How come 90%+ of people just read and plan, but never actually 'do'?

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WildPointer

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May 20, 2007
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What stops most people from using things like self-help books or sites like this merely as mental masturbation, never acting on what they learn?

Nobody wants a job, and everybody has talents, skills, ideas and plans, but who actually takes the risks? acts on their ideas? at least tries?

Why don't most people (me included) do anything?

It's human nature for us not to do things we don't have to do. This is why most people spend their free time having fun, and only working when they are at work (specifically, under rule of a boss or other authority). It's far easier to wake up, go to work and come home than it is to sit down and plan out how to go about implementing an idea or running a business, no matter the rewards.

I grew up thinking that I wasn't normal because I was a thinker, nor a do-er, but I have realized that do-ers are a rare exception, and not the norm. After this realization, I stopped trying to get amphetamine thinking I had ADD and began to actually do work. I accepted the fact that this extra work was optional and I CHOSE to do it for my own sake, not because I thought it was abnormal not to do work due to me being deficient in any way (ADD, depression, fatigue, etc).

What do you guys think? Why do most people think and not do? :)
 


I think its very common and pointless to come to grips with your own situation as a forum post followed by a thin question that you don't really care about.
Believe it or not this question structure is common on every type of forum I am on.

Truthfully set specific goals and you should progress faster then just reading shit with the general inclination to make money online.

read this:
Goal Setting Tips and Secrets
 
Need. It's that simple.

Imagine yourself a millionaire. Would you work as hard to make $100 a day? I doubt it.

Imagine that everything you want...your freedom, your ability to live a decent life... counts on you making $100 a day. That motivates you to actually do something because it isn't a want...it's a need.

When you need something bad enough you'll do what it takes to get it.
 
I bet about half of ebook buyers do something, it doesnt get the results they were promised and they quit.

Cant really blaim them. Ebooks are 95% lies.

To be honest I do most of the ideas that get on my front burner. Some just sit waiting to get done. I have about 10 domain names that are good, that need to get done, I am just on a few big projects.
 
10% are leaders and self-starters... the remaining 90% are followers and sheep...

probably more like 99% sheep tho...
 
I think a lot of people in this industry have similar personalities...

Ideas spew out of our heads constantly, and we're in the business where developing pretty much any idea we come up with is an option for us. We begin to develop anything that looks good, then move on to the next idea before the first one is complete. Our previous idea(s) always get neglected for new ones before they have enough effort put into them to succeed. We're all undecisive and it's difficult for us to get married to an idea when there are other attractive opportunities staring us in the face all day.

It's similar to being a really good looking guy. You've got so many good looking ladies that want to be with you, you spread yourself thin and try to have them all, but never develop anything with any one of them because there are always new ones waiting for you. Although women attempt to hold you accountable for your actions, so sometimes they can reel you in and make you settle down. Ideas don't have feelings, so you can just move on forever, never really getting anywhere.

You have to discipline yourself to pick no more than a couple ideas at a time and commit to them until they either a) fail/ die out or b) need little maintenance (or sell).

Hang some vice grips from your penis and every time you leave an idea unfinished for another idea, tighten them a little. Eventually you will learn. Hopefully I will too =)
 
Agreed that this forum is the death of many would-be marketers. Oh, and throw in IRC too - Honestly, since I decided to not go on IRC I feel like I get so much more shit done.

I think alot of the people that plan and never do are the people that didnt try very hard and were shocked when they didnt make any money, me included. When I first start out I read threads left and right about people claiming to be noobs and making $500 there first month out. After trying what that person said they tried and seeing that it didnt make me any money I started thinking 'Maybe I need to plan out my next campaign better, etc'

If you ever get into a funk where something isnt working, try the exact opposite... For instance, if you do PPC and fail miserably, try a content site, the change of pace helped to re-invigorate me when I sucked...
 
The question wasn't about me personally. In fact, I don't read this forum, nor any motivational blogs or books. I accidentally came here and my password was saved, so I logged in and asked the question. I come here when I have something specific to say or search for, not merely for recreation.

I'm interested in answers because I'm interested in psychoanalysis (one of my majors). I'm basically just trying to see exactly what enthusiasm and That Drive is and if it is inheritable (genetic), conditioned, and so on. I've asked this to many people on many forums.. I get many answers:

Some people say, wanna get work done? Amphetamine!

Others say, like above, that you need specific goals, bills, etc, but in my experience this hasn't been much of a factor because I know a few people with good ideas, but they are 10-50K in debt and still don't do anything. Some are so apathetic they can't even hold a job.

Some say it is genetic but others with two hard working, highly motivated parents, still don't do shit.

Fear of failing is a common one.. fear of taking risks, also, especially in terms of making big financial (as opposed to just time) investments.

One theory I have is that some people lack organization or leadership skills. I know intelligent people who excel at work or school, but they are not managers or leaders. They can do what they are told, but cannot organize things themselves.

Age should also be taken into account. I find that younger people (13-17) are very enthusiastic, especially about making money. I find that 18-24 are so-so, some being highly motivated but most (90%) being too distracted or lazy or pessimistic about doing anything. As you get older, this splits into two extremes even more.. some people work their asses off at work and put themselves in "the rat race" and remain there, while others become aware of the rat race and work their ass off to get out (I think many people here fit this, me included).

Anyway, so far I think it's very complex and a combination of many factors. I want to highlight some key replies for inspiration to people:

The first step is admitting you have a problem: "I'm 100% sure if I wasn't on here all fucking day I'd make more money"

"Truthfully set specific goals and you should progress faster then just reading shit with the general inclination to make money online."

"the fear of failing": Failure = experience = wisdom

and these two:
" So the other 10% can get rich." & "10% are leaders and self-starters... the remaining 90% are followers and sheep...probably more like 99% sheep tho..."

Keeping this in mind, remember that doing extra work, no matter how tedious it is, is your choice, for your benefit!
 
wsmith810 said:
I'm 100% sure if I wasn't on here all fucking day I'd make more money

At least I'm honest with myself
Click to expand...

You're right. Here's a bit of irony:

I'm 100% sure if I wasn't on here all fucking day, I wouldn't be making money (on IM) at all.
 
I guess everybody is different, I would consider myself a workaholic if I like where I work, I can do my best and not ever ask for a raise even if I deserve it. I can work 2 or 3 jobs 18 hrs. a day and do my own projects on the weekend it doesn't effect me. It's just more money in my pocket.

I like to think about the bigger schemes of things like my future, where I'm going to be when I'm old I don't want to be the 54 year old guy that I work with in my office and gets paid the same as me. I didn't go to college, so I really don't have many options and consider myself very lucky that I found IM. If I'm going to put this off, it would be the same as one of the biggest mistakes I made in my opinion which was dropping out of college. I can only be accepted for entry level jobs and my average pay is $10/hr. I really don't have many options.

Even if I'm not actually doing any work, I'm always thinking of ideas to make money, wheather affiliate marketing related or not, from selling gift wrap at my local flea market during the holidays to a topless maid service. Most of my ideas don't work, I've done much better online than I have offline, but it's my ambition that drives me.

I don't know how many people here have seen the movie "Blow", but I like to think of this line throughout my days:

"Throughout my lifetime I've left pieces of my heart here and there. And now, there's almost barely enough to stay alive. But I force a smile, knowing that my ambition far exceeded my talent."


I always tell myself I'm not doing enough work just to try to push myself harder, even though I know I am working or atleast trying to think of new ideas. You can do all the work your heart desires, staying up 24 hr. days on end, but unless you actually have an idea that's going to make money, then you're not going to see any results.

I recently picked up a 9-5 and that makes me work harder with the small amount of time I have to work on IM. No matter how much money I ever make I'll still have a 9-5 since I'm the kind of person that has to go out and have a schedule and have some discipline.

I've also noticed once I start making some money that I get lazier, once I'm bust, I'll go crazy until I find a new way to make money.

Oh yeah and strip clubs, I like being able to go as much as possible and spending a $1000 a night and not have to worry about it since I have 3 paychecks coming in next week.

Everybody is different, I guess it's in my blood my dad has his own business and many of my relatives have their own business. I started selling drugs in high school didn't have to work for many years until I got busted, started working a 9-5 which took some adjusting started trying to find ways to make a lot of money legally and now I've ended up here.
 
I'm always thinking of ideas to make money, wheather affiliate marketing related or not, from selling gift wrap at my local flea market during the holidays to a topless maid service.
Click to expand...

YOU are a topless maid? LOL... pix to prove it! I wanna see the little French Maid outfit!
 
springer said:
YOU are a topless maid? LOL... pix to prove it! I wanna see the little French Maid outfit!
Click to expand...

Not me jackass, I meant starting a business like that, hiring females you know? I actually did start the business, although it wasn't professional and I got the feeling some of the females were going beyond the job description so I stopped it.
 
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