My Impressions: The Circle of Profit

I did not intend to read this book as I already have a very long reading list for 2017.  I took a little detour because facebook ads are really kicking my ass.  The reason I read this book is because the author of Rich Dad Poor Dad -> Robert Kiyosaki wrote the foreword AND did a freakn’ video commercial for the book on facebook.  Why the fuck else would I even know about this kid. 

Anyway, Rich Dad Poor Dad is a good book if you’re not familiar with passive income and cash flow.  It’s a good primer to start thinking about building wealth with a different mindset.  The rest of the series…  Meh…  He’s a business man.  Oh, and I never realized how SIMILAR he sounds to Trump... 

Rich Dad Poor Dad: What The Rich Teach Their Kids About Money That the Poor and Middle Class Do Not!

Back to The Circle of Profits…  Yesterday, the price was 50 something on Amazon, today it’s almost 85…  https://www.amazon.com/Circle-Profit-Turn-Passion-Million/dp/1508458669

Great technique.  Because they will e-mail it to you for “free” when you sign up for their webinar.  Trading an e-mail for 85 bucks seem like such a great deal right?  But they benefit more than you do…

There’s this new business model that seems to be the new thing.  Basically, so many gurus are teaching you how to be rich if you give them their e-mail address and sign up for a “free and live” webinar.  Live my ass.  I’m not sure how other’s feel, maybe there are some gullible people…  It’s obvious the videos were pre-recorded, and the “live chat” and commentary are fake.  How do I know?  Because I was in a few of the “live webinars” by the same people, the same time, while they were in different parts of the presentation.  Yes, I’m that bored. 

It was a very weird experience reading this book.  The idea is basically, get a lot of e-mail lists, provide some value, and sell your product.  In the book, this product is e-books or some digital format product where there are no variable costs and you can print money like a licensing/royalty machine.  The irony is, you can see how this model works exactly the same way they are fucking you. 

First, they asked me for my e-mail to sign up for a webinar.  They will try to upsell me in the webinar.  If that doesn’t work, they will try to downsell me.  Then, constantly spam my email inbox and hopefully one day I will pull the trigger.  It’s really amazing.  I at least appreciate how consistent they are with fucking you and selling you how to fuck other people.  But hey, it’s a “free” ebook, and there is a little bit of value in it…  If they are making any money, and I’m pretty sure they are because Robert Kiyosaki is a pretty big brand (curious how he even got involved)…  Then there’s something to learn from.   

My Impressions: The Profit-Boosting Principles - How to Dramatically Increase Your Martial Arts School Profits Without Increasing Your Overhead

So I’ve wanted to open a martial arts school for a decade now…  Recently, I found this potential property that could be “IT” and was very excited.  I’ve never been so close to achieving my dreams.  I picked up this book because I felt like I needed to know the ins and outs of the business before I commit more than double my total net worth on a gamble. 

I’ve gone through many reviews on other martial arts books on Amazon, and I didn’t like them.  Most of them were (so the reviews say) written as “general small business” guidelines, and not specific to a martial arts school.  This book, is specific to martial arts schools.  However, I still got tricked by the comments (wondering if they are all real).  I was expecting benchmark performances of martial arts schools in this book (as a reviewer said), it is not there. 

The Profit-Boosting Principles: How to Dramatically Increase Your Martial Arts School Profits Without Increasing Your Overhead (Martial Arts Business Success Steps)

What a long ass title (I didn't even put the full thing).

For the book, I would say it is a very good starting point.  There are many good points for martial arts instructors to think about.  The many martial arts schools I’ve attended in the past (and current) would fair much, much better if they put away their egos and implemented some of the guidelines here. 

I don’t think there were any “mind blowing” concepts in the book, but it is fairly comprehensive check list on where to plug the leaks in your school. 

Now, Mike Massie is a great business man.  He has a podcast with valuable information on opening a martial arts school.  He talks confidently and comfortably.  Most importantly, his books/website/podcast all act as marketing material to tell audiences to BUY the book Small Dojo Big Profits – which seems to be the main goal of all the other initiatives.  Of course, he does it really well because he’s a great salesman.  You don’t feel like he’s pushing you, you don’t feel like he’s a sleazy salesman.  There are a lot of subtle hints on why you should get the book…

I believe strongly that taking the time to digest how he forms each of his podcasts/books/blogs will help you become a better salesman than going to a sales training.  I think he’s that good a salesman…

Besides being a salesman, he is very knowledgeable with the internet (compared to most small business owners).  Type in anything related to Small Dojo Big Profits or running a martial arts school…  Most of the first 20 pages of google search will lead you to his site, to buy that program…  I got tired of trying to find new information in google search, but I’m pretty sure he bombarded this whole sector with his site.  No matter what you search or where you search, all search leads to his site.  There is no getting out. 

Small Dojo Big Profits complete package is listed for $149, which is steep for “a book” but not expensive for an industry guide.  I have no idea what is in the book, but it is a very small investment compared to plunging 300k into a school.  I am pretty sure one of the first things in the book is don’t plunge 300k in a school.  

Maybe I’ll buy it some day when my dreams are even closer.  The only thing that concerns me is that his site is the only way to order it.  The book is not on Amazon (which, all his other books seem to be there), can’t find the book on google store, or any other channel…  The only place the book is available seems to be the website…  That is created to look like a scam…  So… 

As for the story regarding the property I had my eyes on – seems like the more research I do and the more people I talk to, the further away my dreams seem like a reality.  There would be so many more options available if money wasn’t such an issue.  Life’s such a bitch eh.  

Bye 2016 - Hello 2017

Saw this picture on facebook.  I guess for many years this was how I approached new goals.

But it wasn’t only specific to New Year’s Resolution for me.  Every new semester, every new birthday, every new blah blah blah I’d have these goals and they usually lasted a week.  Over the years, I think I have become better at this…

One of my goals for 2016 was to read 48 books, 4 books a month.  I didn’t make it.  I started 41 books, and actually finished 31.  64.5% completion, earns me a “D” grade, unthinkable for someone growing up in a very traditional Asian household.  But, the good thing is I kept at it for the whole year, instead of that first week. 

In my defense, a lot of book I started were “manual” type books.  Such as Excel 2013 Power Programming with VBA.  Many of these type of “dictionary-like” books are very hard to finish (although, I know of people that go through dictionaries for fun).  Looking back, I know me not achieving the goal was NOT a lack of time.  I just prioritized other things over reading.  Many of these things were less meaningful, to me.   

For 2017, my goal again is to finish 48 books.  I already have a “want-to-read-list” for 2017 that includes over 50 books…  This will be a fun year!

Finally…  Here is a list out of the 41 books I read in 2016 that I would recommend if anybody’s compiling a reading list for 2017.  As for the other books…  Let’s all save some trees!

          ·        經穴大全

          ·        The Price Advantage

          ·        Getting Things Done

          ·        Fluent in 3 Months

          ·        Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion

          ·        168 Hours

Go 2017!