I'm a product junkie. I don't know what it is: hair products, skin products, makeup, books, ebooks, ecourses, teleseminars, reports -- I just can't get enough. Last week I got burned.
I paid for the webinar to learn something new
I paid to attend a webinar by someone I "know" on Twitter two weeks ago. It was not very expensive, and was supposed to help actually help me learn a skill that I really need right now. I found some online tutorials I was attempting to learn from, but I was completely hopeless. This webinar came into my life at the right time. It was fate; or so I thought.
The day of the webinar arrived and I was excited beyond words (yes, I am a geek). When I dialed in, no webinar. I received an email stating that the instructor was having serious Internet issues so the webinar was being rescheduled; same time the following week.
More problems
Next week came. Once again I excitedly dial in – about 10 minutes late, but still enough time to get the info I need. This time there was a confused fellow with a British accent also on the line attempting to communicate with the instructor, who obviously wasn't there. He became exasperated and announced that if she could hear him on the line he was hanging up to email her to find out what was going on. When I checked my email this time there was no message. I go to Twitter (she'd been Tweeting about the seminar for days to get more participation) I see nothing except a couple of Tweets indicating an impromptu trip to the beach three hours earlier.
I'm more disappointed than anything (which means I've matured a lot because back in the day I'd be hopping mad). I contacted her about it via email and she stated that for some reason or other she was unable to utilize the webinar system. Okay. Stuff happens sometime. She has assured me that I will receive my refund.
My revelation is not about people who fail to operate in a professional manner and do as they say. It certainly could have been, but it's not. It's about the fact that I have all of these FREE tutorials online and books available. I only need to take the time to read and learn this on my own. For FREE.
I already know that
The last ebook review I did here confirmed that I already a lot of the useful information that's out there about building a freelance writing business. Why should I bother buying another "how to" ebook," teleseminar or report? Why don't I just save my hard earned money and use the information that I already know?
The draw of most eproducts is the fact that the authors are giving you the information you want all wrapped up in a PDF so you don't have to worry your pretty little head about finding it yourself. The truth is a lot of what you want to know about freelancing and business can be found somewhere on the net; you just have to patiently search for it.
No more eproducts for me…for a while…
So from this day forth I vow not buy another information product until I start using the information that I already have in my head and on my hard drive. The only products I will purchase will be strictly for the sake of providing an honest review, and those are few and far between. Maybe I can save up enough to buy a new laptop…
3 comments:
I love your honesty. I too have dealt with the thoughts that I need to read through what I have before spending my husbands hard earned money on more.
I have a desire to write, though I didn't go to school for this. I actually went for music and psychology. But at the urging of my friends, I started a small womens ministry called "Praying Wives Club". I started it not knowing that I would fall in love with writing. Something I assure you that I feel challenged by more than anything else. The online group started with 6 ladies from my church and has grown to over 60 in just two months. Most of whom I have never met. With each devotion I write I get request for more.
I will continue to read your blog to see if writing is truly my calling.
Thank you for all of your help and time in producing your post. I have found it to be encouraging and helpful.
Thanks for your encouraging comment, Cherie. Congratulations on the success of your online ministry. I sincerely hope you'll keep writing. If you ever have any question, please feel free to shoot me an email.:)
I will Kimberly! Thank you. :o)
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