Today's Adventure in the Biz Opp Jungle:
'In which Charlie sticks up for his smart readers... tells a recent horror story about a will writing opportunity... and gives out a warning."
Hi,
A business opportunity writer once emailed me with a question.
(Well, a series of questions, a bit like hammer blows.)
"Mr Wright, why do you tell your readers so many horror stories about dodgy biz opps? Are you trying to put them off? Why ruin it for the decent people with good businesses?"
My answer was, roughly, this:
"If people stop taking biz opp seekers for idiots and tell them the truth of how it really is, instead of mollycoddling them with constant sales HYPE, they'll be able to make informed choices and avoid scams."
And that's my position, quite frankly. For good or bad.
Besides, when you signed up to 'Adventures in The Biz Opp Jungle', I promised I'd tell you all the horror stories.
Today I want to tell you a bloodcurdling tale...
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The will writing opportunity disaster
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In 2005, Classic FM ran an ad, explaining why it was the very best time in the history of mankind to get involved in will writing. They gave out a number to ring.
One of my readers rang up and got through to the company who were offering the opportunity.
They were called "National Legal Services." These guys have been doing business right up until this summer.
But no more, as you're about to see...
My reader went to visit the company for a consultation in York. He got a big sales pitch in a fancy location, and returned home, brimming with excitement.
Once he parted with a big wad of money for the will writing course, h was told when and where to arrive for his group training.
He was surprised that, unlike the glamorous first sales session, the next phase training wasn't in a lovely location in York... but in downtown, Sheffield.
My reader says...
"We had a solicitor, who I could hardly hear. He waffled on and on and we dutifully took our notes, you know the scene, I'm sure. Then the next day more of the same."
As seasoned readers will know, at decent training seminars, you get inundated with printouts, leaflets, brochures and the like.
This didn't happen.
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Alarm bells rang out
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When my reader arrived back home and got the follow- up emails from National Legal Services, he realised that all the brochures he'd expected... as well as business cards, and all the other paperwork... weren't inclusive.
They were only available at a PRICE.
My reader had gone so far. He felt he'd no choice but to pay more money. By now this mess had cost him £6991.25.
He says:
"You want to give it your best shot.... so you put your ads in the local papers... and you pound the pavements delivering leaflets.... telling your friends to pass the word...and you ask the clients for referrals.... But hold on! WHAT clients?"
As the opportunity floundered, and none of the expected support or promised 'clients' came...
"The truth finally dawned! The light went on! The penny dropped! The scales dropped from my eyes! A big word illuminated itself above my head. The word had ringing bells, whistles, sparklers, rockets, Catherine wheels and flashing lights for all to see... 'SUCKER'."
The truth was, the 'National legal Services' (NLS) had received complaints about how they ware taking on new agent in an already saturated market.
The company went into liquidation in May. Only some of the people got their money back through their credit card companies, others lost out completely.
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A horror story with a purpose
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That's why I'm one of the few people willing to tell the truth, warts and all, about modern business opportunities.
Yes, there are PLENTY of brilliant courses, ebooks, newsletters, software programmes and blueprints, all written by smart, honest people.
Check out my site and see the latest:
http://www.bizoppjungle.com
But I'm ALWAYS on the lookout for the snakes and rats of the Jungle. My words are a trusty club with which to prod and bash.
You, smart reader, are my eagle eyes.
Later alligator!
Charlie Wright
The Biz Opp Jungle