Professional Keto

(Kaiden) #1

I’d love to turn keto into a career, but I have no idea how to convince people to unplug from Nutritional Orthodoxy, let alone not follow the “eat shit and die” diet.

(Sophie) #2

You don’t have to. The ones that are ready will be there, willing and able. That should be the focus.

(Kaiden) #3

And for the ones that are ready to be keto, why should they pay me? I know, MyPlate and diabetic exchange diets are all freely available to the public, and yet nutritionists and dietitians exist, but I still have to ask myself if anyone would be willing to pay me for dietary advice, especially as I’m weight stable at about 50 pounds above where I want to be.

(icky) #4

As a freelancer/ someone who’s self-employed, I totally get your “why would they pay me” thing.

BUT why does pretty much anyone pay anyone for stuff?

Everyone can clean their own house, cut their own hair, cook their own meals, grow their own vegetables, sew their own clothes, etc etc etc etc.

But people CHOOSE to pay money for these and countless other services and products.

Sure, you need to make a smart/ realistic appraisal of “will enough people pay enough money so I can make a full-time job or part-time job out of this”.

But that kind of appraisal isn’t as “naive” as the initial why-would-anyone-pay question.

If you’re truly interested in this, find some advice for people who want to become self-employed and ask people you know who are self-employed if they know good advisory places and if they know any really good business consultants specialised in helping people start a business/ start a new career.

(Mark Rhodes) #5

It was given to me freely by those who came before me. It would be disrespectful to my teachers to charge newcomers.

Of course I am a patreon. And a subscription member of multiple sites I use weekly or that I gained invaluable information from as I do believe in reciprocation. So I have paid with money as well as effort, but not because it was demanded but rather because it was earned.

Honestly, those who follow their passion will always be compensated. As Joseph Campbell said “Follow Your Bliss”

(Raj Seth) #6

I’m with you on that. Gotta pay it forward. But there is also the issue of “the price is the worth”.
It almost seems like if someone were to

hire some celebrities, LeBron James etc and charge 3 easy installments of $199, and $999 for a video consult with said celeb, and wait, if you order now, and pay in advance only $99/week for a 3 month subscription of these fantastic PayKeto meal replacements (:bacon: and :cut_of_meat: packaged fancy with heat n eat instructions) then will also include a signed copy of “lies my doctors told me” (signed by LeBron - not Ken Berry)

that keto would have wider acceptance :angry:

Of course I also believe that in our lifetimes (recently extended👍) keto will replace the genocide that is called SAD.

History of major genocides: starring Manifest Destiny, Stalin and Hitler, in supporting roles for the star of the show, the Standard American Diet. :confetti_ball::confetti_ball:

(icky) #7

I think plenty of us do stuff unpaid/ as volunteer work, that others do professionally.

I do environmental volunteer work, but I don’t take offense that there are people that dedicate their career and hence get paid for doing environmental work.

I also do animal welfare work on a volunteer basis, but again, I don’t get offended if vets get paid or other people like dog-trainers who work with traumatised dogs get paid.

I don’t see why this should be an either or thing, or why it should be turned into some kind of moral issue.

(icky) #8

I’m pretty sure Phinney, Volek and co make a living doing what they’re doing too!

(Sophie) #9

I believe that if your desire is sincere, then all the answers to the why’s and how’s ultimately make themselves known. You just have to be open to it. The dudes are a perfect example. Here’s 2 guys, much like each other, that wanted to change themselves, their health, etc. and also had a sincere desire to share what they found out. Somehow, the idea of starting a Facebook page came to one or the both of them. Lo and behold there were many, many people out there that were ready to hear their message. The rapid growth of that page ultimately lead them to form a forum, again someone had an idea, and here we are. And we are growing leaps and bounds. Oh, one other thing, I’m sure that if you asked either one of them if they are at their goal weight, they would tell you no, not yet. So, that really has nothing to do with it. It was just their sincere desire to help people, like themselves, that lead them on their journey and if they haven’t quit their day jobs yet, I’m betting they probably could pretty soon. Look at all the money they are able to raise for KetoFest. It’s out there.

(Mark Rhodes) #10

This is called following your bliss.

And I have no problem that they can make money doing that. People often ask me why I don’t and the fact is I am not much for selling what should be given. Note: The dudes don’t sell. And because of that I am a Patreon and I recently upgraded the amount. I also contribute money to:
Diet Doctor
IDM Subscription (rarely use it, might need to rethink that but I wanted to compensate the team over there)
Nutrition Coalitiion
and Zoe Harcombe
@sugar-addict
As to Phinney and Volek, when Virta health has something for me I will buy it. Other than that their research was following their bliss. Plus any cash flow from books I bought.

I have successfully stayed away from alcohol for 28 years by not trying to capitalize on giving it away. My keto success has been because I became teacher to more than a few. My fear is becoming lock step to the dogma I am selling, especially if I am not the one doing the research.

It’s my opinion based on my experience. Of course I might feel differently were I not engaged in a satisfying job that pays well enough.

(icky) #11

Well, that’s all very admirable.

But this is a thread started by someone who wants to make a CAREER out of Keto.

(Not money as such, but money is part of a career, too)

If it was a thread about “SHOULD one charge money for dietary advice: Yes/ No” I agree that there could be debate.

But if someone says they love keto and do keto and would like to make it their career, I don’t really see the problem with that, or why an emphasis needs to be placed on not doing that as a career, but doing it solely as a volunteer thing?

(Kaiden) #12

Well, that settles it. Well, maybe. I have had sleep deprivation and additional head trauma since Saturday. Perhaps I’m just having a bad communication day, but I suspect a bad communication life.

One major issue is being too terse vs. rambling. I’ve never quite been able to judge how much vs. how little information is needed to make myself understood.

So, at the risk of excessive boredom, here’s the scoop. As an Autistic adult, I’m underemployed. I’m working tech support in a call center, and this call center well it’s closing in November.

I’m working with the department of vocational rehabilitation. I’m earning IT wages for a tech support job. Perhaps I can renew my expired IT certifications and move into IT. But perhaps I can retool my career as a Nutritional Therapy Practitioner.

I’m guessing, “no.” I’m not able to explain what I’m asking, so I doubt very much I’ll actually be able to communicate with paying clients.

And I’m very, very sorry if I offended anyone.

(icky) #13

I thought you explained it quite well.

Why don’t you try again and give more detail.

I’m sure you’ll get some helpful replies.

But in life and on the internet, you musn’t give up too soon :wink:

(icky) #14

Also, if you are good at IT, you could maybe write an amazing Keto app that everyone thinks is the best Keto app ever and then you’re helping TONS of people and earning an income from it and educating people about Keto and helping them to live well.

You could really use your IT skills for this too, you know!

And your app could have an advisory service thingee / an email help-desk and you could answer questions there?

Why not get input from ppl here what features a “perfect” Keto app needs and what’s stoopid about all the existing apps for macros etc…??

(Mark Rhodes) #15

Is this your passion? Perhaps I was not clear. Follow what you are passionate about. The money will follow and if it doesn’t you can at least be happy. I could easily find a niche in the keto world and I am sure you could too. However I am a mechanical engineer/ tool and die maker who also really enjoys making things and solving problems all dang day…I am following what makes me happy. It also pays very well with little risk. Now if I wanted a risk, sure I would likely follow nutrition. In the nineties I was only a few credits away from earning a second degree in exercise physiology so I have a passion about this stuff as well. My comments explain my position and hopefully challenge others to think how the keto message was relayed to them. They are not meant to dissuade you from following a passion.

Since you have IT background you might be able to fill a niche that is currently unsupported in the keto world? A podcast or app? Little risk, great payoff if you succeed.

That you have recognized some communication issues in conveying your idea, perhaps this is where you start. Create a FB page with a mission and see how well it does…hone your communication skills there which is quite difficult as FB trolls can really challenge a person.

Just some ideas.

(icky) #16

Yay, see @Kaiden one of the most important things about a new career/ becoming self-employed is that it’s all about challenges and overcoming them! : )

Coming up with a good elevator pitch is suuuuper hard work and it takes ages til you’ve found one that convinces people within 3 mins.

Keep exploring this idea!

(Katie) #17

People pay for:

  1. Accountability (Gretchen Rubin’s obligers and upholders)

  2. So that they can be told what to–whether they are too busy to figure out their own plans, they do not feel qualified to do so, they do not know enough to do so, they are willing to pay instead of putting in effort toward that, etc.

  3. People pay for ease, whether that is food preparation (from slicing and dicing to cooking the full meal), menus, directions for cooking, having people shop for them, having food delivered to them, easy ways to transport food (to work, events, etc.)

(Empress of the Unexpected) #18

Everyone can cut their own hair???