They say “the proof of the pudding is in the eating.” And I’ve found that to be true in everything from cricket gear and camping stoves to online affiliate systems.
But let me take you back to one particular episode — a summer Sunday at the local cricket ground, long before AI or acronyms like SEO, SLO or OTO had ever crossed my mind…
That Time the Bat Looked Better Than It Hit
We had a new batsman turn up — big lad, stylish whites, and a willow bat that looked like it had been carved from ancient oak and polished with unicorn tears. Brand new from some top Swansea sport shop.
We were facing a tricky side from Neath that weekend, and I was down at number three. The new chap opened.
First ball… bowled, middle stump flying.
Turns out, that bat may have cost £120 (a fortune in the 70s), but it had a sweet spot the size of a postage stamp — and our new player’s shot technique wouldn’t have troubled a garden gate.
No matter the look or the label. The proof of the pudding was very much in the playing.
You Don’t Know Until You Try It
Over the years, I’ve seen the same pattern play out everywhere.
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In dentistry: the “next-gen” tools we were sold often didn’t outperform our tried-and-tested ones.
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In the desert: the fancy new gas stove gave out after one meal, but the old British Army tin burner boiled tea every time.
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In parenting: no book can prepare you for the first nappy disaster in a public café.
And more recently — in affiliate marketing — I’ve seen it again and again.
Some of the flashiest programs I’ve joined promised the moon, only to deliver broken dashboards and zero support.
Meanwhile, two systems that looked modest on the surface — the MAP Book and Serious About Six Figures — have delivered the best results. Why? Because I used them. Tested them. Ate the pudding, if you like.
The Danger of “Shelf Learning”
It’s easy to fool ourselves that we’re making progress by reading and watching.
I once bought a digital product called “The Affiliate Profit Masterplan Reloaded Blueprint” (yes, really) — 12 videos, 4 checklists, 3 spreadsheets and 9 PDFs.
I watched the intro, skimmed the checklist, and then filed the whole thing neatly into a folder marked “Learning.” Never touched it again.
We do this in life, don’t we? Books on dieting instead of changing what we eat. Travel brochures instead of booking the flight. Affiliate courses instead of sending the first email.
What works is action.
Pudding, Meet Online Marketing
So why am I banging on about desserts and digital products?
Because I believe the only way to learn affiliate marketing — or anything online — is to test the ingredients, stir the mix, and try the bite.
You don’t have to be perfect. You don’t need a silver-plated blog or an email funnel crafted by Hemingway.
You just need to start. Take the course. Download the book. Set up the opt-in. Press send.
And then see what happens.
A Final Word From a Former Perfectionist
I used to want things “just right” before I’d take the leap. As a dentist, that made sense. In cricket, too — timing matters.
But in online business? It’s the tinkerers and testers who get ahead.
So if you’ve got an unopened MAP Book or a bookmarked training program sitting there… open it. Give it a go. Click a link. Try the pudding.
Because the only thing worse than a bad result… is no result at all.
PS: The batsman with the fancy gear? He came back the next week — with a borrowed bat and a bruised ego. Scored a cracking 50 and bought a round at the bar.
Turns out the proof of that pudding was in the playing too.
