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Comment RSSReally, Who Gives a $#@!?
Written by Ricky AhujaSeptember 12, 2012 # 10:15 pm # Marketing Insights, Specials # 12 Comments
As some of you may or may not have noticed, I have not written on here for a couple of weeks now. Call it writer’s block or actually taking to heart some comments that were made about me and my network (Affiliate Venture Group) and actually giving a shit about what some faceless people had to say.
Then I got to thinking that they are going to say and do what they want to regardless – so pardon my language, why the fuck should I care about what they have to say? They absolutely add zero intrinsic value to who I am as an individual so why even bother.
That being said – I do want to give a few shout-outs to a few individuals who have managed to keep me on an even keel through this, let’s call it “momentary ordeal” and had my and AVG’s back through it all.
1) First is Chris Kautz (https://www.facebook.com/chris.kautzscanavy ), my right hand man at AVG – aka The Affiliate Slayer. He is the one that keeps the wheels turning, the budgets flowing and definitely keeps me on the straight and narrow. He and I go back to 2004 and work quite nicely together. While I am busy being the front for AVG (good or bad) – he is definitely about the cough cough….back end.
2) Next is Rheya Sahni (https://www.facebook.com/rheya.sahni.3 ), without her – AVG would not be able to bring you the whole slew of offers we have but more importantly, she is the intake to all my venting – and believe you me, I vent a lot. It was her specifically that got me through the mess we had with that daily deal site owned by an unnamed newspaper/TV station based out or Northern Va. 
. Being a few thousand miles away, she still manages to keep me focused. Unfortunately for me and probably fortunately for her – she is getting married in a few months so no more venting for me. If you all are reading this – do take the time to congratulate her, she deserves all the happiness she gets.
Some call the added ridicule a sign of success and while I agree with that to a certain extent, I got to thinking what are some common elements and traits that all successful people share and here are my top three I came up with:
1) Willingness to fail – all successful individuals have gotten over a crucial hurdle – they are not afraid to fail. No proven successful person is sitting there saying “what if?” – they are out venturing and testing. Zig Ziglar says it best – “Failure is a detour, not a dead-end street”.
2) Opinionated – do you know of a single individual who is successful who is not opinionated? They have to be willing to take a stance and not give in to what their peers may have to say.
3) Passionate – you have to be 100% committed to what you do with a level of enthusiasm and energy that rubs off on others. My favorite quote as it comes to passion is by one Howard Thurman, a great author and philosopher, “Don’t ask yourself what the world needs; ask yourself what makes you come alive. And then go and do that. Because what the world needs are people who have come alive.”
What do you think are the common traits of a successful individual? Talk about it below.
In closing – while we all like and live for approval of others, the questions to ask yourself is, do they truly define who you are as a person? You know what’s right and wrong, we all live by a set of values – not values imposed from others, but values which come from within and your upbringing. If we can focus on these core values and not by the changing opinions and value systems of others, we will live a more complete and purposeful life.
“Living well is the best revenge.”
(George Herbert)
Written by Ricky Ahuja
Ricky Ahuja, a serial entrepreneur, is a ten year veteran of the online marketing industry and currently serving as the CEO and partner in Affiliate Venture Group, a privately funded performance based network located in Northern Virginia. AVG was recently voted a Top 10 CPA Affiliate Network of 2012 by Performance Marketing Insider. You can also follow him at his Affiliate Marketing Blog
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Well you give $@%# which is why you did take a few things to heart as did I. It isn’t because we are overly sensitive people, but rather that we care about the biz and what people think of it. Overall we have a good reputation, but a few trolls, and one in particular have made it their mission to drag us through the muck for no reason at all other than their own sense of purpose and entertainment. Shit happens as do these individuals/trolls.
You have to not be afraid to roll the dice of life everyday and “think you know best” as there has to be some ego involved when you own a business, otherwise you won’t hold your business in high regard, and neither will others.
Sometimes you just have to say “what the ….”
From Tim Ferris:
10% of people will find a way to take anything personally. Expect it.
“People are least productive in reactive mode,” Ferriss states, before explaining that if you are expecting resistance and attackers, you can choose your response in advance, as opposed to reacting inappropriately. This, Ferriss says, will only multiply the problem. “Online I see people committing ‘social media suicide’ all the time by one of two ways. Firstly by responding to all criticism, meaning you’re never going to find time to complete important milestones of your own, and by responding to things that don’t warrant a response.” This, says Ferriss, lends more credibility by driving traffic.
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“Roll the dice of life everyday” – ?
Really? I find it so funny so many aff guys thinking they are high rollers doing a run on a mofo controlled casino.
While in actuality, it’s just buying some ads and see what happens. LOL.
The only ones who are “rolling the dice of life”, other than 007, are our troops stationed in conflict/war zones far away from home.
Please get over yourselves.
Absolutely, just think about this site as your personal blog to express emotions and share feelings.
Anthony, not really sure what your “absolutely” refers to but it just seems my blog posts are never complete without a comment from you….I love you man!
I love you too, you’re a great person with deep professional insight and a hefty contribution to every discussion.
I was just hoping performinsider.com could do some of the typical performance marketing related pieces, you know?
I check in once in a while, ever since Pace rocked it with the piece on Epic and I have to say, I’m not getting my time’s worth every time. No complaints, but I can hope for things getting better.
Try to imagine that every time you visited TechCrunch it was only talking about Apple. Wait, they do! So I gradually lost the professional appreciation I had for TC (there wasn’t much to lose, yet still).
I truly appreciate your feedback and will def pass that on to Pace. I try to write articles based on what in happening in the industry on a personal level and try to incorporate some best practices and how best to take advantage. Live and learn eh?
People will always do and say stuff to pull you down not coz what they say is true but for the mere fact they cannot handle your success n happiness. So listen from one ear n let it exit from the other
High 5 to AVG n its team!!!!
Well said Rheya, you wisdom is beyond your years. Must be rubbing off from your boss.
Too true. Haters will hate, that’s their job and you haven’t made it until you have a merry pack of retards hating on you. It’s called jealousy.
Failures and haters cannot stand that someone has done far better then they ever will. It infuriates them to see others succeed. That’s why they go on the attack. The best defense is a good offense right?
I’ve learned that online the WORST thing you can do is add any fuel to their ridiculous fire by responding to them or even acknowledging their existence. That’s what they want, they want you repsond so they can have it out with you publicly. Don’t give in no matter how hard it is or how stupid they are.
Been there, done that.
Too true, thanks. I must really be doing well