Back in 1999, my friend Chet suggested that I begin keeping a journal and documenting how I spent my time, and what I did in my business on a daily basis.
He then gave me three REALLY good reasons for doing so.
1. It would be valuable for me to look back on, to remember all the experiences I had, and how I got to where I am in life.
2. It would be a great document for me to pass on to my children.
3. When I became successful (as I expected to), it would be a great document for anyone else who wanted to know how I did it, and how they too can have the same kind of results in their own life.
Though I didn’t give it much thought at the time, I WAS smart enough to take his advice, and I began keeping a daily journal.
Today, as I look at that journal, I think back to that conversation with Chet, because I now realize how important it was.
Little did I know at the time, how my life would unfold.
Who would’ve ever guessed that I’d be where I am today – certainly not me.
I sure as heck couldn’t have envisioned it back in 1999.
And to think, I’ve got EVERY SINGLE MOMENT of the journey documented – day-by-day, week-by-week, month-by-month.
Starting from when I was making just a few thousand a month, all the way up to present day, where that figure is well over 100K each month.
For the first time ever, I’m thinking of releasing my Lifestyle-Business Journal to the public, but I need your help before I do.
I know how much this journal is worth (because I know how much I’ve made over the years).
But if I were to release this journal, how much should I actually charge for it?
How much would it be worth to you?
Let me know by posting your comments at the bottom of this page.
Thanks in advance for the help.
Dedicated to your success,
Kevin Thompson
“The Automatic Income Coach”
if you were publishing it in hard copy and selling it for the price of a biography/autobiography, I reckon that it would sell well. Say 30 USD.
Hi Kevin,
What a great resource a journal is – for all the reasons that you and Chet discussed, and so many more.
What sorts of tangible information is contained in your journal? How applicable are the contents to others? Does it read like a memoir, or like a business blueprint? Does it delve into your moves in detail, or does it provide a broad overview? Many who keep journals leave out the “steps”; since they were the ones to make the moves, they know, and can recall intrinsically, the “how” of going from point A to point B.
I think those questions are important ones to consider before discussing a price point. I have no doubt that you’ll continue to deliver quality – but in this case, what sort?
Your life is fascinating and very interesting. The struggles you have experienced along the way have catapulted you to success – forging a will to achieve your dreams. Your perseverance is most impressive.
Thank you for taking the time to share your life with us.
Thanks for your time and heartfelt consideration of this reply.
All the best,
John
This is exactly what you put in the teaser email – value -0-.
As a lead capture – like everybody else – value 10.00 = for a lead you already had.
it should be a free bonus
Hi Kevin,
I think it’s a great idea. Makes me think I should start keeping a journal too. Not to sell later on but more to keep focused. I’m sure it would help me get more done.
As far as the price, I’m sure it would be worth much more than I could afford to pay right now so I probably don’t count. Seems like it would be huge too with all those years worth of journals?
All the best with it.
Sally
Hi Kevin, That is a very good guestion. It would be hard to but a price on it because it is priceless. It would be worth a lot to me because I know to get where you want to be you have to find somebody that is where you want to be and learn from them.
I guess that I’m probably not a good person to ask. I do at some point want to have
an internet business,however I just can not seem to get every thing together including
money.At the present time I am retired so to speak and I am past retirement age. I have
had several internet purchases ,one of which was a book dealing with low blood platelets
. after several emails I wound up with the first 18 pages of 74. The price paid was
about $50. and might have been worth it if it had been complete. I seems to have been
a problem with the one initial download. Oh well. Anyway if a person is just starting
a business or is strugling to get going I guess it might be between 50&500.
so I guess I dont have a very good idea.
Kevin, Hi! I think offering a journal of your business experiences is a great ideal for someone just starting a business. However, as you are aware, anyone who is just starting out to establish his or her business more than likely will have a limited budget. So from my perspective if you price this journal so it is affordable, and it can be perceived as a value in starting a new business then I believe you should move forward with your offering. Respectfully, I wish you much sucess in your new journal offering!
I’m 50 years old and a working engineer. I’d say $500 but I don’t know really. In a sense a journal seems harder to sell stand alone as can it be used immediately like a step by step course? And yet I know it is super valuable as a record of what you went through & your moxie. I think it is better referenced to a concise course of current knowledge you sell (step by step course) or maybe sold in pieces? It is making me why a monthly fee structure might really work as I’d love to access your journal for encouragement. I’m having trouble getting started on the Internet the same as an earlier blogger, and I really think you are the guy to help me. I find you have a very honest and focused presentation. You sell without appearing to sell, but I also need all the facts to know what I’m getting into instead of dropping later due to a bad fit so I keep connecting. My plan is to keep reading your stuff until I find my fit here as I do need a coach. I’m after a slow start with some early income but knowing there will be good income later & not another dead end. 4-5 hrs/wk is a start but now I realize there is serious income here developed over time…and the freedome part to match. I’d like to read your journal but I’m going to need your current knowledge that you coach today. Again this is the first time I’ve sincerely said Thanks and Glad you really made it! Congrats!!
It would sell but not be worth much to anyone wishing to succeed. Looking at the work of others is not the same as applying one’s self.
The basic guidelines are simple:
1) How much time can you devote to work each day and still maintain your health, family, and balance? Allot the time, and do not surpass it.
2) Do the things that are essential to your day first and (as much as is possible) in order of importance.
3) Observe and listen more than do the speaking. Learn from the mistakes of others.
4) Avoid being critical of others or yourself.
5) When you feel drawn off purpose, excuse yourself at first opportunity, and take some time to clear and re-focus.
6) Learn how to speak clearly.
7) Learn to communicate by asking questions to get the other party(s) involved in a positive way.
Your personal journal might be successful in its own right as a book at a price of, say, $30 USD. A useful add-on product might be a blank template notebook to help us jump-start our own journaling process. Finally, a supremely useful add-on product would be a CUSTOMIZABLE ELECTRONIC TEMPLATE version, possibly delivered *online* (i.e. web-based) so we could set up our own journals based on our occupations, interests and goals and update/maintain them wherever we are in the world. This could be sold for a one-time fee ($249, including tutorial?) and possibly an ongoing subscription for continuing online access. Just my thoughts, for whatever they might be worth… >;->
Hi Kevin,
As many have written, it would be very valuable to anyone, like me
who is building a business. Many who need it most would have trouble
paying some monetary equivalent of that value. I’m one of those people.
I think writing a journal of daily business activity is very
worthwhile. Publishing or distributing it, as you are considering doing
, as an afterthought, is great. For people starting out, though, it is
a good idea not to entertain thoughts of doing that. Doing so is likely
to bias the entries, like a diary you know your mother is going to read.
Cheers, Stephen
Kevin,
If you are to publish this as a tangible book to be available at book stores like Borders, I’d suggest you keep it comparable to other books published. Somewhere between $14.95 and $19.95. If it’s an internet download, usually those are less than printed material, so $10.95. I am not one of your customers for your internet business, but I’d recommend offering it to those customers at no charge. Since they’ve already spent $1000+ and received a bunch of your insights, I’m not sure how valuable it would be to them.
Gina
Hey Kevin Thompson
Iencourage you to release this journal,because if when you have much knowledge about any subject,don’t keep it only for yourself.Share your knowledgement and experience in life and business, to other people, for to help them get success and better thei life,like you did.do it please and God bless you/
Like your whole process, a book would only be as valuable as the time a person spent using it. What do you charge for something like that? Are you doing it for the money or the true love you have in wanting others to be successful? Cover the true price of printing and call it good.
I think it would be an invaluable resource or reference. However I think if it is not an actual instruction step by step, “do this, get this” then I think it would be good to give as free resource, such as the free plus shipping for print version item to introduce to coaching program, for instance.
Hi Kevin,
I have know idea how much your journal would sell for. I would do some research on it and see what you come up with. I can see that it is very valuable and could help others to see how it has taken you through life and would be a great witness to know how to move a head in life.
Also Kevin I would not rule out eBooks. Did you know that eBooks out sold hard covered and soft covered books last year They out sold Amazon, and all other book stores. People are going to the internet for everything now.
Check out my website when you get a chance.
Kevin, take care and God has richly blessed you.
Betty
Hi Kevin,
Your journal might make a great added bonus to the other programs you offer. It’s value depends on how applicable the info is to the reader. The fastest way I have found to learn is by following the path of knowledge of a successful person in a given field of expertise. That said, the journal could be an invaluable tool in the learning process.
Just remember your journal is YOUR personal journey, and nobody can replicate it exactly and may be disappointed if their life doesn’t turn out as yours. We are each unique and need to find our own path in life, with guidance from those more knowlegable or experienced. Your journal may serve as a springboard for others, but then your personal journey becomes public, and not everyone is kind!
Hi Kevin, My initial thoughts are that a book format would require a significant re-write and editing in addition to “inserting” or “adding” copy of what you have since learned after having gone through certain processes and events, perhaps with a bit of humor interjected. I agree with Gina’s comment regarding price, assuming it would be a paperback.
A “free bonus” or e-type pamphlet would be much quicker to produce but at the same time may be of less value to the reader as it would take a considerable amount of time (I imagine) to wade through your journal to find significant milestones. It sounds like this would require a significant index for use later as a reference. I feel it certainly would be a worthwhile project based upon your experiences and achievements!
All the best,
Mark
Hello Kevin! What A good Post! Telling your story is what it’s all about, Keeping a Private Journal is great to document your life and publish a book later! great job!
Best idea yet – Do what Matt Furey did with “The Unbeatable Man”. Create multiple books and keep the readers yearning for the next book.
Hi Kevin,
Your journal sounds very valuable. A couple of factors would decide how much for me. 1. The human interest side of it. Learning how you moved through the process of expanding your business and what the key ingredients were that went into those expansions, e.g., Matt telling you, “Babies make money,” and how that motivated you to move. 2. The technical information that you used to expand your business and what we could use from that to incorporate in our business. 3. A part of that would be learning about the numerous resources you used and how they might be useful for us. Of particular value would be a glimpse into how you used the network you have, like when you decided to get consultation, how you decided when it would be useful, how you established the contact/rapport and how rather self-reliant/shy individuals can learn to make the most of networking potentials. Highlighting these kinds of values and giving a glimpse of how these benefits would be available through your journal would make it very valuable. It might even be presented as a course–of using your journal as a base and then teaching us how to apply your way of working in our own businesses. I’d have a better idea of the journal’s value if I could see a page or two of the format and how I could see using it for myself. In any event, it would be very valuable, I’m sure. How much to charge? I’d really need to know more about the size and the benefits. Thanks for asking.