If you’ve ever ready a business book or magazine, you have heard the overused cliche “outside the box”.
Now, while I find that phrase really annoying, the idea behind it makes sense.
In essence, it’s “breaking the rules”. And there’s a time and a place for that.
2 WAYS TO MAKE MONEY ONLINE
If you look at the core of making money online, there are really 2 ways..
1. You follow the rules
2. What rules?
And both of these can (and do) work.
Following the rules is safe. It won’t get you into trouble. And you can have somewhat predictable results.
If everyone is doing a “video sales letter” because they are converting better now, then you know a video sales letter will probably work well for you.
BUT – and this is a big-ass but…
You will also blend in with everyone else.
And when you choose to blend, it becomes more of a challenge to gain attention.
The path you choose depends on a few factors.
FACTOR #1: YOUR DNA AND RISK TOLERANCE
First, I believe we are all wired differently.
While I was a “good kid” growing up, I never liked being told what to do. I always tried to find different ways to get things done and would constantly challenge the norms.
When I was 12, I loved baseball cards but instead of selling them at card shows, I took out a space ad in a magazine (yes, at 12 years old) and sold cards through the mail. Screw waiting around and only reaching a few hundred people at a baseball card show – let me reach thousands in the baseball card magazines. People actually sent me cash in an envelope and I fulfilled right out of my bedroom!
How are you wired? Do you like to challenge the status quo?
FACTOR #2: YOUR COMPETITION
The more competition you have, the more difficult it is to stand out.
This requires you to get attention – and that usually means breaking more rules.
Think about how you can be different in terms of your web site design and graphics.
Different marketing methods.
Different front end offers.
Different price points and guarantees.
FACTOR #3: YOUR ABILITY TO LET IT GO
Never, and I repeat NEVER get emotionally attached to your products.
I’ve tried so many products and while a lot are a success, there are tons that fail. More than I can even remember. And I’ll continue to take chances and fail.
But I never sit around and mope. I get off my ass, dust myself off and get right back up. Then, I take a quick step back, analyze WHY it failed and learn from my mistakes. And you can bet I won’t make the same mistake twice.
If you are emotionally tied to your product, I don’t care if it’s your book or your membership site, you are screwed!
GET READY TO SMASH
Don’t just be “outside the box”… you should smash the f*cking box. And when you do that, you WILL have hits and misses. It’s all part of the game.
If you don’t fail – it means you aren’t smashing the box hard enough. You aren’t being different enough. And you aren’t doing anything new.
If your competitors are all charging $50 for a DVD and you charge $39.95, you aren’t really smashing the box… you are gently tapping it. Stop being such a wuss!
BUT – by offering 2 DVDs and giving it away for “free + shipping” to get people into your funnel, now you are making some noise. Now you are doing something different. And now you are becoming the leader and making your competition play catch-up.
Now get out there, think differently and smash the f*cking box!
And yes, I used the F-bomb a few times… I do this when I get emotional. If you find it offensive, then please get over it.
Hugs,
Ryan
QUESTIONS? COMMENTS? ARE YOU SMASHING THE BOX?
GET INVOLVED IN OUR DISCUSSIONS BELOW!
P.S. If you are tired of the typical “internet marketing” bullshit filled with hype and lies — then join the #1 most trusted marketing club online right now. And see why thousands are now breathing a sigh of relief!
LOL Ryan. Oh yes I love that idea! Interestingly I have been preaching for years about not treating your business as personal (your point #3 about products), but instead understanding there is you, and then there is your business, and they are both separate.
For me this makes business decisions real easy. If there is something in my business that is not working, I can get rid of it without getting emotional. It is the exact same idea you mention above.
Hey Quentin,
That’s a BIGGIE (not getting emotional with your products).
It’s such much easier to do business.. and it doesn’t mean I don’t care, just that it’s business and you’ve gotta keep moving your feet.
Thanks for contributing!
Ryan
Great post Ryan – and yes it does take guts to be different from the competition! There are lots of ways to BE different though, and often it takes getting over *ourselves* to see that something we might not see in a good light (about ourselves) can actually be what does set us apart.
I like that you are making your IC awesome AND accessible and not just blindly going down the $2k launch route (yawn….anyone else bored of seeing those yet?!!)
rock on :-)
cheers
Tanya
Thank you Tanya.
And yes, it does take guts to be different and stand out. But the payoff is massive!
I appreciate your support. I could have done the IC as a “$397 per month” too (and do just one call a month), but that’s just not how I roll :)
Ryan
So right Ryan! Too many people think their product is the entire business. When in fact they (the individual) are the business not the freaking product.
If your product isn’t selling – tweak it, reformat it, repurpose it or make a new one.
Quite crying about it and move on.
Like they say, “dare to be different”
Thanks Ryan for another motivating post.
Hey Dan,
Exactly – your product is NOT your entire business.
Be different. Innovate and kick some ass!
Ryan
As I was writing down some things for this week yesterday I wrote “Are you just another face in the crowd?” Realizing there is a sea of IMer’s out there and how am I going to stand out. (or how will anyone) So your message is timely and confirming! (Minus the “F” bombs)
Hey Bret,
Get out there and crush it.
And throw in some F-bombs for good measure :)
Ryan
Poke the box, then smash the box. I like it!
Absolutely Nick.
And smash it to a thousands pieces!
Ryan
Ryan,
As per usual your timing is impeccable. It is a real challenge to take the emotion out. Thanks for putting in your perspective.
Warmest Regards
Mike
Hey Mike,
You MUST remove emotion from your product.
Care about your customers – but if your product isn’t working, do something else to fill their wants and needs.
Rock ‘on
Ryan
Thx Ryan. Rawk On!
You got it Robert!
Ryan
A truly hones post with 3 gamechanging tactics to jump start my profitable online business in 2012…
Rock on…..
Hey Chris,
Now get on it and start smashing that box, my friend.
Ryan
REJECTION! Being seen by others as a failure, that’s what I’ve found as the most likely reasons that many people play it safe in all areas of their lives.
I was so interested in the topic that I did a seminar, then a book on it called, “How To Take No For An Answer And Still Succeed.” One of the themes in the book is, “If you haven’t been rejected lately you’re not living close enough to your potential.”
In other words, SMASH the f*cking box!
Also Ryan, I won’t leave a URL here, but if you’d like to offer your readers my free report titled, “How To Use The Power Of No,” I’ll be happy to give it to you.
Hey Tom,
Thanks for contributing and you are 100% right.
“If you haven’t been rejected lately you’re not living close enough to your potential.”
And yes, please send over that report!
Best
Ryan
Ryan, you just helped me realize one of the reasons it has taken me so long to get my ideas translated into reality is because I have been trying to COPY what others, including you, have said I should do. Just copying is not the ticket because you are getting into the box at that point.
You have to learn from others but then make it your own, be yourself, and go for it.
Thanks as always,
James,
There’s definitely a time to model what’s working and there’s also a time to do the OPPOSITE of what everyone else is doing.
Both can work – but I like to do the latter.. it always makes a bigger splash :)
Ryan
Great post Ryan!
Thank you Stefan – please help spread the word…
Ryan
I think about 90% or more of people who use the phrase think outside of the box half absolutely no clue where this comes from. It comes from a personality test that has been used for years. Only about 20% or so who take this test pass it.
Here is a good explanation video (not mine) that I found:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SE5mHAEJ_iA
Hey Steve,
I might be one of the 90% who didn’t know where it came from :)
But I still like “smash the f*cking box” better.
Rock ‘on
Ryan
Great post as usual Ryan! I have always liked being different – but this will give me more to think about!
BB
Thanks Beverly.
Be different, but also, be BETTER!
Ryan
AWESOME…that’s all I have to say.
Thanks Billy :)
Ryan
u r the *f* bomb
we are the ignition … (i can’t not think of i am the walrus ko ko ka choob)
EXPERT texpert joking smokers
laugh and move on
when stuff tanks
check.
for me
OUTSIDE the BOX doesn’t “bug” me as a phrase as much as “new paradigm” and a few others.
and i love the *f* bomb. POW! (btw ryan~my last name, THAU rhymes with POW and WOW and …ciao for now!)
xo
i’ll prob be on the call on wed after take off ~COOL to be at 32,000 feet and on the inner circle call, right? yay iphone. hope to hear u then.
2012 year of the water dragon is a new beginning for grasshoppers.
“There is an even greater reason to rejoice. Ever since 1996 the year element has been in a destructive relationship with the fixed element of the animal sign. That is the longest unfavorable period in the 60 year cycle of Chinese Astrology, and that means a scarcity of good luck. The year 2012 is thus blessed not only by the lucky Dragon but also the end of that destructive cycle.”
cool.
<3 love, rona
Totaly agree
BOX Rules need to be ….
Here’s to smashing the Box Ryan!
With so much out there these days and often much duplicate content, make sure you go above and beyond and be different….Offer them the 2 DVD’s plus the instant access, plus the MP3′s and you will smash the box and the ceiling on your way out of the room.
Dave
Preach Ryan Preach (in my famous minister voice).
But seriously, always a gem. One of the things I
enjoy about your blog posts is that they are gigantic
pattern interrupts. I find this a really interesting fact
because rarely can a writer do that so frequently.
Not to be a kiss ass…but that’s really impressive and
I’m trying to model that in my writing.
Cheers,
Brad Spencer
LOVE IT!
You are the Only one Who Makes the Rules, There are principles that should be in place, but besides that it’s your creative demon that will make you stand out!
Dude you got me fired up, Just Fuck It and Take the Risk!
Saw this video yesterday and it directly speak to what you wrote today: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mAlzPgXb6rE
Peace!
Smash that sucker!!!!!!!!!!!
What you believe you will do, either be stuck or go through. Overcome yourself, or behavior becomes habit only limiting; you!
True words Ryan. We’re listening.