Are They Really Making Money For Nothing?
May 18, 2009
Can you really make money for nothing? Recently, I’ve read a lot of articles that claim that some people are. But how true is it?
Half the population applauds the fact that these people came from disadvantaged backgrounds and used their new found fame to build multi-million pound business empires. But the other half turn up their noses at what they see as worthless crap, peddled by folk who appear to lack skill, talent and taste.
These women have all used their initial burst of fame, to make themselves a huge wad of money. Jordan has been more successful at this than most and so far she’s made an estimated to £30 million to £50 million from perfume, ghost written books, horse accessories etc.
Is she really less worthy of the money she makes, because she used to be a topless model? After all, fashion models launch other businesses and they don’t seem to get the same kind of public slating. Are they more important, because they choose to model clothes that the average human being could never hope to fit into?
I’m not a huge fan of reality tv, or any tv for that matter, I prefer films. But reality tv is hugely popular on both sides of the pond. So who are we to suggest that reality tv stars don’t deserve the same financial success than film actors?
In any type of business, good marketing will almost always beat talent, or an excellent product. So I don’t see why so many folk insist on putting down Jordan because of the way she makes money.
What do you think? Do these people really make money for nothing, or do they deserve every penny they make?
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Comments
25 Responses to “Are They Really Making Money For Nothing?”
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Hi Cath – How many of those turning up their noses still buy? And what’s really behind the perception that these people came from nowhere, didn’t work hard, etc., sort of like “the ten year overnight success.”
“All money is green.” Well it literally used to be in the US, but now we have more colors.
Anyway, this means it spends the same, no matter if it’s made through reality TV or via effete, snobby articles in Vanity Fair or the New York Times.
If there really is a hierarchy or caste system associated with lucre, then perhaps how your money is made should determine its ultimate worth. Let’s see, what’s reality TV money trading against Vanity Fair money? Kind of like what’s the euro doing against the dollar? Or, “oh no, for your money, the price of that Louis Vuitton handbag is 10 times what it’s going to cost Mr. Lofty Ideals.”
It’s sort of like, “oh no, I’d never set foot in Hollywood. I only do the theatuh, dahling.”
Betsy Wuebker’s last blog post..IDEALS, ICONS AND INDEPENDENT THINKING
Interesting one Cath, as always! And I think you’re right. At the end of the day Jordan has managed to carve out enormous fame in a hugely competitive business. It’s easy to dismiss her as someone who doesn’t actually have any skills, but actually, her skill was to do exactly that.
Mike CJ’s last blog post..Mike’s Life – An Update
Hi Cath. I sent you an email, just wanted to make sure you got it.
Also, I agree with you. Great marketing can win over talent, product, value, etc.
Case and point: Steve Jobs (Mac) and Bill Gates (Windows).
Steve had the better product, Bill had better positioning.
Look who won (the most).
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I think it’s a reminder that the market rewards different things at different times. it’s also a sharp reminder that there’s a difference between intrinsic value and market value.
J.D. Meier’s last blog post..Discipline vs. Motivation
“good marketing will almost always beat talent, or an excellent product. ” I think this is a very profound observation, and very true. I would like to see you expand on it in a separate post when you have the time.
Vered – MomGrind’s last blog post..Bizarre Vintage Ads
I agree with Mike, I don’t understand people who are hateful and spiteful towards those who’ve managed to achieve fame and fortune without meeting some standard of worthiness. My amateur psychologist self wonders if this is because when we see “ordinary” people who wouldn’t appear to have great Mozartian level talent succeed we have to wonder – hey maybe I’m just imagining all the things I say are holding me back.
Heh, I look at it like if they can succeed, hey I’m a shoo-in!
BTW, I think this is an entirely different conversation than media responsibility or how to support the arts, etc.
Tracy’s last blog post..5 Super Creepy Songs
Hi Mike – I’m guessing glamour modelling was hugely competitive and very few would be able to emulate her success. And what you say is true – what she did is a great skill in itself.
Hi John – Thank you, I got it. Then I remembered you already sent me those details a little while ago. But I got too busy following one of your tutorials that I forgot to get back to you – sorry.
Steve Jobs and Bill Gates are a good example. I often find myself wishing that Jobs had the better marketing, then maybe his laptops would be less expensive now
I don’t begrudge anyone’s taking the opportunities placed before them, but these people wouldn’t have a penny without our society’s sick pursuit of celebrity. Celebrities don’t have to have anything in the way of marketable talent or personal merit, just some sort of weirdness that catches the public’s eye for a few moments of fame.
It’s very distorting and debilitating for the average person, and especially a child, who sees that this sort of “success” is not measured by all the rules and advice they’ve received while growing up. All you have to do is to be is physically attractive and willing to engage in sleaze to be “successful.” It’s very destructive to society, but that doesn’t stop all the producers of reality shows and marketers of these instant celebrities in pursuit of a fast buck.
Sorry for the rant, but it’s a real hot button for me!
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“But the other half turn up their noses at what they see as worthless crap, peddled by folk who appear to lack skill, talent and taste.”
Gee, I wonder which one I fit into?
I don’t watch reality TV. I DO think it’s worthless crap.
However, that being said, I say more power to them if they can figure out some way to make money entertaining people who enjoy what I really think is worthless crap.
Mike Goad’s last blog post..Those Vultures on the Potomac
Well a good marketing skill really quite a talent, no wonder that most of the people belongs to the marketing world is now one of the riches person in our society.
Hi Betsy – Sorry, your comment went into moderation.
I like the way you explain it – and it’s true, it is just snobbery that’s behind a lot of the negative remarks about these people.
Hi JD – That’s very true. I guess it’s easier to measure the intrinsic value over a long period of time. But as you say, market value can vary from one month to the next, depending on what folk are willing to pay.
Hi Vered – Thank you. I will have a go at doing that in the coming weeks. I think it maybe worth writing a series on the topic.
Hi Tracy – That’s an interesting theory. And I can imagine folk would do that to excuse their own under achievements. It’s crazy though – they’d be far better off putting their energy into getting their own stuff done.
Hi Mike – No worries. I can understand where you’re coming from. And I guess that reading about some of these people is giving children the message that this is the only way to be successful.
I was reading an article about 2 teenage girls who want to be like Jordan. One of them – a 14 year old, said she wants to make herself look like her so she’ll be successful and make a lot of money. That is worrying. I know I’d hate for my own children to think that was the only option available to them.
Hi A-kasse – That’s very true – marketing skill is a great talent, just as much as any skill or talent that a person could possess.
Cath Lawson’s last blog post..Are They Really Making Money For Nothing?
Cath,
In answer to your question – no we shouldn’t dismiss the achievements of Jordan or others so lightly.
No matter which field a person chooses to operate in, lasting success rarely comes without a great deal of effort and personal sacrifice, and those who make it to the top in their field deserve our respect as long as it we are talking about a fully legal and honorable field or profession.
Fashion models are no exception, and we should respect the degree of personal sacrifice which these women have put in in order to achieve the level of success which they now enjoy.
Andrew’s last blog post..Why do real estate and used car sales attract crooks?
““good marketing will almost always beat talent, or an excellent product. ””
Oh how very very very sadly true.
If there’s nothing at which the general population excels, it’s being sold to. :-/
Great article!
Barbara Ling, Virtual Coach’s last blog post..TUTORIAL – 7 Of The most CONVINCING Ways To Boldly Make Money With Your Blog Sidebar Part 2
There are a bunch of talented singers, actors/actress or artists waiting for the opportunity to make their way onto the red carpets, Cath. Unfortunately, 90% of them were failed to do it, due to the lack of marketing and promotions! It’s very true that good marketing is necessary, especially for the newbies…
wilhb81′s last blog post..Business one-liners 52
Is it Jordan we should be hating on or the people who buy the material she sells?
After all these “celebrities” wouldn’t achieve any success if it wasn’t for those that supported them.
Nicole’s last blog post..You are what you say so
I agree with Nicole above. It’s not them to blame but their followers.These celebrities do create a fan following. One might say they have a niche, which they rule fantastically. Most of us ‘mature’ and ‘adult’ people don’t seem to identify ourselves with that niche hence the apprehension.
Hersh Bhardwaj’s last blog post..Zen And The Art Of Business StartUp: Watering
Who is making all the drug available to younger and younger children – why are so many fine people and kids addicted to drugs – and they make lots of money?
I think there is a point beyond the questions you are asking here going back to the core person and those core beliefs…values.
Lots of surface stuff going on right now that is not my cup of tea.
Many questions – I think the magic or the money happens when one is truly prepared for opportunity?
Patricia’s last blog post..Hesitation
Ideally, great products and services will be backed up by great marketing. Unfortunately, this doesn’t always happen in our culture.
Stacey / Create a Balance’s last blog post..Authentic Happiness Series – Part Five (Design Your Life)
I am not familiar with these people. I only watch “Life After People” and “Pitchmen” with Billy Mays, the latter which is on tonight yay!
Money, get it, lose it, just don’t lose yourself along the way with it. As Patricia says – values!
Jannie Funster’s last blog post..Bord on a wire, 9 & 10 1/2
Hi there Cath – I don’t actually see “worthiness” or being “deserving” as anything to do with being able to acquire wealth – I think we can all have as much prosperity as we are willing to let in (as I believe there is an unlimited amount of wealth in the world because of the way money circulates). I think people who are very wealthy are doing a service (even the nausiating or dodgy ones) because they are stimulating people’s jealousies or whatever and making them think about what they really want.
As far as marketing goes, maybe people with more prosperity consciousness tend to market themselves better, but to me this is not the real reason they are wealthy.
R
Robin’s last blog post..Wanting To Look Young
maybe they are jealous. good marketing is right. it’s not about talent. i would cash in on my 15 minutes of fame and run. i’m not the type to take my clothes off to do it, but if people want to put themselves out there and people are willing to buy…fine by me. i wish i had something to sell people who are wiling to part with money these days.
Natural’s last blog post..Mirror, Mirror on the Blog….
Aftern reading the title I expected something different from this post but I was pleasantly suprised with your attitude and feelings on the subject. Well done! And I feel money is money and it all spends the same.
Dan Mihaliak’s last blog post..The Bloggers Bible
hi Cath,
Maybe it’s because I’m on the other side of the pond and don’t watch much tv, but I’ve never heard of this Jordan person. But when I read about her being a former “topless model” I had to click through to see who she was. But I digress…
As long as people are making money legally, and others are spending it of their own free will (no matter how stupid it seems) I try to not judge. I try…
Anyway, I’m off to do a little more research on this Jordan person.
Steve, the trade show guru
Trade Show Guru’s last blog post..Trade Show Exhibit Booths and SEO
I think these people are just taking advantage of a good situation, nothing more. If I was suddenly thrust into the limelight for a few minutes, you’d be sure that I’d try to make the most of it. Can’t blame them for the same.
janet@best electric shaver’s last blog post..Best electric shaver…
marketing is really a great skill…nice article.
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