However, there were many times when I allowed those people to get to me… I allowed their words to cause doubt and worry. I wondered if I was going down the path to wealth or the path to failure. And I think, what if I would have just listened to them and believed them? Luckily, I’m very stubborn when I truly believe in something and I truly believed that there was loads of huge opportunities online. I was right and I’ve made alot of money because of that stubbornness!

But it also made me realize, there are probably thousands of people in that same position right now! You may be one of them. Although I still feel like my business has more potential than success, I do live a very comfortable live. So I’d like to give you some advice if you happen to be in that situation (making little to no money online…getting negativity from others) and that is this:

- If you have little to no money coming from your online ventures, gain some type of employment so you can pay the bills while learning! This is important. I’ve heard from many people over the years who have loads of potential and tell me they “must” make this work. It will be extremely difficult to deal with negativity and failure, which WILL happen, if you and your family’s livelihood is on the line. Having a day job may slow your business growth, but it will provide that needed mental and financial stability.

- I promise you this: What will determine whether you become highly successful in the Internet Marketing space or not will be how well you react to this criticism and also how well you react to failure! I failed many times before I succeeded and I STILL have projects that fail. Failure is a part of life and business. Stay positive and optimistic. If you can do that, I don’t care how intelligent or unintelligent you are (I wouldn’t even be able to spell that word without spell check) you can and most likely will be successful at some point!

And if you’re doing well with your online business, this still applies. I’m a very optimistic person in general, but even I occasionally get caught up with negativity when a product/service doesn’t take off like I had hoped. But I always “regroup,” re-evaluate, look at the positives and figure out how to get it to where I want it. And that positive attitude and optimism goes a long, long way!

Although there is obviously much more to the book than this, the one thing that it has driven in to me is that massive action equals massive success. It’s something, I think, we all know, but it’s also something that we all need a reminder of from time to time…at least I do!

So I’m using this post simply as a reminder. Just think about how much time you’ve spent (me too!) on your personal facebook page when you could have been working. Think about how much time you spend reading news articles. Think about how much time you’ve spent on smoke breaks (like me, before I quit a few years ago.) Think about how much time you spend each and every day on things that do not deserve your time, at least not during the work day, or the time you block off to spend working on your online business if you’re not full time.

How much time do you think that is? Now imagine if all of that time was spent putting up affiliate sites or writing content or building backlinks or learning a new technique.

It took me a few years to make a full time income online, but I’m absolutely convinced that if I would have taken massive action and truly got the MOST out of every minute that I was supposed to be working, that I would have reached that level of success in half that time if not sooner!

So for me, just after reading half of the book, it has really motivated me to reevaluate my work time and resist laziness! I’ve squeezed much more work time out of my days and I believe I’ve already made more money just in the past week by very simply doing MORE!

Fortunately after a few years working part time online while serving in the military I did finally get my IM income to the point to where I could pay my bills with it, barely. But as time went on I started to realize more and more than although I’ve never thought of myself as a Entrepreneur or business person, I was exactly that! That was my “tipping point.”

There should come a time in every IM’ers online ventures when they hit that same tipping point and start to see the bigger picture…the bigger opportunity that is the infant Internet… yes, it’s still very much an infant!

But the question for those who haven’t reached that point yet is, do you want to keep working a JOB or do you want to become an entrepreneur? If you just want to pay the bills, you might as well just get a job. At least then you have more stability… that’s how I see it anyway. But I don’t think that is what any IMer wants.

So how do you go from an Internet Marketing worker to an Internet Marketing Entrepreneur?

The first step is to learn the basics of the business… learn SEO, email marketing etc. You don’t have to be making loads of money in each, you just need to know the techniques and their markets… just learn the basics. That is the “work” we all have to endure before we get to our tipping point. The next thing is to decide whether you WANT that tipping point or not. I’m guessing you want it!

One thing I learned about life while in the Army is that almost everything that is challenging, whether mentally or physically, can be accomplished if you truly set your mind to it. So if you don’t believe you are an entrepreneur, or at least have the potential to become an entrepreneur, then you will never become an entrepreneur because you will not possess the mental confidence required to become one.

So what’s the difference anyway?

To me, the primary difference is in what you devote your time and resources to. If you’re constantly working to write and publish articles to get your site(s) ranked in google… creating sites to earn a little adsense income… etc. etc. then you probably have a worker mindset. If you’re constantly coming up with new ideas for software, applications etc. and you’re looking to outsource everything you possibly can… also thinking about automation (so one project doesn’t tie you down, but brings in residual income,) then you’re on the entrepreneurial track.

This all seems like fairly basic stuff, but I’m writing about this today because as I watch conversations and updates on facebook, twitter, blogs etc. I see 9 out of 10 Internet Marketers (if not more) who are completely focused on working for a living and very few who are focused on becoming true Entrepreneurial business people.

Of course it is nearly impossible to filter out all of those who are still in that required learning phase, but just by evaluating the overall mindset, I believe there are more IMers who are looking for a JOB than there are who are looking for a solid business opportunity.

I’ve been outsourcing small things here and there for years, but up until not long ago the only tasks I outsourced were things I couldn’t do myself. I understood the power of outsourcing, but I always figured I would have to find a good worker, which can be difficult in itself, then pay that worker every month for a set number of hours. If that rate is good that would be fine, but I wasn’t confident that I could provide enough work for that person every single month, so they’re always working. That held me back for a long time. That’s until I found oDesk!

First a disclaimer: I am an affiliate for oDesk. However, this blog post was planned before I even knew of their affiliate program. I use oDesk every day and being an affiliate has NOT influenced this blog post in any way.)

Now that I have that out of the way I can tell you why I love this service so much! Where do I start… it’s by far, the best site out there to find good workers, manage them and pay them.

With oDesk:

- I post a job for free then I typically have 100 or more people who bid on the job. In the job I specify how much money I am willing to pay per hour/week/project so I never pay more than I want and I usually pay less than I set my budget to.

- I can quickly and easily see what their bid is (how much they work for,) their rating (out of 5.0,) the amount of work they have done on oDesk, what Country they are from, how big their portfolio is, how many oDesk tests they have completed and more. Just by seeing that info I can decline a good majority of them that don’t match what I’m looking for… like those with low feedback ratings, zero oDesk hours etc.

- I then click on the ones that made the first cut and look into their portfolio, their feedback etc.

- I then contact a few that I believe would be good candidates, have a little chat on Skype and then make my decision.

- Once I choose the person who will do the work for me, oDesk creates a legally binding contract for me! No more getting screwed by bad workers! This contract clearly outlines what is expected and the exact amount of money that was agreed upon.

- NOW, this is one of the best parts, when the person works on my stuff they have to be logged into oDesk! And oDesk tracks the time they are working by taking screenshots of their screen at random times while they are logged in! If they want paid they must be logged in and allow these screenshots, which keeps them honest for the most part. No more lying about how much time it took them to do something! I can view these screenshots at any time.

- I add a funding source (bank account or CC) and billing is automated. So no “please sir, I require more money to finish this” etc. If they agreed on $3/hour (for example) that’s what they get paid, no discussion!

Once I found oDesk I started outsourcing ALLLLLL kinds of things and my life is so much easier! Old sites that I just quit working on years ago due to lack of time are now rising in the SE’s once again and making me more money than ever. Old projects that I abandon for the same reason are now complete and making me money… I now have a growing business even in my sleep and my income is rising as a result of it!

I have several people working for $2-$3 per hour who are building links to my sites, writing articles and submitting them to EA… I have people creating websites for $4/hour… I have cheap labor who are MORE than happy to work for a couple dollars per hour completing tasks for me that I used to do myself… my time is worth more than $3/hour and yours is too, whether you think it is or not!

Now, I know if you’re making little to no money online you can’t justify the expense, especially if you haven’t really learned exactly what YOU’RE doing yet. But as soon as you get to the point, if you haven’t already, to where you have a system in place to make money and have a little money to invest, START OUTSOURCING! I can’t emphasize this enough. Outsourcing is the only way I know to truly speed up the rate of success and make more money in less time!

“Brick walls are there for a reason. The brick walls aren’t there to keep us out. The brick walls are there to show us how badly we want things…the brick walls are there to stop the people who don’t want it badly enough!”

– Randy Pausch

I’ve had it posted toward the bottom of this blog for a long while… I have it posted very clearly at the top of my Internet Marketing Forum and I mention it every chance I get, for good reason.

It carries what I believe to be one of the most important and meaningful lessons anyone can learn in business and life in general. Those “brick walls” are failure and we all fail from time to time.

For me, when applying it to my online business it serves as a reminder that not all sites, products and even blog posts are going to be a success. It reminds me that it’s ok when something I do doesn’t turn out to be as good as I had hoped… or even when something just completely FAILS!

I see this as the #1 reason so many people give up on their Internet Marketing Business. They spend alot of time and often alot of money in learning. They finally take action and they make little to no money. They hit a wall, lose confidence and quit. But in reality they didn’t fail, they just learned a lesson. Doing THAT didn’t make them any money, so they now know one way NOT to do it.

Another one of my favorite quotes is:

Failure defeats losers. Failure inspires winners. – Robert T. Kiyosaki

That’s a quote I often think about when I come across a “wall.” Is this failure going to defeat me or inspire me? So when you’re faced with a wall, will it inspire you or defeat you? I know what it will do for me!

Obviously organization, motivation and staying focuses are important, but I had no idea so many people struggled with these issues. Well, the good news is that I have struggled with these issues in the 5 years I’ve been marketing online as well and I’ve found ways to overcome them.

I’ve developed a list of 7 things you can do to avoid disorganization, demotivation (if that’s even a word) and a lack of focus. However, in regards to motivation, everyone is different. That’s something I learned in the Army as a Section Chief. What motivates one Soldier very rarely motivates the next. The following are things that have helped me, personally. Take them with a grain of salt, but also take them all into consideration!

1. Prevent information overload – Yes, it’s preventable. Believe it or not. This may very well be the most common problem among Internet Marketers who haven’t found success with their business yet. The solution is very simple once you understand the various Internet Marketing models, so you know what to ignore and what to pay attention to. Pick ONE business model, two at the most, take action and STICK WITH IT!

Of course there are two other things you have to work out; 1. actually getting to the point where you do understand the various business models and 2. finding a model that is worth your time and that you know for a fact is profitable.

Understanding the different models, unfortunately, is just something that comes with time. Read blogs, forums etc. and eventually you will know what’s what. Finding a model that is worth pursuing is all about finding someone who 1. is honest and credible and 2. who provides info on the model that they profit from. (ahem, like my Info-Product Success Formula) Finding these people is all about filtering. Does this person have any exposure ie. comments on blog posts, website rankings, popular sites, products or services? Do they have a good reputation in forumes and with their peers? etc. Do they seem honest and sincere or do they just want your money? Keep in mind, we all do this to make money, but some also truly enjoy helping people at the same time.

2. Stay caught up – Common sense, right? It is, but I know for me at times, there are things that I really could be caught up with (like email) but I let it build up at times. When I’m behind on things I lose motivation to do other things. I can’t explain why (I’m not a Phycologist, but I know it’s true.) Once I get things caught up my mind is clearer and I’m more motivated to keep up the momentum and get even more done.

3. Keep a to-do list – This is huge, unless you have a killer memory. I keep a notepad document on my work computer desktop where I add everything, big or small, that I want to accomplish in the near future. Everything from big products I want to get going and sites I want to create to reminders to pay affiliates and blog post ideas. I also use an iGoogle “gadget” called “ToDo” where I’ll add things that pop into my head when I’m not at my work computer. So as long as I have Internet access, I can login to iGoogle and add it to that gadget, then when I’m back at my work computer I can transfer things from that to my notepad doc. Once I finish something up I open the notepad doc and start on the next thing. Throughout the day when other ideas pop up, I open the doc and add it to the to-do list.

4. Eliminate distractions – For the first year, maybe even two, of my online business, I sat on my couch in front of the TV with my laptop. I had casual conversations with my Wife, watched TV, munched on snacks and worked all at the same time. It was great, but there was only one problem. It was STUPID! I got about 25% of the work done that I could have done if I had a computer desk, chair and a quiet room. I now work in my office with a 3-monitor extended desktop with a locked door during the day. When I’m off work, on the couch with my laptop and I try to do anything that requires much thought I’m amazed that I “worked” like that for so long. I get SO much more work done now!

Also, your work space should not contain anything that isn’t directly related to work. When you have non-work related items on your desk or in your work area it creates temptation.

5. Thrive on previous successes – If you’re constantly doubting yourself you will never succeed! I don’t care if your only success is a 12 cent adsense click, it’s still a success! You did something that generated money. Now you KNOW that you possess the ability to duplicate it! If you concentrate on failure then you will be a failure! Concentrate on successes, acknowledge failure and learn from it, but never dwell on it! Remember, failure is the beginning of success. All successful people have failed more than they’ve succeeded!

6. Avoid unnecessary breaks – Smoking! That’s the first thing that comes to mind because up until two years ago I was a smoker. I actually planned each “work session” around my smoking. I never planned to work non-stop for any longer than 50 minutes because I knew that’s about the time I would want another cigarette. Once day I woke up and told Claudia “I’m going to quit smoking today.” From that day on neither of us have touched a cigarette. Think of the hours, days, weeks even months? of work time that I have saved. Think of all of the money I’ve saved. Think of the health problems I’ve prevented. Think of the years of life I’ve saved.

Smoking is one of the big ones, but there are others! Think about it. What causes you to stop working frequently? Is it avoidable?

7. Take necessary breaks – Avoid UNnecessary breaks, but TAKE necessary breaks! I need two or three breaks each and every day. It keeps me from getting “Burnt out” and it kind of rejuvenates my thought process. Whether I’m trying to write a blog post and just can’t seem to bring all of my thoughts together, or trying to come up with a good product idea, taking necessary, strategic breaks can really help you focus on what’s important and improve productivity. Do NOT schedule breaks though! Breaks should be taken when your mind says they are needed. If you are thinking straight and making progress, there is absolutely no need to stop working. That’s what separates necessary breaks from unnecessary breaks.

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As I mentioned before, everyone is different. We all have our own motivation factors… our own comfort zones in regards to organization and our ways to stay focused. However, these tips have helped me a great deal in my own business, so hopefully you found at least one thing that can help you improve yours!

img credit: ihtatho

I would say that about 95% or more of those who try to make money online have “The Herd” Mentality. When I first got into Internet Marketing about 5 years ago I frequently visited and took part in discussions over at the Warrior Forum. Back then I was a part of a private forum inside the Warrior Forum. I forget the exact name, but it was something like “The Herd Mentality” and it was basically supposed to be a place where “elite” marketers could basically talk about “elite” stuff lol

It was a JOKE! 99% of the people in that forum HAD the herd mentality and weren’t anywhere close to being “elite,” but the purpose of the forum was excellent and there were a select few members who did “get it” and I learned from them. The problem was that I was one of the few who had the ability to separate those with that mindset from those without that mindset.

So what is “The Herd” Mentality anyway?

When it comes to success, there are typically two types of people; those who follow (the herd) and those who lead. A leader isn’t just a leader of people, he is a leader of his life! Followers CAN and sometimes do find success financially but it’s very rare and normally takes much longer than it takes a leader to find equal success.

Some people will say “we all need to be followers in the beginning.” My answer to that is NO, we don’t! There is a difference between a “follower” and a “student.” A student can be a leader, but a follower is never a leader. We all need to be students in the beginning, not followers.

Followers make up the population of the “Herd” and they all have the same basic characteristics when it comes to seeking success. They aren’t particularly dumb. Some of them are even geniuses. They aren’t particularly lazy. Some are extremely hard workers. They simply have a totally different mindset than that of a leader.

In my experience, the main things that cause a leader to succeed at a much higher rate than a follower are optimism and drive! They don’t see failure as a dead end, but merely a speed bump in the path to success. However, it’s more than just that. As I mentioned, it’s a totally different mindset.

“The Herd” Mentality is NOT incurable!

I don’t care WHO you are, you can be a leader in your own life. You control your mind and your own mentality is a choice! But you can’t just flip a switch and “poof” you’re a leader. You need to want it! The next time you come across a situation in which you do not know the answer, whether online or offline, remember this post. How will you handle the situation?

A follower will ask anyone and everyone he or she thinks might know the answer. If he doesn’t get an answer he’ll either quit or put it off until he can get an answer from someone.

A leader will start off the same way. He will ask people who he thinks may know. But if that doesn’t work he’ll use logic and determination to find a solution! A leader doesn’t worry about going “against the grain” while a follower will argue to the end that they are right because someone in a forum told them so! To a leader “proof” means they’ve experienced it to be true. To a follower “proof” means they’ve heard it to be true!

If you think you may be a part of the herd, change your mindset and I promise you it will change your life!

Don’t be a follower. Be a leader. Remember, it IS a choice!