Have you been floundering in your online business, not knowing where to go… what to do?  Yes?  Well, so have I.  True confessions time.  I have been in the IM game for over two years now.  I call them my “learning” years.  I dabbled and designed and sold a few things.  But never really got a good ripping start.

At the same time, I had been eyeing Tony Shepherd’s and Sara Brown’s Internet Marketing Kickstart Course.  But I put off joining as I thought, “I know what to do; I just need to do it!”  So, I didn’t join.  But then I didn’t “just do it, either”.

I finally knew what I had to do.  You see, even we creative entrepreneurial types need a mentor – someone who will direct you and advise.  And I knew  Tony and Sara would do just that.

I “joined” over two weeks ago and have never regretted it!!  It was just the “kickstart” I needed.  Already I have gone through the first 4 lessons and am chomping at the bit to get on with the next ones.  This is nothing but solid gold.

So, I thought I would record my progress here for anyone else who is thinking about trying out the Course. Just look for the category to see what I have been doing.

For you totally new to Internet Marketing, a resounding YES you will never regret your choice.  I have participated in a half dozen courses and webinars before and, well, Tony and Sara’s course is the most user friendly.  I would not hesitate to recommend it if you are new and want to see progress on a regular steady pace.

But if you are like me, and really need that kick in the pants, this is perfect.  While many of the lessons are stuff we already know, the simple progressive layout offers the nudge and guidelines I needed.

Yes, I am a Tony and Sara fan but for good reason.  They are “real” – no false fronts with them.  Head on over to the Internet Marketing Kickstart Course and meet them today!

Warning: I am on my soapbox today!

Now here is term that can be taken two ways: one is that you are looking for a way to make a living through a “prepackaged” opportunity and the other is the more daring, entrepreneurial seeker/creator of opportunities.

The first one tends to be the guy who is looking for a get rich quick (GRQ) system.  They will sign up for anything that says, “Learn how you can make $1000 a day while sleeping”.  Anyone who has ever signed up for one of those programs knows that they are forever on a mailing list of opportunity seekers, which is then sold to similar GRQ programs.  Chain letters, free money, casino riches – you know the type.

Now, I am talking about the entrepreneurial spirit type of opportunity seeker.  Like a blood hound, they are always sniffing the air for some way to make a living through ingenuity and persistence.  Anyone who is this kind of opportunity seeker knows that it will take a bit of imagination coupled with dogged determination to see a project through.  But that is the fun of it!

The ones who are doubly blessed are opportunity seekers that are looking for ways that benefit mankind, their neighbor – and still make an honest living.

These are tough times.  While whole banks are failing and business on Wall street are melting down due to an accumulation of bad business practices, there is going to the opportunity seeker rising from the ashes.  Not to take advantage of the common man’s misfortune and to prey on others dying hopes.

No, the new breed of opportunity seeker will be a man or woman that sees a need, no matter how small, and reaches out to fill it.  He or she will take his or her talent to aid in rebuilding in their community.  And yes, they may capitalize on it, just not in an abusive way which way is the reason for our current economic status.

Had the past generation of opportunity seekers not been so greedy, we wouldn’t be in this current state of affairs.  But we are and the new breed of capitalists will rise and take their place.  A more thoughtful capitalist.

And before you curse capitalism, remember the true definition of capitalist and not the media’s twisted version.

The media and TV make out all businessman/capitalist out to be a greedy claim jumper that makes his living on the flesh of mankind.  They would have you believe that capitalists take and never give.  They prey on the weak and poor – grabbing their last dime.  The media would have you think that all capitalists are in the same league as PT Barnum, the circus man, who is quoted as saying, “There is a sucker born every minute”.

While there are a few wretches who may operate this way, most true capitalists are folks like your mechanic, selling his talents to repair your car.   The produce market is owned by a capitalist – he expects to make some profit on the goods he sells you or you wouldn’t have access to the produce.  The fellow who drills for oil needs to make at least some profit to stay ahead.  He isn’t greedy if he makes a profit.  If a guy designs and sells software that makes life easier for someone else, even he should make a fair profit.  Hey, even any pop star, athlete or celebrity is a pure capitalist – he or she wouldn’t act or compete for free.

The problem seems to come in as to what “fair profit” is?  Well, several factors come in. If an item is a need like basic food, basic clothes and simple shelter, then I submit that even this should give the seller some profit – just perhaps not a usurious margin.

But when it comes to things we want, over and above those basics, then frankly, fair profit is what people will pay.  Sure most of us won’t be able to afford a Rolls Royce or a house in Manalapan, FL, but those aren’t needs.  Maybe you can’t afford what you want to afford but if you live in America, Great Britain and much of the western world, you can still do something about it.

After all, ask yourself, if you made a widget that helps make life better for someone else and people want it enough to pay for it, are you just going to say no, I want you to have it for free.  Even the guys who design open source software earn a living selling themselves to a boss for wages.

Don’t berate the business man or woman that earns millions and can afford to drive a Rolls.  Most of them started out just like you and saw an opportunity.  They came by their wealth through honest hard work selling you something you wanted: an iPod, Lancome cosmetics, Apple laptop, Lexus, etc.  You don’t need any of those items.  But nothing is stopping you from pulling yourself up by the bootstraps and cranking it up a notch to get the things you want.  Be an opportunity seeker!

Thank God for honest business men and women who seek opportunities to make products we want and services that make out lives more efficient.  They are what true capitalism is about.

P.S.  Next time you are tempted to rank on capitalists, remember it is capitalism that:

• Provides you with a job that you can choose to leave or to improve your station
• Encourages competition between businesses which in turn gives you variety and choice so we have more than one brand as well as more than one price level — not one brand of peaches, one type of car or truck, one clothing store, more than one grocery store to choose from.  None of us likes the idea of always having to shop at Walmart so there is Target and Fred Meyers and others.
• This competition causes mp3 players, cars, and houses, for example, to be more affordable since there are more than one to choose from
• Allows anyone ANYONE to climb the ranks and improve their station in life.  And yes, this is tough.  It is one thing to have a great idea.  It is still another to make it happen.
• Provides schools have books and computers and extension programs
• Offers assistance to the truly needy
• If you are enjoying using the Internet to earn a living or even just to find useful information, you can thank a capitalist.

As my grandfather used to tell folks who griped about the greed in business and government, “Perhaps your troubles would be better solved with a one way ticket to Communist China or Cuba?”

End of rant, for today!

When I have been asked what marketers have made the biggest impact on my Internet Marketing career, I have to say, Lee McIntyre, right off the bat.  Maybe it is because I found him on the upswing of his own business and his enthusiasm swept me up?  I don’t know.  But I do know he is the genuine article.  A natural born teacher, Lee knows how to communicate his ideas well.  You never feel in the dark.  And he always, always, gives more than you pay for.  Always.

Well, I came to find another marketer, Terry Dean, through Lee.  I think they went to the same school!  Both know their business and both care about giving the customer (that’s me and you) the best value for the money.  Period.

So, when I stumbled over this unique audio interview with Terry by Lee, I honestly felt like I got to be a bug on the wall.  “Grab Your Lifestyle” lets you listen in while Lee picks Terry’s brain on some of his most successful “secrets” that gave him the lifestyle you and I dream about.

If you hear an excitement in my tone, it is not hype.  I am genuinely glad to have found both Terry and Lee.  To hear them both together is a real treat and for the money you will never get a better deal.  Check it out here

What is it about is buying every new “deal” that comes along and trying it for a time and then seeing another ‘deal” and buying it and trying it…  jumping from one new money making plan/scheme to another!

Next!  Will this one be the one??

Most of you reading this have been there done that.  We just can’t seem to help buying the next new whatever that comes out, hoping maybe something will do the trick, right.

 I have spent maybe $2500 ?? (what can I say, I am on a budget!!;-) ) on software, ebooks, memberships, in the two years I have been doing this and really have nothing to show for it – yet. And that is minimal compared to some folks who spend many thousands.

This is NOT a gripe!  It is stating cases.  All education costs.  Anything worth doing costs to prepare for.  Instead of going to the university, though, we are buying lessons and courses and software from our Professors (gurus) all toward the end of earning a nice living, whatever that means to me.

It’s like a treasure hunt.  You start out all starry-eyed, pumped up with hope and certain there is a marvelous “chest” at the end of it.  Every treasure hunter will prepare him or herself by aquiring tools, maps, hiring guides, planning the trip, etc.

Some maps lead to a dead end (like a waffled out ebook on list building).  Other maps all but give you the money!

Some guides really know their stuff and share it generously (thanks to mentors like Sara Brown, Terry Dean, Lee McIntyre, Martin Avis, Andy Williams, Tiffany Dow, to name just a few off the top of my head – all solid gold Profs, in my book). And others I won’t mention here that sell – sell – sell and give you a crumb…

Some equipment is designer priced while other equipment is more useful and priced to fit the budget – hey, lots of software is Free!

One thing all treasure hunters have in common – a burning desire to see it to the proverbial pot o’ gold.  Internet Marketing is no different.  You will go through hours of reading ebooks, learning web design, refining SEO, learning to blog or Squidoo, niche hunting,… because you KNOW that there is treasure there waiting for all the work and sweat and tears.

I am in this for the long haul – how about you?  See you in the trenches!

I am conviced I am an entreprenuer – heart and soul.  I love thinking up how to make an extra buck or 10. 

Some years ago, my family made and sold baked goods at a local farmer’s market.  You know -breads, cookies, muffins – stuff like that.  Nothing out of the ordinary, although we used only natural ingredients and organic whenever we could.

I was always experimenting with replacing the “badies”: white sugar, brown sugar, white flour, refined grains, etc. with healthier ingredients.  So our cookies were made of whole wheat flour, butter, Sucanat, and such.

But the item that set us apart was a granola type bar that I modified the recipe to be all wholesome ingredients.  We called it the Olympic Munch bar.  I could go on and on about how we developed the whole business and I will bring it up from time to time as this blog rolls on.  But for now, suffice it to say that I have successfully built a real business.  I have cried, cheered, screamed, all in the same day.  Owning your own business does that to you.

As of today, though, I sold my “baby”.  The Olympic Munch bar has been sold and is in the hands of another more capable family. 

Good bye, munchie.

In business timing is everything. Well, almost everything. You may or may not be on any time constraints/deadlines with Internet Marketing. But there is usually a pattern or better way to do things.
In Internet marketing I have floundered around like a new swimmer trying to swim without guidance or even a book! Since I am not drowning, physically, at least I still keep at it as I want to learn this thing called Internet Marketing!! But drowning is a good description of one who is diving into this with zero training or direction.
What if the first time you were surfing the Internet for how to make money at home (as you were desperate to make a little extra cash) and you happened upon a method to make money in affiliate marketing? Lots of good instruction out there but the first thing you run up against is – WHICH program do I try? Of three programs you opt for the cheaper one say for $27. You wait for the download excitedly and rip into it and … well, it’s all “Greek” to you! You have no idea what SEO is. You are intimidated my Clickbank. You ‘ve read the horror stories about Pay-pal.
Timing …and education!… is everything. Yup! it’s back to school and guess what there are LOTS of “teachers” who want to teach you the ropes – for a price. But I/you want this bad so we spend the dollars/pounds to learn this craft. But it’s kind of like that story about the three blind men describing an elephant. One fellow thinks an elephant is like a tree as he pats the leg. Another says it’s like a vine as he grasps the tail and the third says, ‘no, no an elephant is a fan’, as he feels the breeze froms its flapping ears.
So how do you describe this elephant called Internet Marketing? It is creating unique products (writing info products)! Internet marketing is studying human psychology (writing sales copy, right?!)! Internet Marketing is beating the statistics (SEO)! It is flying by the seat of your pants, sometimes (split trials)! It is a way that ANY average Joe or Jane can have a chance to earn an honest living. Ultimately, Internet Marketing must be felt from all sides and angles or you just don’t get the whole story.
You can’t just read about affiliate marketing – that is only part of it. SEO is advanced IMing. Writing copy is both science and art. So…
AND there is no convenient way to find where to begin in Internet Marketing. There is no syllabus, no yellow pages even to look up how to do Internet Marketing.
What it comes down to is anyone who really wants to make Internet Marketing work will join forums (like the Warrior Forum) and discussion groups and the earlier in his IM career the better. From there you will be able to glean from experienced marketers and be able to ask what is the best path to take.
But I am preaching to the choir. You most likely are here due to reading about it from an article or a discussion on a forum.
I heard it once said, “It takes guts to succeed” and this isn’t less true in Internet Marketing.
Stay with it! Anyone can succeed at this business. Anyone that is who is willing to do the time and “go back to school”.
See you in the trenches!