living a happy life (which I have for 58-years). And, if that's all that comes of it, that's fine.
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  • Profile picture of the author Business Butterfly
    Not entirely sure how I stumbled across this, but I'm pretty new to the the world of Online Marketing / Warrior Forum and just signed up as I really wanted to contribute to this discussion...

    This is a really interesting post and I'm intrigued by 3 things in particular:

    - The Desire
    - The Motivations
    - The Ultimate Outcome

    I do believe that there is a market for this kind of service for a particular segment of society, but you would need to thoroughly assess each of the above factors before taking that leap and going all in.

    As others have mentioned, it might actually be more conducive (not to mention profitable - if that's your goal) to focus on packaging your product / service as some sort of sub-niche...something along the lines of "how to live a happy, fulfilled and prosperous life with financial freedom and a laptop lifestyle".

    On the other end of the spectrum, if you genuinely want to focus solely on making people happy / life coaching then I think it's also important to point out that it's highly likely that you're going to encounter individuals that will have you in desperate search of your very own Happiness Facilitator!

    More often than not people who are actively seeking someone who will "make them happy" have deep rooted issues and in some cases, undiagnosed psychological disorders, which can be extremely challenging emotionally. The latter may feel they need a Happiness Coach, but in fact require a Medical Professional.

    Needless to say, if you're going to go down that root, you also have to bare that in mind (I've worked with this group, I know).

    Of course, you can be stringent with your selection criteria, but ultimately it's still going to be people that feel they need some sort of assistance in the happiness department.

    Ultimately, whatever you do decide...i hope it makes YOU happy!

    All the best ;o)
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    • Profile picture of the author DeadRooster
      Originally Posted by Business Butterfly View Post

      Not entirely sure how I stumbled across this, but I'm pretty new to the the world of Online Marketing / Warrior Forum and just signed up as I really wanted to contribute to this discussion...

      This is a really interesting post and I'm intrigued by 3 things in particular:

      - The Desire
      - The Motivations
      - The Ultimate Outcome

      I do believe that there is a market for this kind of service for a particular segment of society, but you would need to thoroughly assess each of the above factors before taking that leap and going all in.

      As others have mentioned, it might actually be more conducive (not to mention profitable - if that's your goal) to focus on packaging your product / service as some sort of sub-niche...something along the lines of "how to live a happy, fulfilled and prosperous life with financial freedom and a laptop lifestyle".

      On the other end of the spectrum, if you genuinely want to focus solely on making people happy / life coaching then I think it's also important to point out that it's highly likely that you're going to encounter individuals that will have you in desperate search of your very own Happiness Facilitator!

      More often than not people who are actively seeking someone who will "make them happy" have deep rooted issues and in some cases, undiagnosed psychological disorders, which can be extremely challenging emotionally. The latter may feel they need a Happiness Coach, but in fact require a Medical Professional.

      Needless to say, if you're going to go down that root, you also have to bare that in mind (I've worked with this group, I know).

      Of course, you can be stringent with your selection criteria, but ultimately it's still going to be people that feel they need some sort of assistance in the happiness department.

      Ultimately, whatever you do decide...i hope it makes YOU happy!

      All the best ;o)
      Thanks for the insights and words of encouragement.

      I'm going to start with a book explaining the thoughts and attitudes that made me happy throughout my life. I do believe anyone can adopt these ideas and become a happier person for it.

      I could be wrong; maybe it only works for people with a naturally positive attitude to begin with, but that's why I'm starting with a book and not immediately jumping into coaching.

      I'll see what kind of feedback I get.

      Anyway, thanks again and welcome to the Warrior Forum!
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      • Profile picture of the author OptedIn
        Originally Posted by DeadRooster View Post

        I could be wrong; maybe it only works for people with a naturally positive attitude to begin with, but that's why I'm starting with a book and not immediately jumping into coaching.
        This topic has been covered in books, lectures, seminars, video courses and every other form of personal and mass-communication known to man, for as long as man has been self-aware.

        If this were a life detour that I was contemplating for myself (and I have absolutely no responsibilities or obligation to another humanoid, anywhere) my question to myself would be, "What do I believe that I could bring to the table that would be new and would illuminate some things that have not already been done to death?"

        The ultimate question in this regard is, "What is the one 'secret' I can share that will have an impact on any individuals life, that is brand new and will deliver that 'aha' moment?"

        If you have a a meaningful answer to that, great. If not, you're just rehashing centuries old pablum. That won't do much to help anyone.

        You can put a pig in a ball gown, teach it to dance and take it out for a night on the town. When you get it home - it's still a pig!

        Just something to think about.
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        • Profile picture of the author Tsnyder
          Originally Posted by OptedIn View Post

          This topic has been covered in books, lectures, seminars, video courses and every other form of personal and mass-communication known to man, for as long as man has been self-aware.

          If this were a life detour that I was contemplating for myself (and I have absolutely no responsibilities or obligation to another humanoid, anywhere) my question to myself would be, "What do I believe that I could bring to the table that would be new and would illuminate some things that have not already been done to death?"

          The ultimate question in this regard is, "What is the one 'secret' I can share that will have an impact on any individuals life, that is brand new and will deliver that 'aha' moment?"

          If you have a a meaningful answer to that, great. If not, you're just rehashing centuries old pablum. That won't do much to help anyone.

          You can put a pig in a ball gown, teach it to dance and take it out for a night on the town. When you get it home - it's still a pig!

          Just something to think about.
          I disagree with this to a certain extent. If this were true there would
          only be a need for whatever the original work on the subject was.

          The style and personality of the one delivering the message is just
          as effective as the message itself. Example... I can't sand to listen
          to people like Wayne Dyer and Deepak Chopra. I learn nothing from
          them. That's not their fault nor does it diminish the value of their material.
          It's a personal preference. On the other hand I very much enjoy listening
          to Zig Ziglar, Tony Robins and Denis Waitley. The message is essentially
          the same...

          So... you might be the one who connects with a large number of people
          simply because of your style and personality in spite of the amount of material
          available from other sources.
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          • Profile picture of the author OptedIn
            Originally Posted by Tsnyder View Post

            I disagree with this to a certain extent. If this were true there would only be a need for whatever the original work on the subject was.

            The style and personality of the one delivering the message is just
            as effective as the message itself. Example... I can't sand to listen
            to people like Wayne Dyer and Deepak Chopra. I learn nothing from
            them. That's not their fault nor does it diminish the value of their material.
            It's a personal preference. On the other hand I very much enjoy listening
            to Zig Ziglar, Tony Robins and Denis Waitley. The message is essentially
            the same...
            Damn - I can't stand to listen to any of them. I think it's just because I don't look outside myself for that type of support and whenever I have caught any of their act, and I have seen all but Mr. Waitley, I find myself laughing and wondering just what type of person actually responds to that ridiculous claptrap. Have you ever heard any one of them tell you something that you didn't already know and/or haven't previously pondered and processed for personal viability and relevance? Just one thing??? If so - you need to get out, more. :-)

            I'm old. I've heard it all and 95% of it can be discounted, if not completely ignored.

            So... you might be the one who connects with a large number of people
            simply because of your style and personality in spite of the amount of material
            available from other sources.
            A valid point, up to a point. That simply means that the sizzle is more important than the steak. That makes it all the more meaningless to my way of thinking.

            Oh, and trust me - I could never connect with a large number of people, simply because of my style and personality. The people in my life are there in spite of those two things, not due to them. Honesty is the best policy and self-awareness is a beautiful thing.

            I could probably list everything that any humanoid needs to make it through life without getting hurt, emotionally or physically, with a fair amount of happiness and inner-peace (which is all anyone should hope to achieve) in around 100 sentences.

            This stuff ain't rocket science. Almost all of it is common-sense which should have been totally compiled, just after puberty. Most people, if they are honest with themselves, know precisely what their problems are, they just choose not to put the work in to overcome them. You can't really help those people.

            Thank you.
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            • Profile picture of the author Tsnyder
              Originally Posted by OptedIn View Post

              I could probably list everything that any humanoid needs to make it through life without getting hurt, emotionally or physically, with a fair amount of happiness and inner-peace (which is all anyone should hope to achieve) in around 100 sentences.
              I've got you beat by 97 sentences... lol... I taught my kids that there are three
              rules for successful living.

              1. Mind your own business.
              2. Be responsible for cleaning up your own messes.
              3. Don't try to force your opinions on others.

              This stuff ain't rocket science. Almost all of it is common-sense which should have been totally compiled, just after puberty. Most people, if they are honest with themselves, know precisely what their problems are, they just choose not to put the work in to overcome them. You can't really help those people.

              Thank you.
              I learned some things from those folks when I was much younger. At this point
              I find them entertaining and enjoy listening now and then,
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              • Profile picture of the author OptedIn
                Originally Posted by Tsnyder View Post

                I've got you beat by 97 sentences... lol...
                Only if you want to paint an incomplete picture. :-)

                I taught my kids that there are three rules for successful living.
                Add these:

                It's OK to sometimes just eat and sleep.

                When you fall down - get back up, shake it off, forget about it and go on.

                Be very brave - no matter your size!

                Make your own fun.

                Unleash your talents.

                Learn new tricks - no matter your age.

                Make new friends.

                Sniff out opportunities.

                Chase after your dreams.

                When loved ones come home, always greet them with affection.

                At the end of the day, it's best to snuggle and show love - no matter what happened during the day.

                Every day is a brand new day.

                Just be happy.

                I learned all of these things from the smartest, most loving creature I have ever known.



                We could all learn a lot from a dog. :-)

                Cheers,

                Frank
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      • Profile picture of the author Business Butterfly
        So kind of you! Thanks a bunch...

        I'd say, that sounds like a plan. All i know is that it's really challenging to be genuinely fulfilled if you're not living your purpose, no matter how much money you make! Enjoy the journey ;-)
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  • Profile picture of the author Frank Donovan
    William, if you were wondering whether there's a potential market for "happiness coaching", it would seem the topic is gaining traction. Yale has just launched a "happiness" course which has proved to be its most popular class ever:

    https://www.nytimes.com/2018/01/26/nyregion/at-yale-class-on-happiness-draws-huge-crowd-laurie-santos.html

    There are now even government departments set up specifically to tackle what must, presumably, be some recently-identified unhappiness epidemic.

    I suspect, however, that all this is simply another manifestation of the rise of entitlement - a trait the self-help industry has never been shy to exploit.

    One of the major factors affecting happiness is comparing yourself to others. Today, there's unprecedented access to the lifestyles of peer groups around the world. No matter that most of these lifestyles are probably fabricated or imagined, perception is all. It's never been easier to find others better off and apparently happier than you. Advising people to follow their passion as a means to personal happiness risks pandering to this sense of entitlement.

    Happiness is such a nebulous concept to coach, that I doubt any broad-brush treatment would prove useful. A one-to-one approach, in which you could address specific factors and attitudes within an individual's life might work. Whether you believe you're qualified for that, or if it's a road you want to follow is, of course, up to you.
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    • Profile picture of the author DeadRooster
      Originally Posted by Frank Donovan View Post

      William, if you were wondering whether there's a potential market for "happiness coaching", it would seem the topic is gaining traction. Yale has just launched a "happiness" course which has proved to be its most popular class ever:

      https://www.nytimes.com/2018/01/26/nyregion/at-yale-class-on-happiness-draws-huge-crowd-laurie-santos.html

      There are now even government departments set up specifically to tackle what must, presumably, be some recently-identified unhappiness epidemic.

      I suspect, however, that all this is simply another manifestation of the rise of entitlement - a trait the self-help industry has never been shy to exploit.

      One of the major factors affecting happiness is comparing yourself to others. Today, there's unprecedented access to the lifestyles of peer groups around the world. No matter that most of these lifestyles are probably fabricated or imagined, perception is all. It's never been easier to find others better off and apparently happier than you. Advising people to follow their passion as a means to personal happiness risks pandering to this sense of entitlement.

      Happiness is such a nebulous concept to coach, that I doubt any broad-brush treatment would prove useful. A one-to-one approach, in which you could address specific factors and attitudes within an individual's life might work. Whether you believe you're qualified for that, or if it's a road you want to follow is, of course, up to you.
      Wow! Thanks for posting this, Frank.

      Very interesting! I'm blown away at the popularity of the course. Everyone wants happiness (or, so you'd think), but this is amazing.

      And, I fully agree with your assessment that one of the major factors affecting happiness is comparing yourself to others. That's a big one.
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  • Profile picture of the author JohnMcCabe
    Originally Posted by Frank Donovan View Post

    One of the major factors affecting happiness is comparing yourself to others. Today, there's unprecedented access to the lifestyles of peer groups around the world. No matter that most of these lifestyles are probably fabricated or imagined, perception is all. It's never been easier to find others better off and apparently happier than you. Advising people to follow their passion as a means to personal happiness risks pandering to this sense of entitlement.
    One of the elements in this comparison is what people choose to post.

    Often, people who do compare their lives to what they think is happening for others end up comparing their own day-to-day existence to someone else's "highlight reel."
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    • Profile picture of the author Frank Donovan
      Originally Posted by JohnMcCabe View Post

      One of the elements in this comparison is what people choose to post.

      Often, people who do compare their lives to what they think is happening for others end up comparing their own day-to-day existence to someone else's "highlight reel."
      Quite so. But even without the help of social media, there are those for whom next door's grass will always look greener.
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    • Profile picture of the author ShayB
      William --

      What you describe in your OP sounds very much like the positive psychology trend, and it appears to be an up-and-coming (perhaps already here?) market.

      I'd suggest doing some research on it and see if that is the path for you.

      Best of luck to you.
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      • Profile picture of the author DeadRooster
        Originally Posted by ShayB View Post

        William --

        What you describe in your OP sounds very much like the positive psychology trend, and it appears to be an up-and-coming (perhaps already here?) market.

        I'd suggest doing some research on it and see if that is the path for you.

        Best of luck to you.
        Thanks for the advice and encouragement.

        I have read many of these book and I'm in the process of reading more. Some of it I agree with, a lot of it I don't.

        I do think I have a unique perspective that the world hasn't seen yet. We'll see how it goes.
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  • Profile picture of the author Virginia Sanders
    Boy you have a lot of time on your hands. Happiness is in the eye of the beholder. Get the money issue out of the way first then tackle their happiness. give the book away for free let people start to make money from your vast unique knowledge and if they are still unhappy tell them to call you.
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  • Profile picture of the author DigiMan
    My Dear DeadRooster,

    I wholeheartedly applaud your tremendous success as an Internet Marketer. You are a true 1%-er, achieving much more than 99% of us in the same racket. You were an apex wolf in a world of sheep. HOWEVER, "Success tends to corrupt, and absolute success corrupts absolutely." AND you have become living proof of that axiom.

    Somehow your extreme material success as a capitalist shark now qualifies you as a spiritual guru providing enlightenment to the benighted masses? OMG, your audacity and arrogance are epic.

    You asked for advice from strangers.

    OK, here is advice from the Ancient Greek playwright Aeschylus: "Like some inferior doctor who's become ill. You're in despair and seek to discover...by what medicine you yourself can be cured."

    In other words, as Jesus said: "Physician, heal thyself (before attempting to heal others)."

    OR BETTER YET, become true again to thy real nature....by changing your name to 'Jesus II'...and writing a book for $19.95 apiece teaching your Sheeple how to find happiness. :-) And by that Shining Path, you can make your second billion.

    BUT OH-H-H PLEASE ... don't disillusion all of us by believing your own hype.

    With my kindest wishes for your happiness,
    Preston
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    • Profile picture of the author DeadRooster
      Originally Posted by DigiMan View Post

      My Dear DeadRooster...
      My real name is William McCamment.

      I mention that because, after reading your full response, I'm pretty sure you have me confused with Tai Lopez.
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    • Profile picture of the author Tsnyder
      Originally Posted by DigiMan View Post

      My Dear DeadRooster,

      I wholeheartedly applaud your tremendous success as an Internet Marketer. You are a true 1%-er, achieving much more than 99% of us in the same racket. You were an apex wolf in a world of sheep. HOWEVER, "Success tends to corrupt, and absolute success corrupts absolutely." AND you have become living proof of that axiom.

      Somehow your extreme material success as a capitalist shark now qualifies you as a spiritual guru providing enlightenment to the benighted masses? OMG, your audacity and arrogance are epic.

      You asked for advice from strangers.

      OK, here is advice from the Ancient Greek playwright Aeschylus: "Like some inferior doctor who's become ill. You're in despair and seek to discover...by what medicine you yourself can be cured."

      In other words, as Jesus said: "Physician, heal thyself (before attempting to heal others)."

      OR BETTER YET, become true again to thy real nature....by changing your name to 'Jesus II'...and writing a book for $19.95 apiece teaching your Sheeple how to find happiness. :-) And by that Shining Path, you can make your second billion.

      BUT OH-H-H PLEASE ... don't disillusion all of us by believing your own hype.

      With my kindest wishes for your happiness,
      Preston
      Very long an innuendo and accusation with precisely zero proof of any of it.

      And you have the temerity to call him audacious and arrogant... amusing.

      Your post should be deleted.
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  • Profile picture of the author umc
    I was deeply unhappy. I was suicidal, in fact. I read books that challenged my perspectives and that made me see the world differently and I became "Happier". By the way, that's the name of Tal Ben-Shahar's book that greatly impacted me.

    I don't understand why this concept is so hard to grasp. The OP can absolutely impact the happiness of others. Sure, people have to WANT to be happy, as I did, but many truly don't know the way. Those are the people that will seek out a coach and voila, the OP has a business if he can bring the goods.
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    • Profile picture of the author rhealy29
      Originally Posted by umc View Post

      I was deeply unhappy. I was suicidal, in fact. I read books that challenged my perspectives and that made me see the world differently and I became "Happier". By the way, that's the name of Tal Ben-Shahar's book that greatly impacted me.

      I don't understand why this concept is so hard to grasp. The OP can absolutely impact the happiness of others. Sure, people have to WANT to be happy, as I did, but many truly don't know the way. Those are the people that will seek out a coach and voila, the OP has a business if he can bring the goods.
      You bought a book. It cost you $20 (estimate). If it didn't work, you were out $20. You could buy another book for $20.

      That's a very different proposition than offering someone expensive one on one coaching.
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      • Profile picture of the author umc
        Originally Posted by rhealy29 View Post

        You bought a book. It cost you $20 (estimate). If it didn't work, you were out $20. You could buy another book for $20.

        That's a very different proposition than offering someone expensive one on one coaching.
        What do you think people pay expensive therapists for? They want to be happier. Do you think Tal Ben-Shahar who wrote that book did nothing in the happiness realm other than write a $20 book? His positive psychology course was the most popular course in the history of Harvard. He travels the world talking about happiness. Come on man, think it through.

        That doesn't mean the OP will be successful, but it also doesn't mean that it can't be done or that all of the discouragement is valid.
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        • Profile picture of the author rhealy29
          Originally Posted by umc View Post

          What do you think people pay expensive therapists for? They want to be happier. Do you think Tal Ben-Shahar who wrote that book did nothing in the happiness realm other than write a $20 book? His positive psychology course was the most popular course in the history of Harvard. He travels the world talking about happiness. Come on man, think it through.

          That doesn't mean the OP will be successful, but it also doesn't mean that it can't be done or that all of the discouragement is valid.
          Yes, because comparing a bored internet marketer* to actual trained therapists or Harvard lecturers with pHDs is totally valid.

          I'd suggest perhaps I'm not the one that needs to think this through.

          *Who self-admittedly doesn't even know what his system for helping people become happier even is yet.
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          • Profile picture of the author umc
            Originally Posted by rhealy29 View Post

            Yes, because comparing a bored internet marketer* to actual trained therapists or Harvard lecturers with pHDs is totally valid.

            I'd suggest perhaps I'm not the one that needs to think this through.

            *Who self-admittedly doesn't even know what his system for helping people become happier even is yet.
            You ignored the end of my post. Clearly I wasn't saying that he was the same. I'm saying that there's a market for it. That doesn't mean that the OP will be successful, but people search for and pay for happiness all the time. I also never claimed to post literally every example that I could have to show that there was indeed a market for people to buy help to achieve or find happiness. You took my post to be a comparison of a bored internet marketer and Harvard lecturer because that's how you can try to invalidate it. My point was a reply to your assertions that nobody would pay high prices to learn about happiness. They clearly will. That doesn't necessarily mean that they'll pay the OP, and I addressed that.

            It's obvious that you're negative on someone selling the positive in this case, and that's fine. I really have no desire to get in a pissing match with you. This wasn't really about you in the first place. Good luck to the OP if that's what he wants to try.
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            • Profile picture of the author rhealy29
              Originally Posted by umc View Post

              You ignored the end of my post. Clearly I wasn't saying that he was the same. I'm saying that there's a market for it. That doesn't mean that the OP will be successful, but people search for and pay for happiness all the time. I also never claimed to post literally every example that I could have to show that there was indeed a market for people to buy help to achieve or find happiness. You took my post to be a comparison of a bored internet marketer and Harvard lecturer because that's how you can try to invalidate it. My point was a reply to your assertions that nobody would pay high prices to learn about happiness. They clearly will. That doesn't necessarily mean that they'll pay the OP, and I addressed that.

              It's obvious that you're negative on someone selling the positive in this case, and that's fine. I really have no desire to get in a pissing match with you. This wasn't really about you in the first place. Good luck to the OP if that's what he wants to try.
              My guess is that you didn't actually read any of my posts. I never asserted people wouldn't pay high prices to learn to be happy. Of course they will. What I asserted is that the OP shouldn't charge them high prices to teach them to be happy - because he almost certainly can't.

              You seem to look at this from the standpoint of "is there a market? Will they pay?" I look at it from the standpoint of "is it right to charge people significant money for something you can't possibly be sure you can deliver?"

              But cheers if you think I'm just negative on people selling the positive. It's clearly based on a careful reading of my posts.
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            • Profile picture of the author DeadRooster
              Originally Posted by umc View Post

              You ignored the end of my post. Clearly I wasn't saying that he was the same. I'm saying that there's a market for it. That doesn't mean that the OP will be successful, but people search for and pay for happiness all the time. I also never claimed to post literally every example that I could have to show that there was indeed a market for people to buy help to achieve or find happiness. You took my post to be a comparison of a bored internet marketer and Harvard lecturer because that's how you can try to invalidate it. My point was a reply to your assertions that nobody would pay high prices to learn about happiness. They clearly will. That doesn't necessarily mean that they'll pay the OP, and I addressed that.

              It's obvious that you're negative on someone selling the positive in this case, and that's fine. I really have no desire to get in a pissing match with you. This wasn't really about you in the first place. Good luck to the OP if that's what he wants to try.
              UMC, please don't waste much time on rhealy29's negative fantasies. He doesn't know much about you other than what you've wrote in this thread. You used happiness strategies to become happier and it worked for you. Unfortunately, that is a threat to his belief that happiness can't be taught, so I presume he thinks you're lying.

              What a waste of energy.

              He also doesn't know much about me. He doesn't have a clue what my finished work will look like, yet he preemptively seems very concerned and frustrated with it. That's as sad as it is illogical.

              All I want to do is help people live happier lives. No one is going to put a gun to their head and force them to pay "high prices" for personal coaching after they read my book. In fact, I suspect it will happen the other way around... I became an online marketing coach after some of my digital product customers contacted me and ASKED ME if I offered coaching.

              I guess he won't be buying my book. Too bad, he's precisely the type of person who could use it.
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              • Profile picture of the author rhealy29
                Originally Posted by DeadRooster View Post

                UMC, please don't waste much time on rhealy29's negative fantasies. He doesn't know much about you other than what you've wrote in this thread. You used happiness strategies to become happier and it worked for you. Unfortunately, that is a threat to his belief that happiness can't be taught, so I presume he thinks you're lying.

                What a waste of energy.

                He also doesn't know much about me. He doesn't have a clue what my finished work will look like, yet he preemptively seems very concerned and frustrated with it. That's as sad as it is illogical.

                All I want to do is help people live happier lives. No one is going to put a gun to their head and force them to pay "high prices" for personal coaching after they read my book. In fact, I suspect it will happen the other way around... I became an online marketing coach after some of my digital product customers contacted me and ASKED ME if I offered coaching.

                I guess he won't be buying my book. Too bad, he's precisely the type of person who could use it.
                The irony in this post is almost too delicious to comprehend. Really fantastic.

                But anyways, best of luck coaching people. I'm sure the system you invent - when you get around to inventing it - will be a big hit with the people you take money from.

                I, on the other hand, am moving on and have decided I'm going to launch an anxiety coaching business. Do I have any formal training? No. Do I know how I'm going to do it? Not yet. But neither of those things, as this thread has shown, are pre-requisits. I think I'm good at calming people down and that's good enough, goshdarnit!

                Wish me luck and riches everyone!
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  • Profile picture of the author umc
    rhealy - My guess is that you didn't actually read any of my posts. I never asserted people wouldn't pay high prices to learn to be happy.

    You are correct. I didn't go back through the catalog of your posts, but rather I replied to your direct quote and reply of my post. I didn't know that it was a requirement. You addressed me as such:

    rhealy - You bought a book. It cost you $20 (estimate). If it didn't work, you were out $20. You could buy another book for $20.

    That's a very different proposition than offering someone expensive one on one coaching.

    To me that appeared as though you were asserting that people wouldn't pay high prices to learn to be happy. If I misunderstood, my apologies, but I'm sure you can understand why it might look that way.

    You are also right. I do look at it from the perspective of "is there a market"? As to "will they pay", I've already stated that nobody knows until and unless the OP tries, but that people have shown a willingness to pay.

    I look at it from the standpoint of "is it right to charge people significant money for something you can't possibly be sure you can deliver?"

    In any coaching or therapy so much is up to the individual receiving the guidance that there is always a possibility that the results don't come. If the OP can show that he can help people then he can have some reasonable expectations of delivering. Nothing is guaranteed in life. I just watched Cesar Millan on tv try to help some families with their dogs (which is usually more about the people). There are always some wins and some losses. The subject of the coaching has their own say in the matter.

    You and I may not see things that differently. Next time I'll be sure to study up on all of your posts before answering a direct challenge to one of mine.

    Have a happy weekend!
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    • Profile picture of the author Masood raza
      I purchased this course for 10 dollars. what's more, expresses gratitude toward God I earned yesterday 200 usd .

      Spotlight on the strategy for the fifth page of the course is a decent way and I am as of now taking a shot at it th interface is

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  • Profile picture of the author ThomasMeyers
    Wow, you writers. I think you need to focus your efforts more effectively to get your book out to as large an audience as possible. Less writing, more marketing........you can do this!
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    Welcome, I hope what I posted up there helped you. Good to chat with warrior legends, rising stars and forum newbies. Tom

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  • Profile picture of the author nikhil623
    princesses don't count??
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  • Profile picture of the author jbsmith
    My suggestion is as follows:

    1. List what you like/dislike about being a business coach...it matters...it could be that you dislike the "type" of businesses you have been coaching thus far which can be fixed not by changing your coaching but by changing how you market and deliver the course. For example, it may be that you relate better to coaching entrepreneurs in the software space so you work with VC';s and target that sector...or it could be you want to target specifically existing start-ups to get to the next level, etc... versus dealing with newbies 90% of which don't really understand what an entrepreneur means and can wear you down.

    2. If indeed the exercise in #1 points to changing your market entirely - then start by clearly identifying a desire (not happiness and not something you think people need to be happier - but something people are already looking for...how to find better friends, how to stop worrying, etc... things that keep people up at night and they will pay to solve). Then prep a program outline, develop the first session material and go sign up 10 people to a "beta" group (charge them something nominal to make sure they are serious - but with huge discount off of intended price) - spend a month working with the group, refining and developing the material, incorporating feedback so you come out with a rock-solid course with at least a few champions who can articulate the benefit/results

    3. Now decide on product mix - a lead gen, intro product and higher-end product ideally which should be much more straightforward given what you did in #2
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