Spider Shit Storm
Dave Navarro and Naomi Dunford are having an affair … they’re shagging … they both betrayed their families for a bunch of shagging …
… or something.
I guess :: that’s what everyone tells me … but thankfully I didn’t witness it myself. Oh and also … I don’t give a shit.
Every person I asked about this situation immediately started in on the shagging. Haven’t you people ever noticed how I write about fraud rings?
I told Dave Navarro that I was coming to his cybertown :: and asked him if he’d like to talk about it first. Not something I usually do :: but I am of the opinion that Dave isn’t qualified to be a heartless bastard … still being in possession of a heart.
Dave told me that he’s a Salty Droid reader … and that he would have something to say. He then proceeded to offer up his whole :: I’m not having an affair … Anthony is a crazy fundamentalist Christian … blah blah blah
dot dot dot
I DON’T FUCKING CARE!!!!
Once I made it clear that my questions would not be about Jesus :: or whose bed he wants to sleep in … the conversation ended.
How can you possibly be selling that which you are not capable of doing?
That question can’t be answered :: and no one ever tries.
The article series was planned to go …
– ShitStorm
But Naomi Dunford went fucking insane after Hello Naomi and accused me of conspiracy to incite and commit mass misogynistic murder :: so a few detour posts had to be written. Now the Spider ShitStorm is presented to the most readers ever assembled at the fake robot blog {which is really saying something}.
I’ll hold most of my analysis until next week after we’ve had our discussion :: but here’s a couple of things to notice as you read this conversation between Dave and Naomi …
- Dave doesn’t quite understand how things work yet :: Naomi does.
- Naomi never stops lying
- Naomi is playing Dave :: Dave is a typical B-team n00b
- Naomi knows Dave’s not qualified :: Dave knows Naomi’s not qualified :: everyone knows everyone’s not qualified.
- Naomi is a horrible person :: a fraud :: and a criminal.
- Naomi is A-team :: known {now and forever} as NotPretty Frank Kern
Ms. Dunford and her trolls have been demanding “evidence” :: so I hope they enjoy this as much as I’m gonna …
Naomi Dunford :: Hey. You there?
Dave Navarro :: here! just got on the computer
Naomi Dunford :: Did you get my email?
Dave Navarro :: just now I did. I was busy watching tv and derinking generously. what can I do fo ryou? (excuse my typing)
Naomi Dunford :: Are you sober? There’s no wrong answer, but I need to know. Oh, never mind. You said you were derinking.
Dave Navarro :: Oh, yeah, just a little relaxed. 2 beers LOL
Naomi Dunford :: Could you talk seriously for a bit?
Dave Navarro :: Yes. 100%. What can I do for my favorite Canadian?
Naomi Dunford :: There’s no way to say this without you screaming WTF, so try not to scream WTF, OK?
Dave Navarro :: Ok
Naomi Dunford :: Do you want IttyBiz?
Dave Navarro :: O_o What precisely do you mean?
Naomi Dunford :: It’s a long story.
Dave Navarro :: I feel myself sobering very rapidly. Is everything ok?
Naomi Dunford :: I want out, but I want to keep the platform and some money. I’ve been wanting to sell forever, but haven’t wanted to go through the hassle of prettying it up. Plus, I don’t really want to sell it, because I want to keep the platform. So I was thinking, “I wish I could just give it to someone and keep half the product sales or something.” 6 months of thinking ensued, and tonight I said, “Could I just give it to Dave?” Jamie looked at me like I wasn’t insane for the first time in a year, and we realized we were on to something. /over
Dave Navarro :: Oh, wow. Spiraling a little bit here, because this is insane and cool and wow and … ok, let me think :-)
Naomi Dunford :: Think away.
Dave Navarro :: Ok, first off, let me ask you … what are you planning to do without Ittybiz (I mean, what exactly are you trying to change?) (my typing is a little slow now since I’m trying to get it all right. Typing is the first thing to go after beer hits me)
Naomi Dunford :: I want to stop being in charge. I want to stop the emails coming to my inbox, I want to stop having the hiring of VA’s being my issue, etc. I can still post and show up for the Speak calls and stuff. Also, confidentially, I’m not looking forward to paying my taxes this year. This would deal with that nicely. /over
Also, confidentially, I’m not looking forward to paying my taxes this year.
Dave Navarro :: Oh, wow. Um, let me let this sink in … because this is a bit huge …
Naomi Dunford :: Yeah, well. I’m not a fan of small measures. Do you want me to ramble inanely while you think, or do you want to just think?
Dave Navarro :: Please ramble. I want to hear the internal conversations that are bringing you to this offer
Naomi Dunford :: Sure. First, I don’t know how much money we make. Between $100K and $200k I think. Not sure, though, because when PayPal went batshit on me, I lost access to one account. Although that account was mostly consulting. I just don’t want to do it anymore. I want to speak, and maybe do calls, and JVs. But I don’t want this big THING hanging over me. Ironically enough, I don’t want a business. It’s the business part I hate. I want to be able to make my decisions based on something other than, well, business. (In case you were wondering, I am not under the influence of intoxicants of any kind.) My thinking — and I’m not a detail person, so this would need to be worked out — is that we create a separate PayPal or something and start funnelling shit into there. Then you can just pay me out the way you’ve been doing with HtL, etc. Publicly, for the first while, it will look like nothing changed except you came on board with IttyBiz. Then we can transition into either it just being you or a “team” of which I am publicly a part. /over Basically, I want to get on with saving the world, and this is holding me back.
Dave Navarro :: Whew. Don’t take my silence the wrong way, I’m just wrapping my brain around this.
Naomi Dunford :: No worries. Just, does it sound like something you might be interested in at least?
Dave Navarro :: Oh, it does. It does.
Naomi Dunford :: OK. (getting smokes, brb) back
Dave Navarro :: So … let me think here … so what you’re saying is that a) you are looking for someone to take over the technical stuff and all the day-to-day business stuff, so you can just focus on being Naomi Dunford :: b) you are committed to showing up for SpeakEasy calls and keeping content flowing into it c) you just want to be you, do stuff, and get payments? d) Without all the VAs and support desks and whatnots
Naomi Dunford :: Pretty much, yeah. And not have the tax liability. If I get rid of it now, I can probably get away with pretending like it never happened. (IttyBiz) My payments from you would be more than enough to satisfy their anticipation of my personal income.
Dave Navarro :: Ah. So receiving payments from me would make everything easier from an accounting perspective.
Naomi Dunford :: Yup. And since you’re in the US, there won’t be any historical receipt drama/sale of biz shit. Because technically, it’s not a business. It’s a website.
Dave Navarro :: Ok, I’m a bit confused on the tax liability part. Where’s the issue there?
Naomi Dunford :: I made a fuck ton of money and don’t want to pay tax on it.
Dave Navarro :: You just need purchases to funnel through U.S. first? But wouldn’t the $ you get be the same regardless? Sorry, I’m a bit fuzzy
Naomi Dunford :: I don’t mind paying tax as of today. I don’t want to pay back taxes. OBS alone would be 25K. Like, from the fucking launch month alone. As far as the Canadian government is concerned, I am a moron who will only make $25K a year. If I declare $45k this year, they’ll be delighted. Does that make any sense or should I start at the beginning?
Dave Navarro :: Yeah, please start at the beginning because from this end it soundd like “Hey Dave Navarro ::, take half of my money and this is lopsided in Dave Navarro ::’s favor” So I am a bit confused :-)
Naomi Dunford :: OK. In 2007 I start a website but do not register a business. I make a fuck ton of money under the table and have never once issued a receipt. In 2007 my income is negligible 00 maybe $5K from working with Men With Pens, then JCME. That’s a nonissue. Then, in 2008, I make big money. I still don’t declare it. I’m still fine, because Jamie was officially getting student loans at the time and as far as the gov’t is concerned, we’re just another set of young parents, struggling to make it on student loans. 2009 is now and I still haven’t declared anything. If I get out now, IttyBiz never had to have been my business in the first place. I declare my $5k from 2007, I declare my student loan money from 2008, I declare what you pay me for the remainder of 2009. You get IttyBiz, I get half of the sales of my products and stuff, I save about $150k in tax. /over
Dave Navarro :: Ah, now much becomes clearer
Naomi Dunford :: Everybody wins. Except Stephen Harper, Canada’s esteemed leader. I get to go build schools in Cambodia and maybe your wife stops hating you so damn much.
Dave Navarro :: So … what you’re saying is that what happens technically now is that new Ittybiz payments go to my US PayPal account, and then I pay you and you cheerfully declare the new income
Naomi Dunford :: Pretty much, yeah. Any new stuff on IB is yours, so you can do what you want with it, although I’d rather you didn’t sell it for a few years at least.
Dave Navarro :: Um … how much in monthly Ittybiz product sales are we talking here right now? Just to wrap my brain around?
Naomi Dunford :: I seriously have no idea. Speak makes between 6-8k. (We bled a LOT when I fell off the earth.) Advertising makes 900. That could be doubled in a heart beat, if I got of my ass. Advertising would be yours. Affiliate stuff, if we allow for peaks and valleys, maybe1-2k, although a lot of that comes when I promote your stuff. Naomi did a new design (I’ll get you the link) which is already paid for and could be about a week from going live. It has a much sexier store, which is nice. (Naomi Niles, from Intuitive Designs) You could have the list, as long as I could use it when I needed it. That’s about 8 or 9k, although a lot of that is people on like, 5 lists. http-www.intuitivedesigns.net/ib (That’s the new site, before tweaking.)
Dave Navarro :: (holy fuck that’s hot)
Naomi Dunford :: (I KNOW!) Oh, and we have Megan Morris on a 6 month contract to improve everything and make it not suck so much from a user standpoint. We’ll be adding upsells to the free marketing courses, lacing back posts with affiliate links, stuff like that. /over
Dave Navarro :: Ok, clear me up on what work stuff you would need me to take over to make this happen. Like day-to-day stuff that you’re trying to escape from. Because this still feels scarily skewed in my favor. brb, bathrom break
Naomi Dunford :: Sure. It probably is scarily skewed in your favor, from a long term perspective. My biggest problem is that I simply do not have the capacity to split my focus. Never have. And now I’m totally bored of it. I want a reasonable salary, I want to still be able to do JV shit with you/Sonia/Brian/Charlie to keep things interesting, but I just don’t want to think about it, you know? So I’d want you helping me through the quagmire that is my inbox, even if simply from a motivational standpoint. I’d want you to create a system so that shit is not coming into my inbox and is going into yours instead. I’d need help with random SpeakEasy admin (“Help! My profile says I’m married but I just got divorced! How do I fix it?!”) I’d need you to take over all the little things like getting the Speak audio up, getting the emails out saying “there’s a Speak call this week”, I’d need you to make a coherent posting schedule if that’s what you were into. That sorta thing. I’ll stop babbling till I know you’re back. Oh, and stats: feeds: 5400 alexa 58k
Dave Navarro :: ok, here but thinking – Alison just asked my why my face turned white all of a sudden. brb
Naomi Dunford :: kk. Take your time.
I make a fuck ton of money under the table and have never once issued a receipt.
Dave Navarro :: ok, I’m back
Naomi Dunford :: hey
Dave Navarro :: So, this sounds pretty damn incredible and I’m skewing to yes but I need to let it all sink in
Naomi Dunford :: Sure. Take your time.
Dave Navarro :: Let me ask you this
Naomi Dunford :: Well, not too much time or I’ll give it to Johnny Truant. Shoot. (Kidding, btw.)
Dave Navarro :: Could you write all this down – the very specifics of what you would do and what I would do, so that there’s no assumptions, no confusion, and no drama and get this to me via email, so I could look over it tomorrow when I’m 100% clear headed? Because to a degree, taking this on may be a quit-my-job-ASAP type of thing to support and I need to make sure I’m 100% on top of being capable to support things the way that you need them supported This offer sounds very amazing to me but it seriously is a game-changer thing for me it’s not something I can just take on the side on account of me struggling to balance Launch Coach and Lockheed at the same time
Naomi Dunford :: Understood. And yes, I can do that, but I have to be honest. I don’t know the details because I haven’t thought about them. I haven’t thought about them because I don’t care about them. And I’m not likely to start caring about them any time soon.
Dave Navarro :: LOL, yeah, I was thinking that as I typed
Naomi Dunford :: This means that I can give you something to give you an idea of what I’m thinking of, but I can’t go into too much detail because I don’t know it. Obviously I’ll have to get you more detailed information about income and stuff, but part of this is going to be not really knowing what the fuck has been going on so far. If you take over, I can give you whatever support you need, but under the assumption that there might be shit I don’t know. One thing I’d love it if you’d start thinking about right away… I (read: maybe we) have an ad running on Zen Habits in three days and I don’t know what the fuck I’m advertising. Since HtL is the most saleable product at this point, we might want to use that. Or we might want to just build a list. So maybe you can start thinking about that.
Dave Navarro :: (still here, jsut talking to Alison brb)
Naomi Dunford :: HI ALISON!
I get to go build schools in Cambodia and maybe your wife stops hating you so damn much.
Dave Navarro :: (LOL – she was like “isn’t this the person who had her PayPal acct shut down because they thought she was laundering money?” ) (trying to explain all of that to her)
Naomi Dunford :: (Ahh. OK. For the record, they were proven to be wrong. If it helps.)
Dave Navarro :: (Yeah, she was just like, “well, if you’re sending her all this money from here sales, won’t that raise a red flag?” and I’m trying to explain how everything’s trackable via PayPal)
Naomi Dunford :: Best of luck with that. Not a conversation I’d be very good at having. Explaining isn’t my strong suit. :-D
Dave Navarro :: So earlier, when I was talking details, it was mainly details of stuff you already have to juggle (and hate) for Speak and such that you want to hand off.
Naomi Dunford :: I guess, yeah. Plus future direction.
Dave Navarro :: So that you’re not “Dave, I thought you were going to handle X and Y and Z” and I’m not like “Y and Z?? I didn’t know”
Naomi Dunford :: We’d probably need to discuss the details of it, but it’s not like there’s that much admin. It’s just that I suck at admin. What would probably make the most sense from a timeline perspective is this… I send you an email with the concepts, probably fuzzy on the tactics and strategies. You ask me a bunch of invasive questions which I answer to the best of my ability. We create a document ironing out the details as best as we can.
Dave Navarro :: Yeah, that sounds good
Naomi Dunford ::OK.
Dave Navarro :: Can I say? WOW.
Naomi Dunford :: I’m thinking you’re probably a little overwhelmed, yes?
Dave Navarro :: Yes
Naomi Dunford :: :-D I don’t know if I’m more excited about this, or about imagining the look on your face. Tough call.
Dave Navarro :: LOL
Naomi Dunford :: Is A still there?
Dave Navarro :: Yes
Naomi Dunford :: Cool. Apologize to her from me for hijacking her night.
Dave Navarro :: She said “Tell her that’s ok, Dave would have spent the evening talking to somebody about business anyway”
Naomi Dunford :: Yeah. Jamie’d say the same thing. Now, I know fuck about the bureaucratic side of biz, but based on my very limited knowledge, this would mean you would own IttyBiz.com and all of it’s assets, and they payments you’d be sending me would be royalties, very similar to affiliate payments. Should be relatively painless. OK, I’ll let you get on with your night. We should probably talk soon, though, if about nothing else than the Leo ad.
Dave Navarro :: I guess I need to actually get a business checking account now. I’ve been using my personal :-p
Naomi Dunford :: :)
Dave Navarro :: Though I now have an officlal LLC
Naomi Dunford :: Congrats!
Dave Navarro :: so it’s just a matter of filing for my damn tax ID number Yeah, I think we can iron this out very soon
Naomi Dunford :: Sweet.
Dave Navarro :: So 3 days on the Leo ad?
Naomi Dunford :: One of the benefits is that people are used to getting shit service, so it’s not like you’d need to walk out of Lockheed on Monday.
Dave Navarro :: Worse comes to worst we can give him a HTL banner
Naomi Dunford :: Sweet. I’m pretty sure he’d be cool with changing it if we felt like it.
Dave Navarro :: Yeah, the thing about my schedule is I’m really under the gun for the next 2 weeks, I have 2 mdules to finish up, and I’m trying to get all these people scheduled for the teleseminar. Sonia said yes
Naomi Dunford :: Gotcha.
Dave Navarro :: And since Sonia AND Chris Garrett said yes, I’m going to make a power play for Brian Clark monday
Naomi Dunford :: Ni-ice.
Dave Navarro :: I just sent him a Copyblogger guest post and he was all appreciative
Naomi Dunford :: I think he’s dying. Or having a mid life crisis. Hey, how old are you?
Dave Navarro :: Dude, Sonia MENTIONED the HTL book & it’s driven $8500 in sales. I HAVE to get him on this shit Turned 33 in June
Naomi Dunford :: So you’re not due for yours for a while.
Dave Navarro :: I’m OLD in this space
Naomi Dunford :: :D Dave Navarro :: So BTW< right now here’s the roster
Me You Martine Sonia Chris Garrett Charlie Gilkie Laura Roeder
Naomi Dunford :: Sweet. Does MM have to go right after me?
Dave Navarro :: If I can get Clark in, I’m going to make an end run fr Chris Brogan (oh, any order you want)
Naomi Dunford :: :)
Dave Navarro :: (I know I should put distance between you two)
Naomi Dunford :: I can’t stand the sleazy bastard.
Dave Navarro :: (I know Martine rubs the wrng way sometimes, but for the time being he’s got just a little more pull than me and I want to leverage that) (yeah, he smacks of desperation marketing at times)
Naomi Dunford :: Hey, man. Whatever it takes. He sold 11 OBS in a day and I happily took the money.
Dave Navarro :: Yeah Once this teleseminar is over, I hope I’ll have a shitload more influence
Naomi Dunford :: Anyway, timing wise, I don’t need immediate takeover, and I realize that as it stands, if I were to sell IB, it would be worthless without me backing it up. So the public wouldn’t even know for several months.
Dave Navarro :: OK, so going back to your earlier convo
Naomi Dunford :: We’d definitely ease you in so you could tie up whatever loose ends.
Dave Navarro :: You said “don’t sell IttyBiz for a few years”
Naomi Dunford :: Mm hmm.
Dave Navarro :: Honestly, I don’t see why I’d want to do something like that, it’s a valuable proplerty *property And with you backing it up – by dropping in and being seen there, it can be a huge springboard for other things
Naomi Dunford :: It’s just in case you sexed it up and could score big money for it. I’m not opposed to that in theory, but I’d like to keep it so that I can use it as a platform when I need to.
Dave Navarro :: Oh, shit, platform is EVERYTHING there’s no amount of money that could make having to start a new platform worth it
Naomi Dunford :: The book deal, the press surrounding the non-profit, all of it can be massively improved by spinning it around the blog.
Dave Navarro :: besides, you and me together are good stuff. We can spin this shit for years
Naomi Dunford :: Exactly. Assuming all went well, could you give me a ballpark timeframe for full takeover? a day? a month? a year?
Dave Navarro :: Platform makes making all future money easier oh, let me think … ok, I have like, a month of money in the bank
Naomi Dunford :: More than I got. :)
Dave Navarro :: yeah, would have been more, but Alison’s widom teeth / my wisdom teeth / crown sucks up 3K
Naomi Dunford :: Motherfuckers.
Dave Navarro :: Well, my own damned fault. Should have had it done earlier anyway, ballpark I need 45 days to get through these last 2 mdules and the teleseminar If all goes well with the teleseminar, I’m hoping to make $5-$20K if I can play a really big game so I kind of need to be truly invested in that
Naomi Dunford :: Sure.
Dave Navarro :: because this is the window to make my reputation – i fuck this up and I start back at square one So, 30-45 days from now, when the modules are done and I’m in launch mode, and I have scads of money coming in, I can see giving my notice (holy shit, this is scary, I keep wanting to say “maybe I can give my notice, but I need to show some balls and be straight up and do it)
Naomi Dunford :: How long is your notice?
Dave Navarro :: Well, 4 weeks is standard for a senior manager, but I really don’t want to give that long. But there’s a lot of people who could get pinched if I just up and walk out, since I’m a key player in getting paying deliveries out on time. I’m thinking maybe I could tak something like 2 weeks in office and then last 2 weeks at home, or they can suck it and take 2 weeks w/nothing
Naomi Dunford :: Cool. OK.
Dave Navarro :: And at the same time I have to figure out wat to DO about healthcare and shit I dont’ even know where to start but really, I’m expecting a nice payday from this teleseminar so that makes me breathe easier
Naomi Dunford :: What’s the offer? Do they buy all the pieces or individually? Thoughts on price?
Dave Navarro :: Well, I was thinking $47 for the calls/transcripts downloads, based on the survey. Then an upsell for a premium version, maybe they get the email course plus a physical CD and some bonuses, and that’s $127
Naomi Dunford :: When’s the launch scheduled?
Dave Navarro :: Well, I want to record all the calls by 3rd week of Sep, then do the launch first week of October
Naomi Dunford :: Are you going to cap the buyers?
Dave Navarro :: I have some good ideas for pre-launch content that will make it easy for people to promote
Naomi Dunford :: (The reason I’m asking i because it might be good for the ZH ad in Oct.)
Dave Navarro :: Ah. Wasn’t planning on capping, but using scarcity as in “this is $47 no, or $97 after it’s over” I’m not sure how many I can move because I’m not sure how much the plaers will promote
Naomi Dunford :: Do they get $ or just the ones they sell?
Dave Navarro :: I was thinking people could promote befor the launch, and then they have an excuse to mail again the day their session goes live
Naomi Dunford :: But they don’t get a cut of the base price?
Dave Navarro :: Um, everyone (speakers and regular affiliates) get $ based on their affilaite sales. No up front $
Naomi Dunford :: Sweet.
Dave Navarro :: They get what they promote Yeah I mean, this is a pretty sweet deal for them here’s how it goes 1) I look at their sites, and see what they’re selling the hardest 2) I arrange a 1-hour phone interview with them where I grill them on concepts of the product, so the listener is like “holy shit, I’m learning all this useful stuff” 3) Then, they can promote, saying “wow, there’s this great interview on X” 4) Then, the call goes into the membership site, where people can download … and lo and behold, there’s a link to that person’s product right there (my affiliate link) – so that these people who just got warmed up by the call can be more likely to buy, and everybody wins. The experts give 1 hour of their time, and I do the heavy lifting, And more importantly, all these people who don’t know me already, like Laura’s audience and Chris G’s audience … now they’re on my buyers list
Naomi Dunford :: Sweet.
Dave Navarro :: Yeah. And I do this … maybe every quarter moving forward The More Buyers Every Month Mastermind
Naomi Dunford :: Gotcha. Good setup.
Dave Navarro :: So like if you promoted, you’d get $23.50 per person and if they upsold, like $63.50 or whatever
Naomi Dunford :: It might be good for the ZH ad at an inflated price. It’s a good line-up. Have the ZH people pay $97 maybe, after their own autoresponder of launch content.
Dave Navarro :: You lost me – I’m currently having it go out at $47 – how would I get them to pay $97?
Naomi Dunford :: They go to a different page. Like if you were price testing.
Dave Navarro :: Wouldn’t they be pissed to see it at $47 from everyone else?
Naomi Dunford :: But they wouldn’t. Because they’re strangers. It would’ve already launched to everyone else.
Dave Navarro :: Oh, you mean after the event is over?
Naomi Dunford :: Sort of. I might be crazy, though. I just think, you’ve got 10 hours of expert interviews, you can probably get more than $97 if they hadn’t just been surveyed to give $47.
Dave Navarro :: Well, I do plan on jacking the prce to $97 immediately after the event, because it gives the experts that excuse to give one last mailing
Naomi Dunford :: Sweet. So you could get them into the autoresponder starting October 1st, and by the time they reach the end of the sequence, the price has already gone up everywhere. You’d only have to sell 20. Plus you keep the names.
Dave Navarro :: I’d only have to sell 20?
Naomi Dunford :: To make back the ZH ad money.
Dave Navarro :: ZH ads are $2K?
Naomi Dunford :: Yup.
Dave Navarro :: Holy fuck!
Naomi Dunford :: He only takes one advertiser now.
Dave Navarro :: So wait … would it be wrong for me to ask if there was any way for you to get Leo into this program? Or is that not kosher with the connection you have with him now?
Naomi Dunford :: I thought about it, but I don’t know him at all. I mean, we’ve emailed a few times because when someone says, ” I want to send you two grand”, you listen. But I don’t know. I could always ask.
Dave Navarro :: (Sorry. Leaving no question unasked.)
Naomi Dunford :: Hell, we could let him use an aff link for the ad if he wanted. :)
Dave Navarro :: Because I think if I could get ONE big name – like a Brian, or a Leo or whatnot, this could take off like crazy
Naomi Dunford :: If we made it publicly JV between us, I could probably get Brian, Darren and Leo.
Dave Navarro :: Holy shit, can you offer me any more silver platter shit tonight?
Naomi Dunford :: I told you — I like doing the fun stuff. :)
Dave Navarro :: Because Darren/Leo/Yaro are on my “what would you attempt if you knew you could not fail” list
Naomi Dunford :: Let me think about this for tonight, because if I could get involved, then maybe I could tie my portion into the Cambodia thing. And that would get asses in the seats, too. Would have to think about feasibility on that, though.
Dave Navarro :: ok. because seriously, if you could help me get traction on getting these names in here, that makes quitting that much faster.
Naomi Dunford :: And if you had the charity angle, you could get away with no affiliate payout.
Dave Navarro :: Hmm … well, all the current speakers are expecting their payout
Naomi Dunford :: No worries. We’ll figure something out. I could give just my portion and it’d still be pretty hot. I’m not married to the Cambodia thing on this, though.
If we made it publicly JV between us, I could probably get Brian, Darren and Leo.
Dave Navarro :: Listen, you may already know how much I hate “The Secret”, but for real, I was sitting there 2 days ago saying “something is going to happen to let me quit my job fast and get the big players’ attention.”
Naomi Dunford :: And I’m not trying to steal it from you, either. Just so you know.
Dave Navarro :: So on one hand, I hate when this positive thinkign shit works, but then I love it
Naomi Dunford :: See? Shit will happen if you let it. :)
Dave Navarro :: no, I don’t care if you hijack for your Cambodia stuff – basically here’s the deal By myself, I have limited influence Anything that makes things bigger, I am 100% for
Naomi Dunford :: OK. I’ll see what I can think up.
Dave Navarro :: Anything that makes the angle bigger I still can’t wrap my brain around this
Naomi Dunford :: (Jamie just came in. He says if you think you’re really getting screwed, he’s not averse to small, unmarked bills in the mail.) Alright, I think I’m going to go to bed. Can we keep in touch?
Dave Navarro :: ok, me too. Feeling like magic has happened yeah – what’s the best way for you? You need to talk tomorrow? because shit, you’re already my biggest income surce right now anyway – you get my full attention
Naomi Dunford :: Ahh, yes. Speak sweet nothings to my ego. :) I don’t need to do tomorrow. Generally, nights are a whole lot better because we still have no child care.
Dave Navarro :: ok. I’ll try to keep the computer up and running – if you don’t see me, then can you send me a text message to make my phone ping me? then i’ll know to go to Google chat
Naomi Dunford :: Sure. And nothing’s that urgent. I just want to know that shit is happening so that I can focus on the Cambodia thing.
Dave Navarro :: ok, cool. And I’ll write up some questions to send to you too
Naomi Dunford :: Cool beans. Megan’s off in Pittsburgh (!) this week so I can’t use her for her admin prowess, but I can try and get you earnings data.
Dave Navarro :: ok. going to try and sleep, though I doubt that will happen tonight now this is just too crazy
Naomi Dunford :: OK, cool. Send questions. I’ll need hand holding on what information you’ll need. Go, feign sleep, we’ll talk soon.
Dave Navarro :: ok. rock on
>> bleep bloop
-------------More fabulously hilarious writing ::
- Spider ShitStorm Redux Have you heard about not-rocker Dave Navarro’s funny news?...
- The IttyBiz Spider The IttyBizzy spider climbed up the water spout ::...
- The M Word Manipulation :: if you act now :: for the...
- This is {also} relevant to my interests Great black waves … {of allegory one supposes} …...
- Deconstructing Dunford Do you want to attend SummerCamp with Naomi Dunford...
:: read one now before you die of stupid.










HOLY SHIT!!!
I am gobsmacked!
“I(read: maybe we) have an ad running on Zen Habits in three days and I don’t know what the fuck I’m advertising.”
“One of the benefits is that people are used to getting shit service..”
Hats off to you, Salty Droid. You ARE the man.
And a big FUCK YOU to defenders of Naomi…and, of course, to Naomi as well.
WINNER!! ::
+21
[Reply]
oh lord. um, i’m going to come back in an hour or two when i’ve wrapped my head around this gigantic shitstorm and what it means.
Salty, this is…. above and beyond. Holy. shit.
WINNER!! ::
+8
[Reply]
Oh. Shit.
Ok, Salty – I was wrong.
WINNER!! ::
+12
[Reply]
SSSSSSSSSSSSSHHHHHHHHHHHHHHIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIITTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
WINNER!! ::
+7
[Reply]
Speechless on so many levels. Except one: You , sir, are my fake robot hero.
And Dave, it is never too late.
You both have kids all tangled up in here, you silly Internet fucktards – stop it.
You keep giving them unneeded scars, you insensitive excuses for parents. Man the fuck up, and make this stop.
WINNER!! ::
+16
[Reply]
Jack Reply:
September 1st, 2011 at 6:16 pm
@Martypants, SD blog reminds me quite about a REAL kind of the oft-used marketing-on-internet claim from them…”It’s a game changer!”
WINNER!! ::
+10
[Reply]
I think probably it’s about time to go onto repeat my “truth is stranger than fiction” understanding from all of this.
Probably all their main answers to this one:
would have to be the answer “get the Salty Droid blog shut down”.
WINNER!! ::
+9
[Reply]
I really can’t believe what I just read.
1) Naomi Dunford is officially screwed. First person to send this to Canada Revenue wins.
2) I can’t believe the names mentioned and the shit storm. Is Chris Brogan going to RT this too?? How about Yaro Starak. This is damn nearly a career killer for many people involved.
3) If I am Chris Brogan, Leo, Yaro Starak, Brian, Darren, ZH or ANY of the fools that have worked with these idiots I’m afraid a lot of people’s reputations were just destroyed.
My mind is officially BLOWN.
Salty – I tip my hat to you. I wasn’t sure where this was all going as I’ve been following the details for a few days, but this is really the icing on the cake.
I have to be honest. I’ve made money in Internet Marketing. I’ve made very good money. I’ve also worked with a lot of good people. The syndicate stuff has bothered me to know end. BUT NEVER in a million years did I see how deep the lies and deception went. Today I bow down and accept my gullibility.
WINNER!! ::
+12
[Reply]
Can'tBelieveIt Reply:
September 1st, 2011 at 6:17 pm
@Can’tBelieveIt,
Sorry for my f-up. That should read “bothered me to no end.”
[Reply]
Enlightened Reply:
September 1st, 2011 at 7:38 pm
@Can’tBelieveIt, I don’t think those mentioned are necessarily screwed – they didn’t tell her to fuck around on her taxes – but they’d better be very transparent to their audiences about this fiasco if they want to save their asses.
[Reply]
SD Reply:
September 1st, 2011 at 7:46 pm
@Enlightened ::
… that’s adorable!!
[Reply]
Apples N. Oranges Reply:
September 1st, 2011 at 8:20 pm
@Can’tBelieveIt,
“1) Naomi Dunford is officially screwed. First person to send this to Canada Revenue wins.”
I’m just reading this now, so I’m assuming that someone’s beaten me to the fun.
I guess I’ll have to settle for the consolation prize. Lucky for me, I know how to contact the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the Internal Revenue Service.
I know how busy one can get trolling the internets. Naomi and Dave prolly don’t have time to report their interwebs income and their really original idea to accomplish tax evasion.
So I’m going to do it for them.
And while I’m at it, I might as well throw in the whole third tribe’s names…cuz of that whole “inter-state commerce” thingy.
WINNER!! ::
+13
[Reply]
Why, I’ve never seen such lies and deception. This Naomi doesn’t even respect the people who buy whatever it is she’s selling. I’m sure glad I wasn’t one of those poor folks she deceived into standing up for her. They got used in the worst way. Taking advantage of people’s sympathy and tricking them into making fools of themselves is just plain wrong. This is just shameful any way you look at it.
WINNER!! ::
+10
[Reply]
Bonnie Reply:
September 1st, 2011 at 6:49 pm
@Madge Crikey,
I was just going to say the exact same thing before I came to your post, Madge — I can’t believe how little respect and caring Naomi has for her audience and customers — thank goodness she sent them all here so they could read it for themselves. They’re just a dollar sign for her, nothing more. Sad. Very very sad. And looks like Dave Navarro doesn’t care much more for people either except the dollars they’ll bring in, whether customers or coworkers and colleagues alike. And that’s the complete picture behind all these scammers. Give me your money and then screw you.
WINNER!! ::
+8
[Reply]
Great. Work. Salty.
Other than that, I’m pretty speechless too.
WINNER!! ::
+7
[Reply]
I’m the one that hooked Darren and Yaro up with Dave.
I reviewed Dave’s work on Problogger. I covered the ‘How To Launch’ book in 2009 and wrote about the mastermind the same year. In the first case, Darren gave me a percentage of affiliate sales. At the end of the year, he sent a bonus. He didn’t have to, but he did. Dave split the profit he made from the second post I did.
The next year, he hired me as a networking assistant because I have good connections. He was able to get Darren and Yaro. Yaro barely knew who he was, I was only able to ask because I sat next to him in a plane when going up to Queensland to visit my best friend. It was an accidental thing and I knew how badly Dave wanted Yaro.
This happened because I opened the relationship to both parties, and people trusted me.
Thankfully, I’ve been shifting towards doing social media work for Australian businesses because I think my past actions will have damaged my career.
That’s my piece. Just wanted to say that just because people trusted them, doesn’t mean they are bad.
[Reply]
SD Reply:
September 1st, 2011 at 7:09 pm
@Jade Craven ::
I’m not so sure about that Jade Craven :: depends who you’re talking about.
If you hold yourself out as a business expert … and you are promoting others as business experts when you know that they’re not {for monies!!} … or when you don’t know at all … then you ARE bad.
[Reply]
Jade Craven Reply:
September 1st, 2011 at 7:19 pm
@SD,
When I worked for him, Dave was a good person. Those that promoted him trusted him.
I can’t comment about Naomi. I know they never followed through with the above arrangement.
Despite what I knew about stuff, I still wanted to vomit when reading this.
[Reply]
Dale Reply:
September 1st, 2011 at 7:35 pm
@Jade Craven,
“When I worked for him, Dave was a good person.”
You can only really say that the particular SIDE of someone YOU saw APPEARED to you to be “good.”
Human values are solidified at a very early age. More often than not, the only thing that “changes” is OPPORTUNITY.
His faults, however, do not begin to compare with those of Naomi Dunford.
[Reply]
Jade Craven Reply:
September 1st, 2011 at 7:47 pm
@Dale,
True.
I was trying to clarify why people promoted him. We saw the good and that’s why we supported him.
There was no indication, through emails and IM transcripts, about this.
People made a decision based on the information that was presented to them.
I’m not defending anyone, I’m trying to point out that I’m partly responsible for some prominent bloggers connecting with Dave, and that their endorsement is an indirect result of my opinion.
There are a lot of bad emotions going through my head but I can’t express them because I’m too close to the situation.
[Reply]
SD Reply:
September 1st, 2011 at 7:55 pm
@Jade Craven ::
Not true Ms. Craven …
It’s like meat into a meat grinder :: doesn’t matter who :: doesn’t matter when :: drain um for all their worth. The customers AND the B-team … especially the B-team.
You just save yourself Jade Craven … forget about these idiots.
Shit Storm Reply:
September 1st, 2011 at 8:27 pm
@Jade Craven,
You said: “We saw the good and that’s why we supported him.”
That was your mistake…you should have seen the proof
Trust = Irrefutable proof
No proof no trust
You did this for the money just like everyone else
Dave never had an ounce of proof that he walked the walk and was doing any of the things he was selling
He didn’t have to because you were all willing accomplices
He didn’t even have a business set up and he’s giving business advice
Dale Reply:
September 2nd, 2011 at 1:04 am
@Jade Craven,
“their endorsement is an indirect result of my opinion.”
Correction. Their “endorsement” was a direct result of their own desire to make a fast buck. Period.
As SD pointed out, this wretched “scamdustry” is all about finding that “next” person who can be monetized as a new “flavor” and then discarded in the trash. “They” are less interested in the specifics of the person than they are about filling in the dates for their blog pitches and autoresponder calendars.
You should be more focused on putting some distance between yourself and the gears of that machine.
WINNER!! ::
+7
HolyMotherofShitness Reply:
September 2nd, 2011 at 11:10 am
@Jade Craven,
Get the fuck out. DOn’t defend these people or their fictitious good character. Focus on what good you can do in your own life. Take care of your physical and mental health. And, get the fuck out.
Seriously.
YaroBrogan Reply:
September 1st, 2011 at 7:24 pm
@SD, I agree with this.
Third tribe.
[Reply]
YaroBrogan Reply:
September 1st, 2011 at 7:26 pm
@SD, I have to agree with Salty on this one.
The entire third tribe “b-team syndicate” is guilty.
[Reply]
NotsoFast Reply:
September 4th, 2011 at 7:44 am
@Jade Craven,
I think you overestimate your importance and impact. They let you feel like you made a difference so they could continue treating you like a peasant, and using you as a cheerleader.
[Reply]
987 Reply:
September 5th, 2011 at 2:59 am
Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see.
LOSER!! ::
-6
[Reply]
Oh shit. Did Naomi call Chris Brogana sleazy bastard? Nice, and he tweeted her shit too.
[Reply]
Sunshine Reply:
September 1st, 2011 at 7:17 pm
@SpideySenses,
It looked like that was referencing someone named Martine from a few lines up.
[Reply]
SpideySenses Reply:
September 1st, 2011 at 7:26 pm
@SpideySenses, Take that back. Michael Martine is the sleezy bastard.
[Reply]
Enlightened Reply:
September 1st, 2011 at 7:42 pm
@SpideySenses, Yep –> Michael Martine = Remarkablogger.com
[Reply]
Michael Martine Reply:
September 1st, 2011 at 7:59 pm
Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see.
LOSER!! ::
-7
[Reply]
Apples N. Oranges Reply:
September 1st, 2011 at 8:25 pm
@Michael Martine,
I guess that the old sayin’ is true…
You can lead a horse to water….but you can’t make him drink.
In life, wow you react can be a game changer.
[Reply]
Jaime Reply:
September 1st, 2011 at 8:32 pm
@Michael Martine,
Ummm…
“(I know Martine rubs the wrng way sometimes, but for the time being he’s got just a little more pull than me and I want to leverage that) (yeah, he smacks of desperation marketing at times)”
Your reaction to this is almost comical.
WINNER!! ::
+9
[Reply]
Michael Martine, SLEAZY BASTARD Reply:
September 1st, 2011 at 8:45 pm
@Jaime,
If I cared what anyone thought about me I wouldn’t be commenting here.
But I didn’t offer my reaction to that specific thing that Dave may or may not have said. I was commenting on who exactly was the “sleazy bastard” Naomi may or may not have been referring to.
So I’m not sure what you find “almost comical” about it, other than I have a weirdly dark sense of humor and maybe you almost laughed.
Two people talking shit about me behind my back doesn’t really matter. I’ll be sleeping just fine tonight.
Muchly debated. What do you think?
-1
[Reply]
SD Reply:
September 2nd, 2011 at 7:31 pm
@Michael Martine, SLEAZY BASTARD ::
“I’ll be sleeping just fine tonight.”
You mean because of the Ambein? Cause it certainly can’t be that you’re resting easy in your confidence of your own ethics and integrity …
… unless you’re batshit delusional of course … which seems to be going around at the moment.
Anon Reply:
September 1st, 2011 at 8:34 pm
@Michael Martine, Can I leverage your pull, Michael.
[Reply]
Michael Martine, SLEAZY BASTARD Reply:
September 1st, 2011 at 8:46 pm
Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see.
LOSER!! ::
-5
[Reply]
Anon Reply:
September 1st, 2011 at 8:53 pm
@Michael Martine, SLEAZY BASTARD, Michael after reading the conversation between Naomi and Dave do you feel like you’ve been used?
Michael Martine, SLEAZY BASTARD Reply:
September 1st, 2011 at 9:57 pm
Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see.
LOSER!! ::
-8
Tia Sparkles Singh Reply:
September 2nd, 2011 at 12:19 am
@Michael: love the candour, man.
Muchly debated. What do you think?
0
Hmmmm.... Reply:
September 4th, 2011 at 11:22 pm
@Michael Martine, SLEAZY BASTARD, your reply is seriously “@anon, c’mere and pull my leverage?” … What is this, the 2nd grade potty humor copywriting course? Srsly, my comment is less accusation than observation, but your response (what some might call candor, others call sarcasm as a defense mechanism… Like trying to stay cool in a truly desperate situation) is perfectly in alignment with what one would expect from a sleazy bastard.
Oh and why for you take up defense through numbers, verifiable facts, etc? Why you use only words?
SD Reply:
September 1st, 2011 at 8:45 pm
@Michael Martine ::
… well Naomi can’t be wrong all the time.
Can she?
[Reply]
Michael Martine, SLEAZY BASTARD Reply:
September 1st, 2011 at 8:50 pm
Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see.
LOSER!! ::
-6
[Reply]
SD Reply:
September 1st, 2011 at 8:51 pm
@ Michael Martine, SLEAZY BASTARD ::
Am I joking?
Michael Martine, SLEAZY BASTARD Reply:
September 1st, 2011 at 10:01 pm
Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see.
LOSER!! ::
-8
Jaime Reply:
September 1st, 2011 at 8:48 pm
@Michael Martine,
Since your here and are acting very casual about working with scammers, I have to ask you:
It’s obvious you make your money selling advice on how to make money
How are you any different than these people?
WINNER!! ::
+11
[Reply]
Michael Martine, SLEAZY BASTARD Reply:
September 1st, 2011 at 9:50 pm
@Jaime, That’s a great question actually and deserves a serious answer.
First of all, both things you said are completely wrong, so let me set you straight.
I do not actively “work with” Dave or Naomi. Way back before any of this shit hit the fan, I sold products from both of them as an affiliate. I’ve chatted with Naomi and Dave and been interviewed by Dave years ago which was included as content for one of his products. Naomi mentioned me in a book she wrote.
And I was happy to be an affiliate for them because the information and training they provided was good. You can call them hypocrites and scammers and tax evaders all you like, but I didn’t think that their advice on setting up an online business or selling ebooks was bad advice. It was good advice and it helped people.
I wouldn’t take it back and I don’t regret it.
But for you to say I “work with scammers” present tense and implying some kind of high level of involvement is completely incorrect.
The other thing you’re wrong about (and this is also how I’m different) is what I do. I do not make money selling advice on how to “make money.” I invite you spend some time reading over my articles.
My whole point is that 99% of so-called “blogging advice” does not apply to a real online business. It only applies to blogs, which are not real businesses in that they do not sell anything (I see the advertising model as a whole different model—apples and oranges). You could actually have a successful blog and a sucky business. I’m against the tail wagging the dog.
What I do is work with business owners who want to use blogging, social media and email as a way to get leads and make sales. It’s not about having a popular blog or tons of followers on Twitter. Often this means we have to take a good look at who their customer is and what their needs are so that the content part of “content marketing” does something real for people. You could say a lot of what I do is try to “deprogram” the conventional wisdom out of them so they can actually get somewhere.
I do my best to walk my own talk and practice what I preach. Otherwise why should anyone trust me? Other than the fact that I look like the fucking Unabomber (Oh wait, I said I was gonna be serious).
The people that I do work with run real businesses like hugely successful commercial WordPress theme frameworks or produce animated product demo videos. They are not “push the button and money flies out of the screen” types.
If that’s not different enough for you, then there’s nothing more to say. I have actual work to do, which I’ve been neglecting while I pay attention to this situation because a couple people seem to have talked about me behind my back.
WINNER!! ::
+10
[Reply]
Not Clay Collins Reply:
September 1st, 2011 at 10:05 pm
@Michael Martine, SLEAZY BASTARD,
weren’t you on the faculty for Clay Collins at his Project Mojave “earn a full-time income in three months” continuity scam? What happened with that?
Along with Laura Roeder and Johnny Truant?
Clay was one of Naomi’s first standout students. They’re practically twins.
Curious and serious. In some later sales material, Clay basically admitted he only did it to cash in in. I’d say that association should embarrass you more than the gossip above. Was joining up with Clay a mistake or what?
WINNER!! ::
+7
Michael Martine, SLEAZY BASTARD Reply:
September 1st, 2011 at 10:30 pm
Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see.
LOSER!! ::
-8
SD Reply:
September 2nd, 2011 at 1:20 am
@Michael Martine, SLEAZY BASTARD ::
I’m going to leave dealing with you until tomorrows :: but please note that you’ve been added as a category on this site. A decision I never take lightly … so you might want ease up on the emoticons and uncomfortably fake fucking jokes. I am the opposite of amused.
Not Clay Collins Reply:
September 1st, 2011 at 11:10 pm
@Michael Martine, SLEAZY BASTARD,
fair enough about your participation. I think Clay is a piece of shit who teaches shit, so we can disagree on that.
Apples N. Oranges Reply:
September 1st, 2011 at 9:01 pm
@Michael Martine,
Since you don’t respond to analogies, I just have one question and I’ll leave you alone…
How can you possibly be selling that which you are not capable of doing?
WINNER!! ::
+12
[Reply]
Michael Martine, SLEAZY BASTARD Reply:
September 1st, 2011 at 9:56 pm
Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see.
LOSER!! ::
-9
[Reply]
SD Reply:
September 2nd, 2011 at 7:40 pm
@Michael Martine, SLEAZY BASTARD ::
I’m glad you are capable “of doing” … that’s refreshing.
Why don’t you just shoot me an email then linking me to a couple of your successful non-MMO clients or students … or a couple of your own money making non-MMO sites?
That would be peaches.
Then maybe we can clear up this whole misconception I have about you being a gross failure who knows nothing about nothing.
Bonnie Reply:
September 1st, 2011 at 9:16 pm
@Michael Martine,
Sorry Michael, but I listened to your little video clip and if you ask me, it doesn’t sound like you’re very professional or even very sure of yourself — I’m surprised you even get any business. But that’s just my opinion, for what it’s worth.
WINNER!! ::
+10
[Reply]
Michael Martine, SLEAZY BASTARD Reply:
September 1st, 2011 at 10:07 pm
Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see.
LOSER!! ::
-6
[Reply]
Plop - The Sound that Terds Make Reply:
September 1st, 2011 at 10:22 pm
@Michael Martine, SLEAZY BASTARD,
You just passed the Injun Samurai test. Which is the only way to deal with the situation at hand.
RT Reply:
September 1st, 2011 at 10:25 pm
@Michael Martine, SLEAZY BASTARD,
http://saltydroid.info/sean-mcalister-gets-got/
RT Reply:
September 1st, 2011 at 10:31 pm
@Plop – The Sound that Terds Make
What is the Injun Samarai test?
I remember his great string of comments a while ago but what specifically are you referring to?
RT Reply:
September 1st, 2011 at 11:12 pm
@Michael Martine, SLEAZY BASTARD,
Got to thread about Sean McAlister, JV Press anonymous wanna-be bully. Turn on “search”. Search “Injun Samurai.”
Good times.
Good times.
BTW, Sean McAlister epic failed at the Injun Samurai thread.
Comments from that point forward are definitely a top 3 read on this site. Cuz …. oh, you have to see for yourself.
SD Reply:
September 2nd, 2011 at 7:48 pm
@Michael Martine, SLEAZY BASTARD ::
I seriously doubt you could get a job that required a tie.
@Bonnie ::
He couldn’t get business on his own … almost none of them could … that’s the point of having a bunch of other liars blowing smoke about how great all the other liars are.
In my quite expert opinion :: Michael Martine’s Internet advice is worth zero.
Anonymous Reply:
September 2nd, 2011 at 8:10 pm
@Michael Martine, SLEAZY BASTARD,
take salty up on his challenge…you answered every other comment about you
If you were half the success you CLAIM to be then it should take 10 seconds to type the URL’s of your long list of accomplishments
You are an expert at giving business advice so it should be DAMN easy
Michael Martine, SLEAZY BASTARD Reply:
September 2nd, 2011 at 9:06 pm
@SD
I did exactly that for over ten years, as a corporate trainer teaching people in classrooms (and later through webinars) on how to use software like Microsoft Word.
You know, like… real teaching, but without the shitty salary public educators are stuck with.
And I did send you an email with the information you asked for.
You’ve never received any business advice from me, so your opinion on it is quite far from expert.
WINNER!! ::
+7
Slowly Waking Reply:
September 2nd, 2011 at 9:27 pm
Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see.
LOSER!! ::
-11
Michael Martine, SLEAZY BASTARD Reply:
September 2nd, 2011 at 9:43 pm
@Slowly Walking,
Last time I checked, when you stand in front of 30 people in a classroom and show them how to do stuff, that’s called teaching.
I’ve taught everything from all of Microsoft Office to project management to HTML/CSS. I’ve also written the courseware that we used for some of those classes as well.
Our students were everyone from poor schmucks who just lost their jobs and were there on behalf of DET to private corporate classes for companies like Ben & Jerry’s, Burton Snowboards or General Dynamics. And folks in between who just wanted to advance their skills. Live classroom training is much more effective than just reading books or looking something up on the web.
I’m glad you used the words “necrotic scrotum,” it made it so much easier to find your comment on the page after coming here from my email. Thanks.
WINNER!! ::
+11
Anonymous Reply:
September 3rd, 2011 at 12:42 am
@Michael Martine, SLEAZY BASTARD,
I’m sure with all your trainer experience you’re great at walking people through a few basic steps, but there is a HUGE difference in expertise between the trainers and the actual do-ers of things. Not a knock on my corporate trainer friends, but if I really want an expert on how xyz system works, I ask the engineers. If I want an expert on excel, I ask the analysts. If I want an expert on counter intelligence, I ask someone who’s actually been deployed to Iraq or Afghanistan. In none of these cases would I go to the cubicle drone who put together the trainings. I’ve worked with trainers to develop modules to train sales people, call center reps, etc. They know they aren’t experts in anything other than creating training materials. They know the content has to come from real experts and they dumb it down to the target audience’s level and make the slides pretty.
Shorty Reply:
September 3rd, 2011 at 12:45 am
Oops, I don’t know why didn’t autofill my info. It’s me shorty :)
Michael Martine, SLEAZY BASTARD Reply:
September 3rd, 2011 at 2:01 am
@SD,
Good point, and you’re right about that. Although that kind of training starts looking more like consulting one-on-one instead of “ok you guys all go through this exercise step by step with me on the screen.” Kind of another level.
Shorty Reply:
September 3rd, 2011 at 4:26 am
@Michael Martine, SLEAZY BASTARD,
That it’s kind of another level is kind of the point. All these self proclaimed gurus selling fluffed up ebooks and rehashed courses are at most qualified to create remedial level training materials or lead a pre-written intro course. They have no real expertise. They don’t even have the decency to hire real experts to provide content. Instead they are passing themselves off as the actual experts. That is just plain wrong. It would be like an Excel trainer claiming to have the same level of expertise as an Excel programmer or even a financial analyst who uses Excel to create models and forecasts. He may know all the common shortcuts, and to a novice alt-c/alt-p probably does look like magic, but if that trainer really had the same level of expertise, he’d be using it to take home his 6-figure salary as a programmer or analyst. It’s wrong to impersonate an expert like that.
Michael Martine, SLEAZY BASTARD Reply:
September 3rd, 2011 at 5:00 am
@Shorty
I agree. Also, knowing something and knowing how to teach it are not even remotely the same thing, but people feel qualified to do it nevertheless. Computer nerds know a great deal, but often they can’t explain their way out of a wet paper bag and to have the patience to teach? Heh… That’s why great trainers are very well-paid. The reason why people get stuck with crappy ones is because businesses are cheap with their training money.
When you have someone who doesn’t really know what he’s doing and combine that with an inability to teach (or even write that well), you have most IM/MMO people.
Anonymous Reply:
September 3rd, 2011 at 7:08 am
@Michael Martine, SLEAZY BASTARD,
The problem with guys like you is you have NEVER built a business…a real business and so you can’t possibly give advice
In the video by cartman in this string Naomi talks about Niche sites as set it and forget it and you make a bunch of money quickly
first off that’s not a business and on top of that it’s total bullshit
Guys like you read a few books learn the basics of what to say and polish that turd of information into a fine glow and sell it
Guys like you throw around the words like you know what they mean when in fact you’ve never applied those words
You’ve never walked the walk and took a business from idea to profits to significant profits
You call each other business experts when in fact you are not even a business
your stock in trade is to find the uneducated and talk a good game…conniving the whole way…in the hopes they never catch on that you’re a fraud
You are being called out…
WINNER!! ::
+8
I’ve read this three times and I still can’t think of a successful comment. This is so disturbing. Brilliant work, SD!
[Reply]
As I read this, I kept feeling like I was reading one of those scam e-mails that I get from Nigeria occasionally.
[Reply]
lolololol pwnd
WINNER!! ::
+9
[Reply]
Is it poor form to ask how you got a hold of this? I don’t doubt its veracity, but wow! Very damnable.
[Reply]
SpideySenses Reply:
September 1st, 2011 at 8:08 pm
@Wow!, Inquiring minds DO want to know.
[Reply]
SD Reply:
September 2nd, 2011 at 7:50 pm
@Wow! ::
It’s not poor form to ask :: but it would be poor form to answer.
I got it :: I verified it :: and here it is.
[Reply]
How did you get a hold of this?
[Reply]
Dear Naomi Dunford,
The Droid showed you his. Now it’s your turn to show him yours.
In marketing parlance,
If You’ve Made A Blatantly False Allegation of a Death Threat, Then the Following Four Words Are The Most Important Words That You Will Read If You Want to Mitigate Your Significant Legal Exposure!
Post proof.
Or retract.
WINNER!! ::
+19
[Reply]
Shit Storm Reply:
September 1st, 2011 at 8:19 pm
@Real or Fake Threat?,
Amen
lets see it
step right up and show us all your PROOF
Here’s some business advice for you Naomi
Trust = Irrefutable Proof
Lets see what you got
CALL
WINNER!! ::
+10
[Reply]
Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see.
LOSER!! ::
-8
[Reply]
Ryan Reply:
September 1st, 2011 at 8:06 pm
@very very confused,
How is it different? Because Apple sells real products that make me happy inside (and enable me to do all sortsa stuff) at certain prices. Naomi and crew sell frauducts filled with notbusiness advice for more than my iPhone cost.
WINNER!! ::
+12
[Reply]
Apples N. Oranges Reply:
September 1st, 2011 at 8:29 pm
@Ryan, @Jaime, @Shit Storm,
Deep. So true. And witty. And Funny. All at the same time.
[Reply]
Jaime Reply:
September 1st, 2011 at 8:10 pm
@very very confused,
They’re selling air and bullshit for $$$$.
Everything is based on fake testimonials.
It’s a big circle jerk.
And none of these yokels have actual authority regarding anything. They create platforms to fleece people looking for information that’s freely available anywhere.
Big difference, wouldn’t you say?
WINNER!! ::
+11
[Reply]
New here Reply:
September 2nd, 2011 at 9:06 am
@Jaime,
I don’t agree with you when you say “none of these yokels have actual authority regarding anything”
For what I’ve read during the last week (I didn’t know about Salty Droid before), these people have Authority in Scamming.
[Reply]
SD Reply:
September 2nd, 2011 at 7:56 pm
@New here ::
It’s true :: but not really. Most of them are actually total suck at scamming …
For instance :: what kind of idiot scammer accuses The Droid of death threats this far into the game??
A very bad one.
[Reply]
Jack Reply:
September 3rd, 2011 at 4:14 pm
@SD, And when does the good scammer keep making recordings of themselves knowing after that they somehow will make it to the SD blog?
Only the good scammers know they must go full-throttle into the scams, and not want to try to make themselves believe they are somehow not scamming…it’s the downfall of these faux-scammers IMAO (In My Arrogant Opinion).
[Reply]
Jack Reply:
September 3rd, 2011 at 6:49 pm
@Jack, “faux” isn’t the good word for them, it should be more something like “bumbling” scammers on account of the idea that they’re still scamming but not too very good about doing it, then.
Shit Storm Reply:
September 1st, 2011 at 8:13 pm
@very very confused,
It’s different because these two people are selling advice on making money when they’re broke…when they’re not even remotely doing those techniques they’re selling others on doing
…and in case you didn’t catch it Naomi is a tax cheat…and this little scheme she concocts is about avoiding paying taxes and possibly future taxes
So lets recap
they don’t have any money…so selling how to make money advice is more than a little BULLSHIT
She is a tax cheat…not very good business advice
They have no respect for the people they sell to…again not very good business advice
stop drinking the cool-aid and put the credit card down…
[Reply]
Gv Reply:
September 2nd, 2011 at 3:35 am
@very very confused, @Shit Storm, There’s a saying that goes: “Fake it til you make it.” Well… it appears these two have the first part figured out.
[Reply]
Apples N. Oranges Reply:
September 1st, 2011 at 8:14 pm
@very very confused,
“How is it different from Apple (the most manipulative, CULTY like company in the world?)”
Apple sells products work as advertised. Apple is a competent and qualified hardware and software manufacturer.
Naomi Dunford IMO is selling hot air. She is incompetent in marketing chops that can be proven empirically. She is praying on significant psychological insecurities of her marks.
As to your other point, if a smoking gun such as this shitstorm (because this is a “smoking gun” if ever there was one) that applied to a major corporation existed, there would be major legal ramifications in the civil, criminal and administrative arenas.
There’s this company that you might have heard about that avoided criminal charges from the US Government for helping Canadian businesses to circumvent certain laws by paying $500 Million.
http://dealbook.nytimes.com/2011/08/30/behind-googles-500-million-settlement-with-u-s/
Oh the irony! But these “expurts” are counting on the fact that they’re small fry to the man.
Which is why the Droid’s work is so fucking important. Cuz if the man can’t or won’t look out for us little people, who will?
Is there an expert in the house? … I’m an expert!
That’s how Maria Andross and the other fuckers get away with it.
Thanks SD!
WINNER!! ::
+8
[Reply]
Lanna Reply:
September 2nd, 2011 at 12:56 am
@very very confused,
“If one business partner is not as smart as the other.. that’s something different.”
Then this is something different. Frankly, their attitudes about their customers, their pricing collusions, their fluff products and their lack of real, sustainable success are not the meat of this. That’s old news.
This is about the B-team n00bs being fleeced. This is how I read it:
Naomi chats up Dave and says, ‘Hey, I’m tired of running this business that makes $100,000 to $200,000 a year. Do you want it, like, for free?’
Dave must’ve been a kick-ass PM at Lockheed, because he’s all like, ‘Specifically, what tasks would I be responsible for?’
The spider thinks he’s seen through her con (He hasn’t!) and abandons her carefully constructed lie about being tired of running it, not being a detail person, etc., etc.
(Her bio on her website says she’s a “word nerd” and “worked for ten years in marketing and corporate communication for a few Fortune 500 companies,” which is all about being a detail person. I know, I know, her bio’s probably a lie, too. Later she sleazes her way out of explaining her sketchy accounting by saying “[e]xplaining isn’t my strong suit,” when explaining is basically also what corporate communication – and fucking blogging about blogging – is all about. She’s bad at what she does when it suits her con job. The rest of the time, she’s an expert!)
She admits it’s about (handing off) the tax liability. Dave is a freaking idiot savant at getting her to blab, “I made a fuck ton of money and don’t want to pay tax on it.” In other words, ‘I would like to give you this liability – for free!’
Naomi says the business (“[I]t’s not a business. It’s a website.” Whatevs.) makes (grosses?) “between $100K and $200k” annually. (I know, that’s probably a lie. When she’s forced to break it down monthly, using the bigger numbers it totals $10,900/month, which works out to $130,800 annually.)
But she has less than a month’s living expenses banked, so IttyBiz’s expenses must be huge relative to whatever income it does earn. Or those earning amounts are fake, or cash flows suck right now. IttyBiz really ain’t worth that much – barely enough to live on. (Keep in mind she did “not register a business,” so it’s not that she’s left all the money in the business checking account.)
And the bottom line gets worse. Other commenters have mentioned rumors that IttyBiz owes affiliates money, but the clincher is that tax liability. IttyBiz owes “$150k in tax.” Naomi says, “If I get rid of it now, I can probably get away with pretending like it never happened.” Dave hears, ‘WE can definitely get away with pretending like it never happened.’
The reality is, once the tax authorities see Dave’s tidy little LLC with its business checking account and tax ID number are running the show at IttyBiz, they’re going to hold him responsible when they figure out back taxes are owed. Naomi? Oh, she was just a contributor.
So Dave is taking on $150,000 in tax liability in exchange for a “quit-my-job-ASAP” level of work and a tiny amount of income. Even after this has all been revealed, he says, “[T]his still feels scarily skewed in my favor.” He may be an intelligent guy, but when it comes to street smarts, he’s “not as smart as” the spider.
WINNER!! ::
+23
[Reply]
Gv Reply:
September 2nd, 2011 at 4:20 am
@Lanna,
You took the words right out of my mouth. Dave apparently needs some schoolingz ( real-world or academic) on “pre-merger” due diligence.
I’ve bought and sold businesses before (not huge transactions but big enough to affect me if I messed up), some made money, some didn’t. All of the transactions were only after serious digging, questioning, and paying for outside resources to tell me plainly if the transaction was a potential winner. And, as I said, even after such due diligence we invariably would miss something. Something good or something bad. It’s all part and parcel to doing business; it just comes with the territory.
With that being said, if a potential “partner” mentioned a tax liability that wouldn’t necessarily scare me off if that entity had a plan in place on how to handle it. What would have had me looking for the exit faster than a drug dealer muling a bag of reefer who just walked into a bathroom only to find four cops and a drug sniffing dog (see Resevoir Dogs) is when the response to the question is (paraphrasing) “I’m not a detail person” or “I really don’t know how much the debt is.”
This is a story of the venal leading the vane.
Just sayin.
WINNER!! ::
+9
[Reply]
Iam3r Reply:
September 2nd, 2011 at 11:15 am
@Gv,
“What would have had me looking for the exit faster than a drug dealer muling a bag of reefer who just walked into a bathroom only to find four cops and a drug sniffing dog (see Resevoir Dogs) is when the response to the question is (paraphrasing) “I’m not a detail person” or “I really don’t know how much the debt is.””
Yeah that would’ve sent up a huge red flag for me too. When I reached that point in their convo, I loled. Naomi instantly lost any remaining credibility she might have had with me at that point.
But it looks to me that part of how this scam “works” (ultimately it will fail not work) is that long before the “A-team” become “A” and before the “B-team” become “B”, they’ve already been thoroughly brainwashed.
Have you ever spent a big pile of cash on something that was a mistake? Ok, but what if you did it twice (don’t ask me why) and it (seemed) to pay off once but fail the other time?
There’s a lot of complicated Id-level brain stuff that goes on in almost the same manner as what would go on in gambling addiction.
I’m trying to say I think neither Dave nor Naomi have any real clue wtf they’re into or just how messed up they really are at this point.
PLEASE NOTE: I am *not* making excuses for them. I am *not* saying that we should ignore their behavior.
As far as I know, being addicted to a destructive behavior does not, by itself, constitute a legal defense against tax evasion or fraud.
All I’m doing is playing armchair psychologist. It’s fun. I like to try to guess peoples’ real motivations for doing things, and I come at this with the assumption that no one ever actually believes him- or her-self to be the “bad guy”. Generally, people always believe they are justified in whatever actions they are taking even when they are doing something that all us spectators can see is very, very wrong or messed up.
Of course–just like Naomi and Dave I am absolutely *no* kind of expert. Unlike them I have no problem admitting it.
But that’s because my ability to eat tomorrow isn’t contingent upon you believing me.
–
The really dangerous people are the ones who believe they have a monopoly on The (Absolute) Truth.
[Reply]
Not surprised at all…not one bit
These people are all full of shit
Naomi and Dave are NOT the exception…they are the RULE
Here’s the best line you have EVER written salty…says it all
Salty: “How can you possibly be selling that which you are not capable of doing?”
I would add this to the end…OR DOESN’T EXIST
The internet marketing/biz op/make money world is all smoke and mirrors
shovel salesman selling shovels after running the streets yelling theirs gold in the river
People buy into it because they want to change their life so bad they overlook the obvious…they let their dream cloud their better judgement
Go back to Salty’s quote – IF YOU ARE CAPABLE OF DOING…you do…you don’t wrap it into a course and sell it
You use it every day to make money with it
look at every last business the world over…you build a business with your knowledge and skill
They resort to this type of shit because it’s EASY money ripping of Noobs
Where are all the defenders from the last few days?
I’m not surprised one bit…this is more the norm than you even can imagine
btw what was all that /over stuff
WINNER!! ::
+9
[Reply]
whatthewhat Reply:
September 2nd, 2011 at 12:41 pm
@Shit Storm, Holy crap! It wasn’t until you said it (I was still processing everything I read in the post) that I realized not one of those trolls from the last few days has had a single thing to say. Funny huh?
[Reply]
Deuce Monkey Reply:
September 2nd, 2011 at 1:05 pm
@Shit Storm,
“Go back to Salty’s quote – IF YOU ARE CAPABLE OF DOING…you do…you don’t wrap it into a course and sell it”
Horeshit. Some of the best businesses in the world find byproducts from their output and exploit it. It’s brilliant. Byproducts that is.
“The internet marketing/biz op/make money world is all smoke and mirrors”
Also horseshit – There are tactics and strategies to be learned in the IM market that will help any business sell more shit. I guess I’m just saying it’s not ALL smoke and mirrors because when something works… it works…
either way. entertaining stuff over the last few days Mr. Droid… your traffic is crushing it. You have now officially built a mass cult following.
Muchly debated. What do you think?
-2
[Reply]
Slowly Waking Reply:
September 2nd, 2011 at 1:18 pm
@Deuce Monkey, I can’t vote your comment down right now, so here:
“I guess I’m just saying it’s not ALL smoke and mirrors because when something works… it works…”
We hear this often. Obviously it “works” in that a few components of persuasion and influence “work.” Until they get overused (like false scarcity) or the smoke evaporates. But in IM, there’s nothing behind the smoke. Pencilneck Godin called it “permission marketing,” but that only works when the marketer maintains integrity. Eventually dirt shows up, and people ignore.
Let’s check Dunford’s platform in a few weeks. When something fails… it fails…
[Reply]
Deuce Monkey Reply:
September 2nd, 2011 at 1:49 pm
Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see.
LOSER!! ::
-6
[Reply]
Slowly Waking Reply:
September 2nd, 2011 at 4:22 pm
@Deuce Monkey, I did get had. I was in a vulnerable spot and made emotional decisions rather than rational. Lost a couple years, then I got out. Now I own it, and it’s why I comment here now & then.
IRL we’d have beers and disagree philosophically about marketing stuff. But here I mean IM-as-MMO, IM-as-bizopp/work-at-home scams, IM as building little cults/movements/”revolutions” when you have no previously established record of doing jack. Yes, legitimate businesses like, say, Bonobos have built their menswear brand almost entirely online, using affiliate sales, an active email list, and ad buys. Dunford and her pals have learned to speak and co-opt these terms into their scams. Bonobos is a different universe than a stay-at-home mom trying and failing to blog her way into the vague fantasy of wealth Dunford sells. Yes, Dunford blogged her way to some money, but how truthfully, and how’s it going now?
So I think we can agree at least that there’s a big difference between marketing in the online space and “Internet Marketing” as category of sleazy hucksters? Linkshare as the former, Clickbank as the latter. One’s fine with me, the other can rot in hell.
PS
I have no affiliation with Bonobos, and honestly? Their pants aren’t as good now that they’re scaling up.
WINNER!! ::
+12
[Reply]
Anonymous Reply:
September 3rd, 2011 at 7:18 am
@Deuce Monkey,
I would ask if you can name one company that’s selling a distinct competitive advantage to the marketplace?
I don’t think you can…your sadly mistaken if you think real companies share their hard won advantages to the masses
They might sell something innocuous…MAYBE
If a company has an actual competitive advantage in the market place and turns around and sells it instead of using it then they’re making a huge mistake
IM is smoke and mirrors…again I ask you to share the gold you claim exists
[Reply]
Regrets Reply:
September 3rd, 2011 at 10:13 am
@, True… companies like Google and Apple have you sign NDA’s just to walk around inside their buildings. Secrets not only aren’t shared, they are guarded with teeth.
[Reply]
Shit Storm Reply:
September 3rd, 2011 at 7:21 am
@Deuce Monkey,
give me an example of IM working
as for the byproducts comment you have no idea what real businesses do if you think they would trade their secrets for byproduct cash
byproduct is a good word for that idea
[Reply]
Deuce Monkey Reply:
September 4th, 2011 at 10:34 pm
Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see.
LOSER!! ::
-7
[Reply]
Jack Reply:
September 3rd, 2011 at 6:53 pm
@Shit Storm, “They resort to this type of shit because it’s EASY money ripping of Noobs”
It’s sort of like the idea of when I’m playing a game like Reversi on the cell phone and I’m winning so much…but I’m winning because of the fact that I’m playing against LEVEL 1 and I know just exactly how to make the program do the bad moves.
[Reply]
Anonymous Reply:
September 3rd, 2011 at 8:50 pm
@Jack,
Exactly right…like shooting fish in a barrel
[Reply]
Damn well done, once again, Salty.
So in this episode of taking down the Turd Tribe, here’s what I’ve learned…
(1) Naomi Dunford can’t run her business, doesn’t like running her business, and wants to stop running her business and do the “fun stuff”… like telling people how to run their business?
What kind of batshit crazy world does she live in? She’s giving advice to people on stuff she’s not even capable of doing herself… (I know, I know… broken record, that’s the whole point of exposing these frauds on your blog, blah blah blah… shouldn’t be tool surprised.)
(2) Naomi Dunford made a lot of money, but doesn’t want to pay taxes. No great revelation there, but I’m seriously doubting her income claims even though they were in confidence between friends in a chat that wasn’t meant to make it here for all our eyes to see… I just doubt it.
(3) Naomi Dunford spent 3 grand on and ad and had no idea what to advertise. Again shocking… but not really.
(4) Dave Navarro should have never left his job at Lockheed where he was no doubt building shit to blow stuff up. That’s way cooler than blowing your reputation up, and your family off.
(5) Dave Navarro ripped of Syndicate sleaze Jeff Walker’s Product Launch Formula, niched it down to launching ebooks, and Naomi was his biggest revenue generator. Not surprising because her audience would likely lean towards a frauduct like that. She took advantage of this position and lured him into her spider web.
(6) Dave Navarro and Naomi Dunford just implicated the entire Turd Tribe in this little chat, calling them out and stating their honest opinions. While not surprising, it is definitely interesting.
Bottomline, all the BS about Dave leaving his family, Naomi & Dave’s secret love nest, Naomi’s fake death threats… None of that matters!
Salty just exposed Naomi & Dave for what they are (scammers)… and what they most definitely are not (experts).
My advice to Dave would be to do groveling back to Lockheed and try to build more bombs…. and if you left your family in the lurch, now is the time to make amends since your scamming days are over.
As for Naomi… better get used to orange jumpsuits. The authorities don’t like when you make a shit ton of money and don’t pay taxes… even if you launched your “expert” career on the back of heavy student loan debt.
- b.o.h.i.c.a.
(bend over here it comes again)
WINNER!! ::
+22
[Reply]
SpideySenses Reply:
September 1st, 2011 at 8:33 pm
@bohica,
Also
*Naomi said she only about a months worth of money to live on (after Dave said it) yet said she made somewhere between $100 and $200K. Either she can’t manage money or she’s lying. Or both.
*Naomi was accused of money laundering.
*Naomi wanted to invent some charity thing in order to not pay affiliates.
*Naomi is a con artist.
WINNER!! ::
+13
[Reply]
Enlightened Reply:
September 1st, 2011 at 9:07 pm
@SpideySenses, Yep, and since she owes hundreds of thousands in taxes I’m guessing she’s going to be sending out a lot of desperate sales emails in the next few weeks to try and round up some of the funds she needs to pay it off. And people who don’t know the truth will go and buy her frauducts and lies. Which is even sadder.
WINNER!! ::
+7
[Reply]
KG Reply:
September 1st, 2011 at 10:19 pm
@SpideySenses,
I must be naive. I thought the Cambodia thing was something that she wanted to do to truly help humanity. It just seemed incongruent to me that a con artist would want to be a humanitarian.
However, when you stated: “Naomi wanted to invent some charity thing in order to not pay affiliates”, this appeared to be more congruent. How would setting up a charity prevent her from paying affiliates? If she wanted to sell her business to Dave, wouldn’t she be done with paying affiliates?
If you respond, a kindergarten version answer would be appreciated. (IM, e-books, fraud, syndicate, etc. is a foreign world for me).
[Reply]
Lanna Reply:
September 2nd, 2011 at 2:09 am
@KG,
Humanitarianism is the preferred shelter of con artists. Isn’t the public transit where you live teeming with children raising money for basketball camp? (Hint: There is no basketball camp.)
I believe the plan here is:
1. Like the basketball camp urchins, she preys on do-gooders by saying 100% of proceeds/profits go to charity. Do-gooders crave a hit of the warm fuzzies and fork over their credit cards. Even the greedy-guts sign up because they can say they’re doing it for the children when really they’re buying into her get-rich-quick pitch. This is why she’s willing to, “give just my portion and it’d still be pretty hot.”
2. Rather than pay her affiliates their commissions for promoting her crap, she tells them it will be good PR and the right thing to do if they:
a. Promote her crap for free since all the money goes to charity, or
b. Donate their commissions to the same charity.
It’s not that different from legit free press for charities, but I’ll bet she has to play hardball with some of the folks in-the-know. Threaten to not promote their next piece of crap if they don’t do this, and promoting each others’ crap is the only way the Syndicate makes money.
3. [PROFIT!] Here’s the shocker, KG: she keeps all the money for herself. OMG, can you believe it? And you know what, those basketball kids keep the money, too. Well, they spend it at Walmart on bikes and Playstations, but they keep those for themselves.
________
No, no, no, silly, she’s not going “to sell her business to Dave,” she’s giving Dave the opportunity to take on a website and $150k of tax liability – for free! Oh, no, wait, that wasn’t my point.
She says, “I get half of the sales of my products and stuff” in “royalties, very similar to affiliate payments.” Sound’s like she’s getting her 50% off the top, so really there’s no reason for her to want to cut out the affiliates.
Maybe this is her sole act of kindness in this whole convo. For every one of her “products and stuff” he sells, he’s gotta give her 50% off the top, figure in 10% overhead (Web hosting, CDs, ads) and an 8% affiliate commission (based on legit big box stores’ rates – no idea for the Syndicate), and he’s making 32 cents on the dollar. Maybe she’s generously telling him how to hang onto that other 8 cents. He’s gonna need to to pay those taxes.
More likely, it’s out of force of habit. She’s so used to conniving to fuck over affiliates that she still does it even when it won’t cut into her earnings.
WINNER!! ::
+11
[Reply]
KG Reply:
September 2nd, 2011 at 7:25 am
@Lanna,
Thanks for your response. Wow. With all I have read regarding this very sad and twisted saga, hiding behind a humanitarian front is the lowest of lows for me.
If what your write is indeed true in the case of ND (and it certainly makes sense), it makes me wary of donating to any organizations if this is how some charities work.
And I boo booed when I wrote “sell her business to Dave” before I hit submit, and Salty doesn’t have an edit button. I knew that she was giving Dave a “golden” opportunity to help her with her tax problem. However, you make a very good point with your math crunching and we see what Dave would be left with. Sheesh.
You’ve been quite helpful Lanna.
What shocks me now, is how can so many people buy these fake things that have created her mega unclaimed income? in a time of economic hardship for many? It will be interesting to see how many supporters and customers continue to remain.
WINNER!! ::
+8
[Reply]
Lanna Reply:
September 2nd, 2011 at 10:55 am
@KG,
When I come here, I bring 100% cynicism. In real life, I do a lot of volunteer work for genuine nonprofits, so I hope I’ve opened your eyes but not put you off donating.
Maybe I should’ve left this line in, but I felt like my post was long enough:
Naomi runs the company/website. Naomi runs the charity. Naomi’s the only one who knows how much money came in and where it went.
Genuine charities issue receipts, publish annual reports and file taxes. Actually, to her credit, Naomi never really says to whom the money’s being funneled:
“I’m going to use them to, um, keep 70 girls in school and out of the sex trade in Cambodia.”
From:
http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:oJHCENXtqSYJ:ittybiz.com/how-to-make-an-extra-285-a-month-and-an-awesome-story/+Naomi+Dunford+cambodia&cd=2&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us&lr=lang_de|lang_en&client=firefox-a
“Hey, so, remember? Last week? I told y’all if you bought Teaching Sells through my affiliate link I’d give the money to the Cambodians? We made $12,405.” “That is a WHOLE SCHOOL. We still have to fundraise later for the bells and whistles — like, say, teachers — but we raised enough money to build a WHOLE SCHOOL.”
From:
http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:w-tjZE7hTNkJ:ittybiz.com/cupcakes-cambodia/+Naomi+Dunford+cambodia&cd=1&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us&lr=lang_de|lang_en&client=firefox-a
Did she send $12,405 check made out to “The Cambodians” to The Cambodians, ℅ Santa Claus, North Pole? It doesn’t sound like the money got to Cambodia, because she’s waiting to raise more for “bells and whistles” – or because she’s keeping it for herself.
Anyway, back to your wariness of donating. First off, as this illustrates, if the money’s supposed to be going to charity, find out the name of the charity.
If they’re supposed to be a big organization, they’ll be reviewed on http://www.charitynavigator.org/.
Smaller nonprofits – including churches, arts organizations, etc. – will still be listed on http://www.irs.gov/app/pub-78/.
That’s U.S.-centric, but I doubt the reporting standards are that much different in Canada. Bottom line, if they don’t have an annual report available, don’t donate.
WINNER!! ::
+11
KG Reply:
September 2nd, 2011 at 11:31 am
@Lanna
(This is a reply to your post with the many links. I think the reply button on this site is a bit wonky).
That was very informative. Thanks.
Now I’m very curious as to what happened to that $12,405 cheque. Maybe when she disappeared for those 6 months, she was off in Cambodia helping build the school? Probably not. I’m sure the CRA will find out the particulars.
I think it’s one thing to play on the greed or the desire for a better life tendencies that people have. Quite another thing to play on the heart strings of people that want to give.
The world is a very weird place.
Jack Reply:
September 3rd, 2011 at 4:25 pm
@KG, Disclaimer: This post may be abit displaced due to the wonky-button:
Maybe you can go onto find some CA info from here:
http://www.cra-arc.gc.ca/chrts-gvng/menu-eng.html?=slnk
And also they give us help for finding much more:
“The Canada Revenue Agency maintains a searchable list of Canadian charities. Use the Charities Listings to:
confirm whether a charity is registered under the Income Tax Act and is therefore eligible to issue official donation receipts for income tax purposes;
view a charity’s information return;
learn more about a charity’s financial information (assets, liabilities, income, and expenditures);
http://www.cra-arc.gc.ca/chrts-gvng/lstngs/menu-eng.html
Carla Reply:
September 4th, 2011 at 10:10 pm
@KG & @Lanna
Just to add to this, I started looking into this because it the whole school in Cambodia thing seemed like such an odd thing to throw into the mix.
This is what I found:
Oprah featured it either on her show or magazine, around 2009, which is when this log was made and I’m assuming around the same time Naomi initially brought it up on her blog.
Her total of $12k and some change and it building a school, again it seems pretty specific to be a lie. But going back to the Oprah thing, they spotlighted a charity, “America Assistance for Cambodia” that built schools in partnership with Cambodian organizations and the Asian Development Bank. It got a lot of attention around that time (here is a story about a school teacher that subbed to raise money to fund a school.)
For a $13,000 donation, individuals can sponsor a school. $10,000 goes straight to construction and the remainder goes into an operating fund. For each donation, an additional $20,000 is provided by the Asian Development Bank.
Based on the timing and details, I’m pretty sure she was referring to that charity. 12k alone wouldn’t build a whole school even in Cambodia.
Did she actually donate? You can look at the schools and donors page to see for yourself. The links on the school names are to pictures of the actual opening ceremonies for the schools. I don’t see anything that could be associated with Naomi or IttyBiz, and if she actually donated, I’m pretty sure she would take credit it for it based on her personality.
Seeing that, it made me think of another “charity case” where she collected donations for a woman who was supposedly in an abusive situation. I wasn’t following her blog at the time and it was just something I happened to come across. I just read that one piece and didn’t know the rest of the situation. It makes me wonder if that was all a scam too and that she was just gearing her readership up to donate.
As for the rest of it, I really don’t have anything else to say other than what I said on the previous post. Saying, “it doesn’t matter what someone does in their personal life” is a lie. You are who you are no matter what the circumstances.
But I am really concerned about Dave. He’s made a habit of running from and avoiding his problems. This is something he can’t escape and I can only imagine the pressure is going to get worse.
I hope he realizes that there is nothing so bad that can’t be fixed if he is willing to just own up to it and face it. And he has a family that will love him no matter what and will stand by him.
Naomi, on the other hand, worries me. I would love to see a psychiatrist’s analysis of all this.
Some of the quotes people have posted here from her site, she basically comes out and says she’s lying, but in a joking way so people don’t believe it. This is a characteristic of people with a personality disorder, I don’t remember specifically which though . . . maybe antisocial?
She is planting all these seeds. She tried to cut the legs off of whatever was coming here by accusing SD of death threats.
She tries to turn Dave’s brother into the bad guy by exploiting the tragedy of their mother for her purposes and trying to make it seem like he is in fear for his life from *them.*
She makes a joking comment about drugs on her last post.
It’s like she’s trying to inoculate people from believing the truth by feeding them a lie twisted with truth first.
She is a dangerous and manipulative person who has no remorse. Go and read about what sociopaths do when cornered and then look at this situation and tell me what you think.
If anyone knows where Dave is and cares about him at all, you need to get him out there now.
WINNER!! ::
+20
_cartman_ Reply:
September 4th, 2011 at 11:34 pm
@Carla,
Correct.
http://web.archive.org/web/20090918044936/http://ittybiz.com/cupcakes-cambodia/
Carol Reply:
September 5th, 2011 at 12:53 am
@Carla, That was a VERY rational and insightful comment. Thanks for making it.
Gv Reply:
September 2nd, 2011 at 4:42 am
@KG, This is purely speculative but… As far as I can tell there are no extradition agreements currently in place between Canada and Cambodia.
Maybe she has done some research and started lacing her posts and private communications with this Cambodian Dream when she realized her tax liabilities were too much to handle legally. Then when this shiite hits the propeller she could shuffle off to Phenom Penh with no interest or intent on returning to get some good old fashioned maple syrup.
Or am I giving her too much credit?
Site to check Canadian treaties: http://www.treaty-accord.gc.ca/search-recherche.asp?type=&page=TLA
[Reply]
Anonymous Reply:
September 2nd, 2011 at 7:41 am
@Gv,
And if what you write above is the case, the lowest of lows for me, has even sunk lower.
The only thing lower than this would be to further exploit the Navarro family and air more dirty laundry (as someone is hinting about with SD in a post exchange below).
The people I feel most sad for aren’t even those that have been scammed. Yeah, that’s hard and not nice, but the “scammees” are adults. I feel most sad for the children of these families that will one day see what their parents have done and see that their parents’ shortcomings have been displayed for all to see on the public stage of the world wide web.
[Reply]
Slowly Waking Reply:
September 2nd, 2011 at 9:44 am
@Gv, I doubt she’s smart enough to think ahead to extradition. But it’s all in the wannabe Tim Ferriss mold: “Geoarbitrage,” because Cambodia is dirt poor so American dollars go a long way; the bullshit charity, since all these snakes (Dunford, Clay Collins, Mike Koenig’s wife’s weird charity, etc etc) talk about wanting to “save the world”; the pompous, inflated-head ego. Dunford might even really want to go to Cambodia and help, but it’s the same dysfunction that has her fleeing families, fleeing her business, fleeing responsibility to her customers. Grass is greener.
There are many worthy charities out there. And many independent organizations that audit how they’re doing.
[Reply]
Jack Reply:
September 5th, 2011 at 4:24 pm
@Gv, I want to guess that it was really just for and about the grab-onto-Oprah buzz really, but I found out about that you are right about the xtraditino, because here’s the current list:
http://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/E-23.01/page-21.html#h-36
Which is right off from the official extradition act:
http://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/E-23.01/
which is right off from:
RCMP right here below:
http://www.rcmp-grc.gc.ca/qc/services/sef-fis/assistance-eng.htm
[Reply]
Now that’s what I call shock and awe. :-o
As soon as someone reports this to the CRA, they are compelled by Canadian law to investigate. And they are relentless.
Combine that with maybe some international fraud, the IRS, etc. and Naomi is going to wish she really was a spider.
Wow … that was a shit tsunami, not a shit storm.
Quite the life lesson for Dave on playing with snakes … bet a middle management job with health care at Lockheed Martin and a wife and kids doesn’t look so bad now does it?
WINNER!! ::
+11
[Reply]
Jaime Reply:
September 1st, 2011 at 8:28 pm
@Hal (the original Hal),
“Quite the life lesson for Dave on playing with snakes … bet a middle management job with health care at Lockheed Martin and a wife and kids doesn’t look so bad now does it?”
UNGRATEFUL SOB!
WINNER!! ::
+9
[Reply]
Lanna Reply:
September 2nd, 2011 at 2:12 am
@Jaime,
When he says, “you’re already my biggest income surce right now anyway,” I want to look him in the eye and say, “Lockheed fuckin’ Martin is your biggest income source right now.”
WINNER!! ::
+11
[Reply]
Moi Reply:
September 2nd, 2011 at 10:13 am
@Hal (the original Hal),
Money Quote:
“Wow … that was a shit tsunami, not a shit storm.”
[Reply]
Wow, just wow.
Will there be any more posts in this saga SD? If not, I think I may take a break from my refreshing every few hours and get a life.
This is unbelievable. I’m disgusted. They are both so done. I want to see the names mentioned in the transcript at least say something (besides Michael Martine who has commented above).
I also think this transcript proves Dave did leave with just his laptop as SD said – clearly the desktop left behind had some remarkable evidence on it.
WINNER!! ::
+10
[Reply]
Sundog Reply:
September 1st, 2011 at 9:51 pm
@Enlightened,
“I also think this transcript proves Dave did leave with just his laptop as SD said – clearly the desktop left behind had some remarkable evidence on it.”
Pretty sure you figured it out, but still – hot damn
[Reply]
I want to know how the Naomi sympathizers feel. They were all so outraged and upset and couldn’t believe anyone would attack a woman for being a woman. Now that they know they’ve been had, I want to hear from them. I also want to know if they’re going to spread this story like they spread her lies.
[Reply]
Crazy Reply:
September 1st, 2011 at 9:03 pm
@Anon, They are still tweeting in her defense…. Sad part is, most will never see this part of the story.
[Reply]
Sunshine Reply:
September 2nd, 2011 at 5:36 am
@Anon,
I read and shared both posts made by Naomi. I didn’t post in her defense here.
I also posted a link to this article and said that I felt like an idiot. Then I began unfollowing/unfriending/unsusbcribing everyone in the “industry”.
Gullible isn’t normally a label I apply to myself, but it fits today.
[Reply]
Me too, sort of Reply:
September 2nd, 2011 at 10:44 am
@Sunshine,
It’s not easy to spot, so be good to yourself.
I come from a town where the high school lacrosse coach learned the game form a book, then led his team to six straight state championship titles.
It’s possible to teach what you only sort of know and be convincing.
I’ve read some of the implicated bloggers and actually learned from them. I bought the genesis framework. Not sure now if it’s necessary but I bought it.
I’m really sorry to find this out about these people. Funny thing is, they’ve been telling us what they’re up to, all the way along. They just make is sound like a good idea.
Stepping back, it does resemble a huge ponzi scheme. And I wish I’d listened to the little voice that’s always been there.
So hell, let’s just be grateful the Salty Droid is standing here.
[Reply]
Slowly Waking Reply:
September 2nd, 2011 at 11:00 am
@Sunshine, it takes time to wake up to this stuff. Took me a couple years. From the time I bought my first “infoproduct” my gut knew it was the wrong path.
Remember that a lot of the things that got you into this are actually good things about you, like wanting to provide for your family, to save for the future, wanting to better the world, this kind of thing. (I still have my big projects I wanted to fund with an online business. They’d be farther along if I’d never bothered with the online business.)
Take it easy on yourself. Know better next time. Good on you for the unfriending & unfollowing, and good luck in your future path.
WINNER!! ::
+9
[Reply]
Iam3r Reply:
September 2nd, 2011 at 11:35 am
@Anon,
I was briefly a Naomi supporter, but I have since deleted the Twitter and Facebook posts I had made that linked to her article.
And now I think about it, I should probably go delete the post I made on her Facebook wall, then–to really start the poop flying I should attempt to post a link to this article there. That would be fun.
Since I had already done the twitter follow thing and since half her follower numbers are probably fake, and since the whole twitter follower count is now revealed to be so damn vapid and fake anyway, I think I will keep her as “followed” for now–that way if she makes any new crazy posts I’ll know about it right away.
As for the actual shouting to anyone and everyone of Naomi as fraud, I will do that, but it will take me a little while to get with it. For some reason, it’s a lot easier for me to take up the rallying cry against some oppressed woman than it is for me to take up the rallying cry against some run-of-the-mill icky fraud peddler. I’m not sure why.
–
Truth? Lord Borusa (#DoctorWho) once said, “Only in mathematics shall we find truth.”
WINNER!! ::
+10
[Reply]
Slowly Waking Reply:
September 2nd, 2011 at 1:09 pm
@Iam3r, you wrote, “For some reason, it’s a lot easier for me to take up the rallying cry against some oppressed woman than it is for me to take up the rallying cry against some run-of-the-mill icky fraud peddler. I’m not sure why.”
Because first you need to take a bath! I know how it feels.
[Reply]
So never mind where is the smoking gun – where is the smoking preemie baby?
[Reply]
Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see.
LOSER!! ::
-10
[Reply]
Moi Reply:
September 1st, 2011 at 9:27 pm
@Source?,
Skype keeps a history of all your chats.
[Reply]
Google v. Skype Reply:
September 2nd, 2011 at 10:35 am
@Moi,
I think Navarro mentioned they were on Google chat?
[Reply]
SD Reply:
September 2nd, 2011 at 8:44 pm
@Source? ::
How would I “see the original” of something digital? This sort of thing this is verified by reading it … checking the facts and timetable … looking for small inconsistencies or mistakes … etc.
I see none … and I now a couple of other thousands of people can do the same.
I also verified it in ways I’m not going to talk about … but it’s verified.
[Reply]
also waiting Reply:
September 3rd, 2011 at 1:47 pm
Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see.
LOSER!! ::
-8
[Reply]
Damn. She’s basically asking him to take on her tax liability– internationally! Dave, why did this not sound fishy?
Naomi, PLEASE DO NOT GO TO CAMBODIA. It is a deeply damaged country. You would only make it worse, no matter how much stolen, untaxed money you stuff in your suitcase.
However, you can consider these quotes for bold headlines in your next sales letter:
“I want to stop the emails coming to my inbox”
“I don’t know how much money we make”
“I don’t want a business. It’s the business part I hate.”
“I’m not a detail person”
“Explaining isn’t my strong suit. :-D”
“I know fuck about the bureaucratic side of biz”
“people are used to getting shit service”
“Speak sweet nothings to my ego. :)”
Dave, I made a list for you but it just made me sad. If you were working at Lockheed Martin, you can do impressive things.
“Once this teleseminar is over, I hope I’ll have a shitload more influence”
“I have like, a month of money in the bank”
“I’m hoping to make $5-$20K if I can play a really big game”
“I have to figure out wat to DO about healthcare and shit”
“I’m not sure how many I can move because I’m not sure how much the plaers will promote”
“on one hand, I hate when this positive thinkign shit works, but then I love it”
Thank God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit I never made more than $135 online so I didn’t end up there. I hope you get your life back together.
Four Hour Work Week… Digital Lifestyle… Freedom Business… Passive Income… fuck.
WINNER!! ::
+11
[Reply]
Davebo Reply:
September 2nd, 2011 at 9:45 am
I still don’t know if he was stupid, naive or just blinded by greed (probably the last one). He felt like he had just won the lottery.
Also, he expected “to make $5-$20K if I can play a really big game”. Some other make $45K in two hours just teaching people how to use Google+ when it was still in beta testing phase. That’s a big game (and it’s by far not the biggest for these people)
[Reply]
(Just wanted everyone to get to see this for the contrast. It’s Naomi’s sales letter for her continuity program.)
quote/
Here at IttyBiz, we get a lot of email. Like, a lot. And almost all of the email we get is awesome. We like it when people write with nice things, we like it when people alert us to embarrassingly vulgar typos, we like it when people send us links to cool stuff.
Then, one day, we got the best email of all. We got an email from a very nice woman who told us that her own ittybiz was going so well, she quit her job.
First, we cried. Then we printed this email out and nailed it to the wall.
Over the next several months, as more and more emails like this one came in, we added more printouts to the quitter stack. It became a really impressive stack, and getting those emails was the best part of our job.
Then we had a crazy thought. What if we made getting these emails the only part of our job? What if we turned our secret mission — getting people out of the crazy ass rat race of doom and death — into our not-so-secret mission? What if we, you know, tried?
The IttyBiz 1000 Was Born
The IttyBiz 1000 is a project in utero. It’s changing every day as we refine and add and shape. But the core is the same:
We want to help 1000 people quit their jobs this year.
We’re still in the early phases of creating a small army of motivated, successful, fulfilled people who are ready and able to take charge of their life, their work day, their career and their mission.
If you’re as impatient as we are and you want to start now, take the first step and sign up for the IttyBiz 1000 instruction manual call to arms manifesto newsletter thingamajig. It’s cool.
/quote
[Reply]
Anon Reply:
September 1st, 2011 at 9:41 pm
@IttyBiz 1000,
Yes, it’s amazing how someone will clean up their language for a marketing campaign as opposed to a private conversation.
[Reply]
Bonnie Reply:
September 1st, 2011 at 9:54 pm
@IttyBiz 1000,
“We want to help 1000 people quit their jobs this year”
I guess she must have meant helping them quit their jobs by getting sent to jail?
[Reply]
Jaime Reply:
September 2nd, 2011 at 5:42 am
@IttyBiz 1000,
“What if we made getting these emails the only part of our job? What if we turned our secret mission — getting people out of the crazy ass rat race of doom and death — into our not-so-secret mission?”
Because, you know, having a job that pays monies every 2 weeks and stuffs is lousy compared to sucking lemmings dry.
This is PART OF THE SALES PITCH! Many people get conditioned to hate where they’re at in life simply by reading this crud and going after “the dream”.
Start a REAL fucking business … you know, with real products, employees, taxes, an office, and all that other shit these people have no clue about … and you’ll figure out there’s a TON more involved than you ever “dreamed”.
Yes, you CAN … MAYBE … HOPEFULLY earn more with your own business. You PROBABLY will if you pay attention to how REAL businesses operate and completely ignore these fools.
WINNER!! ::
+7
[Reply]
Jade Reply:
September 2nd, 2011 at 6:24 am
Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see.
LOSER!! ::
-4
[Reply]
Slowly Waking Reply:
September 2nd, 2011 at 10:49 am
@Jade, haven’t heard about the Speakeasy. More important is the MINDSET on display.
And the fact that NONE of the letters talked about are in the letter. Because she never got any letters? Hmm.
[Reply]
I signed up for that Reply:
September 2nd, 2011 at 11:34 am
@IttyBiz 1000,
I signed up for that. And I sent in a jesting email saying if I didn’t get to quit my job, I was going to blame them for it.
And they responded with equal jest a few weeks later.
Wondering now if that response was them cultivating what they thought might be a mark.
I wish I’d saved the email.
But then it went dark and I never got any of the promised correspondences, except a sales pitch, months later, in which Dunford said something like, “I get no money for this, it’s just that I really believe in it.”
Was that something Navarro was selling?
This is so weird.
[Reply]
Jaime Reply:
September 2nd, 2011 at 11:53 am
@I signed up for that,
Naomi Dunford subscribers should dig up any and all emails, then send them to the Droid (contact link above).
If you have personalized responses, hopefully they’re oozing like the dialog showcased here.
[Reply]
<<< Looks around, scratches head…"Where did all the fan-boys/girls (read trolls) go?"
WINNER!! ::
+7
[Reply]
Anonymous Reply:
September 1st, 2011 at 10:21 pm
@WHOcked-on-Fonix,
Packing up to head to Mexico, no doubt.
[Reply]
Anonymous Reply:
September 1st, 2011 at 10:34 pm
@, Anonymous
I guess we could swapstitute a couple of names, but yep everything else sounds about (aboot) right…
[Reply]
WHOcked-on-Fonix Reply:
September 1st, 2011 at 10:37 pm
@, Anonymous
[Reply]
So…what do you think about this? Too far fetched or maybe true?
On August 31st 2011 ( on http://ittybiz.com/sometimes-the-bad-guys-win/ ) she typed the following:
“Dave has been vilified. He has been crucified in the court of public opinion. Every move he makes gets him attacked more and more. His customers have abandoned him because they think he is as evil as his brother makes him out to be.
He will probably never do any real business in this industry again.
There is no way for him to win. It’s not safe to go back to Raleigh. He may never see his boys again. They will likely be brainwashed to believe that it was his fault, just like his father and brother brainwashed HIM to believe that his mother simply didn’t love him enough to stay.”
Do you think on August 31st 2011 as Naomi was typing that, she was thinking:
“Thank god it’s not MY business anymore and now it’s Dave’s problem. Plus, I get to look like a compassionate person with my sympathies going to B-Team Dave. Thank God none of this shit is my problem anymore. Dodged a bullet there. Plus I got to keep all my internet moniez and no one is the wiser about my avoidance of taxes. But that’s price you pay when you get tangled up in the B-Team. he he he!”
September 1st Salty posts this Spider Shit Storm post ( http://saltydroid.info/spider-shit-storm/ ).
Do you think Dave even realizes he was used by Naomi to avoid taxes among other things? Do you think he would even consider the idea that Naomi is playing off Daves misfortune (or whatever) so she can look ‘innocent’ and ‘supportive’?
Is this too far fetched? Would What do you think?
WINNER!! ::
+10
[Reply]
Jaime Reply:
September 2nd, 2011 at 5:47 am
@What do you think?,
Someone supposedly “in the know” posted above that this transaction/merger never saw the light of day.
I have no clue. It’s the intentions that are damning.
Oh, those other stupid “online confessions” are also.
[Reply]
SD Reply:
September 2nd, 2011 at 9:32 pm
@What do you think? ::
Yeah I think you’re on to something there. She’s vilified him more than anyone else.
Everyone should also notice that she’s trying to highjack his product at the end :: then she can haz more monies without having to rehash Jeff Walker herself.
The whole “do you want my Itty Biz instead of Johnny” thing might have been a flattery-ruse.
This deal did not happen for reasons not figured out by me yet. And one imagines no taxes were ever paid … and no Cambodian’s saved. Although if it turned out she had paid her taxes … and had all her paperwork in order … that would almost be creepier.
[Reply]
Unicorn Army Reply:
September 3rd, 2011 at 12:45 am
@SD, “almost?” No, that would defiinitely be creepier. ;-)
WINNER!! ::
+8
[Reply]
Jack Reply:
September 3rd, 2011 at 7:40 pm
@What do you think?,
Just move onto Utah. Problem solved!
WINNER!! ::
+8
[Reply]
Where are the trolls???
I really expected more activity out of them … Hard to defend against this huh?
My observation … if Naomi is A team then this must be a retarded ass team!
[Reply]
Argo Reply:
September 2nd, 2011 at 12:23 am
@RT, The trolls realize that once the knee deep bullshit rises above their conscienceless heads, there’s really no way to continue defending it.
[Reply]
So what was so dastardly about this exchange?
*Droid Edit* As previously mentioned :: anonymous comments about the Navarro family are no longer being accepted. Enjoy your deletion.
[Reply]
Just in case Spiderbitch wants to repackage Ittybiz and sell it for squillions of dollars to raise her taxes, I’ll help her out>
http://web.archive.org/web/20110605084747/http://ittybiz.com/archive/
Shouldn’t take long for one of your misguided trolls to re-up everything for you.
One of her classics>
“I grant you, I know ZERO about hiring. Nothing at all. I have lied on every job application I’ve ever written, and I get my mother, my husband or my best friend to write my references. I don’t believe a goddamn word anybody says on a job description, so a normal hiring process would be out.”
WINNER!! ::
+10
[Reply]
Frank Reply:
September 2nd, 2011 at 1:13 am
@I feel sick, That’s quite a quotation from Naomi that you dug up! Not only does she appear to be devoid of ethics, she’s so arrogant she brags about it. Wow.
WINNER!! ::
+7
[Reply]
SD Reply:
September 2nd, 2011 at 9:42 pm
@Frank ::
Yep! … just like Irwin
[Reply]
Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see.
LOSER!! ::
-7
[Reply]
SD Reply:
September 2nd, 2011 at 1:05 am
@someone who’s had a gun put to her head ::
Chirp away idiot … say whatever you please … mention the Navarro family and I’ll delete it. It’s not complicated.
[Reply]
Just to help Naomi ut, heres her full archive of posts from het hugely successful website:
http://web.archive.org/web/20101123233718/http://ittybiz.com/archive/
Have a dig around theres some gems in there>>>>
“There are two kinds of honesty. One is dumb. The other is not dumb.
The first kind is honesty for honesty’s sake. This is the kind of truth you tell when you don’t even need to tell it. The kind of truth that has no relevance to anyone. The kind of truth that does nothing but alleviate your own guilt, fear, or discomfort. ”
Its starting to make sense…basically you are a liar…right?
“Tell the truths that needs to be told.
That covers out-of-thin-air honesty – the kind of statements you make without provocation.”
So basically you enjoy lying..right?
“Redirection is a skill that everyone needs. It is sometimes also known as being evasive, sneaky, or avoiding the question. This may be true, but since you’re going to be doing it anyway, you may as well know how to do it properly.”
So now your teaching others to lie..right?
And finally some words of wisdom from my favourite Spiderbitch>>
“If I see one more fucking person criticize internet marketers for “trying to sell a lifestyle” while happily drinking Coke and typing on an iMac…
If I read one more fucking blog comment saying marketing is dirty, while linking back to their own website…
If I hear one more fucking person tell me that ebook sales pages are yucky but, gosh, they loved The DaVinci Code…
As a marketer, I can be FINED AND JAILED {her capitals} for lying. You can do it whenever you feel like it. I have to creatively highlight the good points of my product while deftly redirecting concerns about the bad points.
You are under no such obligation. You can just lie.{Yup, you have her permission}
So maybe it’s time to get off the fucking high horse about marketers manipulating the truth.”
So basically its good to lie..even if it means finings and jailings and shit..cos you don’t give a fuck about selling frauducts..right?
And really Naomi, you are such a potty mouth…I feel sick
WINNER!! ::
+11
[Reply]
Barbara Reply:
September 2nd, 2011 at 9:41 am
@I feel sick,
That’s quite a cesspool there, isn’t it? I’ve found a few floaters of Naomi’s myself:
“An experiment in not being such a damn whore all the time!”
“Finally, we’re having a sale this week. In a bold move towards only prostituting myself in front of people who want me shaking my scantily-clad thing in their face, I’m not making a big fuss on the blog. If you want to hear about it, you’ll want to be on the cheap list.”
I apologize for allowing Naomi to plant the image of her “shaking my scantily-clad thing in their face” (her own words). I realize it’s probably induced celibacy in a few readers.
“Wherein my husband kicks total ass and I say cock and balls a total of 23 times”
“Figure out the difference between cocky and ballsy. You would not BELIEVE the search traffic I get for this post. Well, never mind. Yes, you would.”
Yes, Naomi, yes we would belive all the traffic you divert from other types of porn sites with your constant foul mouth and sexual come-ons. But once they’ve seen you do they stay?
Then there is the absolutely breathtaking blog post where she compares a woman who she admits she stood up for an online consulting to an anti-semite, a racist, an anti-gay, misogynist. Why? Because the woman dared to open a PayPal dispute! Naomi’s words follow:
“I’m not angry at this woman. I’m frankly glad I didn’t spend an hour of my life talking to someone who hates marketers. What concerns me is that we are teaching our clients and raising our children to believe that what this woman did is acceptable.
Let’s take what her friends and colleagues publicly replied to her and apply them to a less Fun To Hate demographic.
Me: “I’m done with Jewish people. Just done. Everyone’s a con artist and everyone’s running a scam. :(”
You: “I totally agree! They are out to make money for themselves, not you.”
Me: “I’m done with black people. Just done. Everyone’s a con artist and everyone’s running a scam. :(”
You: “Hey babe. Why so blue?”
Me: “I’m done with lesbians. Just done. Everyone’s a con artist and everyone’s running a scam. :(”
You: “Don’t get your pretty little panties in a bunch, my dear. Just keep on being the bright and shiny you! You rock.”
Me: “I’m done with women. Just done. Everyone’s a con artist and everyone’s running a scam. :(”
You: “Sounds like a rough day – sorry to hear it :(”
Nobody said “Goodness, gracious! What an incredibly prejudiced, stereotyping, bigoted thing to say!” Nope. “You rock.”
Can you believe the gall of this woman?! She doesn’t keep her own online appointment for which this woman paid $600 (!) and then she has the nerve to use this woman’s “misbehavior” as Naomi considered opening a PayPal dispute to be as the opening for a rant on how we’re raising our children. This is what the bilked woman had said on her own Twitter page to raise Naomi’s ire:
“I’m done with social media and marketing gurus, shamans, and experts. Just done. Everyone’s a con artist and everyone’s running a scam. :( ”
Well, she learned the hard way. Naomi’s last word on the subject?
“You can never take back the stuff you say when you’re mad. Never.
Never, ever, ever. You never could before social media and you certainly can’t now. Maybe if SHE apologized, I’d accept that. Probably not, though.”
Naomi wanted an apology from a woman she had attempted to cheat out of $600. Breathtaking.
Thank you, Salty Droid, to alerting all of us to this scam.
WINNER!! ::
+14
[Reply]
I feel sick Reply:
September 2nd, 2011 at 10:02 am
@Barbara,
Yeah theres thousands of her gutter level writings…which she dumbly thinks are gone forever when she deleted her blog.
Therese just so much crap she has wrote…that it explains the diatribe response to SD’s original findings.
Shes one totally fucked up person who went so far down the shit creek she has not only lost the paddle shes sinking faster than the Titanic.
WINNER!! ::
+7
[Reply]
Shorty Reply:
September 2nd, 2011 at 7:53 pm
@Barbara, I hope sends Naomi’s stood up client this blog post. She deserves to feel the rush of being thoroughly vindicated!
[Reply]
SD Reply:
September 3rd, 2011 at 12:46 am
@Barbara ::
Wow!
Yes the plight of “marketers” who steal … and the plight of black people. Totally comparable!
All these trolls demanding “evidence” should have just spent like 3 minutes reading the piece of shit filth on that “problog”
[Reply]
Barbara Reply:
September 3rd, 2011 at 10:56 am
@SD,
Wasn’t that incredible?! She had the nerve to publicly berate a woman who she failed to keep an appointment with, a woman who had paid $600 an hour for Naomi’s “coaching”, and to equate her with a racist.
The woman did not name Dunford in her tweet about marketers but Naomi made damn sure it was easy to find out who said it, then when some comments on Naomi’s blog critized her for outing the woman Naomi eliminated their comments.
She is so fucking hateful, spiteful, vicious…and that’s to her customers!
WINNER!! ::
+9
[Reply]
Uploaded Wed November 05, 2008
$176,000 so far this year [[I assume meaning '08]]
[[the figures are broken down, by category]]
I doubt they are real….but this is what is being publicly stated [[as proof no doubt]]…you can go to CRA with this video…and the transcript above…
WINNER!! ::
+10
[Reply]
Anonymous Reply:
September 2nd, 2011 at 8:28 am
@_cartman_,
Naomi quote at the 3 minute mark: ‘Niche sites are set it and forget it and make a bunch of cash right away”
Doesn’t get anymore bullshit than that
Google did 9 BILLION in the last quarter…98% from PPC
what do they sell…search…they need repeat searchers/users to keep coming back so they can sell ads
No way in hell they’re going to allow BS sites to rank…and in the remote chance they get ranked its for no traffic keywords and the sites make a few bucks…certainly not a business
Her idea of build a site and never do anything again to improve that site and that you can make a BUNCH quick cash is all LIES
…anybody who didn’t know about websites and search engines would hear her lie and think its gospel
This is why people like Naomi and dave are scammers
btw this isn’t a business and isnt business advice
WINNER!! ::
+8
[Reply]
_cartman_ Reply:
September 2nd, 2011 at 10:53 am
@,
something happened…lot of things are happening….must be a traffic issue…this was actually to be attached to someone who mentioned filing a report with the Canada Revenue Agency…since a transcript alone may not be enough for them to start an investigation, the video with her own claims of yearly earnings, and the transcript definitely would.
@anyone,
I keep getting the wptouch pro template loading on my desktop and laptop [[which is for mobile devices]], but it keeps going back and forth between the the two templates randomly. Not sure if there is testing going on…an intermittent problem….or an issue with my systemS….both my systems run the exact same shitload of techtool browsers which makes my browser quite unstable, and the issue is so intermittent that I can’t really test to find if the problem is on my end…so I’m not sure if this is an issue in general…
if anyone else is experiencing this problem…please inform…
Thanks…
[Reply]
Jaime Reply:
September 2nd, 2011 at 11:02 am
@_cartman_,
Template issues, voting issues, other random things… all happening since this was posted last night. It was even showing me logged into the website as the Droid himself for a while.
[Reply]
_cartman_ Reply:
September 2nd, 2011 at 11:20 am
@Jaime,
Thanks Jamie…ironically I “know” you because of a random transient issue that propagated my fields…so it was an amusing coincidence to see that you were the one that answered my comment…
Thanks again for the confirmation.
[Reply]
Dale Reply:
September 2nd, 2011 at 2:40 pm
@_cartman_, I also encountered that field issue. Everything is due to traffic overwhelm and I suspect the server folks made some temporary server cache mods to keep it operational, and it’s not ideal, but a stopgap. I keep several browsers installed, and I’ve been able to switch browsers and that has helped. But some things are temporarily wonky, like voting.
_cartman_ Reply:
September 2nd, 2011 at 3:42 pm
@Dale,
thanks…yeah…but seems to be a little more normal now [[afternoon loll probably]]…at least I haven’t seen the other template load at all since around 1:00pm [[not sure if that is a new template, because I never had that theme load on the iPad...maybe I should see which theme loads on the phone]].
Yeah voting seems pretty much out….all the posts [[except one strangely enough...ohhh the power]] are greyed out…I normally would vote…but…I don’t want to lose the little bit of color..hahaha…
Thanks for the update….
SD Reply:
September 3rd, 2011 at 12:57 am
It was super lame not being able to vote down a-holes.
We are working on it … but I suspects there is going to be trouble all weekend.
Iam3r Reply:
September 3rd, 2011 at 9:25 pm
@_cartman_,
Interesting. I hadn’t actually heard her voice yet. I had expected her to have a deeper voice.
Oh, and as I write, a quote direct from the video, from about 2 min 28 sec mark:
“In order to make an affiliate program work, what you need is traffic, and you need trust. . . . but basically you want to maximize the number of people who are seeing your website and you want to maximize the amount of trust they have in you. If you have those two things–a lot of people who think you are never going to lie to them? Basically you are at the point where you can sell anything.”
And now, from an online dictionary, the definition of a “confidence game”: “Confidence game is an attempt to defraud a person or a group by gaining their confidence. The method is usually adopted to obtain money or property of another person. This act of abusing the confidence of a person is a crime in the U.S.”
–
Truth is powerful.
[Reply]
_cartman_ Reply:
September 3rd, 2011 at 10:06 pm
@Iam3r,
You want to analyze these? :)
I just skimmed them [[literally 5 minutes to scrub all 8]], but NO way am I sitting through them…they’re long, what I saw was boring, and in no way funny.
Warning: they will download if opened in IE 9 [[earlier versions I have no clue...I detest IE]] and only play if opened in firefox. If you use FF and want to save them, right click while hovering on the link and hit “save link as”..
https://s3.amazonaws.com/failproof/Video001mono.mov
https://s3.amazonaws.com/failproof/Video002.mov
https://s3.amazonaws.com/failproof/Video003.mov
https://s3.amazonaws.com/failproof/Video004.mov
https://s3.amazonaws.com/failproof/Video005.mov
https://s3.amazonaws.com/failproof/Video006.mov
https://s3.amazonaws.com/failproof/Video007.mov
https://s3.amazonaws.com/failproof/Video008.mov
[Reply]
Here are two people presenting themselves as knowledgeable, experienced, successful “internet marketers.” Selling high-priced “advice.” And yet, in their own lives:
————————————————————–
Dave Navarro: ok, I have like, a month of money in the bank
Naomi Dunford: More than I got. :)
————————————————————–
WINNER!! ::
+18
[Reply]
SD Reply:
September 3rd, 2011 at 1:11 am
@Behind the Facade ::
… and you can too!!
[Reply]
Oh my. Hey Naomi, where are you now? Where are the SpiderBitch defenders?
“I made a fuck ton of money and don’t want to pay tax on it.”
Amazing, even when you admit to criminal activity, you lie like hell, don’t you? Just doing rough numbers, you would have to have made somewhere in the neighborhood of $400k to owe $150k in taxes – without any deductions, CPA fees, etc. So in just a couple of years at $130k/year (if true) you made $400k? Voodoo math. But that’s what all the scammers are good at, eh?
I think I remember commenting a few days ago that it would be fun to watch the spider caught in its own web. I was right, it is fun.
WINNER!! ::
+13
[Reply]
Dale Reply:
September 2nd, 2011 at 2:24 am
@Dave, I think the Canadian taxing authority should take Spiderbitch at her word about how much she claims she owed them.
[Reply]
208-577-6210 Reply:
September 2nd, 2011 at 5:23 am
@Dale, I think so too. I don’t know how different the Canadian system is, but HMRC (in the UK) would probably slap a 70-100% penalty on, as well as the actual tax owed. Not only has she deliberately avoided paying in the past, she’s now deliberately covering up her earlier evasion! They should take her for $300k, plus the prison time of course.
[Reply]
BananaTaco Reply:
September 2nd, 2011 at 12:23 pm
Not to worry, Canuckers aren’t as nice as they seem. Nor is their guvernment : ) She’ll get whupped.
[Reply]
BananaTaco Reply:
September 2nd, 2011 at 12:26 pm
http://www.cra-arc.gc.ca/gncy/nvstgtns/lds-eng.html
To report suspected tax evasion in Canada.
WINNER!! ::
+8
[Reply]
SD Reply:
September 3rd, 2011 at 1:04 am
At least 10 people should file reports … so don’t feel like you shouldn’t do it because it’s already been done.
[Reply]
Hi,
The B-team exploitation thing is the ickiest part to me. It’s like–in order to move up to the A-team and make the big bucks you have to become fully trained in both being used *and* in using others. So at first it’s just about trying to sell the customer-victim some over-priced bunkem crap. But in order to really get in to the big leagues, you’ll have to do dozens of shady deals with the A-team who will, in their turn, be screwing you over all the way.
But since you will have just been spending the last several months getting used to screwing people over, this won’t feel like the vile awfulness that it actually is. It’ll just feel kinda normal by then.
Truly depraved. And probably exactly the way things work in Hollywood–and in many other business settings besides.
It’s icky. I don’t believe it’s truly new though–it’s only new to the Internet medium where you can get people to pay big $$$ for things that don’t even physically exist.
@SD
I am very curious to know *when* this conversation took place between Naomi and Dave?
I would also be curious to know how you got hold of it though I realize you may not want to answer that one.
Lastly, I’m curious to know if you’ve ever covered Sterling and Jay and their Internet Business Mastery. I listened to them for a while although I never actually bought anything because, as with all these guru types, their prices are ridiculous and they’re clearly hyping the sh*t out of them.
I mean, anyone who thinks Robert Kiyosaki is a good source of business advice has a lot to answer for.
–
And yes, the pesky truth still usually exists somewhere in between the extremes, even when intentional lying is factored in.
WINNER!! ::
+8
[Reply]
SD Reply:
September 3rd, 2011 at 1:08 am
@Iam3r ::
Good points about B-team exploitation. And this stuff’s not new … it’s a cartel system … been around forever … hiding in plain site all around us.
[Reply]
Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see.
LOSER!! ::
-5
[Reply]
Om Reply:
September 2nd, 2011 at 4:59 am
@987 Difficult to do – unless he had unfettered access to the original PC it was kept on, and access to Encase or similar digital forensics software.
It’s conceivable that someone else could have altered the chat to incriminate them if they had a motive to, and changed file timestamps to make it look kosher. I certainly wouldn’t trust an emailed chatlog.
(Not that the majority of readers will care about that. Salty is a tabloid journalist par excellence, and plays his readers like a set of panpipes. )
Those doubts notwithstanding, what strikes me about this is the sheer stupidity of having this conversation in text chat. Why on earth would you incriminate yourself like this?
It reminds me of the scene in The Wire where all the big drug bosses are sitting round talking about dividing up Baltimore, and one of the underlings starts taking minutes.
[Reply]
Hal (the original Hal) Reply:
September 2nd, 2011 at 5:25 am
@Om,
They love to see themselves in pictures and videos.
They love to hear their own voice on audio.
They love to read what they wrote.
So they hoard it all for their self-love fest not ever thinking about the flip side.
Sort of like serial killers keeping victim trophies.
WINNER!! ::
+8
[Reply]
Enlightened Reply:
September 2nd, 2011 at 5:38 am
@Hal (the original Hal), A friend of mine got caught up in an email exchange at his workplace. His advise to me after all that was said and done. “two words: ‘call me.’”
[Reply]
Gv Reply:
September 3rd, 2011 at 6:37 am
@Enlightened, Weird how I wrote that but it came through under your signature. I hope it didnt cause any undue grief for you… Sorry.
So… Just to make it clear… Enlightened did NOT say the quote above I did.
If you have an opinion about the statement address them to me. If you don’t like it Enlightened isn’t to be blamed I am.
And, of course, the opposite is true too.
Thanks. Gv.
P.s. It appears, based on Cartmans posts above that there were some server issues yesterday.
[Reply]
Gv Reply:
September 3rd, 2011 at 6:44 am
@Gv, Just to be more clear, this is what I wrote:
“A friend of mine got caught up in an email exchange at his workplace. His advise to me after all that was said and done. “two words: ‘call me.”
Enlightened Reply:
September 2nd, 2011 at 5:54 am
@Hal (the original Hal) & @Om, I think it was gmail chat, they mentioned it above:
Dave Navarro :: ok. I’ll try to keep the computer up and running – if you don’t see me, then can you send me a text message to make my phone ping me? then i’ll know to go to Google chat
* So if it was gmail chat, the conversation (if gotten via email) could have been forwarded to SD without the ability to alter it (I think). But it could be dicey.
[Reply]
Jaime Reply:
September 2nd, 2011 at 6:08 am
@Enlightened,
Gmail chat will often log and email an entire convo to both recipients. It depends on their settings.
Also, Gmail chats can be dug up. So if the scenario of “leave desktop computer behind” actually happened, the potential sources are obvious.
Whatever the case, there’s no reason to believe SD would alter or make up any of this.
[Reply]
spideysense Reply:
September 2nd, 2011 at 6:37 am
@anonone, After I read this last night I was wondering how Naomi was going to manipulate emotions to get herself out of this one. I think the next story is going to be about editing documents to make her look bad.
[Reply]
Anonymous Reply:
September 2nd, 2011 at 7:09 am
@spideysense,
Or she may be too busy editing her account books. :)
[Reply]
Frank Reply:
September 2nd, 2011 at 2:51 pm
@anonone, If she wants to claim it’s not accurate and sue SD that would be great. I mean, if it’s not accurate, why wouldn’t she, right? Then of course the server logs would be inspected, and found to be identical.
I have no doubts about this whatsoever. All her other actions, statements, and the video Cartman found build a formidable case against her.
You could probably also anticipate the Canadian tax agency will gather all the relevant info when they look into what’s been said. Then it will all come out in the wash.
The more she spins, the bigger the hole gets. It’s REALLY hard to conceal a hole the size of a crater.
WINNER!! ::
+10
[Reply]
This also explains why Naomi removed all her content except the death threat content. It’s all incriminating. All of it. Dave may be stupid, but Naomi isn’t.
WINNER!! ::
+8
[Reply]
Om Reply:
September 2nd, 2011 at 6:05 am
@SpideySenses,
I disagree. This whole episode smacks of gross stupidity on both sides. How on earth did she think she’d get away with it, if it had gone through? It’s not like she was taking the money cash in hand. There would have been bank records, and for that level of income, bank notification to the IRS.
Screwing up your finances and not being able to pay taxes is one thing. Conspiring to cover it up is quite another.
Re-reading the log (and assuming it is genuine), the impression I get is someone who made a lot of money without really expecting to, and didn’t have the maturity to handle it. The phrase “slippery slope” comes to mind.
[Reply]
Frank Reply:
September 2nd, 2011 at 2:53 pm
@SpideySenses, She isn’t as bright as SHE thinks she is. That site has been saved on many separate computers by now. If anything, it just says “coverup.”
[Reply]
Is there an audio track (please tell me there is, please tell me there is…)
[Reply]
As interesting as this is I can’t wait for the other people who appear in the categories for this post to get their turn in Salty’s spotlight.
[Reply]
Is that a real conversation SD?
“Dave Navarro :: Oh, wow. Spiraling a little bit here, because this is insane and cool and wow and … ok, let me think :-)”
Sounds like a f’kin 5 year old.
[Reply]
SD Reply:
September 3rd, 2011 at 1:21 am
@Juice ::
You quite literally could not make that shit up.
That’s why all this talk about “is it real” is bollux … it’s so fucking real … it’s embarrassingly real. To me it feels more real than most of the audio files on this site.
[Reply]
Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see.
LOSER!! ::
-6
[Reply]
Davebo Reply:
September 2nd, 2011 at 9:02 am
@Jenny,
I’m assuming he’s not including references to his brother because it’s not relevant.
[Reply]
Jenny Reply:
September 2nd, 2011 at 9:31 am
Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see.
LOSER!! ::
-5
[Reply]
Doctor Mario Reply:
September 2nd, 2011 at 1:28 pm
@Jenny :: Salty is not deleting any comments that appear here about Dave.
He is deleting any ANONYMOUS comments about the Navarro family.
He made a comment before, that if someone wants to comment here about the Navarro family, they will need to provide their full name and comment without concealing their identity.
I think anyone can understand why…
WINNER!! ::
+17
[Reply]
SD Reply:
September 3rd, 2011 at 1:32 am
@Doctor Mario ::
Exactly.
Anthony put himself :: and his name :: behind that website to try and help his brother. If you want to object to that … put yourself and your name behind it.
Put yourself … and your name … behind the blatant lies of a gutter trash parasite.
@Jenny ::
I’m not objective you reject … I’m openly anti-crime … and I’m openly an advocate for the victims of these kinds of crimes. If you want to hear the psychopath’s side … go watch CNN.
[Reply]
Sorry to high-jack this thread. Check the video to see an A to Z of ugliness.
The scariest is at 21.30
http://www.expertsindustryassociation.com/conference
[Reply]
Shit Tornado Reply:
September 2nd, 2011 at 8:52 am
@Juice, I got this the other day from Andy Jenkins and was equally sickened. (Also sorry for hijacking)
[Reply]
Sue Reply:
September 2nd, 2011 at 10:14 am
@Juice,
Wow! That’s like a who’s who of salty’s blog.
And I agree about 21:30 being scary. Gives a whole new definition to comb over!
Just gives me the overwhelming desire to have Bubba grab him and Frank and scrub them clean. They look like two guys who’d been living under a bridge somewhere…
[Reply]
Barbara Reply:
September 2nd, 2011 at 10:25 am
@Juice,
I can’t see the vid.
[Reply]
New here Reply:
September 2nd, 2011 at 11:23 am
@Juice,
Just taking a look to the list of “experts” who are part and endorse the “Association” is really scary (see the homepage)
[Reply]
Donk Reply:
September 2nd, 2011 at 1:46 pm
@New here, Geezus, 21:30 is enough to make you puke. We all know ethics are very important to that cat. What is he trying to do with that hair and scruff beard he has going on? Good god…
[Reply]
Anonymous Reply:
September 3rd, 2011 at 8:41 am
@Donk, “Good God” cracked me up man!
[Reply]
Halfway Crook Reply:
September 4th, 2011 at 1:51 am
LOL @ Jenkins…what a douchebag that guy is. Fuckin Frank Kern carbon copy wanna be.
[Reply]
Shit storm Reply:
September 3rd, 2011 at 9:06 pm
@Juice,
Great share…it’s amazing to me the shit these scammers can say with a straight face.
The idea of an association to give themselves credibility is asinine…here’s why
This blog hasn’t even started getting traffic
This blog hasn’t even begun to recruit helpers in this cause
Anyone who is reading this that works in the biz op, IM info, get rich industry is on NOTICE – doesn’t matter what level you’re on.
you will be called out on all your fraud and all the fraud you willingly sell
If anyone reads this and thinks it’s a small problem you’re not fully informed…the problem is massive
do your homework…ask questions…learn what it is they’re doing…then help us stop them
Tens of millions are being swindled from unsuspecting people and they have no intention on stopping
Indictments is the only goal…these people are thieves…makes no difference if they’re low level affiliates peddling these frauducts or the frauduct creator
stealing is stealing
spread the word about http://www.saltydroid.info
[Reply]
For a minute there, I thought I was reading “Macbeth”, not the “Ballad of Dave and Naomi” on this page. I think she could’ve talked him into a plot to overthrow the government. Just another example that you can never underestimate the “power of the vagina” to make men do REALLY stupid things! Good job, SD!
[Reply]
How and from where was this chat log obtained, Salty? Mentions were made of Skype and gchat, but am I then to infer that someone hacked into or otherwise gained unauthorized access to Naomi or Dave’s accounts? It was also suggested (by commenter anonone) that Dave himself may have supplied the chat logs.
Would be great if you could clarify how and from where this log was obtained, as well as if any attempt to verify its contents has been made (re: 987 and Om’s comments).
[Reply]
Slowly Waking Reply:
September 2nd, 2011 at 10:40 am
@Maybe I missed it, I don’t know how Salty got it. I don’t think he will verify, and I don’t think that’s a bad thing. Based on reading this blog almost since the start, here’s why:
1) He has multiple sources. The “smoking gun” sources are often audios, because infoproduct scammers habitually record & keep everything (for later products; also as narcissists). So do Google, Yahoo, Skype, etc. (A lot of commenters are saying, “Dave’s brother can’t be trusted!” What about Dave’s wife? What if they handed over the computer? Gave him the password to Dave’s Skype? What if I’m wrong about Google and he has Matt Cutts helping out?)
2) He’s an attorney, so he knows what will and won’t hold up in court. He knows what standards of verifiable proof a gchat needs to meet.
3) He has many people sending him stuff about people they want to see here. Some work on the inside, are worried family, former colleagues… Things don’t appear here until they’re ready.
4) This is the most important one: None of the scammers will go to court to prove he’s wrong. If they do, he gets to look at their books. A quote: “suing me will grant me access to the vast majority of your accounting records, emails, files, letters, etc. If you want the damning info I find in that discovery process to remain private, you’ll have to ask for a protective order and show good cause. You won’t be able to do that … and I’ll fill the world up with uncomfortable truths about you.” From here. It’s almost like playing chicken.
I could be wrong on any of those, since I’m just a reader. Now, some commenters & trolls, like Om above, say “Salty… plays his readers like a set of panpipes,” implying that we’re all unthinking sheep who swoon uncritically at every move, that we apply none of the standards of truth to SD that we call for from the scammers. Untrue, worth not even an eyeroll. You can actually learn a lot of legal thinking here, explicitly & reading between the lines. It’s also an education in how criminals think & work, and about human nature, and protecting yourself. Since it’s all free & at the end of the process people who have believed scammers finally get to wake up and think for themselves, oh, it’s kind of the opposite of what Om’s saying.
Unless Om meant the readers’ panpipes are played in how Salty rolls out the jawdropping scandalous high notes. Yeah, he’s good at that.
WINNER!! ::
+11
[Reply]
Maybe I missed it Reply:
September 2nd, 2011 at 12:15 pm
Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see.
LOSER!! ::
-5
[Reply]
Slowly Waking Reply:
September 2nd, 2011 at 1:03 pm
@Maybe I missed it: you have a fair and sensible position.
Like most battles of public opinion, we will likely never get to pore over the primary documents.
But we can extrapolate truth from how ND and DN (and their associates) respond. The suspension of DN’s sites is telling. So’s Dunford’s latest tweet: “@GoodInkInc “You want to get something done, ask a busy person.” (When I was a kid, they replaced “busy person” with “Mormon mother”.)” Huh? Holed up from death threats much?
One more thing: people saying this is a forgery, maybe it is. But it’s HARD to make this stuff up. Which parts seem fake? Why? We have the same evidence for this online chat as we do for Dunford’s income claims. It takes a bigger leap of faith to believe Dunford’s income & death threat claims than Salty’s fraud claims.
WINNER!! ::
+9
[Reply]
SD Reply:
September 3rd, 2011 at 1:45 am
@Maybe I missed it ::
This post isn’t for people gawking at the Internet melodrama that Naomi spastically created.
I mean I hope you all stay and buy a t-shirt and everything … but it’s not for you.
People close to this thing can this real … insiders can tell it’s real … b-teamers can tell it’s real … a-teamers can tell it’s real … saltydroid readers can tell it’s real.
If you don’t know what’s going on here … then don’t ask stupid questions.
[Reply]
Wtf is wrong with you? Reply:
September 3rd, 2011 at 1:34 am
@Maybe I missed it,
Why would salty “out” his source?
It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out where this came from, does it? The way I see it ,
There are 3 options. Do the math!
SD’s “proof” has always been spot on and legit, so I seriously doubt that he would
Risk tarnishing his own rep for these 2 pieces of trash.
If the info isn’t true, spidyslut, and Dave the magnificent idiot can file a law suit, right?
What do you think the chances of that happening are? FUCKING ZERO!!!! I would
Be willing to bet almost anything that the fake robot is on his knees praying right now
That Spideyscammer does sue. Can you imagine the info that would be on display then?
WINNER!! ::
+11
[Reply]
SimSim Reply:
September 3rd, 2011 at 10:36 am
@Wtf is wrong with you?,
I particularly like the way you said:
“FUCKING ZERO!!!”
[Reply]
Thank you for posting this Salty. Truly eye opening.
WINNER!! ::
+8
[Reply]
I had to write about it after it became obvious that her ill-titled call to arms wasn’t about the beaten-down masses of tormented and oppressed women bloggers at all. Funny how we both used the phrase “shit storm” and how apt it was. :)
http://joniverse.com/2395/itty-bitty-shitstorm
WINNER!! ::
+12
[Reply]
Cosmic Connie Reply:
September 2nd, 2011 at 10:20 am
@Joni, Good for you! I just left a comment on your blog. I would have voted a thumbs-up for your comment here, but the voting function seems to be inactivated. Maybe it’s just my crappy satellite Internet connection, or maybe Salty’s poor overworked site is a little crippled. Anyway, @Joni, your input is very encouraging, particularly in light of some of the other stuff I’ve seen from female bloggers who feel threatened by Naomi’s contrived “enemy” and who are trying to turn this into a misogyny issue.
WINNER!! ::
+8
[Reply]
Dave Reply:
September 2nd, 2011 at 10:36 am
@Joni, Nicely done.
[Reply]
BananaTaco Reply:
September 2nd, 2011 at 12:30 pm
@Joni, hey Joni! I shared your post with a lot of people in the ‘community’. Thank god, let the shit fall off where it may. Yours was, by far, the best response to her post (besides Salty Jones : )
[Reply]
SD Reply:
September 3rd, 2011 at 2:00 am
@Joni ::
I guess I’ll just keep waiting for the authorities to contact me about the threats Naomi says she reported. Gosh they sure are slow … they must have stopped caring about mass murders and hate crimes.
[Reply]
Canada Revenue Suspected Tax Evasion information must be delivered by mail, phone, or in person.
http://www.cra-arc.gc.ca/gncy/nvstgtns/lds-eng.html
Thank you for your interest in CRA’s Enforcement and Disclosures programs. Please contact our offices as follows:
To report suspected tax evasion:
Tel.: 1-866-809-6841 (toll free)
Tel.: 905-984-4830
Fax: 905-984-4829
Mail:
St. Catharines Tax Services Office
Ontario Region Informant Leads Centre
32 Church Street
Post Office Box 3038
St. Catharines ON L2R 3B9
Anyone can call anonymously.
I would suggest all the evidence be carefully packaged and delivered to one of the offices. Just sharing the story might be enough to get things rolling.
I’m a Canadian and I pay my taxes, all of them, a lot of them. It’s not fun.
I really can’t stand when I read stuff like this. Once CRA gets a few complaints or pieces of evidence, she’s pretty much up shit’s creek. They will NEVER leave her alone.
WINNER!! ::
+13
[Reply]
SD Reply:
September 3rd, 2011 at 2:06 am
@Naomi-Dunford-CRA-TaxEvasion ::
do it … do it … do it … do it …
robot chanting!!
[Reply]
422 Reply:
September 4th, 2011 at 11:53 pm
@Naomi-Dunford-CRA-TaxEvasion, Done and Done.
[Reply]
And dave just shut down the launch coach for “personal reasons” wooooooowww
go check out his site and see for yourself!
[Reply]
Jaime Reply:
September 2nd, 2011 at 11:44 am
@Oh Damn,
“This Account Has Been Suspended”
Oh well. :)
[Reply]
Jaime Reply:
September 2nd, 2011 at 11:45 am
@Oh Damn,
http://www.rockyourday.com/cgi-sys/suspendedpage.cgi
Rock Your Day is also dead {for the time being, at least}
[Reply]
RT Reply:
September 2nd, 2011 at 11:52 am
@Oh Damn,
His whole hosting account says suspended: http://thelaunchcoach.com
Somebody is backpedaling.
If he is not a narcissist and is really a good person inside like Salty is implying here in the post … he is feeling like shit right now (take that back – he is feeling like shit no matter what).
He looks like a total dumbass in this exchange.
Scamming is over … if this doesn’t lead to anything that puts him in jail or the crazy house then maybe he will move down a more productive pathway.
If he thinks he can back-peddle and still play the unicorn game then I guess we can keep eating popcorn and enjoy the show.
[Reply]
anonone Reply:
September 2nd, 2011 at 12:03 pm
@RT,
He has just re-written thelaunchcoach.com web page to say that he is closing down his site and giving away everything for free or for whatever people want to donate for it.
a1
[Reply]
Jaime Reply:
September 2nd, 2011 at 12:18 pm
@anonone,
One last grab at the cash drawer.
“My fake-expert BS is still available. Last chance!
“How will an Internet marketing and launch coach professional like myself go on without the Internets? Nevermind that detail … here’s the list of crap available at my garage sale …”
[Reply]
ema Reply:
September 4th, 2011 at 6:42 pm
@RT,
If this account is accurate (http://ittybiz.com/sometimes-the-bad-guys-win/), he’s already been involuntarily committed to a mental institution.
[Reply]
Silver Agave Reply:
September 2nd, 2011 at 12:39 pm
@Oh Damn,
Yes, I am on the Rock Your Day email list. Some blogger I read referred him. I never purchased anything, because it wasn’t clear what he was selling. Also because a friend told me if I ever invested money in something like that she’d punch me. Here’s the last email I received, about an hour ago:
I really didn’t expect to send a third email today. My apologies.
If you were to go to the link below, you’d see a message that said “account suspended.”
What that means is that way, way, way more people went to the site than I ever expected, and the server’s allotted bandwidth went “poof” in a heartbeat. In other words, my hosting account’s budgeted pageviews were used up all at once.
I’ll try and get that sorted out. :-)
In the meantime, know that everything’s okay. No more emails today, just keep your eye out and see when it all gets settled.
Dave
==================================
Hey everyone –
Apparently e-junkie has a free download limit of 200 per day and that was reached pretty quickly.
I’ll see what I can do to get a work-around that will allow unlimited downloads for those not wishing to set a price.
I’ll get back to you when that’s done and I have a new link – in the meantime, you can try tomorrow if you’d like.
Thanks –
Dave
==================================
Hello, friends.
I’ve made the decision to close the curtains on The Launch Coach due to personal reasons. It’s time to take a break from the internet for a while.
But I wanted to do something special for you before I go, as a way to express my heartfelt thanks for the years of support and as a way to get my training in the hands of as many people as I can before this site is closed.
At this time, you can have some (or all) of my workshops for whatever you’re in the spirit to pay.
For the next week or so, all my workshops are available on a donation basis.Pay nothing if you want. Pay something if you’re moved to do so. It’s all good. I just want you to get this training.
http://www.thelaunchcoach.com/goodbye-my-friends
The downloads will still be accessible even after the rest of the website and the workshop sales pages are be taken down. So rest assured that even when The Launch Coach closes its doors, you’ll still have access to the content you pick up today.
To all the wonderful people who have helped me build a brand that helped businesses around the world, I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart.
Thanks for everything – it’s been one hell of a ride.
Always yours,
Dave Navarro
If you no longer wish to receive our emails, click the link below:
Unsubscribe
3505 Birkwood Ct Raleigh, North Carolina 27616 United States (919) 889-8967
[Reply]
Sunshine Reply:
September 2nd, 2011 at 12:50 pm
@Silver Agave,
“Always yours” – Funny, that’s just what he said to his wife:
http://letterstodavenavarro.com/dave-remember-your-inscription-to-alison
[Reply]
Sunshine Reply:
September 2nd, 2011 at 1:04 pm
@Sunshine,
Ack… I Didn’t write that.
[Reply]
Anon Reply:
September 2nd, 2011 at 12:52 pm
@Silver Agave,
“Always yours” sounds familiar: http://letterstodavenavarro.com/dave-remember-your-inscription-to-alison
[Reply]
Joni Reply:
September 3rd, 2011 at 12:51 am
@Anon: No, it’s actually plausible that you can see an Account Suspended for exceeding monthly bandwidth. It depends on the web host. They’ll just shut your account down until you pay for the overage or purchase a larger package. Anything that violates their TOS, such as overuse/abuse of server resources, and of course not paying the bill. :)
[Reply]
Joe Reply:
September 2nd, 2011 at 3:08 pm
@Silver Agave, “Account suspended” is something I’ve seen on web sites where the hosting bill was not paid. When a web site gets too much traffic, the customary message is “Temporarily Unavailable” or similar. I don’t think I believe Naomi’s explanation.
[Reply]
Anonymous Reply:
September 2nd, 2011 at 3:28 pm
@Joe,
It sounds fishy to me too.
[Reply]
Gv Reply:
September 3rd, 2011 at 7:00 am
@Silver Agave, Whiskey Tango Foxtrot kinda BS URL is this:
http://www.thelaunchcoacxxxxxh.com/goodbye-my-friends
“goodbye-my-friends”????
What? Is he expecting a chorus of “NO….WAIT…STOP…COME BACK…we can’t play without your ball!!!”
I mean get real.
[Reply]
Jaime Reply:
September 2nd, 2011 at 8:41 pm
@Oh Damn,
I was clicking through the website when it hit me …
“What about all the people that actually PAID for this stuff?”
It’s classic Internet marketing: sell something for $1997 and then, next week, have it as a FREE BONUS for people buying your buddy’s product
WINNER!! ::
+8
[Reply]
I wonder if Naomi Dunford is enjoying her email today as much as usual. Or maybe she’s already gotten a VA to sift through it all and only forward the happy messages …
Riiiight.
[Reply]
I feel really bad for the kids in this situation, because whatever these two rats are doing is going to affect them their whole lives. It’s not your fault kids!
WINNER!! ::
+9
[Reply]
The best thing Dave Navarro could do right now is to cut off times with Naomi and walk away. Say he was manipulated. Even if he doesn’t go back home, he needs to walk away from Naomi to save himself.
[Reply]
Anonymous Reply:
September 2nd, 2011 at 12:34 pm
@SpideySenses,
I have no evidence, but I bet that he already has.
That is kinda why I think he was the source of the chat transcript.
a1
[Reply]
Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see.
LOSER!! ::
-7
[Reply]
Deuce Monkey Reply:
September 2nd, 2011 at 1:11 pm
@Wait,
“I’ve said all of this to ask this question … does this deserve the lynching that this group has given and the potential death threats to her life? I see this as making a mountain out of a mole hill.”
Of course this woman doesn’t deserve death threats which I’m pretty sure no one has done. I don’t know though. stupid question.
sometimes a mountain needs to be made out of a mole hill… whatever the f that means.
[Reply]
Wait Reply:
September 2nd, 2011 at 1:19 pm
Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see.
LOSER!! ::
-8
[Reply]
Wait Reply:
September 2nd, 2011 at 1:21 pm
Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see.
LOSER!! ::
-8
[Reply]
Slowly Waking Reply:
September 2nd, 2011 at 1:35 pm
@Wait, you wrote: “Many people HAVE benefitted from Dave and Naomi’s work, and people now have successful businesses because of Naomi’s consultations.”
Name them.
You can’t.
[Reply]
Wait Reply:
September 2nd, 2011 at 1:38 pm
Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see.
LOSER!! ::
-7
[Reply]
Wait Reply:
September 2nd, 2011 at 1:40 pm
Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see.
LOSER!! ::
-9
[Reply]
Anonymous Reply:
September 2nd, 2011 at 1:44 pm
Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see.
LOSER!! ::
-6
[Reply]
Wait Reply:
September 2nd, 2011 at 1:54 pm
Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see.
LOSER!! ::
-7
Deuce Monkey Reply:
September 2nd, 2011 at 1:54 pm
@Wait,
I only know that Naomi won’t benefit from this. Go start your own blog where you benefit others.
[Reply]
Wait Reply:
September 2nd, 2011 at 1:58 pm
Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see.
LOSER!! ::
-10
Anonymous Reply:
September 2nd, 2011 at 2:01 pm
@Wait,
Oh, I’ll bite on this one.
People like Debbie: http://saltydroid.info/scamming-two-debbies/
People who are susceptible to being scammed out of their money by greedy, psychopathic narcissists selling Steal Underpants=Make Profit! schemes, blanketed in language that sounds business-y.
Think those people deserve it? Because they’re stupid? Try again, they’re not stupid. They have been hoodwinked, with their strengths (hope,generosity, wanting to believe good things happen to good people including themselves) having been manipulated. That’s what these criminals do. And if you want to victim blame or declare that these people purchased a product at market rate, you need to read up a little more on how these ponzi schemes work. Otherwise you’re complicit with what these people do. Which is rob people.
tl;dr version- Humanity benefits when things like this are spotlighted. Which might not be quantifiable in market/sales reports, but when humanity wins, we all win.
WINNER!! ::
+7
[Reply]
Wait Reply:
September 2nd, 2011 at 2:12 pm
Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see.
LOSER!! ::
-8
Silver Agave Reply:
September 2nd, 2011 at 2:23 pm
@Wait-
(I don’t why my last comment posted as anonymous.The site’s gotten kind of wonky- this comment tried to have me posting as Dr Mario, the last one tried to have me commenting as Wait.)
Not paying taxes is scamming everyone. I’m not going to get into another argument this week with a libertarian.
Wait Reply:
September 2nd, 2011 at 2:33 pm
Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see.
LOSER!! ::
-8
Wait Reply:
September 2nd, 2011 at 2:41 pm
Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see.
LOSER!! ::
-8
Dale Reply:
September 3rd, 2011 at 2:50 am
@Wait said:
“I agree that failure to pay taxes is bad, but soooooooooooo many successful people, especially politicians do it”
“Marc Anthony didn’t pay his taxes either and he’s still raking in the money.”
What utter bullshit. Let’s take a look at that.
You momentarily feigned agreement that a crime is uh, “bad” and then you attempted to justify it with the classic ["that's not what actually I think, this is what I really think" transition]…”BUT”…followed by examples of people who have been “bad” and yet, because they were able to make money, their being “bad” is “no biggy.” (YES, that’s what you did.)
Your idea of “successful” is in tune with people who think that bad behavior is ok if it doesn’t keep them from the money. Those people number very highly in the sociopath camp. That’s also a common denominator among “Internet Marketing” scammers.
I conclude, based on this, along with your consistent glossing over of the many well-articulated and highly persuasive replies that others have made here, that you are either a lost cause or an agenda-driven troll.
I’d put the odds at .01% and 99.99%, respectively.
NotsoFast Reply:
September 4th, 2011 at 8:00 am
@, I don’t think it’s because they were hoodwinked. Some people are just dumber than others.
Slowly Waking Reply:
September 2nd, 2011 at 3:13 pm
@Wait, you got scammed because you paid someone to tell you to set up a blog/do basic SEO/or whatever she told you; you could have found better info for free in libraries and online. Heck, Google has a free PDF that contains everything in her SEO School, with more timely, more effective suggestions too.
But the real scam here is how Dunford’s scamming Navarro. She’s barely got it together at all, but Navarro is begging for scraps. Would “The Launch Coach” have made any sales if his bio said, “I’m a project manager at Lockheed Martin who desperately wants to quit, but I still can’t get this launch thing together enough to hit the red button.” Would Dunford ever have made a dime without wannabes like Navarro buying into the Ponzi scheme?
No offense, but your saying “I benefited and so did people I know” is hard to buy. I get that you don’t want to hurt a real business by dispaying it here, but don’t expect people to buy vague claims. (Meet halfway: tell how she helped you as detailed as you can and give numbers, before & after. I’ve never seen anyone do even that.)
At best you weren’t marketing much before and started to pay a little attention to it. That shouldn’t have cost her outrageous fees– it’s not rocket science. I don’t disparage your business– which I suspect you already had, and operates far outside the IM/consulting/coaching “industry”– so much as disparage Dunford’s bizopp claims that she has letter after letter from people who started at zero and quit their jobs thanks to the income she taught them to earn.
She can’t even get Dave to that point!
Also, I’m not information gathering when I ask for the proof. The FTC REQUIRES bizopp sellers to provide 10 contact info of past purchases. It’s not coming from her or any IM guru, so when people say they’re succeeding in the comments, it’s fair to ask.
People protest, oh, IttyBiz isn’t bizopp, it’s marketing advice. But:
*When it costs more than $500 and you expect to make that money back from doing what it says, it’s bizopp.
*When you are selling not to established, registered business but to stay-at-home moms, hobbyists, and cubicle drones, it’s bizopp.
*When the sales language and promises made by Dunford and her lot like Frank Kern, Eben Pagan, Teaching Sells, Clay Collins, James Chartrand, etc etc, are all about starting a business, living the dream, and quitting your job– that’s bizopp.
I’ve never since bizopp that’s not a scam. (Funny how Brian Clark has tried to reposition Copyblogger as a “software company.”)
Unrelated, but the posts are seemingly appearing & disappearing due to crushing traffic. The hosting here is donated by a free-speech nonprofit with limited resources and an important mission. Because you won’t read about this stuff anywhere else.
WINNER!! ::
+14
[Reply]
Silver Agave Reply:
September 2nd, 2011 at 3:30 pm
@Slowly Waking,
Thanks for explaining that in a way that I could not.
[Reply]
Wait Reply:
September 2nd, 2011 at 3:40 pm
Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see.
LOSER!! ::
-4
[Reply]
Wait Reply:
September 2nd, 2011 at 4:00 pm
Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see.
LOSER!! ::
-7
_cartman_ Reply:
September 2nd, 2011 at 4:13 pm
Okay new rule…anyone who gets my email…has to send me holiday cards… :)
Just kidding…don’t worry….half the world has my email….
Bonnie Reply:
September 2nd, 2011 at 4:37 pm
@Wait,
“Again, I won’t make this about me”
Now you’re starting to sound like Naomi.
WINNER!! ::
+7
Jaime Reply:
September 2nd, 2011 at 5:10 pm
@Wait,
The VAST majority of their “teaching” is untested, unverifiable bullshit.
They also say that bs from one market applies universally. Any true marketer knows that’s nonsense.
The simple fact is that most everything Naomi and Dave teach is hearsay, guesswork, and second-hand experiences. ALL the fucking money is made selling hopes and dreams!
They sell YOU the customer to go apply their nonsense to “other markets”. 99.99% of the customers FAIL because it doesn’t work. The .01% that earn any money do so by following the pattern of selling bullshit.
WINNER!! ::
+13
Slowly Waking Reply:
September 2nd, 2011 at 5:28 pm
@Wait, to start, you mentioned below that you do WordPress design professionally; here you say Dunford helped you with the SEO & design of your site. That raised my eyebrow.
Also, below you said to Enlightened, “I hate that you had that experience but I feel that isn’t characteristic of her customer’s experiences. I don’t think I would have done that in the first place.” Maybe not, but you’ll kick someone who’s down and trying to deal with a major mistake openly in the comments? Yet you have no idea what her customers’ typical experiences are. Certainly not from Dunford, who would never give a shred of evidence of her “successful clients” in the IttyBiz 1000 salespitch, or comply with FTC regulations because she’s “not a details person.” You also don’t provide any specifics, as you “don’t want to make this about me.” Oh, it’s not; it’s about Enlightened and people with the same experience s/he’s had. They far outnumber you. If you’re real, which I don’t believe. I mean, if I ask for specifics, at least make some up! “no, i’m too ‘umble, it’s not about me”
Now, the first paragraph of your response above sounds like gurus’ pat rationalization for charging $600/hour repeating stuff anyone can find for free, “because they’re paying for the convenience of you finding it!” If true, librarians would be billionaires.
The second paragraph is waffle.
In your comment below, your description of local chamber-of-commerce meetings, yeah, I’ve done those too. Cool story.
On Ponzi schemes: affiliate marketing’s not a Ponzi scheme. (It’ll die out when all states tax it, and it’s a lousy business model when commissions get cut; but see my comment about Bonobos elsewhere on the page.) The Ponzi scheme is selling advice on making money online to people who turn around and try to make money online using what their teachers know how to do, which is scam people selling lousy make-money-online advice. Dave bought into that Ponzi scheme– Naomi would have been in Dave’s shoes, flaming out after buying Frank Kern’s Mass Control for $2 grand, if she hadn’t found Dave and people like him to sell her (shorter, cheaper) Online Business School to, and then turned them into her own affiliates as she went up the IM scammer ladder. Older posts on this site outline how the Syndicate coordinated their launches and prices (which is illegal) based on the understanding that the MMO market has a churn every six months to a year, when new customers get suckered in as older customers give up. Every “make money online” course, every SEO course, every traffic stent course, is a rehash of an older course. Partially because nothing’s new under the sun, partially because most customers never see the rehash. The ones who do are too beaten-down by cult tactics and silence to ask for the refund. (That’s one reason gurus say “take massive action!” Because they know customers who fail implementing their fraudulent advice will blame themselves when it doesn’t work.)
Anyway, because you offer no specifics, and because of your responses below, I think you’re having a good time trolling with kid gloves on, for a change of pace. Thanks for giving me an opportunity to explain for the lurkers.
WINNER!! ::
+16
_cartman_ Reply:
September 2nd, 2011 at 2:17 pm
@Wait,
Not for us to prove, that is the CRA’s responsibility…she made the claim, and she either paid or did not pay taxes…how the CRA views her conspiring to commit fraud [[that's a charge under the Criminal Code of Canada...her issue...she's Canadian]] …
No she doesn’t; that said, did you see death threats? Hold up…you see what as making a mountain….her claiming threats, or you claiming that the threats are real?
FACT…
When push came to prove, she showed nothing! She quoted NOTHING! NOTHING!…in Naomi’s second post she MUTED the threats significantly and paraphrased them [[you know...the death threats...the issue that the post revolved around]]…and posted another email as “proof” that those threats existed, and were “invoked”….and used someone else’s tragedy to claim victimization for herself…
Now stop insulting people, and if you believe in the threats contact the appropriate Authorities, or shut up. I’m not going to debate something that is not even directly quoted…
WINNER!! ::
+17
[Reply]
Wait Reply:
September 2nd, 2011 at 2:26 pm
Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see.
LOSER!! ::
-11
[Reply]
KG Reply:
September 2nd, 2011 at 2:39 pm
@Wait,
(Yikes. Salty, I think you’ve gotta fix your reply button because when I went on to comment, cartman’s name came on with his email address. I don’t think you want that).
Anyway, Wait. I was wondering how you can say you have benefited from ND’s material, then take a neutral position on these issues. You write: ” does this deserve the lynching that this group has given …”. Perhaps not a lynching, but how to you reconcile buying a product from this person, and then reading what she thinks of you as a customer?
I’m curious about that paradox.
[Reply]
Wait Reply:
September 2nd, 2011 at 2:45 pm
Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see.
LOSER!! ::
-10
[Reply]
Enlightened (Formerly Confused) Reply:
September 2nd, 2011 at 3:18 pm
@Wait, & the others – I have made money off of the teachings they both put out – the material is useful – but the way I made the money is based off uneducated tactics and emulating success I never truly had – that’s what I was taught to do and that’s wrong.
I never felt good about it and it caused me to feel lost the entire time. So even though the material may be useful to people and help them make money – are they making money the right way? Are they emulating success they don’t even have in order to sell people unicorns? Are they going in circles trying to be like the A-team?
Because I was and it sucks. And now I’m more lost than ever and I wasted years – and thousands – trying to find success that was never really there.
WINNER!! ::
+12
KG Reply:
September 2nd, 2011 at 3:37 pm
@Wait,
If a grocery store owner treated me like dirt, I would want to give my money to another grocery store owner who had nice oranges and respected her customers.
I can understand “personality”, and a way of communicating that is over the top that some people like. Salty for example.
If you can read the above interchange between ND and DN (assuming that it is true), and take away the excuse as to it being “her style”, then it is apparent that you cannot clearly see that she doesn’t give a shit about you, about her customers, about following the law, about the Canadian government, etc. If you can read that, and not clearly see a narcissistic person, then I wonder what you actually got out of the product you purchased from her.
Are you making money from it? in the 10 – 50K range? over 100K? Are you a better human being because of what you bought? What have you learned from this person that has directly improved the quality of your life or the life of those you love?
Truly, I’m just curious.
WINNER!! ::
+8
SpideySenses Reply:
September 2nd, 2011 at 3:39 pm
@Wait, You said “. She will tell you straight up she doesn’t care and she would say it on her blog or over the phone. I don’t have to be loved by the grocery store owner I buy oranges from either.”
If she didn’t care she wouldn’t have posted her death threat and Dave Navarro sob stories on her blog. She does care. She’s scared and she cares a lot.
Wait Reply:
September 2nd, 2011 at 3:54 pm
Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see.
LOSER!! ::
-9
Grover Lembeck Reply:
September 2nd, 2011 at 4:26 pm
@Wait,
It isn’t even that she didn’t pay her taxes, it’s that she is clearly attempting to transfer the entire tax bill onto Dave’s shoulders, while acting like she’s doing him a favor.
I don’t do business with people who have contempt for their customers, either. Sullen or somewhat obnoxious, personalty wise, I can handle, but she steps way over that line.
Your posts strike me as being very similar to earlier attempts to change the subject- you’re trying to make it about taxes and personality, when it’s about scamming people and taking advantage of the vulnerable.
I also have to add, after reading 20-30 posts on her blog, I don’t think I’d care to do business with anyone who thinks that it’s filled with useful advice. It mostly seems to be advice on how to be a creep.
WINNER!! ::
+14
also waiting Reply:
September 2nd, 2011 at 4:56 pm
I’m just going to speak up in support of what “wait” is saying. I’ve been a long-term reader of Ittybiz and Dave’s site, I’ve bought a few of their cheaper products and I was signed up to the Speakeasy for a while. I too am here because I’m curious about the way in which I’m supposed to have been scammed, and find the “evidence” posted here entirely underwhelming.
No, I don’t approve of what they’re discussing, and I find the way that Naomi’s last two posts are written sensationalist and OTT – but that’s what she always did – dramatise her own circumstances to illustrate the points she was making. At heart I think that’s the problem – she’s a writer, not a businesswoman. And clearly that’s got her into trouble. I’m still not persuaded that she’s evil, though. Someone said here something like “she made a shit-ton of money she didn’t expect to, and didn’t handle it well” – my guess is that hits the nail smack on the head.
None of this affects the value of the products (hers or Dave’s) though – the advice in them is sound and has been helpful to me and others. The information was sometimes presented in a tongue-in-cheek, somewhat shambolic low-tech way, sure – but the content was good. Many people I think related to the home-spun nature of it all, oddly enough.
Sure, you can get the information cheaper or free elsewhere (lots of it on – yes – Copyblogger) – you can also pay ten times the price. People *choose* to buy from her because they like her (yes, really) not because she forces them to. They enjoy the larger-than-life character she portrays on the site, just as people seem to enjoy saltydroid – which personally I don’t.
I also agree absolutely with “wait” that many of the things she says are tongue-in-cheek. Just as a trivial example, her “USP” is “internet marketing advice from a woman who swears a lot”. Except, when you listen to the Speakeasy calls, she doesn’t. The droid is nothing like his online persona – Noami is closer but still not actually the character she portrays.
All the personal stuff is very sad and hugely complicated, but not relevant. And for what it’s worth, I think saltydroid is off with his target of the whole “Third Tribe” – they make it clear over and over that the ideas they are suggesting *aren’t* some kind of magic formula. They’re hard work, they’re slow, they require a great product and you have to be a decent person about it. But they *can* work, and they *have* worked for plenty of people.
So – yes, Dave and Naomi blew it, one way or another, and this whole fiasco is making damn sure they have no chance to fix things. But I still don’t see where there was a scam, or how the products they sell/sold are affected.
Muchly debated. What do you think?
-3
SD Reply:
September 2nd, 2011 at 7:23 pm
@also waiting ::
That sounds like a personal problem. Maybe you should consider the possibility that your ignorance of the Interent is going to make it hard for you to compete against people who aren’t ignorant.
Slowly Waking Reply:
September 2nd, 2011 at 5:50 pm
@also waiting, well, if she’s a writer and not a businesswoman, but portrays herself as a businesswoman and sells business advice, isn’t that fraud?
Like I said above, this is mainly about Navarro getting scammed. I’m horrified at the gulf between Navarro’s public face and his actual situation shown here, and the callousness with which Dunford tries to dump her tax problem on his head.
But I think the crux of your objection is here: “None of this affects the value of the products (hers or Dave’s) though – the advice in them is sound and has been helpful to me and others… the content was good.” Aren’t all students above average? Isn’t every driver a safe driver? We tend to judge people we know (esp. ourselves) gently. IM scams like Dunford’s use blogs and the intimacy of the internet to make them feel like your friends, and then charge outrageous prices for shoddy products and services. We don’t mind, because we feel like part of the club. “Maybe she’ll tweet my web site if I don’t ask for a refund, even though I already knew everything in Online Business School!” I’ve read comments similar to yours in the last few days, and none have offered specifics on how her products have benefited you. So: what was the increase in your profits? ROI based on purchase price? Or did she just give some generalized suggests and make you laugh a little? Did any of your friends quit their full-time jobs? What are their business models, expenses, profits?
Look, the whole IM-MMO market is based on ideas stolen from direct mail advertising. In that field, once you’ve read Claude Hopkins’ Scientific Advertising and John Caples’ Tested Advertising Methods, you know all there is to know. Copyblogger’s posts (which I hold my nose at, how many lists of 10 stupid things and vacuous comments can you stand?) are all variations on themes in those two books. The rest is hot air. Nobody can justify charging for “business advice” spun from those books– and nobody legit is actually charging a few hundred bucks to help people start real businesses because real business is hard.
I think you’re using a dangerous low standard of value in evaluating her work. At the end of your comment, you sound like you were paying mainly for her personality and outrageous style. Fine, but that’s different than quitting your job and making Internet monies. It’s also a waste of cash.
“Many people I think related to the home-spun nature of it all, oddly enough.”
That’s the danger. It makes the MMO scam accessible to people who would normally be immune.
WINNER!! ::
+19
also waiting Reply:
September 2nd, 2011 at 6:44 pm
Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see.
LOSER!! ::
-7
SD Reply:
September 2nd, 2011 at 7:14 pm
@also waiting ::
Hi … thanks for nothing. Link to your money making site … or shut your cake hole. I know someone else requested some general deets … but I reject them. Link to your site … or shut your cake hole.
This whole fucking scam is about false testimonials … and I won’t have them here. If you don’t link to your site … then you are liar.
And btw :: if you think Naomi’s “advice” was helpful or useful … then you should start looking for another job because you are an Internet n00b who can look forward to nothing but failure.
Slowly Waiting Reply:
September 2nd, 2011 at 7:43 pm
@also waiting, this nesting on this thread’s getting unworkable. If you want to continue it, best to start a new, unnested comment below. But I’m starting to repeat myself, so I kind of just want to hear Salty’s next bit.
Thank you for the specific numbers. You still don’t say what exactly you do, though, just that it’s not making money from a website? But you’re doing launches? How does that work?
Also, what’s your business structure? LLC, S-Corp, C-Corp? Don’t give us your EIN, though.
More importantly, what’s your market? Not MMO. But what is it– barbeque, entertaining, travel, home decorating, the ever-popular dog training? Gurus always claim some precious “niches” they guard like a magic ring, but there’s only a few niches out there. One of the problems with what Dunford sold (esp. in Online Business School) is that very, very few markets support “infomarketing.” The ones that do require specialist knowledge, sometimes specialist degrees and certifications. Most people don’t have these, and scammers of course frown on education. Do you have these kinds of qualifications, and do they apply to your business? You sold a PDF and a video– for how much? Download only? How many customers did you have? One of very unethical guru techniques is to charge higher prices in order to maximize profits. I’ve heard from multiple gurus about higher *perceived* value. Adding a video often makes it look like you’re offering more value. But is your video some cheap shit thing you threw together on your iPhone, or did you hire a professional crew and editor? Is the video actually a more efficient way of learning than reading a manual? For instance, if you’ve seen Ikea’s assembly manuals, they’re about as simple as can be– because that provides the best user experience. Because those are shades of ethics, and good business practice.
You wrote: “I’m absolutely confident that the methods I’ve used (and was recommended to use) are ethical, and offer great value.”
So you’re a registered business, paying taxes at federal, state, and local levels, fairly paying people who do work for you, and you have all the legally required documents and disclaimers in place on your web site? Your address is in your emails? Good, because those are things Dunford et al. tend to leave out. Remember what I said about perceived value. And consider that the lines of ethics are very, very blurry– perhaps you do use them ethically, but your Third Tribe teachers have not. Also, the price tag you quote seems terribly high to me, especially considering it’s just “information” and not things tailored to your specific situation. How would $900 of personally-tailor consulting, from a person in your community, redefine your standards for “value?” And you realize that their continuity programs are set up for their bottom line most of all. Scribe, for instance, is weak sauce after you do this for on-page (PDF). But it’s awfully nice to have that money coming in at Copyblogger every month.
For some reason you’re perceiving what they offered you as high value, when everything you’ve implemented that has worked for you (if you’re being straight, it’s still not specific enough for me to say because what you’ve written sounds like an affiliate marketing pitch, or something from freshman comp) is on the net for free, if only you’d found the right sites instead of Third Tribe sites. And this…
“Don’t get me wrong, I’ve seen “get rich quick” schemes online that turn my stomach, but that’s not what Naomi and the “Third Tribe” are doing – exactly the opposite in fact, that’s the whole point.”
…is so wrong. Yeah, they say they do it differently than some of the older folk, and like to point it out: making fun of the yellow highlighter and the bullet points and the headlines. But there’s no difference in Dunford, Kern, or any of the B- and C-teamers. They put a dimestore Valley sheen on old-school infoscamming.
Read some more of this site. I’d point you where to look, but you’re here already, and I don’t want to charge you $600/hour finding it for you.
WINNER!! ::
+8
also waiting Reply:
September 3rd, 2011 at 3:57 am
Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see.
LOSER!! ::
-11
Carol Reply:
September 3rd, 2011 at 6:12 am
“@Wait,” You are so full of lies and bullshit, people can smell the odor over the internet.
“and now here I am, fully confident that blogging is a great way to supplement my income.”
Yeah, rrrright. Reading your your comments, it’s easy to see that you are just another Naomi-troll, here only to promote your deceptive spiderbitch.
To be clear: you are a lying, devious dirtbag, here ONLY to promote and cover up for your deceptive fiend, the spiderbitch.
This foolish comment of yours was hilariously arrogant, too:
“And that’s why this “campaign” of yours is doomed – you won’t find the evidence of sleaze and corruption you think you will, because it isn’t there.”
The WORLD has already found the truth, troll. It’s too late. The spider is out of the bag.
And no mere “customer” could with any authority, nor would they, go out on a such a ridiculous limb for a vendor, and certainly not to the absolutely manic extent you have. Liar!
You are beyond pathetic, and absolute scum.
_cartman_ Reply:
September 2nd, 2011 at 4:07 pm
@KG,
hahaha…if you would have gotten it sooner you could have sold it :)
[Reply]
Lanna Reply:
September 3rd, 2011 at 6:03 am
If this promotion only went out to Also Waiting’s own “‘white-hat’” email list, why was $2000 in affiliate fees paid out? And to whom?
Carol Reply:
September 3rd, 2011 at 6:20 am
@Lanna, Good point. “@Also Waiting” is obviously lying. It doesn’t add up. Funny how the few trolls who tried to defend their spider are caught lying. Obviously, they learned how to do ONE thing from the spider: LIE. Sickening.
also waiting Reply:
September 3rd, 2011 at 11:44 am
Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see.
LOSER!! ::
-9
BananaTaco Reply:
September 2nd, 2011 at 3:31 pm
@Wait, she has LIED her motherfucking face off from start to finish to everyone, including herself. And here’s a thing, I WOULDN’t go see a shitty ass Wesley Snipes movie *because* he’s a tax evading parasite prick.
Some people do have a moral code you giant bag of dicks.
[Reply]
Glad I Was Broke Reply:
September 3rd, 2011 at 8:16 pm
@Also waiting,
What is your product?
[Reply]
Barbara Reply:
September 2nd, 2011 at 4:09 pm
@Wait,
I was reading your comments with great interest until I read this:
“Allison, the one Salty Droid has been so concerned about this whole time, the Godly one.”
Why would you call this woman names? I feel great sympathy for a woman who has been walked out on by her husband leaving her with three sons and no support. Why would you say something so obnoxious about her?
You are not some neutral party seeking information. You are here to carry water for Naomi Dunford. That was a really cheap shot at a woman who did not deserve it.
WINNER!! ::
+23
[Reply]
Bonnie Reply:
September 2nd, 2011 at 4:54 pm
@Barbara,
Amen to that! Exactly what I was thinking!
WINNER!! ::
+9
[Reply]
Donk Reply:
September 2nd, 2011 at 6:39 pm
I just read that post and you are spot on Barbara. Has to be the spider or someone close to her. The spider is my bet.
WINNER!! ::
+9
[Reply]
Anonymous Reply:
September 2nd, 2011 at 8:05 pm
@Donk,
I think you’re correct. As soon as I saw that breathtakingly cruel comment aimed at an innocent, injured party I knew this was no unbiased commenter.
She was attempting to pose as a fair and equitable person but she couldn’t maintain her mask. She just had to slip the knife in, thereby tipping her hand to one and all.
So all that nonsense about Naomi’s great products, abilities, helpfullness, was just that; nonsense.
WINNER!! ::
+9
[Reply]
Donk Reply:
September 3rd, 2011 at 12:15 am
That comment might also give just a sliver of substance to the notion of them having the affair as well.
WINNER!! ::
+7
[Reply]
Wait Reply:
September 6th, 2011 at 7:34 am
Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see.
LOSER!! ::
-6
Enlightened (Formerly Confused) Reply:
September 2nd, 2011 at 7:55 pm
@Wait, Maybe we have different businesses. I think there are plenty of people who start with a business – like selling apples – and can use Dave and Naomi’s products to sell more apples online.
But the problem everyone is saying is neither of them ever had a business selling something real online and their experience is all regurgitated stuff they’ve learned elsewhere, just prettied up with their ‘personalities/swearing’.
The other problem is while those selling apples – maybe someone like you who is claiming not to have a MMO niche – MAY indeed see the value, how much more value could you have gotten if you hired a real expert with real world experience (one selling apples around the world).
And those with no real business end up listening to their ridiculous advice and start creating a business out of thin air based on experiences they have.
Dave regularly spoke about how you didn’t have to “be an expert” to create a business around your expertise. He said “if you’re a 5 in web design, you can teach the 1′s and 2′s.”
This is a fucking problem. Why is someone who is a 5 in web design teaching 1′s in 2′s about web design – shouldn’t they be fucking creating websites for clients?
That’s the whole point here. I see it every day, someone who has a retail store is selling eBooks on how to create a successful retail store. Well if you were so successful, why are you on Twitter 24/7 promoting your eBook about it?
Or a raw food expert helping other raw foodists learn how to create a brand out of being a raw food expert. Shouldn’t she be sharing her raw food advice for people who want to go raw?
It’s ridiculous. And this “third tribe” / hipster syndicate has created this dream. Just today I fell into a blog by a girl who coaches creative businesses. Yet she’s never had a creative business besides selling her coaching and products. How does that work?
Just my 2 cents.
WINNER!! ::
+27
[Reply]
Slowly Waking Reply:
September 2nd, 2011 at 8:08 pm
@Enlightened (Formerly Confused),
you get a thumbs up from me. I’m sick of “coaches,” especially life coaches. I’m sick of “Teaching Sells,” because all these assholes think they can teach and charge outrageous prices when they don’t know shit about teaching and real teachers are out there getting their benefits cut, stuck with the Third Tribe’s spoiled idiot spawn in their classrooms. Besides, 99.999999% of people don’t want to pay 5-level prices to learn to be a 1 or 2-level web designer, they just WANT TO PAY TO GET THE FUCKING WEBSITE! The “teaching”/infomarketing model’s only good for the infomarketer WHO IS A SCAMMER BTW WTF
Time for a break! I’m glad Salty’s back.
WINNER!! ::
+9
[Reply]
Teaching Sells Reply:
September 3rd, 2011 at 1:54 am
Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see.
LOSER!! ::
-5
[Reply]
Michael Martine Reply:
September 3rd, 2011 at 2:10 am
Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see.
LOSER!! ::
-4
SD Reply:
September 3rd, 2011 at 5:45 pm
@Teaching Sells ::
Teaching Sells is and was bullshit … my unambiguous and unequivocal opinion.
@Michael Martine ::
Maybe if you don’t want to finish our litte email convo … you should stop commenting here. Just a word of advice which I’m sure you won’t take.
Jaime Reply:
September 2nd, 2011 at 8:09 pm
@Enlightened (Formerly Confused),
You highlighted a serious issue that’s obvious everywhere in the IM realm and the “blogging about blogging” world. Great examples, too.
You can bet $$$ that anyone selling a secret to making money knows it’s absolutely easier to sell the next person the idea than carry it out themselves.
If the idea was any good in the first place, they’d DO IT!
Let’s not get started on the idea of “business coaches” – what a load of crap.
[Reply]
Joni Reply:
September 3rd, 2011 at 12:58 am
@Jaime, It’s not unlike those scammers selling winning lotto tickets or Miss Cleo (anyone remember her?). If she’s psychic, why can’t she pick some wining lottery numbers for herself.
All this is nothing more than 21st century snake oil. People have been attempting to scam others since the fish walked and they’ll continue to do so as long as there are gullible or desperate (or both) folks out there willing to drink their Kool-Aid. Sad but true.
WINNER!! ::
+7
[Reply]
Anonymous Reply:
September 3rd, 2011 at 7:55 am
@Joni,
and the reason this site and the people on it are uniting to make it impossible to do this
This blog is also about stopping new scammers from getting started
showing low level scammers they’re being targeted just like everyone else
Nobody is safe till the indictments are handed down
WINNER!! ::
+9
Anonymous Reply:
September 2nd, 2011 at 9:33 pm
@Enlightened (Formerly Confused),
Many great points…
Simple fact of business: If a business actually has a COMPETITIVE advantage over the competition they would never sell it…especially for chump change
===
Dear also waiting & waiting,
It’s obvious you both are friendly with Naomi and feel she is worth the money…to that I say: ignorance is bliss
Wait – you said the following about your girl naomi: ‘her “USP” is “internet marketing advice from a woman who swears a lot’
That is NOT a USP…that’s her persona…her act…her schtick
I would love to know what you both sell…Im certain you can describe your product without jeopardizing you operation
WINNER!! ::
+9
[Reply]
SpideySenses Reply:
September 3rd, 2011 at 12:23 pm
@Enlightened (Formerly Confused), I came across a resource yesterday for independent authors and it’s written by someone who hasn’t authored a single book. She blogs therefore she’s the expert.
The problem beyond “teaching sells” is how so many people are buying into the dream that they’re not taking the time to research credentials to determine how the experts are qualified. Is someone who writes $12 web articles qualified to charge $1600 for a copywriting course? Probably not, but no one is challenging it either.
WINNER!! ::
+9
[Reply]
Mr Kirk's Nightmare Reply:
September 3rd, 2011 at 12:24 pm
Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see.
LOSER!! ::
-8
[Reply]
Shorty Reply:
September 3rd, 2011 at 1:03 pm
@Mr Kirk’s Nightmare,
It’s obvious you don’t have much experience w/ real marketing/PR firms. Professional marketers can provide you tons of credentials, including degrees from top schools and having worked on successful campaigns with measurable results.
WINNER!! ::
+8
[Reply]
Mr Kirk's Nightmare Reply:
September 3rd, 2011 at 1:31 pm
@Shorty,
You’re showing your ignorance. Having worked for several London digital agencies, I can tell you they don’t give a fuck about “degrees from top schools”. That’s because you can’t teach marketing in a classroom.
Business undergraduate degrees are considered a joke, taken by students who weren’t smart enough to do a real subject.
Some corporate marketers will take Chartered Marketer qualifications, but it’s very rare agency-side.
The direct marketing agencies have measurable results, this is much is true (branding agencies, not so much – but they are bigger scammers than anyone on this blog as a rule).
But how do you think they get those first campaigns to use as case studies? That’s right… by blagging it.
For the hard of thinking, here’s how it typically works:
1. Cold call as many business as you can, promising them amazing results.
2. Fuck up, sweep them under the carpet
3. Finally get lucky, and use that luck as a case study
4. Congratulations, you’re now a legitimate advertising agency
Anyhow, you didn’t answer my point. Which was that you don’t need “experience running a business selling apples” to help a company who sells apples. In fact, it can be a hindrance because the best ideas normally come from people who aren’t too close to the product.
In a similar manner, it’s quite conceivable that Naomi & Co could have helped people, despite having little experience in their field. Although I couldn’t vouch for it, as I’ve never bought any products from this “Third Tribe” (who are the first and second tribes, by the way?)
As a side note, turning up with no experience whatsoever and charging people a fortune to tell them how to run their own business has a long and illustrious history. In my day though, such people were called “Management Consultants” and they worked for Arthur Anderson.
Muchly debated. What do you think?
0
Shorty Reply:
September 4th, 2011 at 12:50 am
@Mr Kirk’s Nightmare,
It’s you who show your ignorance. Digital agencies in London? Even if that’s true, we’re hardly talking about companies on the level of BBDO or McCann Erickson (just two of the firms I’ve worked with) are we? I’ve worked in corporate communications for years and of the many marketing/PR experts I have in my address book–VPs at leading ad agencies and Fortune 100 companies–none of them have ever cold called or followed your “typical steps” because they STARTED at reputable companies and built reputations with actual work in the industry. My guess is you couldn’t make the cut for to get into uni, worked at a couple rinky-dink agencies doing rinky-dink online campaigns and now you think you know all about marketing. Do you position yourself as a guru? I would not be surprised.
I didn’t address your other point because it was such a misrepresentation of @Enlightened’s post and showed a lack of knowledge about how successful companies use marketing and ad agencies. I don’t know of any company that would hire a marketing consultant or ad agency that didn’t already have experience creating or executing campaigns for similar products. So @Enlightened is 100% right that you should have experience selling apples before you hire yourself out to help others sell apples. You don’t have to have owned an apple store, but you should have worked in their marketing department or have some related experience. It’s common sense, which yes, I realize is not so common.
What is disgusting is fake marketing gurus who take advantage of inexperienced people who have dreams, but not the experience to sniff out a scam artist.
WINNER!! ::
+8
[Reply]
Mr Kirk's Nightmare Reply:
September 4th, 2011 at 4:09 am
Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see.
LOSER!! ::
-6
SD Reply:
September 3rd, 2011 at 2:38 am
@Barbara ::
Yep! That was a give away for sure. Expecially because I’ve only said Alison’s name one time …
These Naomi trolls are the worst!
[Reply]
Barbara Reply:
September 3rd, 2011 at 10:45 am
@SD,
Not only did the viciousness of the comment reveal Naomi behind the mask but the insult of deliberately misspelling Alison’s name. What a childish fucking bit of business from the slime that is Naomi.
[Reply]
Wow, pretty enlightening stuff. The thing is, Why would Dave leave after this conversation? Clearly this happened before he left his wife and kids, right?
[Reply]
Well, so far, neither of the principals in the chat have claimed it didn’t happen or is inaccurate.
WINNER!! ::
+7
[Reply]
Frank Reply:
September 3rd, 2011 at 3:07 am
@anonone, Trying to deny it would do two things, both negative. It would: 1. Draw more negative attention, and 2. Make them look even worse, given that this can be confirmed by third party logs.
[Reply]
i·ro·ny1 [ahy-ruh-nee, ahy-er-]
noun, plural -nies.
1. Bragging about not having a paper trail on paper
2. Being a success coach who admits she sucks so bad at business that she has to sell her “how to make easy money” system
WINNER!! ::
+11
[Reply]
MrGray Reply:
September 3rd, 2011 at 8:01 am
@Syndicate H8r,
I am English. I am predisposed to love irony.
Thank you.
[Reply]
I’m getting the same crazy stuff as cartman. Mobile site interface on and off, other people’s sign-ons (who’s Gus?), site is down, site is up, etc.
Are you getting a denial of service attack or something?
‘Cause if it’s only caused by a sudden surge in real traffic, you may need to beef up your hosting.
This is just a B-Team implosion, imagine what would happen if were someone from the French for Trade Union.
[Reply]
Dale Reply:
September 2nd, 2011 at 3:21 pm
@Hal (the original Hal), No hacks. The server is getting a BOAT LOAD of traffic right now. The tech people had to make temporary modifications to keep it holding up, and there are some glitches due to that. That’s why voting is mostly nonworking and there are some other issues. You can also install and try another backup browser and that may help. But it’s all due to a major influx of traffic. This site is getting slammed with visitors.
[Reply]
Slowly Waking Reply:
September 2nd, 2011 at 3:27 pm
@Hal (the original Hal), B-team implosion (upgraded to A-team) hijacked by Dunford’s hijacking of the good intentions of women against violence, sexism, and brutality. She’s not got tons of followers, but that tweet spread wide.
The hosting’s on a charitable 501(c)(3) group’s server: http://home.dod.net/
[Reply]
I am amazed at how small Naomi’s income is. Over three years she’s got 400K?
Even giving her the benefit of the doubt that it represents net income (rather than gross income) it’s the equivalent of a job paying 100K with benefits.
Nice, but not extraordinary. Not worthy of hero*-worship, treating people like crap, and ruining her reputation forever.
Jake
* Should that be “heroine” worship? My feelings get hurt when she accuses me of sexism.
WINNER!! ::
+9
[Reply]
* Dave is closing his site. I downloaded the “modules” he’s now offering for free. From what I have skimmed, it looks like there might be a few good tips here and there, but if I had, had to pay money for those things, I would’ve been one really ticked off victim-consumer. I also spotted a grammatical error on the top of one–and remember this was just from a quick skim.
* As for Naomi, at the time of this writing it is possible to write comments on the IttyBiz facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/IttyBiz . Perhaps some individuals her on saltydroid.info might want to post a link there that leads back here with the very enlightening discourse between Naomi and Dave. Just a thought.
–
(an oldie but a goodie): “I want the truth!” / “You can’t handle the truth!”
WINNER!! ::
+7
[Reply]
tsk tsk Reply:
September 3rd, 2011 at 1:44 am
http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:UIpXhd7KrswJ:questiontherules.com/conference-signup/+questiontherules.com+blogworld&cd=2&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=au
And look at this on wayback machine
questiontherules.com/qtrcon2010/
[Reply]
Grover Lembeck Reply:
September 3rd, 2011 at 2:46 am
@tsk tsk,
I’ll bet Silent Bob is not happy with Lee Stranahan (am I spelling that right? If not, well, do the rules of spelling and courtesy really matter? Wow, that website alone got me to Question the Rules!)
At least now we have a pretty good idea how Kevin Smith got into re-tweeting this.
[Reply]
Anonymous Reply:
September 3rd, 2011 at 8:01 am
@tsk tsk,
Funny how they describe dave navarro:
Dave Navarro – Launch Coach Extraordinaire
Dave was SOOOOO good he launched himself right out of the business
WINNER!! ::
+10
[Reply]
Enlightened (Formerly Confused) Reply:
September 3rd, 2011 at 9:42 am
@tsk tsk, what’s funny is one day Lee Stranahan sent out an email begging people to coach with him because his life was a mess, NO JOKE. I can’t remember the exact email (I’ll see if I can find it) but it was all about his family was being evicted from where they live and all sorts of nonsense basically saying he was broke. Would anyone want a business coach who can’t find a steady place to live? UM NO.
WINNER!! ::
+7
[Reply]
Joni Reply:
September 3rd, 2011 at 2:22 am
@Iam3r, that FB page makes me ill. I cannot believe all the gullible women she’s hoodwinked.
WINNER!! ::
+7
[Reply]
Cosmic Connie Reply:
September 3rd, 2011 at 10:41 am
@Joni, Well, I’m doing my part. On my own Facebook page I linked to your very reasoned blog post, for which I will provide the link again for the benefit of those who haven’t seen it. http://joniverse.com/2395/itty-bitty-shitstorm
[Reply]
SpideySenses Reply:
September 3rd, 2011 at 8:05 am
@Iam3r, Someone on Naomis Facebook page pointed out that this transcript is from a chat in 2009 and things could have changed.
Right. They could have. But we do learn a few things:
* Naomi is very manipulative
* Naomi will lie to suit her purpose
* Naomi was teaching stuff she was failing at in real life
* Naomi, whether she paid her taxes or not, had at least a moment where she seriously considered criminal behavior.
What interests me the most is that Dave declined this wonderful and generous offer. If it didn’t sit right with him I’m wondering how he got to the point where he trusted Naomi enough to give up his life and go on the run with her.
WINNER!! ::
+9
[Reply]
FormerFriend Reply:
September 3rd, 2011 at 8:31 am
@SpideySenses,
He didn’t decline. The deal fell through after he opened an LLC under “Ittybiz”. He fell for it completely.
WINNER!! ::
+10
[Reply]
SpideySenses Reply:
September 3rd, 2011 at 3:26 pm
@FormerFriend, Tell us more…
[Reply]
Allyn Reply:
September 4th, 2011 at 7:21 am
@Iam3r, so the Launch Coach is free now??? and just 120 days ago, people were paying how much for it?
Wonder how pissed off those “customers” are now!
[Reply]
Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see.
LOSER!! ::
-8
[Reply]
Anonymous Reply:
September 3rd, 2011 at 12:11 pm
@Foreigner, boy there isn’t a shread of hypocrisy in your post! LOL!
[Reply]
Shit Storm Reply:
September 3rd, 2011 at 5:47 pm
@Foreigner,
have you any clue what you’re talking about…the people being called out on this site have stolen, lied and conspired…that is all proven here in tremendous detail
I think you need to just admit to everyone that you’re on the B-team and what little money you make selling these frauducts is QUICKLY drying up
Lets see how smart these marketers are when stealing from noobs is near impossible…and soon becoming impossible
How you could defend the dishonesty of these people is beyond comprehension
[Reply]
_cartman_ Reply:
September 3rd, 2011 at 6:48 pm
@Foreigner,
@Foreigner,
dude…serially….I don’t know what you do in your country….but that’s just wrong….leave the furry little rodents alone….
WINNER!! ::
+13
[Reply]
From http://ittybiz.com/how-to-sell-to-anybody/
Who will by the Spiders stuff:
“Meet Auntie Vera. Auntie Vera is angry. Very angry. She has a highly dysfunctional relationship with commerce. She takes all but a very few commercial transactions personally. She yells about junk mail. She screams about sale signs in the mall. She spends a lot of time bitching in social media.
Something inside her feels ashamed that she bought something in the first place, so asking her to buy again is like backing an animal into a corner.
She’s about 0% likely to buy and 100% likely to complain her Congresswoman.
The reason you pull your punches when you’re selling stuff is because while Auntie Vera represents between 1 and 3 percent of the buying public, she’s also the loudest. By far.
On some level, we think Auntie Vera is the majority. She’s the majority of who we hear from, so we think she’s the actual majority. She squawks when we sell, so we don’t sell. What we don’t pay attention to, however, is that she was going to squawk anyway.”
Hmmm… I think Naomi may have a lot of Aunties now… like her part about complaining to her congresswoman.
WINNER!! ::
+9
[Reply]
_cartman_ Reply:
September 3rd, 2011 at 2:21 pm
@How not to sell,
we think…we hear…we think
ohhhh boyz….did Naomi did the foolies on me…I was thinking…I’m sooooo mad at Vera…..then I remembered Melonchuk wisdumb…there’s no “I” in we
Jeff [[injecting poison]] Walker…meet Naomi [[how not to sell]] Dunford….
and speaking about transparent BS
ummm….a “defense fund” is when someone is a defendant in a case…
WINNER!! ::
+12
[Reply]
SD Reply:
September 3rd, 2011 at 2:42 pm
@_cartman_ ::
… oh not she didn’t!!
[Reply]
Barbara Reply:
September 3rd, 2011 at 2:48 pm
@_cartman_,
“Do everyone a huge favor here and DO NOT GET PRECIOUS because you only have ten bucks and you feel weird and offensive paying only ten bucks”
So she wants us to not feel guilty *only* sending poor Dave ten dollars and says he’ll be sooo grateful. Maybe because it’s the last ten dollars Dave the Huckster makes online?
[Reply]
SpideySenses Reply:
September 3rd, 2011 at 2:55 pm
So Naomi removed all comments about the scandal from Itty Biz and has a non sales sales page on the blog. http://ittybiz.com/so-what-do-we-do-next/
It’s a good one because she says they’re giving products away but hints at needing money for a legal defense fund so Dave can sue. Sympathy donations FTW!!!
[Reply]
SpideySenses Reply:
September 3rd, 2011 at 2:58 pm
Meant to say she removed comments from the Itty Biz Facebook page. Sorry.
[Reply]
Naomi Dundford Dave Navarro Hooker And Blow CRA Tax Evasion Fraud Reply:
September 3rd, 2011 at 4:29 pm
Using Dave Navarro to benevolently give away freeline content. Naomi is so benevolent with her tax evasion CRA (Canada Revenue Agency) backed taxes fraud.
And apparently Naomi Dundford admitted Dave Navarro spends his money on hookers and blow. Naomi Dundford Dave Navarro Hooker And Blow Tax Evasion Fraud. Naomi Dundford Dave Navarro Hooker And Blow Tax Evasion Fraud Naomi Dundford Dave Navarro Hooker And Blow Tax Evasion Fraud Naomi Dundford Dave Navarro Hooker And Blow Tax Evasion Fraud. Canada Revenue Agency.
Here’s a link to where Naomi does more freeline fraud tax evasion and Dave Navarro does hookers and blow with his fraud internet moniez (Naomi Dundford fraud tax evasion internet moniez scam scam): http://ittybiz.com/so-what-do-we-do-next/
Scam Naomi Dundford CRA (Canada Revenue Agency) tax evasion fraud freeline “pretend to be a good person” link:
http://ittybiz.com/so-what-do-we-do-next/
I did the seerch enginz optimeyezations. Can I have internet moniez now? No taxz pleaz! Just like Naomi Dundford tax fraud CRA scam con artist. Itty Bitty bullshit.
WINNER!! ::
+8
[Reply]
Anonymous Reply:
September 4th, 2011 at 6:35 pm
@_cartman_,
I clicked through andread her BS post and had one question when i read his entire list of ‘products’
with all that knowledge he sells in his courses why is this guy BROKE?
Seems with all that brilliance he wouldn’t be destitute
[Reply]
http://janetfraser.id.au/blog/2011/08/30/death-threats-and-hate-crimes-naomi-dunford-shares/comment-page-1/#comment-6457
Please comment now..
[Reply]
Barbara Reply:
September 3rd, 2011 at 2:28 pm
@Comment King,
Thanks. I’m trying a one-woman campaign to counter Naomi’s lies and I left two comments at that site. I highly doubt either will be posted but I said:
“Janet,
I’ve taken the time to read more on your blog including The Crone on comment moderation. Having read that post I doubt my prior comment will be published. But I’ve also seen that you link to Against Pornography, and that gave me hope that you’ll at least listen to me, if not publish my comments. (my feminist credentials here) I have a virulent hatred of pornography and what it does to women around the world.
One of the first problems I had with Naomi Dunford was her constant sexual teasing. She spoke of “shaking my scantily-clad thing in their faces” and bragged of “saying cocks and balls 23 times, you wouldn’t believe the traffic I got”. Her writing was filled with unnecessary sexual innuendo, stories of visiting sex shops, etc. in a blatant effort to stimulate men in her audience. As a feminist I deplored this type of juvenile sexual come-ons but just ignored her, there’s far worse on the web.
Then along came a man, The Salty Droid, who pointed out some of her shady business practices and she immediately appealed to feminists for help by accusing him of making death threats that he never made. This woman is no friend to feminism or women. She is using you and others like you by using deceit. Please explore this issue further before deciding Naomi is a victim. She is not. She is a victimizer. Thanks for listening.”
Now I highly doubt my comment will be published but I’m horrified by feminists jumping on the bandwagon of this deceitful woman’s false charges.
WINNER!! ::
+13
[Reply]
whatthewhat Reply:
September 3rd, 2011 at 10:01 pm
@Barbara, Here, here! You have put it so perfectly. I truly hope your comments get out there so other people can gain some of your awesome perspective.
[Reply]
Barbara Reply:
September 4th, 2011 at 12:19 pm
@whatthewhat,
Thanks. Sadly, Janet Fraser chose not to publish my comment. I asked her politely to explore the issue further and she declined. Why?
Because it makes a better story and drives more traffic to her blog to disseminate the lies of Naomi Dunford? Because it’s more fun to jump aboard the fake death threats express than to look for the truth?
I am very disappointed in this woman and others like her who make no effort to educate themselves but take the cheap and easy way out.
[Reply]
whatthewhat Reply:
September 4th, 2011 at 2:01 pm
@Barbara, That is disappointing that she would post your comment. Generally speaking, I can’t say it’s a bad thing that some of these people who don’t know who Naomi is went straight to her defense. I have to say that I would probably do the same thing if I heard nothing but “threats against women on the internet” because women DO get harassed on the internet.
However, if someone, like Janet, does have a blog and posted their support for Naomi, I think they have a responsibility to AT LEAST mention that the situation isn’t as clear as they originally thought. It makes me a bit angry that when someone like you posts this really well expressed and well thought out idea that needs to be added to the conversation and do some good, you get censored. The ideas you expressed (regarding using sexuality to titillate & then calling on feminists for help against false misogynistic threats) are something that needs to be discussed and discussed openly.
And relating this directly to her scams, I think it is important that people who are her customers or are considering being her customer have an opportunity to see these crazy manipulative tactics. Think about it, what type of personality does someone have to publicly and falsely accuse another person of making death threats against women for being successful.
@_cartman_ Now I owe you a Christmas card too!
In general, I’m getting a little tired of people (other sites, not so much here), that they looked at this site and are dismissive of it because Salty Droid swears and calls people names, therefore he doesn’t have credibility with them. Grow up. (I know that sounds rude but I mean it in the least rude way possible, and I can’t think of any other way to say it). So, grow up. Yes, swearing is offensive to some people and other people don’t care. But saying “the sky is fucking blue” doesn’t make it any less true.
If any of those people just skimmed through the interview he did on SEOBook this site makes perfect sense.
[Reply]
_cartman_ Reply:
September 6th, 2011 at 7:06 pm
@Barbara,
I don’t know about the feminist that wouldn’t publish your comment, but some “feminists” have their own agenda when retweeting Dunford.
Like $997 mastermind programs…cuz you know…men are hogging the limelight…and women donate more and stuff…and they’re filming at the beach…so it’s all grate…
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/5596952/WE%20Mastermind/Video2.mp4
[Reply]
Uncle Ralph Reply:
September 6th, 2011 at 7:33 pm
@_cartman_,
Wow. That video really shows how widespread the b.s. is!
“Over 30% of the world’s population has access to the internet. Do you realize how huge this opportunity is?”
What bullshit propaganda. That statistical come-on is about as meaningful as saying:
“100% of the world’s population has access to their own wallets. Do you realize how huge this opportunity is?”
Packaged deception.
[Reply]
Another good one to leave a comment as an update on the story:
http://www.circusserene.com/index.php/2011/08/ive-no-idea-what-to-title-this-post-but-its-about-naomi-and-it-feels-important/
[Reply]
Barbara Reply:
September 3rd, 2011 at 2:39 pm
@RT,
I left a comment there, I doubt it will appear but thanks for the link.
As a woman I am enraged that Naomi is using feminism as a shield to hide behind. You are NOT a feminist Naomi!! You are what feminists rail against. You use bullshit vomit-inducing sexual come ons to drive traffic to your fraudulent site in order to bilk people. Then you squeal VICTIM!!! The big bad MENZ are out to get me!! They’re going to KILLZZ me! Help feminists help! Damn your lying eyes Naomi, you are a disgrace to your gender.
WINNER!! ::
+7
[Reply]
Silver Agave Reply:
September 3rd, 2011 at 3:24 pm
@Barbara,
Yeah. It’s frustrating seeing her benefit from playing the gender card, while simultaneously setting things back in her writing, where she claims she’s just being herself. The book “Female Chauvinist Pig” takes on this exact phenomenon.
I’m not amused by her most recent post of self-effacement, where she says:
“I can’t sell it because that would make me even MORE of a fat, ugly, slutty marketer.”
This is how children and teenagers insult one another. People here have called her names, yes, but she’s getting the same treatment that the scamming men do. It doesn’t make it right, but it’s equal. Why on earth are her defenders so outraged over the language on this blog, seeing as that’s indicative of how she communicates?
But that line? If I didn’t already know she was a very untrustworthy business person, I would want nothing to do with anything she was selling, even if it was Carrie Bradshaw’s Dream Mansion or whatever I’m supposed to be wanting these days. A
WINNER!! ::
+9
[Reply]
SpideySenses Reply:
September 3rd, 2011 at 4:42 pm
@Silver Agave, It’s brilliant manipulation. You know what people see when they visit Naomi’s latest blog post?
“Legal Defense Fund.”
All the plump with righteous indignation feminists and wannabes see is that SD made it difficult for Dave and Naomi to sell. (Nice work, by the way, SD.) No one can be there to hold their hands and give them group hugs, poor things, but they can open their wallets and show solidarity that way.
Do you think Naomi would have even mentioned “legal defense fund” if she wasn’t looking for contributions? Me either.
[Reply]
Frank Reply:
September 3rd, 2011 at 7:00 pm
@SpideySenses, So is she asking the people who already paid her money, that she didn’t want to pay taxes on, to give her even more money so she can actually pay those taxes?
What fool would fall for that?
I’d also imagine there are laws and regulations regarding the collection, reporting, and permitted use of such “funds.” Maybe she’ll need another “legal defense fund” to help her clear up any problems related to this “legal defense fund.”
[Reply]
SpideySenses Reply:
September 3rd, 2011 at 7:08 pm
@Frank, Oh she’s much more subtle than that. She’s giving everything away and merely mentioning a legal defense fund. She’s not coming out and saying “donate” but anyone who recognizes manipulation will probably get she’s subtly putting the suggestion out there.
whatthewhat Reply:
September 3rd, 2011 at 10:05 pm
@Frank, I couldn’t believe that post when I read it. It was so transparent. It has a very “teenager” level of manipulation to it. I mean, in one breath she says “I’m giving this away for free” and in the next breath says “and here’s a way to send money”.
Simply fascinating. This is much better than watching T.V. It’s like watching a tennis match between this website and Ittybiz.com. Unfortunately I can’t add comments or ask questions on the latter website.
With her new post of: “So What Do We Do Next?”
I think Option #1 would be best for her, but with one caveat. Instead of the money going to her directly, she could ask her supporters who still believe in what she offers, to mail the cheque directly to the CRA, or to the builders of the school in Cambodia (they do not likely have PayPal though). That way she doesn’t have to be the middle man, the money could be used for a good cause, the supporters of this woman get what they want, (and if she hasn’t already paid all of her back taxes) she doesn’t have to go to jail. That’s a Win-Win.
What does she gain by giving away her products? Proving to her customers that she isn’t trying to scam them? Proving to her customers that she cares about them and is not disrespectful toward them? Clearing out all her inventory so it will be easier to declare bankruptcy if she hasn’t paid her taxes? Paving a way for a fresh start and doing things differently if she is indeed up to date with paying her taxes?
Inquiring minds want to know (at least I do). You have to give her credit. After all of the negative and critical stuff that has been exposed about her, she’s like the Energizer Bunny that keeps going and going. That’s tenacity.
WINNER!! ::
+7
[Reply]
WHOcked-on-Fonix Reply:
September 3rd, 2011 at 8:15 pm
@KG, me thinks…http://www.sociopath.com/
[Reply]
Lanna Reply:
September 3rd, 2011 at 10:02 pm
@KG,
I really, really doubt Naomi has any Cambodian school-builders actually lined up and waiting, KG. I think it’s all a ruse. However, if you truly want to help educate Cambodian children, Google found “about 3,050,000″ results for “school in Cambodia donate PayPal.” You could start runnin’ ‘em through CharityNavigator.org till you find one that’s worthy.
When I read that Dave opened up his stuff for free, I shamelessly ran over and grabbed some PDFs because I wanted to see what he thought was worth $197. So maybe the logic is to prove to skeptics like me that it is worth $197. In which case, it’s backfiring. Horribly. I’ll leave it at that because I feel sorry for Dave. I know a lot of Daves. That’s why I’m here.
As WHOcked-on-Fonix suggests, Naomi displays some sociopathic tendencies that make it difficult to assign logic to her actions using a conscientious mind. (For a good read, I recommend George K. Simon’s “In Sheep’s Clothing: Understanding and Dealing with Manipulative People.”)
[Reply]
@ Slowly Waiting
A new reply thread, as requested.
I don’t think is really worth my while, but since you asked politely:
“You still don’t say what exactly you do, though, just that it’s not making money from a website? But you’re doing launches? How does that work?”
The business is based on services, but I’ve been running informational blogs for 3 years now. People asked questions that went beyond what could be blogged so at the moment I’m trying out selling info products to get some return for my time. So, I’m starting to use the website as an extra revenue stream.
“Also, what’s your business structure?”
I’m based in the UK – it’s a private limited company.
“More importantly, what’s your market? Not MMO. But what is it– barbeque, entertaining, travel, home decorating, the ever-popular dog training?”
With apologies, I’m not going to say. I’ve seen the way people are treated here, and anyone can sign up to the Third Tribe – I’d be pretty easy to spot in there. This is the only question I won’t answer, though. Not MMO, or SEO, or any of that stuff.
“Do you have these kinds of qualifications, and do they apply to your business?”
There are no relevant qualifications, but I have over 10 years experience and success, which counts for everything.
“You sold a PDF and a video– for how much? Download only?”
$50, download only.
“How many customers did you have?”
135 sales so far.
“is your video some cheap shit thing you threw together on your iPhone, or did you hire a professional crew and editor?”
I made it myself – its a screen-capture with voice-over, carefully edited – the production standards are high. Only one adverse comment so far.
“Is the video actually a more efficient way of learning than reading a manual?”
The eBook and video cover similar ground – the video demonstrates what I’m talking about, the eBook is more structured and detailed.
“So you’re a registered business, paying taxes at federal, state, and local levels, fairly paying people who do work for you, and you have all the legally required documents and disclaimers in place on your web site? Your address is in your emails? Good, because those are things Dunford et al. tend to leave out.”
Yes – the UK equivalents, anyway. Naomi had addresses etc in emails, by the way – I don’t know what the other US requirements are.
“And consider that the lines of ethics are very, very blurry– perhaps you do use them ethically, but your Third Tribe teachers have not.”
I don’t see that. Would you like to provide some examples ? Are you a Third Tribe subscriber ? Have you read their materials, participated in the forums or heard the Q&A calls ?
“Also, the price tag you quote seems terribly high to me, especially considering it’s just “information” and not things tailored to your specific situation. How would $900 of personally-tailor consulting, from a person in your community, redefine your standards for “value?” ”
Remember the total cost of Naomi and Dave’s products only came to about $150. Third Tribe membership is more expensive, but the forums and Q&A calls do give an opportunity for personalised stuff.
“And you realize that their continuity programs are set up for their bottom line most of all. Scribe, for instance, is weak sauce after you do this for on-page (PDF). But it’s awfully nice to have that money coming in at Copyblogger every month.”
Sure – I can see how it works and read between the lines. Scribe is all about convenience, for me – and as I get better at SEO I imagine I’ll stop subscribing for it. All software is the same, though – the developer puts in time up front and if they’re successful, sell thousands of copies to win massively in the long run. I don’t object to that, if the software works. Can you recommend a free alternative to Scribe ? Not just using the Google keyword tool and three or four other sites – that’s what I used to do. Scribe is WAY more convenient. BTW I know other people who pay thousands of pounds a year to companies supposedly optimising their content who rank lower in Google than I do.
“For some reason you’re perceiving what they offered you as high value, when everything you’ve implemented that has worked for you (if you’re being straight, it’s still not specific enough for me to say because what you’ve written sounds like an affiliate marketing pitch, or something from freshman comp) is on the net for free, if only you’d found the right sites instead of Third Tribe sites.”
Really ? Care to post a list of those sites ? Actually, don’t bother – one advantage to the Third Tribe is getting everything in one place, without having to spend hours googling and sorting the wheat from the chaff. I read the free content on Copyblogger for years, and found it very useful – that gave me confidence that their paid stuff would also be good – and I was right. By the way, I’ve had my word called into question more times in the last three days on this site than in my entire professional career To date – I don’t appreciate it.
” “Don’t get me wrong, I’ve seen “get rich quick” schemes online that turn my stomach, but that’s not what Naomi and the “Third Tribe” are doing – exactly the opposite in fact, that’s the whole point.”
…is so wrong. Yeah, they say they do it differently than some of the older folk, and like to point it out: making fun of the yellow highlighter and the bullet points and the headlines. But there’s no difference in Dunford, Kern, or any of the B- and C-teamers. They put a dimestore Valley sheen on old-school infoscamming.”
Again – please explain the scam to me ? They use salesmanship to make their products appealing – so does EVERY company selling ANYTHING. They offer full money-back guarantees and honour them. What’s the problem ?
“Read some more of this site. I’d point you where to look, but you’re here already, and I don’t want to charge you $600/hour finding it for you.”
Most of the content on this site turns my stomach. I googled for the “Syndicate” and all I got was links back here. To be honest, I’m pretty sure this is all tabloid nonsense from someone with a chip on his shoulder about online marketing, I’m not inclined to waste any more time here. And I wouldn’t pay anyone $600 an hour for anything – but I know plenty of companies that DO pay that to consultants.
Naomi’s site was full of bad language that made me laugh and believe she had a heart of gold, rightly or wrongly. This site is full of foul language, hate and cruelty that leaves me feeling sick to my stomach.
Thanks for replying like a human.
Muchly debated. What do you think?
-2
[Reply]
SD Reply:
September 3rd, 2011 at 4:19 pm
@also waiting ::
… go fuck yourself liar.
Links or silence.
[Reply]
MM Reply:
September 3rd, 2011 at 4:45 pm
@SD,
If you’re looking for proof with names, Aaron Wall was a Teaching Sells customer, and gave them a great case study. The transcript of it is here:
http://tweetpea.me/Tammi/TeachingSells/teaching-sells-aaron-wall-seobook-transcript.pdf
Seeing as Aaron interviewed you, why don’t you ask him if he’s all a bunch of lies? Or do you think what he does is a scam pyramid business like all the rest of them?
Muchly debated. What do you think?
0
[Reply]
SD Reply:
September 3rd, 2011 at 5:38 pm
@MM ::
Do you see what’s wrong with that sentence? I was the one answering the questions … that’s how interviews work.
And I think I might remember telling Aaron one or ten times that Brian Clark is fucking bullshit who should be purged from the system. Matt Mullenweg … mother of wordpress … also gave a testimonial for Clark. I also might remember complaining about that … but I think I’ll keep using wordpress.
And also … piss off.
[Reply]
MM Reply:
September 3rd, 2011 at 5:59 pm
@SD,
Now you’re just being mischievous with semantics. You know what I mean. I’m sure he wouldn’t begrudge you emailing him a quick question. “Did Copyblogger make that testimonial up?”
What you told Aaron is irrelevant to my question. I didn’t ask what you said to Aaron.
You keep claiming all third tribe testimonials are false testimonials. Anybody who gives evidence to the contrary is shouted down unless they wish to give their website details over to your angry mob.
So… here’s evidence. Here’s a real testimonial for a major Third Tribe product: Aaron Wall.
Either denounce him as a Ponzi scammer, ask him if his testimonial is a fake, or how was it you said? Ah yes… “Shut your cakehole”
Muchly debated. What do you think?
-2
[Reply]
SD Reply:
September 3rd, 2011 at 7:45 pm
@MM ::
Yeah put your site up so we can see your fucking success. Like if Aaron came here and left a comment saying he was successful because of Teaching Sells … then I would go look at his site … and tell him that Teaching Sells has absolutely nothing to do with his success. And that you can’t really know why you are successful … and that trying to extrapolate it and put it in a box is dangerous.
But if he came here anonymously and said :: “I made a million bucks last year all thanks to Brian Clark” … then he’d just get a big fuck you! Cause there’s no way to have a conversation about that … and it will be presumed a lie.
I also take every opportunity to tell people not to give testimonials … even real ones. Don’t trust other people with your name. “Testimonials” are almost always BSey and devoid of actual informational value.
A shady testimonial is one thing :: a shady plot to work together to prop each other up is totally another.
And why ask these questions here on the Naomi ShitStrom?
Did the devil have your tongue last week when we were talking about it?
MM Reply:
September 4th, 2011 at 4:18 am
Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see.
LOSER!! ::
-7
_cartman_ Reply:
September 4th, 2011 at 11:38 am
@MM,
Statements are not evidence, testimonials are not proof. A testimonial from the John & Jane Doe’s of the world, such as; “so and so is a rock star in this and that….and taught me so much”, doesn’t mean a thing.
I can tell someone that if my blinker doesn’t work in my car, my tires are low in air [[I'm fucking with you..I know it just requires a top up with blinker fluid]]. Does that mean I should be teaching mechanics? Anyone who knows less then me [[which is why they came to me in the first place]], will accept my mechanical prowess, so their testimonial [[even if 100% sincere]] doesn’t make any of my statements of knowledge, factually correct or successfully utilizable [[except to those who will make money teaching others my wisdumb]]. It just means that there will be more car owners who regret that _cartman_ is teaching the new wave of mechanics [[what...that was not nice...I have a testiMOANial]].
[[100% true testimonial:_cartman_ are a good teacher...and you poopie heads who try and take him down is just dumb...and trying to inject poisons into brains of others is wrong...so says Walker [[not texas ranger]]…and Tony Robbins is our savior….touch his ham….and _cartman_ plays with balls of yarn…and yarn is cool!]]…see it’s 100% true…it says so.
Fundamentally correct,but more importantly, success has to do with numerous factors, ALL of which are governed by initial and ongoing conditions [[market, economic, global, star alignments and dates...what you tried to start a business when your house was in Leo...are you nuts]], and thinking outside the box is better suited as an axiomatic way to “approach” any dynamic system [[change the initial conditions or ad more variables and formulizing [[or compartmentalizing]] becomes impossible, as the system reaches an ever expanding “chaotic” state who’s variable are not accounted for]]. Of course that’s not beneficial to a society of pseudo-intellectual experts, that were “married” to their expertease….
and speaking about marriage….
[[channeling expertease ceremony]]
Which imbecile is giving away the bimbecile?…Ohhh okay…Frank Kern….the Gawdfrauder….
Who’s the flower girl….okay then…Deiss…you stand there…close your mouth…you’re drooling again…yes okay…you can tend dem rabbits later…
Do we have the syndicate ring boys…Pagan, belcher, fleeceme…et all….you’ll stand there…
okay then…lets begin…
Dearly Beloved,
We are gathered here today in front of Brendon Burchard and in the presence of these syndicated testiMOANializers, to join this bimbecile, to her newly appointed expertease in the bonds of wholly fraudumoney.
If there are any objections of why this union should not take place…please visit Mike Filsaimes help desk and file an objection, or forever hold your peace.
sorry…times up….
Do you Maria a. Andros, take this title of Video Marketing Queen in the bonds of wholly fraudumoney….to lie…con and scam…and provide kickback testiMOANials…so long as you shall live…
Marie: I does…
By the powers investered in me [[by me, and validated by the syndicated testiMOANializers]]…I now pronounce you video marketing queen [[crowning the queen with imperial margarine container crown cut out]]….go forth and prosperply!!
I hear that Mike [[The Gnome]] Filsaime would like to make some toast….go ahead Mike…
Mike [[holding up a glass of shampain]]: Maria…I knew you when you told your first ebay fabrication…I was there to witness your first $1Million dollar real estate tale…you scammed through the SMTB and VCF program..and the other one that doesn’t exist…[[wink...gnomic laugh]]…to see how much you have grown in your fraudulent ways, brings tears of joy to my eyes…you’ve done me proud…fraud on girl…fraud on…
Ladies and gentlemen…it’s the grate Jimmy Davis…the floor is yours [[someone help him up]]..I was speaking metaphorically Jimmy….anyways…go ahead…
Davis: ummm….maria ….ummm..ummm.. like..ummm…like…um…fraud on….I am the grate Jimmy Davis…
very eloquent Jimmy…okay…Master mind in the reception hall begins at 6:00pm
[[/channel]]
That was nice…but I forgot…what did she market online that qualifies her as “marketing queen”…ohhh that’s right….she marketed her lies of being able to teach you to market…all backed by fraudulent claims and testimonials…
Now I have a date….where’s that ball of yarn….
WINNER!! ::
+14
also waiting Reply:
September 3rd, 2011 at 4:46 pm
Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see.
LOSER!! ::
-10
[Reply]
also waiting Reply:
September 3rd, 2011 at 4:49 pm
Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see.
LOSER!! ::
-7
[Reply]
NewHere Reply:
September 3rd, 2011 at 4:50 pm
@also waiting
153 ebooks???!????
And YOU THINK YOU GOT GOOD ADVICE FROM NAOMI?
Look, I created one ebook with info people constantly asked me (I have a degree in that area) and put in a website with ZERO promotion. So far, over 800 copies have been sold at $25 (money goes to charity). I don’t have time or desire to build a list or attract traffic and still sold over 800 copies in about 6 months.
How can you justify to yourself the money you spent on Third Tribes, Itty Biz and other stupid online marketing stuff?
WINNER!! ::
+7
[Reply]
Doctor Mario Reply:
September 3rd, 2011 at 4:55 pm
@also waiting ::
BAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA … You said:
“heart of gold” ???
Are we talking about the same Naomi here?
You know, Naomi Dunford? From IttyBiz?
We CAN’T be talking about the same person … you must be thinking of someone else.
Did you notice how there is this big ole’ blog post above these comments?
Did you read that? There’s this looong chat transcript … it’s pretty awesome!
Naomi, you say?? Heart of gold, you say??
My friend, maybe you should check the post {/and your fucking sanity} before you write long diatribes about your fake “business” and 135 sales of $50 shined-shit-balls.
Why don’t you post your tax returns for the $6750 “business” income? You can blur out sensitive data.
Or your URL? should be pretty easy, I’d think … what with you being an online “business” and all?
Or iz u scurred cuz u iz liar?
[Reply]
also waiting Reply:
September 4th, 2011 at 4:58 pm
Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see.
LOSER!! ::
-5
[Reply]
No Name No packdrill Reply:
September 3rd, 2011 at 5:05 pm
@also waiting,
when you are dealing with fundamentalists no response from you is going to change their minds. Best to leave now and make your own way on the internet…believe it or not it’s a huge place and this corner of it is unnoticed by 99.9% of it. While I come here regularly for entertainment and information, I retain my critical thinking skills and laugh at Salty’s hypocrisy in some areas and admire his skills in others.
Go play by your own rules, like all successful people, including Salty, do. That includes not having to explain yourself to a fake robot on a website.
Muchly debated. What do you think?
-3
[Reply]
Not an immer Reply:
September 3rd, 2011 at 5:46 pm
Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see.
LOSER!! ::
-10
[Reply]
Walt Reply:
September 3rd, 2011 at 6:38 pm
@Not an immer, And you arrived at your non-facts and total speculation how? Maybe you should change your name to something more accurate: “Most definitely an immer,” because that’s what your lingo says.
Insinuating that lies and plotting fraud is not criminal because you generalize that others do it is hardly justification to ignore the laws of society. Not that you would care.
WINNER!! ::
+8
[Reply]
Not an immer Reply:
September 3rd, 2011 at 6:51 pm
Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see.
LOSER!! ::
-14
[Reply]
Walt Reply:
September 3rd, 2011 at 7:18 pm
@Not an immer, I misunderstood nothing. Your attempt to defer Naomi’s sins by bestowing blanket, unknown sins on others (“you guys”) makes your non-argument a ridiculous rationalization. You are clearly attempting to trivialize bad behavior. For what reason, one can only guess.
What anyone else has done or has not done does not change whatever Naomi has done, nor does it make it less wrong or more acceptable. Everyone will have to deal with whatever their own sins might be, but Naomi refuses to do so, and here we are.
I believe in being honest with customers, paying your taxes, and not treating others as though they are stupid cattle only fit for you to use and abuse.
You can continue to rationalize, but you’ve made your non-point, and no restatement will ever make it valid.
SD Reply:
September 3rd, 2011 at 7:28 pm
@Not an immer ::
90% of the people here are scammers? You just pulled that out of your ass.
There is some of what you describe though … not among the commenters … but a lot of readers like to read this site telling themselves they’re not like the people featured here. I already made of graph of it …
http://saltydroid.info/graphic-language/
Shelly Reply:
September 3rd, 2011 at 6:46 pm
@No Name No packdrill, What is a fundamentalist? Someone who is against crime? I’m not bringing religion into anything, and I am against cheating on taxes and lying to customers. I guess that makes me a “fundamentalist.”
You’re just trying to make everyone who obeys the law and has any ethics out to be the bad guys. That’s crazy. Sounds like you’d empty the jails and imprison the law abiders.
I can’t believe anyone not covering for someone else would make such an outlandish comment.
[Reply]
No Name No packdrill Reply:
September 3rd, 2011 at 9:42 pm
@Shelly,
Fundamentalist : strict adherence to the fundamental principles of any set of beliefs
as in
All people that sell how to make money products on the internet are scammers.
It would be nice to think that reasonable people would engage critical thinking skills and work through what they are being presented with and add a good pinch of salt.
- Information presented by Salty will always be slanted to appear to support Salty’s cause (he was a lawyer FFS, of course it does)
- Not all information that Salty has will be presented because it would harm his cause
- information will be drip fed because just like those awful marketers on the internet, he is building to a climax where he will reveal his most revealing information to support his cause
Fundamentalism would have you believe that there is ONLY black and white. If you don’t agree with Salty you get voted down no matter how considered and reasonable your argument and opinion is. There is no respect for dissenting opinion and the growth it brings in this place.
In the real world, not everyone that disagrees with one part of what Salty says disagrees with everything he says. That’s how it is possible to think that being a tax evader is wrong (even though it is a national sport) but also think until proven guilty it’s kind of irrelevant to whether selling a book about how to make money as a blogger is actually a scam.
Which Is why I was telling @also waiting it’s a lost cause coming here and trying to explain her position (I think it’s a her) because the fundamentalists are not going to swallow it.
WINNER!! ::
+11
[Reply]
Had To Speak Up Reply:
September 3rd, 2011 at 10:07 pm
@No Name No packdrill, Oh Puh-lease. Your “she” is not explaining a “position,” she’s attempting to shill for the dubious spider described above. Just as you are.
[Reply]
No Name No packdrill Reply:
September 3rd, 2011 at 11:06 pm
@Had To Speak Up, thanks for proving my point re fundamentalists not respecting a reasonable and dissenting opinion
@_cartman_ :)
Had To Speak Up Reply:
September 3rd, 2011 at 11:59 pm
@Had To Speak Up, Your arrogant repetition of your own obvious agenda proves a much bigger point. Thanks.
Had To Speak Up Reply:
September 4th, 2011 at 12:01 am
@No Name No packdrill, Your arrogant repetition of your own obvious agenda proves the REAL point here. Thanks.
_cartman_ Reply:
September 3rd, 2011 at 10:23 pm
@No Name No packdrill,
Beliefs are not proven, that’s why they are called beliefs. Ironically, much like the income statements and suckcess stories relied on to buy into the unicornian dream.
See it was thought many many years ago around the 1960′s Thales thought the earth was flat, but sometimes in the ’80′s bugs bunny proved it was round by throwing a baseball and it came back with all the flags of the earth.
That is why on Easter we look for rabbits, because bugs bunny showed us the way.
WINNER!! ::
+16
[Reply]
KG Reply:
September 3rd, 2011 at 11:01 pm
@_cartman_,
Hilarious. I loved that Bugs Bunny episode. Who’d have thought that Bugs was the original Easter Bunny?
Iam3r Reply:
September 3rd, 2011 at 11:30 pm
@No Name No packdrill,
I like what you are saying here. I voted you up, but currently your comment is still standing at -2.
That’s a sad fact as it sort of proves you correct. I wonder if very many of the folks that voted you down actually *read* what you wrote. Oh well.
–
Sometimes the truth hurts.
[Reply]
Truther Reply:
September 4th, 2011 at 12:07 am
Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see.
LOSER!! ::
-6
NewHere Reply:
September 4th, 2011 at 8:11 am
@No Name No packdrill,
“In the real world, not everyone that disagrees with one part of what Salty says disagrees with everything he says. That’s how it is possible to think that being a tax evader is wrong (even though it is a national sport) but also think until proven guilty it’s kind of irrelevant to whether selling a book about how to make money as a blogger is actually a scam.”
Ditto. I’m glad I’m not the one who thinks that way. I’ll wait for more info, maybe SaltyDroid has not finished exposing the truth and will get to the proof of scam as opposed to evidence of an attempt at tax evasion.
I have never bought and will never buy (or even download for free) stuff about how to make money online. However, I know of people who justify spending money on such things as “following their dreams” and “not having time to look for the same information freely available on the web, having to separate the wheat from the chaff on their own” (interestingly they think they can separate the wheat from the chaff when they decide from whom to buy ebooks/consulting sessions/etc., but that’s their money and as far as I’m concerned they can spend it they way they want).
[Reply]
NewHere Reply:
September 4th, 2011 at 8:59 am
I meant “I’m glad I’m not the only one who thinks that way.”
Cosmic Connie Reply:
September 4th, 2011 at 8:15 pm
@NewHere, @No Name No packdrill, Here’s where I’m puzzled. Salty may or may not have more information about Naomi and Dave N. But in my view he has already shown ample evidence of ongoing scams that are separate from the tax evasion issues. Maybe we just have a different definition of “scam” and will simply have to agree to disagree about it.
Regarding some of the defenders of Naomi (and the detractors of Salty, and the people who say they are just trying to figure it all out): maybe some or all of these folks think that in order to qualify as a “scam,” it has to be a classic Ponzi scheme, something on the level of a Bernie Madoff who scammed many people out of billions of dollars over many, many years.
Our friend @Joni, for example, who wrote the reasoned blog post that @Dave and I and several other people praised (but who subsequently decided that there’s too much hate here on Salty’s blog), asked this on paranormal thriller novelist Annie Sisk’s blog: “Where was SD when Madoff was tiptoeing around?” Overlooking the fact that Salty specializes in specific categories of scammers and New-Wage con artists, AND that Madoff was under EVERYONE’S radar for decades, and was running his scams before Salty was even born.
And obviously I still don’t see eye to eye with other female bloggers on the misogyny issue either, but that’s probably worthy of a separate comment…
WINNER!! ::
+8
Slowly Waking Reply:
September 5th, 2011 at 8:24 pm
@No Name No packdrill,
Here is a fact:
All people that sell how to make money products on the internet are scammers.
You don’t want this to be a fact because you make your money selling how to make money shit
You fight this fact with all your might because you know you are knee deep in selling the phony dream
You prey on peoples hopes for a better situation and sell them on a phony make money online “idea”
How do you live with yourself
how do you live with all the deception that is in selling make money online crap
You deny it all you want but the only people who believe your point of view are fellow make money online peddlers
[Reply]
Slowly Waking Reply:
September 5th, 2011 at 8:33 pm
@Slowly Waking, that wasn’t me! First caught in the IM web, now in the shattered commenting system here.
Yet I find I agree with what you say. Fascinating.
TIDBIT Reply:
September 8th, 2011 at 10:49 am
Love this blog, but have to agree…We’re all puppets. We just choose different puppetmasters.
[Reply]
KG Reply:
September 3rd, 2011 at 5:13 pm
@also waiting,
You write: “They offer full money-back guarantees and honour them.”
Could you personally get your money back if you chose to? Do you know of anyone in this business model who was dissatisfied with the product/consultation they purchased and was refunded?
I think I’m missing something. Either what you are saying is false, or you do not have all of the information.
Clearly there are many people on this site who believe they have been scammed. That suggests to me that there was no refund for the products/consultations/etc. that they purchased, because if there was a full refund, this internet scamming topic would be a non-issue. (Except for James Ray of course, who offered no $10K refund for his fake sweat lodge experience, and trust in him lead to death for 3 people and serious injury for others).
It appears that a woman customer that @Barbara mentioned, paid $600/h for her consultation with ND, was dissatisfied, and did not get refunded. The only thing that ND did was ridicule this woman on her website. (I’d post the link, but I’m not computer savvy – you’d have to read the posts above @Barbara).
[Reply]
Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see.
LOSER!! ::
-5
[Reply]
BloggyBloggerton Reply:
September 3rd, 2011 at 8:33 pm
@MM, – Sad to say, I think you’re right…in a way. However:
Both Dave and Naomi are selling high ticket advice (frauducts) about which they have no real experience / qualifications. Not to mention they are both basically broke, which is quite ridiculous given the products they sell and image they portray.
Naomi doesn’t even want / like business!!!
It’s like a struggling minor league baseball player (who can’t hit home runs) selling information products about how to hit home runs? What a joke, right?
The problem (and the reason I kind of agree with you) is that I don’t think most people will care. It’s kind of like how poor people still vote Republican (for economic reasons). They don’t want to “kill the dream”.
She’ll probably end up twisting this to her advantage, just like Kern twisted his “FTC problems”. I mean it’s clearly CLEARLY proven that Kern got his start selling frauducts. He admitted it on video. Yet, how many people really care? Again, they wanna keep “the dream” alive.
If they admit Kern (and many others) are basically scammers, then they have to admit this “get rich quick Internet millionaire lifestyle” isn’t real.
All that being said, I DO think this blog IS waking some people up. And hopefully Salty can chisel away (little by little) at some of the brainwashed people out there.
Muchly debated. What do you think?
+4
[Reply]
Jaime Reply:
September 4th, 2011 at 7:17 am
@BloggyBloggerton,
Politics? Really? I mean, I agree with much of your comment, but equating this with “those Republicans” is just naive.
[Reply]
BloggyBloggerton Reply:
September 4th, 2011 at 8:24 am
@Jaime, – Fair enough. After I hit submit, I realized my analogy probably didn’t have enough context. Oddly enough, I’d vote Republican (Ron Paul).
However, There is a massive part of the population that identifies themselves as Republicans. (I’m talking Neo Conservative Republican – - Bush / Cheney / Etc).
Clearly, these wealthy Neo Conservatives DO NOT “serve” the middle class (at least not economically). They serve the “elite”. Yet, I think a large portion of the middle class and even poor wants to imagine themselves as part of the club (or are striving to be in the club).
“Some people call you the elite. I call you my base.”
- George W. Bush
By the way, I don’t think most Democrats are any better.
——————————————
Anyway, that’s where I was going with the analogy. If you disagree with that politically, I’ll let you have the last word(s). I’m not going to argue the point here.
[Reply]
Stupid people Reply:
September 3rd, 2011 at 8:40 pm
@MM,
If after reading everything here, people are still fans and customers of Naomi, Dave, and the other fucking idiots in their circle jerk, they deserve to be taken for all they have.
Sometimes, even if you beat the shit out of people with reality, they still wanna buy the dream. Stupid people!
WINNER!! ::
+9
[Reply]
_cartman_ Reply:
September 3rd, 2011 at 9:45 pm
@MM,
looks like alexa says otherwise….her traffic peaked for part one [[curiosity no doubt]], but has been going down ever since….her loyal followers have been spamming the shit out of twitter, but to no avail….part two link less…part three died before it was born….
http://traffic.alexa.com/graph?&w=400&h=220&o=f&c=1&y=r&b=ffffff&n=666666&r=7d&u=ittybiz.com&
NOTE:The above link is to a dynamic graph that will continue to change as Alexa updates reach stats, so the seven days [[Aug 27- Sep 2]] it shows today is going to continue to change until none of what is shown on that graph will be relevant to this comment
WINNER!! ::
+11
[Reply]
SpideySenses Reply:
September 4th, 2011 at 6:40 am
@_cartman_,
A quick glance around Twitter this morning shows some people aren’t buying into Naomi’s shit and are responding in kind. It’s only a couple of people so far but it’s restoring my faith in humanity.
WINNER!! ::
+9
[Reply]
I'm Perry Belcher and I'm BACK! Reply:
September 4th, 2011 at 9:22 am
@MM, Well, I’m not really, but the fucker is back on Twitter too http://twitter.com/#!/perrybelcher He’s already got 8,000 sheep following him.
[Reply]
last laugh Reply:
September 4th, 2011 at 10:40 am
@I’m Perry Belcher and I’m BACK!,
And if you believe the 8K followers I have a bridge to sell you.
[Reply]
I'm Perry Belcher and I'm BACK! Reply:
September 4th, 2011 at 1:51 pm
@last laugh, LMAO – done! When can I pick it up?
[Reply]
Cosmic Connie Reply:
September 4th, 2011 at 11:04 am
@MM and @I’m Perry Belcher and I’m BACK!: First of all, @MM, I will give you the benefit of the doubt in regard to your statement in another comment that you are just trying to provide some balance here. However, as others have noted, the tide may be turning against Naomi. That may change tomorrow, and then it may change again the next day. As @_cartman_ reminds us, it is a dynamic process.
To me the big issues aren’t the alleged tax evasion, or whether Naomi and/or Dave owe back taxes, or how much they owe. To me one of the main issues is the general framework of deception on which Naomi appears to have built her business, and the way that Dave got caught up in that whole web.
And the other main issue is the disgusting way that Naomi threw in the “misogyny” red herring.
Some have tried to excuse Naomi by saying that the incongruity between her “online/business persona” and her real personality is NBD. But when the reality of Naomi’s life is so much at odds with what she is teaching, I think it is a pretty big deal.
Perhaps Naomi started out with good intentions (here I go again, giving the benefit of the doubt), but then she got caught up in the whole IM Syndicate-ish culture. When you think of her business ethics (or apparent lack thereof, as demonstrated in that transcript with Dave), and when you consider that this kind of thing is S.O.P. for many in the IM industry — and that many good people apparently get screwed all the time because of stuff like this — it isn’t just “an entertaining little soap opera” or a “storm in a teacup,” as @alsowaiting put it in another comment.
And in my view, Perry Belcher’s re-emergence just proves that the public has a short memory (something I’ve been saying all along, though generally in the context of James A. Ray and other New-Wage hustledork/scammers). I guess if the scammers are in it for the long haul, the critics have to be too. After all, one monthly flea and tick treatment for your dog or cat doesn’t keep all of the bloodsuckers away, no matter how powerful and effective it is in the short term. You have to keep it up.
PS ~ I realize the above was an imperfect analogy, because fleas and ticks, as much as we dislike them, have a utility in nature and a legitimate place in the ecosystem. But I hope it got the point across anyway.
WINNER!! ::
+14
[Reply]
Anonymous Reply:
September 4th, 2011 at 11:34 am
@I’m Perry Belcher and I’m BACK!, like the classic pedophile, peeps like Perry Belcher just can’t stop scamming people. It’s a real sickness.
[Reply]
What about the battered housewife? Reply:
September 4th, 2011 at 1:49 pm
Does anybody remember the post that ND ran a couple of years ago asking for donations for a battered woman? I can’t remember the details but she rallied her readers and asked them to donate so this woman could get away from her abusive husband once and for all.
I’m reasonably sure that people donated to her and then she passed on the money.
I know she made a big deal out of how much money she raised, just wondering if there ever was a victim in all this other than the fools like me that sent some money.
[Reply]
_cartman_ Reply:
September 4th, 2011 at 1:59 pm
@What about the battered housewife?,
Do you mean this one, or was it another?
http://web.archive.org/web/20081220091828/http://ittybiz.com/?
[Reply]
What about the battered housewife? Reply:
September 4th, 2011 at 2:21 pm
@defend-experts, Yes thanks that’s the one.
I’m wondering if that will rear its ugly head in up coming posts?
[Reply]
Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see.
LOSER!! ::
-6
[Reply]
Glad I Was Broke Reply:
September 3rd, 2011 at 9:19 pm
@also waiting,
Dude, what is your product?
What are you afraid of? You don’t have a website, so it can’t be hacked. You run a legit business, so you don’t need to worry about taxes or any legal ramifications.
[Reply]
Caine Reply:
September 3rd, 2011 at 10:38 pm
@also waiting, Your comment comes across as “responding” to people you know just for show.
[Reply]
also waiting Reply:
September 4th, 2011 at 3:48 am
Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see.
LOSER!! ::
-5
[Reply]
Caine Reply:
September 4th, 2011 at 4:13 am
@also waiting, You brag about what you refuse to prove that you are bragging about. Are you living in the Matrix? You should change your name to “Bullshit T. Excuse.”
WINNER!! ::
+8
[Reply]
MM Reply:
September 4th, 2011 at 4:28 am
Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see.
LOSER!! ::
-4
[Reply]
Jaime Reply:
September 4th, 2011 at 7:40 am
@MM,
Yes, he’d say it’s unlikely you could put your “business in a box” in such a way that a complete newbie could run with it in similar fashion.
The idea of selling your {successful} business model is stupid anyhow. Real business leaders don’t spend years of their life perfecting something to just hand it over in biz-opp format.
Myself and others here are just saying that you are, in fact, a liar. You are not successful. You have no business to package and sell (again a stupid idea, but you can’t do it if you wanted to).
I’d bet my left kidney that you don’t earn enough monies using the Internet to escape your day-job.
WINNER!! ::
+9
[Reply]
MM Reply:
September 4th, 2011 at 8:15 am
Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see.
LOSER!! ::
-4
Lanna Reply:
September 4th, 2011 at 9:54 am
This probably won’t show up in the right place, but it’s in reply to MM’s question, “However, where do you draw the line?”
You made the comparison between these scammy bizopps and those established franchises, so, just for shits and giggles, let’s try drawing a line between those who follow and those who break or evade the laws related to selling business opportunities.
Have you seen a written disclosure requirement from anyone Salty’s profiled?
WINNER!! ::
+11
Anonymous Reply:
September 4th, 2011 at 10:38 am
@Lanna,
I can’t speak for the other ‘targets’, as I don’t have the time or inclination to trawl through SD’s entire archive, so I’ll take your word for it. If that’s the case, and they are selling bizopps without disclosure, they deserve to feel the full force of the law.
However, in the (admittedly limited) number of his blog posts I’ve seen, the targets don’t appear to be selling that.
Just looking at Dave Navarro’s catalogue, we have:
(http://www.thelaunchcoach.com/online-marketing-toolbox)
“Creating products that sell”
“Building a responsive list”
“High-conversion sales pages”
Unless I’m missing something, non of those appear to be offering a business opportunity, i.e. a complete package which purports to allow the purchaser to start up in business.
They appear to me to be advice on marketing. Whether or not they are valuable is up for debate, but I can’t see how they are bizops.
So if they’re not bizops, why would they need disclosure?
Lanna Reply:
September 4th, 2011 at 2:29 pm
@Anonymous,
One, sometimes – like with Dave’s stuff – you do have to read between the lines. “Creating products that sell” implies you don’t have product – at least not one that sells. “Building a responsive list” implies you don’t have customers yet. Without products or customers, you don’t really have a business. Hence, he’s offering a bizopp.
(I help market startups, but they have to have a product/service to sell before I talk to them about how to market it. He’s not just giving “advice on marketing,” he’s selling them a business wherein they sell “audio, video and text content that people want to buy.” Like Domino’s, both the product and the marketing are being dictated from on high.)
Two, the brochure tells; the letter sells. Or the website tells; the sales page sells. What we’re seeing is Dave’s brochure website, not the sales page or the emails the list gets when he does a launch. For an example of one versus the other, take a look at this woman’s stuff:
Respectable brochure site: http://www.julietaustin.com/
Sales letter page: http://www.clientattractingwebsites.com/
Scroll down to where Michele says, “I didn’t have any clients and was feeling very stuck and discouraged.” At least Michele had a service, but without clients we can’t really call it a business.
(Michele also says, “When I first sought your help I knew absolutely nothing about marketing or what an effective website would look like.” As _cartman_ demonstrates below with his auto-repair advice, someone who knows nothing will accept poor and even incorrect advice as the truth.)
(BTW, Julie’s price, just like Dave’s, is $197. Is that the new magic number? For the Third Tribe?)
Three, and this is a little indirect, but the manipulation that these people pull is what makes them so despicable. If they were just charging $197 for $5 worth of marketing advice, people would buy once and not come back when they were disappointed. And some of the clear-minded people who comment here have had that experience, learned from it and put it behind them.
The lion’s share of the market is from repeat customers, though. Karin Hiebert posted an article here recently that sort of explains them and their logic – here’s the link:
http://karinhiebert.com/james-ray-survivors-lou-caci/
On the other side of the game you have the folks with sociopathic tendencies who exploit customers with troubled pasts, like Dave, and customers with money trouble. As they take more and more money for each e-book or video course, the people who started off with no money turn into even more desperate people who are in debt. They’re promised success is just over the horizon, if only they buy this next online workshop. And they keep chasing the unicorn dream up and down hill after hill.
The FTC has a nice video outlining some of the manipulation tactics used:
http://www.ftc.gov/multimedia/video/cases/empty-promises_hanks.shtm
Frank Reply:
September 5th, 2011 at 12:32 am
@Anonymous,
The Attorney Generals of a majority of the most populated states have a simpler view of what falls under bizop disclosure requirements, which are also REGULATED by the states, in addition to the FTC at the federal level.
Here’s the bottom line question:
Is there any implication that a product OR service will increase the buyer’s sales OR help generate more income than the price paid?
“Implication” can come in the form of obvious words, testimonials, or other references that would lead the average person to come to that conclusion. It can also be in the form of photographs or videos. (Someone standing in front of their mansion referring to their “new lifestyle” but not mentioning specific income would still get in trouble because the implication is there.)
Marketing and sales materials by their very nature are tailor-made for falling under regulatory requirements.
The compliance requirements are quite onerous, by the way. FIRST, before any sales can take place, the seller must register with each state in which he/she intends to sell, by filling out all the paperwork required by each AG’s office, and they will naturally investigate you and want personal information in case they decide it necessary to later come after you.
Then, there are disclosure requirements, which require that you disclose ACTUAL statistics proving the results you claim, clearly showing the percentage of people who achieve those results, and you can hide/minimize NOTHING. This is not the place for advertising.
After that, you must provide a specified number of actual references (actual buyers) whom potential customers may contact to investigate you and the offer. These must be legitimate buyers that paid for the product/service.
Lastly, ALL details must be spelled out in writing for the customer. The offer and all terms and conditions, with nothing hidden or obfuscated.
The customer also has the right to change their mind and receive all their money back even after agreement.
Bonus tidbit: yes, failure to follow these requirements can, and has, resulted in prison.
I can think of a number of “internet marketers” who should have NO reason to sleep tonight or any night, after they read this.
It just takes ONE complaint or report to trigger an investigation. Multiply that times every state you do business in, and the nightmares could be many. And THEN there’s still ALSO the FTC.
WINNER!! ::
+8
_cartman_ Reply:
September 6th, 2011 at 10:19 am
@MM,
<
They didn’t perfect “business in a box”, they have a “backend” [[so to speak]] that handles constantly changing market conditions. Franchisors do not handle marketing, local trends, inventory distribution, promotions, PR, legal, etc. The franchisee handles the more simple [[relatively speaking]] aspects of the business, while the franchisor constantly works with the data in an attempt to maintain some level of success in a a chaotic system where stagnation leads to leads to ultimate demise.
Not sure how you can state it’s in a box, when most of the business is WAY outside the box, that franchisees do not see or handle.
Jaime Reply:
September 6th, 2011 at 12:09 pm
@MM,
I knew that eventually some idiot like yourself would bring up franchises as a “business in a box”, somehow equating them with Internet scams.
Who REALLY owns the franchise? Choo chooo … Here comes the clue train… and the next stop is YOU.
A franchise is held accountable to the franchise creators in every form, right down to the haircuts of the employees (Mcdonalds).
Not only that, the franchise pays dues and royalty fees to the corporate owners.
People set up a franchise (which is freaking expensive) because of the billions of dollars in brand name recognition. Oh, and PROOF the damn things make money!
If a franchise location is unlikely to earn a high ROI, the corporate office won’t allow it to be built in the first place!
Other franchises not requiring a brick-and-mortar location have to deal with reviews and performance of current owners when marketing to potential buyers.
The list of contrasts could go on for several pages. Anyone comparing these categories is simply gasping for air while sinking deeper into their own shit.
[Reply]
Lanna Reply:
September 6th, 2011 at 12:56 pm
@Jaime,
I think @MM stopped listening when I drew the line at income disclosures. But just for good measure, let’s toss in that franchisers vet their applicants very thoroughly. Your management team needs to demonstrate industry experience (and success), and you need to turn over personal financial statements demonstrating you not only have enough to buy the franchise, you have enough to operate it and afford your living expenses for a couple years with no profit coming it.
Glad I Was Broke Reply:
September 4th, 2011 at 9:21 am
@also waiting,
If you don’t care how your posts look to other people, why should other people care about your posts?
Just asking…
[Reply]
also waiting Reply:
September 4th, 2011 at 11:43 am
@Glad I Was Broke,
I didn’t say I didn’t care what *people* think, I said I didn’t care what the saltydrones think. I know I’ll never change their minds. Don’t care. But there are others who will read who may have a more open-minded viewpoint.
Someone said I’m bragging somewhere, without proof to back up my claims. I’m not bragging, I’m just answering posts that asked for people with a positive experience of Naomi & Dave’s products. I’m one person that’s true for. I realise refusing to identify myself makes that meaningless, but without posting a verifiable source for the conversation in this post, salty’s evidence is also meaningless.
Notice that I’m not calling him a liar. I do think he is biased (duh) and he clearly has an agenda (which may or may not have anything to do with “justice”) as he sees it from his twisted viewpoint.
I’m also biased, but here are some more points, for what it’s worth.
I spend $80 a month on Scribe and Third Tribe membership. If I sell two products a month from now on, I break even. That, to me, is a no-brainer.
Again, I’m not bragging. It was disingenuous of me to say I made thousands of dollars in a week, because it took me a month to create the product. So far, I haven’t (quite) made back the money on my investment in time – but I will. And after that I’ll have a regular income stream, with scope to improve.
Finally, the product I’ve made isn’t selling my business model to anyone – it shares some specific techniques to do with my trade that other people can implement themselves. Will they make as good a job of it as I would if they paid me to do it ? Probably not. But many will be able to do a decent job and crucially they don’t *want* me to do it for them, they want to do it themselves – and, it makes sense for me to help them make a decent job of it – and charge a fair price for the information.
Muchly debated. What do you think?
0
[Reply]
SD Reply:
September 4th, 2011 at 4:58 pm
@also waiting ::
That sounds slightly closer to sad honesty … so I’ll try to be slightly less of dick to you now.
That’s just so wrong that it’s silly. An $80 fixed cost when you basically have no business? If you think that’s a “no-brainer” then you won’t be able to succeed on the web … because your understanding is quite retrograde … and web tech progresses very swiftly so it’s quite hard to catch up. Cancel those memberships right now and start saving that money for the rainy days ahead.
No you won’t.
You want to believe this post is about tax avoiders so you don’t have to face the truth of the situation …
You are never going to make money online.
If you want to make money online the way these buffoons do :: then you’ll need to start by disregarding everything they say {cause they have no idea what they’re talking about} :: then you’ll need to suck up to the B-team so you can suck up to the A-team so you can aggressively market lies in conjunction with the 10 other biggest liars.
If you succeed at those fun steps :: you’ll find me waiting for you.
So good luck with that.
also waiting Reply:
September 4th, 2011 at 5:42 pm
@SD,
WHY won’t I make money online ? I have a great product, it sold to 135 happy people in 7 days. When I start promoting it in public it will sell more. Slower, but continuously.
Next time things are a little quiet in the main business I’ll put together another product on a different technique, promote it privately to my list (which will then be larger) and sell hopefully more than 135 copies, then launch *that* product in public and sell more copies. And so on.
All the while I continue to build my traffic, recruit affiliates and cross-promote the products. My customers are very happy, some will buy more than one or all of them.
Over time this will build into a great revenue stream. I know of at least one other person who makes 100% of his living in this niche already, using exactly the same approach. His customers love him. Where’s the scam ?
The “A” and “B” team have no connection with my niche, so there’s no point in me sucking up to them, btw.
You’re just expressing a very negative opinion, not an inevitable fact…
Muchly debated. What do you think?
-3
NewHere Reply:
September 4th, 2011 at 5:46 pm
@also waiting,
“I spend $80 a month on Scribe and Third Tribe membership. If I sell two products a month from now on, I break even. That, to me, is a no-brainer.”
Do you really believe that you need to continue to be on Scribe and Third Tribe to continue to sell two products a month? Why? Are your “gurus” telling you that everything about selling changes so much every month that you need to update your knowledge every day in order to sell mere TWO products a month?
To me, you sound brainwashed.
WINNER!! ::
+7
NewHere Reply:
September 4th, 2011 at 6:03 pm
Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see.
LOSER!! ::
-4
also waiting Reply:
September 4th, 2011 at 6:06 pm
Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see.
LOSER!! ::
-5
Jaime Reply:
September 5th, 2011 at 5:51 am
@also waiting,
You don’t need to pay anybody $80/mo because they’re simply rehashing old information or things that can be found for free online.
Seriously.
I’m a business owner. When I look over at my bookshelf, I see these books:
1. Influence by Cialdini
2. Buzzmarketing by Mark Hughes
3. Ultimate Sales Machine by Chet Holmes
4. 22 Immutable Laws of Marketing by Ries & Trout
5. Jay Abraham’s republished Mr. X book
The last one is usually sold for around $250, but can be found cheaper on ebay sometimes. The rest are available for $15 or less.
Using those 5 books I’ve taken my business from 0 to ~1M/yr in gross revenue in 4 yrs. It’s not a 100% online business, but the reason for the growth is proper marketing and my brain.
The only thing that you should need beyond books like those is a local, knowledgeable CPA and a couple EXPERIENCED business friends to bounce ideas around {not paid friends or masterminds involving n00bs}.
All the “nuggets” to give you ideas can be found for free. Stop paying people to look for nuggets.
If the mush between your ears is ideal for running a business, you’ll start creating your own nuggets.
WINNER!! ::
+10
also waiting Reply:
September 5th, 2011 at 5:42 pm
Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see.
LOSER!! ::
-6
also waiting Reply:
September 5th, 2011 at 9:06 am
@Jaime,
First of all, thanks for being the first person here to offer some genuine help rather than criticising, attacking or insulting me.
Next – thanks for the book recommendations, I’ll certainly check them out. Here’s the thing about books, though – they take time to read. Time when I can’t do anything else – when I could be doing any of the countless other things that need doing in my business.
Whereas lots of the online content is available as audio, so I can listen to it while I’m driving, cooking, walking the dog or whatever. And I’ve found that many of the books I’ve been recommended aren’t available as audiobooks. (Hopefully some of those are though, I’ll try and find them.)
Next – $30 of that $80 is for Scribe. It tells me stuff I want to know quickly, easily and conveniently. I know all the SEO concepts it uses already, but I choose to use it. It just saves me logging into two or other three sites to do the same job.
I do have some experienced, successful contacts who run their own businesses – but they’re very different to mine, and none of them want to do the online info-products. However they DO all experience the “boom or bust” roller-coaster of being dependent on clients booking in, meeting deadlines, paying invoices – and we all want extra, more stable income streams to supplement out core business. They’re also busy running their own businesses and aren’t always available to offer help or advice when I need or want it.
Do you see my theme ? Convenience and accessibility. How many of those books you mention specifically deal with online sales, with building sales pages, the practicalities of hosting info-products yada yada yada ?
I can post a question in the Third Tribe forums and get a range of informed answers from other online business people, usually within 24 hours. I can pick and choose the answers, use the ones that make sense to me, and often get a heads-up in stuff I’d never have thought of on my one, all for half the price of an hour with an offline business coach.
I’m not being scammed, and crucially – neither are all the other people logged in to those forums. Some are already very successful, some are just starting out, one or two I wonder if they really will succeed – but who am I to judge ?
The vast majority are getting exactly what they are paying for, and are happy with the deal – like me.
You’re right – as we gain experience at all this stuff, you start to see the patterns, and figure it out for yourself, and at some point I won’t need 3T any more. Right now it’s exactly what I need.
[Reply]
Jaime Reply:
September 5th, 2011 at 9:19 am
@also waiting,
I understand your point re: convenience. The only book that will take you much time to read (and apply) is Influence.
That Jay Abraham book is written in a format that’s quick to read, digest, and apply.
You want a free marketing education that can earn you a million dollars? Go here:
http://www.marketingexperiments.com
Click on Research Directory. Have your mind blown.
See, all the “secrets” being sold to you are complete bullshit. They really are. And all the hucksters selling them have no business pretending to be experts.
“secrets to landing page design … headlines … layout … email tactics … blah blah blah”
Even if a that link above wasn’t available, you could apply the principles of basic A/B testing to find what works yourself. (You’ll need to do that anyway, resources just provide shortcuts and ideas.)
Everything you need to make money online is free except 1)hosting 2)domain 3)credit card processing.
I’ve seen the most basic products earn money with bad landing pages, terrible writing, and so-so products simply because the person delivering the information was a REAL expert.
“Well, I’m not an expert at anything!”
Then the get the f#ck out of the info-product business. Got start an e-store, sell physical products on ebay or amazon. There’s a ton of things to do online. I won’t say you can quit your job with them (most won’t), but you can add enough income to add to your retirement funds — not blow it on coke and hookers.
WINNER!! ::
+12
anonone Reply:
September 5th, 2011 at 10:22 am
@also waiting,
Try Audible.com. Lots of great recorded biz books from actual experts, and not expensive
SD Reply:
September 5th, 2011 at 3:44 pm
@also waiting ::
Ha!
And thus ends my thinking it’s worth my time to speak to you …
But let me just repeat one thing though before I start giving you the silent treatment :: cause you really seem to love repeating things …
You won’t be able to make money online.
Barbara Reply:
September 5th, 2011 at 4:12 pm
@also waiting,
Seriously? “Books take time to read.” That’s your excuse for swallowing Naomi&Co.’s garbage? Because it’s so simple that you can drive, cook, walk the dog or whatever and let this golden shower wash over you?
Any real learning takes real concentration. You can’t learn anything of value doing the “countless other things that need doing” that you speak of in your comment. You remind me of a Bible quote, which is amazing since I’m not a Christian but your excuses are so hollow.
“Woe to you teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices — mint, dill and cummin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law — justice, mercy and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former. You blind guides! You strain out a gnat but swallow a camel” (Matthew 23:23,24)
Would you like fries with your camel?
987 Reply:
September 6th, 2011 at 5:34 am
@also waiting, there are audio versions of all the books listed.
also waiting Reply:
September 6th, 2011 at 6:16 am
@987,
“there are audio versions of all the books listed”
Great ! Can you post links ? I didn’t find them using the search on Audible
So she is going to give-away her newest product and Dave is going to sell all of his products for whatever someone wants to pay. Hmmmmm.
After being exposed on this blog as frauds, who would want any of their frauducts??
That is a little like saying, “Here, you can have a fat crap sandwich for…FREE!! Or you can pay a little bit for some more crap sandwiches. Either way, once you’re done, you’ll be just as full of crap as we are!”
For some reason, I think I am going to take a crap…I mean take a pass.
WINNER!! ::
+8
[Reply]
Lawrence Reply:
September 4th, 2011 at 12:09 am
@MazeMan, You are spot on. Free bullshit is still…bullshit.
[Reply]
The top right corner of ittybiz.com brags about “24,002 monthly readers.”
24K uniques. That’s all?
Sad, really.
Oh, so sad.
[Reply]
422 Reply:
September 4th, 2011 at 12:04 pm
@Just Jake, I get the impression that Noami’s site is a lot like Maria Andros. “Fake it till you make it”.
[Reply]
Yay I’m posting on the 422nd post.
So yea, Salty I think you should include “Naomi Dumbf*(k” as part of this woman’s new magical motto. No brains, no looks, no personality, no money, no future…total NOT-package.
[Reply]
Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see.
LOSER!! ::
-4
[Reply]
FormerFriend Reply:
September 4th, 2011 at 11:33 am
@422,
FWIW, Dave’s brother (a Christian) and his sister (a Buddhist who was a paramedic) both thought he was on drugs after he abandoned his wife and kids based on his behavior. They sought to have him evaluated with an eye to involuntary commitment if it turned out he had a personality disorder/cult leanings/drug abuse. He doesn’t have some “crazy fundamentalist family” as has been widely spread on the net.
Muchly debated. What do you think?
+4
[Reply]
422 Reply:
September 4th, 2011 at 12:01 pm
@FormerFriend, yea Naomi Donefor probably lied about all that jazz too. Getting up and leaving your family and small kids can make the rest of the family think you may be smoking crack or mentally unstable, very true.
But having someone involuntarily committed against their will is not cool. Certainly, there is no excuse for Dave’s selfishness, but wouldn’t it be better to send him to a drug rehab if they thought he was on drugs? Seems like psychiatric institutionalization would lead to him being given more drugs. Obviously, there are more pieces to the whole story. Sad story.
Dumbf*ck has spread lies that this blog has made death threats against her so she is probably also lying about the thing about his family. One thing’s clear, though, Dave seems to be a dream come true for these scammers. Hope the guy can come to his senses and remember all the people who love him and mean well for him, especially his children.
Dave wake up before it’s too late. Cut your ties with these vultures before you get swallowed up whole and you find yourself living with huge regrets for the rest of your life. Go back home to your wife and kids while you still can.
Fix this with your kids while they’re still young. Nothing sucks more than being in a convalescent home, old, sick, hanging on to your last days on this earth and you’re all alone with no one to care.
[Reply]
Name Reply:
September 4th, 2011 at 6:10 pm
Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see.
LOSER!! ::
-7
[Reply]
SD Reply:
September 5th, 2011 at 4:10 pm
@FormerFriend ::
Agreed. People believe the parts of Naomi’s lies that conform to their perviously held views.
Anthony being a dangerous fundamentalist is exactly as much a blatant lie as me being a death threatening misogynist. Your younger brother bizarrely abandoning his job :: wife :: and kids … is a very personal matter. It’s where you’re in the right to be passionately moralistic :: it’s a moral situation. Anthony took it to the web because that’s where Dave was :: and he was refusing all other forms of communication. Dave’s son Jacob tried the same thing.
I know this place is full of skeptics and atheists and what not … but I’m getting pretty fucking sick of the Christian bashing.
@Name ::
So the situation as whole :: which is what’s being presented and discussed here :: is too complicated for your wee little brain … but you’re ready to weigh in with a personal judgement about someone’s whole life based on one website they put up in confused desperation? And … and … and … you offer that as a counter to someone who has first hand knowledge about the Navarro family?
Go fuck yourself … use a bible if you want.
[Reply]
Iam3r Reply:
September 6th, 2011 at 2:21 pm
@SD,
“I know this place is full of skeptics and atheists and what not … but I’m getting pretty fucking sick of the Christian bashing.”
Actually, I agree. And I apologize for whatever Christian bashing I took part in myself.
I applaud you for steering things back towards your site’s real focus.
[Reply]
Name Reply:
September 8th, 2011 at 6:44 pm
@SD, LOL. You are a funny guy.
[Reply]
What’s sad about these idiots is their hatred of work. What’s scary is that they teach their gullible students to have the same hatred.
Dave quit a job at fucking Lockheed Martin?!! To do this bullshit??? Are you kidding me?
I’m all for moving on and reinventing yourself, but quitting a great job because you hate work and are in search of a “lifestyle business” is unimaginably stupid.
I feel sorry for his wife and children for sure, but if this is who he is, maybe he’s ultimately doing them a favor by leaving??
So you hate work but want to be rich? Good luck with that…
WINNER!! ::
+13
[Reply]
422 Reply:
September 4th, 2011 at 12:09 pm
@ThisIsCrazy, they obviously work very hard to scam people. I’d venture to say that Perry Belcher and a few others are scam-workaholics who plot 24 hours a day on how to bilk someone out of their hard earned cash. I can see Belcher sitting in a prison cell, writing his next “business” plan out on toilet paper. It’s not that they hate to work, they just hate to do honest work.
WINNER!! ::
+7
[Reply]
Dale Reply:
September 4th, 2011 at 11:58 pm
@422, Great comment.
Diehard scammers are ALL about short cuts, and not wanting to stand in line with everyone else. They will do whatever they can to lie, cheat, or scam their way to their goals. They work long and hard at being scammers.
Perry Belcher was a perfect example. SD once referred to Belcher as someone who lied by reflex. He is a textbook, classic sociopath. Your visualization of him plotting his next scam on toilet paper from a jail cell is both humorous and sadly prophetic.
(Belcher’s current racket, for anyone who hasn’t heard, is hustling “miracle insecticides” to suffering consumers off of a bunch of typically Belcherish web sites under the identity of one of his Austin crew. “It’s not YOUR fault!” and “Thousands of testimonials on file!”)
[Reply]
Not an immer Reply:
September 4th, 2011 at 4:55 pm
@ThisIsCrazy,
What’s really sad about these idiots who buy into this stuff is that they have so little imagination (or maybe self-confidence) that they actually believe that success can be copied, without any original thought- just repackage, rinse and repeat.
[Reply]
SD Reply:
September 5th, 2011 at 4:21 pm
@Not an immer ::
These people aren’t idiots :: they are normal people led into idiotic things by manipulation techniques that will never stop working.
[Reply]
Anonymous Reply:
September 5th, 2011 at 5:26 pm
@SD,
You shame me and yet, how not to feel scorn?
I was once that desperate, but as I read and read about all these gurus, the similar language, techniques and hype warned me off. How many unicorn programs does a non-idiot have to buy, before he/she realizes they are all the same?
Or is it like a gambler who (with each purchase) wants to recoup his losses?
[Reply]
Slowly Waking Reply:
September 5th, 2011 at 6:23 pm
@, the latter.
It’s also like, when you take the bait something in your gut tells you not too. But you get their well-oiled sales funnel, hemorrhaging money all the way down, and you’re too embarrassed to ask any of your loved ones for help. Either that or you get caught in a desperate loop, going from infoproduct to infoproduct hoping the next one breaks you free. (Or from launch to launch. See: Navarro, Dave.)
In my case, my wires got crossed after life’s one-two-three punch of (1)traumatic breakup of looong relationship; (2)sudden unemployment in the worst economy of my life; (3)an honest-to-God natural disaster fucking up my town and my remaining emotional stability. Thoroughly upended and desperately vulnerable, Satan led IMers to my door because I hadn’t had enough long nightmares.
I dunno. Getting out can take a while. Maybe I needed to build my self-respect back up before I got mad enough to tell scammers to go fuck Satan, or to get away from tapping on the computer hoping it came up triple-cherries. (I certainly didn’t need “a custom consulting session” or a magic niche with 100,000 searches/day and SEOC of 4.) My two big triggers were finding this site, and my brother. He has a small, successful programming/database business. He was worried about me, so he hired me to do some keyword research he didn’t really need. The paycheck was beyond generous, the triple-cherry jackpot, but with a footnote that it come from love and worry, not from earned effort. I never cashed it. I just got my shit together, deleted everything “info” on my hard drive, and unsubscribed from everything. I kind of wonder if he planned it that way.
(PS he also thinks all this IM stuff is horseshit, and he’s been online since 1989. You can’t believe it? Well neither can I~)
WINNER!! ::
+10
[Reply]
Not an immer Reply:
September 5th, 2011 at 7:34 pm
@Slowly Waking,
I’m sorry.
I didn’t understand, not just from reading that shit, being on the outside. It’s not being foolish, greedy or not using your brains- its being damaged already, so you can’t see it. It’s like another world.
This site is crazy too, though. It’s like a neutral meeting place for D-team?? scammers and victims alike. Maybe cathartic for both- weird and compelling.
Slowly Waking Reply:
September 5th, 2011 at 8:12 pm
@ Not an immer,
Thanks. One of my more painful, shameful IM memories is how I saw the bullshit income claims from some scammer’s latest launch. That loooong relationship of mine ended for a knot of reasons, including my fluctuating income, a symptom of uprooting myself regularly to follow my ex’s rising career from city to city. I took the bullshit claim, divided by 10 to make it seem achievable. It was still huge. Then I said to myself through desperate pain, “If I could just make that much a month, I could get her back/make her regret the breakup/make it like this stupid failure never happened. Okay, I’m in.” Fork over the credit card, start with Module 1.
Eventually I wound up worse than I started, two wounds instead of one. But it broke something in me that needed breaking. Now I’m feeling happier than I have in years.
Chasing after money’s pretty silly, all told.
“Weird and compelling,” haha, just like life!
[Reply]
Doctor Mario Reply:
September 5th, 2011 at 8:41 pm
@Slowly Waking ::
Wow … that is crazy!
I never heard anyone follow that script so perfectly – but you just articulated Frank Kern’s “Low Self Esteem Success Chance” formula word-for-word.
This formula, more accurately called the “Asshole Formula to Rip People Off and Steal Their Moneyz” is a fundamental building block of the whole IM-Syndicate-Cult movement…
Hearing you echo it so perfectly filled me with a combination of shock {at Frank Kern’s understanding of scam-mechanics} & appall {at Frank Kern’s for-profit teaching of scam-mechanics} …
@Slowly Walking :: Thanks for sharing so much of your story here … you are giving great insights into the indoctrination process this massive Under-the-Radar Cult practices … as well as fresh hope of escape for those readers coming here still caught up in the meat grinder.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Also, on a lighter note … there was a little bonus encountered when research my response here ::
Upon Googling “Frank Kern low self esteem” to find that video — the Salty Droid article I linked above was #1 … Frank Kern scam pwnd! SEO :-D
Lanna Reply:
September 5th, 2011 at 9:16 pm
@Slowly Waking,
Thanks for sharing this. It gives me hope that some of my friends who are hooked on IM scams can break loose.
If you’re comfortable sharing – and can remember – what made you keep going after Module 1?
People who are new here keep saying, “Well, maybe their advice is of questionable value, but if that’s the case then don’t buy it again.” It’s obviously not as easy as it sounds.
Slowly Waking Reply:
September 5th, 2011 at 11:00 pm
@Doctor Mario,
I know, right? Eventually I saw some of those Kern videos and saw myself in them. UGH. But it feels like long ago so now I can talk about it.
Kern really, really understands scamming. But he can’t resist explaining what he’s doing. It’s like he just let a bunch of goats loose in Dean Wormer’s office, but he wants to see the Dean’s reaction, so he calls him to tell him what he did.
It’s vitally important for people to understand how this stuff works, because given the right set of sad events, anybody could wake up in the middle of getting Kerned.
Slowly Waking Reply:
September 5th, 2011 at 11:24 pm
@Lanna, yeah, sure, but only if:
1. I can start a new comment thread, because this one’s too nested
2. I can link to totally irrelevant Marnie Stern videos throughout
3. I can pay everyone here $100/hour for “life coaching” me
Lanna Reply:
September 6th, 2011 at 3:18 am
@Slowly Waking,
I thought that was a rhetorical question, but I can’t find your new comment thread on this. So . . .
1. Yes.
2. Sure. She’s already got one ready for @Prime:
3. Please donate our $100/hour “life coaching” fee to the Cambodians.
The thing that kills me is that people actually purchase these “products” after reading the descriptions. I just read through Dave’s toolbox and the descriptions clearly state that it’s all about getting people to buy from you, increase your bottom line, getting people to click on your links. It just screams, “bilk people for their money.” I don’t know how these folks sleep at night. What an incredibly cruel way to make a living.
[Reply]
Sgt Bilko Reply:
September 4th, 2011 at 8:27 pm
@EmCee, if you re-read them from the point of view of say… an artist trying to sell their t-shirt designs online, does it sound any less cruel?
Or a mother trying to sell copies of their allergy-free kids recipe book online?
[Reply]
EmCee Reply:
September 4th, 2011 at 9:18 pm
When a mother sells a copy of a recipe book, or I buy a t-shirt from an artist, I don’t mind increasing their bottomline because I have something tangible in my hands after I pay them. They provided goods for the money I gave them. Paying someone for their “products” that are basically advice that could work for me…..not so much. Not a real product, imho.
[Reply]
Wanderlost Reply:
September 6th, 2011 at 9:34 am
@EmCee, Sgt Bilko is right, tho’- if you watch a lot of the sales videos you’ll see that it’s the guy with the ecology game or the girl selling handmade soap who are the big target- even more so than the IMers. They have a product and a dream- often long years of experience but very little money to show for it. Hit them at a low point- and who doesn’t have those?- pour stories into their ears about people with similar products who have gone from food stamps to six figures – impress them with your years of experience and success with people just like them- well, you get them picture.
What’s more- some of them WILL have some success selling their own product- or a course that they develop based on many years of expertise in their particular field. And once they’ve bought into some of the more dubious premises- for instance offering the ‘course’ for hundreds- if not thousands- of times what a regular book or video of the same length and quality would sell for, trying to get all of their customers to resell it for 50% commission, getting together their own little cartel in their field to ‘cross-promote’ each others products, how easy do you think it’s going to be to convince them that what they’ve been taught is scam and often either borderline or outright illegal? They’ve seen it ‘works’- and they’re grateful to their hero for leading by the nose- er- hand- into this brave new internet world.
I had less excuse than Slowly Waking and I fell for it. I’m very fortunate that – like him (or her)- I had a relative with real-world business experience who wasted no time in explaining to me that the tactics being sold were NOT accepted business practice. I’m also fortunate that, since I WASN’T actually desperate, I was never able to bring myself to implement any of the ‘sure-fire’ techniques I was taught. If I’d actually been taking money for teaching others how to do these things I can imagine it would have been a lot harder to convince me that there was anything wrong with this stuff.
[Reply]
@Every-Shill-Trolling-for-Naomi
I haven’t had the time & energy to skewer trolls here in real-time as I’d prefer, especially with the server issues … but catching up on the comments, I really can’t believe the “logic” of Naomi’s remaining shills.
YES, this transcript does verify that Spiderbitch had big plans to illegally avoid paying taxes.
BUT … SO WHAT???
YES, lot’s of businesses illegally avoid paying taxes … and, while it is not the best practice – esp. for someone peddling business advice – you are playing deaf-dumb-and-blind if you imagine that as the primary issue!!!
For the surprisingly large number of people here who have echoed something like:
“Well, sure, I see she’s scamming on her taxes, but where’s the proof that her content has scammed me?”
4 R-TARDS :: E-Z BREAKDOWN OF NAOMI DONEFOR’S SCAM
{thanks to @Behind the Facade & @SD for saving me typing)
If those two lines of chat aren’t damning enough evidence for anyone & everyone to steer clear of this shitballs & their dubious “business” advice … I don’t know what is!
Here are some analogies for the mentally challenged {/because I know you’re reading this …/}
If you are defending Donefor as nothing more than a tax cheat, let me ask you…
Would you pay big bucks for:
… a fat-ass personal trainer or fitness coach?
… a decaying-toothed, foul-breathed dentist?
… a schizophrenic, maladjusted psychotherapist?
… a 5-times divorced marriage counselor?
… a tool-less, shop-less, brainless auto mechanic?
… an ugly, smelly, herpes-face prostitute?
… etc etc etc etc
If you answered yes to any of the above questions … please do continue to support Naomi Donefor & her frauduct peddling scam. You are an idiot, and there are few future joys waiting for you. Your life will continue to magnify the pain, suffering, and disappointment you have felt as long as you keep grasping for illusions.
For anyone on the fence, I truly hope these super-simplified analogies have helped you understand that this transcript is NOT ABOUT TAX EVASION (tho that is “icing on the cake” as the IMers are fond of saying when recording their conspiracies … er :: “business” meetings).
The real takeaway here, unless you are a total fucking n00b … is that Naomi Donefor is selling advice on that which she is not capable of doing.
Why would anyone buy the high-flying, unicorn-riding dream lifestyle Naomi’s pitching, when she CAN’T EVEN GET DAVE TO THAT POINT! {as so appropriately noted by @Slowly Walking}
Remember, too, that this pattern is not a rare exception, but the rule for this “market place”.
As @Lanna so thoughtfully noted, the bigger picture to which this enlightens us is the fundamental process by which B-Teamers are fleeced by fellow wannabe’s trying to climb to Syndicate A-Team Status.
WINNER!! ::
+19
[Reply]
Money matters Reply:
September 4th, 2011 at 2:48 pm
Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see.
LOSER!! ::
-6
[Reply]
also waiting Reply:
September 4th, 2011 at 4:43 pm
@Doctor Mario,
Let’s answer those in order:
“… a fat-ass personal trainer or fitness coach?”
No. But that wouldn’t actually be fair of me, because their physical state tells me nothing about their ability to motivate me to get fit
“… a decaying-toothed, foul-breathed dentist?”
No. But that would be unfair too, because dentists don’t drill their own teeth
“… a schizophrenic, maladjusted psychotherapist?”
No, but how would I tell ?
“… a 5-times divorced marriage counselor?”
No. Fair point, but see below
“… a tool-less, shop-less, brainless auto mechanic?”
No. But see below.
I understand your point perfectly, but you are missing the *real* point. Naomi, Dave and the rest of the Third Tribe are offering advice on HOW TO SELL STUFF.
NOT how to run an efficient business, or pay your taxes, or have a great marriage, or be a good employer, or anything else.
They’re teaching: how to figure out what customers want and need, how to make products that solve those problems, how to attract people who want those products and how to persuade them to buy them.
These things, they have both succesfully done. And their products do a decent job of passing on their experience. In your opinion it’s over-priced. That’s just an opinion. I think Apple’s stuff is over-priced – I still buy it. I think the coffee in Starbucks is over-priced, but I don’t carry a flask so when I want a coffee and somewhere to sit – I pay for it. (Actually, I don’t – I go to a scruffy little bookshop that also serves coffee instead. Whatever.)
My point is – Dave and Naomi are good at selling stuff, and that’s what I wanted advice at, and that’s what they gave me, and it worked. The fact that their personal lives are a mess doesn’t bother me, and the fact that Naomi struggled with the finances and management of her business gives me pause, but doesn’t devalue the value of her products – which were good, not great, by the way – either. If she was my financial advisor, it would be a different story – but she’s not.
Oh, I forgot -
“… an ugly, smelly, herpes-face prostitute?”
No. But I’ve never needed to pay for sex.
Muchly debated. What do you think?
0
[Reply]
Anonymous Reply:
September 5th, 2011 at 1:09 pm
@also waiting,
So Dave and Naomi are good at selling stuff…and their courses are designed to teach you how to sell stuff
So they are just good at selling stuff
let me clue you in…
she’s not good at selling stuff
She’s not even that good at scamming
Lying is not selling
Hyping and making shit up is not selling
The second there’s a lie involved it is no longer selling but DECEIVING
Please don’t use the word selling when what it is you are offering is all BS
Also don’t discount the fact that you don’t no any better
Lets expand on that a bit more
talented ‘sellers’ sell high value products and services…want to know why…because they have TALENT and get to choose the absolute best
You don’t know what value is and wouldn’t know BS when you see it…and coming here when there is PLENTY of actual details of the teachings of these two and claiming its real is dishonest and dangerous to those who dont know any better
The courses put out by these two are dishonest and not to be trusted
and lastly they are thinly disguised BIZ OPS…read franks post above
The Attorney Generals of a majority of the most populated states have a simpler view of what falls under bizop disclosure requirements, which are also REGULATED by the states, in addition to the FTC at the federal level.
Here’s the bottom line question:
Is there any implication that a product OR service will increase the buyer’s sales OR help generate more income than the price paid?
“Implication” can come in the form of obvious words, testimonials, or other references that would lead the average person to come to that conclusion. It can also be in the form of photographs or videos. (Someone standing in front of their mansion referring to their “new lifestyle” but not mentioning specific income would still get in trouble because the implication is there.)
Marketing and sales materials by their very nature are tailor-made for falling under regulatory requirements.
The compliance requirements are quite onerous, by the way. FIRST, before any sales can take place, the seller must register with each state in which he/she intends to sell, by filling out all the paperwork required by each AG’s office, and they will naturally investigate you and want personal information in case they decide it necessary to later come after you.
Then, there are disclosure requirements, which require that you disclose ACTUAL statistics proving the results you claim, clearly showing the percentage of people who achieve those results, and you can hide/minimize NOTHING. This is not the place for advertising.
After that, you must provide a specified number of actual references (actual buyers) whom potential customers may contact to investigate you and the offer. These must be legitimate buyers that paid for the product/service.
Lastly, ALL details must be spelled out in writing for the customer. The offer and all terms and conditions, with nothing hidden or obfuscated.
The customer also has the right to change their mind and receive all their money back even after agreement.
Bonus tidbit: yes, failure to follow these requirements can, and has, resulted in prison.
I can think of a number of “internet marketers” who should have NO reason to sleep tonight or any night, after they read this.
there’s a great line in it:
It just takes ONE complaint or report to trigger an investigation. Multiply that times every state you do business in, and the nightmares could be many. And THEN there’s still ALSO the FTC.
I’m sure the authorities don’t see what they put out as education and harmless
They’re obligated to use full financial disclosures in order to sell this stuff
want to know why they dont?
they have none to show where this info actually sold anything but to you
That’s right…the only thing sold was you
[Reply]
also waiting Reply:
September 5th, 2011 at 5:54 pm
Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see.
LOSER!! ::
-4
[Reply]
Anonymous Reply:
September 5th, 2011 at 8:12 pm
@also waiting,
These are your words: ‘My point is – Dave and Naomi are good at selling stuff, and that’s what I wanted advice at, and that’s what they gave me’
Read this again…
The Attorney Generals of a majority of the most populated states have a simpler view of what falls under bizop disclosure requirements, which are also REGULATED by the states, in addition to the FTC at the federal level.
Here’s the bottom line question:
Is there any implication that a product OR service will increase the buyer’s sales OR help generate more income than the price paid?
The part about this that you don’t want to see is they do prey on peoples desire to profit
Yes they don’t come straight out and call it biz op but Dave and Naomi CERTAINLY do meet that definition.
You want to split hairs…call the FTC or the attorney generals office and ask if you sold any one of the products they sold and they will tell you that this is INDEED a biz op
you can spin it anyway you wnat but their main attempt is you see money in your future so you buy…
[Reply]
Grover Lembeck Reply:
September 4th, 2011 at 6:51 pm
@Doctor Mario,
She also attempted to get her “friend” Dave to take on $150,000 in tax liability, don’t forget. She said she was giving him her website, but essentially tried to sell it for $150,000, without letting him know how much it would cost him.
To me, that is as damning as their own blogs, where they recommend that people act deceitfully as part of “marketing” whatever “products” are being offered. If the products were worth a tinkers dam, no deceit would be necessary.
Selling stuff and lying about stuff are not the same thing, even if many folks seem to confuse the two on a daily basis. They are recommending people lie. There is no excuse for lying just to get someone to buy something from you.
WINNER!! ::
+11
[Reply]
also waiting Reply:
September 5th, 2011 at 8:02 am
Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see.
LOSER!! ::
-5
[Reply]
Jaime Reply:
September 5th, 2011 at 8:28 am
@also waiting,
This discussion has come to the point where you need to log off the website, sit back, and turn on your brain for a few minutes.
We’re back to repeating the same thing {at least} three times.
Someone trying to dodge taxes and pawn off a fake-business IS being devious.
Saying your successful when you’re not, and selling products based on fake success IS being devious.
“Great product” by what standards?
What are people buying, and at what cost, for what reason?
How is the value determined?
Where does the information come from: experience or untested ideas?
Anything these idiots sell is PROBABLY plagiarized or just made up out of thin air. 100% of the people paying money for it simply “don’t know what they don’t know”. They have no way to gauge the validity of it.
From what I’ve seen, being on the inside and outside of IM for many years, is that most of these people don’t want to go through the work of becoming an ACTUAL expert at anything except selling BS.
They all want to pretend they’re “marketing experts” – even when they’re not selling marketing or sales related material.
The dialog is as follows:
“I need a way to make money … I know, I’ll create a book on dog training …
“Should I actually work as a dog trainer for a while? F#CK NO! I’ll just do some article research, read a few blogs and forums then put together a product to pawn off on unsuspecting dog owners.”
Replace the product and target audience for ANY other and the internal dialog is the same with these bozos.
But for A-Team, it’s different. They know selling ebooks to dog owners is a bunch of crap because the these shitty products don’t survive the system.
Negative reviews, difficult SEO, and simple lack of focus/action by the “product” creators (because deep inside they know what they’re doing is nonsense) makes it basically impossible to earn enough to quit any day job.
Instead, A-Team sells the shovels, priced at 5-10X the typical dog ebook.
WINNER!! ::
+11
[Reply]
also waiting Reply:
September 5th, 2011 at 9:19 am
@Jaime,
I’m pretty sure that if anyone bothers to read all my posts they’ll find the only thing I’ve repeated is the question “where is the scam”.
Whereas I’ve repeatedly been called a liar, stupid, arrogant, sad etc etc and told over and over that it’s impossible to make money selling info products unless you’re a scammer – with no “proof” except Naomi & Dave’s tragic personal lives and half-arsed attempts at tax-dodging.
The value in *my* products comes from over 10 years experience of the techniques I’m teaching. Maybe I’m the only member of 3T who that’s true for ?
Maybe, but probably not. Not unless they’re all lying about what their products are.
Anyway, lunch break over, back to work…
[Reply]
Jaime Reply:
September 5th, 2011 at 9:25 am
@also waiting,
There are exceptions to the rule. It may be that you happened to find a way to sell something online in spite of the material presented. I’d say that credits you more than anything.
1) you stuck with something for 10 years (that’s a big deal)
2) you want to share your real-life experience with people
3) you stuck through a learning curve of putting something online, selling it, and providing quality customer support (I’m assuming)
That’s not how Naomi/Dave earned money or “fame”. They don’t have 10 years of experience in business. They don’t really have businesses at all, actually. That’s the scam. Why is that so hard to understand?
And yes, I’d say you’re an exception within the 3T crowd.
WINNER!! ::
+7
Not an immer Reply:
September 5th, 2011 at 9:35 am
@also waiting,
“In fact, OVER AND OVER I’ve heard 3T people say things like “first of all, you need a great product. There’s no point in selling a crappy product” – or “you MUST provide value”. Over and over and over again…”
THAT’s the point! You are buying the same stuff over and over and over. Where is the value in that repackaged garbage? Does it become more valuable the hundredth time it is said…the thousandth…the millionth…?
[Reply]
also waiting Reply:
September 5th, 2011 at 5:56 pm
@Not an immer,
You misunderstand me. There are something like 20 or 30 “seminars” on the Third Tribe site, each lasting over an hour and covering a different topic. Peppered through them are reminders of the kind I mentioned. The redundancy is pretty low, although of course there are recurring themes
[Reply]
Slowly Waking Reply:
September 5th, 2011 at 6:28 pm
@also waiting, welcome to the Salty Droid. There are hundreds of posts on scammers, bolstered by people’s experiences and logic & reason in the comments. The redundancy is pretty low, though there are recurring themes, like:
1) you’re getting ripped off
2) wake up
3) get out
Been seeing Naomi’s letter reblogged through the interwebs, so I did what inquisitive people do: googled the back-story. Now I’m here.
I’d like to see how this one plays out. The hating-successful-females angle she takes sounds some melodramatic bullshit. But, I suppose it is a good smoke-screen if she has been engaging in tax fraud. And, she does seem to be rallying support with her screed. Too many people reblog her story without even considering that it might just be a bunch of llama drama. The internet is a place of great sad/stupidity.
WINNER!! ::
+20
[Reply]
Anonymous Reply:
September 4th, 2011 at 6:47 pm
@Human_9038CL9,
Sad to see anyone else get hurt but these bloggers backed a scam artist who cried wolf
News flash to all these bloggers – this isn’t going away and ONLY goes deeper.
Do your research before you trade your rep for a woman who has stolen from woman just to fatten her bank account
Naomi is getting called out because she creates and sells PHONY get rich courses with all her accomplices
BTw there is only one kind of get rich quick course…phony
WINNER!! ::
+7
[Reply]
[...] start off with Naomi’s assertion that she has received death threats as a result of Droid’s blog and Navarro’s brother’s [...]
WINNER!! ::
+12
I’ve been leaving comments at blogs where people had rushed to Naomi’s defense yet knew very little of the actual story. One stunning piece of hypocrisy I’ve encountered several times goes something like this:
“Oh, we just love Naomi with her daring sexy talk of cocks and balls and shaking her scantily-clad thang in men’s faces! You go gurrlll!”
But when I mention the truth that can be found at The Salty Droid website suddenly these same admirers of Naomi’s soft-porn ramblings turn into the new Victorians:
“Oh, I can’t read at that terrible robot’s site! He used the F word!” (swoons)
WINNER!! ::
+13
[Reply]
Thom Reply:
September 5th, 2011 at 4:29 am
@Barbara, That’s pretty sad. Hypocrisy with a capital “H.”
[Reply]
In his toolbox, Dave writes:
Becoming Incredibly Productive
I built my 5-figure-a-month business while holding down a day job, driving a long commute, and raising three crazy little kids … and I had to ramp up my productivity to make it happen. Packing in all the things you need to do isn’t easy, but I’ll show you how to make it easier – and to accomplish more than you ever thought possible.
===============
Wonder if it goes something like this:
1. Quit real job
2. Get fake job
3. Abandon crazy little kids
I do hope the mother takes a large percentage of his “5-figures-a-month” in alimony and child support because somebody in this story deserves to live the “dream” — but it’s certainly not Dave Navarro.
WINNER!! ::
+12
[Reply]
Iam3r Reply:
September 4th, 2011 at 9:50 pm
@OUCH,
Remember $10,000 is 5 figures.
[Reply]
Prime Reply:
September 5th, 2011 at 8:31 pm
@OUCH,
he never made 5 figures a month while working at that job or while raising and living with his kids…he lied about every part of that
WINNER!! ::
+8
[Reply]
@Cosmic Connie,
I just found your blog and will become a faithful reader.
“@NewHere, @No Name No packdrill, Here’s where I’m puzzled. Salty may or may not have more information about Naomi and Dave N. But in my view he has already shown ample evidence of ongoing scams that are separate from the tax evasion issues. ”
See, as much as I’d like to agree, I haven’t found any evidence of ongoing scams here.
Apart from tax evasion issues, what I’ve seen evidence of is:
- Naomi sells overpriced marketing-related content to people.
- Naomi admits in the published chat that she doesn’t like the “business” part of what she does.
- Naomi doesn’t know how to manage her money.
- None of the above is evidence of an ongoing scam.
Personally, I find it laughable that people would buy her stuff and Dave Navarro’s stuff. I’d much prefer they spent their money on books from reputable authors who led successful businesses, but who am I to decide for them?
[Reply]
Iam3r Reply:
September 4th, 2011 at 9:30 pm
@NewHere,
I’m not sure how specific the legal definition of “fraud” is. However, Naomi definitely makes either explicit or implicit claims that aren’t true. She claims to speak with the authority of a well seasoned, successful business person. In realty, her expertise is in writing ad copy–which would explain why she’s so very good at selling people on the idea that she’s the victim.
(The views of Iam3r are not necessarily the views of the majority of the SD readership) Personally, I see Naomi as someone who still believes that her actions are perfectly proper and reasonable. She wants to put food on the table, etc. But she seems to have no qualms about lying lots and lots in order to make that happen. Why does she do that? It’s confusing and causes me to distrust her. I don’t think Naomi is a very good judge of right and wrong. I get the sense that, like most people in this situation, she’s conned herself along with everyone else.
–
WINNER!! ::
+10
[Reply]
Sundog Reply:
September 5th, 2011 at 7:58 am
@Iam3r,
This. You can sell advice without being successful, but you can’t sell it on the basis that you were successful…when you were not
[Reply]
Lanna Reply:
September 4th, 2011 at 9:46 pm
@NewHere,
If you had people you care about who were wasting money on this stuff, you would see it differently. The end results are the same as Madoff or Nigerian-princes or any other scammers. It might go more gradually, but eventually all the marks’ money is gone.
I have a friend who can’t afford to scale up a legitimate business because of spending on this stuff. Another is in foreclosure and still sees putting together an info-product as the best income solution, but still doesn’t have even a website up after three years of talking about it. A third has long since lost home, spouse and savings and remains committed to finishing an e-book started over ten years ago.
Like you, “I’d much prefer they spent their money on books from reputable authors who led successful businesses,” and often I recommend these. My recommendations goes unheeded. I offer them free marketing advice based on what I’ve learned as a freelancer, at marketing agencies and at Fortune 500 companies. I my advice is ignored.
I don’t have the appropriate (fake) credentials, and I don’t promise unicorn dreams.
Twenty years ago most people didn’t view gambling as an addiction. They couldn’t even imagine internet addiction. We need to recognize unicorn-chasing as an addiction so people can start to get the help they need.
WINNER!! ::
+12
[Reply]
NewHere Reply:
September 4th, 2011 at 10:19 pm
Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see.
LOSER!! ::
-7
[Reply]
SD Reply:
September 4th, 2011 at 10:22 pm
@NewHere ::
Why don’t you shut up already and read a couple hundred other posts then? This isn’t page one of this book just cause it’s page one to you.
[Reply]
NewHere Reply:
September 4th, 2011 at 11:09 pm
Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see.
LOSER!! ::
-4
[Reply]
Anonymous Reply:
September 4th, 2011 at 10:37 pm
@NewHere, Lots of support on that successful blog for the spider.. It was deafening.
[Reply]
Lanna Reply:
September 4th, 2011 at 11:23 pm
@NewHere,
What the Droid said.
The link you provided? It drives home every point we’ve been making.
*How can you teach what you don’t know?*
Ali’s website has a huge grammar error in the “Start Here” and AP Style errors peppered throughout. She’s left out the critical writing step of research (probably because she believes in just lying anyway like her BFF Naomi). Who is she to coach people on their writing?
*What are your professional credentials?*
Ali completed degrees at nice schools and had an entry-level job checking links and writing client manuals. Where is her experience writing for papers, magazines, websites, etc.? Proofreading experience? Copyediting experience?
*Doing work for the other slimeballs Salty profiles doesn’t count as credentials.*
Ali’s written for all the other scuzzy bloggers Salty’s profiled, including but not limited to Problogger, Copyblogger and Men with Pens. Oh, and this guy, who hasn’t been profiled yet but looks like the poster boy for the sticky dirt on bus seats: http://sidsavara.com/
*What are your teaching credentials?*
I know enough about teaching to know I don’t have a degree in pedagogy. Doesn’t look like Ali does either. Nor does she list any past experience as a writing instructor or tutor before she made the leap to “coach.”
*Where are the results?*
Ali’s friends say nice things in her testimonials, but there’s no mention of tangible results like book sales, product sales, increased blog traffic, more blog subscriptions or insane numbers of blog comments. (Salty can coach you in that, I think.)
*”How I Make My Living as an Online Writer (And How You Could Too)”*
Is Ali really making a living, or is she on the dole? Could I give all my money to Ali so I could live on the dole, too?
*The cost never ends.*
“Most of my clients go on to book regular sessions.” So, they continue to suck hard despite Ali’s expert advice? Good thing she’s still available for more coaching, for just $79 a session.
Muchly debated. What do you think?
+5
[Reply]
Slowly Waking Reply:
September 4th, 2011 at 11:42 pm
@NewHere, that’s your successful site? No offense to the young woman with the blog, but it’s D-team. A writer’s coach? Because they’re hiring writers? When nobody pays to read? As newspapers and publishers crumble?
And what kind of writing has she done? MFAs with Pushcart Prizes infest Brooklyn like Gambian rats, but she’s a “paid blogger.” Paid by the upstream scamblogs in her sidebar: Problogger, Copyblogger?
Book deals landed, MS from Columbia Journalism School, bylines in magazines I’ve heard of, then I’ll listen.
The scam is that Dunford blows happy smoke in the ears of people with little to no chance of turning their passions into viable businesses. So good & trusting people do what they’re told and morph into nicer, less effective clones of the A-team. Just like Navarro, without the flameout.
They teach the thing they cannot do.
And they teach it to one another, an incestuous economy of coaches coaching coaches, ebooks bought by ebook authors, all paid for by Lockheed Martin. Look at the comments: of 11, half are Dunford and the author, the rest people with their own coachy “businesses.” Where are the aspiring writers who need coaching? They’re in Brooklyn, writing!
This young woman deserves no scorn. She likely went in the scam-mill hoping to fund her creative writing career, and came out writing nothing creative at all. Now she writes Naomi-themed fiction about success, and business, and productivity. Sadly, she might even believe it.
WINNER!! ::
+12
[Reply]
Barbara Reply:
September 5th, 2011 at 3:28 pm
@Slowly Waking,
Great comment, teaching the thing they cannot do is the entire scam in a nutshell.
And your phrase “MFAs with Pushcart Prizes infest Brooklyn like Gambian rats” will have me chuckling for quite awhile, nicely put.
[Reply]
Slowly Waking Reply:
September 5th, 2011 at 3:40 pm
@Barbara, you’ll chuckle until one bites your leg!
Jade Craven Reply:
September 5th, 2011 at 12:47 am
@NewHere,
I want to defend Ali here because she wouldn’t be awake in her time zone.
She has learned from Naomi, but has an entirely different business. No, she is not on the dole. I’ve been on the dole while pretending I had a business, so I can tell.
She does paid blogging and coaches writers. She is also working on her first novel, has qualifications at a uni level (I don’t recall what, exactly) and works primarily with writers.
Yeah, we are D-Team. And some of us have made errors in judgement.
I just wanted to say focus on the people that have done wrong at the B-Team rather then tearing the small fries apart. I can tell you that so many previous supporters of Naomi now dislike her, but no-one will say anything lest the A-team comes down on them.
Ali is a good person. Instead of criticizing her, find more dirt on the people that have done the real wrongs. There is more out there if you hunt hard enough.
WINNER!! ::
+12
[Reply]
SD Reply:
September 5th, 2011 at 2:16 am
@Jade Craven ::
You’re fun Jade Craven … brave and nervous at the same time.
We’re not going to be criticizing Ali … or any D-teamers. But since some chuckle head brought her up … she is kind of a good example.
What’s worse than taking nice people and tricking them into doing bad things? Nice people take it very badly when they discover their own badness.
It’s awful … Naomi is awful … EVERYONE on the A-team is awful.
I’m sorry Ali … blame the chuckle-heads.
[Reply]
Slowly Waking Reply:
September 5th, 2011 at 2:36 am
@Jade Craven, I respect you for how you’re dealing with all this publicly, and Ali deserves no scorn. That said, criticism’s not scorn. Especially when a good person can cheerfully lead someone to the A-team’s clammy, tentacled embrace.
You say her business is different than Naomi’s. Which of these sets isn’t like Naomi’s stuff?
***Aliventures’ Ebooks***
“The Blogger’s Guide to Irresistible Ebooks”
“The Blogger’s Guide to Freelancing”
***Hypothetical How-To-Write Blogger’s Ebooks***
“The Writer’s Guide to Bodice-Ripping Scenes of Smoking Hot Passion”
“The Sports Blogger’s Comprehensive Encyclopedia of Useful Insults, Based on Geography, Mascots, and Historical Feuds”
One set’s focused on writing that civilians actually read and write, not just IM recruits. I mean, when this: http://www.aliventures.com/make-a-living-writing/ is on the front page, you know you’ve landed in the Bizarro world of people writing “great content” for “linkbait” so they’ll reach some huge payday in the guru’s distant future.
Write the novel, get it published, THEN your advice is worth a few bucks. Pay your dues. I do believe she’s a good person. But she’s not (yet) experienced enough, she’s not able to guide people through a real writing career. Being on the D-Team at all is an error in judgement.
[Reply]
SpideySenses Reply:
September 5th, 2011 at 7:04 am
@Slowly Waking,
As a former member of Third Tribe I can tell you they’re selling a dream but very few are profiting. 3Ters are paying for membership, info products and webinars but still can’t afford take a vacation, attend a conference or quit the dayjob. They keep buying and not doing, which is the point. Instead of saving their money for future independence, they’re spending hundreds and thousands of dollars in hopes of becoming rich now. I’m happy I caught on before I went totally broke. I wasn’t going to be one of the people who give up food before giving up 3T.
WINNER!! ::
+16
Anonymous Reply:
September 5th, 2011 at 1:22 pm
@Jade Craven,
Glad to see you realize that the posts here aren’t all about tearing people up…
People get pummeled because they want to ignore their part in this problem
you admit it and for that I say shame on you but also good for you
Be a pillar
Thanks for your candor
[Reply]
Jaime Reply:
September 5th, 2011 at 7:06 am
@Lanna,
Your examples say more about the people themselves than the idea of selling things online.
Not implementing (no website, not writing the book) is more about distraction and/or procrastination. It really has nothing to do with the scam of “selling the dream”.
Maybe the problem, from your perspective, is that they are susceptible to scam-sellers. But even if these people were given legit advice from actual business owners, it’s highly unlikely the situation would be any different.
These issues apply to both online and offline. You know the type, all talk with no action? Big hat, no cattle? It’s universal.
The business owner who crippled his enterprise should have asked “is this working?” after 3 months. I don’t know the big picture with this example, but again it says more about him than the scammers.
There is no easy solution to fixing the entitlement mentality, procrastination by habit, or paralysis by unending distraction. Hopefully these folks are learning from their mistakes, but if they’re ignoring good advice time and again … who’s /really/ to blame?
[Reply]
Slowly Waking Reply:
September 5th, 2011 at 11:17 am
@Jaime, yes and no. You’re close to blaming the victim.
The Third Tribe, the A-Team, all these scammers create an echo chamber of lies. Inside, you do what they say and get no results. Procrastination’s not the problem. It’s hard to escape from in the same way depression’s hard to escape from. That’s why calling it “internet addiction” makes sense– sometimes you need a wake-up call, but sometimes you need cognitive behavioral therapy.
The entitlement mentality’s at work in the scammers, not the marks.
[Reply]
Jaime Reply:
September 5th, 2011 at 11:26 am
@Slowly Waking,
“I’ve had this book idea for 10 years, but I’ve never written it…”
or
“I’ve wanted to build this website for 5 years, but I’ve never done it…”
or
“I’ve been doing this in my business for several months and it’s losing money hand over fist…”
or
“Thanks for the experienced, credible advice, but I think I’ll ignore it…”
These statements speak about the person. Anyone reading my comments on this blog know that I’m not defending the scammers. This was just an aside; an observation that any reasonable third-party could make.
[Reply]
Slowly Waking Reply:
September 5th, 2011 at 1:33 pm
@Jaime, I know you’re not defending the scammers. I’ve found your posts valuable and thought-provoking.
In this case, I think you’re presenting is a caricature of the scammed. The reality’s much more complex, especially given the cult-like nature of the Third Tribe, the Syndicate, the rest.
But, like you say, an aside to the main conversation.
Lanna Reply:
September 6th, 2011 at 3:12 am
@Jaime,
I like “big hat, no cattle.” It’s much nicer than “shit or get off the pot.” However you say it there’s definitely a difference between dreamers and doers. (One personality-typing system calls them “Visionaries” and “Change Agents.”) The dreamers who sit at home and dream have no one to blame but themselves. As for the ones who read free library book after free library book because they feel like they have to get all the information before starting, they’re wasting time but not money.
When the Syndicate and their ilk get their claws into the dreamers, though, they start wasting time and money. Lots of money.
[I know, it's weird. It's British.] Since the Syndicate’s so incestuous and affiliate-cross-promote-y, the opportunities to buy never end.
Not only are they susceptible to scam-sellers, but the more they listen to the scam-sellers, the *more* they ignore legit advice from actual business owners. If I say, “Creating a successful niche affiliate site is a lot of work. You’ll want to get on Google’s Keywords Tool to see how much traffic your niche gets, and then hop on LinkShare and Commission Junction to see how much your target vendors pay out. Then think about how long it takes to write . . . blah . . . blah . . . blah,” why listen to me when Naomi says niche sites are set-it-and-forget-it and make a bunch of money quickly?
Lanna Reply:
September 6th, 2011 at 3:14 am
@Jaime,
The video seems to have embedded itself instead of linking, covering up this text introducing the video:
They discover a whole new group of friends who don’t ask them pesky questions about how far along their projects are. Their new friends just encourage them to “educate” themselves by reading overpriced e-book after overpriced e-book. It’s like this:
Lanna Reply:
September 6th, 2011 at 3:21 am
@Jaime,
Whoa, I didn’t know it would embed itself. Here’s the text introducing the video.
They discover a whole new group of friends who don’t ask them pesky questions about how far along their projects are. Their new friends just encourage them to “educate” themselves by reading overpriced e-book after overpriced e-book.
I am a regular reader at this blog, and a fan of the robot. But your stance that a person cannot make legitimate money online is just ridiculous. You don’t have to chase the unicorns to make money online.
WINNER!! ::
+8
[Reply]
Michael Reply:
September 4th, 2011 at 11:29 pm
@Donk, That’s not what the douchebags are selling people on, and that is the biggest problem. Besides that, the fact is that most people simply aren’t equipped or are incapable of chasing non-unicorns as well. For the vast majority, Salty is unquestionably right. That makes it a pretty good rule of thumb if your objective is to spare people pain.
[Reply]
SD Reply:
September 5th, 2011 at 2:22 am
@Donk ::
What percentage of people can have real :: lasting :: success on web?
What percentage can’t?
Tell a person “you won’t be able to make money online” … and you will almost always be right.
Tell a person “you will be able to make money online” …. and you will almost always be wrong.
I hate being wrong.
[Reply]
I would say that she has balls, but I may be actually right:
http://ittybiz.com/so-what-do-we-do-next/
The word “audacity” comes to mind.
We are witnessing the sputtering last days of a scammer.
Long live Salty.
WINNER!! ::
+9
[Reply]
@New Here: Sorry, I’m not buying the Ali success story. Benefiting? Maybe. In the same manner the rest of that niche is benefiting from their frauducts. All you have to do is look in the sidebar to see she’s also a Copyblogger and Men with Pens drone.
[Reply]
Even scammers know that closing comments is an indication of scams.
[Reply]
Jack Reply:
September 5th, 2011 at 4:21 am
@987, I think it’s maybe you meant to say, “especially” scammers know that, yes?
[Reply]
I’ve been lurking in Salty’s site for the last few months, read this on and off and I agreed with most of his exposes. Hence, my refusal to buy anything or everything produced by Brian Clark (or being 3Triber for that matter). But anyway, I have another writing business, I have a decent job and I’m not keen on being an IMer.
I WAS also in the mailing list of Naomi’s (but didn’t buy anything from her). I never viewed her as a scammer but I just can’t get myself to buy her products. But what finally pushed me to unsubscribe was when I received an e-mail about death threats vs her and that women bloggers were being victimized, etc. I ALMOST retweet it and e-mailed then whole thing. HOWEVER….being a journalist (cynical, had to hear both sides), I investigated the matter first, and was really mad after learning that the mean sites she cited were not really “mean” ; second – there’s no death threat and third this was not a misogyny issue at all!!!
Now, I’m not supposed to comment here because I figured I’m not an affected party at all. What pushed me to comment was when I read all those hateful and unfair comments about Ali Luke and I want to say a few words in her defense.
Yes, Ali believed in Naomi, she considered her a mentor. Whatever. That’s her opinion. That may sound stupid to you but I believe that Ali is intelligent enough to decide for herself.
I consider Ali my (young) mentor, a writing coach I consult from time to time. I chose her to be my (occasional) coach because I wanted some help to improve my travel blog. I consulted her because I like what and how she writes (this to me is the first and most important qualification of a coach), she really made a living out of freelance blogging. No, she didn’t became a problogger via Adsense. And she didn’t earn money writing for Copyblogger or Men with Pens (disclosure: I also guest posted once for MwP). She just guest posted there. She earned her dues writing for blogs that actually hired staff bloggers – like Dumb Little Man and Pick the Brain. Ali also has good academic credentials for a writer (AB English (Honors), Cambridge and MA in Creative Writing at Goldsmith College).
So yes, @slowlywalking, I believe Ali earned her dues. Given her experience, writing style and credentials, she has every right to write, publish and sell ebooks on being an effective blog writer (I bought one e-book and one writing course – they’re both good and reasonably priced). She has every right to coach people who want to improve their blogging. That she is a nice person, is of course, a PLUS (after all, would you deal with an asshole no matter how good he is? I won’t.).
But that’s beside the point. The point here is I think she’s selling products and services which can stand scrutiny, she has the creds and earned her dues, and it’s cruel and unfair to drag her into this.
BTW, I emailed her this link and she told me that she’d rather not comment.
WINNER!! ::
+15
[Reply]
Slowly Waking Reply:
September 5th, 2011 at 12:47 pm
@Prime, hateful & unfair?
I mentioned twice that she deserves no scorn. As SD said, “We’re not going to be criticizing Ali … or any D-teamers. But since some chuckle head brought her up … she is kind of a good example.” After all, she asks publicly for money.
If you’re a happy customer, good. I would ask for more credentials, partially because they’re so easy to come by in the field. My first writing teacher had a book out from Bloomsbury, one from Counterpoint; my second had a run editing a magazine in New York and eight books out. (And you mention not hiring assholes– unrepentant asshole Harlan Ellison has a long track record as a magnificent writing teacher from his years at the Clarion Workshop and his Odyssey Workshop. I once met a former student’s daughter; she credited Ellison with turning her father’s career around, so that he now is a New York Times bestselling author of fiction. Most aspiring writers need an asskicking.) My teachers all openly admittedly they could not help with the business side, so we focused on the writing.
But her site focuses a lot on the business. Naomi lite. I hope she takes this as constructive criticism, as it’s intended.
[Reply]
Prime Reply:
September 5th, 2011 at 8:56 pm
Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see.
LOSER!! ::
-4
[Reply]
Slowly Waking Reply:
September 5th, 2011 at 10:54 pm
@Prime, did you see my reply to “I was here before” below? I said I hoped to move away from her and generalize to the big scam at hand. And I do, so this is the last I’ll say anything even tangentially related to her, and you can have all the last words if you like.
First, this: “I already explained that she has the creds to do it. You obviously don’t want to accept that she has the creds. I may not agree with that opinion but I respect your right to write that opinion. I also, frankly, do not like the tone of arrogance in your comment. But it’s ok, I respect that. We’re all adults here.”
Haha, thanks for condescending to accept my arrogance. I think you’re finding arrogance I don’t intend. Like I said, if you hired her and were pleased, fine; I wouldn’t because I would ask for more experience from an editor or reader. I have better creds at this point. Look, you do too, if you’re an award-winning journo with 15 yrs down. So what’s to keep you from buying all her ebooks, booking a couple sessions, then turning around and repackaging everything she’s done, making slight improvements and enough changes so it’s not worth it to sue, and then running her out of business with your superior cred? NOTHING is stopping you– but your ethics and core humanity. Unfortunately, some people lack both, and a common “teaching point” from IM scammers is to do just what I described.
And that leads to the ultimate problem with the business model and the advice behind it: low barriers to entry mean increasing competition and decreasing returns… a problem the Financial Times et al. struggle with now. If newspapers and book publishers haven’t found a workable solution, I’m not sure why Naomi Dunford etc should get my ear. I’ve seen more than one pro journalist struggling to come up with a way to have a job in five years. Sometimes they mention being more “entrepreneurial,” “making your name your brand,” and once in a while one quotes some IM guru as though the happy-smoke “thank you economy” is going to pay for investigative, long-form journalism at the Baghdad bureau. It’s harrowing.
Next, our aside: what I call assholes, you might just call strict. That author’s daughter *loved* Harlan Ellison, but he’s definitely an asshole. The writing workshop cliche “kill your babies” began because writers love their every precious sentence. The main point is that some people are highly demanding, highly-qualified pros. Other assholes, like Naomi Dunford, treat people as disposable, like she did to Dave Navarro.
Finally, the reason I don’t use my real name? I got scammed by some of these fuckers, and I don’t trust them not to have my home address/emails/CC#s and retaliate in some way for openly saying what I think of them. Far-fetched, but these are bad, bad people, and I don’t need the worry. Whatever shred of value I can offer has nothing to do with me being “Sam Rodgers” as opposed to “Slowly Waking,” my consistent handle. I try to make up for it by writing heartfelt, detailed posts with as much civility as I can muster. Yeah, it fluctuates. Some people say it’s trash, but everyone’s on a different point on the path from scammed misery to beautiful, beautiful freedom.
I hope you get something from the exchanges here, even the ones you don’t like. Take care.
WINNER!! ::
+8
[Reply]
Matt Reply:
September 5th, 2011 at 3:18 pm
@Prime,
Ali has obvious grammatical errors on her first page. That seems odd for a “(AB English (Honors), Cambridge”.
Color me not suprised that she’d rather not comment on Naomi’s death threat allegations.
[Reply]
Prime Reply:
September 5th, 2011 at 8:19 pm
@Matt, she told me why she won’t comment and I accepted that.
[Reply]
SD Reply:
September 5th, 2011 at 4:44 pm
@Prime ::
I am also sorry she got dragged into this … but she did. She is offering herself and her service in commerce though … so it is appropriate … and to be expected.
Her site is a clone of the badguy’s sites. They are going to eat her like they ate Dave. Eating people is all they do.
Read back over the archives of the James Ray trial :: and see how many of the people in the Death Lodge had stuck with the James Ray program due to their genuine love of the other truly good people in the group.
It was hard to step over Kirby or Liz and leave … because Kirby and Liz were so beautiful and lovable. James Shore died because he wasn’t going to leave other good people to die … he already semi-hated James Ray.
You feel better about doing bad things if you see other good people doing bad things. It is an essential part of the trick … a very cruel part … which they know they’re doing but you don’t know they’re doing.
Always wrap your turds in bacon :: or no one will ever bite.
[Reply]
Prime Reply:
September 5th, 2011 at 8:22 pm
Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see.
LOSER!! ::
-4
[Reply]
Captain Obvious Reply:
September 6th, 2011 at 1:28 am
@Prime, I hope you read SD’s entire reply, and are selectively choosing to ignore the bulk of it (this isn’t really about Ali’s website), because you seem to be missing the important bits. If I knew you were doing it on purpose, as a evasive rhetorical technique, I’d feel much better about your participation in this conversation.
[Reply]
I’ve been trying to think of a way to react to this entire shit storm of a conversation over the past few days.
The conversation here has been earth shaking. I’m a moderator of Third Tribe, I’ve guest posted with @Michael Martine, I work with Johnny Truant on The Badass Project, Chris Brogan has been an affiliate on an ebook of mine, I’ve bought training from Frank Kern and Kevin Nations, I bought How to launch by Naomi and Dave…
…and I agree with a lot of what’s being said here.
I work with actual clients, none of which are in the MMO space but in the commercial space.
I coach students too who are looking to “Make money online” but what I teach is how to make money using the internet as a lead generation source, to sell actual products or services to businesses on the other side.
In the past two years, I have gone from making absolutely nothing to making 6 figures, and am on track to make 7 next year, and all of it is from applying techniques different techniques I’ve learned from a good portion of the targets of your articles.
Now, do I believe that Third Tribe first and foremost a place where it’s founders get to make a revolving income, simply because people believe they get to have one on one access to “experts”. Yes.
But I’ve also met incredible people on the inside. My membership is also free because I was the first person to say “WTF is wrong with this community?” which got the entire community thinking (and ultimately caused people to leave)
Do I believe that the primary target market are people who are vulnerable and many of the products are built to expose that vulnerability for the creators to make more money. Yes. (but what product isn’t)
Do I believe that everyone has their community’s best interest at the forefront of their mind? No. Not even a little bit, I’ve pushed and scraped to become one of the “cool kids” for the past two years, and while I’ve been told “I want you to win” from one of the “top guys” the amount of reciprocity from the big names has not been given back.
Doesn’t matter, and it doesn’t stop me.
There’s a high level of personal responsibility that needs to be taken here when buying into anything.
There is a lot of good advice that’s out there, but it’s not one size fits all, and the only application doesn’t have to be selling information to other marketers. (Yes I do that, but it’s only one portion of my business)
When I first got started, I had literally gotten fired from my job over a pair of pants and had nothing to start with.
I read, and I read religiously. I found Copyblogger, I found Chris Brogan, I found Rae Hoffman, and I used everything I read combined with my own acting experience to develop *_my own_* approach.
I don’t have a big following. I am happy when my website get’s 100 visitors a day. I don’t participate in the circle jerk mentality. I don’t blindly follow everyone’s advice. I take it for what it is and integrate it into myself. You can’t use other people’s words and expect to get other people’s results.
Scams or not, I’ve learned a lot from what these people have to offer. Doesn’t mean I don’t think there’s a lot of bullshit. A lot of it is.
But there’s also some merit to becoming a 5 million a year company like Copyblogger Media in 5 years, and there’s a lot to be said about many of the other bigger names creating multi million dollar businesses as well. If Chris Brogan wasn’t able to get actual measurable results, he wouldn’t be consulting with the likes of Disney and Sony, who could spot a scam artist from a long ways away.
There is a high level of personal responsibly that needs to be taken when it comes to making your own future.
That being said, I do appreciate what you’re doing here Salty, because it shows the other side of the coin which is absolutely necessary. Too many just believe what they’re told, without thinking about the other side of the argument. You bring balance to the force.
WINNER!! ::
+12
[Reply]
Jaime Reply:
September 5th, 2011 at 10:37 am
@Tommyismyname,
I like the basic principle of what you’re saying, but my BS detectors go off when people make income claims – especially yours.
Zero to 6 figures in two years? Selling information? What are the reviews/results from actual customers? More details please.
Also, I think it’s strange that you’d be comfortable associating with Third Tribe, Copyblogger, and other parties mentioned in light of what you stated. Does this represent a change of heart?
WINNER!! ::
+14
[Reply]
Tommyismyname Reply:
September 5th, 2011 at 12:06 pm
@Jaime,I work with clients in the commercial space who pay me on a monthly retainer, as well as teach an information course that helps freelancers get more comfortable charging what they’re actually worth, as well as refining their services to actually provide transformative value to the person they’re working with, not just charge more money for a polished piece of turd service.
My comfort level because I do believe there is value in what many of these people teach, if you’re willing to take action. Copyblogger teaches copywriting techniques for free, there is nothing scammy about saying a good headline is the first step to selling stuff. Magazines and newspapers have been doing it for years.
Once you start getting into the paid products, you have to always look at it as a potential waste of money. I’ve met some very awesome people in Third Tribe, and managed to get a free membership after stirring the pot, to get people to make the most out of it for themselves. I never went into 3T thinking it was going to solve all of my problems, and I don’t believe every claim that’s ever made. I also don’t throw my dry clean only shirts into the washer and dryer expecting they don’t shrink.
That your BS detectors go off when someone makes an income claim is perfectly reasonable, and it should. That means you’re not a sheep. Just keep in mind, I’m not trying to sell you anything, and I’m not really coming to the defense of anyone in this conversation. I believe there’s merit on both sides and I’m glad that Salty is able to get people to think.
I read both sides because that’s the only way I can gain a fully balanced perspective.
Muchly debated. What do you think?
+4
[Reply]
I'm Perry Belcher and I'm BACK! Reply:
September 5th, 2011 at 12:38 pm
@Tommyismyname, Sure you not really here to raise your profile and to drive some traffic back to your blog? ;-)
[Reply]
Tommy Walker Reply:
September 5th, 2011 at 2:42 pm
Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see.
LOSER!! ::
-4
[Reply]
Cosmic Connie Reply:
September 5th, 2011 at 12:41 pm
@Tommyismyname, You caught my interest when you said you teach an information course “that helps freelancers get more comfortable charging what they’re actually worth.” That was a big issue for me when I started freelance writing many years ago. I finally got to the point where my fees were more in keeping with market rates.
But the market is changing, and the issue of what a freelancer’s services are “worth” has taken on new significance in recent years. These days, more and more potential clients are opting for the Writers-R-Us services where they pay absolutely bottom dollar for what is often sub-par writing. (Read Steve Salerno’s September 4 post on SHAMblog for an example of the results of this mindset.)
Many folks don’t want to shell out for expertise and years of experience and actual writing skills; they’d rather go to a cheap labor pool where people furiously compete for the opportunity to write a keyword-rich but basically nonsensical article for a penny a word or less, or an entire nonfiction book for $300 or less. Writing skills have been devalued, like so many other things today.
Not knowing anything about your course, I would say that it’s a good thing to encourage freelancers to charge rates that are fair to them, as long as you’re not encouraging them to gouge their clients, of course. Obviously there has to be a balance. My point is that in in today’s marketplace there is so much cheap and crappy labor available that competent freelancers often face a real challenge. I wonder how you address this issue. (Not meaning to hijack this thread, but I’m curious.)
[Reply]
Tommy Walker Reply:
September 5th, 2011 at 2:26 pm
Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see.
LOSER!! ::
-6
[Reply]
Anonymous Reply:
September 5th, 2011 at 10:58 am
@Tommyismyname,
How will you make seven figures this year if you’re happy when your website gets 100 visitors in a day? In order for that to work, you’ve got to net $27.39 per visitor. You really do that?
You started two years ago. And you’ve been charging people for your advice for the best part of those two years. How do you justify charging people for coaching, when you had no real track record of success, and you were nothing more than a rank beginner yourself?
And what legitimate business did you launch this year, unrelated to MMO, that will multiply your income by 10x?
WINNER!! ::
+13
[Reply]
Tommy Walker Reply:
September 5th, 2011 at 12:18 pm
Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see.
LOSER!! ::
-4
[Reply]
Anonymous Reply:
September 5th, 2011 at 12:36 pm
@Tommy Walker,
So, you coach freelancers on how to make more money. That’s a “making money” niche.
And, you have a software product that advertisers use to split-test on FB. Tell us– what % of your customers are the kinds of small advertisers who are struggling to make money online?
Your businesses look like classic examples of businesses that take advantage of the victims. You sell to struggling freelancers, and to (yes, association with Naomi make you guilty until proven innocent) struggling beginner Facebook marketers.
[Reply]
Tommy Walker Reply:
September 5th, 2011 at 1:14 pm
@,
I know, I said that already…
“I coach students too who are looking to “Make money online” but what I teach is how to make money using the internet as a lead generation source, to sell actual products or services to businesses on the other side.”
Many freelancers are seriously undercharging for their services, and getting taken advantage of on the other side.
Perhaps I should clarify though, the freelancers I work with are not struggling. I make a point through my own lead generation that they already have businesses that are sustained, they’re looking to scale up without killing themselves. I do have minimum requirements, and don’t work with just anybody, and have been upfront with people if I don’t think they need my service.
Pricing isn’t about “push until the market pushes back” that’s stupid and greedy.
Pricing is more about “How much money will you save, or earn the company that you’re working with?” If you can’t answer that question, than you don’t know you’re own value, and you can’t just make up your own price based on nothing.
As far as the software is concerned, it’s still in development. As far as my customer base is concerned, I’ll only be targeting businesses who are already advertising on Facebook and need a tool for easier ad management and testing, not noobs who will rely too heavily on the software.
My businesses do look like the classic examples, however I am very selective about who I target, and how I get my leads. I don’t make a huge deal about how awesome I am, and how much I’ll “change your life”, and my coaching so far has been all word of mouth. There’s a lot about the “product launch” system I disagree with, and much of which I have tried and will never do again, because it didn’t work for me, and I didn’t like it.
Muchly debated. What do you think?
+1
[Reply]
Slowly Waking Reply:
September 5th, 2011 at 11:23 am
@Tommyismyname, listen to yourself.
“Do I believe that the primary target market are people who are vulnerable and many of the products are built to expose that vulnerability for the creators to make more money. Yes. (but what product isn’t)”
Most products sold on earth.
Your rationalization of immoral behavior is common among infomarketers, so I’m not surprised you picked it up along the way.
WINNER!! ::
+7
[Reply]
Tommy Walker Reply:
September 5th, 2011 at 12:50 pm
@Slowly Waking,
I’m not rationalizing. I’m not even disagreeing that going after a target market with an exposed vulnerability is immoral, but it does depend on how you go about it.
To your point about the immoral behavior and vulnerability targeting being applicable to only info marketers, I would like to walk through a few other industries and see if that statement still reigns true.
Fast food, they promise you convenience, they promise you happiness, everyone in their commercials are smiling, thin happy people. Eat fast food as often as you see the commercials and you’ll become overweight and have more problems with your health beyond obesity.
Any ab machine ever marketed, super cut models that have abs you could grate cheese on. If you buy it, but don’t use it the way it’s intended, you will remain flabby.
Weight loss, eat this food, get these results. If you stray just a little, no results for you.
Tobacco, at one point advertising would tell you which doctors recommended what cigarette. Later they would sell you on a lifestyle that made you more awesome and cool to be around, yet, even knowing that smoking can lead to cancer, heart problems, and fatal damage, people still buy AND many tobacco companies sponsor recovery programs as well.
My point isn’t about justifying immoral behavior, it’s about being able to think for yourself and take action.
To be successful running your own business, online or otherwise, it requires discipline, not blind trust, and definitely not making excuses.
You can lose weight by eating a balanced diet, you can quit smoking by making the decision to not do it any more, you can run, you can push yourself to be something more, and yes you might need someone else to help you along the way. Just because you hire a personal trainer doesn’t mean you get thinner. You have to work at it.
That goes for both sides.
Muchly debated. What do you think?
0
[Reply]
Slowly Waking Reply:
September 5th, 2011 at 1:15 pm
@Tommy Walker, that’s a lot of empty catchphrases.
“it does depend on how you go about it. ”
“My point isn’t about justifying immoral behavior, it’s about being able to think for yourself and take action. ”
“To be successful running your own business, online or otherwise, it requires discipline, not blind trust, and definitely not making excuses. ”
Definitely not!
You sound like an infomarketer. But when you hang around infomarketers all day, read infoproducts, and model their behavior, you end up being just as full of shit.
Think for yourself and take action, so you don’t spend the rest of your life scamming. You say you make six figures? You’ve got 400ish Facebook fans. If you make $120K and half buy your stuff, each one’s ponying up $600. Typical results: are they gonna make that back?
Really?
Or are you just a tax on somebody’s hopes & dreams?
Muchly debated. What do you think?
+2
[Reply]
Tommy Walker Reply:
September 5th, 2011 at 2:35 pm
@Slowly Waking,
I don’t use my blog, or my Facebook page as a lead source. I don’t follow many of the practices for product launches. My money comes from client work, and coaching, I’ve said that already.
There are more ways to make money than you are opening your eyes too.
If you think “thinking for yourself and taking action” is an empty catch phrase, you need to redirect your energy here to spend more time on Elance or Get a Freelancer putting the time in with proposals.
Muchly debated. What do you think?
-1
[Reply]
Slowly Waking Reply:
September 5th, 2011 at 3:26 pm
@Tommy Walker, did you just give me business advice? On where to get clients?
Woooow
since that’s what I’m here for
Take a break from the cult, open your own eyes.
Anonymous Reply:
September 5th, 2011 at 12:24 pm
@Tommyismyname,
Lets just start with this comment:
“Do I believe that the primary target market are people who are vulnerable and many of the products are built to expose that vulnerability for the creators to make more money. Yes. (but what product isn’t)”
Your true worth to your client is determined how much more you give in value than you take in payment.
There is no value if the sole purpose of your product is to exploit the clients vulnerabilities
To get a clear prospective on the word client let me give you a CLEAR definition
Client- under the protection of…think of a lawyer…the client is under the legal protection of the attorney
how are you protecting someone when you build a product to EXPOSE a vulnerability
products are created to serve people
Your compensation is determined by not only how many you serve but how well you serve them
tell me how you put your client under your protection, how ell you serve them if your idea is that every product is designed to EXPLOIT the buyer
Here’s a simple fact that you have all convinced yourself of…you matter
You haven’t a clue what business is all about if that is how you see creating a product…you all pat yourself on the back and tell everyone about each others ‘expertise’
You matter to those that are getting those pats in order to get pats back…and to people who DON”T KNOW ANY BETTER
[Reply]
Tommy Walker Reply:
September 5th, 2011 at 2:25 pm
@,
I see your point, and I personally only work with established business owners who have been at business for at least 2 years with an established income, so I’m not entirely sure what you’re saying applies to me specifically.
I agree, products are made to serve people.
Compensation should absolutely be determined by how well you serve them, but I would also suggest by how much value you bring to the table.
Let’s say for instance I created the “automatic checkout” you find at the grocery store (I didn’t) and I was trying to figure out how to price the thing.
I could look at it from the perspective of how much time it cost me to make, develop, parts etc… and price it from there…
or I could let my grocery store client know that this product will replace at least a cashier and a bagger, never call out sick, never requires insurance, won’t ask for holidays, doesn’t cost time and resources to replace (just give me a call) etc etc…
Asking them questions that find about how much it costs to have have a part time bagger, how much money they spend on insurance, how many sexual harassment lawsuits they’ve had and so on is not exploitation.
When you find out that one employee can cost triple what they’re paid, pricing that machine that is in accordance with how much is being saved in the long run helps the company take their investment more seriously. And for you it’s a much more sustainable business.
Many freelancers I’ve talked to charge about 1/6 what they’re actually worth. If you charge 2,000/month and bring the client $12,000, how are you ever supposed to be taken seriously? Furthermore, if you want to make $12,000 yourself you have to 6 times the amount of work with 1/6 the mental bandwidth to do it.
The idea isn’t to “expoit” the buyer, only help them realize the problem is bigger than they might realize. Doctors do this to help you see the full extent of what your actions have been. Lawyers do this too.
I pat myself on the back, and very much run the risk of being kicked out of my own tribe for what I have published here, but like I’ve said throughout, there is a level of personal responsibility that needs to be had when it comes to whatever you purchase.
[Reply]
Shorty Reply:
September 5th, 2011 at 12:34 pm
@Tommyismyname,
Chris Brogan was hired as a consultant by The Walt Disney Company?! Oh, wait no, actually he was invited by blogging moms to speak at a convention that was held at Walt Disny World, not to provide business advice to Disney executives as your post implies. That kind of exaggeration of credentials/experience is a perfect example of why your fellow tribesmen are considered scammers.
WINNER!! ::
+17
[Reply]
Tommy Walker Reply:
September 5th, 2011 at 1:28 pm
Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see.
LOSER!! ::
-9
[Reply]
You got got ... Reply:
September 5th, 2011 at 3:30 pm
@Tommy Walker,
I was picking up what you were putting down.
You made some good points.
I checked out Chris Brogan based on your touting of his track record.
You blame your memory. Really?
You brandished those two credibility boosting facts about Chris Brogan with such an air of authority.
Chris Brogan was your man in a white lab coat.
You used his name and Walt Disney’s to make me question your argument less.
In marketer parlance, you attempted to make me transfer my feelings about credible sources to you.
You misled me.
I hate you.
Jerk.
P.S. Telling freelancers to charge what they’re worth is laced with MMO.
What are you really saying? Think it over as you carefully read each word and you’ll know I’m right behind these words.
More than half of the dolts you instill with that mantra aren’t worth more than $40 an hour. Telling them that they are is telling them what they want to hear, isn’t it?
Real coaches don’t do that. Real consultants don’t do that. MMO coaches do that.
Listen, the more you deny it, the more you know it and the more you know I know it.
Frankly, now is the time for you to have the heart to have a heart to heart and gaze at the man behind the man in the mirror.
Really Tommy. Have a look at him before it’s too late.
WINNER!! ::
+12
[Reply]
Tommy Walker Reply:
September 5th, 2011 at 5:30 pm
Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see.
LOSER!! ::
-6
[Reply]
Captain Obvious Reply:
September 6th, 2011 at 1:41 am
“Good point, I was mistaken. My memory did not serve me correctly. He was also invited by Disney to participate in a few other things, but not consulting.
Thanks for pointing that out :-)Sony is a client though.”
Haha. Oh man. You started off so charming, too. Then the bullshit starts churning. It’s automatic at this point. You’ve been infected. I don’t even think you know it, yet.
There is something particularly sad about a bad guy who genuinely wants to be accepted by the good guys.
[Reply]
Slowly Waking Reply:
September 5th, 2011 at 4:11 pm
@Tommy Walker, do you mean Sony WAS a client, not of Chris Brogan, but a company Chris Brogan’s with, and then for three breathless months?
http://newmarketinglabs.com/social-media-agency-clients/
So basically Sony outsourced some bloggins.
And that makes you cool. I have a friend who’s got three Emmys. I often bring this up on first meeting a lady I fancy.
WINNER!! ::
+7
[Reply]
Tommy Walker Reply:
September 5th, 2011 at 5:14 pm
Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see.
LOSER!! ::
-8
[Reply]
Slowly Waking Reply:
September 5th, 2011 at 6:34 pm
@Tommy Walker, they’re not my Emmys, dude.
WINNER!! ::
+7
also waiting Reply:
September 5th, 2011 at 12:57 pm
@Tommyismyname,
Hi Tommy,
As a fellow 3T member, your analysis sounds pretty damning. I’ve been busy arguing some of the things you say aren’t true over the last couple of days. So, I’m curious about two of your points:
“Do I believe that the primary target market are people who are vulnerable and many of the products are built to expose that vulnerability for the creators to make more money. Yes.”
You mean the Third Tribe specifically ? Or just MMO sites in general ?
“Scams or not, I’ve learned a lot from what these people have to offer. Doesn’t mean I don’t think there’s a lot of bullshit. A lot of it is.”
You mean stuff that’s deliberately misleading ? And causes people harm ? Or just too much “hot air” ?
[Reply]
Tommy Walker Reply:
September 5th, 2011 at 1:46 pm
Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see.
LOSER!! ::
-4
[Reply]
SD Reply:
September 5th, 2011 at 3:34 pm
@Tommy Walker ::
I appreciate you using your real name … otherwise I’m not impressed.
So you worked at Best Buy or its equivalent :: and now you charge money to tell other “freelancers” how to charge more money.
And that makes sense to you?
Cause to me it sounds like brainwashed stupidity.
You say you don’t use the Internet to generate leads :: you use “word of mouth” :: yet you say you are “targeting” only real businesses. How pray tell do you “target” “word of mouth” lead gen?
Lawyers are the highest paid members of the service and consulting industry. In fact :: law is one of the highest paying professions … period. There are high barriers to entry :: and a legally enforced monopoly. The profession has existed since nearly the founding of civilized civilization … and during those thousands of years it has been framing {and marketing} itself as indispensable to the operation and function of government and commerce.
Partner’s in the country’s top ten law firms can expect to make barely seven figures a year on average :: but the vast majority of lawyers will never even come close to that. 99% of the people who set out to become big firm partners :: getting all of the necessary credentials and experience :: will fail to do so.
Yet you :: allegedly pants stealing Tommy :: are going to make seven figures consulting next year? Without much of a web presence … with zero points differentiation … with only a small to negligible social media following … without any formal education … and without any experience in consulting our marketing? Just via “word of mouth” referrals? The law firms mentioned above certainly don’t rely on that … they spend tens of millions and hire agencies swarming with qualified creative geniuses and Don Drapers who themselves have hundreds of years of experience in their profession.
You got the web in 2008 :: and now in 2011 your selling people on the idea that you can tell them how to make more money on the webs or whatever.
It’s fucking nonsensical bullshit.
[Reply]
Fake Blogger Reply:
September 5th, 2011 at 4:01 pm
@SD,
Re; Tommy Walker
Is it a red flag if I Google the guru and cannot find him (or his website) on the first ten pages?
Seriously…
Dude wants to teach me how to earn income online and has nothing indexed in the first 120 listings and counting… of the SERP’s.
I’m not even going to mention the 7 figure thing.
BUT…one would think if you were that good, you wouldn’t have to hire a private detective to find you online.
WINNER!! ::
+7
[Reply]
Slowly Waking Reply:
September 5th, 2011 at 4:08 pm
@SD, oh mercy that was beautiful
[Reply]
Tommy Walker Reply:
September 5th, 2011 at 5:09 pm
@SD, Lawyers are just as snake oil of a business as well, oldest profession or not.
You’re right, I got fired from a crappy retail job, and worked my way up for two years. My first real client was a technology firm looking for SEO advice, my first long time retainer client was a regional restaurant.
Each had the resources to pay, and each had a deal where they would pay based on performance. People with money know other people with money, and the word of mouth came in from other businesses asking how they were able to do it.
It worked because I worked my ass off to make sure it happened.
I don’t position myself as a guru, have never called myself that and speak out against that.
As far as lead gen goes, how I plan to scale my business up next year is also primarily through direct advertising for lead gen, selling services at a higher rate to people who can easily afford it and can easily identify the need, makes this a fairly simple process. (and quite similar to what any Don Draper would do)
It took a long time to get there, but quite honestly it can be done without a website, big shot lawyers were doing it long before the internet.
That said, I’m not de-meriting what you’ve said here, in fact I don’t find any of the things you say hard to believe. My claims are my own, and it would be foolish to think this would be some place to hawk product. That’s not why I’m here.
My only point is that it’s important to see both sides of the equation, and do something in a productive direction. Nobody, including you, will solve people’s problems for them.
Muchly debated. What do you think?
-2
[Reply]
Sam the Shrubbist Reply:
September 5th, 2011 at 6:48 pm
@Tommy Walker,
You don’t realize it yet, although one day you will, but you’ve bought into the packaged fantasy that you can simply jump over a large portion of society and “skip to the head of the class” by paying your dues with no more than pure desire and cunning.
Unfortunately, what you miss along the way to the goal are all the small but important details, experiences, and necessary wisdom acquisition that are essential to reaching *and maintaining* the very goal you seek.
As you posture and position yourself and attempt to converse on the same level with those legitimately above you who have actually attended to those things, you may think to yourself that you have “arrived,” and you are now “one of them.” However, those people will know that you have not earned a place on their level, and will simply humor you.
They will further capitalize on your own delusions by stroking your ego, taking what benefits them, and giving you as little in return as possible. Ironically, deep down you will think that it is you who is exploiting them, which in some sense could be considered karmic reward.
Even if by accident you found yourself in some postured position of temporary authority or stature, remaining there without benefit of the earned experience you chose to bypass would make it virtually impossible for you to remain there for long.
Eventually, you may look up and realize you’ve spent 20-30-40 years trying to avoid spending 20-30-40 years earnestly working to become what you only pretended to be, and which ultimately failed you.
Then, you can sit back in your second-hand rocker and read Perry Belcher’s ghost written autobiography, “What I Wish’t I’d Done Different, and How You Can Wish’t You’d Done Different, Too.”
WINNER!! ::
+13
Tommy Walker Reply:
September 5th, 2011 at 8:51 pm
@Sam,
Maybe that’s my point. I do client work. I market for actual companies and take on clients that are in the B2C space with actual results.
I also teach freelancers how to make more money, using techniques that I have personally used to make more money from my actual client work.
I said this earlier, but I’ve tried posturing myself to be one of the “cool kids” but I show up as a blip. Nobody pats my head, and I don’t go out of my way to be impressive to the A-Team (in fact I’m fairly certain I’m a thorn in their side)
“Unfortunately, what you miss along the way to the goal are all the small but important details, experiences, and necessary wisdom acquisition that are essential to reaching *and maintaining* the very goal you seek.”
This isn’t something I miss, it’s something I revel in and push myself to gain the necessary experience to move myself and my coaching students to the next level.
“They will further capitalize on your own delusions by stroking your ego, taking what benefits them, and giving you as little in return as possible.”
I don’t disagree with this entirely, in fact at times it’s made itself rather apparent, but there is a difference between the people and the information they put out.
I’ve learned very valuable copywriting information that I have been able to put to work for my clients and see measurable results. I’ve been pointed in the direction of other resources that are undisputed legends of the field, and because of all of it, have become better because of it.
But don’t get me wrong, my clients pay me, I care about getting better for them, and nobody else. Beyond that, I’ve made very valuable connections with others on the “D-Team” and as far as social proof is concerned, am on the “D-team” myself. I and enjoy the community very much.
However, I speak out, quite loudly at times, that there is no such thing as skipping the front of the line, and that 20-30-40 years from now you’re going to wake up either being satisfied or wondering where the hell you went wrong.
Without actually doing work, you’ll end up wondering and push every day to make sure that doesn’t happen.
Muchly debated. What do you think?
-3
SD Reply:
September 6th, 2011 at 1:02 pm
@Tommy Walker ::
Here you are kissing Naomi’s fat ass …
Good stuff :: do you advise your “clients” to sycophant the A-team sociopaths as well?? Does that help them build powerful Facebook followings like the one you don’t have?
Yes :: I also find that “large” companies {which is to say companies that exist and have actual business} tend to shy away from paying untrained ex-retail employees for “consulting” which they are clearly not qualified to provide. Oh well :: there’s always the n00bs to exploit. Right Tommy?
http://tommy.ismy.name/and-these-are-my-thoughts/naomi-dunford-doesnt-scare-me/
I’m just trying to be fair to both sides. The side where you’re not a qualified consultant … and the other side {which I haven’t figured out yet}.
I Spy... Reply:
September 5th, 2011 at 9:59 pm
@SD
Let me translate what I think Tommy Walker has been saying here all along. His whole schtick of charging your ‘value’ I believe comes from Mr. Kevin Nations who Tommy name checked as someone he got some coaching/training/frauduct/whatever from.
Here goes…
@Tommy Walker Says;
“Kevin Nations taught me to over charge people for stuff.”
That is basically Kevin’s M.O. (he most recently taught it to Irwin and now they are ‘business partners’)
Now Tommy is just reteaching the same thing to his freelancer niche.
I met Kevin Nations exactly once.
Literally, the first thing out of his big shit eating grin hick mouth was him bragging about how he grossly over charges people for his stuff.
It was bizarre.
I could be wrong about Tommy, but I doubt it…
WINNER!! ::
+7
Madge Crikey Reply:
September 6th, 2011 at 1:20 am
@Tommy Walker, Listen here, Tommy.
Now Tommy, everyone knows that Madge Crikey (that’s me) makes the best hamburgers for 386 miles. That is an actual fact determined from over 40 years of record keeping. Mr. Crikey calculated the average distance from what different folks have said they’d drive to eat my hamburgers over the years, and he re-checks it now and then just to make sure it’s still accurate.
Now, there’s something to be learned here from hamburgers.
First off, my hamburgers only ever have a price once each July at our Bridge Club fund raiser. I didn’t set the price, I let the eaters decide the price. It turned out to be $4 including potato salad. Sure, I could have told folks the’d have to drive an average of 386 miles to get their hands on a hamburger like mine, so it really ought to be worth $30, even without the potato salad, but you know what? That’s horseshit.
This is a world full of options we live in Tommy. Folks wouldn’t just be comparing my hamburgers with other hamburgers. Some of the young folks might be comparing my hamburgers with a big sack of Laffy Taffy. I also could have lied and said, there AIN’T no other place to get ANY food for 386 miles, but that’s horseshit, too. I want folks to buy a hamburger again next year and still like me.
Another thing about hamburgers, Tommy. You might think it’s a simple matter to cook a hamburger. Why, you could even watch me and take notes, and then try to sell your own Madge Crikey hamburgers.
But you know what though Tommy? They wouldn’t even come close to the Crikey Burger. See, you wouldn’t know about the special place that I go to get the best hamburger to start with. You also wouldn’t know about or have access to the Crikey Family Grease. It’s the same stock of prize grease passed down from Mr. Crikey’s great grandpa Earl, and it’s seasoned from history itself. (Course now it’s clean filtered and heated every time we use it.) That special grease is like gold Tommy, and Mr. Crikey put a padlock on the cabinet we keep it in.
Tommy, what I am telling you is that impatience and a rush to the finish line makes folks miss the finer points that make all the difference. If someone tried to sell the secret of the Crikey Burger to other people, they’d still miss a few other special things, even with the secrets I’ve shared with you here (first time ever in Crikey history, hope they forgive me by the time I get upstairs).
You’re young, Tommy. I’m young too, compared to the pyramids. But Tommy, you need to take some time to learn to really cook hamburgers. Not just tell others how to cook hamburgers. Course, I’m just using hamburgers as an example. It could even be polish sausages or pigs in a blanket.
The main thing is for you to stop talking and start learning, and find a real, experienced wing to put yourself under until that wing says, “You’ve got it, Tommy, now fly!”
But quit being in such a damn hurry to tell other people how to fly when you haven’t gotten your pilot’s license and flown around enough yourself. I’ll see if I can find you the address of the place where I bought myself the sign in my kitchen that says, “We don’t speak bullshit here” 40 years ago. It’s a good reminder to read first thing every morning while you’re eating your pancakes.
That’s all I’ve got to say Tommy. Now I’m gonna go out on the porch and listen to Mr. Crikey play his harmonica.
WINNER!! ::
+17
also waiting Reply:
September 6th, 2011 at 3:06 am
@Sam The Shrubbist,
Have you heard of a fairly successful businessman called Richard Branson ? Have you read the story of his career ?
Success as an entrepreneur is about determination, nerve, instincts and maybe cheek.
Not about paying your dues or qualifications.
And believe it or not, there’s plenty of room to do all that stuff ethically, even if you’re selling info products online.
Muchly debated. What do you think?
-3
also waiting Reply:
September 6th, 2011 at 3:24 am
Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see.
LOSER!! ::
-5
Sam the Shrubbist Reply:
September 6th, 2011 at 3:41 am
@also waiting,
That was a very welcome example that you chose. I accept.
It so happens that I have read every single word on every page of Richard Branson’s autobiography. Have you?
If you have, then you know that his business was initially built on a foundation of major, intentional fraud. He confesses to this in great detail in his book. It was nothing short of a miracle that he did not go to prison.
You see, at the time, much like where you stand today, he wasn’t all that interested in paying his dues or following society’s inconvenient “conventions.”
As others here might imagine, the book was quite a let down. I later gave it away. The person I gave it to subsequently told me he felt very disillusioned after reading it and wished he hadn’t.
I wonder what your purpose is here. I’ve noticed you scurrying around playing devil’s advocate with rigid determination, almost as if on his payroll.
My advice, which your footprint here convinces me you won’t take, would be to advocate for someone other than the devil.
WINNER!! ::
+13
also waiting Reply:
September 6th, 2011 at 6:10 am
Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see.
LOSER!! ::
-6
Sam the Shrubbist Reply:
September 6th, 2011 at 7:01 am
@also waiting, Richard Branson most certainly did end up paying his dues, after finally realizing the other way (which you prefer, probably in kit form) could have had a less than ideal impact on his freedom.
It’s also not that most readers of this blog think that selling on the internet is evil, it’s just that most here don’t believe evil people should be selling on the internet.
Maybe that’s why your promotion of them hasn’t really gone over very well.
I wasn’t using “devil’s advocate” as a figure of speech, but as literal speculation as to your actual employer. I still think you should quit that job.
WINNER!! ::
+10
Jack Reply:
September 6th, 2011 at 12:18 am
@SD,
When I read about Womma–Code it makes me wonder onto think that it would be hard to do it with having proper-disclosure:
“Hidey-ho. I’m a paid talker for Wombats, Inc., and let me tell you about how great their…”
[Reply]
Jack Reply:
September 5th, 2011 at 11:33 pm
@Tommyismyname,
It must be so much that you learned from these people. It makes me want to think about what your net visitor value is from purchasing so many of the courses?
[Reply]
Tommy Walker Reply:
September 6th, 2011 at 9:03 am
@Jack,
If you’ve noticed, I said I’ve learned copywriting from Copyblogger. And I did that for free.
I’ve bought exactly two courses ever. Neither of which were from Copyblogger, both have worked out very well.
@Sam I’ve worked in the online marketing field in varying degrees since 2005, totally solo since 2008. I started by working with the top player in the timeshare resale field (not any less scammy, I realize, which is why I left) in their SEO department. My linking strategies helped them rank high for well over 100,000 keywords, I left because the money was too easy, and I didn’t like what it did to me. I tried working for myself, but failed and lost everything, house, girlfriend, integrity, you know the story… and rebuilt.
I don’t buy into everything that I’m told, and I’m glad this site exists.
I don’t even think I’ve been active in 3T for at least a month, and quite honestly, it’s not even like I’m one of the “cool kids” over there, but that doesn’t mean I don’t stand beside the stuff that I’ve seen work for me, and has worked for my clients.
That’s also not to say I don’t believe some of it (not from CB, but related) isn’t BS kit stuff. I personally hate the “product launch” method, and have never seen the value of cross promoting with 15,000 affiliates to clutter up everyone’s inbox, make a bunch of noise, just to convert a small % of sales…
Your generalizations and black and white accusations based on affiliation is insulting. I’ve been giving credit where credit is due to both sides, yet the only quotes that have been extrapolated are the ones that out of context show blind support for a side I’ve publicly stated I don’t 100% agree with.
Meanwhile, there have been very few here who are 1.) willing to use their real name or 2.) link out giving no real merit to your “support for real work”
Furthermore, if we wanted to stick to generalizations, I could very easily say that the entire Salty Droid community base are a bunch of lazy people who didn’t take action and want to blame someone else for their own inability to have any real success, either that or they’re mixed with grumpy old curmudgeons who don’t think the only way to do something is the way they did it, and there’s no possible way that anyone else could possibly excel.
That the droid itself has been gaining his popularity and readership by preying on those who feel vulnerable because they feel like they got ripped off because they couldn’t think for themselves while listening to information they paid for.
But let’s be real…
That’s not the case. The Droid community is made up of established business owners who are respected in their fields, who are joining Salty on his mission to expose all of the frauds for what they are. You provide well researched, and well thought out arguments, and there is merit to what you say.
Salty himself does have a good mission, and it’s necessary for the people who do blindly follow to open their eyes and realize there’s more than just dreams and promises out there, and that it is entirely possible to be taken for a ride.
But in the end, it comes down to personal responsibility.
I’ve said my piece here, both for and against Salty and CB and would ask that you please just give credit where credit is due. You have the ability to think for yourselves, as do I.
Simply showing support does not mean you blindly agree and buy into everything with the expectation it’s going to change your life. In the end, you’re the only person who is accountable to your own success.
Muchly debated. What do you think?
+2
[Reply]
Martypants Reply:
September 6th, 2011 at 11:19 am
@Tommy Walker,
I could very easily say that the entire Salty Droid community base are a bunch of lazy people who didn’t take action and want to blame someone else for their own inability to have any real success, either that or they’re mixed with grumpy old curmudgeons who don’t think the only way to do something is the way they did it, and there’s no possible way that anyone else could possibly excel.
You just did say it. Pretty hard to be on both sides, Tommy.
[Reply]
Jack Reply:
September 6th, 2011 at 5:02 pm
@Martypants,
It’s the thing that people want to try to get SD community to resonate along with by using the apophasis to suggest-us to be stuck in the thinking of old-schoold Newton’s apple phases.
[Reply]
SD Reply:
September 6th, 2011 at 12:33 pm
@Tommy Walker ::
If you think there are “two sides” to this story :: then you are on the wrong side.
There is no counter argument to this site. Fraud :: lies :: and manipulation are both wrong and illegal.
You can say I’m too mean :: or my characterizations too sweeping :: but the specific points being made here are backed with multitudinous facts and are all but incontestable.
I’m not sure how you and @alsowaiting have so much time to comment :: what with having your big successful wannabe 7-figure “businesses” to run.
[Reply]
not cartman Reply:
September 6th, 2011 at 3:28 pm
@SD,
Yikes, I am at Starbucks on my own laptop and using their free wifi and when I clicked to reply to your comment, it automatically filled in the username _cartman_ and a hotmail address that is definitely not mine. I don’t know if it matches _cartman_’s actual email, but thought I’d alert you to a potential problem.
I also went and clicked reply to a few others and the info for another user automatically filled in.
A.
P.S. Because I was distracted by that, I have forgotten what I originally planned to say. I need a self-help product for memory. Or something.
[Reply]
NewHere Reply:
September 6th, 2011 at 3:36 pm
I’m having the same problem and used the NewHere pseudonym I came back to see several messages not written by me (which I only noticed when I saw the replies supposedly to me and couldn’t make sense of them).
People, please pay attention before you post to make sure you don’t have other people’s credentials automatically populated for you.
Not Irwin Reply:
September 6th, 2011 at 6:59 pm
@not cartman, Same thing happened to me; I nearly posted as “Irwin”. Whassup with that?
whatthewhat Reply:
September 6th, 2011 at 2:05 pm
@Tommy Walker,
Ok. Here’s what I find really confusing about everything you have been saying. On the one hand, you agree with part/some of Salty’s arguments that the individuals he’s writing about in the MMO field are targeting vulnerable individuals with products of dubious quality and empty promises that said vulnerable individual will be able to make money/quit the day job/earn 6 figures, etc. etc. (i.e., they are scamming and manipulating vulnerable people).
On the other hand, these same people have offered products that you have found some value in?
That’s what I’m reading here (I’m not trying to put words in your mouth, It’s just a bit difficult to correlate your one argument to the other because, to me, they cannot both be true.) I’m not sure whether you are being purposefully disingenuous or really do believe what you are saying.
[Reply]
anonone Reply:
September 6th, 2011 at 2:48 pm
@whatthewhat,
Clearly, Tommy Walker thinks that reading the “secrets” of the scammers somehow qualifies him as an expert. One visit to his very amateurish website with his wordy bullshit blog posts are all anybody needs to see that he is a know-nothing wannabe scammer, too.
The complete lack of testimonials on his site indicates that at least he hasn’t gone the fake testimonial route (yet), but it also suggests that his so-called business is still in the fake part of the “fake it until you make it” instruction.
The very few comments on his blog posts are mostly from spammers. It is fascinating when someone who claims to be an expert in community building can’t build one on his own website.
[Reply]
Slowly Waking Reply:
September 6th, 2011 at 2:49 pm
@whatthewhat, he’s stuck in cognitive dissonance. Eating the cake he’s having from both sides of his mouth because you “have to look at both sides.”
I’m a little in awe of his logical yoga, twisting reason into putty-muscled poses. In his gut he can’t reconcile what he’s been doing with what he’s been feeling, so he keeps coming back here, maybe after refueling on bizopp cant in some private membership site.
He’ll get out eventually. Baby steps.
[Reply]
Joe Reply:
September 6th, 2011 at 6:57 pm
@Slowly Waking, Sad to say, but Tommy won’t realize how profound that was unless you were to charge him a subscription fee to read it.
Tommy Walker Reply:
September 6th, 2011 at 3:42 pm
@whatthewhat,
I’m glad you bring this up. But it is hard to address, I don’t think all of the products are dubious, but some definitely are, and in any case I don’t think there is a lot of care or thought put into the actual targeting of the product.
Build a list of 100,000 people and launch a product to everyone on it, it’s impossible to tell who is buying your product, or even if they can use it to it’s fullest capabilities.
If you are starting at skill level 0, but the product is really for skill level 7 people to get to level 8, the people who are at skill level 7 will use it and level, and the people at 0 are left wondering what to do next, so they buy the next one and the next one…
And the people at the top are too busy to pay attention.
The skill level 0 people want to skip ahead to skill 8, and without anyone telling them that the product isn’t going to do this for them, they’re only destined to waste more money, without anyone telling them not to.
I personally have found value with the few things I’ve bought. I also learned as much as I could through free resources like the internet and the library before I ever purchased an info product.
Using it with clients in the retail and restaurant space, I’ve seen many of the principals work. I’ve also seen many of those same principals not work for others who thought simply buying it would get them to that point.
But when something doesn’t work for you… it doesn’t matter who else it does work for, because well… they’re not you.
With some minor adjustments to the targeting of certain products, there would be less of an issue overall, that’s really my point.
The conversation above is appalling, not surprising, and if it’s true, needs to be brought to light, no question about that.
[Reply]
Victor Meldrew Reply:
September 6th, 2011 at 5:00 pm
@Tommy Walker,
Here’s the big problem I see with the whole “if you’re skill level 4, just teach the 1s and 2s” schtick:
Most fields that people want help with (software, dieting, marketing, business, relationships) have much great depth than initially appears. Unless you are sufficiently advanced, you can follow blind alleys that seem to be generating positive results, but will in the long term lead to disaster.
Such as:
-A marketing/sales approach that gets customers to start off with, but leads to a massive PR crisis later on
-Building a piece of software which works well, but is impossible to maintain and needs a complete overhaul at great expense later on
-SEO techniques which work well for 12 months, but then your site gets dropped after a manual review
-A diet which causes you to lose weight for 6 months, but then gives you a major health problem
What concerns me, and has done for a number of years is how little experience many of these people have running a business before getting into blogging.
Very few of them have seen the natural ebb and flow of business, or had experience dealing with serious problems.
They’ve thrown up a blog, had a year or two of apparent success which is mainly due to being in a rising market, and suddenly they are giving advice to others on how to succeed. The chances are, they don’t really understand why they’ve been successful, and they certainly don’t know how to deal with it when one of their customers hits a roadblock.
One of the major areas I see this show up is how they handle risks.
The transcript above is a great illustration of this. Ethical considerations aside, firstly how did Naomi think she was possible going to get away with a $150k tax fraud, and secondly why was she having this discussion via a text chat? It just screams “I haven’t thought my behaviour through”
(If you’re going to do something which could come back to bite you later on, at least have the good sense not to leave a whacking great evidential trail.)
And you, Tommy. Why are you posting here? What do you hope to gain from it?
Amongst other things, you’ve:
-Dived into a website full of people who are hostile to your argument, with only your own claims as hearsay evidence
-Supported your argument with details about Chris Brogan which were factually incorrect, then blamed “memory”, when you are one click away from his website to check your facts.
-Made income claims that you can’t back up with proof (why? how will that help your credibility?)
-Probably managed to get onto SD’s radar so anything you do in future will come under scrutiny. Something which you might have avoided for a few years at least.
How is this going to look when a client you’re looking to work with Googles you? Does it look like the actions of someone who weighs potential risks carefully?
WINNER!! ::
+12
Time to read more Reply:
September 6th, 2011 at 7:29 pm
@Tommy Walker,
Principles, not principals. You made the mistake twice in one post.
Tommy Walker Reply:
September 7th, 2011 at 5:38 pm
@Salty,
Old post, and not my proudest. Yes, I was trying to kiss some ass, and ultimately it got me nowhere.
Now, I wouldn’t normally do this, and chances are likely you’re going to cry “FAKE” on me, but this is one of my clients that I do manage on a regular basis.
https://www.facebook.com/Rosascafe
I’ve managed this community for 2 years, and it now has 84,000+ members. Started it from day 1 with 0 people attached to it.
To further with the proof, here’s my linkedin profile,
http://www.linkedin.com/in/tommyismyname
No the testimonials aren’t heavy, but they are authentic. I don’t focus much time on Linkedin.
As far as my own community goes, I don’t need to have a bunch of people telling me how awesome I am in order to do my job effectively.
I personally don’t subscribe to the narcissism that many online personalities need in order to “prove” what they can do. I would much rather focus my efforts on helping my clients and coaching students, and I am very up front and honest about that with the people I work with.
[Reply]
Dale Reply:
September 7th, 2011 at 6:36 pm
@Tommy Walker,
On the plus side, you’re not a lost cause because you keep coming back here and thinking out loud. BUT, it’s going to take some time and DISASSOCIATION to get all the b.s. out of your system. It’s just weighing you down.
You need a re-set.
Two words: CLEAN BREAK.
Go join the Peace Corps and come back a new man, Tommy.
I’m not kidding.
[Reply]
SD Reply:
September 7th, 2011 at 6:43 pm
@Dale ::
For realz.
Or join the fucking Navy.
Madge Crikey Reply:
September 7th, 2011 at 6:54 pm
@Tommy Walker, Tommy, I want to apologize for getting your hopes up, but for the life of me I could not find the address of that place where I got that sign in my kitchen that says, “We Don’t Speak Bullshit Here.” Mr. Crikey thinks it might have been in Milwaukee but I think it could have been when we went to Laredo. It’s been 40 years anyhow.
Mr. Crikey and I talked about it last night, and even though our neighbor up the street is partial to it, we both agreed when we pass we want you to have that sign.
So one day it will be yours. I just hope it isn’t this year cause Square Dance season is coming up, and Mr. Crikey also needs to finish rewiring his tool shed.
I just wanted you to know I had not forgotten about you. That is really all I had to say.
[Reply]
Cosmic Connie Reply:
September 6th, 2011 at 9:36 am
This has been a very interesting and enlightening exchange. I have to say, though, that @Tommyismyname lost me way back there when he mentioned eLance. Sorry. Just leaves a bad taste in my mouth.
Regarding Richard Branson, did you know he’s renting his heart-shaped island, Makepeace (aka “Make-a-piece-off-you”*) for $16,000 and more (per person) for a weekend stay? But if you really want the full benefit of being on the magickal isle, let me remind you that you can pay Joe “Mr. Fire” Vitale $50,000 for a Mastermind Weekend on Makepeace with him and his buddies. Who knows what might happen when you hang around big thinkers?
I didn’t mean to hijack again; I just thought some comic relief was in order.
So now back to the regularly scheduled programming. All I have to say right now is that on this post alone, @Slowly Waking has written a whole book’s worth of wisdom about the IM “culture.” It’s my hope that people — including or especially some of those feminist bloggers who “can’t see the scam” but only see the (fake) misogyny — are taking time to read those comments.
* Thanks to the Burned By Fire blogger for that one.
[Reply]
Tommy Walker Reply:
September 6th, 2011 at 6:57 pm
@Victor,
We share the same concerns, and for the same reasons.
Some people would say that “Geek Squad” at Best Buy is a scam because the instruction manuals clearly tell you how to do everything they’re doing, yet (this is only from experience) they’ll put in little “safe guards” to ensure they come back for more.
This is wrong.
Perhaps I dived in to get my own tribesmen to wake up to certain things that could be going on, instead of just saying “Oh god, what a horrible nasty place”
My evidence is my own, and nowhere on my site do I sell service based on my income claims, nor will I. Even mentioning my own income was because of my own personal experience, but not to sell anything, this is the entirely wrong crowd for that.
Showing some sort of check or paypal screen cap is easily doctored, and makes me no better than people like Shoemoney or the droves of other marketers who use that very same tactic.
Beyond that, I don’t sell the promise of six figure salaries, and I never will.
I should have checked my claims on Brogan, didn’t, now I look foolish, lesson learned.
Being on Salty’s radar is welcome, if I can ever be accused of scamming people with the in depth research that’s put in, I’d like to know. There’s something to be said for accountability.
It may not look like the actions of someone who weighs potential risks, but even knowing that I’m putting myself into a situation that could be a potential bloodbath,
I’m not afraid to stand up for what I know to be true only for myself.
[Reply]
Appearances:
RAKE IN MONEY BY SELLING IDEAS ON HOW TO RAKE IN MONEY USING THE INTERWEBS [to desperate people]. PAY NO TAXES. SELL “BUSINESS PLATFORM” WHEN YOU NO LONGER KNOW WHAT TO DO ABOUT HIDING YOUR TAX FRAUD. START NEW BUSINESS.
________________________
Does Naomi do money laundering consults too? Because any successful illegal business needs a good money laundering plan.
________________________
If the facts of the matter are anything like the appearances then Naomi has some explaining to do.
DEATH THREATS = RED HERRING
Not an uncommon tactic for people who just got caught in a big fat lie.
WINNER!! ::
+12
[Reply]
I usually agree with most of the things said here and definitely believe that the crap out there exists. Salty has proved it many times.
However, I’m sorry, I don’t buy Ali Luke is one of them. She’s well prepared and she has credentials.
Writing guest post for Copyblogger doesn’t make you a scammer.
[Reply]
Anonymous Reply:
September 5th, 2011 at 12:30 pm
@I was here before,
I can’t say with any fact that this person is or isn’t but you have to admit she picks bad people to associate with
…and if this site is about anything, and especially these posts…you better start paying attention to the people you align yourself with…not knowing is no longer acceptable
Not looking into who you stand by – who you work with is not professional
BTW these scammers are using those with solid reps every day…they need to
They need to wrap your authenticity around their dishonesty in order to hide their crimes
[Reply]
I was here before Reply:
September 5th, 2011 at 1:00 pm
@Anonymous,
I agree with you. One has to be very careful when aligning with someone in business.
But still, are we The Spanish Inquisition? If someone has good academic credentials for a writer (AB English (Honors), Cambridge and MA in Creative Writing at Goldsmith College) and writing experience why can’t she ask money for teaching how to write?
[Reply]
Slowly Waking Reply:
September 5th, 2011 at 4:04 pm
@I was here before, can we generalize and move her out of the example?
Those are good entry-level credentials. Still, it’s dicey to say you’re an expert when your MA’s still warm. 2-5 years experience and all that.
But Dunford & her buddies encourage people to set themselves up as experts without expertise. They call it “positioning.” In writing, it’s not so bad. Maybe I lose some readers. It’s worse when the bridge I built falls on a schoolbus because my civil engineering coach is still in short pants.
But when the barriers of entry are this low, it’s terrible business advice. Anybody can set up a coaching site. How many writing coaches can one market bear? Yet here’s Naomi, getting scores of surplus MAs to go all-in coaching/ebooking what they know and love. They were told it’s a “thank you economy” so they all tweet each other and Naomi stays on top of the pyramid, until later on a big player moves in and gobbles up the market.
WINNER!! ::
+9
[Reply]
SD Reply:
September 5th, 2011 at 4:58 pm
@I was here before ::
True.
But it’s a likely indication that you’re a scammer :: a victim :: or both.
[Reply]
I read all of this stuff for the first time last night. I wasn’t sure what the hell to think, so I slept on it (for a few hours, anyway) and today…I’m still not sure what to think of it.
I’m a customer of both Naomi’s and Dave’s. I run a small online business based on my credentials (degree, experience in my field, and extra accredited training) selling a service that is not marketing.
I do not make a lot of money, but I do make a small living. I attribute some of my success to the marketing basics I learned from Naomi and Dave. I’m sure that perhaps what I learned was very, very basic since I am totally new at this, don’t have a mentor to turn to, and am basically on my own. Perhaps it was even overpriced, but I feel it did help me.
However. Reading this chatlog and the ensuing comments pointing out the really big red flags here, made me feel a little sick.
Am I a complete rube?
Have I picked up unethical, not-kosher marketing attitudes and techniques from Naomi?
I really thought my moral compass was more finely tuned than perhaps it is. It makes me afraid to think what kind of influences I might’ve uncritically picked up from following their advice.
I feel like a moron.
WINNER!! ::
+13
[Reply]
Jaime Reply:
September 5th, 2011 at 11:56 am
@hrmmm,
Finding out that something it’s what you thought it was can be jarring.
But, you are not a moron. And you shouldn’t feel stupid.
A lot of people who read this blog (and others similar) do so because we’ve also been woken up by reality.
As to whether sleazy tactics have worn off on you, and you’ve employed them… just review what you’re doing and what’s been written publicly. Is everything 100% true and genuine? Then you’re probably safe, especially with credentials and experience under your belt.
WINNER!! ::
+10
[Reply]
hrmmm Reply:
September 5th, 2011 at 12:20 pm
@Jaime, I’ll be conducting a fine-toothed review of everything I’ve done in my business, how I’ve treated my clients, and how I’ve marketed my services, in response to this.
As bizarre and nastily-worded as saltydroid is, I can’t tell you how much I appreciate the information exposed here, though it wasn’t exactly pleasant reading.
I did notice for the past couple of years how incestuous the online marketing guru kingdom seems to be – all the same people giving each other testimonials, guest blogging for one another, doing JVs together – but I also just assumed that’s the nature of the business of online marketers marketing their own online marketing businesses which sell online marketing advice to other aspiring online marketers.
Thankfully, I’m not one, so I figured it needn’t really concern me.
But it should, I see now. Questionable authority, questionable “social proof,” inflated prices, and…turns out, it’s turtles all the way down to tax fraud and horrible business ethics.
I really want to make money in my own business. I don’t run a charity, though I do really care about my work and my clients. But I am also really concerned about my character and whose influences I unwittingly take on. I’m a critical thinker when it comes to the area I’m trained in, but on this? I think my brain failed utterly.
I don’t give a gold-plated shit if Dave left his family. That’s his concern. I don’t give a gold-plated shit if Naomi fucked him. That’s their concern. I don’t really need to know anything about Dave’s tragic family history.
But knowing that the people I relied on and in some senses modeled my business after are (alleged) tax cheats, and admit to being pretty shitty business owners to boot? That concerns me quite a lot.
Did Naomi receive anonymous death threats? I don’t know. It’s the internet; seems likely. Is she a shady character with totally questionable, if not outright illegal, business tactics? After reading this? Seems likely.
Ironically, I still have a couple of consultations sessions booked with Naomi. I don’t even know what I’ll say to her.
I’m really just thinking onto the keyboard at this point. Anyway, thanks for the shouler-pat.
WINNER!! ::
+16
[Reply]
hrmmm Reply:
September 5th, 2011 at 12:25 pm
@Jaime,
Thanks. I just typed a long, hysterical comment that didn’t go through, but here’s the beef:
In the very near future, I’ll be going through everything I’ve ever done in my business with a fine-toothed comb.
I don’t want to turn out to be an asshole.
WINNER!! ::
+15
[Reply]
Anonymous Reply:
September 5th, 2011 at 12:35 pm
@hrmmm,
the best sceret these scammers have going is that they find a few obvious marketing tips…ones a more experienced person would just laugh at. What they do is polish it up and dress it up and then add some BS to hype it up and charge outlandish prices…you have a business so you applied it
You are not the target…the target is the person who wants to quit a dead end job and believes this polished turd with be their lottery ticket
Naomi describes building niche sites like this as an example”
Naomi: ‘you just build them and set and forget and they quickly bring in a bunch of money’
all lies and designed for that target market (not you)…nobody should follow that advice
WINNER!! ::
+10
[Reply]
@anonone,
I see your point, I honestly do. But I think you’re missing the point where Dave was behaving in a way that was exactly opposite of what he’d always espoused and shown to everyone around him.
-His sister, with EMT training, who has seen her fair share of psychological and drug-related breakdowns, thought he was spiraling out of control.
-His brother, who was converted by Dave, was reeling from what he perceived as a mental break similar to what their dad had. (Keep quoting what Anthony said about Roseanne’s affair if you want, but trust me, you have no idea how the Navarros perceive their dad.)
There are other things you don’t know, observations by friends and family, that factored into the choice to have Dave evaluated. It wasn’t a light decision made to control someone, but an attempt to help someone who was clearly off the rails.
SD knows who I am and I’ve given him the info about this particular part of the story, so if you trust him, trust that he has his reasons for being slightly biased. It’s not about Anthony being a fundamentalist wacko or whatever – it’s about family and friends being worried sick over someone suddenly having a break from reality brought on by stress, drugs, or cult-like conditioning.
And if you don’t think Dave Navarro had a break from reality, you’re not paying enough attention to this story.
WINNER!! ::
+10
[Reply]
SD Reply:
September 5th, 2011 at 7:54 pm
@FormerFriend ::
I deleted @anonone’s BS … because it violates a previously promulgated rule of mine … and my authoritah will be respected. This site is about scammers :: not worried brothers.
This has nothing to do with “fundamentalism” :: except in the fragile little mind of one Naomi Dunford.
It’s too bad our mental health and justice systems aren’t better set up to deal with our very real cult/manipulation problem.
[Reply]
Anonymous Reply:
September 5th, 2011 at 8:00 pm
Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see.
LOSER!! ::
-14
[Reply]
Slowly Waking Reply:
September 5th, 2011 at 8:19 pm
@jackass, EMT is “Emergency Medical Technican.” They’re emergency responders and paramedics, jackass.
But if you want, we could reiki EMF over the coals for a while.
WINNER!! ::
+8
[Reply]
SD Reply:
September 5th, 2011 at 8:21 pm
@Anonymous ::
This whole fucking line of conversation is irrelevant.
I’m curious to know what kind of ‘training’ you have … oh wait no I’m not … cause you’re not part of the story just like Dave’s brother and sister aren’t.
[Reply]
FormerFriend Reply:
September 5th, 2011 at 8:25 pm
She was an EMT – emergency medical technician, ie a paramedic, in Florida for quite some time. She saved people’s lives on a daily basis, often after drug overdoses or situations involving self-harm. She knew about and feared an amphetamine reaction in her brother based on some particular behaviors.
I have no idea what “EMF” is in the context you’re referring to, but I can tell you life-saving techniques taught at and in conjunction with hospitals and emergency rooms hold a little more water in this kind of situation than “Healing Touch”.
All that said, I think I’m breaking SD’s rule about talking about the Navarro family under an anonymous name. I’ve said what I wanted to say in defense of their actions, though, so I’m going to go my way. Hopefully everyone can get back to the black-and-white fraud/scam nature of the article and leave the family’s concerns out of it now.
WINNER!! ::
+7
[Reply]
SD Reply:
September 5th, 2011 at 8:33 pm
@FormerFriend ::
That rule doesn’t apply to you because you know something more than the NOTHING all the rest of the “fundamentalist” idiocy is based on.
[Reply]
Barbara Reply:
September 5th, 2011 at 8:25 pm
@,
He said EMT training, emergency medical technician. You learn patient assessment,airway management, splinting, advanced CPR, how to control a hemorrhage and a whole host of other skills.
I don’t know what you’re talking about, EMF electomagnetic field training? Is that what you’re claiming Dave’s sister had? Some reiki bullshit? You are so wrong.
[Reply]
SD Reply:
September 13th, 2011 at 12:24 pm
@Anonymous {aka} @Tim Brownson ::
Oh and guy … guess who else used to be an EMT? Yep yep!
I seem to remember it being almost all science. But what do I know? Of course … I do have a science degree and stuff … but I’m not a doctor like Harlan Kilstein … or a “life coach” like you.
[Reply]
anonone Reply:
September 6th, 2011 at 5:11 am
Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see.
LOSER!! ::
-5
[Reply]
FormerFriend Reply:
September 6th, 2011 at 6:05 am
@anonone,
You’re reading this the way you want to, and that’s clearly your prerogative. But I’m telling you: no one lied to the police. No one lied before a judge when they revealed their concerns. Dave wasn’t “immediately” released.
I also don’t see anywhere where SD says that Anthony is his source. Again, you are making assumptions without facts and I believe you’re still stuck on the “fundamentalist wacko” instead of seeing how worried his family was for his well-being.
No one is arguing the legality of up and leaving your wife and kids, going into hiding, driving erratically, smelling like a homeless person, having wild, bloodshot eyes, or yelling at your kids for no reason loudly and in public, startling so badly at a fast food restaurant that you try to hide down in the floorboards, or getting confused in a very familiar restaurant and almost leaving via the emergency exit – twice. But all taken together after knowing the “normal” Dave, it speaks volumes as to the stability of his mind. The Dave everyone sees now is not the Dave that was, and enough people were worried that Christine and Anthony were convinced that this evaluation was worth the possible schism in their relationship with their brother.
I think you’re also ignoring the likelihood that Dave and Naomi have blown this out of proportion to such an extent because they are seeking just this sort of reaction from people to put up a smokescreen between SD’s blog and theirs. You believe Anthony is the source of SD’s information, and that’s pretty much what they’re hoping – because enough people will dismiss him for being a “wackjob” that maybe, just maybe, they can start selling “products” again.
I’ve talked to Christine about this. You can believe Anthony is a wackjob all you want, but Christine might be the most stable, loving person on this planet and anything she stood before a judge and said about her brother was the truth. It comes down to belief, trust in the people you know, and putting two-and-two together using logic AND emotion. I think they made the right call trying to get him help, but obviously YMMV.
It really is a moot point now, but if you want to continue arguing it, I’ll be happy to share an email address with SD and he can get that to you if he thinks it’s appropriate.
WINNER!! ::
+8
[Reply]
anonone Reply:
September 6th, 2011 at 6:13 am
Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see.
LOSER!! ::
-8
[Reply]
FormerFriend Reply:
September 6th, 2011 at 6:27 am
@anonone,
You’re making an assumption when you say that I didn’t see some of this myself and that I’m just believing what I was told.
FWIW, in the Letters site, Anthony was using the same “language” to talk to Dave that Dave used with Anthony every day for the last dozen or so years. So by that standard, Dave was just as much a wacko as Anthony.
WINNER!! ::
+7
[Reply]
Lie Detector Reply:
September 6th, 2011 at 6:12 am
@anonone,
“Apparently” “Apparently” “Apparently” “Apparently”
You really like that word, “apparently,” as if it somehow insulates you from culpability for the absolute bullshit and phlegm you’re attempting to flick on people that have more innate decency than you’ll ever be able to muster in your lifetime.
You are pathetically obvious and a truly lousy excuse for a human being.
[Reply]
Anonymous Reply:
September 6th, 2011 at 6:26 am
Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see.
LOSER!! ::
-8
[Reply]
Lie Detector Reply:
September 6th, 2011 at 7:12 am
@, I’m not sure what word better describes you: hypocrite, or lunatic.
[Reply]
anonone Reply:
September 6th, 2011 at 8:37 am
@Lie Detector,
Lunatic. I hope that helps.
one question Reply:
September 6th, 2011 at 3:41 pm
Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see.
LOSER!! ::
-5
“Now he’s gone back to school to get his Tech Geek PhD, a degree in Computer Programming. ”
I had to read the shit out of her website, and this line particularly got me. I’m pretty sure a bachelor’s degree isn’t a phd, a PhD is a fucking PhD.
Amazing stuff, thanks for fighting the good fight.
[Reply]
This is a fight between right and wrong..
It doesn’t matter what you’re calling it, biz op, make money online (MMO) or get rich quick it’s wrong
Why?
It’s creation is designed to exploit the deep desires of people who don’t know any better
They coerce by painting a picture of wealth, carefree lifestyle, quitting a job and the like
It’s deception pure and simple…and some very good people are getting hurt…in VERY LARGE #’s
That’s the point here with this post…nobody is getting a free pass
You sell fantasy wealth courses and you will get called out on it in a very harsh way
You sell as an affiliate you will be called out on it in a very harsh way
If the harshness is what offends then I suggest you think of the harshness these online grifters use on their victims
This ends with indictments…whether you sold $700 worth of frauducts or MILLIONS
Millions are being ripped off…the sad fact is there’s thousands just like Naomi who shill for the A Team
This ends with indictments…nothing less
WINNER!! ::
+7
[Reply]
More gems from Naomi’s website:
“I could write some really awesome sales copy here but I’m not in the mood. It costs $129. Basically that’s two hours of non-stop Naomi.That’s about twenty bucks cheaper than getting it by the hour. I generally charge $75/hour. Kind of like a low-to-mid-range prostitute in a major urban center.
Because I don’t want the Marketing Mafia to come and take my membership to the club away, I have to put in one of those “A pox on all your houses if you don’t BUY RIGHT NOW” sales gimmicks. Therefore, the first 8 people who sign up — as in the money is in my boob job fund jar and you’re written in with pen — get it for $99. Everyone else doesn’t.”
See, she could write some really awesome sales copy but she’s just not in the mood. Okay, then…basically it’s just an online version of a mugging. And see how she elbows you in the ribs and winks about the “Marketing Mafia”? You’re in on the joke too! You’re an insider like Naomi.
Naomi again:
“Hello, my favorite people. The real Dave Navarro, not the lame-ass fakers who play guitar or football, (there’s fame in the name, dudes. Fame. In. The Name.) interviewed me!”
Yeah, that’s right, the Dave Navarro of internet blogging is so much more successfull than the guitarist for Jane’s Addiction.
Naomi:
“You should head over to tell him his new site is sexy like fake Dave Navarro’s third wife, Carmen Electra. When Dave isn’t interviewing me, he’s giving advice on How To Make Much More Money And Work Fewer Hours. Kind of like Tim Ferriss, except achievable by someone other than Tim Ferriss. I will also be eternally indebted to Dave because he took out his big-ass bat of Daveness and kicked the asses of the nasty Digg trolls who talked smack about my post.
Speaking of Carmen Electra – yeah, I bought her strippercize DVDs? Total waste of money. You’d be better off buying porn and dancing along. How do you like that, spam folders? Carmen Electra and porn, all in one email.” Twice!”
Yadda, yadda…strippers…porn…bullshit bullshit…sexy big-ass boob job…prostitutes…
And this is what feminist bloggers are defending?
WINNER!! ::
+16
[Reply]
I Watched Dave Navarro's Free "Course" On Writing Short Copy Reply:
September 5th, 2011 at 10:14 pm
And it wasn’t bad. Very organized. Very mind-mapped. Dave is a good presenter. However, he offers nothing new and nothing you can’t get elsewhere — for FREE.
Like most info products, his content is totally forked and totally regurgitated. And in this case, totally worth the price he’s asking.
I “see” his intelligence. I “see” his entrepreneurial spirit. Too bad he abandoned his true support system for a manipulative fart in the wind like Naomi.
Oh, and the 2 other reasons I posted:
1. I expect the Dave Navarro, Jane’s Addiction, Carmen Electra stuff was about SEO.
2. Naomi Dunford wrote about what she charges for her time:
“I generally charge $75/hour. Kind of like a low-to-mid-range prostitute in a major urban center.”
In his how to write short copy video, Dave reports charging $250 for two hours and claims that’s a discounted rate. He normally charges $500 for two hours.
Fine. Some (amazing) copywriters really do make that for critique work.
During the presentation, Dave slips up and shows that at one time he was charging $97 for two hours. He explains it away and makes a big deal of explaining (again) how he’s totally worth $250 per hour — and you can too!
Stop being silly, Dave.
[Reply]
Lanna Reply:
September 6th, 2011 at 1:53 am
@I Watched Dave Navarro’s Free “Course” On Writing Short Copy,
I didn’t watch the videos, but I flipped through the flow-charts and PDFs. Dave’s stuff IS well organized and nicely formatted. He would do very well as a project manager somewhere. Somewhere like, oh, say, Lockheed Martin?
[Reply]
Jaime Reply:
September 6th, 2011 at 7:11 am
@Lanna,
I agree.
On the other hand, he might have followed the IMer dream and hired a Filipino to do it at $2/hr.
[Reply]
Anonymous Reply:
September 6th, 2011 at 5:48 am
@Barbara,
Naomi’s sctick–the non-selling sales pitch: “I could write some really awesome sales copy here but I’m not in the mood. It costs $129…….”
…..is a straight lift from Kern’s laid-back style of writing copy. That off-hand bragging, slacker style appeals to the queasy ego of the mini-scammer by making them complicit, and so, by association, on a par with the big-dog scammer Kern.
It only works on those who aspire, in some dark corner of their hearts, to be Kern–and those poor dupes are blind to the fact that they are the one’s being scammed.
[Reply]
Third Triber Reply:
September 6th, 2011 at 1:52 pm
@Barbara,
What turned me off from 3T is how incestuous it all is. The same names are giving up the same recommendations and testimonials. No one quite gets how it’s just some sort of club where everyone is recommending everyone else’s shit and they’re not getting real, honest to goodness reviews.
I don’t want to read a review from someone who received a free course or membership. I want to hear from the people who paid the full asking price. I want them to tell me it’s worth the money.
[Reply]
Some of Naomi’s “free” advice for her blog readers:
“You have to stop viewing writing as an art and start viewing it as a product.”
“Every time I try to type the word “result” I accidentally type “reslut” instead. The Freudian implications of this are, well, Freudian.”
The following is from her advice on how to write a press release:
“The press is people who get paid to relay information.”
How To Find Your Story
Ask people. Preferably ones who love you. See what they say. Ask them outright. Say something like “Yo. What’s interesting about me?” Other people, unless they are incredibly stupid, will almost invariably have a better view of your story than you will because they are not a part of it.”
Here’s Naomi’s wisdom on dieting and book purchasing:
“Anyway, I can’t claim to have read this book, but here’s a quote from In Defense Of Food: An Eater’s Manifesto.
“Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants.”
The awesomeness of this statement cannot be overstated. It’s like diet haiku. I will purchase this book for this one line alone.”
Naomi on her most successfull search terms on search engines:
” The scared shitless post continues to get a lot of search engine traffic, but here are my favorite of late:
“my friends thong” – Is this a plural, possessive, or both?
“paint off a cat” – I don’t have a clue, either.
“pootang” – No comment.
“magical powers for money” – This one I love. This may be a tagline someday. I’m not totally sure what it means, but I love it anyway!”
It’s really difficult to believe that based on this sample some people actually paid this woman for writing advice.
[Reply]
when do you start selling something SD? I’d like to BUY!
[Reply]
Anonymous Reply:
September 6th, 2011 at 8:48 am
@milpool,
Never gonna happen…this site is about stopping scammers…not about making money
[Reply]
Sundog Reply:
September 6th, 2011 at 9:31 am
@, You should probably have listened to Salty’s interview with Aaron Wall more carefully
[Reply]
Naomi on Public Relations:
“Public Relations is arguably the funnest part of marketing. (Yes, I just said “funnest”. It’s my blog. I can say what I want. Besides, people pay me good money to write stuff. I’m a professional, dammit. I don’t have to prove anything to you.)”
“Giving things to the destitute and then alerting the media is a good way to get press.”
You mean like pretending your sending seventy girls to school in Cambodia but there is absolutely NO RECORD of your ever having given a dime to a Cambodian school? That’s the “funnest” part? Maybe if you’re Satan…
WINNER!! ::
+12
[Reply]
Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see.
LOSER!! ::
-8
[Reply]
Slowly Waking Reply:
September 6th, 2011 at 2:05 am
@Yvette,do a Command-F search on the word “source,” people have covered this already in some detail in the comments.
[Reply]
also waiting Reply:
September 6th, 2011 at 2:30 am
Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see.
LOSER!! ::
-7
[Reply]
Lanna Reply:
September 6th, 2011 at 3:03 am
@also waiting,
What we’ve already covered is that Salty won’t reveal his source. Journalistic integrity and all that.
We, the community, think it’s a Google chat log because Dave mentions Google chat.
People have mentioned “three possibilities” of people with access to Naomi’s computer and people with access to Dave’s computer. Given anyone with the password can log into a Google account from any computer, who knows?
[Reply]
Phyllis Reply:
September 6th, 2011 at 4:11 am
@also waiting, On a public forum, it ultimately only matters to each individual reader what he or she believes.
You have stated that you think the transcript sounds credible.
The Merriam-Webster dictionary definition of credible is simply, “Offering reasonable grounds for being believed.”
Since it sounds credible, and thus has reasonable grounds for being believed, then it cannot be “worthless.”
This also means it has fulfilled the very purpose of a public forum, and that is, it matters to you, since you made your own determination that the transcript sounded credible.
[Reply]
also waiting Reply:
September 6th, 2011 at 5:58 am
Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see.
LOSER!! ::
-6
[Reply]
stoic Reply:
September 6th, 2011 at 6:18 am
@also waiting,
‘But I also believe my own posts to be perfectly credible’
just as you believe Shittybiz to be a credible and rep-licable business model.
That’s the trouble with unexamined beliefs—some discerning judgement, earned through experience, is required to sort the crap from the truly credible.
also waiting Reply:
September 6th, 2011 at 6:28 am
Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see.
LOSER!! ::
-7
Kelly Reply:
September 6th, 2011 at 7:08 am
@also waiting, My observation is that Naomi/IttyBiz does have a business model, a simple, obvious one that can be summed up in one word: BULLSHIT.
Anonymous Reply:
September 6th, 2011 at 9:01 am
@also waiting,
Do you hear Dave Navarro or Naomi Dunford claiming this conversation NEVER happened?
Do you hear them defending this as not accurate?
Dave left his house and didn’t take his computer…guess where this information comes from
Dave and Naomi can hire an attorney and take salty to the cleaners if this never happened or salty misrepresented the facts
Here’s a fact…for those who want to STOP salty – you better pray he lied…pray he misrepresents because that is the only way to stop him
Nobody challenges salty in court because the skeletons would come tumbling out of the closet
Not because he is a legal heavyweight, who knows maybe he is but because they know it will all go record
I’m sure with all the money the A team makes they can pool their money and hire a high powered attorney to stop salty…IF he were lying
They won’t do it…because the truth will go on record
Here’s another fact: The amount of money Salty could raise for legal defense if he wanted would be significant
There’s a great deal of financial power in Salty’s corner
Anonymous Reply:
September 6th, 2011 at 1:44 pm
@also waiting,
Its a business model, you’re just not far enough down the funnel to realise that yet–but it looks like you’ll get there.
@Lanna, here’s that new comment thread. In a comment above I overshared about my sordid IM journey. Lanna asked why I kept going after doing Module 1. Sorry it’s long, but pixels are cheap.
To readers on the fence about IM being a vehicle of God or Satan: you can tell if I’m full of self-deception from the tone. Compare it to some of the people writing about why they think their six figure business is the bee’s knees. Which resonates more in your gut? Anyhoo.
Why did I keep going after Module 1? Module 1 is always a lousy Camtasia vid on GoDaddy’s hosting. Why keep going after Module 2, then?
Because by then I had made so many small compromises, waking up in a “community” of dazed scam victims didn’t freak me out. 99% of us had no chance of building a successful business offline or off. 100% were getting Kerned. But we were all there together, so we would each be the lone person who succeeded.
Every step was a baby step. My first: “Gah, I’m a wreck. I’ve got to buckle down and make more money. I’ll do some research.” A weekend at the library led me to skim that awful book by Tim Ferriss, who gets just eviscerated in the most hilarious pan here. Money quote: “Some of this junk might actually work, but you’re going to be embarrassed doing it or admitting to your friends that you’re trying it. This is a man who, after all, weighs his own feces…”
So I hoped this junk, like Ferris’ “muse” idea, would work; because it was embarrassing, I wouldn’t tell anybody until I got it up & running. My long backpacking trip through Europe let me see myself in his chapters on “geoarbitrage” and “mini-retirements.” So I could also see myself in his chapter on the “muse,” sprinkled with enough Princeton dust and Valley glitz that I knew it could be real. It’s like those aspirational magazines: Dwell, with gorgeous slick homes you’ll never live in, but wouldn’t it be nice?
After enough baby steps I wound up paying seventy bucks for Desperate Buyers Only. This seminal IM “ebook” explains how to sell to people through their deepest open wounds. (At this point, those deepest in IM are protesting, “But that’s just what marketing is!”) Somehow, Ferris guided me to Google, who took me by the hand to an article here, a link there, and I’m at her sales page. Several steps were surely fakes, flogs, whatever, but I didn’t know enough then.
It took a month, maybe three, to get there? I don’t know that I’d read another sales letter at that point. I still had some open wounds from my life collapse I shared in that earlier comment. I recall being outside cutting a fallen tree limb, chainsaw in hand, her bullet points that hit their marks stuck on loop in my head. Some of these ideas get in there, and when you’re emotionally spent they can hijack the script. When it got loud enough, I stacked the wood and ran inside and bought the damn thing. The sales letter worked.
Months later I heard Ken McCarthy, the man who gave Frank Kern the keys to the infomarketing kingdom, say about copywriting, “bullets wound.” Meaning, “Write those sales letters with hundreds of bullet points about people’s fears, frustrations, and failures because one of them will be a direct hit! Did I mention Netscape?”
I nursed a little skepticism. I never bought anything by Frank Kern, Eben Pagan, the Syndicate. I stayed away from the high-ticket stuff (which they imply is why you’re not making money yet– take massive action, with a massive pricetag). I tried to keep my integrity and not sell things I didn’t believe in. For instance, I never sold Online Business School as an affiliate; though tempted by the only blogs I saw that seemed to make money, I never set up a “make money like me” blog. I felt smarter than a lot of the IM space, like the Clickbank crowd. Clearly those were scams– I would find a better way.
Unfortunately, that skepticism made it easier to go further up & further in. “Well, this part of Juarez looks pretty bad, but I’m street smart. Let’s see what that noise was over there.” Eventually when none of the really bad stuff I feared– like credit card fraud– happened, I let down my guard more.
The Third Tribe, or people like them, were there. (I’m not sure who all’s officially in.) McCarthy and his crew clearly knew more about marketing– and I didn’t yet know most of the 3T stuff was dumbed-down versions of Kern, Jeff Walker, Yaro Starak. But the 3T were younger and not as square as the first two. They were dumpy/dorky/approachable enough. Their cross-pollination of each other’s blogs made it easier to accept as legit. Havi and Naomi, Naomi and Clay, Clay and Johnny, I didn’t yet realize that all those vapid “me too” blog comments were for SEO because someone said blog comments got you traffic.
As I learned, you can’t start a business dabbling around. I had been getting by on my freelance work, but I lost clients to the recession. So I decided to scale back and go all-in with the online business. At this point, I’d been in for probably 9 months or so. I had several web sites, including a service-based site with a few customers who complimented what I was doing. Most people are nice, I doubt they thought too hard about it.
I’d been groomed to go all-in by blog posts, ebooks, audios. Things like, “You have get in a situation where you’re forced to succeed,” “you have to get out of your comfort zone,” “you have to reprogram your subconscious so your subconscious knows success is its only option, or else it will sabotage you,” whatever that means. I never cut off my family like Jeff Walker suggests, but I sure as hell didn’t talk over my decisions with them. “They don’t understand the Internet, they wouldn’t get it.” My few attempts at getting friends to join up with me– just on techie stuff, like SEO, WordPress development, and AdSense– were met with the skepticism comfort allows. So I started working full-time on this stuff, alone with my “community.”
The community was incredibly helpful. It was a continuity program with a forum, a hundred-odd members, and a video course. I “met” people and read their posts, saw their “businesses” being cobbled together. The vast majority I could tell even then were utterly clueless about business and tech. Nobody ever said aloud what many of us were thinking, lest they get ostracized or break the spell.
The video course was not as helpful. It was a webcam/Powerpoint affair that, after a few modules on web hosting and setting up an autoresponder and WordPress (which some of my peers never did figure out), gave an overview of infomarketing online. Lots of action steps, little detail. Write ebooks, find niches no one’s found but don’t fear competition, use his “secret tricks oh my God I can’t believe I’m telling you this” like buying exact match domains. The guru, a student of Naomi Dunford named Clay Collins, did long weekly calls where he met questions with credible-sounding answers. An early video was, “Why Picking a Market Can Be a Pain in the Ass: And Why You Should Chill the **** Out :-)”. The First slide read, “For Some This Just Isn’t About Money. It’s about identity. It’s about mission. It’s about spiritual decision. And it is, by necessity, about money.” He charged $97 a month, had a pressure-sales launch with limited spots that sold out almost immediately. Relive it here: he at one point used this video (sorry, it’s an 88.4 mb FLV, and clicking will download to your hard drive. It shows him sitting in his chair talking about studying people who take businesses from $0 to $10,000 in 2-4 months. At 01:53 he says, “I’m not trying to produce a bunch of millionaires, I’m just trying to get you, you know, 5-10K a month and to help you live a life of massive freedom.” There’s more, but it’s hard to watch. I apologize that it’s not another video of Marnie Stern). He also lifted from David Deida a lot. Cognitive dissonance is a bitch.
His mission, as he admitted in a later sales letter, was to prepare his next product, the “Irresistable Offer,” based on the launch for Project Mojave. He spoke variously of the “freedom business” and the “mission business,” “finding your purpose.” It sounded like Rick Warren, and his delivery often reminded me of a traveling preacher. But his About page moved me: he wrote an emotionally-charged piece about his grandfather’s orange farm. An appeal to the soft eco heart: he knew his targets.
Lanna asked about what kept me going. Clay’s promises should have sent me running. Obviously I figured out once inside Project Mojave that this was bullshit– he turned out a few striving clones for testimonials, but the typical experience we already know. Back to square one, only 3 months to 5 years older.
Part’s the baby steps. You took no leap, so being somewhere strange doesn’t feel strange. Part’s the community. You feel connection to flickering pixels that stand in for strangers, and they approve of the strangeness just by keeping their doubts quiet. Best not to ruffle feathers. Part’s the blitz: once in the sales funnel, you are bombarded by a scheduled series of launches. (“Launch” is a military term because you are under attack. The tough boys behind IM love those powerful metaphors.) You’re getting blog posts, emails and videos left and right, so you respond by reflex and base instinct. If you want to understand, sign up for an launch’s email list. Part is the goal. We go into the IM scam with a goal in mind, a certain emotional outcome. IM is not the goal, just a means, but eventually abandoning IM feels like abandoning the goal. Further up and further in, you feel like you have fewer and fewer options so IM HAS to work or your hope is dead. It’s throwing good money after bad, one of our charming, sad flaws. Meanwhile, the gurus all tell you to focus on your goals. Think about those great things you’re going to end up with so you’ll get the powerful emotional drive to get them, probably so the gurus can “anchor” themselves to your goal. Whatever. That overestimates the gurus. Really it’s just that you get on this path to mend a wound. Maybe it’s my life’s sudden collapse; maybe it’s a worry, like with your kids’ future, or safety from threats to your womanhood. Naomi likes playing both those cards. Maybe it’s just that we’re getting older every day and some of the loose threads in our lives look like they’ll always stay untied. That’s life. Maybe the wound gets center stage in our minds and runs on a loop, going way past Module 1, taking us step by step to places that are beneath us.
Whatever it is, know that Naomi and Clay and Frank and Eben, Ken McCarthy and Dan Kennedy and all their buddies work manic overtime to dig deep down into your wounds and see how much money’s in the meat.
WINNER!! ::
+39
[Reply]
Iam3r Reply:
September 6th, 2011 at 11:09 am
@Slowly Waking,
I’m sorry this happened to you. But thank you for posting about it. I think it’s important for people to understand the process by which these things happen.
When I became a skeptic in the formal sense, one of the things I learned was that the mindset of:
“Well I’d never get scammed. Only dumb people get scammed. They deserve what the get.” is WRONG.
The reality is that anybody that has even an iota of trust and humanity left in them can be scammed. (In other words, the only way to never be scammed would be to actually trust *no one* *ever* and have absolutely no one close to you in your life.) Short of that icky, total cynic option, the only way to reduce the chances of being scammed are to keep a close, tight hold on your wallet, and to keep abreast of as many scams and scammers as you can–sort of like how an anti-virus program routinely updates its virus definition files.
Btw: I didn’t get scammed out money by any of these IM folks, but I did have a certain low level of trust in them and their advice that I now know was misplaced. And, although I don’t think I’ve ever lost huge piles of cash to any scammers, I have certainly suffered in my time by trusting some person or organization that turned out to be bogus. This has happened both before and after I became a skeptic. Like I was trying to say above: anyone that’s ever capable of trusting anyone else is also capable of being scammed. It’s just one of the sucky aspects of life like cancer or car wrecks.
WINNER!! ::
+13
[Reply]
The Game Reply:
September 6th, 2011 at 4:51 pm
@Iam3r,
Online there are the big 3- Porn, gambling and MMO. All follow the same marketing rules.
You prove this in your post. Substitute gambling or porn, and it is the same story.
When people recognize this, the MMO group’s marketing will fail.
[Reply]
Martypants Reply:
September 6th, 2011 at 11:34 am
@Slowly Waking, One of the best comments I have ever read on this site – and that is really saying something. Glad you got out. cheers. :)
WINNER!! ::
+8
[Reply]
KG Reply:
September 6th, 2011 at 1:48 pm
@Martypants, @Slowly Waking
Definitely the best post in 660 of them.
[Reply]
Doctor Mario Reply:
September 6th, 2011 at 11:52 am
@Slowly Waking :: Incredible!
Thanks a lot for this articulate first hand account of how this human-meat-grinder sucks you in & spits you out {minus some moneyz & momentary-self-respectz}.
Is it just me … or has anyone else noticed how the Trolls have been carefully avoiding @Slowly Walking’s heart-felt personal stories unfolding here in elaborate detail?
Interesting how, when someone here is speaking elegantly about genuine personal experience of how this Marketing-Cult effected their life … the Trolls are totally silent (while still generally remaining the most active commenters here)
How about it @Waiting & @Also waiting (& @other-remaining-Naomi-Trolls shilling here) … How do you respond to someone like @Slowly Walking???
Perhaps your responses have not been forthcoming … because this story hits a little too close to home?
Helluva Shit Storm here. Or Shit Tsunami? … thanks @Hal (the original Hal) for the terminology upgrade.
Nice job Naomi :: you win the prize for “Best Self-Promoted Interwebz PR-Train-Wreck EVER!!!”
The ironic thing here is that Donefor … online PR self-mutilator … is supposed to be a trusted “Marketing” and “Selling” expert. I think her response here pretty much proves otherwise beyond any shadow of a doubt to any unbiased critical observer.
More like the What Not to Do “Marketing” and “Selling” expert. I’m sure the actual expert-scammer core members of the A-Team Syndicate are carefully studying this one with clenched sphincters.
Total LOLfest.
[Reply]
Lanna Reply:
September 6th, 2011 at 12:09 pm
@Slowly Waking,
Thanks so much for taking the time to write this. You’ve given me a lot to think about.
The part about not talking over decisions with your family reminds me why IM scams can be so hard to recognize from the outside; they take stuff legitimate business advisors say and exaggerate it. Plenty of the entrepreneurial advice I’ve read as I’ve ramped up my own freelance business has said to tune out the naysayers – the people who have nothing but doubts and objections – until you can show them proof of your success. That doesn’t mean cutting them off. It means listening to genuine constructive criticism, tuning out the “but- but- but-” conversations and sometimes talking about something different.
When I’ve been approached to join up, I’ve definitely met it with skepticism. Not “the skepticism comfort allows” because as a freelancer I definitely don’t have a comfortable income yet. Just skepticism. I’ve tried to keep the lines of communication open. I’ve expressed interest in what they thought of the programs. I never really get any solid information on what they’ve learned (probably little) – just that it was awesome or powerful or some other vague BS.
I’m kind of thinking aloud and not sure how to proceed. I don’t want to waste my billable hours or income on this stuff to try to prove to them it’s fake. Besides, if I fail, then it’s my fault, right? I wasn’t doing something right. It couldn’t possibly be that the success promised is impossible. Offering alternatives like Google’s resources or MarketingExperiments.com hasn’t helped, either. Anybody got any ideas?
[Reply]
Slowly Waking Reply:
September 6th, 2011 at 2:34 pm
@Lanna, @everybody, thanks. Our friend the Amazon S3 bucket of chicken has this new update:
AccessDeniedAccess Denied
F1396F86DE2688C3
−
7VnS+h8Ihus4+K5JcAl+1XyoresSSk73kHMF6R570BS74jpMFPh7WOM+z0r0jlP1
Our 5K-10K a month video is down! Big surprise? Maybe someone’ll put it on youtube.
Anyway, what to do about people sucked in? Ask them to help you with it and press them when it doesn’t work, taking no excuses?
Or just repeating the simple question, “How’s that working out for you?” Breadcrumbs on the trail.
I’m thinking out loud too. It depends on the person, your relationship… but all these scams wilt in the sunlight.
Anecdotal success testimonials are correlation without causation. (Especially when the stated success is, “I feel like I got Great Value.”)
But that’s hard to see on the inside.
The cocooning is dangerous. PD advice is to surround yourself with positive inputs, put up motivational pix of the junk you wanna buy, listen to these 30 hours of content in our membership site. You spend so much time on it, you don’t have to intentionally cut anyone off… and even if you only listen to the content now & then, it gets it in your mental playlist. Gets in the loop.
But you can’t drag them to a cognitive behavioral therapist.
You can also be “in the loop” socially– if all your Twitter pals and blog readers are doing the same stuff. Though I never really had friends in MMO– here’s my web 2.0 profile– I didn’t start to get out until I made new connections in real life. Correlation’s still not causation, but how nice to have friends getting you out of the house!
Has anyone confronted a loved one? I mean, besides the story in Salty’s post.
What’d you say?
How’d it go?
I’ve got to go furniture shopping– I’m halfway moved in to a new place in a new city. But I’ll check back in late tonight.
Thanks again, everybody.
[Reply]
also waiting Reply:
September 6th, 2011 at 5:00 pm
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LOSER!! ::
-5
[Reply]
Slowly Waking Reply:
September 7th, 2011 at 12:53 am
@also waiting, thanks for your comment.
You might be an exception– you said earlier you had a preexisting business? Most don’t. We all get wounds & scars eventually, and I guess it’s sad, but let’s not linger. I’m actually quite happy right now, moving, starting some cool new things, and tomorrow night I’m having dinner with someone rather fetching, things are good.
The reason you’ve only seen a few “it happened to me” posts is that most victims don’t want to come out, even anonymously. It’s hard. I’ve been here off-and-on a while, and I hadn’t yet told (most) of my story. Sorting things out takes time– I was glad in going through my old “Project Mojave” downloads that they felt like relics from the distant past. Sometimes random commenters ask, “Who would fall for this shit,” so people don’t want to say, “Me!” I do recall a person many months ago who said he was on the brink of suicide after racking up so much debt. I don’t know what happened to him. I also don’t know what happened to most of the people I “met” doing IM. It’s easier to let your hosting lapse and lick your wounds.
There’s also that self-help language that gets twisted into blaming the victim: “taking responsibility for yourself,” “only you can improve my business.” [haha i meant to write "your" business, but this is how it is for gurus!] You can find this line of speaking in some comments on this page, comments I am rather in awe of. So when the business fails, whose fault is it? Clay Collins, who can’t teach his way out of a brown paper bag, and based his teachings on a made-up “movement” of internet marketers quitting their day jobs? No, victims blame themselves.
For the rest of your comment, I like seeing good in people too. But we all have the potential for evil. I got less and less comfortable the closer I got to these people. Now, with distance, I’m impressed at what is a nigh-superhuman level of either self-deceit or cynicism.
Cynicism makes sense. Life’s hard, sharks in the pool, money swaps for power and fame, talent and beauty. But if it’s self-deceit– if he and Naomi actually believe all they say, at the same time as they’re foisting shit training on people and (in Naomi’s case) trying to foist tax liability on a trusting friend, well, that might be worse. I would think it increases their ability to fuck up the world.
You did say a couple things I’d disagree with about truth & the industry, but let me leave you with this:
Note how some people who do work with online business, like Conversion Rate Experts, seek corporate clients. Their sales page says, “Unfortunately, we can’t work with companies that have annual profits of less than $500,000; there just aren’t enough of us to go around.”
Compare Naomi, courting not business but individuals. She sells the itty-bitty business, you can do it when the kids are distracted. She charges fake high prices to make it look like she’s in demand, but gladly takes anyone’s money and ridicules them on her blog when they back out. If a business with $500,000 annual profits tried to retain her services, how would that go? Her entire business is designed to sell to individuals, to n00bs. So was Clay’s. So are Frank Kern’s.
It’s a symptom of the Internet. They were early adopters, taking bizopp scams online. When I was a kid, I remember having a sleepover and watching a Tommy Vu infomercial. We thought it was hilarious! Partially because we were cracking racist jokes, but we thought everything was ridiculous: the beach babes, the income claims, and especially the fact that his whole system’s based on forcing orphans and widows to sell their houses at cut rates. How stupid, how could anyone fall for that! Then as an adult, rebranded for my MacBook, I fell for it.
My child self would be very disappointed.
PS
You have GOT to quit Scribe and the Third Tribe sites! Come on, put that $80/month into a separate online savings account. After a few years you can take a nice vacation in the tropics. Think about it…
WINNER!! ::
+11
[Reply]
also waiting Reply:
September 7th, 2011 at 12:37 pm
@Slowly Waking,
I think you’re right about the targeting of Naomi & Clay’s blogs – again I’m inclined to see the good and assume they were “writing what they knew” and hadn’t considered the possibility that they were effectively making those least able to use their advice the most likely to buy into it.
I hear you about cynicism – but I just don’t see life that way. Perhaps I need to move more in that direction, though. As far as the number of comments – maybe you’re right about the reason people aren’t speaking up – I can imagine it’s hard. But based on Salty’s stats, tens of thousands of people at least have read these posts and comments. Of course only a few people have supported the Third Tribe, too. So it’s tough to call.
One thing I can promise you – I will think very carefully about the marketing of my own products in this light. I don’t write in the emotional way that N & C do, and my products are effectively to do with a high-tech hobby, so I think it’s unlikely people who are hard-up would buy – but I will be aware of this.
And, I’ll carry on carefully weighing the value of my subscriptions.
Thanks again for your post and your honesty.
[Reply]
Slowly Waking Reply:
September 7th, 2011 at 1:10 pm
@also waiting, see the good, but browse through ittybiz.com and projectmojavesite.com on Archive.org. Tons of damning evidence there. I linked two of their sales letters in the next post, and reading them now turns my stomach.
I’m not cynical at all. I believe in love and beauty and human goodness and meaning behind it all. But I also believe in evil, because it’s real. These gurus brought evil into my life when I already had enough to go around. If they brought it unwittingly, holy shit! Like a kid playing with a shotgun.
People gotta work, businesses gotta market. Just do it well, treat your customers well, and spend less time in the world of marketing hoohah and more with your family and friends. That’s all I ask.
WINNER!! ::
+7
[Reply]
Regrets Reply:
September 6th, 2011 at 11:16 pm
@Slowly Waking, just wanted to chime in with many others to thank you for your post. Totally resonated even though my details are very different. My weakness was copywriting courses and I bought thousands of dollars of them, thinking that maybe the next one would finally be my ticket to a six figure income working at home yada yada.
For a long time I could not understand why I couldn’t make it work, I had good writing skills and seemed to understand marketing principles fine. It was my conscience telling me it was ethically and morally wrong to use manipulative tactics to exploit people’s emotional vulnerabilities to sell crappy, worthless products, but it makes me sick now to think of how hard I tried to silence that truth and kept trying to build the “skills”. Your story is sad but strangely comforting because I see now that someone with intelligence, youth and a work ethic could get as sucked into this sticky web as I did.
There are different categories of scams, some are blatantly illegal like advertising a fictitious car on Craig’s list and stealing people’s money… and others are way more subtle, with “two sides”, lots of gray areas, questions, ambiguities and either-or relativity, arguable points and so on. Yuck. These are almost more dangerous because it takes so long to learn the lesson. By that time you have lost not just money but time and self respect.
Thanks again for sharing your story.
WINNER!! ::
+11
[Reply]
Slowly Waking Reply:
September 7th, 2011 at 12:55 am
@Regrets, and thank you so much for sharing yours.
[Reply]
I visited this site for the first time last week after Naomi’s post on death threats piqued my curiosity.
Yes, I’m outing myself as a (recovering) fan. I’ve never bought anything from Naomi, but I have more than one of Dave’s products.
In the last 5 days, I’ve read through maybe 15 posts on this site. With a sickening feeling.
I’ve been here before.
A few years ago, a very close friend of mine recruited me into Mary Kay. Her mother has sold MK for years. My friend was supposedly making money, but I really got involved because I knew it would help her and I could make some money on the side. But the more I got drawn into the MK universe, the more I knew it was a scam. When I actually went to one of their conferences with my friend, I woke up. It just didn’t add up. All these women, including me, were being sold a pipe dream.
And I was letting it happen again with the internet marketing crowd.
Before I came across these posts, I was already seeing the truth. I repeatedly reminded myself: My business is not internet marketing. Their strategies are not my strategies. That is my competitive advantage — I have a hard-earned skill. I have legit experience in my field. I have a unique model. Whether clients prefer my model to the traditional approach is what will determine the success or failure of my business, not how many backs I scratch.
My friend, who still sells MK for a living is not a bad person. But I do believe her recruiting tactics are unethical. She is so “in the fog” as they call it.
And I see how many of my blogger friends are in the fog of internet marketing.
WINNER!! ::
+20
[Reply]
Barbara Reply:
September 6th, 2011 at 8:22 pm
@Been there before,
Yep, MK is a scam, as is MonaVie and Kangen water systems. MonaVie is based in Salt Lake City, Utah, the scam center of the universe. I’m sure your friend isn’t a bad person but I’m also sure she isn’t making a huge income selling crap skincare and drugstore cheapie makeup at inflated prices. But, actually that’s a good thing…less people scammed.
[Reply]
Been there before Reply:
September 6th, 2011 at 10:31 pm
@Barbara,
Unfortunately, the way they “make their money” is through recruiting. They payouts for bringing in newbies with little idea of how the structure works is much greater than any profit made off physical products. Most of which are bought by the “consultants” on credit, only to sit in their basements until they get tossed.
Oh, wait…I think that could be similar to some other scams we’re talking about…
[Reply]
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LOSER!! ::
-9
[Reply]
Slowly Waking Reply:
September 6th, 2011 at 2:35 pm
@ringo estrela, a bunch of stuff in sanskrit.
[Reply]
Aristoletes Italia Reply:
September 8th, 2011 at 4:14 pm
@ringo estrela, True Believer by Eric Hoffer comes to mind.
And also Bob Cialdini’s Influence, Joost Merloo – The Rape of Mind and maybe Blair Warren’s The Forbidden Keys to Persuasion
[Reply]
This is off topic, but I have to leave for a while. Mandatory evacuation due to wildfires. See you soon.
[Reply]
Slowly Waking Reply:
September 6th, 2011 at 2:12 pm
@Cosmic Connie, horrible! Be safe!!!
[Reply]
Bonnie Reply:
September 6th, 2011 at 2:16 pm
@Cosmic Connie,
You and yours are in my thoughts and prayers, Connie, and all others in that sad situation. Bless you.
[Reply]
Martypants Reply:
September 6th, 2011 at 3:44 pm
@Cosmic Connie, Hey CC – hope you guys and all critters are safe – will be thinking of you. Got an extra room, and lots of yard space here if you need it.
[Reply]
SD Reply:
September 7th, 2011 at 2:19 am
@Cosmic Connie ::
Maybe you should just keep driving … as far from Rick Parry as possible. Go west young man :: Texas is for bastards.
[Reply]
Cosmic Connie Reply:
September 7th, 2011 at 10:24 am
Thanks to everyone for your good wishes. We’re back for now… looks like the fires are contained as of now (that’s what they’re telling us, anyway), but I am not ready to unpack the bug-out bags quite yet. There is still a lot of smoke around here! One moment it’s clear-ish, the next moment very, very smoky. And scary. They’ve evacuated the horses from the property around us, so that does not bode well.
And oh, @SD, I would love to get far, far away from Rick Perry, and if by some gawd-awful turn of fate he becomes president, Ron and I are seriously thinking of moving to Canada or even further away. Perry notwithstanding, going west sounds like a good idea in general. I’ve been having these dreams for the past ten years or so that we were moving to Utah. But that does NOT seem like such a good idea, all things considered.
I need to go catch up on some sleep now, but before I do I have to go read the latest spidey post. Laters!
[Reply]
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LOSER!! ::
-6
[Reply]
BULLSHIT Reply:
September 7th, 2011 at 4:29 pm
@jingxiamnh,
If you just discovered this blog through “Google,” why are you promoting China’s state-controlled, censored search engine “Baidu” in your link, you dim-witted fuckwad?
Fuck the government of China!
[Reply]
700!
It’s just like the movie 300 … plus 400.
[Reply]
Megan Elizabeth Morris
Ideaschema (IdeaSCAMa more aptly put)
[Reply]
Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see.
LOSER!! ::
-15
[Reply]
Bullshit Detector Reply:
September 9th, 2011 at 1:46 am
@Mel,
SD has something of an established reputation for providing solid evidence of misdeeds, including legal documents, recordings, videos, etc.
Most unbiased, logical people would look at the significant timespan of his work, its breadth, the totality of that work, his consistency, and the complete absence of any prior proof that he has ever had previous evidence proven false. They would also note that the U.S. government has sought his testimony as a result of his research supporting this blog.
He also has a law degree and the capabilities that go with it, served our country in the armed forces, and receives no income whatsoever for what is obviously a sincere mission to help people. The proof is in the action, and it’s all out in the open.
From all this, it is easily deduced that SD has an extremely high level of credibility.
On the other hand, he is being questioned by someone (you) who operates a for-profit web site called “twohourbusinessplan.com” which would lead people to think they could have a viable business plan in two hours, but then you say this, buried in the text:
“Can I really make a business plan in just two hours? Yes and no. The audio’s are around 45 minutes each. The workbook will take as long as it takes. You certainly can do it in two hours, but I’d suggest spending a bit more time to review it and make sure it’s what you really want.”
That doesn’t really sound like a two hour business plan, even though the site is called “Two Hour Business Plan.”
I won’t even get into the “bonuses” which you have attached astronomical “values” to, seemingly grasped out of thin air.
You really have no business questioning SD as much as you need to be questioning yourself. That goes for a lot of people who’ve been throwing mud around here lately.
WINNER!! ::
+7
[Reply]
As a side note – for the incessant trolly-birdz chirping “Where’s the source” …
You obviously have never heard of filing a defamation lawsuit ::
If @SD posted something here that was veritably untrue, don’t you think these frauds would be filing suit faster than you can say “call my attorney”?
[Reply]
Mel Reply:
September 8th, 2011 at 10:33 pm
Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see.
LOSER!! ::
-11
[Reply]
Doctor Mario Reply:
September 8th, 2011 at 11:52 pm
@Mel ::
I didn’t accuse you of anything. I accused an incessant group of trolly-birdz chirping something {incessantly}.
But since you are taking up their call … you may wish to ::
(a) Read the rest of the comments leading up to your own — before you self-indulgently assume you’re the first trolly-bird to chirp this.
Because actually you are the 6th :: after ::
@Wow!
@Source?
@987
@Maybe I missed it
and
@Yvette
(b) Read a few posts on this blog before talking about what @SD is “asking us to accept” …
After some time here myself, @SD hasn’t asked me to accept anything. By my read, these are just a bunch of funny blog posts by a fake robot hobbyist (followed by a ton of emotionally raw & unfiltered commentary).
He’s not writing a peer reviewed dissertation, @Mel. He’s poking fun. And treading a thin line between legal, protected speech & libelous defamation.
I never accept that @SD’s information is factual :: and neither should you or anyone :: IT IS A FUCKING SATIRE BLOG!
Do your own homework.
But I do imagine that @SD does quite a bit more fact checking than most of us … what with his legal background & obviously precarious hobby of baiting the interwebz-demons.
If he didn’t, I’m sure he wouldn’t be able to afford this incredibly amusing & justice-inflicting hobby w/o going broke over all the “defamation claims past, current or pending.”
[Reply]
SD Reply:
September 9th, 2011 at 12:28 am
@Doctor Mario ::
I wouldn’t say I’m treading a fine line with defamation actually. In fact :: I hope that I never approach that line … because it’s far below where a robot of integrity should be aiming.
If the above transcript was a total fake … I still wouldn’t be liable because I have a good faith belief that it’s not a fake. In America :: you have to know that it’s false … or should have known that it was false … depending on what you’re talking about. Just being wrong is not enough.
New York Times vs. Sullivan was one of the most important Supreme Court cases ever … IMO … http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_York_Times_Co._v._Sullivan … and people who want to be bloggers :: who are also Americans :: should read all about it and feel confident in their right to express themselves.
@Mel ::
I never talk about my sources :: because these are scary situations … an because people like Naomi Dunford and Harlan Kilstein lash out insanely. Other people give me the infos :: I handle the lash outs.
But I’m not asking you to trust me :: you can look at it yourself and make your own determination about its authenticity.
[Reply]
Doctor Mario Reply:
September 9th, 2011 at 1:03 am
@SD :: That is very illuminating stuff … excuse me for being a legal n00b there. Maybe I’m not the only one wondering — so could you perhaps indulge me/us with two quick questions on this matter?
1.) What exactly would it mean to publish something with “reckless lack of investigation”? … i.e. – a situation where you “should have known that it was fake,” in spite of your “good faith belief” that it was not.
… and …
2.) What if {hypothetically} someone somehow proved that something published was fake, and asked you to publish an “equally conspicuous” retraction — what would happen then? Would you be legally compelled to do the retraction? Would the retraction protect you from legal action?
Clearly … blog comments = appropriate venue for legal advice … but as you point out, this is definitely relevant to the many {opinionated} bloggers reading.
[Reply]
Coolio Reply:
September 9th, 2011 at 1:09 am
@Doctor Mario, Always remember: The Truth Has Got Your Back (T.T.H.G.Y.B.). ™
SD Reply:
September 9th, 2011 at 1:46 am
@Doctor Mario ::
1) It’s like intentional ignorance … you’re not investigating because you know the truth won’t suit you.
2) A retraction can help limit your damages even if you’re found to have been defamatory. Plus :: if you find out your wrong a retraction is just the right thing to do … especially for a blogger. Admitting you made and honest mistake will build credibility :: hiding an honest mistake could totally ruin your credibility.
Researchatron 5100 Reply:
September 9th, 2011 at 1:05 am
Sigh.
http://www.copyblogger.com/business-mistakes/
Some familiar names:
http://twitter.com/#!/superwahm1
Two hour business plan (you canz do it!):
http://www.twohourbusinessplan.com
Can I really make a business plan in just two hours? Yes and no. The audio’s are around 45 minutes each. The workbook will take as long as it takes. You certainly can do it in two hours, but I’d suggest spending a bit more time to review it and make sure it’s what you really want.
Maybe she should change that web site’s name to this:
twohourbusinessplanyesandno.com
Superwahm:
http://www.superwahm.com
Bring your own kool-aid!
[Reply]
SD Reply:
September 9th, 2011 at 1:32 am
@Researchatron 5100 ::
Funny cause I was just looking at this page …
http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?client=safari&rls=en&oe=UTF-8&hl=en&q=cache:Jj8dlgsSCLcJ:http://ittybiz.com/guinea-pigs-and-gurus/
… and she’s there too … along with @Tim Brownson.
I guess @Mel picks strange times to be skeptical :: but would mostly rather be a sheeps.
[Reply]
Melinda Reply:
September 9th, 2011 at 2:44 am
Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see.
LOSER!! ::
-7
Melinda Reply:
September 9th, 2011 at 2:35 am
Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see.
LOSER!! ::
-11
[Reply]
Barbara Reply:
September 9th, 2011 at 7:15 pm
@Melinda,
I saw your comments on IttyBiz that you said you received hate mail because of, on the ItyyBiz blog with this clever writing by guestblogger Johnny Truant:
“So I says to Naomi, I says, “Why don’t I use your stuff and your advice to make money online….And you can coach me through it. Turn me into a millionaire.”
“And she says to me she says, “Shit cocksucker motherfucker doubleshit.”
“And if you want, you can and should follow along. I think Naomi is going to leave comments on for at least selected posts, and I asked her if she’d leave comments on for my posts, and she said, “Fuckstick asswipe doucherocket!”
I truly do not understand how you, or anybody, could have continued taking these people seriously as a source of business advice. That had to be one of the most childishly stupid pieces of writing I’ve ever read online.
WINNER!! ::
+7
Gary Reply:
September 9th, 2011 at 9:32 pm
@Barbara, Your comment says it all!
Something To Think About Reply:
September 9th, 2011 at 9:50 pm
@Melinda,
John Wayne Gacy (the mass murderer who went around dressed as a clown and killed dozens of young boys) created and sold paintings of clowns from his prison cell.
You could apply your same argument by saying, “I don’t agree with what he’s done, but that doesn’t negate the fact that I’ve enjoyed his clown paintings.”
You might also argue that the hand that received your payment for one of his clown paintings was not the SAME hand that he used to murder all those boys.
Unfortunately, you can’t support one hand without also helping the other.
Think about that.
Melinda Reply:
September 9th, 2011 at 2:39 am
Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see.
LOSER!! ::
-9
[Reply]
Slowly Waking Reply:
September 9th, 2011 at 2:45 am
@Melinda, in this case the decision to “publicise personal discussions” is better termed “whistleblowing.”
WINNER!! ::
+9
[Reply]
Melinda Reply:
September 9th, 2011 at 4:42 am
Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see.
LOSER!! ::
-11
Anonymous Reply:
September 9th, 2011 at 10:41 am
@Melinda,
Putting it here is using the exact same tactics of publicity that Shittybiz relies on to promote its scam.
Using the emotionally loaded term ‘vengence’ for an acceptable expose of some very murky and ethically questionable business practices betrays your own complicity in those same murky tactics.
If you could avoid being so driven by Naomi’s ramping up of the emotional drama, you might see that for yourself.
stoic Reply:
September 9th, 2011 at 10:45 am
Caught by the wobbly form. This @Anonymous above is me, the anonymous stoic.
Slowly Waking Reply:
September 9th, 2011 at 2:51 pm
@Melinda, one problem in the IM space is that telling the authorities doesn’t result in jail time for the criminals.
If you look at past FTC actions (one of which nabbed Frank Kern, a hero to Dunford and many others), they often rely on broad-ranging sweeps to nail whole categories of scammers. I think “Operation Empty Promises” is the most recent. But those sweeps happen because they just don’t have the resources to nab smaller operators one by one, especially when vast swathes of elected officials openly state the only purpose of government programs is to be cut.
I hope everyone who has been scammed will report their experiences, with supporting documents, to the FTC, state attorneys general, and the local and national media. I did. However, until those people begin to match the speed and flexibility of the scammers, SD provides a much-needed corrective. And a much-needed bit of relief for victims like me.
WINNER!! ::
+7
Dale Reply:
September 9th, 2011 at 9:39 pm
@Stoic said:
“Using the emotionally loaded term ‘vengence’ for an acceptable expose of some very murky and ethically questionable business practices betrays your own complicity in those same murky tactics.”
Well said, Stoic. That reveals Melinda to be another grandstander and enabler, and not someone interested in the truth.
Jaime Reply:
September 9th, 2011 at 6:29 am
@Melinda Brennan,
From your about page …
“My Qualifications
I hold accredited coaching qualifications from New Insights Coaching as well as Professional Certified Coach credentials from the International Coach Academy. I am also qualified to use Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) and Time Line Therapy (TLT), both very useful therapeutic tools for helping you figure out what you want from your WAHM business venture.
I’m President and Area Leader for the Canberra Chapter of the International Coach Federation and a member of the Christian Coaches Network.”
… so, basically, you no qualifications whatsoever.
Why aren’t you coaches embarrassed by how little you accomplished yet feel the need to tell others how to do? It’s a impossible to comprehend.
What’s the internal dialog that started the train wreck you call a career?
Does it go back to the standard “those who can’t do, teach”?
[Reply]
Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see.
LOSER!! ::
-11
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stoic Reply:
September 9th, 2011 at 4:23 am
@for suck’s fake,
How strange that not one of the big dogs of IM–who have been thoroughly and hilariously eviscerated here in the past—have thought it wise to set up a piss-poor imitation of a dedicated page in opposition to the Droid’s entertaining blog.
It takes a Third Triber?(whatever that is)to make such an elementary mistake.
Doesn’t say much about the quality of teaching/mentoring you have bought into.
WINNER!! ::
+9
[Reply]
curious Reply:
September 9th, 2011 at 7:02 am
Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see.
LOSER!! ::
-13
[Reply]
Anon Reply:
September 9th, 2011 at 7:29 am
@curious,
Oh dear. Not another “death threat”.
[Reply]
Anon Reply:
September 9th, 2011 at 11:34 am
@Anon,
That was intended to be sarcastic.
[Reply]
stoic Reply:
September 9th, 2011 at 11:16 am
@curious,
Not to curtail your wondering but it might help some if you engage the brain.
My comment used the past tense ‘who have been ….eviscerated here in the past’, and yet none of them is currently either without their bowels or definitely dead.
How can that be?
I hope that this clears up your wondering about veiled threats and the even more dubious ‘death threats’.
BTW, I am not in the habit making threats, veiled or otherwise–if I want to attack you I will do it openly so that you are in no doubt that you are being attacked. Its that old army training, kicking in.
The trouble with buying into the instant success fantasy peddled by Shittybiz and its ilk is the ensuing inability to distinguish between reality and the fevered fantasies dreamed up in one’s own head.
WINNER!! ::
+8
[Reply]
Doctor Mario Reply:
September 9th, 2011 at 2:12 pm
@for suck’s fake ::
I don’t know who you are … but you are definitely one of the most interesting & highly committed shills trolling here in a long while.
Most people, when creating a spinoff blog site to contrast the Salty Droid, put in much less effort than you have. It is clear, you are really invested in your argument & weblog battle against this site.
That is why I submitted a very elaborate & thoughtful comment there – that may be moderated away – so I will post it here :: in this web-zone of actually-free-speech.
“Dear Sad Salty Droid Commenters ::
I think [@for suck's fake's] site … while exemplifying the hurt feelings of its author(s) … is actually a worthy read for anyone thinking of going to an inflammatory interwebz site & making successful comments {before supplies run out!}
The thing is :: it’s pretty obvious from everyone’s tone [there] :: i.e. – “I had to look up troll” :: that you are a bunch of interwebz n00bs!
@SD is obviously not … nor are those at the top of the scam-pyramids he targets … hence his hilarious interwebz savvy writing style. It’s what the kids r n2 these days & stuffz.
It’s not like you are commenting on a supposed “neutral” major media outlet. saltydroid.info is a mega-biased, “offensive,” shit storm stirring web-phenomenon. One must keep this in mind when commenting. Obvious-101 duh-fest x1000.
Even the site’s author takes on an assumed character role – of a vulgar fake robot! funny! – to post the blog entries. This should give you a major clue as to what type of social environment you may be dipping into.
However … to talk of the “irony” that the “[Salty Droid] site is groupthink at its worst” … is a bit of a giant-fucking-overstatement.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Lest those with hurt feelings [go to your little site] – grouchy – and miss the whole point of the Salty Droid:
Here’s some differences between @SD :: vs :: @Scammers that appear in his {targeting} section.
#1.) @SD is a satire comedy site :: @Scammers are “businesses” taking people’s savings.
#2.) @SD openly admits his bias :: @Scammers play anonymous “defend the monkey” — while simultaneously attempting to conceal their {financial} ties to those profiled.
#3.) @SD encourages dissenters to be ridiculed & mocked :: @Scammers silence dissent entirely by disabling comments & banning people from their chats.
#4.) @SD has an established reputation for providing solid evidence for his claims :: @Scammers rely on unverifiable claims & ILLEGAL testimonials to sell frauducts
#5.) @SD is huhlarious! :: @Scammers … are not.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
I’d like to say I’m sorry that so many people [come here] and get all butt-hurt about being anonymously flamed in the comment section … but I’m not.
Because honestly – if you didn’t expect that to happen – well …
Ultimately, I actually agree with what [the silly saltydroidhelp.wordpress] site is doing. Interwebz battles can be dangerous psychological territory for online n00bs & the obsessive or unstable.
Here’s my add-on advice to add to [that other] site:
… If you have to look up “trolling”
… and you are offended by a weblog filled with swearing & cursing
… and you disagree with what you’re reading on that site
… and you’re mad enough that you feel a need to say something about it
… you better be DAMN sure you’re prepared to step into the arena with that bullseye on your forehead.
Take a breath – and think – “What good could come of this? … What bad?”
If I was you, after weighing my options, I’d probably just stay quiet. Or go find a site with a contrasting view point that matches your own – and join in the discussion there.
This applies to all inflammatory websites. Not just the Salty Droid.
At least it is a good opportunity for you n00bs to learn about the working of the complicated tubes that power the interwebz-universe.”
I hope you post my comment on your own site too @for suck’s fake … or find yourself falling prey to that “groupthink at its worst” which you are so fast to condemn.
WINNER!! ::
+11
[Reply]
987 Reply:
September 9th, 2011 at 2:44 pm
@Doctor Mario, The salty droid is an overall good site to have; even a must.
But I am afraid that this site slowly gets out of hand.
I am not talking about the posts, but the comments; there’s a herd here – And it’s blind.
I agree with most posts and think that those who were marked as scammers are indeed scammers.
But comments like “You will never make money online” (Which was written by TheSaltyDroid) is idiotic, not accurate, too personal and can never be measured.
There are people behind those comments, I think everyone here should think a second before they submit comments like that.
[Reply]
SD Reply:
September 10th, 2011 at 12:52 am
@987 ::
I’m actually thinking about changing my tagline to that :: in fact :: fuck it :: I just did.
You can’t hunt unicorns without killing unicorns {not a death threat}. Know what I mean??
“bleep bloop” wasn’t a very SEO friendly tagline anywayz … so I’m sure this will make AWOL very impressed.
[Reply]
Doctor Mario Reply:
September 10th, 2011 at 1:24 am
@SD :: NOOOOO!!! My unicooorrrrnnnn!!!!!
I can’t make money online??? In tagline … must be true … too personal … feelingz … hurting … raaaaargh
Now you’re going to make me quit my blog spamming & life+business coaching career {/in a huff} … and go back to my day job at Best Buy … thanks for nothing, robot :-/
[Reply]
208-577-6210 Reply:
September 10th, 2011 at 8:12 am
@987,
I don’t think Salty is inferring that it is utterly impossible to start an online business. Obviously, if you have the brains, talent, dedication, and a great idea, and you start a company like Amazon, Facebook, etc, then you will make money online. The tagline isn’t meant to persuade Zuckerberg that he’s in the wrong business.
The point is that *almost nobody has that combination!* Read that last sentence a few times. You could walk up to almost every human being and say “You will never make money online” and you will almost always be right. You could also say “You will never be President”, or “You will never become an overnight millionaire on the lottery”. Obviously a few individuals have, but almost everyone else just clings to it as a vague hope that they secretly know will never be fulfilled. There’s nothing wrong this this, per se.
There IS something wrong though, with ruining what is real for the sake of an illusion. Draining your life savings, maxing out your credit cards, quitting your job – these measures are often painted by scammers as signs of an entrepreneurial spirit. What they omit to say is that entrepreneurs only behave this way when they know they have an edge. If you have an amazing idea for an online business, I could understand your taking these risks. But buyers of info products DO NOT have an edge. Becoming an Amazon affiliate does not give you an edge; selling get-rich-quick info does not give you an edge.
Since I mentioned the lottery, try to think of online success as a casino game. The house (Google, Netflix, Amazon, eBay, any established company in your field) has an edge. Players come to the table clutching a copy of Frank Kern’s Mass Control. They slowly lose everything, because the game is stacked against them; they have no way to erode the house’s edge. SEO will always be an uphill battle. PPC costs will endlessly gravitate upwards. True viral popularity will never come. These people, it is safe to say, “will never make money online”. Very, very occasionally, a new player with a well-executed and brilliant idea will come along and upset the order of things. But those people don’t need to read this blog, because they’ve never bought Mass Control. They know that you must bring something unique and original to the table.
To anyone reading this: You will never make money online. You will never be President of the United States. You will never become an overnight millionaire on the lottery.
WINNER!! ::
+22
[Reply]
Barry Reply:
September 10th, 2011 at 2:42 pm
@208-577-6210, Bingo. Salty is NOT saying an absolute “Nobody can possibly ever make a living via the internet.”
However, statistically speaking, ALMOST nobody will. In fact, even those who by all accounts have some advantages (brains, money, connections) are still likely to fail.
When you are trying to help those “almost nobodies” (which are the majority), you don’t water down a nearly universal truth with a bunch of qualifiers and “buts” that the scammers will only exploit to justify their own sleazy existence.
WINNER!! ::
+8
[Reply]
Grover Lembeck Reply:
September 10th, 2011 at 4:17 pm
@208-577-6210,
You are being unfair to casinos- they post the odds, and the odds of beating the house are far, far better than the odds of making money as an “internet marketer”.
Of course, the “internet marketers” are failures no matter how much money they make online. Much thanks to the Droid for publicizing their efforts to make THAT crystal clear.
WINNER!! ::
+8
[Reply]
208-577-6210 Reply:
September 13th, 2011 at 6:27 am
@Grover Lembeck,
That made me laugh, because you’re quite right. I apologise unreservedly to casinos everywhere.
An American roulette wheel has a house edge of 5.26%, so you lose only:
$5.10 for every $97 staked..
$26.14 for every $497 staked..
$105.04 for every $1997 staked..
and for the price of Mass Control, you could have a nice long game of roulette, losing just $157.64 from your $2997 stake.
I think if there’s one lesson we can take away from this, it’s that playing roulette is the key to overnight riches and we should all do it as much as possible.
Slowly Waking Reply:
September 10th, 2011 at 6:42 pm
@208-577-6210, BRAVO!
Besides, “I’d rather be working for a paycheck/than waiting to win the lottery”
WINNER!! ::
+8
[Reply]
Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see.
LOSER!! ::
-15
[Reply]
Barbara Reply:
September 9th, 2011 at 8:05 pm
@for suck’s fake,
I read what you had to say and I could not disagree more. First of all, I’m relatively new here myself. I came here following the James Ray story. I was gratified to find a community of like-minded individuals who felt, as I did, that Ray murdered four people.
But unlike the majority of people who have recently rushed here after Naomi’s bogus “death threats” post I did my homework before I ever once commented. I read many, many back blog posts by Salty Droid. I did my own indepenent searches on individuals named that I didn’t recognize. I read all the comments and soon could recognize the more valuable commenters at the site. I took the time to learn the culture, to see what type of language was acceptable, to try and understand the shared jokes and assumptions, etc.
I didn’t rush in shouldering experts aside, claiming to know more about topics others here were far more knowledgable on than I was, correcting people right and left, contradicting others. But that’s what I’ve seen happening lately.
People who begin by saying ” I’ve only read a couple of comments here BUT…” and who then tear the site apart based on their admitted very limited grasp of the issues.
Or, “I don’t have time to read through all of this BUT..”
I have an idea. If you cannot be bothered to even READ THE FUCKING SITE then how about you shut the fuck up? And quoting Yvette was priceless. Seriously…Yvette?!
“They call me Troll;
Gnawer of the Moon,
Giant of the Gale-blasts,
Curse of the rain-hall,
Companion of the Sibyl,
Nightroaming hag,
Swallower of the loaf of heaven.
What is a Troll but that?”
from Skáldskaparmál by Bragi Boddason
WINNER!! ::
+12
[Reply]
Yvette Scott Reply:
September 9th, 2011 at 8:47 pm
Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see.
LOSER!! ::
-7
[Reply]
Carol Reply:
September 9th, 2011 at 9:29 pm
@for suck’s fake, “It’s too long to put here.” Lame, obvious, manipulative. You are without question truly psychotic.
[Reply]
Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see.
LOSER!! ::
-11
[Reply]
You know what’s funny?
The spider’s fast shrinking fan base has probably commented more on this post than any post ever on the spider’s own ickybiz blog. Granted, it’s probably only 2 people with 46 split personalities between them, but still.
And amazingly, that’s even with what may be disappointingly less cursing here, and without posts about urinating under the kitchen table, getting your child high, lying tips, or sophisticated techniques like using the word “thong” to get visitors to your business blog.
WINNER!! ::
+7
[Reply]
Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see.
LOSER!! ::
-9
[Reply]
Carol Reply:
September 11th, 2011 at 7:42 pm
@for suck’s fake, Lame, obvious, manipulative, repeated. Now, add OCD to your psychosis.
[Reply]
SD Reply:
September 12th, 2011 at 2:15 pm
@for suck’s fake ::
Yep :: well if I’m winning … you can’t be winning … it’s kinda what winning means. And I’m pretty sure that’s the point :: isn’t it?
[Reply]
for suck's fake Reply:
September 12th, 2011 at 5:04 pm
Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see.
LOSER!! ::
-5
[Reply]
Spider Turd Tribe Reply:
September 12th, 2011 at 6:16 pm
@for suck’s fake, I don’t think we’ve met before, and from what I’ve noticed, I’d say you are 100% psycho. Toodles.
[Reply]
so Dave’s stuff has appeared in one of the larger online business torrent sites. someone linked here. then this comment:
“Turns out dave doesn’t do many of the things he claimed and is actually a broke Guru who is faking it till he makes it
what a surprise
This is the reason nobody here wants to pay for any of this stuff”
yep
WINNER!! ::
+11
[Reply]
[...] knows. So Tim shouldn’t have been surprised to read this very personal comment left by @FormerFriend in defense of the Navarros that Dave left behind [...]
[...] Shit Storms happen! [...]
Wow. This post really hit a home run! Spot on, and nearly 800 comments, too.
Made a LOT of people completely rethink who they listen to and associate with.
What an eye opener!
[Reply]
[...] because it’s too late :: it happened back in 2009 … just a few months after the Spider Shit Storm [...]
[...] an hour-long consult with the IttyBiz spider :: Linda finally settled on the basis for her Internet freedom business. I hope she won’t [...]
[...] The big blog post that exposes everything, Sep. 1: Spider Sh*t Storm [...]
[...] webs. Jacob had his one and only 16th birthday … not so much as a text message. After the Spider Shitstorm Dave’s lawyer contacted Alison’s lawyer [...]
[...] commissions until you don’t want anymore monies and you just want to give back by moving to Cambodia and making sure all the little girls have a copy of People magazine … or [...]
[...] Dave and Naomi == failproof. [...]
When is NOW the time to embrace fake robotics?
[Reply]
Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see.
LOSER!! ::
-4
[Reply]
Lanna Reply:
February 10th, 2012 at 1:58 am
@anon,
Salty doesn’t kiss and tell, but you can read all our speculation in these comment threads:
http://saltydroid.info/spider-shit-storm/#comment-65752
http://saltydroid.info/spider-shit-storm/#comment-65766
http://saltydroid.info/spider-shit-storm/#comment-65822
http://saltydroid.info/spider-shit-storm/#comment-65858
http://saltydroid.info/spider-shit-storm/#comment-65901
http://saltydroid.info/spider-shit-storm/#comment-66385
[Reply]
SD Reply:
February 10th, 2012 at 3:41 pm
@anon ::
How did you get hold of such an orignal question? Was it in a book or something?
Seriously :: I’m interested. Contact my secretary Debbie with your answers … she can be reached inside the depths of your mind.
I hope this helped.
[Reply]
anon Reply:
February 10th, 2012 at 8:31 pm
Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see.
LOSER!! ::
-4
[Reply]
Doctor Mario Reply:
February 10th, 2012 at 10:03 pm
@anon ::
Can you please go trolling on the newer Spider Shit Storm Redux?
We already covered your whole current line of thinking with several other trolls on this post … way back in Sep 2011!
But I am sure the SD readers could use you & your trolly troll friends on that newer post here.
[Reply]
Doctor Mario Reply:
February 10th, 2012 at 10:06 pm
@Doctor Mario :: I meant Spider Shit Storm Redux here.
[Reply]
SD Reply:
February 10th, 2012 at 10:19 pm
@Doctor Mario ::
Seriously. It’s just not polite. If we don’t have polite … then what do we have?
[Reply]
Zapruder Reply:
February 11th, 2012 at 4:34 am
@SD, So very true. In a civilized society, decorum dictates that we hold ourselves to a higher standard than the fucking asshole trolls. That’s why I would never tell that troll to eat shit and die, but rather, to consume guano and expire.
Dr. Venkman Reply:
February 10th, 2012 at 10:10 pm
@anon, You sound more than a little obsessed, and more than a little bit of a douchebag. The stink of your slimy agenda can be smelled even over the internet.
The jury of public opinion issued its collective verdict on this rotten egg months ago. Maybe you need to have your head examined, or better yet, just get a new one, because the one you have now is a lemon.
[Reply]
Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see.
LOSER!! ::
-4
[Reply]
zipnar Reply:
February 10th, 2012 at 5:11 pm
@anon,
I’m just curious.
How did you manage to submit the same inane question twice?
Coz that is rather odd.
[Reply]
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