So How Long Are Serious Entrepreneurs Expected To Work For Free?

 

So here’s a quick question for you? Do you currently work for free? No that’s not a trick question. Or how about this one;  do you feel that it’s appropriate that really serious entrepreneurs should (or can be expected) to work for free? (Not indefinitely mind you!)

Alright; under any circumstances at all! Would you ever work for free? Not to worry; nobodies asking you to rush into charity work of some kind.  Just trying to gauge just “how” motivated and marketing savvy that you currently are. That’s all.

Would you take the time to painstaking research and  write a book (your labor of love if you will) and allow a more savvy JV (joint venture partner)  (who could potentially open some major doors for you down the road!)pocket 100% of the royalties of the book! Remember that question,  (and your answer to it) because just a little further ahead, you’re going to be exposed to a really cool (hypothetical) marketing possibility. (So please stay tuned for that.)

 

Here’s a quick question for you: (if like me) you’re a paid consultant of some kind; would you seriously consider conducting 145 free (one hour to ninety minute) one on one power consultations, (to the best of your ability) with your ideal customer or clients? (That right!)

And I mean really give it your best, but not receive a dime for your very best efforts! (Think about that for a second!)

BTW, did you know the boxing legend Walker smith Jr. (aka) Sugar ray Robinson (the original sugar man himself), he had 85 career amateur fights! That means he wasn’t paid a penny! Or what about his latter name sake Ray Charles Leonard (aka) Sugar Ray Leonard.

Did you know that boxing great and current hall of famer Sugar Ray Leonard  actually fought 145 times as an amateur, before turning pro? And earning his first penny as a professional! Yep, it’s true!

I share those stats with you so that you might realize (and appreciate) that there is absolutely nothing wrong with you (first) seriously honing your craft! Before you get all stressed out over where the money is!

So How Long Would Any Serious Entrepreneurs Be Expected To Work For Free?

Now just like hall of fame boxing legends Sugar Ray Leonard (and the late great) Sugar Ray Robinson, it really does make sense to hone your skills first, and then after you’ve mastered the basics, you can look forward to earning some serious cash.

Take this really cool hypothetical marketing example. Suppose you had a real passion for herbs and the potential  -proven-(alternative) medicinal value they could provide by systematically adding them to your diet. So you spend three painstaking years (tirelessly) researching and re-verifying your facts (spending) what little discretionary money you have in the process!

And after finally writing and re-writing and viciously editing your manual script, (and getting it as tight as you possibly can)you submit it all over the place trying desperately  to get a book deal!

But no major publishers and or independent publishers (that usually seek out these type of obscure projects out) want any parts of your labor of love masterpiece! So you try unsuccessfully to go the “self published” route! But once again, you literally can’t give your book away!

But then just as your’re about to permanently throw the towel and be done with book publishing altogether! (Wouldn’t you know it!) A book agent for a major publisher stumbles across a copy of your book at (of all places) a yard sale!

Because you hand 5,000 copies printed, but you just didn’t sell enough to cover printing anymore! But as fate would have it! This book agent just happens to be personal friends with Oprah’s magazine editor!

Say what? That’s correct, and since she thinks the information in your book is so cutting edge! She not only tells, but shows Oprah’s magazine publisher your book as well! And that of course leads to your book being shown directly to lady “O” herself!

And the short of it is, Oprah flips for your cutting edge info and immediately arranges for you to make three separate appearances on her OWN network television program.(And she of course immediately adds your book to her new top ten “must read” books list!)

And of course your three appearances on her show, literally has her audience  eating up your information as well!Then shortly there after your TV appearances, Oprah’s main publishing company drops a major bombshell! Oprah’s book publisher contact will gladly publish your book and provide first class promotion and book you on several major national TV shows, like Dr. Oz and the “View”  “The Talk” and CNN etc!

And Oprah will also personally see to it that you also appear on several major national radio programs as well! But here’s the catch! Since in a reality it’s Oprah’s mega star power and her worldwide celebrity that’s really fueling your books eventual explosion to New York times best seller status!

Therefore Oprah’s people all but demand 100% of your books eventual royalties! Say what? After all they counter; without her star power behind you, nobody would have ever even heard of you on a national and or International level! Nor would they have ever bought your book!

You Can See How A Short Term Setback Can Potentially Be A Long Term Gain Can’t You!

But Oprah herself tries to console you by pointing out, you’ll be a future bankable author and then you can have 100% of the royalties on all of your subsequent books going forward!

Entrepreneur, it’s definitely gut check time! Because remember way back in the very first paragraph, you were asked if you would initially give 100%! And whether or not you’d work initially for free! Just like boxing legends Sugar Ray Leonard & -the late great-Sugar Ray Robinson did!

Remember all those pay less amateur fights they had, while honing their craft! So bite the bullet here already! Just be sure that you include a page in your book that directs your readers to your WordPress blog and have them opt in (power list building 101) to get your free special report (and or DVD) entitled: “Eleven little known alternative herbs and spices the medical community would rather you not know about!”

And from that list you sell your $24.95 double DVD set! And from an even more responsive-smaller- list you promote your two hour webinar and the recordings for just $97 dollars! And ultimately you sell your offline three day weekend power retreat events, which now include your now famous “total herbal cleanse” and detoxification mini round table workshops etc!

And they only cost $697 each or $975.80 for any two people over 18 to attend! So that’s basically three simple ways of monetizing your free gift to the Oprah! Yea, initially she makes out on the front end of your sales funnel! Yea, so!

But like she said, she’ll make you a future mega bankable internationally known author/star! You’ll gain both national and international notoriety! But it will also make it 1,000% easier to build a massive opt in list! Bingo!

So given that author’s choice, can you see how and why it really makes economic sense for certain entrepreneurs (to at least) temporarily work for free? Hope so! Any questions?

Please list at least two simple spin off concepts (in the comments section below) that you can apply to your business, product or service in the next 30 days or less!

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