Possibly the best business advice I can offer you

[Shap]

I've been in this industry for 14 years now. There is one thing that I've learned that has held true throughout and I think it's a piece of advice that some people here can benefit from.
Worry about what is best for YOU and YOUR business!

I've learned this time and time again. Over the years the gfy mob has gotten worse and worse. The reality is people spend their time posting here and trying to create something but at the end of the day very little ever happens. Nobody on here has your back. Every single person is out for themselves. This is a BUSINESS! Worry about YOUR BUSINESS and do what is BEST for YOUR BUSINESS!

I learned this first hand when iBill went down. People were losing their minds with good reason. Instead of attacking iBill and trying to call them out or get them to answer me on GFY I worked a different angle. I had established very solid relationships there and I worked on those relationships. What was the result? The majority of webmasters lost ALL their money and their entire members database. What did I get? I got a small wire (I think this was a little thank you for sticking up for them) and my entire database. To my knowledge I was the only person to get their database without it written in their contract. That was what was best for my BUSINESS! I lost a month of revenue but I kept all my members. The people that do business with me benefited from that. My members, affiliates, vendors, hosting, landlord everyone benefited from my determination to get my database.

I've been on both sides of the fence. I started out like most every other webmaster. I had no money, I was in university and just looking to make a few extra bucks. I worked hard and didn't take short cuts which meant the money came in much slower than it did for a lot of other people. Naturally I was jealous and very vocal on the boards. It pissed me off that other people were making more than I was by cutting corners. I hated the little clique of big guys that always got together and made guys like me feel like a small piece of shit. I tried to be vocal and tried be the guy that got things to change by getting the mob behind him. Nothing ever happened. Nothing ever changed. Everybody I challenged or campaigned against continued to make more and more money while I was making the same or less because I was spending my time and energy on boards instead of worrying about my business. I think things changed when I went from just running free sites to running TwistysCash. I realized other people's livelihood was in my hands and I had to be responsible and make decisions based on what was best for my BUSINESS and not for my own personal/moral issues.

Worry about what is best for YOU and YOUR business!

[cybermike]

So don't follow the mob? check

[signupdamnit]

[Shap]

Originally Posted by cybermike

So don't follow the mob? check

Relationships are so important. Not everybody has pull or as the GFY mob likes to say not everybody is a BRO. But everybody knows someone who has pull and if you have a good relationship with someone it helps.

When the iBill stuff went down I had two guardian angels on my side. My account rep Kevin and one of my mentors in this biz David from Scoreland. I was a nobody. All I had was my determination to get my money which often isn't enough (especially if nobody knows you). David went to bat for me and helped me get the database.

[Shap]

Originally Posted by signupdamnit

LOL That is awesome.

[woj]

I could have sworn just few weeks ago you were preaching teamwork and how we should all "work together" to solve problems, now it's "every man for himself"? or did I confuse you with someone else?

[suesheboy]

Ass kiss all you can and maybe you will get that wire.

[Brujah]

Shap should write horoscopes.

[Atticus]

So you went to bat for them (kissed ass) so other webmasters then believed the BS and waited it out longer. You on the other hand were kissing more ass getting your $ and database.

So the moral of the story is when the shit hits the fan it's every man for himself. Throw grandma under the bus if it gives you a better opportunity to get paid. Stay Classy.

[Shap]

Originally Posted by Atticus

So you went to bat for them (kissed ass) so other webmasters then believed the BS and waited it out longer. You on the other hand were kissing more ass getting your $ and database.

So the moral of the story is when the shit hits the fan it's every man for himself. Throw grandma under the bus if it gives you a better opportunity to get paid. Stay Classy.

GFY is GFY. People can't rely on a board to get them money.

[Roald]

here comes the mob!!!!

Shap , check your mail!

[Atticus]

Originally Posted by Shap

The people that sat on gfy and complained but did nothing got nothing.

But you realize that you "going to bat for them" on the boards fucked other webmasters right? They might be more willing to sit back and wait it out, trusting that the situation will play itself out. Much like you're urging calm with this Epassporte cluster. Then while you're spouting patience you have your hand in the cookie jar first so you get paid.

[Barefootsies]

Originally Posted by Shap

Worry about what is best for YOU and YOUR business!

Exactamundo!

Many people need to stop worrying about everyone else, what they are or are not doing, or spending endless hours digging up bullshit on complete strangers of the internet you do not like. These same people should be working, innovating, changing with the time and technology, or spending your money (assuming they have some) enjoying life. In the end, people are going to do what is best for them and their business anyway.

However, for whatever reasons, many want to put on this moral superiority, I am the popular kid on the playground, high horse facade for some kind of personal gain. I simply laugh at these individuals to be honest. When 'being liked' or 'being popular' starts paying the bills, then we'll talk. In the meantime, keep living in the grade school mentality or flying around GFY being webmaster super hero. As you can see from most of these individuals, it has really gotten them far *chuckle*.

This is a business. Start treating it like one.

[Barefootsies]

Originally Posted by Roald

here comes the mob!!!!

[Shap]

Originally Posted by Atticus

But you realize that you "going to bat for them" on the boards fucked other webmasters right? They might be more willing to sit back and wait it out, trusting that the situation will play itself out. Much like you're urging calm with this Epassporte cluster. Then while you're spouting patience you have your hand in the cookie jar first so you get paid.

People are crucifying epass without giving them a chance to pull out of this. I'm just saying man let's calm it down for a second. If the first batch of wires did go out on Friday that is great for everyone.

[Barefootsies]

Originally Posted by Shap

People are crucifying epass without giving them a chance to pull out of this. I'm just saying man let's calm it down for a second. If the first batch of wires did go out on Friday that is great for everyone.

The mob does not really care about EPASS, nor any other issue on this board. They are really just fanning the flames for the sake of the drama. You've been around Shap, I am sure you get that by now. There is nothing more entertaining to the whopper floppers and Hamburglers then seeing someone 'mighty' fall on hard times. They will ride that horse as long as they can.

Look at all of those EPASS threads in the past week and a half. How many people fanning the flames even have $X,XXX frozen in there? Would you like to hazard a guess? Sure, there are some programs and heavy hitters but they were not making 20 threads about it. They voiced their concerns, and simply are waiting for news, or following up via other private channels.

The same can be said about the .XXX. Despite it's impact on this industry. How many of these same Burger King's actually are publicly voicing their concerns to ICANN with the same ferocity they are going after EPASS? That is just one of many other countless examples that have been on the radar for some time, and nothing is done about.

The GFY/board mobs are not interested in justice. Nor have they ever been.

[Roald]

Originally Posted by Barefootsies

The mob does not really care about EPASS, nor any other issue on this board. They are really just fanning the flames for the sake of the drama. You've been around Shap, I am sure you get that by now. There is nothing more entertaining to the whopper floppers and Hamburglers then seeing someone 'mighty' fall on hard times. They will ride that horse as long as they can.

Look at all of those EPASS threads in the past week and a half. How many people fanning the flames even have $X,XXX frozen in there? Would you like to hazard a guess? Sure, there are some programs and heavy hitters but they were not making 20 threads about it. They voiced their concerns, and simply are waiting for news, or following up via other private channels.

The GFY, or board, mobs are not interested in justice. Nor have they ever been.

Doesn't matter if someone is having 15k in it or a 100 bucks, if it's yours and you need it you can freak out. You can sit back and hope the best, try to connect with some people OR post on gfy.

Just don't forget gfy is a playground, if you don't want to play along o cant stand the kids just leave ;)

[Barefootsies]

Originally Posted by Roald

Just don't forget gfy is a playground, if you don't want to play along o cant stand the kids just leave ;)

True dat buddy clam.

[DWB]

You could have summed all that text up by just saying, don't shoot yourself in the face with your own watermelon.

[Atticus]

Originally Posted by Shap

People are crucifying epass without giving them a chance to pull out of this. I'm just saying man let's calm it down for a second. If the first batch of wires did go out on Friday that is great for everyone.

Weren't you the one just yesterday posting about how you've been screwed more times this year (included Epass in that) than in the previous 14 years combined. And how 2011 would be even worse.

That was you wasnt it?

Now that you have notification that 20% of your owed amount was sent out we all need to calm down?

[The Porn Nerd]

Excellent post Shap! Yes, sometimes you talk out of both sides of your mouth - Let's work together! Fuck that, take care of your own business! - but essentially your heart is in the right place, if I may be so bold.

Besides, 14+ years in THIS business (and still standing) qualifies you for Instant Respect.

I come on GFY to see what's what, comment here and there, maybe hire some designers/programmers, but I do all this while I'm editing video, or uploading, or basically DOING something, not just sit on here and post all day.

Ah well, people will do what they wanna do. Carry on.

[tical]

Originally Posted by DirtyWhiteBoy

You could have summed all that text up by just saying, don't shoot yourself in the face with your own watermelon.

hahahaha

[epitome]

Hey Barefootsies, I wanted to let you know that there is something brown on your nose. Not sure what it is, but you may want to check a mirror before heading out.

[Barefootsies]

Originally Posted by epitome

Hey Barefootsies, I wanted to let you know that there is something brown on your nose. Not sure what it is, but you may want to check a mirror before heading out.

Right...

Because I can't agree with other business minded people without eating their ass.

**rolls eyes**

[Serge Litehead]

Originally Posted by Atticus

But you realize that you "going to bat for them" on the boards fucked other webmasters right? They might be more willing to sit back and wait it out, trusting that the situation will play itself out. Much like you're urging calm with this Epassporte cluster. Then while you're spouting patience you have your hand in the cookie jar first so you get paid.

it doesn't make any difference whatsoever who says what on boards, things will go their own way no matter what.

[Atticus]

Originally Posted by Barefootsies

Exactamundo!

Many people need to stop worrying about everyone else, what they are or are not doing, or spending endless hours digging up bullshit on complete strangers of the internet you do not like. These same people should be working, innovating, changing with the time and technology, or spending your money (assuming they have some) enjoying life. In the end, people are going to do what is best for them and their business anyway.

However, for whatever reasons, many want to put on this moral superiority, I am the popular kid on the playground, high horse facade for some kind of personal gain. I simply laugh at these individuals to be honest. When 'being liked' or 'being popular' starts paying the bills, then we'll talk. In the meantime, keep living in the grade school mentality or flying around GFY being webmaster super hero. As you can see from most of these individuals, it has really gotten them far *chuckle*.

This is a business. Start treating it like one.

says the guy with over 35,000 posts.

Correct me if I'm wrong but werent you the one posting "So fucking banned" threads everytime someone you didnt like was banned?

[tony286]

Shap wasnt feeding people bullshit with ibill. I was in the same place.
With ibill we were told it was going to work out. So it wasnt like people knew it was going to fail and kept saying everything will be ok. We were fed bullshit. I still remember the day they kept billing my customers and not paying me. 3 months no money coming in(the importance of having a biz savings account) Where I had enough of the bullshit and told my wife cancel them all. We canceled 330 active members in one day.
Now my rep wasnt as nice Shap's.LOL I got transfering the database cant be done blah blah.
As far as your advice, that works if you work in a bubble or in bricks and mortar.
CB ratio's for adult were 5% at one time.Now its 1, that was others actions running their biz the way they wanted. But it affects us all.
Online porn we are seen as a unit. You have a bad experience at a restaurant or get fucked by a plumber. You dont say all restaurants are bad or plumbers. You say that individual business sucked or are unethical but with online adult a customer gets fucked he doesnt say xyz.com fucked me. he says online porn fucked me.
people wanted to give away the house it dilutes everyones value of their content.
The problem with online adult is no longterm thinkers. Ive worked in adult for 26 yrs. The bricks and mortar guys thought long term not short term. They wouldn't give the house away or banging credit cards, etc etc because it gives them quick cash now because they are thinking I want to be in business 10 yrs from now.

[Barefootsies]

Originally Posted by Atticus

Correct me if I'm wrong but werent you the one posting "So fucking banned" threads everytime someone you didnt like was banned?

*snicker*

That actually goes to show how little you know champ. I did not get all those people banned then. Nor the dozens banned in the past few months since BarryP took over either. I have explained this a number of times before. Sheeple like yourself just credited me with it. I did not accept or deny it. Those threads were just good for views which I made the most of.

It's called exposure and making the most of an opportunity. I'll explain it to you sometime.

[Alprazolam]

bingo.
fuck what people on gfy think.
dont trust anyone.
do what is right for YOU.
there is no WE.
soon as everyone gets that straight, they'll be better off.
i'm out for myself.
ME.

fuck all of you.

[Atticus]

Originally Posted by Barefootsies

*snicker*

That actually goes to show how little you know champ. I did not get all those people banned then. Nor the dozens banned in the past few months since BarryP took over either. I have explained this a number of times before. Sheeple like yourself just credited me with it. I did not accept or deny it. Those threads were just good for views which I made the most of.

It's called exposure and making the most of an opportunity. I'll explain it to you sometime.

I didnt say you got them banned, nor did I even imply it. You were just acting like an all around jackass. Which contradicts this sound piece of advice you gave a few posts up.

Many people need to stop worrying about everyone else, what they are or are not doing, or spending endless hours digging up bullshit on complete strangers of the internet you do not like.

[gleem]

edit: I'm not getting sucked into posts anymore my experience is the more time you spend posting on GFY the less money you make.

[Barefootsies]

Originally Posted by Atticus

I didnt say you got them banned, nor did I even imply it. You were just acting like an all around jackass. Which contradicts this sound piece of advice you gave a few posts up.

Let me make sure I understand your idiocy or attempt at logic here.

1. I make a thread when someone was banned to get mad views on an industry forum.
2. This equates to me worrying about their business, personal lives, digging up info on them?

Wow. Others have tried to bridge two distant point in the past, but this one takes the cake.

[quiet]

ibill. i just didn't talk about it all, and instead worked very hard to continue getting the wires. they still (and always will) owe me 260K, but it could have been much, much worse. i don't mind talking about it now though lol.

[tony286]

Originally Posted by quiet

ibill. i just didn't talk about it all, and instead worked very hard to continue getting the wires. they still (and always will) owe me 260K, but it could have been much, much worse. i don't mind talking about it now though lol.

they screwed me out of 13k. I was going thru old papers to throw out and found the old installment agreement with them and got annoyed all over again. lol

[notime]

The Epass business model is brilliant. So brilliant that it has become a real threat to established banks and financial institutions worldwide.
Sending money for 30 cents instantly across the globe beats any bank charging 20$ to 50$ for a wire that takes 3 to 7 days.
P2P, visa, wire withdrawls, etc. The idea is perfect/brilliant.

Various countries and the established order might not like this for their own personal reasons like monetary control and 'unfair' competition.

Maybe Mallick should sell it to Google.

[HomerSimpson]

Finally a positive and usable post.
Way to go Shap!



PS:
My father use to say:
Small debtor is just a debtor
Big debtor is your partner!

[Atticus]

Originally Posted by Barefootsies

Let me make sure I understand your idiocy or attempt at logic here.

1. I make a thread when someone was banned to get mad views on an industry forum.
2. This equates to me worrying about their business, personal lives, digging up info on them?

Wow. Others have tried to bridge two distant point in the past, but this one takes the cake.

Another quote from an above post...

However, for whatever reasons, many want to put on this moral superiority, I am the popular kid on the playground, high horse facade for some kind of personal gain.

You're the LAST person on GFY who should be talking about leaving drama out of things and concentrating on business.

[Barefootsies]

Originally Posted by Atticus

You're the LAST person on GFY who should be talking about leaving drama out of things and concentrating on business.

Thanks for the laugh kid.

I have made more money off GFY and drama in a month then you probably make all year. I always get a chuckle off ignorant people like yourself who are not only so easy to dup with some fake drama,... but also to kick you over and get you do my bidding. Which is to keep coming back for more and more bumping threads with your mindless insults.

Now be a good little lady and go start a Barefootsies thread name calling me some more. Then make sure you bump dat shit for 3-5 days. I will get my sig primed for the event.

[ShellyCrash]

I think what you're getting at is you catch more flies with honey than vinegar.

As much as we bullshit on this board and talk about everything under the sun from food to bad movies, GFY is a business tool and if you want to use it to butter someone's bread to get what you want, so be it. At the end of the day in business, business comes first. That I agree with.

Personally, I wouldn't go as far as to get someone's back if I felt it would be at the detriment of others. I don't know if that's also what's trying to be said here, but it does come off as being a little "Pied Piper"-ish.

[Atticus]

Originally Posted by Barefootsies

I have made more money off GFY and drama in a month then you probably make all year.

Thanks for the laugh sig whore. After the events of the last couple weeks it was needed.

Have a pleasant evening.

[topnotch, standup guy]

Originally Posted by Shap

People are crucifying epass without giving them a chance to pull out of this. I'm just saying man let's calm it down for a second. If the first batch of wires did go out on Friday that is great for everyone.

And how do these words differ from the posts you made in support of iBill?

Goddamn tube boy, you're still as transparent as a pane of freshly washed glass.

.

[Barefootsies]

Originally Posted by Atticus

After the events of the last couple weeks it was needed.

I am sure it was beer money baron.

Originally Posted by Atticus

Have a pleasant evening.

Will do... as always.

[will76]

Originally Posted by Shap

I've been in this industry for 14 years now. There is one thing that I've learned that has held true throughout and I think it's a piece of advice that some people here can benefit from.
Worry about what is best for YOU and YOUR business!

I've learned this time and time again. Over the years the gfy mob has gotten worse and worse. The reality is people spend their time posting here and trying to create something but at the end of the day very little ever happens. Nobody on here has your back. Every single person is out for themselves. This is a BUSINESS! Worry about YOUR BUSINESS and do what is BEST for YOUR BUSINESS!

I learned this first hand when iBill went down. People were losing their minds with good reason. Instead of attacking iBill and trying to call them out or get them to answer me on GFY I worked a different angle. I had established very solid relationships there and I worked on those relationships. What was the result? The majority of webmasters lost ALL their money and their entire members database. What did I get? I got a small wire (I think this was a little thank you for sticking up for them) and my entire database. To my knowledge I was the only person to get their database without it written in their contract. That was what was best for my BUSINESS! I lost a month of revenue but I kept all my members. The people that do business with me benefited from that. My members, affiliates, vendors, hosting, landlord everyone benefited from my determination to get my database.

I've been on both sides of the fence. I started out like most every other webmaster. I had no money, I was in university and just looking to make a few extra bucks. I worked hard and didn't take short cuts which meant the money came in much slower than it did for a lot of other people. Naturally I was jealous and very vocal on the boards. It pissed me off that other people were making more than I was by cutting corners. I hated the little clique of big guys that always got together and made guys like me feel like a small piece of shit. I tried to be vocal and tried be the guy that got things to change by getting the mob behind him. Nothing ever happened. Nothing ever changed. Everybody I challenged or campaigned against continued to make more and more money while I was making the same or less because I was spending my time and energy on boards instead of worrying about my business. I think things changed when I went from just running free sites to running TwistysCash. I realized other people's livelihood was in my hands and I had to be responsible and make decisions based on what was best for my BUSINESS and not for my own personal/moral issues.

Worry about what is best for YOU and YOUR business!

but per your own logic, you are worrying about us and not your own business with this post. If you followed your own advice you wouldn't have made this thread and spent that last 10 minutes on your own business.

"posting" in general no matter what you post about (helping people or trolling) really doesn't help your business, at least not from the stand point of you wasting time here vs spending that time on your business making money.

People post for many reasons, to help, to feel important, to release stress, because they don't have a life and want friends, etc. Doesn't matter what your post about, if you a Bro, troll, mob, or whatever, if you posting you not working.

[will76]

Originally Posted by Shap

People are crucifying epass without giving them a chance to pull out of this. I'm just saying man let's calm it down for a second. If the first batch of wires did go out on Friday that is great for everyone.

without giving them a chance, like making comments like this you mean?:

Originally Posted by Shap

2010 has been really crazy. I knew things would be rough but I don't think anybody expected things to get as crazy and bad as they have.

Money that is earned and owed is VANISHING in thin air.
- Sponsors are closing up shop and not paying out the last amounts owed.
- Webmaster Checks gets accounts frozen. Sponsors still have not received a penny of their own money back from Webmaster Checks.
- Epassorte

Before this Epass situation I had already been screwed for more in 2010 than all of my 14 years in adult COMBINED! This shit is crazy and I know it's only the tip of the iceberg. We are nowhere near the turning point imo.

I'm taking this epassporte situation as a HUGE Wake Up Call. We run a tight ship here but I'm going to tighten things up even more. Going to really be careful with who I do business with and that includes sponsors, affiliates, billers, whatever.

Have recent events changed how you are going to run your business moving forward?

[Quence]

Shap is a grade-A scumbag.

Yeah, take advice from him.

[will76]

Shap you a pretty smart and successful guy, but you are also an emotional guy. The problem is that you are emotional but not consistent... you change your opinions and views like I change underwear. Like you crucifying people for having 1 pre checked cross sale to you doing it yourself 6 months later and then saying " oh its ok" (now that you doing it). etc...

Thats the problem with inconsistent emotional people, they are all on sides of an issue but they always think the side they are on (at the moment) is the 100% correct place to be.

it's ok to change your mind naturally, but when you are a cheer leader on one side, then switch teams and be a cheerleader for the other, it just makes you look silly and like you have an ego issue " i think i am always right" attitude.

If you going to be out spoken, at least make sure it is something that you (really) believe in and stick with it. And the last thing, when you pull a 180, don't come back and preach / talk down to the people who were doing what you were doing the day before. that adds arrogance to the mix.

[Paul Markham]

So shaving, cross selling and screwing customers is fine. If it's suit you and your business.

Shap you sometimes come up with some good advice in your quest to troll GFY. But this piece of advice has led us to where we are today.

The strength of the Internet was the way we worked together to provide a great living for all. By a few working for what suited them best today has crucified this industry.

So your advice is "Fuck you if it suits me best."

[count of monte cristo]

love everyone giving shap crap, float like a butterfly, sting like a bee, good businessman evolves to the situation

it was a great sign that they said they would send wires out, that put a 3 day or so limit to their claim and credibility

basically, if chris mallick figures he wont have a feasible business to salvage, then he may consider walking away with all of the money, but if they claim payments are going out, then he is trading money he could have kept otherwise to build goodwill for epass, which is a great sign for people holding epass funds, wallet or vv

guys like shap and allen from dating gold were very vocal from the start on gfy, a great strategy if you want your best chances to salvage your $$$

[k0nr4d]

[Paul Markham]

Here's the best pieces of advice I can offer.

What you do today effects tomorrow and tomorrow comes faster than you expected.

Thinking short term can fucked yourself and others long term.