Internet Marketing – 7 Tips for staying Organized, Motivated & Focused
February 11th, 2010 | 41 comments
Several months back I sent out a survey to my list with several different questions. The survey was a huge success with thousands of answers. One of those questions was very general “In one sentence, what is the #1 thing you need help with.” Many of the responses were exactly what I expected. Things like “traffic, building links and SEO” but surprisingly, many people left answers like “organization, motivation and staying focused.”
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.
—————-
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
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12th February, 2010 at 2:13 pm
I found this list very helpful. For me, the two most important points were keeping a to-do list and taking necessary breaks.
I always get more done when I have a list that I can cross off tasks when complete. There is something psychologically satisfying about placing a line through or a check next to an item.
I also like the necessary break point. At times, once started it is easy to go 100% for hours at a stretch. Other times, it is just necessary to set everything aside and take a break.
12th February, 2010 at 2:16 pm
Love it Josh, what a great post! Good use of time is a biggie for all of us, and any sound advice is received with thanks! One of the best books I read on the subject and which greatly helped me was David Allen’s ‘Getting Things Done’. Its pretty intensive but what I gleaned from it that applied to my own situation was invaluable.
12th February, 2010 at 2:36 pm
Thanks for this post Josh, it really helped. I do have some bad habits that I need to break which deter me from working. I try to stay as motivated and positive as possible, but sometimes it can get hard. I know that I can succeed, I just have to work a little bit harder. Thanks again!
12th February, 2010 at 2:45 pm
One of my biggest problems is staying focused. I am going to print this post out and stick it on the wall right above my monitor!
12th February, 2010 at 2:52 pm
Hey Josh,
Good article, I definitely need to work on a few of your tips to stay on track.
Thanks,
Mike
12th February, 2010 at 2:55 pm
Excellent post, Josh. I am a paper to-do list maker and find that I get so much more done when I get to scratch stuff off that list! I agree with David’s comment above too – David Allen’s book is great. “Organizing from the Inside Out” is another great read.
12th February, 2010 at 2:59 pm
Great advice Josh.
I’m a big fan of the “To Do” list. Which is just as well, as I’m having a big problem getting motivated lately!
I tend to create my list at the end of the day of things I want to get through the following day. Any tasks uncompleted just get carried over to the top of the next list.
12th February, 2010 at 3:08 pm
Staying focused and motivated are two major issues for me. I have read others who have addressed this subject and though some of the details are different, the basic principles are consistent. Thanks you Josh. Breaking old, time wasting and distracting habits are hard, but definitely doable.
Very practical, helpful post. Thanks Josh.
12th February, 2010 at 3:39 pm
Good pointers, Josh. A few of my (procrastining-prone) clients ask me to help them with their to-do lists which I provide each week. This makes our working relationship much more productive.
As for the breaks…and maybe this won’t work for those who live in snowy climes, but every 2 hours I take a brisk 20 minute walk around the neighborhood to clear my head, rest my eyes and stretch my back. This really helps keep my mental focus on getting things accomplished.
Your so right Josh…everyone is different. I read a post on a column recently where the suggestion was made to NOT read emails 1st thing as it consumes too much time. Well, maybe for those who can’t hit a file, reply or delete button quick enough but that idea certainly isn’t something I would implement; what if that prospect or client had replied and was waiting for my response?
Keep focused in a way that works best for you but the physical aspect (stretching, walking, etc.) can help tremendously.
12th February, 2010 at 3:46 pm
Thanks Josh,
Just the kicker I needed at this moment. Thanks!
12th February, 2010 at 4:17 pm
Great advice Josh. It’s so easy to get caught up thinking and planning and forget the most important part – action!
12th February, 2010 at 4:23 pm
Congrats on quitting smoking! I’ve been working from home for the past year. Thank you for your “real world” tips. I’m guilty of #4 – a couch worker. But I’ve been working on my studio so I’m soon to move over to it. I’m passing this on to several of my entrepreneurial friends!
Thanks,
Alisa
12th February, 2010 at 4:34 pm
Everything rang true with me. I quit smoking quite a few years ago but did it just like you. You just got to want to!
I’ve been trying to plan my work days better this year than last. Hopefully I’ll get it.
I know email is one of my problems and so when I put off reading my email till I get my first article written or keyword search done I actually get things done. But if I let the email get to me first, I don’t get those other things done till 8, 9 or 10 pm.
Thanks for the good words of wisdom.
12th February, 2010 at 4:36 pm
Good tips Josh.
I keep telling myself to stay away from my email inbox but checking it first thing after logging in seems like the most natural thing to do.
The irony is that email is a two edge sword. It’s also what led to all of the Internet Marketing knowledge I now possess. lol
12th February, 2010 at 5:10 pm
Yeah, information overload can be a big problem. Like with the email and videos of the latest vital releases of time-sensitive videos that we must watch
.
I like to treat myself to some TV at lunch breaks after I did some productive work.
But, unless I did some good work, I don’t feel that I deserve to watch any video.
12th February, 2010 at 6:09 pm
Hi Josh – such an excellent post. I struggle with pretty much everything you pointed out and it’s nice to know that the experts struggle as well.
Did you ever figure the actual percentage of people who responded to your survey that said they need organizational help? I’m soon to launch a product helping organize keywords, domains and such, and I’d love to cite your survey results as a percentage. (I’d also be interested in simply knowing how many responded saying they needed that kind of help.)
Keep up your excellent posts – they’re always a pleasure to read!
~~Lisa
12th February, 2010 at 7:10 pm
Josh,
Great post. Information overload and distractions are the two I have to keep aware of. I unsubscribed to at least 10 guru email lists that were huge time wasters for me. I have heard them called “bright shiny objects”, and I think that sums it up.
The other thing I struggle with is, since I have decided to make working online my full time job, friends and family think I’m just sitting around with nothing to do all day. They get upset when I tell them I’m working and can’t stay on the phone, meet them for lunch, etc. I just had to set some expectations with them and stick to them.
13th February, 2010 at 12:33 am
Great tips josh. You’re right on about the distractions. I have a small office in the corner of my house – no tv – no music. They kill my productivity. I disagree about the smoking though. I can’t go 50 minutes – so I smoke at my desk.
13th February, 2010 at 2:38 am
Hey Josh,
I can really relate to all the points in you post. You are so right that it takes at least a year to learn this business. You can tell that you speak from experience. i’m at that point now, I understand what needs to be done but also know it’s best if you have a mentor. Ponts 1,3 and 5 are what I’m concentrating on now. Thanks for the post
13th February, 2010 at 2:43 am
Read Josh’s thing number 1,
jump immediately to number 5,
take action and
stop reading any further
Sure make more money!
13th February, 2010 at 5:52 am
Do you have a camera in my living room? LOL #4 is TOTALLY me. I’m sitting here right now “working” with my laptop and watching the Olympics. I do this every night (because I still work an 8-5 desk job). My excuse is that I don’t have an office to go to in my house! I know this is slowing me down but I haven’t figured out how to fix it yet.
13th February, 2010 at 8:57 am
Great tips as always, Josh! New folks should take note of number 1 in particular. If you read every e-mail, watch every video that lands in your inbox and go off on every new trail, you will soon be totally overloaded and utterly confused. I have a few guys I pay attention to (such as you!!!) – the rest of the mails are deleted.
13th February, 2010 at 12:36 pm
If you can find a product that cure this problem. you will be the richest person online. I hear you and trying to beat your ideas into my brain. I believe that 90 % of people trying to make money online are in the same boat. You think this number is too high or low?
13th February, 2010 at 1:13 pm
Hey Josh
Very helpful list you shared here. May I add to always keep your goal in front of you.
Jaime
13th February, 2010 at 3:04 pm
Josh that’s a genuinely useful approach to time management man. Really speaks to the basics of managing your time better.
You’ve reminded me of some bad habits I’ve developed again and you’re reminded me I need to quit smoking!
13th February, 2010 at 3:12 pm
Definitely agree with point 4, though I have a desk I still used to have daytime TV on aswell and it’s amazing how often I would just end up watching the TV. I was probably working at about 50%. TV stays off now and I enjoy that luxury at the end of the day.
13th February, 2010 at 6:53 pm
Josh,
Your article was very thoughtful and to me made good sense. I am a new blogger and marketer. I would like to create your website link on my blog probably as part of a blog roll I don’t have yet. I will do that as soon as I figure it out. Thank you for emailing me. I can sure use some advice. By the way, Psychology is spelled
with a psy no h. Take care.
By the way Psycholo
13th February, 2010 at 10:16 pm
Thanks for the tips Josh.. you’re right, too much distraction in my work. I work in front of my TV and beside my bed! Both are tempting for me to stop from working..
I’m gonna change it now.. so I will be more productive than before.
13th February, 2010 at 11:57 pm
Some great tips there Josh. While I agree you can lose your focus and progress in the middle of something if you take a designated break, I find I need to have designated breaks to give my eyes a rest, stretch my legs and move my body. I need a break every 60-90 minutes – a lot more than 3 times a day, otherwise my legs get very swollen by the end of the day and my eyes are shot!
14th February, 2010 at 1:31 am
Thanks for the great tips. I especially need to watch my focus, because as a very new marketer, I get easily sidetracked with all the emails I receive with different, and mostly good information. Sometimes I sit down meaning to get some substantial work done, but end up just reading emails!
14th February, 2010 at 10:03 am
All so very true. The amount of work I get done when the house is empty during the day is amazing compared with the evening. Definitely the T.V. has to be off.
I have the same problem as above with people thinking you are available just because you work from home!
14th February, 2010 at 2:07 pm
Thank you for this post Josh. Information Overload has been a real issue for me. There’s so much information–where do you start. I definitely plan to take you advice.
15th February, 2010 at 1:16 pm
Your tips all ring true. The reason people become de-motivated (is that a word?) when they fall behind is they become overwhelmed. Once this happens your brain shuts off because it doesn’t know where to start.
I can relate, because it has happened to me plenty of times.
If this has happened to you, take your long list and pick 6 things off of it. Write them down on a different list when you are done working at the end of the day. These are the 6 things you are going to work on tomorrow. Once they are done, then you can look back at the larger list and keep moving forward.
Keep in mind that momentum is your best friend and you will keep moving forward. It’s difficult at first when you are just starting out because you are not making anything yet.
No, I’m not perfect, I fall behind all of the time
B
15th February, 2010 at 6:42 pm
Thanks for this Josh
I find that information overload is a problem but can be solved or at least it’s effects can be reduced if we know what we are dealing with.
It helps if we have a plan to educate ourselves (to know what it is we want as there are an awful ot of business models out there).
What I am saying is that if we want to follow someone who has made it like yourself then it makes sense to ‘follow’ what you say THEN once successful tweak things!
It appears to me that we sometimes chase after every ‘guru’ and not even use the system they used. Later we complain that it did not work. Well how can it when it has been mixed with so many other people’s successful models.
Apologies as this is turning into a rant!
As Josh says here – follow a model, take action, and stick with it! Personally I have found that PERSISTENCE works. That said you will only stick with it if you really BELIEVE you are on to a winner. This is where people like Josh come in and tell us THE WINNERS!
We will all do well if we follow the right advice. Josh has just shared with us.
Thanks again Josh for sharing.
Will
17th February, 2010 at 9:02 am
I’m gonna have so much trouble with #6. What’s a good way to quit?
19th February, 2010 at 7:58 am
Nice post Josh and it brings home a lot of truths for me.
A lot of days I can’t seem to sit still for more than an hour or two. There is the odd day where I am in the zone and can sit down all day but by nature I’m a very active person and getting very irritable if I have to stay still for any period of time.
I have however taken the large step to remove the TV from the computer room so that no longer serves as a distraction for me and my productivity has increased as a result. Now to remove facebook, gmail, irc…
20th February, 2010 at 11:19 am
Number 1 struck a chord with me. There is so much I want to achieve. I have recently worked on focusing on a single task method for getting work done. Information overload kills productivity. I have unsubscribed to many lists and only check email once a day. It helps. Time to take a necessary break
21st February, 2010 at 7:07 pm
My biggest downfall is item number 4. Trying though to get free time and getting my wife to understand (as I am not making any money yet) is quite hard. Information overload was my biggest downfall as well as my biggest cost ( I bought so many different programs). What I do now is work from a printed out blueprint that I have made up taking the best bits from each program. I now follow this religiously ticking off each item as I do it. This has given me direction and a more positive attitude that things will work out.
8th March, 2010 at 11:17 pm
Great post as always Josh, for me it’s the chat, I have recently become engaged and spend way too much time talking to my fiancee on the Yahoo chat, I still work, but I can be much more productive without the chat.
27th March, 2010 at 11:13 pm
This is really helpful. My favorite tip here is avoiding information overload. Too many people read every eBook they can get their hands on and switch from one strategy to another. This is much the same of what I see in the real estate investing industry.
11th June, 2010 at 2:11 pm
Hi Josh, I am just starting out with my online business and I really found your tips very enlightening. As someone new in this field, I am still finding my way around and still chasing those first few dollars of sales that would certainly boost my confidence that I can do this! Thanks for the informative article and I will really try to follow your suggestions!
More power to you !