Last night on 60 Minutes, they interviewed Andre Agassi and we learned quite a few things about him that we never knew. The two shockers of the interview were that he hated tennis for many years and that at one point in his career, he did drugs and lied about it. The reaction to these revelations has been mixed. Many people are quite disappointed in Agassi.

Okay, you’re probably sitting there scratching your head wondering what this has to do with you as an Internet marketer. Well, if you’re the kind of person who flies under the radar (nobody knows who you are) then it probably has NOTHING to do with you and you can skip this whole article. However, if you’re somebody like me, who has made a name for himself, then you might want to read what follows. It very well may save your career.

One thing I have always been, since starting my marketing career, is up front with people. I have kept no secrets about my personal life. In fact, if you look up my name online, you will find one person who is quite unhappy with me because I am into fortune telling. That’s right. I admit it freely. I like Tarot Cards, Astrology, Numerology, all that stuff. I guess, in some people’s eyes, that makes me the devil himself. Oh well, whatever. Point is, I didn’t try to cover up that part of my life. Somehow, because of my love for it, it would have come out eventually. And then I would have been accused of covering it up.

Now, some of you are probably thinking, “Oh come on Steve, being into fortune telling is no big deal.” Well, maybe not to you. But to some people, it doesn’t get any lower than that. However, as bad as that revelation may be for some people, imagine how bad it would have been had I covered it up and then lied about it when confronted about it. That would have just added fuel to the fire.

Okay, here is my point and I hope it sinks in. When you’re a high profile Internet marketer, your life is fair game. People will look for anything that they can to attack you with. It doesn’t matter if it’s fair or not. That’s the way life is. Get used to it. Therefore, my philosophy has always been, get it out in the open right away. Let people know who you are and where you stand. That way they can’t accuse you of trying to cover things up.

See, like it or not, in many respects, Andre Agassi is into marketing. Every time he stepped onto a tennis court, he marketed himself, just the same way that Roger Federer does today. He puts himself out there with his game, his clothes and most of all, his attitude. When all of that is compromised by TRUTH, especially if that truth is on the negative side, it doesn’t matter what kind of front the person puts forward. The truth will destroy the glitz and persona. Andre Agassi had a persona, the way he dressed, played and acted on court. Last night, that persona was destroyed. His marketing, in a sense, became a lie…and with it, for many people, his reputation.

If you think the dirt in your life won’t come out, think again. The graveyards are littered with people who thought that their dirty little secrets would never come out. But think about it. I’ve done Tarot Card readings for many people in my life. Somebody out there has to know somebody who is online and an Internet marketer and just happen to bring up my name. And then, all heck breaks loose.

Okay, get it? Don’t think you’re above gossip.

You’re not…nobody is. Agassi lied about things in his life and now it’s coming back to haunt him. If YOU lie about things in YOUR life, whether you think it’s relative to your marketing or not, IT will come back to haunt you as well. THAT is what Andre Agassi has to do with you as an Internet marketer.

Now if you don’t mind, I think I’m going to crank out my Tarot Cards and see what kind of a day it’s going to be.

To YOUR Success,

Steven Wagenheim

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