A Phrase Worth Knowing
We’ve all heard it: “Don’t look a gift horse in the mouth.”
But where on earth did that come from? And what can it possibly teach us about being a better affiliate marketer?
As it turns out—quite a lot.
The phrase dates back to ancient times when a horse’s age and health could be judged by its teeth. If someone gave you a horse as a gift and the first thing you did was inspect its molars for wear and tear, well—it was a bit rude, wasn’t it?
It was like saying, “Thanks, but let me just check if this is actually any good.”
And that brings us straight to the world of affiliate marketing—where suspicion and second-guessing can be as costly as blind faith.
A Lesson from an Unexpected Place
Years ago, when I was working as a dentist and regularly moonlighting as a weekend cricketer and newsletter writer, I had a patient who gifted me a beautiful leather-bound notebook. He said, “Roger, you’re always scribbling—you’ll put this to good use.”
I was grateful. But instead of using it, I placed it carefully on a shelf. “Too nice to write in,” I told myself.
It stayed there for ten years.
Many years later, while clearing out old boxes, I found it again—still pristine. And I felt a pang of regret. It wasn’t meant to be admired—it was meant to be used.
Just like opportunities in our online business life.
The Affiliate Parallel
I’ve seen it countless times (and been guilty of it myself): a free course, a training PDF, a supportive community invitation—all offered with no strings attached.
And yet, instead of diving in, we delay. We hesitate. We check for the catch.
We inspect the gift horse.
And often, by the time we’re satisfied it’s safe—it’s already galloped off into the distance.
The Cost of Caution
Don’t get me wrong—healthy scepticism is vital online. There’s no shortage of shiny rubbish.
But there’s a point where caution turns into paralysis. Where we miss out on genuinely useful resources simply because they don’t come wrapped in hype.
Take the MAP Book, for instance (the one I mentioned Monday). It’s a classic example. Short, clear, no upsell hidden behind the curtain. And yet, some folks will still walk past it because… it’s free.
Too good to be true? Or just… good?
👉 Grab the MAP Book Here
When Free Means Freedom
There’s a story from the 1500s about noblemen being gifted warhorses by foreign rulers. Inspecting those horses’ mouths would have been an insult—not just to the horse, but to the relationship.
Sometimes, accepting a gift gracefully is a sign of wisdom, not naivety.
The same is true with resources in our marketing life. The value isn’t always in the price—it’s in the action we take.
A Few More Marketing “Gift Horse” Moments
Let me share a few times when I looked a gift horse in the mouth—and lived to regret it:
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Turning down a free webinar from someone who later became a major mentor of mine
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Ignoring a no-cost email course because it had “too basic” in the subject line
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Not using ChatGPT for six months after I first heard about it because I thought it was just for coders
Lesson learned.
These days, if something might help and costs me nothing but time—I give it a fair go.
Why You Should Embrace the Good Ones
As online marketers, especially affiliates, we thrive on momentum. Not perfection. Not certainty. Momentum.
That means testing, trying, exploring. Not just judging from the sidelines.
The MAP Book might not change your life overnight—but it might change how you approach the game. It did for me.
👉 Get it while it’s still free
You might just find the direction you’ve been looking for.
Final Thought
A gift, by definition, costs you nothing. But not using it can cost you everything.
So next time opportunity knocks—whether it’s a guide, a course, or a curious old notebook—don’t waste time examining its teeth.
Just open it up. And start writing your own story.
