January 31, 2018 AsktheBuilder Special Announcement

Happy end of January 2018!

I'll make this as short as possible. I'm usually not too good at doing that if you're a seasoned subscriber.

You may have been one who contacted me yesterday about the upcoming Scavenger Hunt game on Sunday.

Here's a typical email I get when I announce an upcoming game:

"Tim, I don't like your games. Why should I play your silly scavenger hunt game on Sunday and click the links? What's in it for me?"

The answers are pretty simple. Allow me to share a story with you.

Chuck - Mr. "What's-in-it-for-ME"

Years ago, I helped launch a very secret Internet mastermind group. I was one of the founding charter members.

Not too long after it was formed, a new member was added to the group. His name was Chuck and he lived in Michigan.

Chuck was a programmer / software engineer early in his life and he leveraged that into some successful websites as personal computers became part of our lives.

Chuck and I became very good friends. Little did we know it but we had a connection before he joined the group.

My syndicated newspaper column used to be published in The Detroit News. Way back in the 1990s, I used to sell mail order Builder Bulletins that contained extra information that wouldn't fit in my column.

Chuck had bought one of my Builder Bulletins.

He had a very high IQ and was super analytical. He'd always point out, in a very helpful way, mistakes I might be making in my own business.

One day I was gritching (a word combining gripe with bitch) to Chuck,

"Why can't I get my newsletter subscribers to do what I'd like them to do?"

Chuck replied, "I'm one of your subscribers. What's in it for ME?"

Those words hit me like a giant bucket of ice water.

I was just thinking of MYSELF and not you the subscriber.

Chuck forever changed how I think about YOU.

You should be the focus of all I do. You should get something out of each column, video, newsletter I produce.

If you don't, then eventually you go somewhere else.

What's In It For YOU?

You want to know what's in it for you to participate in the games and surveys I put in the newsletter, right?

Please answer the following questions:

Do you like my newsletter?

Yes
No
Maybe

Do you get helpful information in the newsletter every now and then?

Yes
No
Maybe

Do you want the newsletter to continue?

Yes
No
Maybe

Do you want AsktheBuilder.com to stay online so I can produce new columns and videos?

Yes
No
Maybe

If you answered YES to all or a few of the questions above, that's why you should participate in the games and surveys.

The games and surveys allow you to continue to get a stream of information that helps you save time and money. Hopefully sometimes I bring a smile to your face.

The games and surveys are sponsored by companies that want you to see their fine wares.

I get much-needed revenue from the game and survey sponsors.

This revenue pays the salaries of my employees. It pays for the costs to maintain the website. It keeps AsktheBuilder.com alive.

It's that simple.

If you want to GRITCH at me about the games, now's the time to do it. Tell me what more I can do for you. Reply now to this email and rant to me. Don't hold back.

If you want to HELP AsktheBuilder.com continue to deliver you laughs, tips, stories, honest reviews about products, etc. then by gosh participate in the Scavenger Hunt this Sunday.

Questions? Comments? Ideas to make the games better?

You know what to do. Reply and let me know what's on your mind.

Thanks Chuck for opening my eyes all those years ago!!!