Be Real and Run your Business how You Want!
August 6th, 2008 | 32 comments
You know, there are a few things about running an online business that really intrigued me more than anything else: No boss, no arrogant ass kissing coworkers, a nearly infinite income potential, working at home and office mobility (like working at the beach) are probably the top 5, although I could probably compose a list of 100 or more pros if I wanted.
For lack of better words, running your own online business is AWESOME! So why let other people tell you how to run it?
Sure, take advice from those you trust, but if I, or anyone else, recommends something you just don’t want to do, don’t do it!
For instance, some people SWEAR that you really need to present yourself in a very professional, almost corporate way. For those who say I need to have my picture taken in a suit and tie I say, very respectfully, Screw You! 
Why? Because tha’ts not who I am! I have one suit that I bought in Korea, simply because it’s dirt cheap to have them made. I wore it once after I bought it to try it on. The next time I wear it will probably be at a funeral (knock on wood.)
My point is this: John Doe may present a very corporate, 100% professional image and that may very well work out for his audience, but is that who he really is? If he presented a more “real” image, would that add to his credibility? I bet it would!
If you look through some of the thousands of comments that have been made to this blog, you’ll notice a pattern of similar comments. People like the fact that I’m very real and they thank me for it quite often! I don’t use big words just to try and sound intelligent. I don’t stick a picture of myself wearing a suit and tie in my sidebar, so people will think I’m some kind of a corporate guru. I don’t because I’m not!! I’m a very “real” person and it works out well for me.
If you are a corporate guru, like Mark 
Then obviously there is nothing wrong with a suit and tie. If you actually use big words on a daily basis, by all means, use them on your blog and in your marketing material. etc. etc.
OK, if every other word that comes out of your mouth is fu**, you may want to tone it down. My point is that fake people are exposed for who they are in the long run. There may not be a public announcement that you’re fake, but people will see it! And if you’re “real” in everything you do, people will also see it and in most cases, they will be attracted to it!
Just don’t be fake! The Internet is FULL of fake people and more fake people who act like someone they’re not are added every single day. Stand out by being different. Stand out by being REAL!
It’s pretty bad that being real means being different, but it’s the truth these days online!
photo credit: sml!
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6th August, 2008 at 4:02 pm
OK — just for the record, that picture was a sport coat and tie with slacks, not a suit.
I don’t wear suits very often (but I do own several). I take terrible pictures. That picture was taken at an awards banquet that I attended at work about 4 years ago and I have been using it ever since.
You are spot on regarding language. My advice — understand who you are and who your customer is and then speak to them directly and honestly.
Josh, you do this better than anyone, and that’s one of the reasons people (like me) drop by.
Thanks for the great post.
6th August, 2008 at 4:03 pm
Hey Josh
I like this post and agree entirely with the “honesty is the best policy” viewpoint. Having said that, pictures can be damaging to a person’s image in some cases simpoly because human’s are shallow and will often judge a book by its cover.
Doesn’t stop me from using my Redneck photo online though LOL!
6th August, 2008 at 4:04 pm
Very good and true post josh. Most people are so full of crap its funny. I personally love the squeeze pages with pictures of Ferrari’s and beach houses! They always make me hit the back button.
6th August, 2008 at 4:09 pm
Whew! Another great breath of fresh air!
Being self-employed is an entirely different world from “cubicle culture”. Traditional marketing techniques — including a suit and tie — don’t represent the true freedom that our online businesses can offer.
The fakes become obvious, quickly. They sound like they’re copying from others… because they are.
Keep being an original, Josh. That’s one of many reasons why I read your blog and stay on your mailing list.
6th August, 2008 at 4:13 pm
So true! One of the things that can make you truly remarkable is just being who YOU are and not pretending to be someone else. Oh how I wish I had learned this in High School…
6th August, 2008 at 4:25 pm
Josh,
I believe a lot of the “fakers” tend to implement the “fake it until you make it” mentality. Many probably think that if others found out they are not “rich” they would drop them like a hot potato.
So not true! You are a great example of that. Everyone is unique, in one way or another, and it would behoove us all to let that shine through.
Just be sure it’s not something that dulls the luster, such as a trucker mouth (as you mentioned in your post). Keep up the good work.
Patrick
6th August, 2008 at 4:28 pm
You’ve got that right. Life is too unpredictable to be fakeby being someone you’re not whether in business or life in general.
6th August, 2008 at 4:42 pm
Josh,
Great post as always Josh, excellent points above and I have to concur with all of them. True we are all originals and it behooves us to revel in that and show people our individual and unique nature without the bs. Oh and just to defend truckers a little bit, I used to drive rigs for a fortune 500 company. Not all truck drivers cuss every other word, some space it to 10 words maybe even 30…lol
6th August, 2008 at 4:54 pm
Good post, but you don’t have to wear a suite to know how to spell suit.
6th August, 2008 at 5:20 pm
This is a Catch-22.
I would really like to agree with Josh Spaulding. I love his photo (he looks like a British squaddy) and l agree with what he says.
But I can’t really agree with him, can I ? - that would be too conformist. So just for the purposes of this Forum I am dressed in a three piece suit, complete with red accountant’s braces, and f*** me shoes.
Outside the forum I look just like you Josh, just as crappily dressed, but older.
6th August, 2008 at 5:24 pm
I completely agree Josh! Since day one of my online business over 5 years ago I have always just been myself. Sometimes I might say or do something out of the ordinary but for the most part I am just me.
6th August, 2008 at 5:37 pm
How dress matters for making $$$ through adsense?
That’s why I quitted 9-5 job…..All these dress and time bound job only gives you more stress….
6th August, 2008 at 5:44 pm
Yes… authenticity is the key… whether preferring Armani suits… or tee shirt & jeans… go with what rings true to you (makes you feel good)!
6th August, 2008 at 5:55 pm
I bought a suit 10 years ago and finally wore it at a funeral this year. Couldn’t believe all the compliments that I got. I just might wear it more often now.
6th August, 2008 at 7:08 pm
Hey Josh,
Couldn’t agree with you more.
You can even take it a step further. To become successful online you have to discover what you’re good at.
No one can be an expert or accomplished in everything. If take the time to notice it, all of the top guys seem
to specialize in one thing, whether it is SEO, article marketing, Adsense, affiliate marketing, etc.
So I guess it comes down to discovering yourself and being yourself.
Best,
Scott
6th August, 2008 at 7:28 pm
One problem I find with the corporate image or suit and tie etc is that it makes some people look unapproachable. While that may or may not be, if they look unapproachable how many people are likely to contact them if the need ever arises. I prefer an approachable image. Even if I never have to contact that person the approachable image is just so better to me.
6th August, 2008 at 8:14 pm
@ Mark - Yeah, whatever. It was an Amarni suit, don’t lie you Corporate guru
I thought you’d like this post haha
@ Maurice - You’re right, I guess common sense should be thrown in there too. If your t-shirt has holes in it and you have cheese hanging from your beard, don’t use that pictures lol Your redneck photo is good, seriously. It’s not white trash redneck, it’s just redneck
@ How - Are you saying those guys don’t really drive Ferrari’s and live in beach houses?
@ Aisling - Very true, thanks for the compliment and continued support.
@ Lisa - Yeah, I guess we all go through that as a teen. It shouldn’t, but it almost makes me sick watching teenage boys strutting around and giving people dirty looks like they’re cooooool lol I was one of them who thought I was much cooler than I really was
@ Patrick - Are you saying I’m not rich? lol ok I’m not, but I live comfortably
When it comes down to it most of those “fake it until you make it” guys don’t have good advice to give and shouldn’t be trying. Instead, they should do what I did and learn something about SEO, affiliate marketing etc. actually make money doing it, then once they have some experience start a blog/site etc. and start offering that advice.
@ David - Got it, some truck drivers speak much fuc**** better than other truckers.
@ blah - ouch, yeah you do, don’t you?
Thanks, corrected. P.S. I like the name.
@ Charles - I don’t even know what a “British Squaddy” is, but I’ll take it as a compliment
Not sure I can take the “just as crappily dressed” comment as a compliment though lol
@ Trent - I know that’s true. How’s business?
@ Rita - They know what you’re wearing, just like Santa. Google knows everything. If you’re not dressed well you’ll get smart priced
@ Brian - Very true. That could have been the entire blog post, well said.
@ Marc - Well, if it’s comfortable and/or the women like it…
@ Scott - True, could go there. Alot of steps we could go further with this.
@ Heidi - I have no problem approaching anyone because I answer to noone, well except my wife
That may sound arrogant, but it’s a big part of the reason I decided to start my own business… freedom. But you have a good point. Some people just give off that vibe. These are normally the same people who won’t reply to your email and help you in any way, unless you pay them.
6th August, 2008 at 10:00 pm
Ditched corporate life and the suits years ago but perhaps we should all put a pic of ourselves in casuals on our sites? Oh wait some of us have…
Great post Josh - love your work!
6th August, 2008 at 10:02 pm
Joshua, that’s just pretty weird man, but cool at the same time. It seems that almost everytime I’m thinking about something with regards to my online business, you go and put up a post that relates to that “topic.”
“Sure, take advice from those you trust, but if I, or anyone else, recommends something you just don’t want to do, don’t do it!”
I like that quote, because that’s how I’ve been feeling lately. “Is what I’m doing not what I should be doing?” “Should I be doing what he or he’s doing?” etc…
But your absolutely right, this is my online business, and I’m going to do it the way I want to do it. Why would I want to do what someone else is doing if it doesn’t interest me. Seems pretty simple, right? But it’s been driving me crazy…
Anyways Josh, another great post… Of all the “online business” people that I know, your one of the few that seems to be on the same wavelenghth as me. I think, anyway.
Peace.
6th August, 2008 at 11:33 pm
Hi Josh,
Thanks for this. Authenticity is where it’s at as far as I’m concerned. And I do think that fakes will be found out eventually.
I do think though that it takes longer when we go the authentic route.
My challenge has always been to not be too extreme in how I present my authenticity - common sense wasn’t all that common for me.
Thanks for a great post. I think our future as bloggers depends on us being known as real not a bunch of fakers.
7th August, 2008 at 12:55 am
Hey Josh, You are so right about being authentic. These days the hype is stifling…but once the phony bologna is exposed, your business is pretty much on the downward slide into the deadpool.
7th August, 2008 at 3:32 am
Hi Josh
Really liked your reports, short too the point and hit the nail on the head - just like your post above.
It kinda helps the ‘little’ guy realise that the big guys are no different, they’re human (not super human) and we can achieve success if we work at it.
Like your $5 the best - so simply so effective - got a few keywords in mind - big thank you!!
7th August, 2008 at 4:35 am
What happens when you actually want to go offline to close a sale, lol.
I’m finally beginning a list, but my traffic research says “sell Ipods to the coveted 17-25 yr old demo” if I want huge organic traffic.
Aint me, and I’m glad I don’t feel a pressing need to compete in that arena.
Thanx again for the moral encouragement, Josh.
7th August, 2008 at 6:23 am
Another great post, Josh. You’re blog keeps me motivated.
Also, I finally got to read The MMO Niche Exposed the other day and it was excellent. It’s all so clear now
7th August, 2008 at 6:39 am
Right on the money, Josh. There must be some sort of personality behind what we do online. Folks who visit our sites want to know who we are. Being real is crucial.
7th August, 2008 at 8:30 am
Absolutely Josh, but also, “You only have one chance to make a first impression”.
Perhaps it’s just me, but when someone does a sales video sat at a desk eating something off a plate dressed in a bathrobe - as I viewed yesterday - then I’m left thinking, “Do I actually want to buy something - anything - off this guy”.
Be real, absolutely, but be professional as well.
7th August, 2008 at 2:25 pm
@ Matthew - That is weird
There are many different business models out there and each business model can and should be molded to your liking. Glad we’re on the wavelength 
@ Al - Glad you liked them
@ Grand - Well, then I guess you go offline to close a sale
Great idea to start a list!! Great idea!!
@ Chris - True, I guess the point should be, “be real” but use common sense too
7th August, 2008 at 6:04 pm
Not every photo on Flickr is Creative-Commons licensed. Go to the original photo’s page: http://flickr.com/photos/meyerweb/2085737072/ . Right there in the sidebar it says “All Rights Reserved” and there’s a copyright symbol. That’s because I intentionally picked that as my default setting when I set up my Flickr account, because I did in fact read things when I signed up and accepted membership on Flickr under those terms, not the ones you’ve imagined I accepted.
Oh, and now you’ve removed both my comment and your response to it. Very nice.
7th August, 2008 at 6:16 pm
@ Eric - You’re absolutely right, I stand corrected. I apologize for the misunderstanding. Yes, I removed the image, link and comment, as there is no good reason to leave them static on the blog.
8th August, 2008 at 1:24 am
Hey there Josh!
I’ve tolerated some marketers who act more than who they are, but I eventually unsubscribe or stop reading their information. My time is spread too thin anyway, so keeping it honest is the way to go.
Good post, sir!
P.S. I don’t believe Mark Mason — I heard he used a stand-in for that photo of his, and it wasn’t slacks, but flowery swim trunks. I’m just sayin’.
8th August, 2008 at 6:31 am
I could not agree with you more Josh, and this is especially true of bloggers the fakeness always shines through their writing and the way they present themselves and the material.
Thanks,
JR
11th August, 2008 at 3:23 am
So true. Once you have tasted making real money from the comfort of your own home, it’s pretty hard to go back to being told what to do
Here’s to being yourself. The world needs more people who are in touch with themselves and true. Big up!