I agree. These books are good guidelines...but since I'm not a millionare yet, I could be full of shit.
One thing tho. I went to this business seminar in LA Convention Center w/ Trump and that asian guy (Rich Dad/Poor Dad), and others. I though, hmm...might learn something.
Uh no. First off, 99% of it was just a bunch of "seminars" for salespeople hawking their warez -- buy my tapes/books/training/software and make a million in XYZ (real estate, stock market, selling foofoo items, etc.)! Second, everyone there was a clone of Vince Goodbum (I was like, oh holy shit I don't want to be in this social crowd). Sheep.
I saw one "seminar" about a stock product. They were selling software and training for like $12k (now, remember, these people are all Vince's -- no $ or brains). They got everyone all hyped up in a tizzy. And then dropped the bomb -- Today only! For the next 20 people (there were like 750 in the auditorium) it's only $4500!
f**k. People RAN to the stage. Ran to get scammed out of only $4500 instead of the full scam of $12,000. It's like, that's rule #1 of getting money -- don't get scammed by snake oil salesmen selling you on how not to get scammed by snake oil salesmen.
It was sickening and I left after a couple hours. Waste of time/money.
My point is that the books are like this sometimes...get you all excited with no where to go...but back to the book store to get the second in the series.
I understand the point you're making, ...but I think there is another perspective that should be considered.
Let's consider the real value, NOT in the discounted price of $4500 versus $12,000, but in the actual application of the knowledge gleaned.
ie: T. Harv Ecker went from zero to multimillionaire in only 2 and a half years. He attributed his success to "Think & Grow Rich". My copy of the book shows it as going for $4.95 when I bought it back in 1991. But if Harv paid $495
oo for the identical copy, ...do you think he would he say he was ripped off?
Someone who pays $1
oo for the same thing, but doesn't apply it, is the one getting shortchanged, and it is he who is ripping himself off.
I know for a fact that the Robert Kiyosaki's & Tom Hopkins' of this world, and many like them, do not give a rip about the income they make from books & tapes. Their fortunes are set. They have the knowledge, and ability to create fortunes many times over. Their desire and passion is to leave a legacy... a body of knowledge and guidance that will continue long after they are no longer here.
Quite frequently prices are set in such a way as to illicit a favourable response. And someone who pays $4,500 for something, is going to pay much more attention to what they've just paid for than someone who's paid $1
.50. It is enough for them to take it seriously, ...and maybe, ...just maybe, when they do, ...they are able to experience the full benefit & value in the material.
This is one of the reasons why I rarely give products away. I find when i do, the value is not appreciated, and it is taken for granted. I don't like creating those kinds of stumbling blocks for people. However, let someone pay money for something, ...and they accord it the respect it deserves.
If you paid $12,000 for a simple idea, ...that went on to earn you hundreds of thousands of dollars... would you say you were ripped off, ...or that you got value for your money? It's the same with a website. You sell websites to people. Some may say your product is a rip off, because people with the same knowledge can do what you do themselves. However, ...not everyone has the same knowledge you do, or is willing to go back to school for X number of years to acquire it. Just as the knowledge & experience being imparted by Kiyosaki, can be learned on your own, ...most don't have the time or desire to make the many mistakes it has taken to acquire the same level of knowledge. They'd rather learn from someone else who has already been there. For those who don't have your knowledge & expertise, you provide a product & service that has value. If someone were to purchase your product, ...then not use it. Did you rip them off, ...or did they rip themselves off? I would suggest they did it to themselves, ...not in purchasing your product to begin with, ...but rather in not using or applying it. The value isn't in the price, ...but rather in the fruits produced from the practical application of the product or service itself, and that's something you can't put a price tag on.