This is funny. I just noticed Robin now has a new book called “My Life So far” (Funny Point #1: This is the same title as Jane Fonda’s book).
Well, I was just so curious I had to read the description (most…. uh… all…. of Robin’s books are essentially the same, which brings me to Funny Point #2: Coming out with a new book for Robin Elliott of Dollarmakers at a no-cost publisher is about as new and fresh as the next square on a roll of toilet paper).
So then we have the description:
Quote “the good times of his plethoric life” (Funny Point #3: plethoric means “Excessive in quantity” which means he is saying he has excessive in quantity lives…. uh, Robin (writers write their own summary at lulu.com), I think you mean “plethoric good times in his life“ to mean lots of good times, not lots of lives, right? (… just a sneak peak into the writing qualities of this self proclaimed “business genius”).
Quote #2 “dig into his capacious life experience” again… capacious meaning “Having a lot of space inside” but Robin likes to use big words. Funny Point #4: This translates into having life experience with a lot of space inside… which again…. doesn’t make any sense at all. Wouldn’t one want to brag about a full set of life experiences, not an empty one with lots of space? Did you mean extensive Robin? How about hiring an editor for the next square on the toilet paper roll, yes?
Funny Point #5: Robin is so rich and successful at business he doesn’t actually get published by a real publisher, instead he “chooses” to publish for free at lulu.com…. hmmm…. I don’t see any other rich and successful people going the cheap-o self-publishing route. Perhaps he’s not as rich and successful as he proclaims himself to be? Hmmm…. who exactly are you “learning” from at these bootcamps, anyway? I wonder….
So enjoy this book if you decide to waste any hard earned money on “learning” from Robin, ha!
January 11, 2011 at 7:14 am |
Great review so far! And that’s just of the book description. Email me and I’ll send you the $10 to buy the book and do a full review.
February 1, 2011 at 8:35 am |
Another illegal scam asscociated with Robin J Elliott:
Financial advisers wreak havoc on Burnaby woman’s savings
http://www.vancouversun.com/story_print.html?id=3436903&sponsor=
“Smith is also certified as a “Certified Business Mentor,” which entitles her to use the initials “CBM” behind her name.
The designation is awarded by Robin J. Elliott, who runs a Coquitlam firm called DollarMakers. Elliott told me the CBM program takes five days and attendees do not have to take an exam. He says he charges $20,000 per person, a huge amount for a program like this. When I asked what academic or professional credentials he has, he refused to answer, but insisted he is a financial expert.
The only person in this mix who does not profess to be a financial expert is Mulder. She has no financial training and negligible investment experience. After paying more than $5,000 to join DSC, she was prepared to listen to whatever Eshun and Smith and other DSC reps told her.
Their advice proved disastrous. She obtained a line of credit against her home, which “freed up” $325,000 in cash. She could borrow that money at any time and pay interest only.
In May that year, she made her first investment. On Smith’s recommendation, Mulder loaned $40,000 to a B.C. numbered company, 755720 B.C. Ltd.
According to the B.C. registrar of companies, the numbered company had been incorporated just one month earlier. Its sole directors are listed as Eshun and Smith.”
February 3, 2011 at 11:35 pm |
http://www.nationalpost.com/Baines+Wealth+experts+could+hazardous+your+financial+health/4215109/story.html
http://www.vancouversun.com/business/Baines+Wealth+experts+could+hazardous+your+financial+health/4215109/story.html
“One of the questionable credentials that Smith flaunted was her “CBM” designation, which stands for Certified Business Mentor.
To get this designation, you have to attend a five-day course offered by Robin J. Elliott of Coquitlam, who along with his wife, Rika, runs an organization called DollarMakers.
DollarMakers’ stated mission is “to help millions of people around the world how to use joint ventures to create financial freedom[sic] …”
It makes this incredible claim: “Regardless of your circumstances, education, age, or background, and whether you own a business or not, you can retire in less than a year with more regular, passive income than you need to live on, and if you do have a business, we can show you how to double your business profits in 97 days.”
How do you do this? In an earlier blog, Rika Elliott referred to Dollar-Makers’ inventory of joint ventures:
“We have tried and tested joint ventures that are working for us. We want you to build a residual income. The way we have done it is by joining Pre-Paid Legal, Pro Travel and Success University.
“We also have had great success investing with Steve Friedland and have referred many other investors to him. We earn good money from these joint ventures. If you are interested in any of these, email me or give me a call. Introducing people to us is an easy way to make money.”
Here is the story behind these investments.
Steven Friedland ran Western Liquid Funding Inc., which raised $12 million from investors over a six-year period. The company re-loaned the money to other businesses for short-term working capital.
Investors were paid one per cent per month, which amounted to more than $10 million over the six-year period. But it all came to a crashing halt in June 2010 when the company became insolvent.
B.C. Securities Commission investigators looked into the matter, and found that the company had not filed a prospectus to raise money from investors, nor was it eligible for any exemptions from prospectus requirements. The commission banned Friedland from the B.C. securities market for 20 years.
Investors, meanwhile, will lose anywhere from 90 to 100 per cent of their capital, according to bankruptcy trustee Philip McCourt of Abakhan & Associates Inc.
Elliott and his wife faired much better. According to reports filed by Western Liquid Funding with the securities commission, the Elliotts’ private company, Elliott Enterprises Inc., and at least one associate, Patrick Giesbrecht, referred hundreds of thousand of dollars worth of investments to Western Liquid, which paid them half-per-cent monthly commission for as long as the money stayed invested.
As for the other “joint ventures” mentioned by Rika Elliott — Pre-Paid Legal Services and Pro Network Travel and Success University — they are all multi-level marketing organizations which, in theory, offer unlimited growth potential, but in practice, have serious limits to growth.
But Elliott, with characteristic immodesty, claims to have a “brilliant answer” to that conundrum. In a Jan. 13 blog entitled, “How you can make money in network marketing without recruiting a single person,” he states:
“You find someone who is NOT in your downline, but loves your products/ service, and will happily recommend it/give out samples that will entice someone to accept the offer of more information, at which point your bird dog hands them over to you to sign up as a recruit.”
In other words, you find somebody to do your job. A brilliant solution, indeed.
I tried to discuss this matter with Elliott, but he said he wasn’t interested in talking with me. No worry, though.
You can catch him at DollarMakers Financial Empowerment Seminar at the Executive Plaza Hotel in Coquitlam on Feb. 19.
Other featured speakers are Rika Elliott and Patrick Giesbrecht.
The course normally costs $497, but for this event, the entry fee has been discounted to $39.95. Such a deal.”
Read more: http://www.vancouversun.com/business/Baines+Wealth+experts+could+hazardous+your+financial+health/4215109/story.html#ixzz1CwSkRcdJ
May 24, 2011 at 10:31 pm |
I ran into your website while google searching for Robin J Elliott. I think you have an interesting perspective on things, many of which reflect my own experience – but others don’t.
I was one of the first 100 members of Dollarmakers (at least that’s what Robin told me). I joined in early 2004 and stayed until about 06-07 or so.
The only money I paid Robin beyond the original membership fee (which was like $197 or something) was for an affiliate website at $40/mo for about a year. THAT was pretty much a waste, but I did make one sale from it. Paying Robin to be an affiliate is an interesting concept, for sure.
I tried promoting Robin’s speaking services but was having trouble with it because I’m in the States and he demands all expenses be covered.
99% of the successful people in the ‘club’ quit. I almost wanted to keep my membership just to find the new joiners who are worthwhile. Everyone “worthwhile” owned a real business – again interesting because Robin bashes having basic things like EMPLOYEES(!).
I met some great people in the club. I earned over $2000 from one JV with a member. Robin was proud of it, mentioned it on a teleconference and asked me to speak about the situation for a minute. I never got the sense that he was trying to downplay the JV.
Aside from time lost approaching a couple businesses as a broker, I earned a profit as a member and made some life-long connections with real business owners. That was in DollarMakers’ heyday, though.
For my own business (which is now doing over 1M per year, employs 4 people, and subcontracts to about 30) I know that some of what Robin teaches will take us to the next level. Focusing on JVs and “win-win” relationships with other businesses is key for long term survival and profit these days.
Other notes:
1. I was pitched a ton of MLM products and concepts as a member of DollarMakers. I exercised self control and due diligence, and joined none of them.
2. The concept of the gift certificates is not something I’ve seen Jay Abraham talk about (if so, please tell me the book/cd/dvd). This concept is huge and works well IF YOU OWN A BUSINESS. Doing this as a broker is also possible IF YOU KNOW THE PEOPLE INVOLVED.
3. I know nothing of Robin’s 1-on-1 or mentoring programs. I did receive an expensive direct mail package from him and a “marketing consultant” requesting me to join. I don’t remember the price, but it was $8k or more. Again, self restraint was exhibited.
4. If you read Robin’s book Joint Adventures and/or his blog articles you will be inspired and get some gold nuggets.
I’m rather neutral on the whole DollarMakers issue because my experience was not negative, but I was new to business and naive to things that many seasoned folks will take offense to. I would not join today, but I’m thankful for the lessons I’ve learned and applied because they have made me money and given me the vision to look for JVs wherever possible.
Regards
July 21, 2011 at 5:09 am |
More reporting on Robin’s scams:
http://www.canadianbusiness.com/article/33588–nothing-for-money–page0