Morning Folks!!
As I do every year, December is a month of reflection and
planning. I don’t work in December. At least not in the way I do the other 11
months. So I just got back from a
10 day cruise. I spent over one month this year on the High Seas. More than a
year of my life in all. Downtime is very important if you don’t want to Burn
Out.
So as my role in the industry now requires less time, I will be entering
another universe of sorts in 2010.
A new focus. Just like nobody can take my adult industry years away from
me, nobody can take my domaining years away from me either. But now it is time just
like it was a decade ago when I left the adult world as an everyday participant
and started to help work on the framework for an industry. In 2010 I will basically repeat that except with a new
audience, a new focus, a new agenda and a new end game. I never forget or even
try to hide where I came from. The adult industry taught me so much that I am still employing those things I
learned. That industry is nothing like it once was. But that is a natural
occurrence and it repeats itself. Now again in domaining. Again, I won't hide where I came from. I am proud of my accomplishments even tho the audience I may be speaking to may not share that view. They are likely to have the same opinion of domainers as many domainers have about the adult industry. That 'Prejudice' is just a reality you deal with and overcome. But how
many times can you take the same ride, the same cruise and not want to do, see,
and learn more?
The “End user” we refer to is not a group. It is a ONE that is HIDDEN in a group. Like
I say all the time, “End users come one need, one project and one domain at a time.” You
can’t change that. But you can do things that accelerate that eventuality. See
I am all about acceleration. That is what I do. Making things happen in a compressed amount of
time. Things have a “Natural progression” but since life is short, accelerating
things is always been the key. The key since the invention of the wheel. We
always try and go faster. So my role, that I created for myself, has always been to make things happen
faster because if you let it take its' natural path, it may take too long and we
will all be dead. I am happy with a smaller piece of a larger pie. Had I not thought that way I would have never shared my views and what I learned along the way. But it was so much bigger than just one. As we can see, an army of thousands of domainers are still trying to make headway Alone?? Impossible.
So when I went from adult to mainstream it was quite a leap
with lots less resources but a much bigger playing field. Now another leap is in my future. There
is something missing. Something very big. Something I looked for when I met and pitched Steve Forbes, Ben Stein, Barbara Corcoran, and many of our other speakers along the way. TRAFFIC financed those appointments. Those pitches. We will never know what those conversations produced. But I guarantee it did not dead end when they left the podium. A SEED was planted deep in them. We will never know the point of germination, but WE together made an impact on THEM. While they touched us with their wisdom, we also returned the same with what we do. How do I know this? Because planting seeds is what it is all about. They can't 'Unseed' themselves.
When I travel I go into a lot of retail stores. I TRY and
discuss the Internet with them and their sales. They all basically tell me they
do well on the Internet and abruptly change the subject. That’s cause they are
full of shit. I still try to engage, but it is fruitless. Some even still
fighting about all types of things as the Internet is still a threat to them
because of distribution, cutting online competitors off, doing things
defensively instead of offensively.
So I am out to change that. Not sure how I will or can accomplish that goal.
But in 2010 I want to talk to large audiences of diversified businesses. I want
to break down this wall once and for all. There is no longer ANY excuse. The #1 way to grow your business is via the Internet. We ALL know that. THEY DON’T. That
needs to be changed and that is what I will focus my time on in 2010.
What does that have to do with domains? Nothing and
everything. It is about BUSINESS and as I have said for a long time, domains
are a VEHICLE, a product, a commodity. It’s a horse to another destination. But
when you ride your horse, does not mean you don’t keep an eye out for another
mode of transportation. Faster, more efficient methods and a way to make more
money in a quicker amount of time. THAT is what it is about. The adult
industry, domains, lighting, furniture, are all vehicles. The only reason I
landed up in any of these is I was always looking for something, bigger,
faster, more profitable and easier after some initial very hard work.
So in a few days this journey enters the 15th
year for me and another stage. Literally. As David Castello says, “Been waiting 15 years for the next 5.” My friends, that is as clear as it gets. It took an economic collapse of 2009
for the Internet to reach critical mass in every category and every industry in
every corner of the world. The next 5 years is what it is all about. The amount
of money coming to the net is unfathomable. Don’t trap yourself and don’t box
yourselves in. Domainers? I don’t think so. It’s just a piece of what we really
are. This is the start, not the end. If you are not making the dollars you
should, start over! Get rid of the crap. The liabilities. Start with assets and
you will never have to look back. You have the power to turn things around but
first you must stop running in the wrong direction if indeed things are not working out for you. On the other hand, if they are, just keep doing what you are doing. Repeat, repeat, repeat.
No matter which way the general economy goes in 2010 it will
be one of the best years ever for opportunity and great wealth. The weakness of
some will become the fruit for others.
There is such chaos and hurt and collapse that if you are in a strong
cash position or not, you can really do some big things. Just be as diversified and PORTABLE as possible. Don't have all your assets in domains, or cash, or gold, or stock, or this or that. Make sure if one thing crashes, and it may, that something else will keep you afloat. We are far from out of the woods and forces every day want to sink the dollar and change the balance of power. The result is unknowable at this point in time. One incident can change the world and how we all do business. When things are unstable as they have been, long term planning is much more difficult and in some cases, impossible. That will be the headwind we have to deal with.
Our success or failure comes from within. Nobody can hold back a winner and nobody can help a loser unless they do the things necessary to be a winner. We all see what we want to see, hear what we want to hear, read what we want to read. Many times without regard for the overall intent. When folks are supposed to read between the lines, they don't. When they are supposed to take something literally, they are too busy trying to read between the lines. Timing really does count. Approach counts. But it is results that matter. Blah, blah, blah forever, but without results, it is just Lip Service.
Happy Chanukah, Merry Christmas, Happy and Healthy New Years! See you all in Las Vegas!
Have a GREAT Day
Rick Schwartz
PS: I have racked my brain for the last 18 months and I can't find a better, safer or more portable investment than INCOME PRODUCING domain names. NONE! The TRUE GOLD and OIL WELLS of this century.
Farid Mammadov
Nice post.
I wish you and all guys Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
Aron
Well said.
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to your family as well, Rick.
– Aron
Kevin
Happy Holidays to all the bright and fascinating people that post on this blog. You can learn so much from the old timers and even more from the new people in our industry.
I think what Rick is angling at is business is like the ocean. There are constant waves coming ashore, but some are much better to ride than others. Success is knowing when to go for a particular wave coming in as well as when to get out of it before it rolls you under the water. Sometimes the ocean goes still, sometimes it goes ferocious.
Let’s hope 2010 brings us all lots of exciting waves to ride!
Rick Schwartz
Kevin,
Thanks, that is a good way to describe it. I think I would also compare it to a large lake or an ocean. At one time there were a lot of fish and few fisherman. Today there are a lot of fisherman but not as many fish.
What I do best is find better and better fishing holes. Same as bigger waves. All connected. All come in different forms. All have certain traits.
Shane
I don’t always agree with everything you say but I really enjoyed this post. I like the fact that you mention that keeping up with the times, or rather staying ahead of them is an important part of business. My Grandfather told me that when I was young. We are a 5th generation business that has changed with the times. What my Grandfather’s business did to make money was different than my Dad and so on. We all made money, we just changed the way we did with the times. There are always other fish to fry but knowing where to find them is how you make money. No doubt, you know how to find them
Red
I don’t always agree either…but I keep myself coming back to this blog over and over…
anonymous
Solid post as usual..
Please continue to share the great insights despite rude people or haters that have been popping out..friendly debate and disagreeing on this or that is one thing but haters are toxic..
So, there are people listening to your advice and positioning their own portfolios appropriately, as well as educating the masses..
happy holidays!
Amanda
You are right on the money in this post. Success does come from within and domains are the best investment out there right now. You are by far my favorite blogger because you cut straight through the BS and tell it like it really is. I consider you the voice of reason in a sea of ignorance. Best of luck in your endeavors for 2010. Happy holidays to you and yours. :)
rob sequin
“The #1 way to grow your business is via the Internet.”
I am closing out a great year selling domains to end users and as a domain buyer broker for entrepreneurs and corporations who are spending big bucks to buy domains because they know the value of a good domain.
Best and most active year ever for both so entrepreneur and corporate end users are actively buying and that’s a great sign.
Advice to sellers though, don’t overprice your domains. Negotiate for the most money of course but don’t overprice your domains.
In many cases there are alternative domains on the buyer’s wish list so when a serious offer comes your way, don’t loose it.
More end users are buying but still very few out there for now.
twitter.com/Jessica320
Rick,
First of all, thanks because i know that you will be the only person who’d bother read this kilometric post. :p
So that’s why you were out of the Domaining.com scene these past few days. Whenever i run through the headlines i could not help but look for a small text under those paragraphs that read”Rich Schwartz.” Particularly in those instances when you were being mentioned either favorably or not.
Thanks for these nuggets for 2010. I need them as an aspiring professional in this business. You truly wouldn’t know what you’ve lost until you found it. Yeah, I aspire to be successful as a domainer, like you, even just a minute percentage of that which represents your accomplishments sans adult. :p I don’t dig adult and will not in any time between now and in the future be its fan, but doesn’t mean we can’t be friends as the cliche goes, especially now that you’re through with it. :)
I guess we all domainers share this same mode of acquaintances offline. Just few weeks ago I met with few of my high school classmates to discuss our 20th reunion this coming 29th (i’m in charged with invitations, certificates, and the powerpoint presentation). So them knowing i’m a computer or”internet” person, asked what I do online or keeps me busy although they already had an idea. Then of course i proudly waived my abstract title:”Domainer,” and told them what they all needed to hear. Most of them use the internet for facebook and friendster where we try to communicate with classmates from abroad, but that was the first time they heard of the word,”domainer.” really? well, there were only 3 of them out of the supposedly 90+ so i couldn’t really form a conclusion, right? not even if one of them was our class valedictorian – who’s married and have kids who seldom use the internet. But who can blame them if it’s not even mentioned on tv??
my only consolation is, they all thought highly of me because i bragged about meeting millionaires (Rick, I need you to back me up when time comes :p) because of my business or nature of work as i told them I am a domain”Investor” (not simply domainer) and own about 50 domains (they don’t even have a clue what a domain is), that it works just like real estate, blah blah blah…
yet no matter how hard i try to explain to them the nature of our work, they will always have millions of dancing question marks in their heads…unless they go to the internet and ask Google.
it actually started when one of our classmates abroad suggested on Facebook to deposit donations for the event by (1) Paypal or registering a name for our batch at (2) Godaddy – two words that hit 1 inch close to home or struck a chord in me. It got my interest as if i’ve just found my soul mate (he’s married), so i started asking about him, what he could be doing online – hinting that we share something in”common”… and the rest is my”domain” story.
Honestly I prefer to be that”mysterious,””cool” user of the internet that earns cash. But if it is inevitable and is going to happen, I will be glad to see you at the back stage. Always the show works from behind the scene.
Merry Christmas to you and to all domainers. May your blessings multiply this next year. Remember Jesus was a gift for all of us that we all must share, in spirit, in words, and in deeds, not just today but each day.
The future is bright, we got to wear shades. :)
Andrew Hazen
We all chose our own paths in life; one way or another…you clearly are on a mission Rick and your destination is clandestine – I love it!
I started doing web optimization in 1996 (now SEO)…I saw as clear day that Internet leveled the playing field and enabled anyone to be successful!
14 years later I feel as strong as I did in ’96 about the power of the Internet…with the business model, the internet enables anyone to be successful without massive overhead or startup costs.
All the best to you and your loved ones Rick and a Happy, Healthy & Successful New Year!
‘Let you life proceed by its own design’
@AndrewHazen
Furniture Stores
Another excellent and straight from the hip post. Wish more people were this real in their writing. Also, totally agree with your statement of,”Downtime is very important if you don’t want to Burn Out”. It’s amazing how many people don’t get this and how it’s actually counter productive to their efforts and health. Happy holidays!
UFO
Property beats domains.
Yields as a function of risk make domains less favourable than property.
Domains were undervalued, they aren’t anymore.
Altaf
Nice & interesting post you always made. Though I did not make much money out of domains, each day I learn new things due to INTERNET vehicle & Rick, you created inspiartion in me & now I engaged my adult child to learn and deploy his time in domains etc. But one thing I disagree with you is”adult” without which it is obviously possible we could make money in many ways.
Wish you & family and all the folks here a Very Happy New Year 2010.
Regards, Altaf
Ronald Regging
I think you’re taking the right approach as far as trying to educate the end users. I see so much of this industry being based on domainers trying to push their crap onto other domainers that I’ve been beginning to wonder how this industry stays afloat. It’s an inbred business model. Companies and domainers aren’t willing to put in the effort to find end users, because that is hard work. They’d rather target other domainers, because they know there’s a sucker born every minute and we’re all desperate to sell. None of this helps the overall industry in the least. I’m planning to distance myself from all of the traditional domaining outlets this year and focus entirely on contacting end users and building a real, sustainable business model of my own. Best of luck Rick and Happy Holidays!
permacrisis
All of the other reindeer, used to laugh and call him names.
Rudolf got out his notebook, went and bought them as domains!
Larry Fischer
Happy Holidays Rick.
As always a great post to read.
best regards,
Larry Fischer
DirectNavigation.com
Altaf
“focus entirely on contacting end users”
——————–
Would you please explain how do you contact them.
yoyo mama
Rick Schawartz, ytou are so full shit,
The MOM story with the link at the end to sell that other cohorts (fat ego) guys product,
you are so beside your self,
that blowhard is a googd named for yourself, it applies!