Home » Who is Reed Floren?

Who is Reed Floren?

How to Never Work For Anyone Else & Retire Before Your Friends Graduate From College

This is the story of a 22 year old semi-retired marketer who spends most of his time with his family and friends, since his business is automated.

Back in 1991 I was 5 years old and my dad (Jerry, who is also a successful marketer now) had lost his job; he had been working for the state for years testing and mapping soils so their would be better crop production, however the funding for his project had not been renewed, so he lost his job.

We struggled for 13 months, (my parents had just had a new baby, my little sister) and I was about to enter kindergarten.  It took my dad over a year to find a job that paid close to what he was making at his old job. We ended up living off credit cards and shopping thrift shops and garage sales for most of our possessions.

During this time I saw my parents researching business opportunities and applying for a lot of jobs; and I credit this experience of hardship for convincing me that there is no such thing as job security.

Eventually my dad found a job that was 70 miles or one and half hours away. He has stayed working there ever since and he commutes 3 hours every day so his family can live in the town that they enjoy and I could continue going to my school.

With my dad gone for 3 hours everyday and sleeping on the weekends I didn’t get much of a chance to get to bond and really know my dad growing up.  This brings me to another lesson. You have limited time on this earth and you need to make the most of it, family should be your number one priority.

Now I don’t blame my dad, he made time for me when he could.  I wish that I hadn’t been so stubborn as a child and been willing to move, because then we would’ve moved closer to his work. I think that would have made it a lot easier on us as a family.

During my years in public education I was considered rather slow and didn’t learn how to read until 3rd grade. In fact for part of the time I would be in classes for the kids with learning disabilities. When your name is Reed and you can’t read what the teacher writes down it’s hard to get over the teasing. I don’t believe any of my teachers at that stage of my life would have EVER thought I’d have the success that has happened in my life.

In these early years of my education I was in a lot of plays and my parents would work really hard with me to memorize my lines. This gave me a lot of confidence and while I was in middle school I was able to audition for and win roles in plays at the local college. Without the confidence that acting gives I don’t think I’d be the same person I am today and I would really struggle with speaking at events.

Once I learned how to read in 3rd grade stuff really started to click for me and on standardized tests I would end up scoring in the 99 percentile (meaning I would beat out 99% of the other students in the nation on tests, a perfect score of 100% isn’t possible from what I’ve heard)

I was still a painfully shy kid but that started to change in 4th, 5th and 6th grade. Those years I had wonderful teachers who really helped me open up and realize my potential. I ended up making a lot of friends and became fairly popular with the other kids.

Then came 7th grade.

The town I grew up in is relatively small about 10,000 people, even though the town is small we do have a problem at the local high school. We have fulltime police officers stationed there and they regularly call for backup as unfortunately there is a drug and violence problem in my community.

I went to new student orientation and quickly realized that this wasn’t the place for me. All they could tell us was what we couldn’t do. I hated it.

We started looking for alternatives and one of the people that my dad used to work with had kids who went to this really unique school about 15 minutes away in a town of under 1,000 called the Minnesota New Country School (MNCS) www.newcountryschool.com

We ended up scheduling a tour for this school and I decided that I could really excel at this new learning environment. What made the school unique was you were able to work on projects that interested you instead of being told what to do. Your learning was on your own pace; your own level and you were able to learn just about anything you wanted to (within reason of course).

With this newfound freedom and the ability to have a computer on my desk every single day all day long I began spending a lot of time on the Internet. Being a teenager I realized that I would need money if I were to have a lot of fun so I began searching for ways to make money. This was back in 1999 before the dot com bubble burst and I quickly gathered that people who knew a lot about computers and the Internet were making a lot of money so I began to focus my attention on those core activities.

I stumbled on a program called AllAdvantage.com which paid you $0.50 an hour to surf the Internet; all you needed was to install their software which displayed an advertisement at the bottom of your screen. You also would get paid $0.10 an hour for every hour friends that you recruited were online.

I ended up signing up my parents and a bunch of college kids at the local campus,. This was my first lesson in the power of leveraging I could make money off other people doing work. That wasn’t enough for me and I tried to get my school to sign up, but their lawyer didn’t like the idea and he wouldn’t allow me to sign up the other students on All Advantage.

That didn’t stop me from making money off of the fellow students in my school though. Since MNCS is a really small school and we didn’t have a cafeteria of our own, one of the local restaurants would cater a lunch to us every single day. These lunches would go for $1.75 and you had a choice from about 20 different meals a day to choose from. I would sell various parts of my meal to the students, for example I don’t like pickles and my hamburger would come with three. I would sell each pickle slice for $0.50 a piece and nearly pay for my entire lunch!

I would also buy six packs of Mountain Dew and sell them for $1 or a lunch ticket ($1.75) a bottle and since my parents were paying for the drinks it was 100% profit. (eventually they learned what I was doing)

Some days I would bring candy into school and one candy that made me a lot of money was Smarties. Smarties are really tiny pieces of candy and they come in packages of 10 or so for a dime. I would sell each individual piece of candy for a dime and would make a killing off of my friends.

Another scheme of mine was being a loan shark; from all the money I was making off of my friends I would always have $20 or more in $1’s in my wallet  I would make small loans of $1 or so to my friends and charge interest that would double every single day. The kids took advantage of it because they would forget their money at home for a field trip and would pay me back the next day. Hey, when you’re hungry you’re hungry.

So now you can tell I’m very used to discovering opportunities and exploiting them. Now let’s get on with the story and learn more about my various careers in the business world. I have never ever had to apply for a job in my life.

During my 8th grade year at MNCS, my school was awarded a multi-million dollar grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to replicate the school all over the country. The group that runs MNCS needed promotional materials and computer expertise. They hired me as an independent contractor to help while I was in school on certain projects of theirs for at least $10 an hour and oftentimes on a project basis of $1,000 or more.

I ended up helping them put on workshops where I spoke all over Minnesota about education, created information products to market the school, and I worked with a National Geographic videographer to make some very professional looking videos to teach others about MNCS.

During this time I ended up meeting lots of important people in the education realm from around the world. MNCS tours 500 or more guests from around the world who want to learn about this amazing learning environment.

With the credibility from helping with technology and creating professional videos for the group that runs my school I was able to strike out on my own and drum up business from other local companies. This allowed me to help out a lot of local people and eventually I was even hosting computer training after hours, where I’d charge local residents to have me teach them how to use a computer.

In 2003 MNCS had some student teachers from the local college who ended up doing a class on economics. I didn’t take part in the class but I learned they were doing a fantasy stock market simulation game which allowed us to buy and sell real stocks with a simulated $100,000 of cash. Now being the competitive spirit that I am I asked if I could take part in the game but not be in the class. Shortly thereafter I was number one and had made $140,000! I ended up getting greedy and started riskier investments which dipped me down to $77,000.  I went from the #1 spot to the bottom. However, I had one more trick up my sleeves and in 90 days from hitting rock bottom of $77,000 I hit a whopping $2.3 million dollars in my account. Needless to say I won the game.

With this dramatic success in the stock market I ended up buying every stock market book and training program I could get my hands on and opened a brokerage account with the bank so I could trade stocks while I was at school. Now I made money but not enough to really excite me so what I did was the next best thing.

I decided to teach others how to research stocks and make money with the stock market. I was only a teenager myself but I had subscriptions to the Wall Street Journal, Investor’s Business Daily, and Barron’s I ended up joining various forums and discussion boards on investing and I posted advice on the stock market.

In a short while I had developed a loyal fan base, which was asking me to create my own site, so they could spend their time focused on my systems and learning from me.

I didn’t take me too long to do what my market asked me to do (in order to achieve success you need to develop a loyal base of customers and give them what they want; success is really easy then) I created a web site called Investor’s Business Daily University because I really liked the philosophy they have for investing and I was mainly teaching people how to use their method.

It didn’t take long for Investor’s Business Daily to take notice and send me a cease and desist letter for infringing on their trademark name. Now as a teenage kid I had no idea about copyrights or trademarks and I was devastated that a group that I highly admired wasn’t happy with me. I had treated the site as a fan site dedicated to them and their teachings. It didn’t take too long and a lot of publications got wind of my story and I was getting my 15 minutes of fame in various national publications.

In 2004 and 2005, my senior year of high school, I realized that I could actually achieve real success from the Internet, as evidenced by my stock market web site which was ranked number one on Google, Yahoo and MSN.

I ended up trying lots of strategies to make money online and ended up doing a senior presentation to a hungry group of over 100 adults on how to make money on the Internet and with the success of that I ended up receiving my diploma.

Shortly after graduating from high school I ended up investing in a product which taught me how to become a joint venture broker; I ended up buying the product from Russell Brunson’s affiliate link and his bonus was that you could broker one of his products in return for investing in the course.

I ended up brokering several of Russell’s products and while I was doing that Mark Joyner had released his very popular and free self improvement product Simpleology.com I ended up connecting with Mark and creating a friendship with him. Eventually Mark allowed me to broker some of his product and he even sent me a few autographed copies of some of his books. Inside, one of them said “My prediction within the next 10 years is Reed Floren will be a household name.

He then gave me a ticket to my first Internet marketing conference and I met hundreds of marketers and this gave me the opportunity to work one on one with a marketer named Henry Gold.

In December of 2005, Henry and I teamed up and we launched a web site called 117ChristmasGifts.com which is a massive list building giveaway. We got over 1,000 joint venture partners to participate and at the end of the month had built a list of over 50,000 new members!

In March of 2006 I had literally cracked the AdSense code and was spending money on Google AdWords to send traffic to my sites which had articles and AdSense advertising on them. By April 2006 I was on track to make $30,000 per month before Google decided to shut me down.

This was a devastating loss for me as I was living relatively high on the hog for a young kid. I had bought a bunch of new expensive toys and my first vehicle, an SUV.

It took me several months to recover from that loss and I decided the best way for me to make money was to build my own list. So I did a giveaway event and I invited only 10 marketers to participate; we built a list of over 3,000 people in only 7 days and within one week I was one of the top sellers of a home study course. I ended up making over $1,000 in commissions and ended up winning a Skype Cordless Phone as a prize.

From then on out I ended up launching a lot of web sites for myself and for other marketers. I had started to call myself “The Joint Venture Broker” because I had learned that by putting the world “the” in front of the title it seemed as if a third party was endorsing me and that gave me a credibility boost.

I ended up brokering hundreds of products for various marketers and speaking at different events. In fact every month my friend, Jeff Mills and I, have our own event in the Minneapolis metro area you can learn more about that at http://www.minnesotamarketingmastermind.com

As my reputation and list grew so did my commitments for other people. I have now streamlined most of my business so the real money making aspects only take a few minutes of every day, while I spend the rest of my time having fun with family and friends.

In 2007 I ended up doing a coaching program on joint ventures where I sold over 50 of these at $997 per person, so it was a decent amount of revenue for not a lot of work. If you want to know the secret to my success it is further outlined in this product http://www.thejvbootcamp.com

Speaking of family, they are now getting started in building their own businesses. As I write this, my dad has built a list of around 5,000 people and my girlfriend has a list of 2,000 people. In the Internet marketing niche, a subscribers is worth around $1 per person per month, so I am very thrilled to help them achieve success.

It is now 2008 and I’ve considered myself to be semi-retired for quite some time. I work when I want, on what I want, and only if I feel like I really should.

I don’t mean this to brag, but since you’ve read this far you should know this.

I’ve NEVER worked for anyone else, written a resume, gone to college, or even applied for a job yet I make more than most people do and I spend most of my days having fun. If I can do this, you can do this, and I want to help you.

To learn more about Reed Floren visit http://www.reedfloren.com

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  1. 125 Comment(s)

  2. By Lee Jones on Sep 3, 2008 | Reply

    Good stuff Reed

    Its always good to read a success story, and your story is exceptional for someone as young as yourself……… Well done

  3. By Saul Maraney on Sep 3, 2008 | Reply

    Well Done Reeed!
    You are an inspiration!
    Keep up the great work.
    Regards,
    Saul Maraney
    Johannesburg, South Africa

  4. By admin on Sep 4, 2008 | Reply

    @Lee @Saul thank you

  5. By Lakshay on Sep 4, 2008 | Reply

    Hey Reed!

    This is a great story, excites me a lot as it is pretty much similar to mine as well. I am 19, and I have recently quit IIT, the best known engineering institute in India.

    I really am inspired by you, and look forward to meet you at some event very soon.

    Regards
    Lakshay

  6. By admin on Sep 4, 2008 | Reply

    @Lakshay where can I learn more about your story?

  7. By Vicki Hale on Sep 4, 2008 | Reply

    Hi Reed,

    I am a subscriber to your list, and I follow your (and your Dad’s and Marisa’s!) IM career with interest. I just started my own site this summer, and am in the middle of my first JV giveaway. I’m so excited to actually be getting opt-ins! I will be following your blog posts religiously. Great advice and keep it coming!

    Thanks,

    Vicki

  8. By admin on Sep 4, 2008 | Reply

    @Vicki awesome nice to see someone following the family You may be interested in my mom http://www.susanfloren.com/ and my sister http://www.alexandrafloren.com/ we still need to finish setting stuff up for them but they will do quite well do I imagine. Congrats on your success with your first giveaway, which one is it?

  9. By Anang on Sep 4, 2008 | Reply

    Hi Reed
    Thanks so much or your all news letter.
    Its very excites for me to many learn from
    your free course.
    Great work Reed , you are the inspiration.

    Anang
    Tons of miles from your country.

  10. By admin on Sep 5, 2008 | Reply

    @Anang thank you :)

  11. By Ivan Marin on Sep 5, 2008 | Reply

    ALL YOUR PER GIVE AWAY AND DAY?

  12. By admin on Sep 5, 2008 | Reply

    @Ivan what?

  13. By Jeff on Sep 5, 2008 | Reply

    Reed,

    Your story is inspiring to say the least. I am just getting started in information marketing and building a list, though I have been marketing real products online for a while.

    I have corresponded with your dad, he is a great guy. It must give you a lot of satisfaction to be able to coach your entire family in building their own successful businesses online.

  14. By admin on Sep 5, 2008 | Reply

    @Jeff thank you, yes it is a lot of fun to get your family involved.

  15. By Laurie Brandt on Sep 5, 2008 | Reply

    Hi Reed,

    Love your Articles, Ideas, etc. Great potential. I hav worked a JV or two with you and hope to many more. I always learn from you and that is whay I take all opportunities to do so.

    I look forward to following you as I know quality benefits will come with that. You truly have a fan base growing, keep on keeping up with the qaulity content and I will for sure be around. And suggest you to others all the time and will continue to do so.

    Sincrely,
    Laurie Brandt
    Laurie Brandt Services
    http://www.YourSuccessWealth.com
    http://www.Laurie-Brandt.com (Under Construction My Blog Will Reside Here)

  16. By admin on Sep 6, 2008 | Reply

    @Laurie thank you very much :)

  17. By Muniandy on Sep 6, 2008 | Reply

    Its is challanging college life you was having
    Reed. Great Works Keep it going.

  18. By Yusuf Kirmani on Sep 7, 2008 | Reply

    Reed, everyone can learn something from you. Really this was very special for me. Thanks a lot. God bless you.

  19. By admin on Sep 7, 2008 | Reply

    @Muniandy not challenges only opportunities

    @Yusuf thank you.

  20. By Seeta on Sep 8, 2008 | Reply

    Reed, your story is most inspiring! Do you have any article that explains how to build a list? I would like to start my internet business and would like to get as much information as possible as to how to go about it!…Many thanks, Seeta

  21. By Olas Manns on Sep 8, 2008 | Reply

    Awesome story Reed! Sounds like me selling candy at school, the big sellers for me and a friend were atomic fireballs! Such an inspiring story from someone that is so grounded and down to earth. Looking forward to meeting you soon.

  22. By B&B Marketing on Sep 8, 2008 | Reply

    I just want to make an income on line without spending years of try and test like most have done ,nearly everything costs a monthly fee and thats okay as long as one has dollars coming in to be able to afford those monthly fees ,I HAVE A WEB SITE but took the Search Engines away from it because the products were not bringing me dollars CHEERS B-B

  23. By RAJI AYOBAMI AKEEM on Sep 8, 2008 | Reply

    I am in Nigeria presenly in I hope to join you in America probably by next year because I am one of the beneficiary of America Visa Lottery for 2008/2009. My question is that is it possible to do Affiliate Marketer here in Nigeria.

  24. By admin on Sep 8, 2008 | Reply

    @Seeta I’ll have some articles on that eventually keep coming back to the blog for more tips

    @Olas nice to see someone else who enjoyed selling to the students

    @B&B Marketing I’d focus on building a list. For me my web sites make hardly anything compared to what a list makes.

    @Raji It may be you’d need to check with the programs you promote.

  25. By Ray Johnson on Sep 8, 2008 | Reply

    Reed,

    Just got to say HI.

    What a wonderful insight into your life. You are a great friend to me bro, you were the first BIG marketer to give me a “shot” and for that I owe you immensely.

    Thanks for sharing - it was a pleasure to Reed :) Erm, read.

    We are pretty similar in some ways, as I woul;d like to invite your readers to my blog to hear my story:

    http://www.ray-johnson.co.uk/about-me

    It seems those with adversity in life become the best. I just hope I can achieve all you have with the obstacles I face.

    Much success

    Ray

    Ray Johnsons last blog post..Do You Want An Automatic Blast Of Traffic?

  26. By Rick Lawson on Sep 9, 2008 | Reply

    Reed you sound a lot like my 12 yr old son a 7th grader he has your same ambitions good job.

  27. By Ari Lestariono on Sep 9, 2008 | Reply

    The story is compelling and inspired me.Tell me during those tough times struggling, what was your mental and thought on what you are doing?

    I hope your answer will motivate all of us

    Ari Lestarionos last blog post..Using Social Bookmarking to get backlinks for your Home Business

  28. By admin on Sep 9, 2008 | Reply

    @Ray nice to see you here. Guys Ray has an incredible story and I’m always amazed at what he can do, he’s unstoppable!

    @Rick I’m glad to hear about your son, keep up the great work.

    @Ari back in ‘91 I remember a fear of perhaps my dad and I having to take part in the gulf war (although we didn’t) and I recall the struggle and my parents looking into various business opportunities which probably convinced me that you could make money and not work for someone else. When investment companies went after me I was really scared but didn’t feel I had done anything wrong. When Google made it so I couldn’t have an AdSense account it really hurt since I had spent a lot of money that I didn’t have on hand so I freaked out. All in all I wouldn’t change how things have ended up since every major obstacle has given me new opportunities and made me grow as a person.

  29. By A friend on Sep 9, 2008 | Reply

    Hey Reed.
    I just happened upon this website and I just got done reading your bio. I’m very impressed and very proud of you. You have come so far, I remember when your Google thing didn’t work out. I knew you would figure things out. You are so smart, I’m truly inspired by your story and I hope that your business and everything you do goes in wonderful places.
    All the best.

  30. By admin on Sep 10, 2008 | Reply

    @A friend thanks.

  31. By Ivan Marin on Sep 11, 2008 | Reply

    YOUR HAVE REASON AND INTRUSIVENESS?

  32. By admin on Sep 11, 2008 | Reply

    @Ivan how am I being intrusive this is my blog and you choose to visit it and then leave a criticizing comment on every post. Now I respect that you may disagree with me but I’m not to blame for your lack of success. Judging by your comments on every post of mine you have a mindset issue that has turned you into a victim and doesn’t allow you to take responsibility for your actions. My suggestion to you would be to try what I suggest and then if you feel the need to bash me go ahead. I wish you luck.

  33. By robert on Sep 11, 2008 | Reply

    need money

  34. By Anatoly Silkin on Sep 11, 2008 | Reply

    I hope by means of my sponsor movement to success will begin!!!

  35. By Esther Ossai on Sep 11, 2008 | Reply

    The two emails i sent to you have not received any message from you. I don,t know the reason, till i hear from you Thanks.

  36. By Esther Ossai on Sep 11, 2008 | Reply

    I don,t have more to post till i got an answer please.

  37. By The Bad Blogger on Sep 11, 2008 | Reply

    Is great to see a young success, but actually to my opinion, you shouldn’t even reply to Ivan… here’s what I learn from a marketing level which might not be lower then you or higher then you and that is… concentrate on selling the foxes and don’t worry about offending the dogs…
    May be you heard this but is true you shouldn’t reply to dogs… I’m not sure about you, Reed but I believe not everyone can be successful, and that is why there are dogs around hunger for success people like you to offend…

  38. By admin on Sep 12, 2008 | Reply

    @Robert try the tips on my site and keep us posted on your results

    @Anatoly keep trying the tips on this site and I’m sure you’ll achieve some level of success

    @Esther what email address did you email me from? I don’t see an email from you

    @The Bad Blogger thanks, I’ll probably just ban Ivan pretty soon since he’s got bad energy which isn’t good for the others.

  39. By Fran on Sep 12, 2008 | Reply

    Hello Reed,

    I am new to your info pages but found your story very interesting. I congratulate you on your commitment to yourself. Nothing can get you there if you are not committed to doing what you need to do to get where you want. Your creativity is exceptional. That quality will always propel you ahead of others. I look forward to your seeing what you will be bringing to the rest of us in the future.

    Fran

  40. By admin on Sep 13, 2008 | Reply

    @Fran thank you :)

  41. By John on Sep 14, 2008 | Reply

    Hi Reed,
    I do not have my website up yet. Hope to get it going in a couple of days. I have to hand it to you having all the determination and gaining the knowledge the way you did. Man that is great. Wish I had started when I was younger. The best to you and your family and thanks for all the good info.
    John

  42. By admin on Sep 15, 2008 | Reply

    @John thank you, keep me posted on your web site.

  43. By Dora Kok on Sep 15, 2008 | Reply

    Very impressive biography indeed, Reed.

    There aren’t many like you who are so successful at such a tender age.

    You were born and gifted with a business brain and I’m sure your parents must be very proud of you.

  44. By Stan on Sep 15, 2008 | Reply

    Reed, I wouldn’t pay much attention to Ivan. He is obviously a foreigner with no command of the English language. His first post here is not understandable. Maybe he’s a little crazy?? Anyway, I like your story and am going to try some of your suggestions. Good Luck from this 79 year old.

  45. By admin on Sep 15, 2008 | Reply

    @Dora thank you :)

    @Stan thank you, I think Ivan is now banned so hopefully we won’t have to deal with it anymore.

  46. By Joyce on Sep 19, 2008 | Reply

    Please let me know when you’re next teleconference re: hypnotic selling will be. Thanks.

  47. By admin on Sep 19, 2008 | Reply

    @Joyce hypnotic selling teleconference?

  48. By Najat Engineer on Sep 21, 2008 | Reply

    very inspiring story

    I’ll do what you do and call my self “The Graphic Designer” ;)

    So you were born in 1986, right? I’m older than you by 2 years yet your brain seems too be larger :P

    Wish you all the best and success

    Warm Regards
    Najat Engineer

  49. By kauai massage on Sep 21, 2008 | Reply

    great blog foods you have seo is everything I got you on Twitter lol ;)

  50. By kauai massage on Sep 21, 2008 | Reply

    awesome seo blog you have here lol

  51. By kauai massage on Sep 21, 2008 | Reply

    best seo blog ever here lol thank you got you ontwitter

  52. By JB Linzy III on Sep 22, 2008 | Reply

    Hey, great testimony! It is very inspiring to me. I wish much more wealth to come your way!

    God Bless,

    JB Linzy III

  53. By Kristina on Sep 22, 2008 | Reply

    Hi, What a great story! You are a very special person. I hope I can raise my kids to be like you and myself. But I seem to be working crazy hours like 60 hours per week and getting knowwhere!

    I would love to learn more about how your list is better then a website. I have been online for 7 years, own 20 websites online, 60 domains, and still only making about $1500 per month. I would like to make at least $5000 per month. I would love to learn how.

    also can you tell me more about the 117ChristmasGifts.com site and how that worked to build your list.

    Thanks!

  54. By Matt Thompson | Mattheosis.com on Sep 22, 2008 | Reply

    Fantastic life story! Congradulations, for learning how the real world operates before they never taught you.

    Respectfully, Matt Thompson | Mattheosis.com
    http://mattheosis.com

  55. By Charles on Sep 23, 2008 | Reply

    This is fantastic. Do you think we can copy u and find this success or r we too late already?
    Am keen on these ideas and making money online. any help from your end?

  56. By AidanBreslin on Sep 23, 2008 | Reply

    Reed,

    Inspiring story - thanks for putting it on your blog. I have just started in internet marketing & I’m learning a lot from people like yourself.

    All the best with the new baby too - my wife just had our first 8 weeks ago (a little girl) & it’s great. Get ready for the sleepless nights though!

    All the best to you and your wife

    Aidan

  57. By Jussi Koiranen on Sep 23, 2008 | Reply

    I finally got round to reading this whole story. Very interesting and thought provoking. Quite literally awesome…

  58. By admin on Sep 23, 2008 | Reply

    @Najat you may want to niche that out a little more like “The ECover Graphic Designer” because there are a ton of graphic designers

    @kauai glad you like it

    @JB thank you

    @Kristina success didn’t come to me until I learned the power of joint ventures, list building, product creation, copywriting and now outsourcing.

    @Matt thank you

    @Charles my success is duplicate-able pay attention to this blog and you will learn how.

    @Aidan thank you, and congrats to you and your wife

    @Jussi thank you.

  59. By Tripti Soni on Sep 24, 2008 | Reply

    Hi Reed,

    I am really inspired by your story and i derely hope to be as successfull as you are.

    All the best

    Tripti Soni
    http://quickincomewithsuccess.com - [Make Money Online]

  60. By admin on Sep 25, 2008 | Reply

    @Tripti thanks, keep reading this blog and you will find the success I have found.

  61. By David Smyth on Sep 26, 2008 | Reply

    What an amazingly inspiring story Reed!

    You are so young yet so successful! Good for you!

    May you have many more successes too!

    Best to you and the family!

    Regards,
    D. Smyth.

    David Smyths last blog post..A LIST OF SCAM SITES!! ‘BEWARE’!

  62. By Jerry Goodwin on Sep 27, 2008 | Reply

    Hi Reed,

    Absolutely fantastic, Great story, shows what the entrepeneurial mind can do at any age. Way to go!

  63. By admin on Sep 28, 2008 | Reply

    @David and @Jerry thank you :)

  64. By Olga on Sep 28, 2008 | Reply

    I am happy for you, Reed.
    Congratulations.

    You. certainly, are a SUCCESS STORY to look up to.

    As for Ivan - he must be the Product of the Communist Regime, where only the High Officials had access to all the money and for the rest of the Society it was considered not adequate.
    It takes time for people with that kind of upbringing to see the World non-subjectively.

  65. By gwyn on Sep 29, 2008 | Reply

    what an inspiring story…dedicated guys like you should succeed in life..thanks for sharing your story!

  66. By Paul Hardingham on Sep 30, 2008 | Reply

    Hi Reed

    I’m 40 now but reading your story is INCREDIBLY similar to my own story. I was selling and trading things at school from about the age of 8. Unfortunately the internet wasn’t around when I was still at school though so I had to wait until 1999 to start getting involved. I was also trading stocks and shares in a pretty big way and came 13th in a national magazine here in the UK for a fantasy share trading game - Investors Chronicle. I quit the rat race in 2001 - and went full time internet marketing. A slightly different route and I guess not earning as much as you - YET! But I am totally determined to crack this nut once and for all in the next 24 months.

    All the best and God bless!

    Check out my list building site for op seekers - http://www.quit925.co.uk

    Thanks.

  67. By Becky on Sep 30, 2008 | Reply

    Hi Reed
    I just happened upon your website, I’m hoping to make a little extra money and have more time to do what I want. You seem to have it all together and I was just wondering if you could give me a hand getting it all started. You seem so successful and happy, I’d like a little slice of that pie.
    Thanks,
    Becky

  68. By Paul Hardingham on Sep 30, 2008 | Reply

    Oh, and I forgot to say, I also had a “cease trading” threat from a company on my first web site. I fought my position though and they gave up on me! Ha!

  69. By Jay on Sep 30, 2008 | Reply

    We can relate to Reed’s story and see ourselves somewhere nearer to the beginning of his. But all Newbies start somewhere and it’s great to find someone to trust and tell ya like it is!
    Keep up the good work, Reed, hope to see you soon.
    Jay

    http://www.TheSmallBusinessNanny.blogspot.com

    Jays last blog post..Selling on the Internet–Who Knows What They Are Doing?

  70. By Bloggingoff on Oct 1, 2008 | Reply

    Great stuff young man. Go for it. And I hope to hear more from you through your twitter account

  71. By Michelle Babb on Oct 1, 2008 | Reply

    You got my interest by the announcement of your new baby, being a mom myself. What determination you are blessed with. Great encouragement to me for my new home business.

    Check me out on-
    http://mygoldplan.com/hoorahprosperity(prosper while helping others)

  72. By Lorna Arnold on Oct 2, 2008 | Reply

    I found your bio very interesting since I coach small business. I teach, but you can’t teach drive and ambition. As an older person ( how I hate to say that) I appreciate your aggressiveness. If you get the chance I just put up a site for one of my clients. Still learning but i need to learn the new tricks. http://addressgreen.ruqqa.com

  73. By admin on Oct 3, 2008 | Reply

    @Olga thank you

    @gwyn thank you

    @Paul cool nice to hear we have a similar story

    @Becky I’ve got a coaching program that will help you http://www.thejvbootcamp.com

    @Jay thank you

    @Bloggingoff thank you, glad you are on twitter

    @Michelle thank you, it’s fun being a daddy

    @Lorna thank you

  74. By Harry Freelove on Oct 3, 2008 | Reply

    HI RUSsELL I just bought your system affilate land mine i tried to download and was unable to while trying i lost contack please advise on action thanks Harry

  75. By admin on Oct 3, 2008 | Reply

    @Harry can you shoot me an email at reedfloren AT gmail.com ? I’ll connect you with someone who can help you with Russell’s product.

  76. By Michelle Babb on Oct 3, 2008 | Reply

    Dear Smyth,
    I would like to print your blog page ‘A list of scam sites beware’ but am having trouble doing so.

    When I activate the printer button from file it gives me only the No 1 list,some of the images at the side and the map at the bottom of the your blog page.

    I looked at the print review of ‘Who is Reed Floren’ page and it is okay to print everything I can see.

    What suggestions can you give me to solve this problem?

    Michelle from
    http://mygoldplan.com/hoorahprosperity (prospering,ready to help others do the same)

  77. By Wayne Bell on Oct 4, 2008 | Reply

    Hey Reed:It’s Wayne bell here and I just wanted to say WOW!! Your story reminds me of myself, except for the successful part that is. I don’t really know you but i like you and because of that I am placing a link to your site on my site at “MILLION DOLLAR AFFILIATES”. It may not benefit you but It’s just my way of saying “Thanks For Sharing Your Story”
    and all the best to you and your family. If you see this or have the time check out Your Link at:> http://milliondollaraffiliates.synthasite.com/

    The link is titled: “SUCCESS SECRETS FROM A MASTER MARKETER”

    Regards
    Wayne

  78. By admin on Oct 4, 2008 | Reply

    @Michelle it may be best to just copy and paste the page you want to print into Microsoft Word or some other text editor on your computer

    @Wayne thanks for linking to my site.

  79. By Brian Carelse on Oct 5, 2008 | Reply

    Hey Reed,

    I really enjoyed the inspirational story. Would do really well as part of a book, maybe the early years.

    I have written two products which will revolutionise the world of the responder. It is just focused on giving the client what they want when they say they want it. Which is the basis of all opt in lists.

    Finding it really hard to find a JV Partner! If you have any suggestions I would be eternally thankfull.

    By the way I have a 6 month old son Josh… who some nights decide I can have some sleep… ha ha

    Talk soon and prosperity

  80. By Brian Carelse on Oct 5, 2008 | Reply

    Hi Reed,

    Just wanted to let you have the two website address for those ebooks.

    The Email Butler is http://theemailbutler.synthasite.com

    The Revolutionary Internet Marketing System is
    http://trims.synthasite.com

    I would be honoured if you would consider doing a joint venture with me.

    We’ll call it ourkidsgiveaway
    we could tie in some baby product affiliate type systems.

    Let me know what you think.

    Brian

    Joint Ventures for our children!

    To peaceful nights!

  81. By Karen Ryce on Oct 5, 2008 | Reply

    I loved reading your story. I just got an invitiation to participate in one of your jvs. I actually have two free products. I know that you have checked out one, a free mini-course on the Power of Respect and Ending Conflict in the family, though it can be adapted for the classroom, too. (I taught in Montessori for 15 years in a school I founded, and in public school for 5.5 years)

    My other product is an ebook compiled from a Q&A newspaper column I had. Shall I include that, too?

    I was planning to remove the free items from my websites, but now I won’t.

    I was very interested to read about the school you went to starting in 7th grade. One of my goals is to help all students get “respectful” education. It sounds like that is what you got at that school.

    Forcing someone to study what they are not interested in is not respectful.

    Well, I’m going to download the gifts to you jv and send out the first email.

    Best Wishes,

    Karen Ryce
    The Miracle Worker…of Education and Parenting

  82. By John David Cardosa on Oct 6, 2008 | Reply

    Hi Reed,
    I was most impressed by your story.
    Thank you for sharing it with us.
    You deserve every bit of the success you have had, and no dopubt will continue to have.

    I am 82, a retired teacher, and new to tyhe Internet, and I admire you for what you have achieved at such a tender age. I try to make money on the Internet in order to be able to help people in my favourite charities which are:
    The Cancer Society,
    Hospice
    The International Ostomy Association.
    Every dollar I make on the Internet goes to helping other people who need the money more than I do. I have survived two cancers, and have vowed to help other cancer sufferers for as long as I am able to.
    I hope to learn from your methods. Thank you for sharing with me. God bless you.
    Incidentally, my eldest grandson, Khoo Wu-Chen, aged 31, lives and works as a computer engineer in Minneapolis/StPaul. He has been there since 1996 when he first went to college there. We are from Malaysia.

    Yours sincerely,

    John David Cardosa
    email: cardosajd@gmail.com

  83. By jane semng'indo on Oct 7, 2008 | Reply

    Your life story has inspired me.I’m a lady of 48 and new to the internet,computers and online business.You have inspired me.I can see myself,very successful already! Congratulations and thanks for the inspiration, please visit my website whenever you can.
    Jane.

  84. By admin on Oct 8, 2008 | Reply

    @Brian thanks for the heads up; we’ll continue our conversation via email.

    @Karen thank you, glad to have you on board as well.

    @John I applaud what you are doing by giving away what you make online. That is wonderful

    @jane I’m glad to inspire. to your success!

  85. By Shane on Oct 9, 2008 | Reply

    Great story Reed.
    Thanks for sharing this with us.

    Shane.

    Shanes last blog post..Use a Blog to Attract More Customers

  86. By admin on Oct 9, 2008 | Reply

    @Shane thank you

  87. By irving adams on Oct 11, 2008 | Reply

    Hey Reed,Your story is inspiring and makes me
    want to continue on.I’m making money on the net
    working 2 jobs in the process.My main problem
    is keeping everything organized.I’m trying to get
    a synergistic presentation of whats working for me but its not easy.I don’t make enough off the net to quit my jobs and with one I’m contractually obligated.Any way you inspired me to keep going.
    Thank you>>> Irving

  88. By John Caldecott on Oct 12, 2008 | Reply

    Great read Reed (sorry) very inspiring - and it just shows that when you set your mind on something - you can acheive it. Well done and good luck in the future.
    John.

  89. By admin on Oct 12, 2008 | Reply

    @Irving glad to inspire, thank you

    @John thank you

  90. By Miguelo on Oct 13, 2008 | Reply

    Power Reed!
    You really inspired me and I believed there are a lot more out there really have to hear what to said here.

    More Power Reed!

    Miguelos last blog post..Web 2.0 Reaches a New Level For Marketers

  91. By Edward on Oct 13, 2008 | Reply

    Reed, that was a very inspiring story.

    I have a 13 year old nephew…he’s obviously the same age when you started…what advice would you give him about making money on the Internet? Obviously he’s not going to be brokering joint ventures, managing a list, etc.

  92. By Daniel from the Graphic Design Geeks on Oct 14, 2008 | Reply

    Reed, it was very encouraging reading your bio. I am 21, and have been involved in online ventures since 12 years old. Being home schooled through my high school sophomore year, I experienced a very similar education to what you did.

    Though my main focus has been in graphic design, in the recent months I have successfully used outsourcing to leverage my time and work flow for my advantage; my goal is by the end of this year to have my graphic design company 95% automated, leaving my time free to work on several other ideas I’m ready to start that are in the internet marketing realm.

    Get in touch with me if you’re interested in a JV; I’d love to learn more about you and work with you on a couple of projects.

  93. By admin on Oct 14, 2008 | Reply

    @Miguelo thank you glad to inspire.

    @Edward thanks… If I were to start over I would go to seminars, buy more higher end products (like coaching programs/home study courses) and I would focus on my own products and building a list. Now if your nephew isn’t passionate about making money online then just wait before you invest this kind of money to change their thinking. Most kids and young adults don’t care enough to change their circumstances.

    @Daniel nice to meet you; shoot me an email at reedfloren AT gmail.com

  94. By Missy (from G34 Media) on Oct 16, 2008 | Reply

    Hi, Reed:
    I found you via Twitter, i think you responded to a tweet by TheLazySlacker. I picked up on it and followed you all they way here.

    Imagine that? Gotta love web 2.0

    Your history is nothing short of inspiring and to think you are just getting started. Wow!

    It is so important for young people to ride any early momentum. Isn’t success sweet? Of course and when you get that first taste, you want more and more.

    It is clear that you are a natural entrepreneur and awesome that your now helping others.

    Nice to meet you.

    Missy.
    G34 Media
    http://www.g34media.com

    Missy (from G34 Media)s last blog post..10 Ways To Generate Blog Income, Part I

  95. By proson on Oct 16, 2008 | Reply

    Hey Reed, it sounds like you are a young
    “warren buffett”. I read his story and you basically did what he did during his younger age. He bought 6 packs of coke and you sold six pack of mountain dew.. :)

    Anyway, I guess your success developed through your younger age where your family financial situation wasn’t that good….

  96. By admin on Oct 16, 2008 | Reply

    @Missy thank you; nice to see some people finding this site via twitter

    @Proson thank you nice to be compared to the current richest person in the world (just ahead of Bill Gates at the moment)

  97. By raffimax on Oct 16, 2008 | Reply

    Very inspiring, indeed.
    Thanks for sharing your great story Reed..

    Good luck,
    Raffi

    raffimaxs last blog post..Why Affiliate Marketing is an Amazing Online Business?

  98. By Henrik Blunck - Denmark on Oct 19, 2008 | Reply

    Hi Reed

    Truly an amazing story. I fully agree, and see where you’re coming from. Seizing an opportunity will oftentimes make others jealous, but it is true: we are our own best motivators when we allow creativity and good thinking to move us forward.

    Most people move backwards because they are afraid to make mistakes, but pioneers will indeed succeed. Thanks for sharing your biography. Very interesting indeed. :-)
    Henrik Blunck - Denmarks last blog post..When The Gloves Come Off

  99. By Nayanika on Oct 19, 2008 | Reply

    Hi Reed

    You seem like a swell kid
    Thanks for stepping in to help me
    I am a foster mother dearest one
    so you could be sure this merits more attention than meets the eye
    since I have two daughters into their late 20’s u could well step in as a son…
    Give me tips and help me sum up the way to get to make the videos and I will be with your suggestions
    God bless you my son

  100. By admin on Oct 20, 2008 | Reply

    @raffimax thanks

    @Henrick thank you I agree most people are afraid to fail, if we aren’t failing we aren’t living

    @Nayanika continue reading this blog and you will find more tips and techniques that can help you achieve internet marketing success

  101. By VLADIMIR MANAKOV on Oct 20, 2008 | Reply

    Dear Reed,
    It’s really an inspired story.
    Have a great day.
    Vladimir

  102. By Phil Newton on Oct 20, 2008 | Reply

    Hi Reed,

    What an incredible story, I’m nearing retirement age and have spent a few years trying to learn this internet stuff and your story just motivates me to not give up.

    I have a blog (philipjnewton.com)but not getting the traffic, haven’t made any money (spent plenty!) and just partners with someone in a new venture that Jack Humphrey and others have just launched. Our website (DirectoryOfNewZealand.com)launches 1st of November. We knew we made the right decision when Joel Comm joined!

    Not long joined Twitter and only following one and that’s you. Thanks for sharing your inspiring story.

    Phil

    Phil Newtons last blog post..Here’s How To Speed Up Your Success!

  103. By Erick on Oct 21, 2008 | Reply

    Hi Reed,
    This is very impressive, I am happy to hear that you had such exceptional opportunity and was able to recognize it so early. Your story is great!
    However, as you probably know, the internet was not always available to people. If it had been, or they had had access to a school that not only supplied computers but access to the internet and unlimited time to “play” on it, many more stories like your’s would have been possible for sure.
    I believe, from what you’ve said, that as highly motivated as your dad was to succeed for his family, he would have beaten you there, having had the same opportunities which he has provided for you!
    Most of us did not have that kind of access to technology, or even computers (home computer systems did not exist till recently in the scheme of time) not to diminish your achievements to any degree, they are quite admirable.
    Now, having said all that, I have but one question that I am really wondering if anyone in internet marketing has the answer to, namely - “Do any of the so-called internet marketers actually ’sell’ or market anything other than ‘internet marketing’?
    I mean telling others how to make money on the net, by telling others how to make money on the net, seems like a sort of ‘wealth sharing’ type business, rather than actually selling a product that has to satisfy and continually provide new value to a market for a particular ‘real’ product or item like say a Video Game or Styles of Clothing, this would not be the “walk in the park” that charging outrageous sums for telling others how to sell the “Idea of Charging Outrageous Sums For Telling Others How To Charge Outrageous Sums, etc.” has been for you and others.
    It seems a little like a cat (though a very “Sly” Cat) teaching other cats how to chase their tails and charging them for it, so that he won’t have to chase his own tail…as you yourself have stated, you weren’t satisfied with the money that could be made in the stock market and so decided instead, that it would be much more lucrative to “Teach” others how to make money on the stock market (which you’ve said was not enough to excite you to continue with stock marketing), again charging outrageous sums for teaching something that you yourself would not do cause there just wasn’t enough money in it for you to spend your time on.
    I hope that I can depend on such trusting and unobservant clients, as you have had, in the future, as I would very much like to convince others to pay me extreme money for teaching them how to teach others to teach others to teach others to teach others to…..(well by now you see that I see), without their waking up and realizing it!
    We should really talk, I must give you credit, I really have not seen the “Shell Game” played with such smooth expertise before, and it is quite impressive indeed!!!
    Oh, how sweet it is!!! To quote a once famous comedian and how comical it must seem to you! I mean I was a very good Artist and sold everything that I put my hands on for years to support myself, but had I only realized that I could charge much much more to teach others how to make mediocre money doing what I could only make mediocre money doing, but could make fabulous money teaching them to make mediocre money doing….LOL…and they chase that tail don’t they? ……hahahahahaha …how brilliant is that?!!!!! Sooo, goes the old old adage - “Those who can, Do!, and those who can’t, Teach!”.
    I wish I had been smart enough to “see” the real Pearl in that oyster…..and now, thanks to what you’ve said here, I do!!!
    Wow, so you have managed to convince others that they can make the money they’ve always dreamed of, doing things that you don’t find it profitable enough to do yourself, but are happy to teach them how to do, for enormous sums of money in hopes that they will duplicate your success!!!
    But they never will, because what they don’t realize is that your “real success” is in doing exactly what you are doing - Teaching them, something that they, with a little help from “Hype” and the internet and their own assumptions, have convinced themselves is how you have succeeded in making money from the internet!!!
    So, can you or any of your marketers answer the prime question, What do you sell online other than how to sell how to sell online to others? or in the form above - “Do any of the so-called internet marketers actually ’sell’ or market anything other than ‘internet marketing’? Oops, did I show the cat it’s his tail he’s chasing? ;)

  104. By juan c on Oct 22, 2008 | Reply

    GRASIAS

  105. By Joe Guarascio on Oct 22, 2008 | Reply

    Hi Reed,

    Enjoyed the story and I look forward to working with you one on one for my upcoming product launch.

    I love your emphasis on getting to spend time with family and friends. That is what drives me as well.

  106. By admin on Oct 23, 2008 | Reply

    @Vladimer thank you

    @Phil thanks glad to see you come in from Twitter

    @Erick interesting points your bring up. There are a lot of marketers out there who haven’t made money in other markets and/or haven’t made money online at all and decide to teach others how to do it. I however have made money in various niches for instance things like finance, family related issues, technology and even obscure things like hairstyles. Now my focus is on my passion for marketing and teaching others how to do it. They can sell IM how to products or they can promote other items whatever they are passionate about and can make it profitable.

    @juan you’re welcome

    @Joe awesome, glad that drives you as well :)

  107. By Lori on Oct 23, 2008 | Reply

    Hi Reed, Wow, what an inspiration you are! I hope one day my kids can tell a similar story as yours since that isn’t even close to my story and still working on mine to be at a point where I can be retired if I choose to be.

    I too live in MN and look forward to meeting you soon at one of yours and Jeff Mills Mastermind Meetup meetings.

    Blessings,
    Lori

  108. By Erick on Oct 24, 2008 | Reply

    Thanks so much for your reply, Reed,
    My point is not that you can’t make money in Niches online, but that making the “Huge” profits from online endeavors, that is usually described by internet “Gurus”, is usually “Hit or Miss”, at best, and just as risky and unpredictable as any other business venture, but that when someone like yourself succeeds in an an enormous way Very Early, normally by “Pure Luck” as much as anything else, into the internet marketing venue, they almost always begin to continue their money making based exclusively on “Teaching” others what they know about marketing techniques, rather than to focus on what seems, up to this point, to be the much much less profitable practice of continuing to take the chance of Huge losses by seeking products and services to market on the net that do not have anything to do with internet marketing or marketing education period!
    I have lots of mature, savvy business associate friends who’ve run very very successful internet and non-internet businesses, and they ALL, without exception, say that succeeding in internet marketing is as much dependent on lots of research into the product being marketed and “Pure Luck” in choosing a product that you can successfully generate a high consumer interest base in, than on any other single thing!!!
    In fact, the most successful business professionals (in internet businesses) tell me invariably that, success on the internet is almost always “Pure Luck” in choosing a product that will become a “HOT” Seller, since no money is made in any market internet or otherwise unless “Sales” are made, and that unfortunately this is soooo true, that most of them have spent literally years building up markets with enough customer based interest on the net, to make enough money to pay them even a small profit that would suggest that all the many many heartbreaking hours and months and years that they have poured into their online businesses was worth all the time and frustration that they have experienced in the process, Until they finally “Hit” on a money making business that is usually a result of “Accidentally Finding” a Product that “Takes Off” on it’s own and then once that “Success” has been achieved most of them VEQuickly “Switch” to Teaching the “How To Do Its’” of their so-called Brilliant Marketing Plan for Success, because there are so many Desperate Internet Marketers who’ve failed over and over again just like they did, to “Hit On The Lucky Product” that finds a niche that is promoted by already established credible sources like Television and other News/Media sources that causes that product to “Take Off” and Sell Like Mad because of the Mass Media Attention it received!!! Creating an “Automatic Market” for a very lucrative income, Selling the one thing that is Sure to Sell to those Desperate to “Make It Too” and that is Marketing and Marketing Tools/Products that “Seem” to promise, finally, Success! to those Desperate to Stop up the Cash Leaking Holes in their internet Businesses that many of them are working conventional jobs to support, and sometimes doing without life’s necessities to support their internet niches till they can make them turn profits for them!

  109. By Erick on Oct 24, 2008 | Reply

    Please excuse the “Numb Fingers” syndrome that caused that last post to have the Loss of the information in VEQuickly should say VERY Quickly and then I had not finished saying what I had wanted before it Posted by some miracle of finger cooridiation loss, that can’t be corrected once you have made the boo-boo of hitting the wrong key that gets it posted, but I think that I have made enough of the point that I had in mind with very little left to add. If you can change these facts for me or anyone, without “Cost” and usually Major Costs, then I may want to start some internet business Websites, but till then, I really don’t have the resources to waste on “Hit or Miss” techniques, I just haven’t mastered my “Crystal Ball” to that degree of Market prediction just yet, most really successful market endeavors are just as big a surprise to those who start them as they are to everyone else, please convince me otherwise, I would love that degree of success, without having to shell out enough Moola to “Force” any business to succeed, I mean it’s been known that if you throw enough Money at any business that has any chance of succeeding at all it will finally succeed to a degree, but will it even replace, with it’s so called success, the Money that been literally thrown into it, not usually! unless it stays very successful and profitable for a very long time, which usually is not the case, I just refuse to spend Money that I don’t have on this kind of Buying of Success in business, show me how to do it with “No Money” and then you will have me CONVINCED, but right now, living on disability, I just can’t Create Business Success by Pumping any and all my limited Resources into it till it starts succeeding and then Rapidly “Switching” to “Marketing Education” to take advantage of all the other Poor Losers that have been Pouring Unrecoverable Money Into the Net till they desperately make me rich telling them how to sell stuff online, when they can find that out at any public library since “Sales” and “Salesmanship” is still what it is, and has been virtually forever. Thanks but “Show Me” and do it without investment except for time which is also not “Free” and IS Very Valuable in it’s self and I will help you to convince others that they should do the same!

  110. By admin on Oct 25, 2008 | Reply

    @Lori it’d be great to have you at one of our meetups

    @Erick I think we make our own luck. Granted there are things that can happen that can be “lucky” for you but it really boils down to being prepared for the right opportunities and taking action on them. One of the best ways to ensure success in internet marketing is to start building your list right away. Without a doubt my connections and my list have made me the BULK of my income.

  111. By Erick on Oct 26, 2008 | Reply

    Great! Reed,
    I believe that it is possible to “Create” your own luck also, like Loretta Lynn and her husband did when they traveled the country visiting one radio station after another until she was a well known singer/songwriter. But, again, she and he, sacrificed almost everything they owned to “Create” that so-called “Luck”, when in actuality it took all that they had and all of their time, while literally living out of their car, which was a cramped station wagon filled to the brim with the tapes of her songs which they’d spent every dime they had on! That, to me, was not much “Luck” but lots of hard work, talent, and hardship!, which, as I said before, is more like “throwing money at a business till it becomes successful”, doesn’t sound like “Luck” at all, however, it was very “Lucky” that she (Loretta) had the incomparable songwriting Talent which she already had, and that she and her husband knew and believed in that talent enough to literally “Sacrifice Everything” to push it! And as I have also stated “any business can be made successful in this way” (by throwing all your money at it) and that is well known, but what about those who are like me (disabled with poor health) or who are raising families? They can’t really afford to just chuck everything, for health or other reasons, and “Follow That Star” so to speak, while pushing a business or investment into succeeding. What would you say to them?, other than “For 997 dollars (that they don’t have, which may as well be 9,997,000 dollars that they just don’t have, or even 97 dollars that they don’t have, or even the dollar for a dime that you asked your friends at school for (figurative of selling them candies for a dime a piece that only cost you a dime for ten pieces) I will “Teach” you how to be a success or sell you this program that will make you a success, or send you this seminar that will…..etc. etc. etc., when they can’t “Eat” or “Stay Alive” (referring to medication costs) on the promises of success while they follow that star they could or should or would like to follow? I would say, “Don’t expect to be successful, no matter how much or what you are ‘promised’ by anyone or anything, like a program or a list that changes with the wind, whenever someone changes their email address (they do this like I change my shirt) every time they change internet service providers, and when you include just One of those “invalid” email addresses in a mail out, no matter how much “work” you put into it, the server “bounces” the email back to you and you may get it bounced till all you do is read and delete invalid email addresses and wonder if anyone got any of that mail! And again I would say that without a “Bird in the Hand” so to speak, like Loretta’s Amazing “God Given” Talent for songwriting and singing (her Luck, Lucky Product, etc. as she never studied music or went to school to Make that luck for herself) or like already “Succeeding” by that type thing, so that you can “Switch” to selling Marketing Strategies to desperately struggling people, you’re kind of “Stuck” trying to “Sell” whatever you can for whatever you can, to People who may or may not want or need whatever it is you can find to sell, at some kind of profit that would truly make you a success.
    I guess what I am asking is - Where are the Internet Marketing Specialists/Gurus who say that they want to help others, who will “Give” these folks the Tools, Techniques, Programs, Seminars, and Strategies that they need, which is what they “Sell” to make themselves successes? (like the friend that “gave” you that plane ticket to attend your first seminar) and then, after they’ve succeeded to the point of having reached “Those so Called Guru’s Level of Success” ask them for the 997 dollars, or the 97 dollars, or the 47 dollars, or whatever the so-called “small” price that they want for what their “Free Help” is costing them, I am sure they’d ALL be very Gratefully Glad to pay those amounts then, being now independently wealthy, after it won’t be such an amazing burden on them!!!
    Hey, Reed, now I am very serious here, I would be willing to try whatever you or any of these successes say that I can (which means without spending money that I don’t have), to make it like you and others have in internet marketing, as long as I don’t have to feel like I am cheating someone who can’t really afford what I am offering, which has “No Guarantee” of working for them, as it may have for me or others who sell all this internet marketing stuff, when this is largely dependent on so so many factors and “Timing” and No One is admitting to, or telling the poor slobs that “Major Truth”, because it would cost the person who admits these Truths money, because, like me, there would be far fewer “Takers” of these “Wonder Offers” and “Millionaire Making” Seminars which keep all of them afloat.
    If, you lay it all out clearly and truthfully for them, the truth seems to me to be that “If you want to be an internet marketing success, you have to either “Hit” on the next amazing product that you can smooth-talk people into believing they just can’t live without and be able to repeat that over and over again, or be very good at Convincing others to buy ‘Your special plan’ to succeeding on the internet!!!” otherwise don’t expect that level of success although, as always, I will admit that if you work long and hard enough at moving enough different types of product on enough low cost venture sites you will eventually get somewhere if you have to run 10,000 websites to do it!
    Now, how close is that to the real state of it all? really? I just want to succeed at marketing something even if it’s just an opinion, so that I can get off of disability and make a living without having so many limitations placed on my life, just like everyone else here.
    I should not need to ask you these things again, I think by now you know what I am trying to say, Like you I understand what drives markets and money, I am just in a position where I can’t afford to purchase every gimmick on the internet to try and succeed at it. So, what else is there to say?

  112. By Erick on Oct 26, 2008 | Reply

    Oh, an by the way, I would sincerely like to thank you for the opportunity to sort of “sound off” about the frustration that I am sure so many other people in my position are thinking every time they read some of the stuff (offers to help you be a success) they all read everyday.
    I am truly glad for you and for your phenomenal successes, and hope that they continue for you and for everyone else who manages to get the net to work for them. I am sure it takes real courage to see these comments here, and to let them stay (most would not have the guts) you must truly believe in what you are doing.
    Thank you so very much.

  113. By Dale Kydd</