The writer Anne Lamott likes to tell a story of how her brother had to create a school project describing a huge number of different birds. He didn't know how he was going to complete it. Lamott's father had some wise advice. He told his son to do it "bird by bird."
Lamott used that analogy to describe the process of writing a book. You can think of it as a way of creating a successful online business.
Between where you are now and your goal of owning a series of websites that generate large amounts of income, there are a large number of minor goals. Each one of those goals is an achievement.
If you were getting 100 impressions a day and now you're getting a thousand, that's an achievement.
If you had three links leading to your site and now you have thirty, that's an achievement.
If your site was generating a dollar a day and now it's earning ten dollars a day, that's an achievement.
But none of those achievements can come without effort.
That's why one useful strategy is to define your goals in advance and include them in your schedule. Tell yourself that by the end of the month, you'll have discovered which formats and placements work best on all your Web pages.
By the end of the second month, you'll have all your traffic sources up and running.
By the end of the third month, you'll start adding other ad programs. And so on.
Your goals need to be realistic. You should work hard to meet them but you don't want to feel like giving up if for some reason you don't.
Most importantly though, you need to be able to see your goals, and you need to remain focused on achieving them one at a time.
There are just so many things to do when you're building an online business from scratch. Stay organized, take each step one at a time and enjoy the satisfaction that comes with achieving each small goal, and you'll reach the big goal in the end too.
Remember, there is a huge difference between trying to make money and building a business. My mentor, Rich Schefren, has taught me that.
If you missed the live video seminar with Rich that took place last Saturday, I'm pleased to announce that it is now available for online replay!
Carve out a pocket of time, grab a pen and paper, and allow yourself to absorb Rich's teachings. It's all free and I guarantee you will receive great benefit from taking the time to do so.
Rich Schefren - Seminar Video Replay
It's Del.icio.us!
Furl It!
February 13, 2007 08:46 AM
Joel I had posted my dissapointment on
rich's site just a few minutes ago. I wnent back to "copy all" and "paste" here so that you could see it. It must have been a bit strong because it has been removed.
What I said in that post was that I never received the ifomation to log onto the live seminar. And how surprised I was when the link that you gave us this a.m. went back to the old sign up sheet and then when you complete it you are thanked and announcing that the big event is SAT FEB 10th. And I added " And they call us Newbies".
I did say, just before that, that I am a student of yours and very satisfied with all that I have received from you, both purchased and free.
Not trying to "guild the lily" just stating facts.
BTW, what happened to the link to the recorded version?
Victor
February 13, 2007 05:11 PM
Yo Victor! Video Shmideo...
Read Rich Schefren's "Internet Business Manifesto" and the two follow-up documents he produced: "The Missing Chapter" and "The Final Chapter." They are "must reads."
In fact, I recommend you read them in reverse order. Start with "The Final Chapter" because this presents fundamental considerations about forming a successful business.
You will find these considerations an intimately personal manifestation of the following idea:
"For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." (Matthew 6:21)
Funny how the best in any business, whether consciously or not, typically make connections with timeless ideas.
For example, I am reading Zig Ziglar's "Secrets of Closing the Sale."
As soon as you open the book's cover, there is a signed picture of the author along with a fat, white arrow pointing skyward, inside of which is written, "You can get everything in life you want, if you will just help enough other people get what they want."
Imagine that!
It only took nearly two millenia for a salesman to realize:
"It is more blessed to give than to receive." (Acts 20:35)
You heard it here first...
February 13, 2007 05:18 PM
As a newbie to the world of internet marketing, I thoroughly enjoyed Rick's presentation. Solid work ethics, setting goals, formulating a plan and going at it. Thanks for your newsletter Joel. You've opened doors towards understanding and I'm enjoying the new learning curve.