Last week at the Affiliate Summit event in Las Vegas I had the pleasure of introducing Jason Calacanis as the keynote speaker. While I wasn’t sure what Jason was going to say exactly, I was sure that he was going to say something that would get the industry talking.
I was right. Here’s some links to catch you up on reading. Think Big. Live blogging the keynote. MissyWard.com. Keynote video footage. MP3 of the entire keynote speech.
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Full Script of Video
Last week at the Affiliate summit event in Las Vegas I had the pleasure of introducing Jason Calacanis as the keynote speaker.
While I wasn’t sure what Jason was going to say exactly, I was sure that he was going to say something that would get the industry talking.
I was right.
If you’d like to get refreshed on the topic and discussion, just visit the links under this video on JimKukral.com to catch up.
During his hour-long keynote address, Jason hated on some of the people and practices of affiliate marketing, which caused many a fan of the industry to cry foul.
But what a lot of people aren’t talking about from his speech is how he applauded how brilliant the same people in the industry are.
I get it… everyone remembers the negative stuff. It’s a shame, but I get that.
I’ll leave the who’s right or wrong to all of you to debate. I’m more interested in the reality of the perception that Jason and others have about affiliate marketing.
I’m a branding guy after all.
On one blog after the event Jason was quoted as saying… “My lasting impression of the Affiliate summit is… really smart folks who think small.”
Do affiliate marketers really think small? Or, is it just that the nature of the business that keeps us small?
After all, we are pretty much just selling other people’s stuff for a cut of the action.
So Do we think small? Or is that just the way the business is?
The entire model is built off an affiliate working off of someone else’s backend.
Which pretty much is the wrong thing to do when thinking of setting up a traditional online business.
At least that’s what we’re taught.
So is it truly viable to build many million-dollar businesses off of selling someone else’s stuff?
Sure, it is, but therein lies the real point I want to make on this matter.
I don’t want to own a typical 25 million dollar business
Jason Calacanis told the affiliate marketers in the world that they think too small, and that they should be owning large businesses that are worth millions.
That’s all fine and good, except for one major point.
I don’t want to own a huge business with lots of employees. I don’t want to talk to vc’s and sit with Silicon valley people.
I’ve done that once already, and I don’t like it. I much prefer my flexible days when I work a few hours here and there on my own schedule.
I like not having to deal with investors, or bankers or other types of soul-sucking people who kill my creativity and who want to keep me at a cubicle under fluorescent lights.
I don’t want to have a slew of employees who I have to manage either.
Bottom line… I like my affiliate type lifestyle.
And after all is said and done, that’s the true way to look at affiliate marketing that I don’t believe Jason gets…
Affiliate marketing is a lifestyle choice.
Thanks for the great keynote Jason, and for getting some good discussion going. And thanks for the hug.
I agree about the lifestyle thing. Different people just have different motivations in life. I understand Jason’s point and appreciate what he is saying.
Nice take on the speech. I see the point about affiliate marketing lifestyle. A great attraction for me was no corporate and working out of my laptop. Jason’s speech really made me take a look at where I’m taking my business and what legacy I want to leave. The internet is so much bigger than just our little affiliate piece, and I wonder if we saw the opportunity to really do something great and try to change the world (Mahalo), would we be content to stay with the affiliate lifestyle?
In any case, he got the wheels spinning in my head now.
Tom, yeah, I get what he’s saying as well.
Mike, I also agree with you in that he did make people think bigger. Which is good, assuming you want to “be” bigger in that sense. Not everyone does.
You have to understand , maybe some people have progressed to a level that they think in bigger terms than others, but i do not believe that affiliate marketers think small. Maybe Jason needs to stick to speaking to a crowd at his level, he sure doesn’t appear to be of help to the overall affiliate marketing crowd.
There are some really great points being made here, and all in all it is a lifestyle choice. For me I strive towards being the $25 million dollar business owner, but aim to use affiliate marketing to get me to the point, where I can own that. However, I have known many marketers that couldn’t be happier with what they do, lets face it, they make great money, work their own hours and basically do what they want. My advice is to decide what you want in the beginning and focus on working towards that. Great post, this has really got me looking at the bigger picture.
I do agree with seeing Affliate marketing as a form of lifestyle choice. Not HR to manage, accountings yes, no investors to answer to.
Surely a worthy result to aim for. And yes, the society at large and some people still see a decent job as from nine to five.