Don't Be a Fucking Guru

This is getting out of hand.

In my line of work, I come across a lot of people who are always “developing their personal brand.”

I got nothing but love for the hustle. Anyone trying to make a living doing what they love is cool in my book. However, I am starting to get irritated by a select few.

You know who I’m talking about. The guru. The know it all. The “follow me and get rich” guy. I got no respect for these guys.

You know what I respect? Work. I respect people who have actually built something. I respect people who have given themselves to help other people. I respect doers.

I just don’t find it necessary to talk about everything like I have all the answers. Especially because when you research these “self-help experts” and “life coaches” you find that a lot of them haven’t actually built anything. It’s like the social media version of Paris Hilton.

Check Your Motives

I have been feeling uneasy lately. I have been working hard on growing a new department of my company. I have been doing what I do best, which is marketing and growing a brand.

Stodzy Media is a social media based digital marketing firm. It is a completely new department then Stodzy Treatment and it is starting from the ground up. In order to do this I am using the same methods I preach. I am creating content, I am creating value and I am building an audience.

In order to do this, I am worried that I am participating in this same system that I despise.

Yes, I am an expert at marketing, especially social media and content. However, I don’t know everything. I have a lot to learn and I don’t feel as though that is something that I need to hide.

In fact, the more people I hear talking about how much they know and how great they are, the more discouraged I get. Why not just be yourself? Why not just say that you are doing the best you can and build a loyal audience that way?

To Make Matters Worse

I was listening to the MFCEO podcast on my way to the gym last night. This un-easiness had been resonating with me all day. I was shocked when I heard Andy Frisella talking about the same exact thing on his podcast.

He called them “motivation zombies.” The people who absorb all this motivational content and sit around talking about their great ideas but never roll up their sleeves and accomplish something.

15 minutes later I was stretching in the sauna before my workout, and 3 of the people were taking “sauna selfies.” They are sending out their perfect prefabricated image to portray a version of themselves that they want you to see. I don’t know these guys so I don’t want to make assumptions, but I was sitting there thinking “what have these guys actually built?”

They are sending out content to make people believe a specific idea about themselves, but are they actually helping anyone or providing value?

I know I am ranting, but this shit really bothers me. I work really really hard to make sure what I do is adding value to the world and this new breed of life coach and self-help experts and motivational speakers makes me want to fucking vomit. My team does not buy into this. We get shit done. That’s what it’s about.

The truth is I am probably looking into this too much. But that’s just how I feel.

My Commitment

I strive to always be searching for the balance. I don’t want to be the guy who posts an article and validates myself on its traffic. I sure as fuck don’t want to be the guy who validates myself through Instagram selfies. I want to build real shit, with real people and impact real lives while doing real work.

I want to build shit. I don’t want an image. I don’t want a facade, I want a lucrative and successful company that provides a great service and helps people.

Success should be measured by the lives you impact. Everywhere I turn I see motivational quotes and inspirational snaps and fucking garbage that dilutes the real technical knowledge that these “experts” should be providing.

I’m not a phony. I’m not a guru. If you are trying to be one, I think you should check yourself.

For everyone else, please don’t be fooled by this bullshit. If someone is trying really hard to convince you of something, there is probably a reason for that. There is no such thing as a guru. There is only people who have done and people who have not done.

Which one are you?