Some of the Best Products Come From Amateurs
October 18th, 2011 | 
Author: Hi everyone! Want to share a little inspiration with you today. Something to help ease your fear of rejection as a leader in your niche. Something to quell those inner demons saying you’re not _____ “enough” to succeed or be an expert. I love this picture so I’m going to show it in its full size:
I think back to my path of info product creation and how knee-knocking petrified I was to put myself out there. I was mortified at the thought someone might openly and publicly say, “Who are YOU to try to lead US? You’re nobody!”
And I was nobody in terms of successful launches or at the time, six figure salaries.
I see people who are bashing gurus, and yet those gurus are making bank. I also see many of YOU scared to death of making one wrong move or not knowing enough or not being perfect enough to do this.
But you’re WRONG!
You have it in you. It’s like Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz – it was in you all along. You just have to believe in yourself.
Let me tell you why I personally LOVE to see what amateurs and newbies are creating – why you have an EDGE over all those scumbag marketers in the marketplace today:
1. You’re scared of doing it wrong, so you take time to make sure you do it RIGHT.
I still do this – not because I’m scared anymore, but because I’m Honey Badger for ethics. I hate things done poorly or half hazardously because of laziness.
2. You aren’t seasoned enough to have forgotten what it’s like to be in the shoes of your audience.
I will admit, whenever I create a product, it’s easy for me to forget the beginner steps. I have a solution for this – I ALWAYS use a beginner guinea pig to follow along during my product creation before its official release, so I can get feedback on what I’m not being clear about. Some of you are seeing this unfold in the branding challenge – there was 1 PDF I had to scrap and redo and 1 I want to tweak with some additions.
3. You’re not stuck in an outdated mindset – you’re willing to veer off the beaten path.
Now not everyone is this way, of course – some poor newbies simply buy a guru course and create a knock off (not a way to become a leader, FYI). But many DO sit there and think, “How can I set myself APART from what’s already on the market?” The established people sometimes forget to keep an ear to the ground and see what’s new. They don’t want to go back to the learning stages – they want to teach what they already know.
4. You’re new enough to take other people’s insight into consideration.
Someone who’s making it already often won’t perk up their ears and listen to what a customer has to say. In fact, the help desk is an automated system to no man’s land, or (I’ve seen this several times), they “fake” having an assistant (how pathetic) and blame the assistant when you become loud because you haven’t gotten a response (most people just give up).
An amateur is still nervous inside, so whenever someone says, “Hey it might be better if you _____,” they take it into consideration and think about whether or not that might make more people happy with the product. They’re more people pleasers than those already set up for success.
I use this as an example in several scenarios, but let’s think about my Squidoo book again. Not one person had a Squidoo book on the market. I just knew how to use it. My lens helped me make money. So I shared my expertise. It was new – a twist on what was already out there.
I could easily have let others create the tutorial because I was worried someone might bash it. And they did! Some people said, “Why should I BUY a guide on how to use a FREE site?” More power to them, bless their little disillusioned hearts. My guide taught what I personally knew about making a neat lens that converted into sales.
I…was an amateur marketer.
It was innovative and the product refreshingly COMPLETE (much to the surprise of buyers who’d been burned with missing information before).
When I got feedback that people would love a video tutorial, I bit the bullet, learned screen capture, and did it. I was open minded.
When people asked for tiny details like how to code the image to hyperlink, I went the extra mile and made a tutorial for them specifically.
You’re only an amateur until you’re not. And during the time that you ARE, I would wear that badge proudly because it means you are poised to become the next great thing in your niche! You have exciting possibilities ahead of you!
Any time you feel unsure of yourself, read that sign at the top of this post and KNOW that you can do it!
Tiff 
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Posted in Career
Thanks Tiffany! I’m stealing that quote.
go for it!
Great Post Tiffany,
I suffer from this. I am such a perfectionist and I know it’s because I am afraid people will criticize me if I get something wrong, mis-spell a word or something like this. This has been keeping me back from reaching my full potential for sure.
For example, after taking your PLR ATM course, I did not launch until my website was perfect, and I had at least 15 packs of articles. This delayed income for about 35 days.
I am getting better at this because in the past I might not have launched at all or much longer. Once you do something and see that it works, you’re good to go. Plus seeing sales come in helps too!
Bill
Bill there are admirable parts to being a perfectionist but also for not being one
Tiff,
What a great point of view. You are always so inspiring. You make some excellent points and my confidence is certainly boosted!
Thank you
Debbie
Thanks Debbie
Thank you for this post! And I love the ark vs the Titanic analogy. I had to share that on Facebook!
It’s a good share – wasnt my quote but I got it from pinterest! lol
Thank you so much for this post Tiff. I’ve been shaking in my boots for a while, scared to put myself out there. But I’m biting the bullet and your branding course is helping me so much. Thank you.
I’m glad Sharon!
And some of the worst come from so-called professionals. I’m still fuming over getting screwed twice in the last two-weeks on a couple of courses I bought (not from you!)One had a money back guarantee so we’ll see.
Both courses were nothing more than venues for backend selling. I told both marketers than if they didn’t accomplish anything else with me, it confirmed the fact that in the future, I will stick with three marketers I can trust: Tiffany Dow, Eric Holmlund and Kevin Riley.
Keep up the good work. HONEST Internet Marketers are hard to find.
I hate the sell crap to make it a gateway for future sales strategy lol.
Hey Tiff,
“You’re an amateur until you’re not” – I really appreciate a pretty turn of phrase.
I was working with someone yesterday on an SEO report he was doing, and that report typifies your point. It is not that he didn’t care about new marketers (I know for a fact he does), but that he forgot how much he knows.
As I went through the report I found myself adding many notes in the vein of “needs more explanation”. It’s gratifying that I know he will listen to my amateur viewpoint and add that material. Some might not.
It’s the same in any area. When we gain mastery of a skill, it can be difficult to remember just how much we do know. A thousand little things go into mastering a subject, and very few of them are obvious.
I loved Donald Rumsfeld’s line – “There are things we do not know what we don’t know”. In this case it would be “we do not know what we do know.”
I can see I have strayed off point. ‘Til next time.
Dan
No stray at all Dan – it made sense to me and was perfectly fitting
Let me add in a quote (my own):
“Imperfection Makes Money – If You Have Something To Sell!”
If Imperfection (blogs, products, emails, physical books) didn’t make money (and/or help others in some way) – I’d be one broke gal. I’m the poster child for imperfect products.
I wouldn’t have one thing to sell (I know that sounds crass – but a gal has got to eat) If I spent too much time worrying about “perfection”.
Creative people are often the worst at grammar and spelling. Those that follow my teaching… had to “get past” it or move on – learning from someone who might spell correctly but wasn’t nearly as creative/open/honest/hard-working.
I’d have to pay out a mint for an editor (and have at times).
I’m just saying…
Good insight Debra – I am WAY imperfect and love it
Thanks Tiff,
I agonize over every post because I don’t know everything and am painfully aware there are so many other people who know so much more than I do.
I’m also very content to hide behind my computer – just because. It took me years to actually put my picture online, not because I think I’m particularly ugly, but I guess I don’t trust people very much and just like my privacy.
But, I appreciate what you had to say and will try very hard to drag myself out of the dark kicking and screaming!
The thing about the above quote is the amateurs had the plans for the ark laid out in detail by the Lord – the builders of the Titanic should have done the same. Hmmm, good advice for me
So just be honest Cindy! I am – I flat out tell you when I don’t know something.
Hi Cindy, I know how you feel about being afraid to put yourself out there for all the peering critical eyes to see.
I know absolutely nothing about doing stuff on the internet. I found Tiffany when I was looking for information on book publishing. I just clicked on her site and her message resonated with me and pulled me into this new phase of my life. It’s like God directed me to her.
I have decided to do this with this excellent foundation of integrity and desire to help others. This makes it worth coming out of my comfort zone.
We can do it not at the rate of other people’s speed but at our own rate of speed. We are in training. Everything we do is a learning experience. Be encouraged and don’t give up. Mistakes can teach valuable lessons when viewed through eyes of those who are wanting to be their best.
Thanks for your honesty about being afraid.
Oh my! Your post really hit home. I came up with a “new” concept shortly after I purchased your PLR course (which was right after you published it). Since then, I have created, trashed and recreated because I just wasn’t satisfied.
Admittedly, I also stopped working altogether for a short while when it was discovered that my granddaughter had Rett Syndrome. I mention that only because once I got back to work, it gave me even more impetus to succeed because the cost of her various therapies is far more than her father earns.
Despite all that, it has taken me quite a few more months to finally start putting everything together in a way that I am reasonable happy with.
No, I am not ready to launch yet but I am getting a lot closer. At the same time, my teeth are chattering with fear (not the cold) and I lie awake for hours at night in a cold sweat wondering whether I am doing it right and just praying for success.
Your post post has helped put everything into perspective. Though it hasn’t actually taken the fear away.
Thanks
Sandy
Sorry to hear about the granddaughter, Sandy
Please stop worrying about the business – there’s nothing to be afraid of.
Sandy,
That grandchild can be what gets you past those fears. Post signs up in your office that say, “I don’t care what you think…my grandchild needs me!!” Then just be afraid and do it anyway. I don’t know what the syndrome entails, but I know it may scare her too…but SHE has to deal with it anyway. YOU can do it!!
Debi J
Tiffany,
Thank you for the reminder that amatuers sometimes know better how to teach. It reminds me of sitting in a professor’s class when he knows the subject so well he forgets that he needs to dumb it down so the students can understand him.
One of my husband’s instructors told the class, “Put where the calves can understand it, and the cows will understand it, too.”
Coming from Texas, I really liked that comment, though some were miffed and insulted by it. Never know how some people will take things. LOL.
Thanks for all you do,
Linda
LOL yeah people get offended wayyyy too easily!
Awesome Tiffany – as usual…great job! (Bows to the Goddess Tiffany Dow) (winks…gets back up)
LOL Thanks Mark
So totally true. Every so-called professional writer was once a newbie taking faltering steps. Some made it by being good listeners, others by being good researchers – each found their skill and worked on it to perfect it. Everyone has a skill tucked away inside. Find it. Work on it. Perfect it.
Good advice Jon!
Just love that quote about the amateurs and the pros! But this is the one that really speaks to me –
“I also see many of YOU scared to death of making one wrong move or not knowing enough or not being perfect enough to do this.
But you’re WRONG!
You have it in you. It’s like Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz – it was in you all along. You just have to believe in yourself.”
I find that a lot of products intended for new marketers are missing that step by step flow. And if I’m buying an ebook or a WSO to learn how to do something, those are the details I want and need. The missing step seems to be failure put themselves in the shoes of the amateur.
Yes it took me a lot longer to get my PLR store up and running than it should have. Part of it was fear of getting it wrong, mixed with an equal part of perfectionitis.
At least you recognize it Carolyn so maybe it won’t be as paralyzing in the future
Great post. Love the quote, so true. Thank you for reminding me of the advantages of being an amateur.
Boy, am I there. One day up, ready to go conquer the world and the next shaking in my boots. I have to remember when I put myself out there to just be me.
Example, a lot of people have already done what I’d like to do but only I can do it like me. Does that make sense?
Yes it does! So go do it
Confident!
Hi Tiffany,
I really enjoyed this post! Sometimes as an amateur you can feel like “Who will listen to me?” or “Why would anyone buy something that I’m selling?” and that is a mindset I am really trying to break free from. That was part of my fear that hindered me from putting out my PLR site sooner.
Pro and big time earners don’t start out that way so that is something I am keeping in mind.
Exactly Alice – everyone starts at the beginning
Great insight for a newbie starting out in IM. You have some very good points for any newbie to consider and take action. Where is HONEY? We would love to see more videos of HONEY. My wife and I really enjoy seeing her.
Sam I was making one today – you’ll love this – trying to get her to howl so I was howling really loud (to get HER to). Then my freaking DOORBELL rings! ACK! I was so humiliated. I didn’t answer the door – the Sparkletts guy was probably worried about me.
Oh PLEASE tell me you were filming while doing that! I’d even give up a Honey video day for that one!! LOL
Debi J
It cuts off RIGHT when the doorbell rings. LOL!
Thank You Tiff!
On topic as usual (cynical
:
Once again your wisdom and heartful sharing infuse a hope into this cranky spirit that went down its knees from perfectionatis paranoidus seeing the perfectious grammatical ignorantia while editing what was written through sleepless nights during this summer.
(“Punctuation faults in the paragraph.” Said Grammarly with arrogance in its voice. “Who? What?” I absently responded.
Went over to Grammarly.com and fell off my chair from all my “errors” and my “bad” language the other day. After which I spiraled down into a chicken race back and forth along my scribblings, finding needs for linguistic improvements and grammatical corrections everywhere. I felt like a creature from a cave, reading my work thinking I had another six months of work ahead of me. Forgetting grammarly was an automated, computer based service unable to apprehend the art of grammar neglect.
After reading this post and spending another hour editing tonight, I realize it’s not as bad as it first looked. It’s called creative writing, elsewhere. And it allows for quite the oddity necessary to paint that specific imagery. Never allow computer software (“authoritative entity”) tell you that what you did isn’t up to it, because it has no knowledge of what “up to it” in your world suggests. Grammarly is a good service if used with a pound of salt.
Now that you’ve pointed your finger to the spot where I actually am, helping me to look at where I stand instead of staring to where I want to be, I’m feeling better. Self-confident to a small degree, knowing (remembering) that novelism should be mirroring the soul of its creator, and therefor could not be entirely bound by narrow restrictions that lacks the whole view.
Summarizing; I felt down, because I “used” an “authoritative entity” to “remind” me I was useless. Grammarly boasts themselves as Catching All Grammatical Errors, validating their own service as “authoritative” instead of allowing myself to figure out whether its valid or not. Tiffany show me I’m not useless in her clear way, once again.
We’re a bunch of lucky sheep, having Tiffany!
“Any given journey, begins with a first step into the unknown.”
Again, thank you for carving out a permanent place in my heart.
aww thanks for having me Agneta!
Great post, I needed that!
Good Darryl!
Hi Tiff, just noticed your cover for Work at Home Truths – - graphic brilliance! Kathie
lol yeah it was an istockphoto
Hi Tiffany,
I’ve found that in your branding course you have almost like “given permission” to just start something. It is so much easier to write a blog when there is no selling or keywords or fear of someone not liking it because if they don’t like it you haven’t lost a sale just someone who is in the wrong place. You make it so much easier to just “share” something without worrying if it’s perfect because you’re just “sharing” and not selling. I don’t know if this makes sense to anyone else. Letting us go at our own speed, just sharing, and really listening to us has taken the pressure off to be “perfect”.
Thank you again,
Jean
I’m so glad you feel that way Jean!
I get annoyed with people in all walks of life who try to teach others – or ‘impart their knowledge’ when they have obviously never been in a persons situation, or worse have been through it but forgotten what it was really like. (Don’t get me started on post menopausal women giving ‘advice’ to young girls about raising babies today….grrrr!)
Who better to empathize with amateurs than someone who is just beyond amateurism but that still remembers those all encompassing, overwhelming feelings and hurdles that we had to face?
Great post (as always) Nice to see you back
Rach
Thanks Rach
Tiffany, another encouraging post that leaves much to think about. Sometimes we think its all been said before, how in the world can we come up with something new. Then, someone else does! LOL.
We just need to get into our head that although there is nothing new under the sun, we can still teach what others may want to learn in a different way that taught before – a way that will reach them.
I’ve had several ideas for reports and ebooks, but I realize it is fear that is holding me back from following through. That’s why it took so long to set up my PLR store and still struggle with promotion.
Appreciate your thoughts, encouragement, and gentle push to get ourselves out there.
Glad it helps Edie
Nice article – but I would expect nothing less from you!! By the way, the Titanic was OK when it left us here in Belfast!!!!
LOL I have always been fascinated with the titanic story – so sad.
Hey Tiff,
Those were awesome insights into the mind of IM marketers. I am overwhelmed at the lack of creativity and narrowness of the guru class beyond “health, wealth and dating” topics.
I finally gave up on them and am intent on pursuing my passions and merging them with the world wide and wildly open web.
I want to have more fun with my work and stop competing for the same clicks.
Your branding class is an eye-opener so far.
Thanks.
Yes Rick – those 2 ARE apparently the biggest niche markets but there’s so much MORE out there!
Hi Tiff, great insight as usual. The fear is diminishing but I am still struggling with how much time it is taking for me to understand how things work. But I am not giving up. I did not think I would start to see the potential for all this to work for me. I am beginning to see better and I know more understanding will come. This challenge is helping me so much. I am beginning to challenge myself!
!
Thanks Tiff
Great Shirley! It’s intimidating at first but the more you learn the better you’ll feel about that.
This is just what I needed today. To let you know how intimidated I am at putting myself out there, I struggle just to post a reply to your great blogs. Everyone seems so talented and marvelous.
I shall get going! Thank you so much for being The Caring Guru.
Barb I love when you reply – you’re talented and marvelous too!
Superb post Tiffers. Nothing against internet marketers who crank out 17 WSO’s a week…but true innovation often comes from the smoking man or woman who actually puts out a product they actually implemented and made money from. Not from the sale of the WSO….not designed to even be a WSO…but rather something that hasn’t been beat up and rehashed for the sole purpose of doing a dime sale. Some of the best WSO’s and other products come from the no names who are INNOVATORS NOT MARKETERS. And in the end, when we shell out our cash…..I’d personally rather see a product or service that works rather then get hot and bothered cuz the promoter of same is the same dude who has released 230 other WSO’s faster then a back seat prom date. Innovation over a familiar face any day of the week because you often end up with something the world hasn’t purchased or turned into beat up PLR. Great blog Tiff….peace, Vegas Vince
As always great insight Vince
Thanks for popping in to share it!