Thanks for your insightful response. It is interesting to see what Google and the open source movement has done with our perception of paying for products online. It’s true that with some diligent searching you can find most things in a free or low cost version on the web.

You really hit the nail on the head though, when you said “I would only pay money for something I cannot find for free elsewhere.’

In the examples that I have listed there wasn’t anything “unique” about them. While one package was more “deluxe” than the other the basic goal setting principles listed are presented for free on many blogs and websites.

In their current form they would be of interest to people looking for a proven method of setting goals. A time saving, one stop shop that would offer them a workable solution without spending hours of searching on the web.

To take them to the next level, it would take a feature or method that isn’t available anywhere else. A site like TeachingSells.com would be helpful to put together a learning environment that offers additional value.

John

The second option is definitely more preferable, with the caveat that I would not buy from sites I did not trust. A reputable storefront that archived or collected good reasonably-priced products of a certain theme, and allowed a Paypal option, along with credit cards, would be my pick.

The actual example chosen is actually quite poor, as I would only pay money for something I cannot find for free elsewhere. Free goal settings options abound. It would be pointless to pay for advice freely available elsewhere.

1) To me, the setting of meaningful goals depends more on the individual’s technique and discipline to follow through, rather than the method chosen to record them. So yes, any package (or no package at all) would work.

2) No, it’ll make me poorer and thus less successful.

3) I’d consider if I really needed the illustrations to help me learn the material. Does anyone really need pictures to show them how to set goals? Or a video of someone extorting you to go set them? Not in my book.

On the other hand, something like learning a computer program (drawing: Photoshop, or 3D animation) or playing a guitar might benefit from pictures showing exactly which button to click or how to position my hands.

But being part of the geeky subculture, I’d rather be trawling the internet discovering free resources of equal or better value, than paying money for vaporware.