Aug
27
Partners Rule. Mentors Drool.
I was on the phone with a client today. He wanted some help with some internet marketing and information product stuff. Pretty typical questions — paid search, landing pages, conversion rates — nothing too exciting. I helped him, all was well. (It was well enough that he decided to send me more money to do more stuff, which is always a good sign.)
Now, right now, since he’s paying me, I’m his consultant. But if he weren’t paying me, a lot of people would say that in this particular facet of life, I’m his mentor. And I guess they’d be right.
Except this particular client attended Stanford Business School.
I have a feeling, just maybe, there’s something he can teach me, too. Now at the moment we’ve only just met and we might end up hating each other, so it’s not exactly the time to start proposing this sort of mutually beneficial relationship. Besides, right now all he needs is to start making some fucking money already. But later? I’d be kind of a dumbass if I didn’t pick his brain, don’t you think?
This leads me to the topic du jour.
I met Havi Brooks through Twitter and fell completely and irretrievably in love. Stick a fork in me because I’m DONE. I bought a product and adored it. I tripped over myself to buy her next product and, predictably, adored that too. I did some of the stuff she suggested and made a bunch of money and it was awesome.
Then, because I don’t have a whole lot of boundaries, I emailed her all, “Teach me, oh mentor-like one.” And she did, because she’s cool like that.
We got to talking. I taught her about marketing and she taught me about keeping all my stupid personal bullshit from getting in the way of, you know, running a business. We got to the point where we were talking pretty much all the time. (She also can make a headache go away just by talking on the phone which is REALLY creepy and probably illegal in most of the states in the Union.)
In one of our little mutual love fests, we took the time to tell each other how awesome we thought we each were. This is kind of how it went:
Havi: Gee, Naomi. You know, every time I’ve put one of your marketing ideas into practice, I’ve made money. That’s so awesome.
Me: You fucking rule. Every time I’ve put one of your stop-freaking-out ideas into practice I’ve made money. That IS awesome.
Then, because we’re very smart women, it occurred to us that if WE made money with each other’s ideas, maybe other people would too. And then all those people who are like, “OMFG I have ISSUES and I can’t SELL anything and holy fuck I’m going to be POOR for the rest of my LIFE”, could, you know, make a living. Doing what they dig. Without becoming a total fucking sell out.
Therefore, we got off our asses and did something about it. We made a course.
WARNING: Touchy Feely Stuff Ahead!!!
Working with Havi on this has been the most rewarding thing I’ve ever done. (They say having babies is rewarding, and I call bullshit. You know what happens when you have a baby? You get a toddler.) Since we’ve started working on this, I can honestly say my life is about a thousand percent better. I know that sounds really lame and you don’t believe me but I don’t give a shit because it’s true. It’s like we were able to get together and say, “OK, who needs help? And how can we help them?” And then through the magical symbiosis of the internet, we were able to help, but also help each other at the same time. It has been totally awesome.
Anyway, go check out our new thing. It’s not for everyone. It’s not for even remotely close to everyone. (It’s not cheap and it is time consuming.) But if you read it and it resonates, maybe it’s for you.
Oh, and even if you have absolutely zero intention of every buying anything from either of us and you only read this blog on the off chance I might flash people one day, check out the page anyway. It is so beautiful I want to have sex with it. And, yes, one can totally do that. (Hello? Robocop?)
Update: Thanks to Havi’s beautiful and wonderful assistant, there’s now a coupon code you can use if you’re an IttyBiz reader and you want to save some money on this bad boy. When you get to the order page, enter “naomi” (no quotes) and hit apply BEFORE entering all your credit card info. Then you’ll save $30 because you’re cool. How do I know you’re cool? You’re reading my blog. In my mind, that is a necessary condition of coolness.
I think I found my new internet marketing crush.
I just read thru Havi’s stuff and have decided that if ever I am reincarnated as a woman, it will be as her. Or else.
(Before anyone gets creeped out, I just swooned b/c Havi teaches a lot of the same stuff I do. Havi FTW!)
Just wanted to say- Woo-Hoo! Very excited to see you two jumping into this together. Very, very cool.
I can’t wait to see the wave of success that comes from everyone who benefits.
@ Dave — You can’t have her. I saw her first and I think you know I can and will fight you for her.
@ Mark — Yeah, I have a feeling it’s going to be pretty freaking awesome.
Naomi: If this is what you were telling me about on the phone long ago, I’m more excited for you than ever! You were pretty fucking pumped, and you weren’t advertising to me, you were just plain excited. You had tears in your voice. I don’t think I’ll ever forget that.
So *congratulations!* This is going to be one powerhouse project, considering the overwhelming awesomeness of both of you.
Um, Naomi? It’s my turn to cry. SPfW was made for *me.*
I’m saying this on impulse right now and I’m feeling very vulnerable, so give me some time to come down. Don’t take the product off the market, okay? :)
Oh, and also? (sorry about all these comments…) it is NOT expensive! And I’m POOR. Really poor. But that price is lower than I expected. I kept expecting to see somewhere else that that was only part of the cost. But no.
You guys!!
@ Steph — You’re so adorable. I just get weird about pricing sometimes because of the poor thing. I remember being so goddamn disappointed when I’d see something I knew could help my business but there wasn’t a hope I could afford. It’s different now but you never forget that feeling. I never, ever, ever want to make anyone feel that way because it sucks gym socks.
I understand. I understand SO MUCH. I sent you an email, though, so I don’t take up more comment space! :)
I am so *in*. All that stuff on your landing page is basically all the crap that was in my head today. Then this shows up.
Can you say right place at the right time? And yeah…everything Steph said… :)
Today’s the day for new blog recommendations – and I’ve added Havi on my to read list. And good marketing job because even though I’m trying not to spend money until I have some more income coming in, I’m totally tempted to check out your product, without even knowing what it is! Well done!
Cheers,
Alex
Damn, I didn’t buy the seo book because I didn’t figure I needed it (ok, probably dumb, I know), but I would totally do this if we weren’t in the middle of a huge move. I’m crying right now. :(
It looks freakin awesome though! I promise I won’t hate on you later because I missed out.
Hey – best of luck to you both! Naomi, will there be a Caribbean edition? I noticed your call-in session will be during a cruise. :)
Great. Now I have to talk my husband into the better of the two packages. LOL. He’s all for it, though, since he sees that I’m starting to make a little money here and there. :)
I get the feeling I’m going to owe a lot of thanks for my success (yes, I will succeed) to this blog and to you and Havi, Naomi.
Damned! I’m put out of business! I’ll have to go rebrand myself now.
Going to talk to the CFO about participating. I know I’m all about some Naomi, and usually if she recommends it, I’m all about that, too.
And seriously! Another awesome lady to read (Havi)! I can barely deal with the muses I get from Naomi…
I am feeling sooooo VIP! Looking forward to working with you both!
Ooh ooh, when do I show up to watch you and Dave Navarro fight over me? Talk about fantasies fulfilled … rowr.
Also: Ohmygod, Naomi, you should charge tickets and maybe set up some side bets as well.
@Dave – You know I mean this in only the most non-emasculating of ways but I think my money is on Naomi. Just because she spits on the rules. :)
I don’t really have anything to add other than that everyone who hangs out on this blog is just awesome and smart and ridiculously creative and stuff. Which is so freaking cool.
even if you have absolutely zero intention of every buying anything from either of us and you only read this blog on the off chance I might flash people one day, check out the page anyway
What do you mean off chance? Might?
I’ve been banking on it. Especially after those legs we got to see recently.
Oh, don’t worry. The day will come.
My life sucks. I’m not ready for the stuff that you and Havi are doing – but given how totally awesome I think you are from reading your stuff, Havi must be pretty special too. Why am I denied such greatness, goddamit?!
Any ideas where I can go for “I desperately want to find something to market so I can pay Ittybiz to help me market it?”
@ James — Havi would love your choice of picture on your last post. And stay tuned. Your second question is going to be answered very, very soon. (Shhhhh.)
“And stay tuned. Your second question is going to be answered very, very soon.”
Yay!
Havi must have edited the f*ck out of that sales page!
Can’t we just go on the cruise with you?
Did you schedule the calls so early in the day because you think we’re all still going to be sober?
Oh, OKAY. Take my money. Make me fabulous. If you must.
@James B – Ohmygod, the ducks! The pinkness! Plus you’re a geek dance and you dance. I think I met a geek once and I dance. It’s fate. Anyway, love it. You should really just be making money just because. We’ll get on that.
@Annie – Nice call! I guess now it’s impossible not to respond with: Not only did I edit the f*ck out of it, I edited about ten f*cks out of it. Oh, we should be on stage.
No, actually writing that page was seriously the most fun cooperative back-and-forth thing ever. Usually I don’t let anyone get near my copy, but this was just good times. Because we’re both in the same space, we just express things slightly differently. Like, I just said “space” and now Naomi will have to kick me under the table and call my duck a whore.
@ Havi – Boy, I’d love to know what that duck *did* to become such a whore. Is it a ‘rubber thing’?
@Naomi – if it were possible for me to monitor your blog any more fastidiously, I’d now be doing it. 8 1/2 months of trying to answer that question is starting to wear me down more than a little.
@Havi – I just started yoga in April (and am now a total convert) – I’m currently working to get to a place where daily practice is possible (as well as finding out my life purpose). Knowing that you’re totally genuine and amazing (since you come Naomi-approved) you now have a new subscriber and adoring fan.
Just realised that I wrote this but never posted it – it’s been sat in my browser for hours!