RE: Anyone ever heard of this book or program

["Wade Courtney" <WCourtney -at- Elance -dot- com>]

Andrew,

Yea that's kind of the way I felt when I started reading the site. I thought it kind of had an Amway tone to it.

I would be interested in any help I can get about going independent.  I've read the stuff on techwr-l but I want to hear more about getting started and the least painful way to do it.

Thanks for the reply.

Wade

-----Original Message-----
From: Andrew Plato [mailto:gilliankitty -at- yahoo -dot- com]
Sent: Tuesday, November 12, 2002 4:33 PM
To: techwr-l -at- lists -dot- raycomm -dot- com
Cc: Wade Courtney
Subject: Re: Anyone ever heard of this book or program


"Wade Courtney" <> wrote ...

> It was recommended to me because I'm thinking if going indie. 

> "The Well-Fed Writer" by Peter Bowerman

Ugh. I find the tone of that guy's site very displeasing. Given the
high-pressure, spam-mail sounding tone of his site, I'd stay away from it. Get a
REAL business book like: Starting & Running a Business in <your state here>. 

I mean read this page: http://www.wellfedwriter.com/WellFedWriterChapter.htm

Yuck. I know guys at the local Kia dealership who are less pushy. 

This is my favorite paragraph:

> Picture this: On a Friday morning client phone call, you pick up a 
> job writing a video script. Several hours later, a couriered package of 
> background material shows up at your door. In a follow-up call, you get some
> questions answered by the client, and spend a few hours on Sunday night 
> reviewing the material. Monday morning, you meet them at their offices 10
> minutes away. You work on the project at home, on your deck, under that 
> great shady tree, phone by your side, tall glass of lemonade nearby. By
> Wednesday morning, between the client call, background reading, the Monday 
> meeting, and crafting a first draft, you have 16 hours into the project 
> (16 x $75 = $1200). You fax them your draft Wednesday morning, which 
> you won't get back till Friday.

Riiiiiiiiiiiight. That kind of cheap salesmanship makes my skin crawl. 

Anybody who tells you that running your own business gives you money and freedom
is LYING to you. Running a business (even a small, home business) is hard, hard,
hard work that is mostly a factor of personality, knowledge, networking, and
resources. 
formula no "forumla" from a self-professed business guru will help you run your
business. I find it revolting how some people prey upon others with "you can do
it just follow my quick get rich scheme." 

Furthermore, you have to wonder: if somebody has a "sure fire way of making money
with virtually no skills whatsoever" why on earth would they share it with you? 
If I figured out a way to make easy money, do you honestly think I would run out
and share that with everybody? Hell no! I'd sit back and rake in the dough. This
is why all those "get rich quick" schemes are such nonsense. A REAL get rich
quick scheme would be the most treasured secret in the world. 

I'd look elsewhere for business books. Heck, Bruce and I and some of the folks
right here could give you better (real) pointers than that book. 

Andrew Plato 





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