A word to the longer term members at WA

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869 followers

To the long term members here at WA, I'd like to offer my thanks. Many of you have helped me out with advice or training. I've made sure that most of those who have helped me know that they have done so by either commenting on their training or pm'ing them my thanks or a question to clarify.

Many of you have taken your time to help the newer members with questions and problems. I'd like to encourage even more of the members here to do so. Even if you would only answer a couple of questions a week or even a couple per month. Sometimes it seems like there are only about 25 or 30 people here that have an opinion about anything.

I know that it's a pretty big group because I can see how many people show up for Jay's (magistudios) live training on Friday nights at 8 pm Eastern. Newer members, if you haven't checked these out please do so soon. You are missing a truly magnificent resource in your Wealthy Affiliate membership.

I have seen questions come up that I, as a newer member, know the answer to, so I'm sure that you more experienced folks do as well. Your experience in the trenches would help so many newer members. We'd love to see you post about how you got to where you are at now, How to overcome that mental block, How to avoid the fear of social media (I'm guilty of this one). You don't need to give us your deepest darkest secrets, but little glimmers of hope and encouragement would surely be welcomed by many. Some people won't thank you, and some may become your new best friends.

For those that have helped me I'll do anything that's legal to return the favor. I'm kind of like a puppy in this regard, I won't lick your hand though ;-)

Some people only seem to speak to the same people in live chat and ignore everyone else. Yes, it is noticed. Maybe you are like me, an introvert. If I met you in public I'd be the guy in the corner quietly sipping his drink and not saying much if anything, but on here? I'm not so introverted and thanks to y'all for helping to draw me out of that shell. I promise that if you answera couple of questions people will notice and I haven't seen anyone get bitten yet. If you make a mistake in your answer and someone points it out, just acknowledge that you didn't realize that. It will improve your life as well as the people that you are helping. I've made errors in replying, I try to graciously thank the person that corrected me, file the info away for the next time someone asks, and move on.

Some people don't think that there is much of an active community here. Watch live chat for 7 days like a new person would. You probably will see the same names over and over answering questions. There's plenty of room for you.

No, you won't make money, or become famous, or better looking by answering. BUT you will have the gratitude of new members and some existing members. You'll probably also get a little warm fuzzy feeling around your heart knowing that you helped someone through a problem that you yourself may have faced when you began.

I only know a couple of you personally, but I'd like to know more of you. I'd really like to make this community even better than it is. You CAN make a difference in someone's progress, maybe even their life, by answering a question or providing a little advice or encouragement today. If you don't want to answer questions post one WA blog a month on the same kind of subjects. Tips for success, How to do X, Why I did blank, 5 best methods of ___________.

Just call me that new old guy here in WA, or if you read my blog and don't like something call me out of touch, crazy, or whatever. My point is just PLEASE get involved in some way. When you started I'm fairly certain that there were people there for you. Be there for someone else.

I'm in no way suggesting that you make this place like some do with FaceBook where it is an addiction almost. Maybe just 5 or 10 minutes a day. Every litlle bit helps. Thanks,

Bryan and other newbies


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Recent Comments

39

I love helping newbies. I've seen affiliate marketing change people's lives and if I can be a part of that, I feel very blessed.

Jeannine, thanks for helping newbies. I'll probably be contacting you (by pm) in the next week or so.

Wow, Bryan. I forgot you're a newbie! You're very articulate and write very well. Great post, and I agree with you.

I, too, am a socialmediaphobe, but I realize that I do need to learn to use it to further my cause.I must admit I'm still sorta dragging my feet on really getting to know how to use Google+, though.

You might not realize it because, like you, I'm not so shy online, but I am very shy and hate going up and introducing myself to people in person that I don't know. Don't like parties or large groups of people I don't know, either.

Guess I'd better get myself to bed. Have a busy day ahead of me tomorrow, and it needs to start before noon!

Carol

Introduce myself? Only if someone is holding a gun to my head lol

From one introvert to another, I hear ya, bro! Have a great weekend. I promise I won't ask you to introduce yourself to anyone in person today! TeeHee. Carol

Carol, I truly want to thank you and several others on here such as SachiKashi, MaryCameron, Dragonfly10, IrishLassie, BillandSue, Bryanb007, and SantaFez (that's the one's that have commented on this post), but there are so many more...... I've NEVER felt like I belonged anywhere that I have been, but WA is a different, special, kind of place.

I'm sure that if I met many of you in person I'd go back to not having a thing to say, but one on one I'm usually somewhat okay. I feel like a valued member of the community here. Carol, that comment that you made about forgetting that I'm a newbie really touched my heart.

A part of this goes back to the time I was growing up I guess. I wasn't allowed to have more than one person over to the house, so that's probably why I am okay one on one. I don't even feel comfortable in family gatherings. There are many people there that I don't know, so I crawl back into my shell and try to find an inconspicuous place to hide out. I recently explained to my son and daughter in law that I never learned to socialize.

Working as a correction officer in a maximum security prison as a young guy didn't do much for me in that department either. If an inmate knows too much about you they can use it against you to their advantage. That's how a lot of contraband gets brought into prisons. So, you learn to shut up and just do the job.

Years and years and two million miles alone in a truck also added to that. I've never been to a high school reunion or anything such as that. Being an introvert truly hurts, but it's down deep, so nobody sees the pain.

Now, being disabled and older if I go into a WalMart or something and ride the little scooter people kind of look right through you. I can be trying to reach something down low and people will actually push by me in order to get what they want and continue on their merry way. If I am with someone else people will talk to them, but totally ignore me. Just watch the next time you go to a WalMart or other large store.

I was at a wholesale center not long ago and a woman was having a hard time getting an item from a higher shelf. I stopped my cart and asked if she needed help. She didn't know what to say! I got off the cart and shuffled the two steps to the shelf and got what she wanted. I also moved some of the other stock to the front of the shelf so that others wouldn't need to fight to get the item. She looked at me, shook her head, thanked me and left. She couldn't believe that I took the time and effort to do that.

It's a strange world that we live in.

I wish all of you success in your lives and your online journey. If you ever need help or an encouraging word just drop me a pm. I'm always happy to help. If I get used to the new medication dosages and can stay awake I'll be back to where I was before. I'm currently awake for an hour or two and then right back to sleep.

Bryan

Thanks for this heartfelt and beautiful reply, Bryan. I know that social anxiety and being an introvert can really be a difficult place to live.

I am following someone on here who has "introvert" as part of her screen name and a website about it. I think you might enjoy reading some of her posts. I'll have to look her up in my network because I haven't heard from her or seen her around lately.

As a former therapist, I am aware that people in wheelchairs or scooters are often ignored. I have never been able to figure that out, except that maybe they don't know what to say.

Do they not realize that you're a living, breathing human being, and that the assistive devices are just that, NOT the person?!

OK, I'll get off my soapbox now. I always make it a point to at least smile at anyone I see in a wheelchair, or on a scooter. Sometimes I don't have the energy to start a conversation, but it only takes a minute to smile.

I must admit, though, when I see morbidly obese (a medical term, not judgemental, although it does sound that way) people with their cheeks or thighs hanging over each side of the seat who are intent on barreling their way through the Walmart store, I do not have much empathy for them.

I wonder if they have destroyed their hips, knees, and ankles and are on the cart because of painful walking. For me, it's sort of like someone who smokes, then wonders why they develop COPD.

OK, therapist ramp over now! Take care of yourself, my dear friend, and keep on keepin' on!

Carol

I agree with you on the morbidly obese. The other ones that get me are the ones that park in a handicap space (with their placard or handicap tags) and then literally run into the store. You are handicapped how?

I don't know about where you are, but here the definition to get a placard or tag is that you either can't walk 100' or have medical assistive devices such as an oxygen tank. Many of the people that I see with the placards don't meet any of the qualifications that I know of.

Also high on my list of unfavorite people are those that park in a fire zone in front of a handicap ramp because they'll only be a second. "I'm just picking up an order." Sure, that's fine I'll just stand here and wait for you to move so that I can get up on the curb. When you say something to them they either mouth off or spin their tires leaving. I want to throw my cane at them, but then I'd fall down and I wouldn't be able to get back up.

My mom was a heavy smoker and had copd and emphysema. We tried to get her to quit for years. She said, "I already have it so what's the use?" Well, we might have had her an extra year or two, but that's another story.

For us, life goes on!

Hey Bryan, thanks for considering me a friend here. I'm glad WA is helping you out of your shell. Don't hide that sweet, kind spirit that you have. The world needs people like you as you shared in your story about helping that woman. It will be your kindness that will help you out of your shyness. NEVER be shy about that, my friend! Blessings to you as you bless others around you. You have no idea what impact you are having in your world. Touch one person at a time and you will end up touching many.

Yes, it does, but for some us, it crawls instead of marching on!

I know what you mean. My dad was only 66 when he died. He smoked til the day he literally could not breathe. Then he quit cold turkey when he was on oxygen fulltime. Mom said he had an unopened pack of cigarettes in his desk, sort of like a security blanket, I guess.

I always sort of thought that people who obviously don't look handicapped, but park in the space with a placcard or tag might be running into the store to pick up something for the person who does qualify. But unless that person is with them, I think it is rude and selfish, and probably illegal, for them to misuse the placcard or tag that way.

I am disabled with fibromyalgia and neck issues as a result of an old car accident. I had to quit working when I was only 51 because I didn't have the strength to do the lifting required, and I almost dropped a patiient. "But you don't look sick" or "you just gotta push yourself and make yourself go" are such irritating comments! Made under the guise of being helpful, I think they are downright rude and inappropriate to my way of thinking.

The people who I think might not look disabled but do still need the handicapped space would be folks like me who can walk but do not have the endurance, stamina, or ability to breathe, or heart patients, who look "well", but do have a legitimate problem requiring the parking space.

I agree with you that there a lot of self centered, inconsiderate people who do not qualify for the tags or ignore the signs and rudely use the space anyway. I wish there were stiffer fines, and that the signs were reinforced better.

OK, Rant really over this time!

Carol

That is what I always TRY to do (sometimes I fail). If I can just help one person, maybe that person will help one, and so on. In my own small way I try to help make the world a friendlier place.

I doubt that we will ever get back to times like my youth when I don't even know if my parents knew where their house key was. I would like to see us get to know our own neighbors again and kind of watch out for each other if something is going on, that may be a pipe dream, but I'm all for it.

I think that we are all meant to be a blessing to others whenever we can. That's MY story and I'm sticking to it!
Bryan

My mom was so bad that she smoked while on oxygen. I told her that with the number of tanks in her home she could blow up the entire neighborhood, but it still did no good.

Very true about the heart disease, but then they shouldn't be running when they get out of the car. If you want to see who is truly handicapped watch what they do when it is raining. If they run they aren't handicapped....

Here, our placards have our picture on them and you have a little card to keep in your wallet to prove that it is you. I guess some people were slitting the placards open and sliding their own picture in. I've never seen the handicapped parking law enforced here. I have seen that in some places, California I think, they actually have dedicated people to enforce this. It probably more than pays for itself with fines while helping those who are truly in need.

I'm so bad that my doctor wrote me an excuse for jury duty as the walking would have held everyone up and been dangerous for me. Yes, you need a doctor's excuse to get out of jury duty. I really would have liked to serve, but there was no way I could get from the parking into the courthouse, and because I walk so slowly I would have held everyone up during the lunch break and at deliberations. ;-)

You just stick to it, my friend! We know we're in the right! Carol

Carol, you are one of the members on here that I can always count on to put a smile on my face. Thanks!

Glad to be of service, Sir! There's a little imp that lives inside of me and sometimes I just can't control her smart aleck remarks. She loves to make people smile or laugh! Carol

Btw if you come across the member with introvert in their name that you were following please let me know. ;-)

I will, Bryan. I haven't seen her in the community for awhile, so will see if I can find her in my network. Isn't there a way to search for members somewhere? Seems like I used to know about something like that, don't know with the platform revamped if it's still available. Carol

You can search for members in the search box at the top of the screen, but you'd have to have some idea of what you were looking for. Thanks Carol! ;-)
Bryan

Here's the two I came up with from the search bar:

https://www.wealthyaffiliate.com/contact

https://my.wealthyaffiliate.com/introvert

Yeah, I was thinking I could do that. But it might be easier to look for her pic in my network. Might try both ways. Carol

Bryan for an introvert you sure do say the right things at the right time :) I actually haven't even been in the live chat, been concentrating on my 9-5, WA training and how to make sense of al the new things I'm learning, my website is up and running but still need to do lots to it to make it look fantastic, maybe I should take part in the live chat but for now I'm happy to take a back seat.
From one introvert to another :)

Mary, remember your site doesn't need to be perfect, it just needs to be informative and fill a need. I'm glad that I sometimes manage to say the right things, it's purely luck I assure you.

Best of luck to you in your pursuit of success, but don't forget to take some me time as well.
Bryan

Nicely said Bryan, and I can totally see your point.
Though as a "one year old" newbie here, I must say that WA can become an addiction at first, this community is great, helpful and full of like minded people.

I know that there are several regular members here who help out more than others.

Many of us are busy building their online business and don't always make the time for helping out others.

I personally had my ups and downs, but have figured that 30 min a day - with a timer - to give back to the community is very reasonable and possible.

I help as much as I can, and though I don't get to ALL of the questions or blogs, I do my bit.

I believe that if each one of us did that, we would all benefit greatly.

It might be a drop in the ocean, but it takes all these drops to make an ocean...so I am in!

BTW - those 30 min. don't include PM's and other communication ways..only WA blogs, follows and questions

Wishing you all the best on your WA journey =)
Cheers - Orion

Orion, Thanks! None of us needs to do a lot, but if we each do a little.... What a community this could be. Varying viewpoints or a bunch of people agreeing on a single viewpoint can be great for someone in need.

Not everyone will like a single approach, but if multiple approaches are offered they will have a choice. If everybody says that it's one way they will know that is apparently either the only way or the best way.

I wish you much success in your online journey!
Bryan

Well said Bryan.

This is an awesome community where we get tons of help.

I also agree that it is mostly the same group that answer most of the questions, but that is alright. It would be great if more people were involved but not everyone is that way inclined, and that too is OK.

To all of you that have helped me, THANK YOU!

To all of you, I could help Thank You too. It made me go and check the training again to confirm my answer is correct and improved my ability to work and help.

If you want to learn to do something, Teach it to someone. :-)

All the best

Bryanb

Bryan, that's the only thing that helps me to remember everything. Helping others reinforces my own knowledge and poor memory.

Best wishes t you!

Bryan
Thank you for writing this message. You have always been there for me or pointed me in the right direction. I apologize to anyone how felt I was whining; I think this community is the most cohesive group I have found on the internet. Bryan and several others have always been there to help and guide me. I do not expect to be spoon fed I take responsibly for I own education. I thank everyone who has helped me and I will always be there for others.
Thanks, Bryan for your kind words

You are more than welcome! I never felt like you were whining, if someone did, I can't help them.

Thanks for your kind words. That's the kind of thing that makes me want to continue on. I really don't care about rank (wish they'd do away with that) or whatever. Helping people brings me joy.

Best wishes to you in life and online!
Bryan

And Bryan is not just talking..he backs up what he is saying. I have talked to several of the very kind and generous people here, but I seem to bug Bryan and Peter most. Thanks again guys!!

You never bug me. If you need help I'm always glad to be available (when I'm awake now) lol

You'll get there. Success will be yours.
Bryan

Hope so...lol.at the moment my eyes feel like they are going to fall out.. and tell the doctor about how it's doing you.

I'd rather be sleepy than in pain. I was told to expect it.

Hey Bryan - until you wrote that post about being an introvert, I would never have guessed it because of how helpful you are on Live Chat! You just haven't gotten used to your own awesomeness yet! Yes, you are the helpline to that newbie (like me) who have no clue on what is going on when you first start. Thank you for coming out of your shell. The real secret is that you're just too modest. ;)

Oh Lord, now I'm blushing too.... Okay, how about if I call myself a closet introvert?

No, I don't think you can get away with that one my friend. lol

I agree with you, SachiKashi. Carol

Well, I truly am an introvert. The people that know me in real life would never believe my level of interaction here at WA.

Hi Bryan,
That's great advice!. I am very guilty of not blogging at WA. I should write something once a week, but I haven't been doing that.

Maybe I have "writers block" or something. But I going to be more active and get more involved.

I don't many Internet technical things but I can offer encouragement.

Thanks again

Bill

Bill, that would be great! A word of encouragement is always welcome most anywhere. Thanks, glad I asked.

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