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I meet a lot of people in this industry. Some of them are light years ahead of me, while others are just starting out. One question I’ve had more than once from folks are desperate: “I need to make money now. Show me how to do it.”
That question is just sad, and I wish I had a magic bullet or some quick solution, but here’s the deal… There is none.
Learning a business from scratch takes a lot of time and effort. None of the programs that guarantee to make you rich overnight are honest. There is no free lunch. You have to work to succeed, and you have to work very hard.
It is possible to make millions of dollars online. I know tons of people who do that on a personal level. It can be done.
But they didn’t start out that way. They started out by struggling, just as you may be struggling now. If you’re up to the game, you can be just like them. I’m still working at it, and I’ve been in this going on 5 years now. I mean, I make money, but I’m not a millionaire–yet.
There’s still work to be done and relationships to be forged and lots of fun along the way. Because when it comes right down to it, what’s ALL business? A game. It’s all a big game. And the person who makes the most money wins.
So, learn something really well. Maybe it’s blogging (my love), SEO (my other love), or maybe it’s just talking and doing teleseminars or being part of the e-commerce or eBay worlds. Whatever it is, get really, really good at it. Study and learn, every day.
Don’t get confused by everything going on around you, and don’t follow every opportunity. Don’t buy products from every launch.
Tellman says to pick one person to follow, and follow everything they do–to the letter. They’re successful because they know what works and what doesn’t. I think that’s pretty sage advice.
Stay focused. If you can do that, you just might have a chance.
There’s plenty of playground out there. 
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August 26th, 2008 at 5:00 am
I think you’re spot on here, Pat. This is a timely reminder not to get hooked by every new “bright-shiny-thing” that comes along.
One takeaway here is that focus and persistence are attributes we should all cultivate if we want to really grow our business.
Another takeaway is that if we’re going to spend our time learning and getting really good at something, then let’s choose something that inspires us and has the capacity to bring us joy. After all, this might be the only life we have, so let’s make the very best of it.
Thanks again Pat for this post
Simon Allard
http://businessbuildingforcoaches.com/
August 26th, 2008 at 5:44 pm
The one thing that I have realized is that there is no way you can make money online by doing it as a part time job. It takes every bit as much effort as a full-time job to be successful at it. So whatever you have to do requires a full time commitment for it having even a remote chance of success.
August 28th, 2008 at 2:41 pm
How refreshing to finally read an honest post about the reality of online marketing. The road to easy street is not paved in gold and honest hard work and devotion are essential elements in the success of any business venture.
Thanks for keeping things real.
Gary
August 28th, 2008 at 8:59 pm
I’m not so sure I’d say ‘pick on person and follow them to the letter’ is the way to go? I do think that following successful people is important, but we also want to differentiate (can I say uniquify? Not sure if that is a word) ourselves from everyone else. Because it is our iniqueness that gives us longevity.
I do know some people who made thousands practically overnight, once or twice, but they don’t have any longevity – they aren’t doing internet marketing anymore – they are the ‘flash in the pan’. But the long term income comes from setting yourself apart, making a name for yourself, and that takes perseverance (lots of it) as well as that ‘little something different’.
My preference is to pick a few successful people, study them, and take the best from each and create yourself that way.
August 29th, 2008 at 8:19 am
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August 30th, 2008 at 4:16 am
“They started out by struggling” what you send is correct but i don’t think so some one can make millions of dollars online by just writing blog or by doing some stuff online. You need to have good product, resource, marketing strategy and established business, and then you can go online to publish and make money. For all these you also need to invest lots of money and proper planning then you can expect good Money.
One more thing i want to point out in business struggle never ends.
August 30th, 2008 at 5:53 pm
Kiranmmj… Don’t tell Jeremy Shoemaker (Shoemoney) or Darrel Rowse (ProBlogger) that they can’t make millions of dollars online just by writing a blog. They’re doing it! And you really don’t need a product of your own. Tellman Knudson, my boss and friend, made $800K his first year online doing nothing more than selling affiliate products. He didn’t have a product of his own!
I do agree that you can’t do business without money. People who think that are bound to fail. You have to invest in your business or you won’t succeed. And, you’re absolutely right, the struggle never ends.
But… when you’re seeing results, it’s a fun kind of struggle, no?
Thanks for your comment!
–Pat
September 5th, 2008 at 5:28 pm
Thanks for the reminder to stay focused. Sometimes there’s just too much information, and one tends to get scattered with thoughts and processes, when the key hasn’t even been put in the ignition yet. I’m always trying to remind myself to just think of one thing and work my way out from there. BUT, then there’s the SEO I love, and the other irons in the fire, like learning about adwords. I just need a short leash to remember to stay on task. Your advice is great, all across the board. Especially the piece about finding one successful person to be an example/mentor. Good luck to us all!
Sue