Personal confession: I’ve been a guru chaser, particularly when I sense a weakness in myself. (Don’t know how to build that following? Pay this person to coach me–that’s what I did).
I’ve learned that my guru-chasing has cost me much. I’ve (unfortunately) run to people rather than trusting the Holy Spirit’s nudges. I’ve been caught up in the platform-churning machine. I can’t speak for others, but I can say for myself, that machine has, at times, hurt my soul.
This is a simple conundrum for Christian authors. If we want our books to sell, part of honing our craft is to work on our platform and learn from those who have successfully built them. But we must not become so obsessive with our platform that we forsake our core beliefs in that pursuit, or we stop trusting our gut.
I’ll give you an example. Years ago I worked with a well known guru about one aspect of my platform building. He gave me what seemed like wise advise, but in my gut I felt it was a waste of time and money. Still, he was the guru, right? And since I’m trusting and always wanting to do the right thing, I denied my gut and followed his program. This cost me thousands of dollars. Yes, thousands. The lead generation from that expensive effort? Not. one. lead. In the same time period, I ended up garnering several important leads because of my existing relationships.
I learned:
- Relationships often trump programs.
- Spending a lot of money doesn’t guarantee success.
- Trust your gut.
It’s not wrong to pay experts to help you. Here are some guidelines and questions to ask:
- Vet the expert. Ask around. Had I asked other clients of the guru in the above story, I would not have hired him.
- Ask: Is this a good ROI (return on investment)? In other words, if I spend $400 dollars on this course, will I eventually earn that money back through sales or better standing with my publisher? I have absolutely benefited from several courses and coaching appointments where the ROI was strong.
- Be logical. Will paying a money to learn how to build your instagram account from 100 to 1000 be a good investment? Will 900 more followers make a dent in your bottom line?
- Your best placed money will be with those who have successfully built email lists. Email lists are gold, as they represent wildly enthusiastic fans.
- Pay attention to how the guru you’ve hired makes you feel. I felt bullied and cornered by mine, and when we interacted, I got a stomach ache. I wish I would’ve given my hunches more merit.
- When you’re strapped for cash (as most authors are), find free courses online to fill your expertise gap. There are plenty, as long as you can resist the sales pitch at the end!
- Don’t give into peer pressure. Just because other authors are hiring someone doesn’t mean you should. Certainly, pray about the decision and ask a couple trusted friends or advisors about whether this would be a good avenue to pursue.
- Desperation breeds bad choices. If you’re making a desperate decision, step back. Give it a week. Then make the decision when you’re more level headed.
I hope my own cautionary tale helps prevent you from jumping too quickly onto the guru wagon. As you hire out, may you do so with peace and careful intent.
Q4u: When did hiring a guru go well? Or, When did you regret hiring a guru and why?
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Hmmm … I might have the opposite problem, Mary. I’ve yet to hire a guru and I am slow as molasses at deciding on a marketing plan. I’m not sure which is better, no hired gurus at all, so no risk, or risking and getting a bad one? I have learned a lot at conferences though. The good news, I’m willing to work hard on the plan once I’ve carefully thought about it for five/ten years, taken many many free courses, and saved up my money with the project in mind. Case in point, I’ve considered creating a lead magnet for my newsletter for many years. Finally, I spent the last year and a half writing and revising two lead magnets (one for moms and one for their kids so that they can read the same story together!) I carefully self-published and finally finally finally, this week, I got help from a friend to update my website and get those stories out there! I am actually finalizing the website pages today. Tomorrow should see me giving away books, yay! I guess I’ve invested my time instead of my money. I’m not sure if my approach is any better, although it is certainly cheaper and feels right to my more cautious self. It still feels like a risk, creating something so precious to me just to give it away, but it thrills my heart and feels right. What do you think? Is investing time just as much of a risk as investing money?
You do have to balance the quotient of time and money. That’s why I do hire people because my time is precious, and folks who are skilled can do things better in a shorter amount of time than I can.
As to your new lead magnets, congrats on getting them out into the world!
Thank you so much! Yeah, I’m sure you’re right. An expert or really anyone with basic skills is faster than me, ha!
I saw the guru down the street,
and quickly I gave chase,
for he, I knew, I had to meet
for he could then replace
the need for me to think things through
for my small and inept self;
I’d do just what he said to do,
and place my brain on shelf.
He heard my footfalls, saw me coming,
and in his face was stunned surprise.
Then he turned and started running,
and right before my very eyes
he doffed his robes so I could see
that he was really just like me.
It’s been a while since I’ve been able to respond to this post. Good to see you are still around with your poems Andrew.
Mary, thanks for this great advice. It is difficult to know when to go for the guru and when to research and work things out yourself.
Thanks!
Great point, Anne. I’ve mostly just done the latter, figuring things out on my own.
Such good advice! Enthusiastic writers are an easy target for gurus with empty promises. I too have handed over dollars for basically nothing in return. I think sometimes a guru has had success with strategies because of certain circumstances, but not everyone has the same circumstances so the strategies don’t produce the same results. Other gurus just sell a lot of hot air. But I have had some great experiences too. I’m learning to be more discerning before hiring someone.
Discernment is so important. I also agree new authors are targets.
I have done both! Hired someone to help because I felt I needed to do it and then hired someone to help with specific areas. What I have learned is that there is a difference. The guru I looked to get help from for something specific such as platform building was really more of a life coach. I walked away with less money in my account, no impact on my writing, but a very, very lovely vision board😀 and an enneagram path to reach my next level -which might include three more paid sessions$$$$$$. It is a hard balance but I think being very specific on what you need has helped me make better decisions. Great post!
Oh yes, I love that. Asking for specific help has helped me a lot. It’s the general need like “platform” that can get exploited, perhaps.
Mary, this is a well needed topic. I’ve been on the slow train writing to publish while listening when He says stop or go. And I’ve invested a good amount for conferences, books and other expenses for the most my return has not been monetary. God gives us discernment and sometimes it’s easy to get caught up in the sales pitch that we think will be the magic bullet. I’ve experienced that in other areas of life. Thanks for sharing a difficult lesson to benefit others.
Oh yes, so true. There is no magic bullet. 🙂
Great advice, Mary. Thank you. In this season of life I don’t have the option of hiring gurus, but I do have the mandate to build my platform. The greatest lesson I’m learning is to not make my platform a god, but to pursue the Platform-Maker with all of my heart, and then work my patootie off to accomplish the task before me. When I take my eyes off Him, I quickly become overwhelmed and discouraged, but as I seek Him first in all things, He infuses me with strength and purpose — He reminds me of the ones who need my message of hope and recognizing God in our difficult places. AND I see steady growth. My numbers are not leaping from the valley floor to the mountaintop in one giant bound, but I am steadily climbing the mountain and seeing results. Praise His Name!
Thank you for your faithfulness. There is a way to get a lot of followers, but that includes the sometimes nefarious practice of buying followers.
Thank you for the confirming words. There are lots of people out there who “know what you need to do”. And you only need to give them X amount to show you how. Learning who and what to trust is becoming an art (and science)
Blessings to you for being real.
I agree, and art and science + discernment.
I regret signing up for Book Launch Blueprint last year. They should have specified that it was for people who already had an email list of 1000 followers and 4-5 books already published.
I asked for the payments to stop but got no response.
Hi Joy,
I can’t find you in the list of students or any emails from you asking for a refund. Are you sure it was our Book Launch Blueprint that you signed up for? There are similarly named courses by others. If it was us, email your receipt to thomas at authormedia dot com and I will refund you.
I know the creators of the BLP will get back with you. See Thomas’s response below yours.
Thank you for your personal example.
I hired a children’s author to edit my first wip. It was crazy expensive, even by today’s prices. And it wasn’t very helpful in the end. I wanted a big picture edit. What I received was a line edit.
We live and learn. I’m wiser now.
I’m so sorry to hear that, Melinda!
Love this. Great advice!!
Thank you, Jane. Glad it was helpful.
Great advice! I can relate to most of this. The only courses I’ll spend significant money on are definitely ROI-either from a skill-building point of view or from income.
Relationships and email are definitely the best tools for writers.
Hardcore selling isn’t my thing. Like you say, my gut sends messages when people/programs don’t fit.
Holy Spirit nudges are the best indication of whether something is right for you.
The free courses definitely give you a taste and if there’s too much marketing at the end of it, I tend to leave it alone.
Great post. Thank you. 😊
It’s so good that the courses you took helped you. I find that if I have a very specific need and the coach is directly addressing that need, I’m happy to pay.