FitCast Insider Q needed for EC, CB, RC, TG,

[Alan Aragon]

*goes back to the fridge, realizes the true meaning of hunting & gathering*

[Deserve]

Originally Posted by Alan Aragon

Fact of the matter is, you have no idea whatsoever what the odds actually are. So just like I did, you're making an assumption; a speculation; a semi-educated guess; a conjecture; a... You get the picture. Market response differs from market to market, from marketer to marketer, from medium to medium.

Best of luck with this Kevin. Since there won't be any skin off your back either way, you might as well go for it & let the cards fall where they may. As someone who has counseled many a fitness career, I've never heard anyone tell me they regretted diving in with an idea that had minimal risk. They either fell flat, got back up & did better with a different attempt -- or they struck gold. There's no reason at all to do anything but put your idea to trial if your gut instinct tells you to go through with it. The worst case scenario simply isn't.

You are obviously articulate and not adversarial in expressing your views which is great in this forum. Granted, what we are talking about is not changing the formula for Coke. I counsel my employees and clients that planning is a series of assumptions with steps taken to mitigate the risks of failure in execution. If undertaking anything that has an impact on your livelihood I would think it would be worth at least a cursory glance at some of the risks, assumptions, and mitigations.

Ultimately We do agree. Nothing ventured nothing gained.

[Deserve]

Originally Posted by Kevin Larrabee

I will have all the guests, including Berardi in the future promoting this with their newsletters.

There you go. The bigger the audience the bigger the potential response. Good work. You're probably tired of unsolicited advice so I'll leave you alone. Keep making your product the best possible in all facets, market it appropriately, aggressively and you will do fine. If you need anything let me know.

[ninja]

Originally Posted by Alan Aragon

For the record, I don't even know Kevin, & I wasn't even thinking of myself when I posted. I just saw this thread & witnessed a dude trying to offer a product that he believed was a step up from something he was giving away for free. I was like, yeah, go for it & see what happens.

No, I wasn't mentioning you specifically, so no worries there. Also, I can't blame someone for trying to get their name out there. That's what I'm trying to do in my profession. But I'm also not trying to kill myself doing it.

[Chris Correia]

OMG, are you the actual Alan Aragon??

[Alan Aragon]

Originally Posted by Deserve

You are obviously articulate and not adversarial in expressing your views which is great in this forum. Granted, what we are talking about is not changing the formula for Coke. I counsel my employees and clients that planning is a series of assumptions with steps taken to mitigate the risks of failure in execution. If undertaking anything that has an impact on your livelihood I would think it would be worth at least a cursory glance at some of the risks, assumptions, and mitigations.

Ultimately We do agree. Nothing ventured nothing gained.

Nicely put, Des.

I'm far from an authority when it comes to internet marketing. My stance on this matter is based strictly on personal anecdote, so there's definite limits to it. As far as being non-adversarial, catch me in a moment where I haven't gotten laid in a while

[Alan Aragon]

Originally Posted by Chris Correia

OMG, are you the actual Alan Aragon??

LOL

(speechless)

[Kevin Larrabee]

Originally Posted by ninja

No, I wasn't mentioning you specifically, so no worries there. Also, I can't blame someone for trying to get their name out there. That's what I'm trying to do in my profession. But I'm also not trying to kill myself doing it.

What are you talking about?

I am killing myself?

[ninja]

Originally Posted by Kevin Larrabee

What are you talking about?

I am killing myself?

No. I just think you need to stop expanding it as fast as possible and instead make your core product--the original fitcast--the best it can be.

Has your sound quality improved from the first episode until now?
Have you improved your interviewing techniques, and found out what does and doesn't work?
Have you solicited suggestions for improvement from your listeners and put the recurring themes into action?

Like I've said many a time, I don't listen so I don't know. But improving your core product-- at least to me-- leads itself to expansion opportunities. I think that was the subject of the first thread where we were talking about something similar. It's better to grow a lot in one direction than a little in all directions.

And you've already had to take a break because you were burned out. That's expected. You're 20 friggin years old! I'm learning right now that doing all this work isn't all that it's cracked up to be. Sure, you need some to achieve some balance in your life, but be 20 for as long as you can. Have fun! Don't stress yourself out right now with things other than school. If you keep the fitcast now, and keep improving the core product, all of these expansion opportunities will be there when you get out of school.

[Kaiser]

Fact of the matter is, you have no idea whatsoever what the odds actually are. So just like I did, you're making an assumption; a speculation; a semi-educated guess; a conjecture; a... You get the picture. Market response differs from market to market, from marketer to marketer, from medium to medium.

Technically, if we're guessing without any information, chances are that the odds are not 50/50, given the combinations of success/failure between 0% and 100%. Here's hoping Kevin succeeds, but if you don't Kevin, just remember to take note of what didn't work and learn from it. My first business, also in college, broke even financially, but I consider that an abysmal failure. My second one, the one that I started 10 years ago and I am still running today, has benefitted from that first failure all those years ago.

Kevin, do your research, if it adds up and your gut thinks it will work, go for broke and take notes along the way. Take advantage of your desire and passion while you have it - simply believing in your product wholly is an integral part of success. Remember that very few entreprenuers succeed fantastically their first time around the block. The ones that are ultimately successful in the business world are the ones with dogged determination who don't get down, and those who learn from their mistakes (see my sig line for a more succinct version of this). But some do succeed the first time they step up to the plate - Bill Gates and Steve Jobs are notable examples - who's to say you can't be like them? Be visionary, be bold, plan for success, and believe in yourself and your product and it's benefit to the consumer.

[Alan Aragon]

Originally Posted by Kaiser

Technically, if we're guessing without any information, chances are that the odds are not 50/50, given the combinations of success/failure between 0% and 100%.

The 50/50 thing was a guesstimate. Mere speculation on my part. But since you bring it up, to get REALLY technical, we don't even know Kevin's personal definition of success of the Fitcast Insider. We have no such data upon which to quantify our speculations. Sure we can do weather forecasts with reasonable success, but those are all based on relatively complete sets of quantifiable data and historical statistics. With Kevin's project, we have zero quantification of the targeted endpoint, so ALL discussion surrounding it is pure speculation --- even whether or not he has a 50% chance of succeeding with it.

[Lost Dog]

Originally Posted by Alan Aragon

But since you bring it up, to get REALLY technical, we don't even know Kevin's personal definition of success of the Fitcast Insider.

He's just looking to pull together some cash to order more Hot Rox Extreme and Beta-7.

[Kaiser]

LOL Alan - now we're having fun! The former statistics major in me wants to respond with a really, really technical statistical model , but the entreprenuer in me will say that venture capitalists and angel funds do this type of mental odds calculation all the time and what they would care about (not necessarily Kevin) is financial profitability. Having met Kevin and hearing his first plans for the original FitCast (and working with him as a guest on Episode 1 way back when), I think I would have a better insight into his success than simply pure speculation. And his pay-for-subscription model on the internet is hardly a new one, even in the fitness industry niche. Craig Ballantyne even gives lectures on being successful in that particular arena. The big question then becomes one of execution and resources (time, money, energy). Obviously, those variables are the ones that an angel fund would grill him on to make sure he has his ducks in a row. Here's hoping he does!

PS: Kevin, something good does come out of our tomfoolery in your thread: as Alan brought to light, make sure you know, and have put in writing, where you want this project to be 1, 3, and 6 months from now, as well as 1 year and 5 years. Dream big, but write it down. That's the first step to getting there, just like fitness goals.

[Deserve]

You just thought you'd talk fitness

This is fun and nice adult conversation. So bear with me all. I'm going to turn this and try to relate it to fitness.

Knowing the underlying assumptions is key. How do you know if you get there if you don't know where you are going? (fat loss, mobility, bulking). With the end thought out then you can make sure your actions are directed at your goals (diet, stretching, or set rep scheme) to achieve optimal performance. As you start to get results, you test your original assumption and adjust. For fitness the metrics are easy. Measurements. In business it can be a little trickier but it's the same principle. It has to be indicative of progress which would the topic of a much wider debate. If you take these steps you can overcome youthful exuberance and make the chances of success significantly better (We got stuck on 50/50 and that's not really the point.)

This has devolved past Kevin's original question but is still a fun academic discussion since many are in the business of fitness as well.

[Alan Aragon]

Originally Posted by Lost Dog

He's just looking to pull together some cash to order more Hot Rox Extreme and Beta-7.

Hah, good thing Winter's around the corner, you know, staying covered up keeps the dosing cycle at a low roar.