THE MOST POPULAR STATEMENT FROM MY DM’S - ANSWERED
“It easy for you to give away content for free because you never paid for it.”
The Educational Cost
Cost of my degree, certifications, seminars, mentors, and books,etc - close to $180K.
Add in medical costs that can be attributed to training-related injuries, legal fees (each of which taught me more about business than anything else), the number of hours - years I’ve worked for zero pay.
If I were to guess, my educational investment is close to $2m before including all of the hours of training myself and others (in excess of 50,000 hours).
The Production Cost
The cost of producing this free content. Staff, contractors, sponsorships, equipment, travel, and other media costs. Elitefts makes its money in retail sales, not education, yet the education costs are very close to our cost of goods sold!
While it’s free to you, it's not to me, over the past 20 years to create, posts and host the content you see on elitefts its cost is in the millions of dollars.
The Opportunity Cost
Yes, “I’ve paid for it” in dollars, stress, health, relationships and I’m sure years off my life. I am not sure how you add a cost to these things, but if I was to take all the time and dollars spent and reallocated all of it to SEO, Advertising, Web Development (it is 2019 and we are still not responsive) I am sure the company would be making double the sales.
Just the reallocation of my time spent on answering training questions over the past 20 years into copywriting for all products, newsletters and sales there is no question the sales would be way higher.
These are not things I haven't thought about or know. Many I know down to the exact dollar and each and every one was based on a decision rooted in the values of elitefts.com Inc.
It started as a way to increase my own eduucation so I could become stronger and became an over-arching investment in the culture of elitefts.
The Values
True, without sales, elitefts wouldn’t be able to produce content. I see people who supported the site as they were coming up in the industry now sharing the same values and entrusting us with all their quality equipment needs, that in turn will produce more content for the next generation. It’s a great feeling to see good things come full circle.
Focus - Trust - Strength
By keeping our Focus on Education, you've helped us build a company...
That you not only trust for your own training needs but know that your continued support of our PR Ready Strength Equipment & Products will lead to increased educational content across different platforms. Ensuring future generations will be exposed to the same type of content and values that have made you the lifter, coach, and trainer you are today.
How do you put a value on that?
Guidance or Gluttony?
Imagine a world where a beginner has to pay for everything they learn. Then look 15 years later, when they are in a position to help others. Do you think it will be for guidance or gluttony?
You all see this happening today the same way I do. I lean toward the older ways and wonder when did helping others become better - just for the sake of it become all about the money?
When did the innocence begin to be stripped away? When did planting seeds for future generations to reap - become laying concrete to park their new sports car on?
Think back to a time where you helped someone become better, break a personal record or change their life. Think of a simple gift you have given to someone who didn't expect it and REALLY needed it. The act of giving, helping and passing on is not just about the person on the receiving end.
It's one of the best gifts you can give yourself. Next time you feel down, help someone else, do something for charity and watch the change you will feel.
When you are fortunate enough to do this with something you have a passion about and love (i.e., training ) - It's up there with one of the most excellent feelings in the world.
I don’t expect elitefts will change the world or the industry - at best it may make a few pause and think about how they are helping today and in the future.
There are those who did this for me and without them, elitefts wouldn’t exist. That’s why I give back and pass on.
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