One bad think about this section

[AfteraDream]

A lot of people here who want to start a business, esp. int the internet, just want to be the next Steve Pavlina. All want to create a blog about personal development and make money off of it...Come on people, be more creative stop copying. I'm not saying you wont succeed but just ask yourself if this is really what you want..

[Ralph]

Yeah, well, I think I've just copied Steve big-time. Not ashamed though, I feel totally on the right path, as if that's what I've been born for.

It's not like everybody copies Steve as I do. They write about what they're passionate about, the topics vary. Writing in the internet is a very popular and very effective medium so it's just natural. And it's natural that people that made similar choice gather around here, especially those that were nudged by Steve's blog to follow through with their desires

[RT Wolf]

Fair point. At least one member I can remember wrote a blog and eventually realized it wasn't really "himself" and shut it down.

My addedendum? Do follow your own path, even if it's the same as Steve's. Don't worry about copying others or not copying either, just do your own thing, whether others do it or have already done it or not.

[AfteraDream]

Going online is good, nothing wrong with that. Just everybody can't be interested in personal growth...

[RT Wolf]

You mean everyone can't write about it? Or actually can't have a society of growth-oriented individuals? Why's that, in either case?

[maximumlight]

Originally Posted by AfteraDream

A lot of people here who want to start a business, esp. int the internet, just want to be the next Steve Pavlina. All want to create a blog about personal development and make money off of it...Come on people, be more creative stop copying. I'm not saying you wont succeed but just ask yourself if this is really what you want..

it's like when britney spears first came out -- other record labels launched christina aguilera, mandy moore, jessica simpson, and willa ford. They all were initially targeting the same market, but then over time they started doing other things and now are really in leagues of their own -- some are extremely successful, some are insane, some went into different markets [tv and movies]...

my point is, is that if you initially copy steve, why is it bad? you can copy him, and maybe you will be somewhere completely different in the future. if you hadn't copied him initially, maybe you would have never started blogging and then the rest is...history.

It's better to copy than do nothing...

...a person can and will not copy another person forever -- they will have their own creative ideas and implement them.

[AfteraDream]

Originally Posted by RT Wolf

You mean everyone can't write about it? Or actually can't have a society of growth-oriented individuals? Why's that, in either case?

You've got to be good at it to write about it... Society of people interested in PD is great I just mean everybody shouldn't go do business out of it.

[AfteraDream]

Originally Posted by maximumlight

it's like when britney spears first came out -- other record labels launched christina aguilera, mandy moore, jessica simpson, and willa ford. They all were initially targeting the same market, but then over time they started doing other things and now are really in leagues of their own -- some are extremely successful, some are insane, some went into different markets [tv and movies]...

my point is, is that if you initially copy steve, why is it bad? you can copy him, and maybe you will be somewhere completely different in the future. if you hadn't copied him initially, maybe you would have never started blogging and then the rest is...history.

It's better to copy than do nothing...

...a person can and will not copy another person forever -- they will have their own creative ideas and implement them.

It's better to do something then do nothing... everyone has some unique talents and that's what they should make business out of.. Use your strengths not Steve Pavlina's.

I just mean to encourage people start their own thing..

[Rebecca800]

I understand what you mean, AfteraDream...

I think it's fantastic that people start their own blogs or online businesses with the intention to improve their own lives and the lives of others.

However I do think personal development is a rather "big niche" and these bloggers are up against a huge amount of competition. Even if we are a society driven towards personal growth - how many PD blogs can we read a day?

I think it would be great to see more specialization within the personal development realm.

[alexplatups]

Originally Posted by Rebecca800

I think it's fantastic that people start their own blogs or online businesses with the intention to improve their own lives and the lives of others.

However I do think personal development is a rather "big niche" and these bloggers are up against a huge amount of competition.

Even if we are a society driven towards personal growth - how many PD blogs can we read a day?

I think it would be great to see more specialization within the personal development realm.

this is a major distinction that you made Rebecca, being an expert in a niche
and providing a *totally focused approach* is the ultimate approach...imo

later

Alex Platups

[RT Wolf]

Originally Posted by AfteraDream

You've got to be good at it to write about it... Society of people interested in PD is great I just mean everybody shouldn't go do business out of it.

Well, as Pavlina says, you don't have ot be a black belt to teach a white belt, just a yellow (?) belt. I prolly got those confused, but I hope you get my point?

That said, that depends entirely on what you're doing. I think that a blog detailing the journey of someone getting started in personal development, if done right, can be very engaging. Their fears, their triumps, their failures would be very interesting to read if done right.

You said "should", which implies some sort of normative standard. What is this standard? Why shouldn't everyone go into PD business?

Please keep in mind, I'm not confronting you, I'm just curious.

[AfteraDream]

Originally Posted by RT Wolf

Well, as Pavlina says, you don't have ot be a black belt to teach a white belt, just a yellow (?) belt. I prolly got those confused, but I hope you get my point?

That said, that depends entirely on what you're doing. I think that a blog detailing the journey of someone getting started in personal development, if done right, can be very engaging. Their fears, their triumps, their failures would be very interesting to read if done right.

You said "should", which implies some sort of normative standard. What is this standard? Why shouldn't everyone go into PD business?

Please keep in mind, I'm not confronting you, I'm just curious.

Because people are different.. everybody can't be into the same thing. And I'd listen to that black belt guy with way more respect than that guy with a yellow one even if I was with white belt only

[bluedragon]

I don't know, if I thought one of my articles was below average, I wouldn't publish it. Why not just let people discover a better blogger's article on that topic? Why waste his time making him discover and read my blog? That is not adding value. Not when you offer value that is inferior to what the other has to give up. I know many will think that you can't really say when an article is better than another, but I think in some cases you can.
I also think everyone has an unique contribution to bring, but he need to find his unique voice. Not everything someone writes is useful to others. But everybody could write something that would be.
If my articles are worthy of being on the net or not, I don't know, cause almost nobody gave me any feedback, but I think they are. Otherwise, I would try to improve, because I really think this is what I should be doing (among other things). But I don't believe any piece of text that you add somewhere, with no exception, is better than not adding it.

[armyqt]

Originally Posted by AfteraDream

A lot of people here who want to start a business, esp. int the internet, just want to be the next Steve Pavlina. All want to create a blog about personal development and make money off of it...Come on people, be more creative stop copying. I'm not saying you wont succeed but just ask yourself if this is really what you want..

What is wrong with that if that is the person's passion? If it isn't truly their passion, it will show in their writing. It won't feel natural to them. There is enough abundance in this world for everyone if they so desire. There is no such thing as not enough.