Writers Beware Ezines Have Mastered the Tom Sawyer Con

Charisma It?s a beautiful thing if you have it. People like you, without knowing why. They just want to hang with you, and if you have a lot of charm, they?ll gladly confer power to you. They?ll let you borrow money, mooch rides, and even thin your wardrobe. In a word, charisma is dangerous. Maybe this is why it is so potent in its appeal. I believe writing Ezine articles, for most folks, is succumbing to the charm of a few entrepreneurs who have donned the role of Tom Sawyer, one of the most charismatic people in American literature, and they''re fleecing millions of writers and making them like it, says Dr. Gary S. Goodman, top speaker and consultant, best-selling author, and popular commentator on radio and TV, internationally.

Charisma: It?s a beautiful thing if you have it. People like you, without knowing why. They just want to hang with you, and if you have a lot of charm, they?ll gladly confer power to you. They?ll let you borrow money, mooch rides, and even thin your wardrobe. In a word, charisma is dangerous. Maybe this is why it is so potent in its appeal. If you?re nobody the Internet is dangerously charismatic, as well. It is worldwide, cool, and you can put up your own pages and feel like a celebrity.

In fact, your image, even as a small fry can seem huge.

But will it transform you into somebody?

If you invent the next Google or Amazon or Travelocity, the answer is clearly, YES.

But if you?re just the zillionth ME-TOO participant, and you think you?re going to dumbly copy the pioneer?s successes, you?re kidding yourself.

I believe writing Ezine articles, for some folks, is succumbing to the charm of a few entrepreneurs who have donned the role of Tom Sawyer, one of the most charismatic people in American literature.

You remember his feat. He got his friends to do hard work for him; specifically, to whitewash fences. Telling them is was fun and cool they were too wooed by his charm to ask for a penny for their labors.

As you pen the next article, ask yourself: ?Who benefits??

And if it?s not you, check your wallet, your wardrobe, and your other assets. You might simply be one of the millions of writers who have conned themselves into thinking that working for nothing is fun!

One more thing: Consutants and coaches who purport to teach you how to whitewash even more fences for free, are worse.

They make you buy the paint!

Best-selling author of 12 books and more than 1,000 articles, Dr. Gary S. Goodman is considered "The Gold Standard" in sales development, customer service, and telephone effectiveness. Top-rated as a speaker, seminar leader, and consultant, his clients extend across the globe and the organizational spectrum, from the Fortune 1000 to small businesses. He can be reached at: [e-mail].