I've made a lot of money out of Internet marketing.
I live in a beautiful home in a wonderful part of the country. I work with some fantastic, clever, creative people who together generate more profit-making ideas than we know what to do with. And most importantly, I have an amazing family and while I do have a busy life, being my own boss gives me the freedom to enjoy time with them.
I feel truly blessed.
But the numbers in the bank are never what get me out of bed in the morning.
Sure, looking at my AdSense revenues always gives me a thrill. Seeing my books sell, and my iPhone apps race up the charts is a fantastic buzz.
But when I think about the professional successes that make me proudest, they're never the products that sold the most or the reviews from professional critics.
It's the effect the things that I've done have had on others.
I love the idea that the seminars, workshops and conference talks that I put on are helping others to achieve their own success. I love hearing from people telling me how I inspired them to improve their website and earn money themselves, without a boss, and entirely from their own efforts.
Nothing beats the pride that comes from knowing I made a positive difference in someone else's life.
Like passive income and multiple revenue streams, that's a benefit available to anyone who works on the Internet too. You don't have to be a guru to help others. You don't have to be a conference speaker, a pastor or the biggest expert in your field to guide others to a better future.
You just have to supply them with knowledge that you have and they want.
That could be something as simple as building a deck, repairing a computer or moving files from an old iPod to a new one. If it makes someone happier, it's worth doing -- and you get to reap the rewards of doing it.
As you're building your Internet business, don't just ask what your website is going to do for you. Ask what you can do for others. The financial success always follows.
It's Del.icio.us!
Furl It!
August 26, 2009 09:27 AM
Right on the money, Joel. Imagine what a wonderful world EVERYONE would experience if EVERYONE knew to think this way.
By the way, thanks for all you do.
August 26, 2009 09:31 AM
Hi Joel -
Thanks for the reminder. As Zig Ziglar said, "you can only get what you want if you help enough people get what they want."
I think most people worry about searching for the most "profitable" niche only to end up chasing the money (and not catching it)...but if you take a different approach and focus on a niche of which you can provide the most value to others then, as you said, "the financial success always follows."
Paul
August 26, 2009 09:33 AM
I feel the same way. This has to be my best year ever. Glad I have my health, love of family, good friends. It's good to prodive value to people lives!
August 26, 2009 10:39 AM
Growing up in a Christian (Lutheran) family, I was taught (at an early age) to tithe... to give 10% back to the church.
My father was a barber. He bought the business from his father-in-law, my grandfather. My dad would take his tithing and buy gift certificates for some of his not-so-well-off customers. These gift certs were for the grocery store in the same shopping center of his shop.
But, he took it one step further... he NEVER gave the certs- No! Santa Claus did. He never looked for adulation, or praise- or even thanks. He anonymously donated these so that the families would never feel indebted to him, or us.
That lesson alone taught me a lot.
So, with that line of thinking, we created our site.
It's a blog-driven and charity-based, geared towards military charities and military causes.
When you visit the "Shop" page and do your online shopping, we donate a percentage of our earnings to these causes.
But, I you don't feel that I can live up to my word, that's OK.
If you want to make a direct donation to the one military charity I believe in, check out our site. You will see a PayPal donation button (from them) throughout the site. I don't see a single penny!
However, if you would like to shop online... visit us & I will donate.
I feel strongly enough about our site's cause because we are a volunteer military.
In fact, when my dad (the barber), emigrated her from Germany in 1960, he was drafted & instantly became a U.S. citizen. He is one of the most patriotic people I know.
Thanks for letting me tell people about the need to help others.
We need to give before we can receive. It's THAT important.
Best,
-Kevin
August 26, 2009 12:22 PM
Excellent post, Joel. Im sometime asked why I want to make more passive income, or what I would do with a million dollars. Im involved in so many organization in the community, I would love to give more to each one of them. From the local community theater, to the high school athletic dept, to the local children's shelter - giving back is something that was instilled in me early on.
Hopefully, over time, I will be able to do more.
Troy
August 26, 2009 02:14 PM
the underlying principle for successful online marketing, selling or networking is The art of giving before you try to get. Before you get something from someone, you need to first give them a reason for them to give it to you.
August 26, 2009 04:00 PM
I agree with you 100%!
Have always lived by the rule that if you give things to others you will things back. And that is ofcourse not material things, but help, ideas, support, guidance and what ever I can assist with.
Some of our clients have become clients just because we have been there to help out with simple questions when they need it. Years later they return with a job that pays, and I believe it's because we have reached out and been there for them before and built a trust. So you can see it from a business side as well. It's nothing for those that thing short term, but thinking short term is never an option for us.
Mattias
August 26, 2009 06:04 PM
Thank you, Joel. That post is a moving reminder of the effect we have on others.
We have an effect whether we mean to or not. It is important to be mindful that what we do or say will have an impact, so make sure its potential is for a positive impact. Nurture empowering beliefs as opposed to disempowering beliefs.
I am not an internet mogul (not an internet anything yet) but intend to have a few online businesses and it is in my plan for each to have a charity that that site gives 10% of revenues back to. The first is the American Heart Assoc.
I hope to make a positive difference in the lives of others and your post rallies more motivation to do so.
Thank you,
Kathy
August 26, 2009 06:30 PM
Here is what I am doing for others:
I am committed to Integrity and Beauty. Since I feel nothing is more beautiful than our planet I dropped everything I was doing and started www.whiteearth.org a non-profit dedicated to educating all of us so that we can make the right green decisions and improve global warming right away.
If you believe in what I am doing, please join me in this tough fight.
Every time one new square foot of white reflective material is introduced on the surface of the earth, we win, as we have managed to reflect sunlight back into space, instead of the planet "storing" it. The resulting reduced global warming allows for the ice covered areas of the planet to remain frozen longer in the spring, and start freezing sooner in the fall.
Glaciers will melt less as a result as well.
We can have an impact much sooner than if we wait for Corporations, Administrations, Municipalities, etc...to get on board with the needed actions.
So, all of us should switch to white roofs, white concrete parking lots, driveways, sidewalks, patios, white cars, white SUVs', white pick up trucks, white trucks, white railroad cars, white trailers, white car ports, white umbrellas, white garden furniture, white pool covers, white patio covers, white awnings, white hats, white clothes, white canopies, white tents, white etc...you name it! You get the picture. The more the white, the better. Everyone can have an impact IMMEDIATELY by adopting the right behavior.
I cannot wait for the days of a whiter earth, full of white cars everywhere, white roofs, etc...
Again if you feel compelled by my "impossible" mission, please visit www.whiteearth.org and help with your time, your talents or your treasures in any which way you can.
I am also an artist, and I have put my work on the back burner to fully concentrate on this pressing issue, as well as committed all my work to fund my non-profit, so every dollar you spend on my art website goes to my non-profit. That website is www.artsymphony.com
Lastly, if you can connect me with people that have the power to make my dream come true in any way, or people that can promote/publicize what I do I would be immensely appreciative.
Well, all of you people of the earth have a fabulous day.
Cheers
Christopher Beau
August 27, 2009 08:31 PM
If there's something I've always lived by, is that no matter how successful you may be in your professional public life, that success doesn't mean anything if you are a failure in your private life (e.g. family, friends). Sometimes we spend so much of our time pursuing our careers, thinking those things important, but we neglect what's more important. I guess more than doing things for others that only constitute our professional contacts (sometimes if we check our hearts, we do those things with an ulterior motive), it's what we do for our family and friends - people whom we may not get any professional benefit out from.
August 27, 2009 10:41 PM
"If it makes someone happy, it's worth doing" thank you for that reminder, Joel.
August 28, 2009 04:21 PM
Hi Joel
Thanks for saying exactly what I also think:
"It's the effect the things that I've done have had on others.
[...]
Nothing beats the pride that comes from knowing I made a positive difference in someone else's life."
I think you are so very right. I fully agree. It is indeed motivating when people tell of succesful activities that made a difference in their lives. Thanks for reminding us.
It is so easy to fall into the trap of focusing on income when so many other things are INDEED so far more important. Thanks for the reminder. :-)
August 31, 2009 10:12 AM
Joel, thank you for that reminder, keep up the good work
August 31, 2009 01:52 PM
Excellent post Joel. Indeed most people are preoccupied on reaping benefits for self. A lot of wealthy people dont share heir wealth with the poor. Your post opens doors for those with a cheerful heart to give and contribute to the less privileged. Thanks for this post.
September 3, 2009 12:02 AM
Joel, You are right. In order to receive, we also need to give away something. Its like give and take. In this way our life should be balance.
September 20, 2009 11:54 AM
Joel, you are so right. The numbers will follow on value. Our first mission needs to be to provide value to our readers. We need to spend the time listening, communicating, and serving our readers before trying to push our agenda. We need to let to our agendas be informed by the needs of the readers subsribing to us. Thanks for the good reminder.
September 28, 2009 01:54 AM
You know, Joel, just stacks of green notes in pocket or big numbers in bank account can't be motivation to take them places. Mostly, its gotta be personal. The source of excitement must come from within & not just material possessions, as much valuable they are. You are so right on this one.
October 13, 2009 02:41 AM
Agreed, great post Joel. It's the intangible things in life that can bring one the most joy. Many people think possessions and money are what makes life good, but that's their problem - helping others brings a far greater feeling of happiness. Material possessions come and go, but bringing happiness to someone else's life is something that can last forever.