That was a great post, Cassi!

Thanks for sharing your experience.

I've been totally absorbed by the community here at WA and everyone's willingness to help. It does take time, but I find that I learn even more when I help others than when I just focus on the training. I know becoming an ambassador is definitely not for everyone, but I really find it hard to resist. It is almost automatic, but I just love the experience too much to give it up.

You certainly gave me a lot of things to think about!

Great post,
Majo

Hi Cassi,

Well thank you, I enjoyed reading that, and plenty of food for thought as well.

I look at WA ranking as a double-edged-sword:

On the one hand, potentially without even realising it, we are learning valuable "online marketing" skills by interacting with our colleagues, peers, and friends here at WA.

We are discovering how to reach out to like-minded people in an honest, humble, and helpful manner (well, will you look at that, see what I've unwittingly created, we'll have to call this the 3 H's).

These skills are transferable to our everyday marketing exploits - how we produce content, how we interact with people in our niche, on our own sites, via social media, forums, etc.

However, on the other hand.

We do now live in a world where many of us have become so used to instant gratification, which has been created by our use of social media, and the ease of communication.

I'm not sure if any of us can honestly say that it doesn't give us a warm glow inside and a massive lift when we receive this "instant gratification" in the form of likes, follows, comments, thumbs ups, pins, repins, retweets, call it what you will.

And sometimes chasing a specific status can get in the way of building a business (controversial perhaps).

I applaud anyone who has Ambassador status and is running a successful, profitable business at the same time.

As you've quite rightly pointed out - that takes a LOT of time and dedication on two fronts...

Something I don't personally see myself being capable of achieving anytime soon.

Partha

This is an excellent and well-written post on a topic that is essential to consider for all people that start their business venture via WA, and for that matter any other venture you start to follow in your life.

When you register at WA you are asked what your goals are, and that should strike some food for thoughts with everybody. What is it you really want when starting up?

On my part, it was the outlook of starting to make some money in a not too distant future, having my time for retirement from my present job approaching.

But then I noticed the interaction in the community, the possibility to reach out and help others, which is important in all that I do also outside of WA. But, the interaction on the WA platform is addictive and can easily drive you away from your own original motives.

But as you write in your post everyone needs to make an educated and well-considered decision on what is most important;

helping others and gaining rank, doing business, or a mix of both?

I don´t believe everyone is able to take that decision early on in their business venture. People need to have the concept of affiliate marketing grow on them and then re-evaluate your goals and working methods after some months.

I personally believe in the mix of both, helping others gaining rank as well as doing business. It is possible with self-discipline and being true to your DMO.

By helping others you are also increasing your own competence in the business which in turn your own business will benefit from.

What I learn, from interacting with others and trying to help others on this platform, and helping others in my daytime job, I can directly apply to my own tasks building my business as well as progressing with my tasks in my daytime job.

I am not sure that you can be truly successful without a balance of the two.

U have answered a very important and oft repeated question splendidly. You have brought it all out so well.

Compliments on your writing skills Ms Ambassador, and also on the supreme clarity of thought and expression.

We hope to see you lead us to better things as we go along this journey of life.

Luv,
Aparna

Rankings. When I first came in, I wasn't the least bit interested in rank or followed me. Thats changed over the past 8 or 9 months. I've come to really enjoy engaging with our community. We share ideas, thoughts, insights and so many other things.Yes, we have OEC, Bootcamp, Jays webinars, and too many other trainings to mention. Thats all well and good, and the lessons are invaluable, but there is so much more to gain by reading blogs, interacting with our community and such. Yes, yes, yes, build our businesses and create a path to our goals, and this is the primary reason for me being here. But its also about the side learning, about asking and answering questions, and creating some very good friendships. And it's also a good feeling when someone reaches out to you thanking you for helping. The social side of WA is one I would trade or ignore. Thanks Cassi.

Greg