Oh nos! I lost my authority!
Published: Sat, 06/25/16
Case in point:
This fellow’s comments about the “HUGE mistake” I’m making by making my podcast part of a paid subscription vs keeping it free.
My responses are below each of his comments.
Enjoy:
===
“Not that I wouldn’t consider signing up, but probably a HUGE mistake for you, I’m really surprised Johnathon would support you on this, he should know better, he is a content publisher (isn't he? or has he gone mad too?).”
BS: Amusingly, it was originally Producer Jonathan’s idea over a year ago to make it a paid podcast.
“What’s next, your daily emails will become a (paid) subscription-based “privalege”?”
BS: Drama queens gonna drama.
Actually, that’s not 100% out of the question.
I pay James Altuchur $39 per year to get a daily email/article from him that sells me products he sells as an affiliate. Not the business model I want to use, but he's a smart bloke and it seems viable enough to me.
“Then what, you’ll want to be paid for personal conversations in your day to day life? Imagine calling the doctor for an appointment but telling the receptionist you need her to PayPal you $10 before you say another word…
Receptionist: oh but we can’t do that Mr. Settle
Ben: fine, I’ll find another doctor
New Doctor: oh we’re not setup to do that Mr. Settle
Ben: fine, I’ll find another doctor
Another new doctor: can you repeat that please?
Ben: nevermind, I’ll use a wrench
Until there are no more doctors, dentists, lawyers, girls, customers, it’s a lonely ride you’re embarking on and because I know you secretly thrive on unsolicited advice… You’re slowly painting yourself into a corner, both professionally and mentally… when will the madness stop? At complete isolation?”
BS: I'm not the kinda guy who uses “LOL” in an email.
But, if I was, the sheer incoherence of the above would surely get me to do so.
“You’re doing everything right but you’re misinterpreting your success in a big way, don’t screw it up now Ben… What if you’re wrong? What if I’m right? You’ll loose a lot of respect and authority if you’re forced to go from “paid" back to free, people will forget what they really know and like about you, and connect Ben Settle to “confusion, desperation, greed” (and not just prospects and fence sitters, but long time subscribers).”
BS: Typical IMer playing to not lose instead of playing to win.
How cute.
I play to win.
If I win, I win big.
If I lose, I lose big and learn from it and do something else I win big at.
(Either way, I win.)
Plus, it's not carved in stone anywhere that I *have* to go back to a free a podcast again, nor would I probably even want to. Most likely, I'd take the time and energy I put into the podcast and do something completely different.
Which brings up another point:
Don't fear a bad result.
That's all it is -- a result, nothing more, nothing less.
More:
Anyone who has respect for me who would “lose respect” because I had a failed venture shouldn’t even be on my list in the first place. (I have had many failures, too many to count, already). Nor should they be in business at all. Failing is part of the process of learning.
Anyway, the drama queening here is just silly.
Amusing, yes.
But, still silly.
“Don’t risk it Ben, don’t throw it all in the wind and hope it comes back. I speak for the little people (read: the masses)”
Know what’s even *more* amusing?
That you think I’m targeting the masses.
The masses are asses.
Or, as I call 'em, "the great unwashed asses."
Just look at the vile people they’ve voted for over the last 20 years. And, all the hyped up nonsense people buy online each day.
“Did I make a dent?”
Not at all.
But, you did deliver me some great fodder.
(Which I am gratefully using now, gracias.)
And for that, I give you a hearty thumbs up.
Anyway, to see what the hub-bub is about with my new paid podcast adventure, and get in at a price so low during the launch it might as well be free, jump on the notification list here:
http://www.elBenbo.com
Ben Settle