The lessons that 11 years of working online taught me - GoFuckYourself.com

Libertine · 08-15-2009, 02:45 AM

Trite bullshit below. Feel free to ignore it.

1. Everything is possible if you want it.

Before I got into this industry, it had seemed impossible to me that someone could make a living pretty much watching porn all day. A few years later, I was making a living doing just that.

Whatever it is you enjoy doing, you can probably make a good living doing just that. Just be careful, because...

2. The things you want rarely turn out to be what you imagine them to be.

Before I entered this industry, spending hours a day watching porn seemed awesome to me. A few years in, it got boring. A few years after that, awful. Now, I've mostly moved out of it, and I'm planning to be completely out of this industry in a year or two.

The best way to ruin something that you occasionally enjoy is to make it your job.

3. In business, focus matters more than anything.

Over the years, I've made thousands of sites. Some hugely successful, quite a few reasonably successful, and the vast majority complete failures. Virtually everything that failed, failed because of a lack of focus. On the other hand, the things that succeeded were all things that succeeded because I went after them with drive and energy - even if the idea behind them was mediocre.

Success is built, not born.

4. The most profitable ideas are often the most boring ones.

There's more money in low-level marketing for big pharma than there is in the entire porn industry. A content-driven blog that reaches 200 industrial decision-makers a day is more valuable than a tube that reaches 200k porn surfers a day.

5. Connections matter.

A single dinner with a friend in a position to make decisions in a large company is more valuable than a thousand cold calls. A single recommendation from someone who is trusted and well-respected in a specific industry will get you more job opportunities than a decade of experience.

6. Panta rhei.

Everything changes constantly. Ignore that fact and you'll end up trying to sell typewriters to IBM.

7. 1% of people make 99% of all things happen.

You don't have to be among that 1% to be successful, but knowing them certainly helps. Leading is best, but if you can't, following the right people will still get you to the right place. Following the wrong ones will get you nowhere.

And finally...

Imagine winning $100 million. What would you do with your life? Once you were done buying toys, sitting on the beach and drinking cocktails, what are the challenges you would want to take up in life? Are they the same things you're doing now? If not - why?

Like I said, trite bullshit. It's worked for me, though

CYF · 08-15-2009, 02:54 AM

There's some good advice in here

WDG · 08-15-2009, 02:57 AM

Some wise words in there Libertine

L-Pink · 08-15-2009, 03:01 AM

Excellent

Matyko · 08-15-2009, 03:02 AM

Thanks for this post. Lot of wise thoughts

beta-tester · 08-15-2009, 03:24 AM

So true man... I've had the similar experience in my adult biz and it definitely works like that.

Zarathustra · 08-15-2009, 03:35 AM

I actually agreed on every single point, feels weird o_0

DidierE · 08-15-2009, 03:59 AM

Business post of the week (no, actually it's the best i've seen here all year).

Cheers!

Tube Ace · 08-15-2009, 04:04 AM

good post.

natron · 08-15-2009, 04:25 AM

thanks

Pornwolf · 08-15-2009, 04:28 AM

That wasn't a waste of time at all. Good post and very true.

mopek1 · 08-15-2009, 04:59 AM

Wow ... I wish we could have one thread like this everyday.

Thanks for posting. I didn't like what #5 and #6 had to say even though they were true. #5 meant that you need some luck ... #6 meant that once you are successful and comfortable, you can't sit back, you have to do more work, learn more and many times feel like you are starting over again which is always the hardest part.

Good stuff. - Can I take you to dinner? LOL

u-Bob · 08-15-2009, 05:39 AM

good stuff.

The Duck · 08-15-2009, 05:41 AM

Interesting to say the least. Thanks Libertine.

Libertine · 08-15-2009, 05:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mopek1

Wow ... I wish we could have one thread like this everyday.

Thanks for posting. I didn't like what #5 and #6 had to say even though they were true. #5 meant that you need some luck ... #6 meant that once you are successful and comfortable, you can't sit back, you have to do more work, learn more and many times feel like you are starting over again which is always the hardest part.

Good stuff. - Can I take you to dinner? LOL

#5 has absolutely nothing to do with luck. Networking is a skill.

Take, for example, a close friend of mine, whom I've known for about 15 years.

She's always been intelligent and a decent student, but nothing exceptional. However, in her first year at a local college, despite her mediocre results her networking skills got her the references to get into one of the top 3 universities in the world.

She finished that, though with less-than-stellar grades. Nevertheless, she got several prestigious fellowships, including a recent one at the US Congress. Recently, she got invited to apply for a great political job which she's absolutely unqualified for.

Her entire career is based on exactly three things: she has superior networking skills, she's a good talker, and she goes after what she wants. More intelligent and knowledgeable people with better qualifications don't get the positions she does, simply because they're not as good at building the right connections.

And that's the way it works everywhere: by making sure you get to know the right people you make sure you get the right opportunities. No matter how intelligent and skilled you might be, if you don't get noticed, you don't get asked. Business, dating, politics - whatever you do, making contacts is essential.

sysk · 08-15-2009, 05:54 AM

I would say that lack of focus is the most common problem

Hank_Heartland · 08-15-2009, 05:58 AM

Schools in session

quiet · 08-15-2009, 06:03 AM

god, everyone is doing these posts now... hmm, mayble i'll do one.

Libertine · 08-15-2009, 06:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by quiet

god, everyone is doing these posts now... hmm, mayble i'll do one.

We're older, the easy money is gone, many of us don't really need the money anymore, and the future of the industry looks neither particularly exciting nor bright. I suspect many of the people who've been in the industry for a decent amount of time have gotten out recently, are going to get out soon, or are considering getting out.

I think it's only natural to look back on the past decade with a bit of nostalgia, and think of the things learned in that time.

I'm curious to read your version, though

Nicky · 08-15-2009, 06:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sysk

I would say that lack of focus is the most common problem

CaptainHowdy · 08-15-2009, 06:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sysk

I would say that lack of focus is the most common problem

I couldn't agree more... great read, Libertine

!

bronco67 · 08-15-2009, 09:54 AM

I like that...

Especially number 5. My income in the last few years has been solely based on 2 contacts I made about 12 years ago.

woj · 08-15-2009, 10:07 AM

good read

Agent 488 · 08-15-2009, 11:05 AM

here's mine:

never believe to what people post on a message board. most online personalities are full of lies, misinformation and bs.

JamesK · 08-15-2009, 11:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by budsbabes

here's mine:

never believe to what people post on a message board. most online personalities are full of lies, misinformation and bs.

Yep, that's one of the first things I learned when I started working online. People are full of shit.

Agent 488 · 08-15-2009, 11:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JamesK

Yep, that's one of the first things I learned when I started working online. People are full of shit.

people are pretty much the opposite of what they appear/claim to be.

if they say they are a baller -they are most likely homeless.

if they say they are an expert on whatever - they most likely know nothing about what they talk about.

and most board personalities turn out to be thieves and losers.

DonovanTrent · 08-15-2009, 11:30 AM

All very good points in that post, Libertine.

slapass · 08-15-2009, 11:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by budsbabes

people are pretty much the opposite of what they appear/claim to be.

if they say they are a baller -they are most likely homeless.

if they say they are an expert on whatever - they most likely know nothing about what they talk about.

and most board personalities turn out to be thieves and losers.

That is amazing as I have done tons of business on this board and almost never had an issue. My experience is totally opposite of yours.

Barefootsies · 08-15-2009, 11:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Libertine

Trite bullshit below. Feel free to ignore it.

1. Everything is possible if you want it.

Before I got into this industry, it had seemed impossible to me that someone could make a living pretty much watching porn all day. A few years later, I was making a living doing just that.

Whatever it is you enjoy doing, you can probably make a good living doing just that. Just be careful, because...

2. The things you want rarely turn out to be what you imagine them to be.

Before I entered this industry, spending hours a day watching porn seemed awesome to me. A few years in, it got boring. A few years after that, awful. Now, I've mostly moved out of it, and I'm planning to be completely out of this industry in a year or two.

The best way to ruin something that you occasionally enjoy is to make it your job.

3. In business, focus matters more than anything.

Over the years, I've made thousands of sites. Some hugely successful, quite a few reasonably successful, and the vast majority complete failures. Virtually everything that failed, failed because of a lack of focus. On the other hand, the things that succeeded were all things that succeeded because I went after them with drive and energy - even if the idea behind them was mediocre.

Success is built, not born.

4. The most profitable ideas are often the most boring ones.

There's more money in low-level marketing for big pharma than there is in the entire porn industry. A content-driven blog that reaches 200 industrial decision-makers a day is more valuable than a tube that reaches 200k porn surfers a day.

5. Connections matter.

A single dinner with a friend in a position to make decisions in a large company is more valuable than a thousand cold calls. A single recommendation from someone who is trusted and well-respected in a specific industry will get you more job opportunities than a decade of experience.

6. Panta rhei.

Everything changes constantly. Ignore that fact and you'll end up trying to sell typewriters to IBM.

7. 1% of people make 99% of all things happen.

You don't have to be among that 1% to be successful, but knowing them certainly helps. Leading is best, but if you can't, following the right people will still get you to the right place. Following the wrong ones will get you nowhere.

And finally...

Imagine winning $100 million. What would you do with your life? Once you were done buying toys, sitting on the beach and drinking cocktails, what are the challenges you would want to take up in life? Are they the same things you're doing now? If not - why?

Like I said, trite bullshit. It's worked for me, though

cherrylula · 08-15-2009, 11:50 AM

all very true.

your friend sounds like she'd make a good politician.

BlackCrayon · 08-15-2009, 11:55 AM

i've learned that nothing is for certain and how you make money could change very much very fast. hell i've switched up the way i've done things at least 4-5 times in the 10 years i've been doing this. now porn is just more or less extra money and mainstream is where i make my real income. it could all change tomorrow though.

born2blog · 08-15-2009, 11:57 AM

Great thread Libertine

seeandsee · 08-15-2009, 12:06 PM

Imagine winning $100 million. What would you do with your life? Once you were done buying toys, sitting on the beach and drinking cocktails, what are the challenges you would want to take up in life? Are they the same things you're doing now? If not - why?

Start from start

dennisthemenace · 08-15-2009, 12:17 PM

Simple and brilliant if a person is wise enough to put their own bullshit down and just follow the proven roads.

Well done.

andrej_NDC · 08-15-2009, 03:38 PM

I agree with everything but one. I look at porn for 8 years and still love it. I was never bored of it, not for one second.

And I would add one thing: Simple and good targetted marketing is the only real marketing.

alias · 08-15-2009, 03:41 PM

This thread should be required reading, it is actually rather insightful. Thank you for your perspective.

Dcat · 08-15-2009, 04:05 PM

Nice!

CaptainHowdy · 08-15-2009, 06:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by budsbabes

here's mine:

never believe to what people post on a message board. most online personalities are full of lies, misinformation and bs.

That's a no-brainer...

d-null · 08-15-2009, 07:01 PM

I like this thread Libertine, good food for thought in your points

Brujah · 08-15-2009, 07:05 PM

Here's mine.

Wear Sunscreen

Riffhard · 08-15-2009, 07:37 PM

Guys are guys, girls are guys, and children are the FBI.

qxm · 08-15-2009, 07:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Riffhard

Guys are guys, girls are guys, and children are the FBI.

Spot on dude!

dready · 08-15-2009, 07:43 PM

Some great thoughts there. Thanks for posting.

swordfih · 08-15-2009, 07:43 PM

Best read so far

HighEnergy · 08-15-2009, 07:56 PM

Excellent post Libertine.

kiddies take heed, those 2630 characters speak volumes.

pornjudge · 08-15-2009, 10:45 PM

Sounds like you have been reading to much MLM ;)

Semi-Retired-Dave · 08-15-2009, 10:49 PM

Great Post, I can relate.

brassmonkey · 08-15-2009, 10:55 PM

dang thats a exhale

Elixir · 08-16-2009, 01:00 AM

Sound pretty good !

VeriSexy · 08-16-2009, 01:01 AM

Makes me step back and ponder

08-15-2009, 02:45 AM	#1
Libertine sex dwarf Join Date: May 2002 Posts: 17,860	The lessons that 11 years of working online taught me Trite bullshit below. Feel free to ignore it. 1. Everything is possible if you want it. Before I got into this industry, it had seemed impossible to me that someone could make a living pretty much watching porn all day. A few years later, I was making a living doing just that. Whatever it is you enjoy doing, you can probably make a good living doing just that. Just be careful, because... 2. The things you want rarely turn out to be what you imagine them to be. Before I entered this industry, spending hours a day watching porn seemed awesome to me. A few years in, it got boring. A few years after that, awful. Now, I've mostly moved out of it, and I'm planning to be completely out of this industry in a year or two. The best way to ruin something that you occasionally enjoy is to make it your job. 3. In business, focus matters more than anything. Over the years, I've made thousands of sites. Some hugely successful, quite a few reasonably successful, and the vast majority complete failures. Virtually everything that failed, failed because of a lack of focus. On the other hand, the things that succeeded were all things that succeeded because I went after them with drive and energy - even if the idea behind them was mediocre. Success is built, not born. 4. The most profitable ideas are often the most boring ones. There's more money in low-level marketing for big pharma than there is in the entire porn industry. A content-driven blog that reaches 200 industrial decision-makers a day is more valuable than a tube that reaches 200k porn surfers a day. 5. Connections matter. A single dinner with a friend in a position to make decisions in a large company is more valuable than a thousand cold calls. A single recommendation from someone who is trusted and well-respected in a specific industry will get you more job opportunities than a decade of experience. 6. Panta rhei. Everything changes constantly. Ignore that fact and you'll end up trying to sell typewriters to IBM. 7. 1% of people make 99% of all things happen. You don't have to be among that 1% to be successful, but knowing them certainly helps. Leading is best, but if you can't, following the right people will still get you to the right place. Following the wrong ones will get you nowhere. And finally... Imagine winning $100 million. What would you do with your life? Once you were done buying toys, sitting on the beach and drinking cocktails, what are the challenges you would want to take up in life? Are they the same things you're doing now? If not - why? Like I said, trite bullshit. It's worked for me, though __________________ /(bb\|[^b]{2})/

08-15-2009, 02:54 AM	#2
CYF Coupon Guru Industry Role: Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Minneapolis Posts: 10,973	There's some good advice in here __________________ Webmaster Coupons Coupons and discounts for hosting, domains, SSL Certs, and more! AmeriNOC Coupons \| Certified Hosting Coupons \| Hosting Coupons \| Domain Name Coupons

08-15-2009, 02:57 AM	#3
WDG Confirmed User Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 227	Some wise words in there Libertine __________________ We build your dating brand, not ours.

08-15-2009, 04:28 AM	#11
Pornwolf Drunk and Unruly Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Hollywood Posts: 22,712	That wasn't a waste of time at all. Good post and very true. __________________ I've trusted my sites to them for over a decade... Webair, bitches.

08-15-2009, 05:41 AM	#14
The Duck Adult Content Provider Industry Role: Join Date: May 2005 Location: Europe Posts: 18,243	Interesting to say the least. Thanks Libertine. __________________ Skype Horusmaia ICQ 41555245 Email [email protected]

08-15-2009, 03:01 AM	#4
L-Pink working on my tan Industry Role: Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Florida/Kentucky Posts: 39,152	Excellent

08-15-2009, 03:02 AM	#5
Matyko PsyHead Industry Role: Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Hungary Posts: 8,632	Thanks for this post. Lot of wise thoughts __________________ -=- Register with our ref link and we help you with the setup! -=- AdSpyglass.com - Double your profit from brokers

08-15-2009, 03:24 AM	#6
beta-tester Rock 'n Roll Baby! Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: USA, temporarly Posts: 22,562	So true man... I've had the similar experience in my adult biz and it definitely works like that. __________________ Sig for sale. Affordable prices. Contact me and get a great deal ;) My contact: ICQ: 944-320-46 e-mail: manca {AT} HotFreeSex4All.com

08-15-2009, 03:35 AM	#7
Zarathustra Confirmed User Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 1,095	I actually agreed on every single point, feels weird o_0

08-15-2009, 03:59 AM	#8
DidierE Confirmed User Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 380	Business post of the week (no, actually it's the best i've seen here all year). Cheers!

08-15-2009, 04:04 AM	#9
Tube Ace So Fucking Banned Industry Role: Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: with your dream girl Posts: 4,941	good post.

08-15-2009, 04:25 AM	#10
natron Confirmed User Industry Role: Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: the internets Posts: 7,458	thanks

08-15-2009, 04:59 AM	#12
mopek1 Confirmed User Industry Role: Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Canada Posts: 2,971	Wow ... I wish we could have one thread like this everyday. Thanks for posting. I didn't like what #5 and #6 had to say even though they were true. #5 meant that you need some luck ... #6 meant that once you are successful and comfortable, you can't sit back, you have to do more work, learn more and many times feel like you are starting over again which is always the hardest part. Good stuff. - Can I take you to dinner? LOL

08-15-2009, 05:39 AM	#13
u-Bob there's no $$$ in porn Industry Role: Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: icq: 195./568.-230 (btw: not getting offline msgs) Posts: 33,063	good stuff.

08-15-2009, 05:54 AM	#16
sysk Confirmed User Industry Role: Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Montreal Posts: 1,005	I would say that lack of focus is the most common problem __________________ icq: 612510168 / email: [email protected] / php ninja 4 hire

08-15-2009, 05:58 AM	#17
Hank_Heartland Confirmed User Industry Role: Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: chicago, il Posts: 3,987	Schools in session __________________ Icq = 459565429 AIM = butlerhankb http://stripperpins.com Twitter = @stripperpins Facebook = Stripperpins.com [email protected]

08-15-2009, 06:03 AM	#18
quiet we'll miss you our friend. RIP Industry Role: Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Fernie, BC Posts: 25,115	god, everyone is doing these posts now... hmm, mayble i'll do one.

08-15-2009, 09:54 AM	#22
bronco67 Too lazy to set a custom title Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 29,035	I like that... Especially number 5. My income in the last few years has been solely based on 2 contacts I made about 12 years ago. __________________

08-15-2009, 10:07 AM	#23
woj <&(©¿©)&> Industry Role: Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Chicago Posts: 47,883	good read __________________ Custom Software Development, email: woj#at#wojfun#.#com to discuss details or skype: wojl2000 or gchat: wojfun or telegram: wojl2000 Affiliate program tools: Hosted Galleries Manager Banner Manager Video Manager Wordpress Affiliate Plugin Pic/Movie of the Day Fansign Generator Zip Manager

08-15-2009, 11:05 AM	#24
Agent 488 Registered User Industry Role: Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 22,511	here's mine: never believe to what people post on a message board. most online personalities are full of lies, misinformation and bs.

08-15-2009, 11:30 AM	#27
DonovanTrent Confirmed User Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Las Vegas, NV Posts: 968	All very good points in that post, Libertine. __________________ Donovan Trent

08-15-2009, 11:50 AM	#30
cherrylula lol Industry Role: Join Date: Jan 2002 Posts: 15,969	all very true. your friend sounds like she'd make a good politician.

08-15-2009, 11:55 AM	#31
BlackCrayon Too lazy to set a custom title Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Ottawa Posts: 19,624	i've learned that nothing is for certain and how you make money could change very much very fast. hell i've switched up the way i've done things at least 4-5 times in the 10 years i've been doing this. now porn is just more or less extra money and mainstream is where i make my real income. it could all change tomorrow though. __________________ you don't know you're wearing a leash if you sit by the peg all day..

08-15-2009, 11:57 AM	#32
born2blog Confirmed User Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 1,801	Great thread Libertine __________________ Juicy Ads - Buy & Sell Quality Traffic!!

08-15-2009, 12:06 PM	#33
seeandsee Check SIG! Industry Role: Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Europe (Skype: gojkoas) Posts: 50,945	Imagine winning $100 million. What would you do with your life? Once you were done buying toys, sitting on the beach and drinking cocktails, what are the challenges you would want to take up in life? Are they the same things you're doing now? If not - why? Start from start __________________ BUY MY SIG - 50$/Year Contact here

08-15-2009, 12:17 PM	#34
dennisthemenace Confirmed User Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: In the present moment Posts: 2,667	Simple and brilliant if a person is wise enough to put their own bullshit down and just follow the proven roads. Well done. __________________ All the best to you

08-15-2009, 03:38 PM	#35
andrej_NDC Registered User Industry Role: Join Date: May 2004 Posts: 7,760	I agree with everything but one. I look at porn for 8 years and still love it. I was never bored of it, not for one second. And I would add one thing: Simple and good targetted marketing is the only real marketing.

08-15-2009, 03:41 PM	#36
alias aliasx Join Date: Apr 2001 Posts: 19,010	This thread should be required reading, it is actually rather insightful. Thank you for your perspective. __________________ https://porncorporation.com

08-15-2009, 04:05 PM	#37
Dcat Confirmed User Industry Role: Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Mexico Posts: 1,607	Nice!

08-15-2009, 07:01 PM	#39
d-null . . . Industry Role: Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: NY Posts: 13,724	I like this thread Libertine, good food for thought in your points __________________ __________________ Looking for a custom TUBE SCRIPT that supports massive traffic, load balancing, billing support, and h264 encoding? Hit up Konrad! Looking for designs for your websites or custom tubesite design? Hit up Zuzana Designs Check out the #1 WordPress SEO Plugin: CyberSEO Suite

08-15-2009, 07:05 PM	#40
Brujah Beer Money Baron Industry Role: Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: brujah / gmail Posts: 22,157	Here's mine. Wear Sunscreen __________________ Free Premium Domain Lists and Tools at Clickmojo.com For Sale: Obscenity.com

08-15-2009, 07:37 PM	#41
Riffhard Confirmed User Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Tampa Bay, FL Posts: 659	Guys are guys, girls are guys, and children are the FBI. __________________ Glad to be here. Glad to be anywhere.

08-15-2009, 07:43 PM	#43
dready Confirmed User Industry Role: Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Toronto, ON Posts: 5,247	Some great thoughts there. Thanks for posting. __________________ ICQ: 91139591

08-15-2009, 07:43 PM	#44
swordfih Registered User Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: a few clicks from disneyland Posts: 70	Best read so far __________________ lamp?

08-15-2009, 07:56 PM	#45
HighEnergy So Fucking Banned Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 806	Excellent post Libertine. kiddies take heed, those 2630 characters speak volumes.