Crowd Mountain Status Update
It’s with a heavy heart that I write this.
But also with a renewed sense of purpose, and a little dash of that enthusiasm the New Year always brings.
In early October 2010, I underwent an unexpected and incredibly invasive surgery. At nearly the same time, my main server went down.
You, as a customer, saw sites that were down and no sign of me to correct the problems. You couldn’t log into your Crowd Mountain membership. You also couldn’t go to the support desk to request help, as that site was on the same server and down as well.
Worst of all, you were still being billed via Infusionsoft for your Crowd Mountain membership.
Before I go any further, I want to say that I am so, so sorry for that.
I had support staff on hand who couldn’t offer help to you because the support desk was down. I had a webmaster who had been hired a month prior (to replace my previous webmaster, who died in a car accident in June), but he was new, still being trained and didn’t have access to all my logins yet.
What effected you most was that *I* was the only person who could fix the problems, and I was gone. Again, I apologize with such deep gravity and sincerity that it simply can’t be translated into words.
Some folks suspected intentional trickery; I understand that uncertainty and fear often bring out the worst in people.
Our industry does have a few bonafied scammers, quick-buck bizopp kinda people. But it’s full of an astounding majority of hardworking, honest and helpful folks too. I’ve always made a point to work to legitimize internet marketing – to bring truth where it’s missing, to take away some of the “smoke and mirrors.”
I deeply regret if these circumstances caused you to see the internet marketing industry as a whole as a set-up, a scam, or one big product launch after another with no follow-through. While I’ll do everything I can to earn back your trust, I understand if I can’t. But I ask that you not throw the baby out with the bathwater and condemn the many other incredible teachers and products out there.
I won’t be offering another in-house internet marketing product for sale until a “mini-me” (or equivelant team) has been hired and fully trained “just in case”.
I will *NEVER* allow this to happen again – for the sake of the industry as a whole and mostly for the sake of you, the customer.
You can log in to Crowd Mountain at:
http://www.crowdmountain.com/members/
I will keep the past content available for you to refer back to. All billing for Crowd Mountain has been stopped. It will not be reopened.
If you do need help with your account, the support desk is available at:
http://support.revolutiontilt.com
What will happen next? My staff and I will work around-the-clock at the support desk over the next several days to assist you.
After that, I plan on devoting my time to getting my hands dirty building sites, implementing new SEO strategies and, of course, sharing it all with you here on the blog.
Thank you to the overwhelming number of people who voiced their concern for me during my absence. You didn’t know what was wrong, but you knew me well enough through my blog posts, videos, tweets and products to know that *something* was wrong. I’m deeply touched by your support, thank you.
What happened with Crowd Mountain – with all my sites – proves in a backwards kinda way just how possible it is to succeed in internet marketing as a “lone ranger.”
But it also shows how the “one-man show” system of doing business will implode when the one (wo)man is down for the count. The show can’t go on.
Life happens, whether it’s as pleasant as an extended vacation or as disruptive as health problems or a server outage during a family death. Take a moment to think about how you can protect your own business from this situation. How can you build a team (which can even be as simple as another internet marketer you trust) to fix things when you can’t?
Glad you’re back, Michelle, and hope your health is improving.
Michelle,
I definitely missed your absence and was hoping there was nothing seriously wrong. I’m glad you’re back and hope you’re all better. Let me know if I can be of any help with ANYTHING.
Hugs,
Yisel
I wish you all the best Michelle! I look forward to learning from you again in 2011. Peace.
Hi Michelle, I’m a lurker, not a poster or commenter….but this one caught me. Glad you are doing better- at least it sounds like it! I took on a partner last year and stopped being the one man show. We aren’t quite “there” yet, but working toward building the business so that if Valerie gets hit by a bus tomorrow, the business won’t fail. It’s a long journey to get to that spot, but so important (especially if you ever want to sell!) Take care and I look forward to reading more.
Valerie VanBooven RN BSN
It’s nice to see you’re back, Michelle. There was definitely a void in the IM space during your absence. Hiring a project manager / mini-me is great advice for any thriving entrepreneur since it allows the business to go on.
Take care of yourself and I look forward to more great content
I wasn’t even lucky enough to get into Crowd Mountain, but knew something had to be terribly wrong… where is Michelle MacPherson??? I kept asking… I cruised your sites often, looking…watching.
I hopt this finds you on the mend, feeling like you are ready to take back on the world, only because that means that the scrappy MM I grew to like through The 30DC is back and better than ever!
Welcome back Michelle!
Glad to hear you’re ok Michelle. I did miss you not being “around.” Valuable lessons learned and shared. Good to see you back
Hi Michelle, I am relieved that you are healthy and whole and back in our community. I hope you are well and truly over your invasive surgery and that your members look at the bigger picture, as opposed to the impact on them. It was not an ideal situation for all involved, and the main thing is you are back, alive & kicking! **hug** Caro x
Welcome back!
Your health is far and above the most important thing – everything else can be fixed, replaced or made up for.
I think Caro said it best! Bad situation for all but I am just thankful that you came through your surgery in one piece.
You teach amazing things and life happens to us all…I will just be excited to see you back on the saddle!
So glad to see you back. I DO hope that the situation that required the surgery is no longer and that you return healthy and happy. You were missed!
Hi Michelle, I’m so glad to hear from you. Thanks for your post and hope you’ve fully recovered. Good to see you back. You were missed!
Thank you for the explanation, I had not wanted to think badly of your organization. I’m glad to know what really happened. Sorry about the surgery but glad you seem to be okay now. And thank you for the hard lesson learned. As we create and grow our businesses, how important to build a team that can continue. Maybe some future posts can include ways to prevent such a meltdown going forward? You’re a good teacher. I look forward to your being back up and running and lots of success.
Great to have you back Michelle! Those of us that know you well will be here for you. Look forward to future posts and videos. Much success and good health to you and your family in 2011!
Glad to see you back Michelle. Yes I wondered, and searched, but more out of concern for you as opposed to anything else. I’ll continue to promote you in any way possible as you get back on your feet.
Welcome back Michelle
You have just made the biggest step! Glad you are back on top of things! All the best with your new adventures – if there’s any thing I can do let me know.
I have always wished you well at any time I tried to contact you or your team, and I am glad to see you are well and back to your industry.
I will openly admit that I am one of the disgruntled customers that wrote to IM reporting boards and anywhere it came into the conversation about the disappearance of You and Crowd Mountain.
As a business you completely failed, and have left sour tastes in lots of peoples mouths.
In light of the poor image, working a business on the internet has, you have not done the cause any great favor.
I do not see how a simple autoresponder or communication instrument in the age of social media could not have been put to use to let PAYING CUSTOMERS in on the situation and what steps were being taken to resolve the issue.
The complete absence of any communication, will always set of alarm bells in anybody, your comment
” I understand that uncertainty and fear often bring out the worst in people.”
is an underhanded swipe at people with a genuine grievance.
The people you have collaborated with in the past, some whom have left comments here, I have always believed to be amongst the good crew in the IM space. I hope their empires, are not run on such flimsy platforms as what you seemingly built yours on.
Now I have had my rant all the best with your rebuilding, of your health, business and reputation.
Wonderful to see you back, Michelle! I thought your absence may have had to do with your health, so it was worrying not having heard from you for so long. Here’s to a happier, healthier 2011 for you
Michelle, you’re a great teacher- of many different things. It’s not just about Internet marketing- it’s also about how to conduct business. Kind of a funny synchronicty- after nearly 3 years of being a solo Internet Marketing consultant, I am seeking a team to join. I couldn’t agree with you more- “the “one-man show” system of doing business will implode when the one (wo)man is down for the count. The show can’t go on.”
I have not been one of your more active subscriptors but allways I followed your comments, training, recommendations, reports,… in the background, taking good notes of your experience. I have more than 50 mails every day coming from different gurus: Frank, Mike Filsaime, Jeff Walker, John Reese,… I have no time to read such avalanche of information every day but in that jungle I try allways to keep time to follow your emails and Crown Mountain supporting services.
As you said, I was asking me what happens with you in the last months. Now I am seen that you were “tested” like every other really good people that I know. But proves don’t last forever. They bring a lot of good things for our own present and future. I wish you the best for your bussiness and personal life and hope you keep hope on you own future.
So glad to have one of my favorite mentors back… We wish your the best of health Michelle, and trust that you will do everything in your power to rebuild.
Welcome back Michelle!!!
Hoping you get better soon!
Don’t worry, we understand everything, and, will love you with a much bigger love now!!!
Greetings from Moscow (Russia)
Will know if your sincerity is real if you post some of the remarks from us who are not fawning all over you. I was one of those who was charged for three months for information and product never received. I have stage 4 kidney disease and that was the medication money that I needed to live. Dont expect to see this approved comment…..But will see if the apology was sincere. What about those of us who were billed incorrectly? It is one thing to say I am sorry. It is another to return our money.
Having been in a similar position with a retail business, I know how fickle business can be. In fact that is the reason I changed to online, but it is a timely reminder, there you go Michelle teaching when the chips are down;-)
Sad that you need almost to apologise for the industry but I know better days are ahead, best wishes for health and Joy Michelle, Cheers
Michelle, I’m glad you are back and hopefully feeling better. I am so sorry to hear about your health problems. I thought that some kind of family emergency must have happened, because you are a nice person and would not do this intentionally.
So don’t worry about what happened. You did the best you could in the situation. It was frustrating to me at the time, but I have received a refund for the two months I lost, so everything is fine. No matter the inconvenience, it was worth it to be a part of crowd mountain. I learned a lot, and I hope you do create another course at some point. You have a lot of good things to teach.
I hope your health is good now, and I wish you all the best in your future endeavors.
Thank you for being so transparent. I can only imagine how it must feel to have to “deal” with a massive team change, big medical challenges AND a server outage. I too had a big server outage the day after Thanksgiving with a brand new web guy. It was brutal. 10 days without any websites. So many sick stomach days but I learned a valuable lesson or two. =-) Ok maybe three. Wishing you peace of mind as you ramp back up.
Glad to see you back, Miichelle. Many of us over at the Warrior Forum have been worried about you. Take care of your health first; the rest will follow.
I’m so glad to know you are well. Welcome back and I’m looking forward for your posts.
Glad to hear you’re OK Michelle, I was really enjoying all your posts and videos and just getting to know you before you disappeared. It was so strange (and rather unsettling) at the time to see all your sites (and your blog) just disappear. Thanks for the update and I hope things continue to go well for you. I’m sure your IM reputation will continue to blossom now you’re back.
Happy to Hear you are ok. I lost my Dad to Cancer in 2009. Enjoy life each and ever day.
God Bless !
Hadn’t read your blog in some time, and didn’t realize you were doing the Atlas statue bid for a while. But it’s real blessing to see you on top of the world again.
Hey Michelle
Great to hear you’re back on board and you’re making a full recovery. A few of us Samurai boys were worried for you. Loved Crowd Mountain, look forward to what ever comes next.
Ben
… that would be ‘hope you’re making a full recovery’ (and a fast one)
Glad to hear you’re OK! You have been missed. Welcome back!
Mel
Great to see you back Michelle
Reading your post is an ironic twist of internet fate. Your email prompted me to visit your blog. Happy to learn you are on the mend. I know of your terror of being the only person in charge of your internet properties. Yesterday I quietly brought http://www.WebsiteSuccession.com live. This software would have prevented your websites and internet properties from going down because you would have been able to have all your key access points in one safe and secure offline location to hand to your web person to take action immediately. This simple to use and yet comprehensive software program was developed specifically for income producing online businesses and provides the answers to “If your web person quit or something happened to you, would your income-producing websites disappear too?” Sorry to go on, but your experience has just validated what I knew in my heart would be a necessary tool just for people like us. I encourage you to look at the website and consider implementing the software in your business. Your experience proves why this is needed right now for all of us.
Hope you are feeling better Michelle
I know people you have scammed,anyway can you publically confirm everyone owed money from you(crowd mountain) will receive every penny they are owed.I don’t want a politicians answer it’s a straight yes or no question.Anything other than a straight answer means no btw.
You must moderate these comments because you are very unpopular in certain quarters.
Anyway what goes around comes around you have pissed some clever people…………..
Hey Michelle… Last fall was a trying time for people not knowing what was going with you? I think that people were taken off guard where you had been running a tight ship enjoyed by many until the iceberg hit. Today is a new day and by the remarks I see here the majority is pulling for you and those that had a problem have noted thast they were reimbursed. Can’t complain there!
I’ve always enjoyed your wisdom and am glad to see you back. I hope your medical situation is in check and you will be OK going forward. Just don’t talk too fast!
That’s fantastic news…you Go Girl. Glad you’re back—take care.
Have to say I was worried because it was so not like you to disappear. I have experienced a similar experience over that last year and I understand the rollercoaster of emotions and the helplessness of being unable to keep everything going. I am so glad you are back and hope you have made a full recovery.
I am sorry to hear what happened. I pray that your are sufficiently recovered and I pray for your healing and getting back on the helm of your business.
God Bless you, Michelle. I’m so sorry to hear about what happened to you. I’m constantly dealing with issues like this (at least once a year). So I have some things to share but too much for a comment. I hope you’re recovering well.
Sorry to hear that you had such severe medical issues. Glad to hear that you’re on the mend and back in our lives, sharing your knowledge and opinions
Well, Michelle, no where in your apology nor on the Crowd Mountain site do I see anything about your plans for the Crowd Mountain membership. Are you done with it and just allowing us to access the old content? Or, are you planning on building it back to the excellent resource it was? You’ve been back for several weeks and I think that would be enough time to start adding content if that’s your plan. If it’s not your plan, it would be nice to know that so we can close that chapter.
“I will keep the past content available for you to refer back to. All billing for Crowd Mountain has been stopped. It will not be reopened.”
Michelle, I wish you the best in the future, I thank you for following through and paying the affiliate commissions.
One lesson to add to lessons learned… do not allow your staff, who apparently had no grasp on your business handle your customers, because not only did they not know how to deal with your business issues, they did not know how to diplomatically handle your customers. I am sure you know, without your customers, you have no business.
I say this in the most loving way.