Stretching Away From Stupidity, or Stretching Toward It?

I don’t care anymore. Not one little bit. I don’t care who knows. I don’t care what they think. I don’t care what they say or write. I’m so full of “could care less” that I can stand it all day long (and night, too).

Almost every day I read some drivel about a person who has gone into credit card debt and stretched themselves thin so they can make a go of some business venture. Some make it. Many don’t. I’m not interested in being stupid. Or crazy. Yes, credit card debt is the financing option of morons. I said it. Deal with it if you’re such a moron.

Almost every day I read of some expert who just recently was homeless, in rehab, living in a car, or otherwise “misplaced”, but today they’re a guru and you should listen to them. Better yet, you should buy what they’re selling because they used to be a cashier at Wal-Mart, but last month they earned $43,543.27 online. And for $97 they can teach you how they did it. Out come the credit cards. So begins the stretch for too many stupid people who think a Wal-Mart cashier now has the secret to building online wealth.

Am I the only guy amazed at how many experts have NO background in being successful at anything?

Just today, I scrolled through the following:

- A person selling how to get rich on the Internet brags how they never finished high school, never were able to hold down any kind of job, were homeless just 7 years ago, but they found THE SECRET and for a sum of money they’ll share it with you!

- Another person selling their own version of how to get rich on the Internet claims they’ve been making money online since 1997. Gurus seek their advice. Gurus hire them to write copy. They are the cat’s meow. A quick scan of the Net finds no less than 3 abandoned blogs with the most recent post dating back to 2007. However, they’re quite accomplished at creating lots of sales pages for a variety of stuff that you simply cannot live without. Hit that orange BUY NOW button you fool – or die broke. You choose.

- Another person has a variety of products for sale. This person wants you to know that they NEVER hire away their time for anything less than $25,000. People are lined up to pay them $25,000 for their expert advice. But they are so driven to share their ideas – because they really want others to be more successful – they are making available for the first 500 people a product affordability priced at $1997. But buy today because these 500 will be gone soon. In fact, 384 are already sold and this offer is sure to be closed FOREVER by the end of the day.

Had enough? Okay, let’s continue.

- A woman is a marketing expert. She’s never worked for anybody. She says so. But she is a self-professed marketing genius – oh, wait a minute, she’s got LOTS of testimonials telling us how much money she’d made for lots of people, some of them are gurus (even gurus need marketing help you know). She has earned millions of dollars for her clients. Google her name and you’ll find nothing about her professional past. Dig a bit deeper and you can’t find out one thing about any marketing strategy ever ascribed to her. That may not mean anything. Perhaps she’s been a quiet genius for years and years. Doubtful, but possible.

- Blog comments pour in supporting a guru who is under some fire for changing an offer. For every negative comment, a dozen others come to the rescue. How dare this naysayer slander our beloved guru. We love him. We adore him. We hang on his every word. What do you mean, coming on here and saying anything negative about him? We will not stand for it. Now, get out of here!

We’re living in the new CB radio craze. Community building on the Internet is all the rage. We need a tribe. Or flock. Or herd. Like cattle people gather around their guru of choice, convinced that this guru can show them all the secrets that have long eluded them. With every offer comes more stretching. Stretching the budget. Stretching the credit card debt. Certain that we’re just another $97 away from finding success.

And so it goes. Day after day. Month after month. Year after year. One scam after another. One Internet guru after another. In their wake, perhaps 1 out of 10,000 who ever find their dreams by following the advice of the guru. 9,999 who are stretched so thin they can’t see up from down. But still they stretch, convinced their close.

But others give up. Dreams crushed. Hopes dashed. Aspirations in the ditch covered in debt that will take months, perhaps years to pay off.

Note it – I’m in sales and marketing. Always have been. Likely always will be. I’m quite favorable toward persuasion, influence and other acts of marketing. I’m equally attracted to stretching toward success. I know that change, improvement and other components of achievement often demand we stretch ourselves into new behaviors. Some marketers are worth following. Most are not. MOST are not. MOST ARE NOT. Disagree at your peril. You’re wrong. I’m right. I told you I didn’t care what you thought of me. I meant it. Can’t you now see that?

MOST marketers are not worthy of your money – certainly not worthy of your financial stretch. Those who are, are WELL WORTH it. It’s not even close. It’s like the difference between a beginner golfer and Tiger. No comparison. Not even in the same league. Playing a completely different game!

Stretching toward improvement should be part of your daily life. Stretching to see how high you can make your accomplishments is valid. Stretching to pursue dreams and goals is a driver behind our lives. When you’re putting money down, put it down on yourself – not some self-professed, or socially proven GURU.

I’m stretching toward my own success – and I could care less if you agree with anything I just said. Get over it. Leave me nasty comments if you want. I’ll approve them. And don’t be shocked if nobody comes to my rescue. I’m banking on standing alone. And loving every minute of it.

By the way, I graduated high school, I’ve never been homeless or in rehab. I’ve never worked at Wal-Mart (not that there’s anything wrong with that). I’ve just managed to make a nice living for many years. I’ve been in the business world working with success year after year, decade after decade. I’ve raised two kids – put them through college. I’ve had a successful marriage to one woman – the same woman. I’ve never been an alcoholic, or even had a drink. My boring life has been responsible, successful and without much drama if I could help it. I don’t have a rags to riches story that will titillate you. Ten years ago I was making six-figures, not working for minimum wage somewhere (not that there’s anything wrong with that, either). I’m like many other people who have been living reasonably well for more years than not. That’s why I’ll never be a guru. My story isn’t compelling enough. You don’t have to stretch enough to believe my story. No stretch – no money!