Phone: 770-887-1462 Free Newsletter Signup

Rob Eagar

Marketing expertise to spread your message like wildfire.

  • Start Here
  • About
  • Books
    • The Author’s Guide to Marketing Books on Amazon
    • The Author’s Guide to Email Marketing
    • The Author’s Guide to Media Interviews
    • The Author’s Guide to Write Text That Sells Books
  • Coaching
    • Book Marketing Master Class
    • Private Author Coaching Sessions
    • Amazon Book Description Service
    • Media Interview Training
    • Concierge Book Launch Consulting
  • Clients
    • Testimonials
    • Bestseller Case Studies
    • Client List
  • e-Courses
    • Mastering Amazon for Authors
    • Sell Books on a Shoestring Budget
  • Free Tips
    • Articles and Hot Tips for Authors
    • Blog
    • Newsletter Archive
  • Contact

Jul 28 2014

The Blind Leading the Gullible

None of us can go through life without needing the help of other people. Life is too complex to learn everything we need to know on our own. That’s why teachers, coaches, consultants, advisors, mentors, and experts exist. But, problems can occur when we accept the advice of others who aren’t qualified to give instruction. You may be familiar with the phrases:

“Don’t take financial advice from a broke person.”
“Don’t take ski lessons from an instructor who’s just trying to pick up ski bunnies.”

As I work with authors, non-profits, and businesses, I see a lot of bad advice given and accepted. I hear keynote speakers make brazen claims at conferences. I see misconceptions perpetuated all over the Internet. Worse, I hear horror stories from my clients who got burned by bad advice from someone else. There’s a lot of blind leading the blind. For example:

  • There are publishing experts who have never written a commercially successful book. Yet, they act like authorities on understanding the challenges authors face.
  • There are life coaches who have never completed their own life goals. Yet, they charge people money to tell that person what’s holding them back in their life.
  • There are non-profit advisors who’ve never raised money for a personal cause. Yet, they tell organizations how to spend their annual budget and create donation campaigns.
  • There are business owners who have never shopped their own business. Yet, they pretend to be an expert at understanding their customers’ needs.

My point is that if you’re struggling to achieve a specific goal, only take advice from someone who has successfully navigated the specifics you face. Otherwise, you’re prone to receive all kinds of ineffective opinions, instruction, and ideas that aren’t grounded in reality.

You and I need to ask ourselves, “Am I making a major decision based on the advice of a pretender who has dabbled with my situation? Or, am I seeking counsel from someone who has already successfully gone down my path ahead of me?”

Don’t listen to too many people, and only listen to those whose advice creates the desired results. Take advice from someone who has actually done what you’re trying to do. Heck, you’re even free to take what I’ve said with a grain of salt.

Special Event Announcement:
Speaking of advice, I’ve been invited to conduct an exclusive 3-day seminar called “How to Market Your Message Like Wildfire” at the Allume Conference in Greenville, SC on October 23-25th.

The price for this separate seminar is an amazingly low $99. Plus, the first 20 people to register get a 20-minute, one-on-one, instructional session with me.

Get details here and register today

Written by Rob Eagar · Categorized: Author Tips, Marketing Tips, Monday Morning Marketing Tips

About Rob Eagar

Rob Eagar is the founder of WildFire Marketing, a consulting practice that helps authors and publishers sell more books and spread their message like wildfire. He is one of the rare consultants to help both fiction and nonfiction books hit The New York Times bestsellers list. Rob has consulted with numerous publishers and trained over 1,000 authors. He is the creator of The Author's Guide Series, a comprehensive collection of resources that teaches authors how to sell more books. Find out more at: WildFire Marketing and follow Rob on Twitter.

Publishing Predictions for 2023

January 1, 2023 Posted by Rob Eagar

As we enter 2023, let’s look ahead to the major issues that will affect authors and publishers. Here are five predictions that deserve your attention…

Continue Reading »

Book Marketing Master Class
  • About
  • Books
  • Consulting
  • Free Tips
  • Blog
  • Newsletter Signup
  • Contact
  • Privacy Policy
  • Site Map

© 2023 WildFire Marketing

Website by Wildfire Marketing