When my dad graduated from high school, his father made him an ‘offer he couldn’t refuse’.

Become a doctor. Or go back to the village and tend to farming on our lands.

The problem with this offer was that dad wanted to be a school teacher. He loved Tamil and wanted to teach the language to others.

Those were days when one didn’t disagree with parents, least of all someone as tough as grandpa. He was strict and stern. Heck, even us grandkids regarded him with fear and respect - and this was when he was in his sixties!

Long story short - Dad became a doctor.

He specialized in Internal Medicine, and then went on to become one of the first 3 cardiologists (heart specialists) in my State. He was the first of them to receive his training and diploma overseas, at the prestigious and world-famous Texas Heart Institute in Houston.

When he returned to India, he headed a department at a large University hospital and helped treat thousands of heart patients over a career spanning 20 years.

By all accounts and standards, he was massively successful. His students, peers and colleagues all regarded him with respect and considered him a great cardiologist.

But all along this illustrious career, dad was a Tamil teacher at heart.

He would often tell us this:

“If I were an incompetent, or even average doctor - and then told the story of my dream to be a school teacher - people would mock it as a ’sour grapes’ tale. So I decided to first be a success as a doctor… and then point out that I was never interested in being one!”

Which is the message of this post.

First, Do It.

Then, Say What You’d Do Differently.

Or Better.

Or Instead!

The recent discussion about despicable affiliate practices on Rick Butts’ blog is what brought this line of thinking to mind.

Rick uses a phrase that is distasteful to refer to these affiliates. But I’m surprised that more people are not offended by the behavior as much as they are by the term used to describe perpetrators!

A couple of years back, I outlined a set of guidelines for ‘Acceptable Affiliate Practices’ and invited others to add to it (sadly, there was precious little response).

Why did I wait until just 2 years back to mention them?

Because by then, I had established a reputation as a successful ‘Super Affiliate’ - and could point out flaws and criticize them without being accused of doing it from a weak perspective of a ‘failed’ affiliate marketer.

Today, I condemn unethical selling practices that merely fatten the seller’s wallet or bank account - and can get people to pay attention primarily because I have ‘made my bones’ in the cut-throat arena of Internet marketing. Without employing these tactics, I may add.

I still remember the criticism one early buyer had of my ‘Ezine ANTI Marketing’ course that sold then for $197.00.

He mocked the ’small’ numbers I quoted from my business and said he made as much on a bad day, that I had some nerve teaching such practices - and charging a lot of money for them.

Well, fast forward to 3 years later, and those very same principles I shared in the course and follow in my business grew it 300% every year - bringing me to a six-figure annual profit level.

The principles work. They worked then. They work now.

But what makes acceptance of them easier today is the track record that backs it up, the achievements I’ve been able to prove from their use.

It’s also when criticism, and pointing out scammy or scummy activities and attitudes carries more weight and gets more people to listen and think.

Dad was right.

Be a success first. Then say what needs to be changed, improved or given up completely.