But could we name names of those we do trust? I’d love to hear some. Today I got a very good email from David Frey and I’ve enjoyed Robert Middleton as well.

Also, I encourage everyone here to sign the “ethical business pledge” that Shel Horowitz has published at http://www.principledprofits.com. I have a whole page devoted to it on my own website.

I’ve just completed another interview to my series on this subject: the co-author of “Snakes in Suits” Robert Babiak.

He consults with big companies on how to detect and deal with scammers and con artists among their own employees.

I also just found out about a company based in Boston – Business Intelligence Advisors – that big investors hire when they need to know if a CEO is telling the truth or not. The company hires former FBI and CIA agents to do the work.

This company was the cover story in the June 26 issue of Barron’s. (Sorry. I have no link.)

I’ll be posting the whole series of the interviews I’m doing on this subject some time in late July or early August. They will contain practical suggestions we all can use to make better decisions about who we do and don’t get involved with in business.

No quick fix, but some definite wisdom that would normally be hard to get anywhere else.

Great post by you and awesome comments by everyone else, well, except mr. anon. I talked with a few people at Perry Marshalls last seminar who had nothing but high praise for you stystem seminar and I plan on going next year.

To add my own comments to this…I refer to these so called gurus as used car salesman. They will sell you any and everything under the sun. When i first became involved in internet marketing, I signed onto as many lists as possible, mainly for 2 reasons.

1 – To get as much info as possible. Its a shame that so many of these so called gurus dont practice what they preach. Many of them will tell you to provide good solid content in your newsletter to build rapport, trust with your list but they dont do it themselves. Instead, they prefer to “milk” their lists. I use this phrase “milk” b/c thats what i heard from a very well known guru who has a testimonial on every product, so it appears, on the net. He used the phrase, once you build your list, you need to milk it for everything you can and thats exaclty how i felt when i was on his list for a short time.

2 – I wanted to find out who actually did provide solid info and wasnt out their for themselves, who’s recommendation could i really trust? and as someone had just commented, those are the people i go back and use their affiliate links when im ready to purchasea product. I do go back and see if they are promoting it on their site before i go the producst sales page. Unfortunatly, there arent many on good list.

One other beef from these guys is i dont even talk to my mother as frequently as they email me. Personally, if you email me 3-4 times a week, you are just flat out annoying and even if you do have good info, it doesnt get read and you are usually unsubcribed pretty fast.

As for as outting some of these guys, I dont think too many people are going to be naming names but here could be one solution…. as an old saying goes.. if you dont have anything nice to say about anyone, then say nothing, so one could ask for opinion on a product or guru and if theres dead silence, well, enough said!!

Just my 2 cents,

Chris