I can’t stand the commercials by that Question Mark guy. You know the one I’m talking about, Matthew Lesko, the man who’s made a name for himself hawking his “free money” books, all named with super-hyped titles like You Won’t Get Rich Working For Somebody Else
Even so, when two o’clock a.m. rolls around and I’m lolling on the sofa because I can’t sleep through VH’s snoring, there’s something about Lesko’s pitch that sounds appealing. Could I really get free cash from the government to start a brewery? Do I get more because I’m a short, left-handed woman working from home?
He makes getting US small business grants sound as easy as 1-2-3. Provided I’m willing to shell out for his book first, of course.
Which I’m not.
But I do like the thought of running my own business. After all, I’ve been telling the IRS for years now that blogging is my business, albeit one that’s been running at a loss until this past year. Could I really qualify for small business grants in addition to tax deductions for my blogs? Why, that’s almost like discovering calorie-free chocolate that makes you lose weight with every bite, or a pill that can keep a mother-in-law quiet.
It’s Xanadu, baby.
To listen to Lesko, one would think that obtaining US business grants is as easy as dialing up the Small Business Administration and telling them where to send the check. But nothing involving the government is ever really easy, is it?
I wound up launching the SBA’s assessment tool that evaluates whether people are really ready and skilled enough to start a small business. Then I found myself getting bored.
Don’t get me wrong: the questions were all about me, and that’s ordinarily one of my favorite subjects. But I’ve never been a fan of filling in little bubbles, even the electronic kind, and so I gave up halfway through, which is probably what I’d wind up doing once I started thinking of blogging as really being a business.
The way I see it, I just saved the U.S. government — and you, my fellow taxpayers — a load of cash.
You’re welcome.
Friday, January 4th, 2008, 2:43 pm | 
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January 4, 2008 at 4:07 pm
Matthew Lesko, THe Question Mark Guy, is pretty much a scam artist. Albeit a very successful one. I’d give you a link to read of some of his documented less than ethical business practices, but the comment spam bouncer thingie would probably not like it. Just Google his name.
Jeff’s last blog post..One Man Can Piss Off The World
January 4, 2008 at 7:05 pm
It’s a great business – if you can find enough suckers to buy your “book” on “how to” anything. That’s how HE made his million or whatever.
I have been “in business” for myself since 2003. Officially and in the eyes of the IRS, I am a sole proprietor. It’s not all it’s cracked up to be. In fact, that is the part I loathe the most. “Self-employed,” for me does NOT mean “sitting on the couch, eating chips and watching Judge TV,” but it means “bust your hump EVERY DAY (including weekends) to pay both the employee and employer portions of the taxes on my measly income.”
So yeah, working in my jammies is okay BUT; there are definite drawbacks.
Which is why I’m praying my MT coursework will give me the Golden Ticket: working at home FOR SOMEONE WHO PICKS UP THE TAB FOR EMPLOYER TAX. If they also offer a 401k? I’ll give ‘em a kidney.
NOW you know why I’m taking anti-depressants.
Hah.
January 4, 2008 at 7:23 pm
Yowie. Bad day at the office, hon?
If I hear of any jobs like that I’ll let you know.
January 5, 2008 at 8:21 am
Back in my naive days during the 80s, I bought Lesko’s book with grand thoughts of getting rich and retiring before I was 30. My first disappointment was when I found a copy of it at the library. My second disappointment was in calling a few numbers and writing a several of letters to the agencies listed as having grants. After struggling through the first couple of layers of bureaucracy, I gave up. The only one who became rich in this deal was Lesko. These days my plans for retirement are for 10 or 11pm so that I can arise at 4am for another fun filled day at slave camp … I mean, work.
Ron’s last blog post..With All Due Respects to the Wong Family
January 10, 2008 at 11:03 am
I’d like to reply to some of this.
1. The government document you are referring to comes from the NYCPB and essentialy identified multiple companies who are indeed scamming. However, (this point is most often left out…) the author also pointed out that Matthew Lesko is not a scam.
2. If anyone wishes to figure out if the books are of use to them without risk, they can always go to the library or a bookstore.
3. If you are wondering about some of the comments on the internet, take them all with a grain of salt as many of them are actually peddling work at home scams. Just google my name and click on the ads that supposedly are warning you…. You’ll find all types of offers that have little to do with me or my books. You can do this with almost any TV personality. Try video professor and you’ll find the same ads/companies.
4. One last item, you need to also take into account that 1,000′s of fraudulent books and downloads have been sold on the internet. If someone is complaining they may in fact have a book with my name on it and another persons writting. Just look through ebay and you’ll find hundreds of offers selling bogus Matthew Lesko items. We’ve deleted tens of thousands and will continue to do so.
January 10, 2008 at 11:20 am
I’m both surprised and pleased to see your comment, Mr. Lesko.
Your second point is particularly well-taken and rather surprising coming from an author since checking your books out of libraries doesn’t result in income for you.
I’m impressed that you are making such efforts to protect your product identity as stated in your fourth point (and by the fact that you commented here). Thank you for taking the time to do so.