Get Rich Quick Idea Being Shunned Everywhere
December 28th, 2011 | 
Author: Hi everyone! I was reading something interesting that’s perfect for our 2012 planning. It was all about how Atlanta, Georgia is becoming a new tech start-up scene – people moving away from traditional start-up locations like Silicon Valley or New York. The reason? Southern Hospitality, y’all!
I know many of my readers aren’t from the South and haven’t ever been here to the South. A lot of what’s portrayed about the South is some hillbilly trash scene with stupid sounding speech. Well it’s not all like that.
What I grew up with is just kind-hearted, welcoming people. While there might be a North-South rivalry, people I know think of it more like football team favorites. As a whole, as Americans or humans in general, we all come together.
Southern hospitality is welcoming people into your family even if they’re not related to you. It’s showing guests a good time, cooking for them, and letting them into your home for comfort when they need it.
So as far as business goes, I think it’s AWESOME that companies are now shunning the “how fast can we make money off consumers” mindset for one that puts people first.
In the South, we relax and do things slow and easy. Of course in Texas, we drive fast and have shotguns parked on racks just in case you cut us off 
But in general, we talk slow, eat slow, and enjoy life! We’re not in any hurry.
Maybe that’s why I never ever fell into the get rich quick trap. Of course I wanted to grow my business, and i did have some down times, let me tell you – but I never had that feeding frenzy of making money and it could be why my ethics easily stayed intact.
I love this quote from the article (which I’ll link to at the bottom of this post):
If you follow our tech entrepreneurs on Twitter, the first thing you are going to see in their bios is not the business they run but something about their family or who they are,” Graham said. “I still try to be home at six to have dinner with my family.
I think this is important. People aren’t going to connect with your ability to make money fast. They connect to who you are as a person. This year coming up, let’s put an emphasis on having a better quality of life for all of us – it’s NOT all about the money (that STILL confuses a lot of marketers who are baffled when I don’t jump at the chance to JV with them).
It’s about enjoying your career path and being able to provide for your family, but be there for them, too.
This is why i always tell people to not jump online desperately. Grow it slow and steady and be happy. I remember one of the gurus I worked for worked 20 hours a day. He had an office built into his home but he always turned his family away. He sometimes talked about his daughter but I wondered when he ever interacted with her. It didn’t seem to be much.
Money does your family no good if you don’t give them time to laugh with you, share their concerns and triumphs, and if you have little ones, just hold them. That’s way more important than having “things.”
And yes, I understand money puts food on the table and clothes on your back. Those are important too. You might have to work more early on to achieve basic income, but once those things are covered, it’s so easy to fall into the trap of growing your business faster and faster and faster and more and more and more!
Please don’t let greed or even excitement take precedence over your family or even yourself, if you’re alone. You need time to not be a marketer.
Back to the Southern thing. I noticed many stories about the influx of Northerners moving to the South now. There are drawbacks – the heat, the bugs, for instance. But a house that costs $200,000 up North would be fairly small while you could get a mansion here for that price. Cost of living is cheaper.
Last time my mother in law was here, she kept going on and on about how FRIENDLY everyone was when my mom took her out shopping. People were singing in stores, saying Hello, and just welcoming her in a way she wasn’t used to. I’m not saying the North’s not like that or other places lack that spirit, either. I think there are wonderful people all around the world everywhere!
But the main point I got from the article is about balancing your pursuit of money with what’s truly important in life. SLOW DOWN and enjoy this journey. Do it right, don’t rush so fast you trip all over yourself.
Tiff 
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Posted in Career
I think we as Consumers have lost or traded that Customer Service Hospitality that the South has not forgotten.
Everything is so Fast Paced that Businesses forgot to add that special ingredient.
This is a helpful reminder, that this ingredient is what puts you over the top and gives you that edge against the competition. Like most people though, they will read about what’s missing in their business but forget to act on what was learned. So beat them to it.
and
Thanks for reminding us all to incorporate in some special way that style of Southern Hospitality that is so desperately needed in this age of Business.
I have to remember it too! It gets away from us when we get excited.
Hey Tiff,
you struck a chord with me tonight. My husband is a Londoner and I am always comparing the unfriendliness of London to the warmth of the people here in the Black Country where I am from and we now live.
In November we transited through Houston airport and found the staff there very helpful and friendly and our time in New Orleans was amazing, those folks couldn’t do enough to help us and make us feel welcome. Once on the cruise ship we met up with my internet buddies Terry and Dough from Frisco Tx. Terry made me feel so welcome on that forum and it was amazing to meet him at last. He really is a warm guy and a true Texan. I think I am becoming a confederate!
Jean
LOL Bring it on Jean!
Oh, I love the get rich quick idea. Unfortunately, it’s still only an idea and too many people buy into it.
You said, “A lot of what’s portrayed about the South is some hillbilly trash scene with stupid sounding speech. Well it’s not all like that.”
Do not come to Branson. That’s what this little tourist attraction was built around. And as Forrest would say, “that’s all I have to say ’bout that.”
I believe that hospitality does exist almost everywhere, but people have gotten self-centered and afraid of other people. I do see that changing, at least in the online world.
As much as I’m a hermit and love the online world, it still needs to be brought back into the real “in-your-face” world that you have to venture out into for weekly shopping and all.
I also believe the bible verse that says, “seek and ye shall find” goes with everything. If you go into a store expecting rude, unfriendly people, that’s what you’ll find. If you go in looking for people in a good mood and happy, you’ll find them.
It may not be a 100% sure thing, but it does happen quite often.
Well hillbilly speech doesn’t equate to trash is what I meant. LOL! My relatives are some of the most backwoods sounding people you’ve ever heard. But hearts of pure gold. I agree that you get what you expect. I recognize that in people I know.
Hi Tiff
Wow you aren’t letting the grass grow under your feet!! I think having the Internet constantly breaking down last year made me realise that I had to slow down and enjoy life a little as well!!
Yeah forced relaxation might be a good thing Jan!
I’m from the midwest and while I think people are friendly here, I can tell you I do not know how to slow down! I want everything done yesterday and I spend too much time trying to do too much.
I know I need to take a break and slow down sometimes but it’s hard because I find my business feels like fun most of the time instead of work!
I liked Texas the few times I’ve been there. If I was ever to move out of the midwest it would be to Texas!
We’ll welcome you here anytime Jenny!
I was born in NYC, grew up in S.C. and then moved back to NYC after college. I love it up here, but relish visiting my family a couple of times a year, who is still down in S.C. There are definite plusses to both places. And as for the cost of living differences, it’s huge. In Manhattan, the price of a 2 BR apartment is about $1MM, so there are plenty of things to be thankful for in the South — space being one!
Jeannie
I went to the last years of college in SC at USC. My friend moved to NYC and he loves it and I see perks of it but I could never leave the South. This exact home to be specific LOL
If businesses would have stuck to providing world-class customer service and support, they wouldn’t have to worry about their bottom lines.
But seeing how much money they could make (to pay the huge CEO salary and stock options)became their focus and they forgot about the customer.
I grew up under the adage that it is easier to keep a customer than it is to get a new one.
I’m glad the South has not lost that business focus.
Ron
Newplr4you.com
Not everyone knows the mantra Ron but I’m glad many are returning to that ideology.
Hi Tiffany,
I have never been down south though my paternal grandparents were from Troup Texas. You have made same really valid points in this post. We definitely need time to be more than just a marketer where we can enjoy the things that working from home and creating our own schedules is supposed to allow us to do. I know first hand that it is all to easy to fall into the trap of working from sunup to sundown in order to get ahead.
Yep and it’s so draining and causes burnout.
Hi Tiff,
Your Southern hospitality sounds like what we have in Australia, especially in most small rural towns. I live in a place with around 4,500 people scattered over a fairly wide area. The community spirit is wonderful and the whole town is welcoming. We moved here 17 years ago and I tell people that was the second best decision of my life. The best decision was, of course, marrying my guy and having my children.
Today is the second anniversary of devastating bush fires that destroyed 38 homes and damaged many more. We were very involved in the recovery process and hubby has organized a BBQ tonight for the survivors and volunteers. Over 100 are expected and the love and joy at being here is wonderful. I’ve been told that if there’s not enough money left in the donations account to pay for the food etc, our bank will cover it. It is a buzz to walk down the main street, it can take hours to go a very short distance.
I agree with Patti – I go to town happy and meet many happy people. But when I go to town upset, I usually find someone who lifts me up or offers a friendly shoulder to lean on.
Long live Southern and Australian hospitality. I’ve been told we also ‘talk funny’ too.
I want to visit Australia someday if I get out of hermit status!
I’m a born-and-raised Chicago-boy. Love everything about the city.
But, if I had a chance to choose between Chicago or Texas to raise my family…
…it’s off to the Lone Star state we go!
Come on down!
Great Post about Southern Hospitality. There is nothing like it in the world. I like the PLR idea where we will be able to sell the PLR on our PLR sites. I am currently starting to research and start a PLR site. I am really enjoying reading your PLR ATM. I highly recommend it for anyone wanting to start a PLR store. By the way, we would really like to see more videos of Honey? Also more posts by using videos would be nice also. I want to wish everyone a Happy New Year.
I DO need to use video more this year too
Patti Stafford touched on an interesting point about people becoming “self-centered and afraid of other people”.
My wife and I moved to Oklahoma earlier this year and noticed a very big difference in almost everything from the absence of side walks and bike paths along most neighborhood streets on up to the low cost of living.
Yes, the self-centered and afraid aspect seems to even be very different. I was raised to be a hustler, washing cars, sweeping parking lots, etc… to put food on the table and pay bills. It was easy to pick up little jobs like that in my old city, but I have yet to experience the same here.
BUT, my family has been welcomed with many open arms from some of the friendliest people that I have ever met in my 46 years on this earth.
Aww that’s wonderful Leonard! Yeah stuff like public transportation too – I would never take it – but my husband and in laws feel odd not seeing subways etc here. LOL
I agree Leonard, things are very different these days, even in small southern towns.
I grew up in south Arkansas in a town of 16k, but it felt like you saw the same people when you went to town and even if you didn’t know them personally, you kind of knew them.
Branson isn’t very big, but it does have a lot going on during tourist season. It’s completely dead in the winter here and most people will be laid off from the theaters and attractions being closed til spring.
Several of the shows here are catered towards the hillbilly lifestyle, but we also have people like Tony Orlando too. And Tony puts on an excellent show if you ever get a chance to see him.
Of course there’s Jim Stafford (of Wildwood Weed and Cow Patti fame) but we also have Chinese Acrobats, Yakov from Russia and it’s fast becoming a shopping mecca.
If you work at an attraction you find that people are warm and welcoming and the tourist rave about how friendly it is here. If you visit the general places, like grocery stores and stuff, those people are trying to make a living and it’s just a job to them, so they aren’t as friendly.
This place really is like having 3 or 4 different worlds in one area. You still have those who live in the hills and only come to town once a month. You have those who make a living at being a hillbilly and entertaining others and you also have a retired, wealthier group who own vacation homes and stuff here.
You don’t happen to know Bill and Sandra Hayes do you Patti? Those are my cousins and they go to branson all the time and sing, play, etc.
I really miss that about Texas. The friendliness and welcoming attitude is great. Hopefully, we will be moving back there in late spring of next year.
Good advice about taking your time to build slow. I used to ask my kids, “If you don’t have time to do it right, when will you find time to do it over?” My husband is threatening to print that out and put it over my monitor on the wall.
Best wishes to all for 2012!
Oh Linda that’s wonderful! Anywhere near DFW?
I’m a Midwest girl…small city/big town raised = small enough to know where your friends were hanging out but big enough to keep the whole place from knowing all your business.
We always helped out neighbors, hung out for bbqs, lent a helping hand wherever we could…we just didn’t have the funny accent (although my family will tell you I sounded like a “hick” regularly). LOL
I’ve been in the Phoenix area the past 10 years. Have learned to love the “actual” city life but the goal is always to stay grounded in who I am and where I came from…especially when it comes to marketing!!
We’ve traveled all over and have found the southern folk to be VERY friendly and outgoing, even compared to where I grew up!!
Thanks for the reminder Tiff!
Debi
Those are good places Debi – too small and it becomes annoying. LOL!
Yes, we really need to balance work with play and enjoy the journey. Getting too worked up in IM and leaving out family and life would be a very sad and lonely life indeed.
Money and success at IM are a means to an end – to relax, enjoy life with family and friends.
2012 will be another year to test IM’ers resilience and passion for life and work.
I hope everyone remembers that iFaith. It’s easy to forget when the ball gets rolling and you start seeing profits.
Hey Tiffany!
I’m really looking forward to your new PLR site. I’m a hermit from the South as well (near Pinehurst, NC) and maybe that’s why I’m so slow at getting my own PLR out there (unlike you)!
My sister lived in and around Dallas for more than 30 years, and I have nieces and nephews in Dallas, Kyle and Rowlette(?).
I lived in Mesquite for a year (way back when) and worked in downtown Dallas (an oil company called Dresser Industries). From the parking lot there, I could look up at that ‘restaurant in the sky’ that continually turns.
I had a ball out there, but boy did they have a field day with my southern drawl:)
BTW, I didn’t get a chance to tell you Merry Christmas, but I hope you all had a good one!
Thanks Jo Ann! Merry Christmas to you, too! Yes Reunion Tower is a neat restaurant. I haven’t eaten there but I’ve been in there. Dallas is big city but come to Fort Worth and nobody would have made fun of that drawl at all. LOL! Theirs is strong as well
Hi, Tiff,
Your message really shake my heart. As newbie, I am following the guru to run after get rich quick type of program. Eventually, I realise that IM takes time to grow and progress. I have to spend more time with my family. Thanks for the truth that you shared. It is so down to earth.
Thanks Serene! Just enjoy the whole growth process. Work hard and do enough to cover expenses and then put the brakes on to enjoy your hard work.
Hello Tiff et al,
What a lovely thread to have in your life – hospitality! I am English but live in a tiny village in the South of France.
We have no “sidewalks” as you call them and no public transport, but we have our own touch of the southern hospitality, right down to walking into a nearby village post office or pharmacy or grocery shop and saying “Bonjour” even if you don’t know anyone in there at the time. Just a simple “hello” to no matter who can make such a difference.
I love working at home so that I can mix family and work and I love writing. So, I am beginning to enjoy work and business so much that it doesn’t even seem like work. It is a lovely feeling to provide a service for someone without the thoughts of what one is going to get out of the other person.
I was talking about this with my mother the other day. She is in her 80s and she brought up the subject of how greedy people seem to be today, only thinking about what they can get out of you. It is rather lovely when you realise that not everyone is tarred with the same brush and there are people who care.
Well, I’d better stop rambling, but as you can see, I loved your discussion topic today.
Angel cuddles,
Sarah
We have some sidewalks but we abhor public transportation. We do have some buses, but I don’t know anyone who takes them unless they just don’t have a car, so I’m glad they’re available for them. Subways though? No thank you! There’s one train running from Ft Worth to Dallas and my sister took it once and I freaked out on her. LOL! Just going by all the subway crime scenes in Hollywood movies – I know I was being ridiculous and luckily, she ignores me when I overreact.
Great article, Tiff. This really made me think about how the people that I follow online are “real” people – they’re not those that boast about how much they’re earning. They’re just good, honest family people who also make money online.
I can’t say that I’ve noticed that before but this article really highlighted that for me.
Yeah there’s a big difference between someone blurting out, “I just made $117,498 with this ONE secret” and someone showing you what they earned from a strategy they used (minus the loud used car salesman commercial speech).
Thanks for the reminder Tiffany. I agree most people come on the internet and try to make money fast, doesn’t work no matter what the so called guru’s say. I appreciate you telling it like it is. I’m going to be the turtle this year, slow and steady does win the race. Happy New Year. Not sure about the okra.
lol Trust me, it’s good
~
The three weeks I spent in WA, FL and PA a long time ago wanted me to go back. I loved the US and when I meet people from US here in Sweden, they all seem so happy and friendly. But I guess I have to wait until my next life to be able to see the US again. I have a dream and that is to start in CA on a new Harley and ride criss-cross the states down to a full stop in TX.
This planet is filled with inspiring people!
Happy New Inspiring Year To You All!
Make a plan and go for it Agneta!
Plans made. I stuck a visit to Kennedale for a coffee in there at the end. Savvy?
My treat on the coffee! LOL
Hi Tiff,
I am from the deep South, in Arkansas, and it is known as a hillbilly state. But, the scenery and foliage is beautiful. Once someone visits, they love it. It is known for Hot Springs, and many lakes and tourist areas, that are not overly populated. Northern Arkansas has the Ozark Mountains and it is breathtaking, come visit us and have a good times.
Carolyn
Have lots of family in Arkansas and almost went to college there – beautiful landscape and people!
Hi Tiff,
35 years ago, when I was sowing my wild oats, I participated in a hitchhiking journey from the great state of Pennsylvania to Texas.
Why did I do such a thing? My friends migrated south and I missed them, terribly. Being a teenager, living on my own, I was prone to act irresponsibly. I know that now.
Still, knowing I could not afford to fly to Texas, I hitchhiked my way to the southerly state (accompanied by a male friend).
With backpacks in tow, we went on our merry way, catching rides from the PA Turnpike into West Virginia, Kentucky, Tennessee, and Alabama. We rode in busses, cars, by police escort, and even on the back of a greasy tow truck.
When we grew weary, we pitched our tents in the grassy knolls of nearby bridges. If it rained, we slept underneath viaducts or big trees to keep dry. It was truly an experience.
Once my traveling partner and I reached Alabama, an elderly gent extended his generosity and went out of his way to travel into an adjoining state just to take us closer to our final destination. After arriving in Louisiana, he bought us a hearty meal and paid for a room.
We enjoyed a good night’s sleep and a warm bath. I was bewildered over his willingness to help us. I can honestly say, before this occasion, I never experienced such tremendous kindness.
If I had the opportunity to do it all over again, I would think twice, definitely! In today’s society, hitchhiking would not be a wise endeavor. However, I cannot deny the fact that through my experience of long ago – I had the distinct pleasure of learning how the Southern culture differed from the North.
If such generosity and consideration is the norm within business communities of the south, then consider me ready to convert my business to include a mixture of exceptional customer service and southern hospitality.
If my hitchhiking adventure still manages to bubble up warmth and compassion within my heart, even after 35 years, I need to believe that southern hospitality would have the same effect on my customers.
I intend to explore the possibilities. Thank you for the reminder of previous lessons learned.
Wow that sounds like a good experience Bonnie! I remember my dad always picked up hitchhikers (not when he was with me) it was the norm in the 70s and early 80s. Not so much now. But I’m glad people were good to you while you were here
Tiff,
The people of Texas (and surrounding states) treated us kindly.
Likewise, somebody should have told me about the fire ants before I walked barefoot in the grass! LOL
I would love to return to Texas in the future for a vacation retreat. I just need to convince the other half of this family “flying” is still a safe mode of transportation.
Thanks for the reply Tiff.
Happy New Year to You and Your Family.
LOL Oh no! Yeah they suck. Happy New year!
Tiff,
As much as I love Colorado (won’t get me out of the mountains when I get up there again), the one thing I really miss here is Southern politeness. Yes, ma’am. No, sir. Please. Thank you.
When I go home to visit family in Georgia (and my in-laws back when they were alive in Texas), it is so wonderful to hear and see people just being polite and respectful.
I remember calling an ag station down in Texas for information once and how the lady went out of her way providing me with help. Even sent me a whole bunch of stuff she must have copied just so I would have what I needed for 4H. Course the whole conversation was filled with ma’am’s.
You know that kind of politeness is missing when wait staff in a restaurant compliments your kids just because they say please and thank you.
Now, if I just didn’t lapse into a Southern drawl and hang onto it for a couple weeks after those visits.
Yep! People compliment my kids all the time for saying thank you and please. It’s rare these days.
Great suggestions, Tiff. If you take away from your family, you tend to lose them. Take time with your family and enjoy them.