8 Years at WA - Let Me Tell You How I Got Here
Yikes! I have officially been a WA member for 8 years!
Would you like to hear the whole story? OK, here is how it got started…
March 22, 2007
I was up late and looking for a solution on the internet about how to improve my SEO skills and learn how I can make money online.
Whoosh!
After a plethora a searching, Wealthy Affiliate landed on my lap and the magic of their sales letter convinced me that I’d give it a try.
Here is a screenshot of what WA looked like back in 2007:
I was hooked..
The information and tools (even way back then) were awesome. There was a very supportive community (via a forum) who would gladly answer any question regardless of how silly you thought it was.
With stars (and dollar signs) in my eyes, I thought with my existing web/graphic design background I would build an elaborate network of websites called ‘InfoAboutEverything.com’ where I would build a bunch of websites that would essentially link to each other and I’d make a bunch a of money.
Of course I would run it by Carson to see what he thought about my elaborate plan of attack to make my millions and was honestly anticipating the green light from the WA owners.
I was told to pull the reigns back…
Carson thought overall my plan was extensive and applauded me for my eagerness, but gave me a reality check on how much time that would take and how ‘thin’ the concept was.
One site at a time Jay…
So I took Carson’s advice and started with just one site. And I am VERY thankful that I followed that advice because that site is still a great success!
The Costco Carson Encounter
It had been one month since I joined WA and was really enjoying the support and tools.
Then one day, I was at Costco doing my typical mass quantity shopping, I had noticed someone across the isle who I recognized but just couldn’t put a name to the face.
Then it dawned upon me that it was Carson from WA!
It really caught me by surprise but I decided to approach him and introduce myself.
Me: “Excuse me.. are you Carson from Wealthy Affiliate”
Carson: “Yes, are you MagiStudios?”
My thoughts were: ‘Holy Crap he knows who I am!’
We didn’t realize that we both lived in the same city and later through our conversation we were literally only a few minutes apart from each others’ houses.
We spent the next 20 minutes talking shop (internet marketing) until Costco told us it was time to leave as they were closing.
That meeting had a profound effect on me and really kick started my success. Why?
Because it made me realize that Kyle & Carson were real people that truly cared about their members regardless of how close or far away they lived.
The Start of an Eternal Friendship & WAbinars
Shortly after bumping into Carson at Costco, I had the opportunity to meet with Kyle (who also lived within the same city) and Carson for coffee.
This ended up becoming a regular thing and we would talk about business including the state of the online marketing industry and how it could be improved. I felt privilege to be included in these conversations and was absorbing the info like a sponge.
To this day, we still get together for coffee and talk shop. :)
One of those coffee shop meetings, I mentioned that I was once involved in radio and how comfortable I was in front of an audience and microphone. And with Kyle & Carson’s entrepreneurial minds, they felt compelled to leverage this talent.
We had all noticed that the online marketing industry had JUST started doing webinars but all of them had some sort of upsell at the end and really offered no value.
So the birth of the WAbinar happened
It was decided to start regular online live training sessions that offered pure training and never any upsell opportunities.
To this day, the WAbinars still hold this prestigious value.
My Commitment to WA and YOU
Even though I have been here for an entire 8 years, I have no plan to leave WA anytime soon.
I have a personal mantra to help you in the same manner how Kyle and Carson have helped me achieve success.
And we may not live within the same city, I like to consider you a neighbour when you attend the live training sessions.
So, please raise a glass and help me celebrate being a WA member for 8 years!
And cheers to YOU for taking the time to read this and being involved within the WA community! I hope to read your WAnniversay post soon!
I remember the Costo encounter like it was yesterday and I even remember the isle that we were in when I heard this unfamiliar voice call my name! It was really by chance that we met that day and it's one of those encounters where things wouldn't be the same if it hadn't have happened. I don't think it was more than a few minutes (as I left Costco) before I called Kyle to told him that I had met "Magistudios"!
Then it was the first Serious coffee meeting, then the second, then the ???th!!
The birth of the WAbinar was awesome and look how it's turned out over these years. Friday nights with JAY (and his wit), talking about everything under the sun related to Internet marketing, building an online biz, and leveraging the platform at WA. It's been an incredible relationship that has literally helped thousands of people - you rock!
You mentioned your initial idea for creating the site about everything, and doing the crazy linking strategy thing... To this very day I would answer you in the exact same way. Focus on one thing, focus on something simple, and grow it into whatever you want. It's like constructing a high-rise building. You always want to start with a solid foundation. The foundation isn't fancy...it's just concrete and solid so that it can support every floor all the way up to the penthouse!
Fundamentals of marketing and building an online biz have not changed, nor have the fundamentals of how Kyle and I teach folks to get started.
Of course you just had to dig up the old website didn't you!?!
Well...we've all come a long way since then, I'm 34 now (you're WAY older), we've got families, and many years of friendship under our belts. The amazing thing about you Jay, is that you're the same awesome guy you were back then. A loyal friend, now amazing father, and just damn good looking too :)
Thanks for all you do here at WA, thanks for being so helpful and always willing to lend a hand to members just getting started, and thanks for yelling at me in Costo that day, life (and WA) wouldn't be the same without you!
Here's to another 8 bro!
Carson
Sometimes words don't say what we'd like to convey, because we can be at a loss for words. One thing is for sure though, it is wonderful to get to know you better through your anniversary post and to see a bit more of the history of this organization that I have come to so appreciate!
My Fridays are often a mess with kids and the therapies that my youngest special needs child receives here in our home. I am thankful that I can watch the session after you post it around 24 hours later.
Please know I am just one more person here who appreciates you and how you support me/us in this journey to learn what works in developing our websites.
Every day and in ever way I do keep at this, sometimes and starts and stops and stalls around family needs but ever plugging away.
Thank you!
Linda
I have only been here for just shy of 3 months, and already know that I too hope to be here for a long time! Congratulations on your success. Thank you for being an inspiration. And....just for the record, after Kyle and Carson, I consider you to be the next best, as you do really live into your personal mantra of helping in the same way.
I am yet to get to a live training session as my children have Saturday sport (in my time zone that is when you are on) but I am aspiring.
Thanks again for your wonderful work.
Cindy
Just incredible to be a part of all this in my teeny weeny way. Wish I'd just got on with it when I first put my nose in back in 2010 - felt it was something special, but as usual I didn't have enough faith in myself. So glad I received the email from Kyle last year inviting me back in, and no stopping me now, either. My website is slowly taking shape, and its main function will be to shout about WA to every corner of the globe, because I just love what WA is and does - so all-embracing and a shining light for the way forward online in a rapidly changing world full of tricks and traps.
Great you are better (I did pray for you, too, Jay).......
By the way, wonderful news to know that your health is back on track and that you are feeling so much better.
You are the greatest. Thanks for sharing the encounter. I also thank you for the weekly training you provide. I have been a member of the community for 2 months today and I have tuned into every weekly session. I admit much of the information is FAR over my head, but I look forward to the day it all make sense. I have live a fairly successful life for the past 72 years and I learned, “IF YOU WANT TO BE SUCCESSFULL HANG WITH SUCCESSFULL PEOPLE, HAVE THOUGHTS THAT SUCCESSFULL PEOPLE HAVE AND DO WHAT SUCCESSFUL PEOPLE DO." and you to will be successful. I have no doubt, my association with the WA community and people like; you Kyle and Carson will result in more success and I look forward to the journey.
It scared the hell our me when you were ill and in the hospital for so long. I continually prayed for your recovery and for your family. I can still hear a bit of trauma in your voice. You must have had a tube down your mouth for a long time. I have not completely recovered from such an experience from a year ago, nor will I.
I am so happy with knowing you and more than happy with your recovery.
I don't have my Volvo yet from Amazon commissions yet, gut I did get myself a pair of binoculars. lol
Great to have you back and God Bless You and Yours!
John
You must remember Travis?
I signed up to his Bum Marketing Method back in 2008, and first heard about WA through his list. But I didn't sign up until 2009, possibly via PotPieGirl, but I'm not entirely sure.
Congratulations on yr 8th year anniversary, Jay!! Wow!!
Magistudios provide the human touch (verbal) to WA learning. ..and your lessons are so clear and (WHOOSH)..actionable.
Thanks for hanging around.
Janelle
Ken
Jay! Stories like these are so motivating and inspiring!
I'm glad to be here at WA and although I haven't focused much on it, I know it's one of the BEST places online. I don't plan on leaving anytime soon either, but I do plan on becoming more active with the community and working on ALL the training.
Kyle, Carson and you are the REAL DEAL.
The rest of the WA community is awesome too and like I said, I'm very glad to be a part of it. :)
We are so lucky to have such a team here at WA, sharing their knowledge and guidance… Kyle, Carson and You… What a trio!!
Happy #8! and thank you for all that you do for so many… Best of all, you always do it with a smile.
Happy Aniversary. Thanks for your interesting story & all the things you have taught me on your Friday night live training sessions. Actually, it's the only webinar I've ever attended that doesn't try to sell me something. I didn't think webinars like these existed until I came to WA.
I hear Carson and Kyle say that WA would not be the
same without you. I agree, many people look forward
to Friday night with Jay. To your good health my friend.
Glad you are better.
I felt there was something different about the end of the first WAbinar I saw compared to other IM webinars I had watched but couldn't put my finger on it. Reading this it's now it's clicked - no upsells!
That was the very first WA-binar,( and not recorded for posterity) I was sad to see the term retired last year when the menu item was changed to Live Video Classes.
I was new to all of this stuff back then and decided to give it a try anyway. I think the topic was html stuff. I know my brain reached saturation quite quickly. You all had a good laugh when I said my brain was full.
Since then, I've been very glad to know you. I know my life is better for the relationship. Although we have never met in real life, the countless hours online make it seem so.
Congratulations on your milestone.
And Thanks for all you do.
Craig
That radio voice is also something else! lol
Thanks for being an instrumental part of the WA community for the last 8 years and I really do look forward to what the 8 next years will bring. I know it will be hard to top the last 8, but it can be done!
Thanks, Jay ... sure glad to here that you have no plans to leave the community.
You are indeed a very fortunate man. Congrats my friend.
Thank you for the time you share with all the WAers.
Your trainings are great, we all appreciate you.
My class is lifted high to toast you and WA. Awesome!
Many more wonderful and productive years ahead, Cheers!
Thanks for including the screenshot of the ad you responded to. I like looking back into the past. Though I have yet to sit in on one of your live classes, too busy at the time it airs, I have watched many posted training and have learned much.
The Flintstones anniversary clip brings back memories of my childhood. :)
I am learning a lot, and I hope I will be here for a long time to come too :)
Thanks for posting your inspiring story!
Thanks for sharing it
Al :)
You are a true asset to this community and I'm glad that Kyle and Carson knew this already 8 years ago. Your weekly WAbinars has helped so many people here and even though I never make it to watch them live (timezone difference), I definitely watch the replays and your recommended adjustments do make a difference in terms of rankings, traffic, etc.
Thank you for being who you are. Thank you for hosting these very crucial training lessons every week and thank you for having no plans to leave WA.
Thank you also for sharing your personal story with us. It means a lot and is very inspirational.
Keep up the great work!
Many blessings,
Nicole
To our SUCCESS in business and in LIFE.
RR
Tokyo
Your WAbinars are always too late for me to attend live (UK), but the great thing is they are all there for me to watch anytime, I love them!
Thank you for being here and long may it continue. :)