I'm scared of change.
There, I said it. It's not big news though. Everyone is scared of change. Change is a scary thing. It means giving up what you have now for something better that you can only hope you'll have in the future.
It's risky. It's dangerous. It's disruptive.
It's also thrilling, exciting... and inevitable.
My career has gone through all sorts of changes. Some of those changes, like turning my software newsletter into a website called WorldVillage, were my choice and required little more than gradual improvement and steady growth. Some, like working with a games developer to create the site that would become Yahoo! Games, were opportunities that I was lucky enough to stumble upon and quick enough to make use of.
And some changes, like the collapse of the dotcom bubble that almost wiped out my early Internet business, were forced upon me. (I would have been happy to have kept the sorts of click rates companies were paying then! I wish that hadn't changed.)
Every industry changes. Few industries change though as quickly as online marketing. Twitter is probably the best example of that. My followers have increased ten-fold in the last six-months or so. The top celebrity twitterers recently hit a million followers. A few short weeks later and they're already halfway to their second million.
It's been an incredible journey and I'm loving every minute of it. I'm getting a kick out of interacting with my followers. I'm having a ball reading their tweets. And I love discovering the best strategies to form relationships on Twitter and build those relationships into sales.
I was having a ball with AdSense too. I still am. But now my business has expanded. As well as earning from Web content, we're having tremendous success with iPhone apps, with software programs and with social media, and we've got a whole bunch of other things bubbling away in the lab as well.
All of that growth required embracing change. It might be scary, but it's also fantastic, fun and usually it's profitable. The world doesn't stand still and frightening though change might be, you can't stand still either.
It's Del.icio.us!
Furl It!
May 22, 2009 11:37 AM
I'm rather new to Internet marketing but what I am noticing is the importance of locking in on an automated system when new things begin to unfold.
If we can learn how to capitalize from new ways of making money online and lock those profit generators into an automated system, then we can move on to the next venture while still making money in the others.
Thanks Joel for revealing some of your secrets and assuring us that there will always be another level of change to capitalize from.
May 22, 2009 02:20 PM
Changing is always a good thing, It means that you decide to change the current position to a better one
Hessein
May 22, 2009 03:47 PM
I am using the web and social media as a platform for introducing younger adults to my favorite musicians, classic rockers Stevie Nicks and Fleetwood Mac. Many of those in the tech savvy set think Britney Spears and company is the ultimate music experience. Maybe for some, but others looking for more meaningful music may not even realize where to find it. That's the change I'm trying to enact.
Unfortunately, Stevie fears the web and, as you say, is standing still in that regard. The Twitter account Fox & Friends' Clayton Morris set up for her remains dormant. It's a shame she won't connect with a bucketload of potential fans in their own language.
In any case, I shall persevere! Thank you for your timely post.
May 24, 2009 03:27 AM
Changes remind us that the world will keep spinning no matter what happens. So pick yourself up from any downfall and move on =]
May 24, 2009 06:28 AM
Reminded me of "Who Moved My Cheese". Thanks for the reminder that resisting or refusing to change is usually worse than embracing it. It is hard though as you pointed it. It can be scary...especially when things seem to be going well. But, that's exactly when we need to be looking ahead.
Thanks again,
Gavin
May 24, 2009 11:53 AM
If you regard change as an enemy, you will soon be outclassed and out-competed. if you regard change as your friend, great opportunities will come your way. This is a great metaphor for living life.
May 24, 2009 12:38 PM
I work with technology-based companies every day - change is critical to their survival. Although people resist change, I believe the most successful companies use a strategic approach to encouraging and managing change.
May 25, 2009 09:51 AM
Changes ? Who need'em ? Neah ... :-P
Joel, do you realize you promote dialectics against metaphysics?
However. You call them changes - but not all changes mean development .. and sometimes same change done today is wrong but day after tomorrow is pure progress ..
Would this mean 'one' need to be 'wise' when choose to make changes ?
Sure, but is that 'one' a new Nostradamus to 'see' in the future what change would make best results and when should be made and how and ... ?
Well ...
You must be scared of changes. Appalled. Terrified.
So afraid that you'll first measure three times before cut the cat.
Yet, never fail to go for it.
Of course, never doubt you'll have to make the change(s). No matter how hard may look.
In my humble opinion, there are things should never change, no matter the reasons: one should never forget who is it and where is coming from.
To be honest, to be honorable, to love, to care, to be generous - those are subject of never-to-be-changed.
No matter what big-something a change may bring in my life, if one of above would be also subject of change => no change. At all.
As far as I can see, you know (and apply) that. :-)
My 2 cents ..
May 27, 2009 07:02 AM
Hi Joel
Thanks for a good article.
You are so right. Often we see the road ahead as a paved straight and narrow road with goals we can all relate to TODAY. The danger being we don't see the positive opportunities bringing us off on very profitable tangents when we allow ourselves to think outside the box.
So well put, and we should remember this in our own business ventures. :-)
May 28, 2009 11:44 PM
Joel, I just want to say thank you for an article that is well done!
You have valuable information and in helping people, I thank you!
A lot of people do not like change, because of fear that they might not make it. But, if you don't make that change, then things just stay the same. I believe in being a fighter and in helping others to do better, but sometimes people do not always want to change.
At least you can be assured of is that I appreciate and embrace change, and thank you for a better outlook!!
Thanks Again!
May 31, 2009 09:22 AM
You can't be serious Joel. For any one to reach where you have, substantial change is necessary and you can't be scared of it anymore :-) Nice post!
May 31, 2009 11:32 PM
The internet is changing so FAST these days it's challenging to keep up with it. Should we use facebook, friend connect, twitter, ning... it really can be overwhelming and scary.
June 17, 2009 12:01 PM
What you resist you shall persist.
June 22, 2009 09:28 AM
Dear Joel ,
i knew you are great , and now as i promised , i am writing about you on my website , I always like a person who is so down to earth and so helpful to others , i am a top one member (Thumbs up)!
July 8, 2009 06:19 AM
The Internet is changing the way that people work, communicate, and shop, and maybe the way that they will buy electricity. The Internet has opened up a new world of opportunities. It allows people to take a virtual tour of the world without leaving home. Web users can see live pictures of the Statue of Liberty, the Eiffel Tower in Paris or the Western Wall in Israel. All of this is viewable over the Internet from the comfort of the home or office. Comparably, people can make airline reservations, book hotel rooms, buy books and cars, make investments, do their banking, and talk ...