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I spent all the time I was at my computer today studying
things written by John Counsel.
John is one of the original gurus, from a time when the
word was used with respect and affection. He was the
moderator of one of the best online discussion lists,
I-Sales, and founder of the Profit Clinic.
That’s why I always listen when John shares some of his
valuable insights. Like this article… read it and
you’ll see what I mean
In many ways, John’s ideals and values resonate with my
own, and he has written an ebook that covers just about
all the issues I was going to in my next one.
can give you a copy of “What Gurus WON’T Tell You” for
just $4.95
Why should you get it?
Because inside it, John talks about just EVERY single
way you are getting scammed today by ‘guru cliches’.
If you aren’t yet at a level of achievement, success and
fulfillment in your business that you dreamed of, it could
be due to 3 things:
Doing the wrong things, for the wrong reasons
Doing the right things, for the wrong reasons
Doing the wrong things, for the right reasons
John Counsel teaches how to do the RIGHT things – for
the RIGHT reasons.
The ebook begins by shattering the myth of online marketing
success. This section is harsh – because it exposes the
truth of how ONLY 1% of all ‘would-be’ Internet marketers
actually achieve success.
Not nice to hear, right?
Well, anyone steeped in the ‘guru hype’ that does the
rounds of email marketing and forum discussions these
days will find this ‘way out there’.
But older, wiser, and unfortunately less rich veterans of
one worthless purchase after another will find it an eye-
opener like none other.
If you’ve not yet been scammed, count your blessings -
and read this report so you won’t be.
Hint: You’ll realize exactly what it means when someone
calls another ‘loser’ or ‘whiner’ (it happens often on
forums, and now you’ll know WHY!)
holding you back.
John even shares 3 case studies from his childhood – and
when you see how closely the present mirrors the past,
you’ll trust the axiom…
If We Don’t Learn From History,
We’re Condemned To REPEAT It!
Are YOU being ‘guru-ed’?
On page 24 is an amazing checklist. As you skim through it,
you’ll find a ready-made formula to decide if some ‘guru’ is
playing you like a stringed-instrument.
There are 7 classic ‘warning signs’ of manipulative selling
that John lists – and after you read about them, you’ll find
yourself looking at EVERY sales pitch in the future with
eyes open and mind primed for spotting such tactics.
Stop getting ‘guru-ed’ any longer!
And when you read about the ‘Morlocks of Marketing’ – well,
let me just say I’ll be VERY careful about buying ANYTHING
any more… and I was already conservative before I read this
report 
One of the most profound statements in the ebook was this:
“Legitimate Internet marketers still have to bear
the damage scammers inflict on their victims.”
I’m honored to be mentioned as one of the people John Counsel
considers ethical, honest and RESPONSIBLE.
You might think – from all that I’ve said – that this is a
pessimistic report. Nothing could be further from the truth.
That’s why the last section is titled:
“Why Am I So Optimistic About The Future?”
People change – for the better. Sellers become ethical,
abandon deceptive/manipulative behavior that once worked,
and turn to more mature marketing that creates win-win deals.
Consumers get more savvy – and stop falling for gimmicks.
Indeed, after reading this ebook, you’ll be surprised at how
much your own perspective on buying will change!
The point is to protect innocent people being harmed in
the process of this evolution. That’s what this ebook does.
John’s ‘Posture Policy’ is a part of the PDF guidebook
The Profit Clinic invites new affiliates to download
and follow.
On page 18 of this 20 page document, you’ll find a set
of business-defining principles listed out – and if you
read, internalize and follow them, you will not only be
successful and profitable in business… you will be
happy and fulfilled.
This document is free to all new affiliates. You can
join the program – click here
One snippet from the ‘Posture Policy’ that’s representative:
It IS the game!“
P.S. – After getting clued in on page 26, and seeing a list
of ‘emotive words’ that are designed to cheat and fool you
into buying behavior, I went to my inbox – and UNSUBSCRIBED
from 23 different mailing lists!
Why?
Because most of their email had many of these words. I hadn’t
even thought about it that way, but John Counsel’s ebook opened
my eyes to them – and I took ‘preventive action’.
This really is stuff “The Gurus WON’T Tell You”
And you can get it for $4.95 – click here
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{ 6 comments }
Dr. Mani, you’re right. This is an important paper! What really resonated with me was not the lists, nor the manipulative words — most of that I had already figured out by falling into too many of the “guru” traps. What did it was the “Morlocks of Internet Marketing.” Wow! The comparison could not have been more appropos.
What was left out? Not much, except perhaps, the time lost from reading and viewing all that “stuff.” That’s time that could have been spent in (dare I say it) Work!
Today is Father’s day 2008. I received the email and immediately paid the $4.95, downloaded, and started reading the ebook. Boy, what a read! I was TOTALLY blown away! I’ve never, ever read anything like it before!
For the past 2+ years, I have been steadilly opening my wallet and buying the next biggest ebook, system, program, or whatever in search of the magic bullet to make me not just a little money, but enough to retire on the beach in 30 days or less!
Of course they never work; all they do is make the “gurus” more money!
In this book, you’ll learn about the cycles they go through and how they always have to keep producing more material to keep up their lifestyle.
Here is a wonerful excerpt from page 25:
“Always remember….
* Emotion is never a substitute for reason.
* Opinion is never a substitute for fact.
* Rationalisation is never a substitute for objectivity
* Emotional manipulation/blackmail is never a substitute for persuasion
* Logic and cunning are never substitutes for intelligence
* Wanting something to be true will never make it the truth.”
Is this AWESOME or what?!!
Buy the book! You won’t be sorry!
Brad Pollina
http://BradPollina.com
Well, Dr. Mani,
I bought John Counsel’s ebook, & I read it.
I confess, I was fascinated from the git-go, because he presented me with an OTO page while simultaneously telling me that he doesn’t approve of them. An intriguing bit of mental misdirection:
“We don’t like One-Time Offers (OTOs) much because they typically prey on your fear of loss. It’s a form of manipulative selling that goes against the principles of Fourth Generation™ Thinking, which guides everything we do in our business. We don’t believe in ambushing our valued clients just because they’ve already made a purchase from us.
“But we’re happy to reward you if you’re decisive and know what you want, so we offer OTOs like this one with most of our Viral Explosion system products. Those rewards are usually a one-time only special price. But One-Time Offers are never the ONLY way to get your hands on that product. They’re available to you at any time — just not at that special price.”
Fear of loss, maybe?
If he meant what he said, the offer would be available AT ANY TIME as a “reward” for purchasing the first product.
Even so, he says repeatedly (for example, on pages 6 & 20): “. . . fear of loss is never the right reason for doing anything!”
I also have trouble with his cavalier use of language:
“Emotional manipulation is never a substitute for persuasion.” (p.25)
Persuasion means “communication intended to induce belief or action.” So what’s the difference?
“Logic . . . [is] never a substitute for intelligence.” (p.25)
Logic: Reasoned and reasonable judgment.
Intelligence: The ability to comprehend; to understand and profit from experience.
Sorry . . . did I miss the essential distinction there?
“troglodyte: Prehistoric, underground-dwelling cannibals who preyed on surface-dwellers.” (p. 28)
He simply made that up; the definition of troglodyte is “cave dweller.”
I have a problem with trust here. I suspect there’s much to learn, as well.
But I do agree with the essential message: think before you buy; think, think, & think. Be wary of those that target the fearful, ignorant, greedy, lazy, & stupid. (By extension, of course, don’t BE fearful, ignorant, greedy, lazy, or stupid.)
I’m trying very hard to be none of those!
Most sincerely,
~ Kat
PS: My favorite bit: “BS = Bogus Science, Beguiling Sophistry, Blarney Stoning, Blind Stupidity, Blatant Salesmanship or plain, old-fashioned Bovine Sediment. But it’s still all just B.S. once you strip away the fancy packaging and deceptive names.”
Dr. Mani,
Thank you for recommending this book to us. And yes, I agree with John that you are one of the few marketers that act in an ethical and honorable way.
As far as the information in the book, I believe John could’ve stopped when he said “Emotion is never a substitute for Reason” and Opinion is never a substitute for Fact.”
Those two items are probably the most important part of Johns message. Most people these days (at least in the U.S.) confuse their emotions for good, sound, logical reasoning.
A quick read of almost any newspaper, along with a little investigation, will show that there is a tremendous amount of Opinion that is being passed, and accepted as Fact…just because enough loud voices say it is. One can see this happening all day long in the Marketing arena (and politics)…internet or otherwise.
A couple of years ago I had begun weeding out several “marketing newsletters” from my inbox, but after reading “What the Gurus Won’t Tell You” I immediately went to my inbox and unsubscribed from several others.
Thank you again for your honesty and high integrity in your marketing and in your business Dr. Mani.
Rog
Dr Mani,
After receiving your email recommending this ebook, I purchased right away. I didn’t have to think it over because I know you have high integrity and I can trust you. So, thanks as it was very enlightening.
“What the Gurus won’t tell you” was very different and eye opening compared to most ebooks I’ve read. My biggest take away is that I realize I tend to have a consumer mind-set and have been easy prey to many Gurus in the past. I’m trying to improve upon this by not getting sucked into the sales tactics they use.
I realize that I don’t need to be like them in order to succeed. I will be giving this ebook an other read in a couple of days to reinforce John’s insights.
Thank you Dr Mani for helping me succeed.
Jill
Kat Milner:
Thanks for your comments. Let me just clarify a few things, if I may, so we better understand each other.
Re: One-Time Offers
The key qualifier here is my comment: “But we’re happy to reward you if you’re decisive and know what you want.” If we simply offered the incentive as a reward for buying the initial ebook offered, available at any time, it wouldn’t be a reward for those who ARE decisive. Fear of loss? I don’t believe so, given the emphasis on NOT doing anything for that “reason”.
“Emotional manipulation is never a substitute for persuasion.”
Persuasion means “communication intended to induce belief or action.” So what’s the difference?
The difference is in the motives and methods employed. Like most things in life, it’s not WHAT we do that makes it legal or illegal, ethical or unethical, desirable or undesirable. It’s WHY and HOW we do it that makes all the difference.
“Logic . . . [is] never a substitute for intelligence.” (p.25)
Logic: Reasoned and reasonable judgment.
Intelligence: The ability to comprehend; to understand and profit from experience.
Sorry . . . did I miss the essential distinction there?
I think you did. Logic is a process of deduction: if (this), then (that). But logic can be applied to a false premise to draw an entirely logical, but wildly false, conclusion. Note, too, that I used the combination of “logic AND CUNNING”. You left out the word “cunning”. That’s an essential distinction that goes to motive.
“troglodyte: Prehistoric, underground-dwelling cannibals who preyed on surface-dwellers.” (p. 28)
He simply made that up; the definition of troglodyte is “cave dweller.”
You’re quite correct. The original manuscript didn’t include a definition of the word “troglodyte”. It was suggested by a proof reader, along with that “definition”. In the context, it made sense, because it merely clarified my intention. The pressure of a looming deadline overrode a more considered choice, but I doubt that many readers would have been misled by it.
So, while I didn’t “simply make that up” (it was offered by the proof reader), I accept responsibility for the decision.
I hope these comments help to allay any concerns you may have about my intentions.
Sincerely,
John Counsel
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