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Bob Ross – Why Can't I Quit You?

December 11, 2008 By Leave a Comment

Most people are afraid of failing.   It makes sense really – from an early age we are taught that failing or losing hurts.   So we avoid it at all costs.

But as some of the most influential people have noticed… the people who win big have lost big.  Babe Ruth was not only the home-run king, but the strike-out king.   How many millions of dollars has Donald Trump lost?

See!

In a previous post I wrote about the power a label printer had on me.  I was convinced it was the only thing standing between success and failure… and in this case I was scared of success. (a whole other topic there!)

Recently it has been  …  Bob Ross.

You know the guy…  the big haired, soft-spoken guy who paints happy cloud, happy bushes, happy streams, happy mountains, happy cabins, etc.  Yeah, Bob Ross has been ruining my lift the past month or so.

It started on a trip to Hobby Lobby, where I saw the deluxe version of his paint set.   $89.00 – and that didn’t include some other necessary accessories.  That’s a lot of money, even more than a label printer.   I hadn’t painted anything since college, and even then, that was only for a theater class.   I had never been a “good drawer” although I enjoyed art.

So after seeing the Bob Ross set, I wondered if I had missed something.   I became fixated on Bob Ross.   What if my calling was to be an artist but I never took the first steps?    The question plagued me until last night when I finally went and took Bob Ross home with me.

It was a no-brainer really.   I was doing 2 things.

1) I could live-stream my painting, and do blog bosts about it so I can write it off as a business expense

but more importantly…

2) If I know this is definitely NOT for me, I can shut my brain down from this infatuation and move on to the next one.

In short, I could FAIL, learn it wasn’t for me, and move on.  At least it would be some closure.

So what is the verdict?

Well, I made some mistakes in techniques and materials, but overall it was kind of fun.   I think I will try it again.   The great thing is, I never have to ask “what if” about painting again.

And as for the painting itself… that is the subject of another blog post coming soon.

What about you?   Do you have something you want to try but are afraid of failing?  Or maybe there is something you think will cure all your ills if you had it… but will it really?  What is it?

[TAGS]painting,troy rutter, blog post, bob ross[/TAGS]

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Internet Marketing vs Social Marketing

November 20, 2008 By 1 Comment

It’s a tough distinction to understand for many in the field, so I can imagine how it seems to those just entering the world of internet marketing and social marketing.   I have been involved in one heavily over the past several years, and interested in being involved in the other.   So what is the difference between internet marketing and social marketing?

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Filed Under: Social Media Tagged With: , , , , , ,

2 Steps To Save Hundreds of Dollars on Domain Names

November 12, 2008 By 2 Comments

Hello, my name is Troy and I am a domain name junkie.

Since 1995 I have registered several hundreds of domains, and let hundreds of domains expire.  From the days of Network Solutions charging $70 (2 year minimum) to today’s super cheap resellers – I have seen it all.   But there is one formula I keep coming back to regarding registering domain names and it has saved me hundreds if not thousands of dollars on both new registrations and renewals.

Use GoDaddy.com for everything

I used to use a site called “betterwhois” to look up domain names to see if they were available.   I have also used several web sites by searching for “cheap domain names” that allow you to search for availability.

DO NOT USE THESE SERVICES!

Here’s the deal, it is really easy for somebody to write a script on the Internet, claimit is a “domain name lookup” service, offer it for free, and promote it with ads.   Then, after an unsuspecting visitor types in a domain name, they go out without your knowledge and register the domain name, and offer it back to you at a significant price increase.

Shady.

What’s worse is the schemers don’t even have to pay for the domains in most cases – they actually get a refund if you don’t fall for their trap!

I use GoDaddy.com’s search on their home page for most of my domain name lookups.  It is fast, reliable, and definitely not a scam.

Use Coupon Codes

I listen to a lot of podcasts, including some of the top rollers like Adam Curry and CC Chapman.   For the past several years they have been offering coupon codes for godaddy.com that give you significant dollars off yoru purchase.  Here are the codes CC shares:

  • Hash1
    Gets you 10% off of any order. No maximum!
  • Hash2
    $5 off of any order $30 or more
  • Hash3
    New domain names for only $7.69 a year

I use HASH3 for my single domain name buys and the HASH1 when I have a whole list of renewals.

Domain names are still big business.   Play it smart, and the savings will let you buy even more.

[TAGS]domain names, godaddy.com, cc chapman, troy rutter, Adam Curry[/TAG]

Filed Under: Web Design Tagged With: , , , ,

Six Figure Blogging Review

June 17, 2008 By Leave a Comment

I was first alerted to the 6 Figure Blogging course by a tweet (Twitter) from Chris Brogan, a highly respected expert on social media, not to mention a friend and colleague after meeting briefly at PodCamp Boston 2.

I have been blogging here on TroyRutter.com for many years, and I have always been interested, fascinated, irritated, frustrated at not having the ability to actual monetize the blog.  AKA – make money.

After reading the course is presented by Darren Rowse of problogger.com and Andy Wibbels who works at Six Apart, I decided to give it a try.

Preview Call

Before purchasing the course, the pair conducted a free preview call to introduce themselves and the course. Both of them spoke well, were engaging, and most of all made sense.  I decided to go for it.

The Course

The course is divided into several (six) conference calls, each on a different topic.  Some examples include choosing a niche, monetizing a blog, working with adsense, writing good copy, etc.

Darren does much of the talking, only yielding to Andy for a couple of minutes, and also when there are phone calls or emails from participants.   Once the Q&A section is over, it goes back to Darren who continues to chat about the topic at length.

My Experience

To me, I was disappointed that the course on Six Figure Blogging was so elementary.   The advice and lessons that were given in the course were very beginner-like, and would have been the subject of “Two Figure Blogging” if not less.

I already make four figures blogging and on my personal web sites, so I was looking to take it to the next level.  While I did find some tips and tools that I didn’t know before, the majority of the course was “old hat” to me, and I felt very disappointed when the course was over.

One of the things that was extremely disappointing was the way the Q&As from the audience were handled, and the call ended.  At times it seemed like Andy couldn’t wait to get off of the call and do something else.  He would quickly ask for questions (sometimes forgetting to answer the ones submitted through the web site) and quickly ask again for questions and then end with “I guess there aren’t any questions… goodbye!”

It was this rushing through user’s questions that I felt damaged the course.  Also, the interaction in the forums was there, but it was more reactionary than participatory.  I expected Andy and Darren to use the medium to elicit conversations, not expect the “class” to start them.

Did I learn anything?  Certainly – a few tools.  Would I recommend the course?  I would recommend it for the beginner blogger who has either just started or is looking to start their first blog.  But if you have 1 or more years under your belt, I would seek a course better suited to your knowledge level.

Find Out More About The Six Figure Blogging Course

[tags]six figure blogging, andy wibbels, darren rowse, troy rutter, course review[/tags]

Filed Under: Web Design Tagged With: , , , ,

Summer Web Developer Reading List

June 16, 2008 By Leave a Comment

I haven’t had a summer reading list since Elementary school, but as I have become painfully aware over the past few months, web technologies and methodologies are changing quickly, and if I don’t want to get left behind, I really need to not only look at the “new” coming out, but also catch up on what everybody was talking about the past few months.

Web Developer Magazine
This is a great magazine from the UK that has a lot of tips and tricks, including a “redesign contest” every issue.  To my surprise, Iowa’s own Chris Pirillo appears with a wonderful 2 page spread in this issue.

The Long Tail
I knew there was a new, revised edition of the book coming out in about a month, but I wanted to get caught up now.  From what I heard it is a great book on how the world is turning to niche web sites, TV programs, etc. instead of consuming information that was meant for the millions.   Im really looking forward to reading it.

The TIpping Point
I haven’t heard as much about this book as I have The Long Tail, but from what I have heard and the book jacket I read, it is a book about how little things can change the world.  Not necessarily the much hyped “viral videos” but real-world examples of how to change mass behavior.

The Google Story
I started another book, “The Search” a few months ago and still haven’t finished it.  I had heard about this particular book and am always looking for inspirational stories to try and rekindle the fire that I felt while working at Warner Bros. Online back in the late 90′s.  This one should be a fun read.

The Design of Sites, 2nd Edition
This was a hard one for me to buy, partly because of the $60 price tag.  While I consider myself a fairly competent designer and developer, just looking at the pages in the book gave me even more ideas, and pointed out some things that I had forgotten or had been doing wrong, resulting in counter-intuitive web designs.  This is one I will probably reference, but may not read cover to cover, but I look forward to the examples.

So there is my reading list for this summer.  I will try and post a review of each book as I finish them off.

What are you doing to expand your skillsets in your job or workplace?

[tags]web development,troy rutter, the ti pping point, the long tail, design of sites, google, chris pirillo[/tags]

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