The lure of
cyberspace as a place where one can become wealthy virtually
overnight, and enjoy a life of leisure and financial
freedom, has caused more shattered dreams and disillusionment
than it has delivered happiness and prosperity.
Many would-be entrepreneurs today are licking their
financial wounds, wallowing in self-pity, and pointing
accusing fingers squarely at the nebulous scapegoat
they call the Internet. Somehow in the lineup of usual
suspects, details like inadequate preparation, inferior
marketing and misguided ambitions were conveniently
overlooked.
In their initial excitement and clouded judgment, many
of these unfortunate victims bought into the slick promotions
that promised instant success "while you sleep." Sadly,
they awoke from their dream to a living nightmare of
shocking reality.
At the opposite end of the spectrum are those marketers
and business owners who continue to enjoy extraordinary
success online. They have several profitable Web businesses
that generate income around the clock, and they know
how to create a new revenue stream practically at will.
These fortunate few are living life on their terms,
free of financial worries and time restraints. Their
fingers are also pointed, except not in blame, but in
gratitude to the golden goose they also call the Internet.
So what's the difference? Simply this: perspective
and expectation.
If you are unfamiliar with the peculiarities and pitfalls
of managing an online enterprise, there is a higher
likelihood of failure than success. The odds are stacked
against you for a number of reasons.
Here are a few that come to mind:
- Your Prespective is Warped - You easily fall
for the hype and the fantastic claims of achievement.
Your desire to be living the dream is greater than
your commitment to properly educate yourself on what's
required to succeed online. You believe you can get
something for nothing.
- You Are More Impulsive Than Pragmatic - Because
you lack a solid knowledgebase against which to temper
your decisions, you constantly make the wrong choices.
Your marketing strategies yield poor results, and
you have no idea how to correct your mistakes. Eventually
frustration overtakes your enthusiasm and you give
up in disgust.
- The Grasshopper Syndrome - This is where
you jump from opportunity to opportunity in a vain
attempt to find the one that works magically for you.
But you never find it (or you overlook it) because
you don't stick with any one opportunity long enough
to understand how it really works. You're constantly
looking for the quick fix. The grass always looks
greener to you.
In spite of the risks, the Internet is the frontier where
ordinary people can achieve tremendous success if they
learn how to avoid the traps and capatilize on the opportunities
that exist there.
We know that our perception, mindset and expectations
play a significant role in the results our actions bring
us.
If you are to have a fighting chance of becoming successful
online and creating the conditions to upgrade your lifestyle,
there are concrete steps you can take to help you achieve
that.
Here are some useful guidelines:
- Do Your Homework - Nothing prepares you better
than preparation itself. Read and research everything
you can about the areas that interest you. Study the
pros and the cons and weigh them in relation to their
possible impact on your overall goals. Becoming familiar
with what you are up against will boost your confidence
and enthusiasm.
- Develop a Strategic Plan - Without a blueprint
detailing how to reach your goals, your efforts and
resources will be squandered. You'll expend lots of
energy and end up with little progress to show for
it. A plan gives you focus, direction and momentum.
- Make a Commitment - Don't approach your venture
with a casual attitude to "see what happens." You
must set out with the determination to accomplish
your objective. You must intend it! That attitude
helps direct the universal forces that will materialize
your goals.
- Persist Until You Succeed - It is important
to keep plugging away in spite of the setbacks and
obstacles. They are merely signposts that announce
"wrong way" and force you to find a different path
to your goal. Failure only occurs when you give up.
You alone hold the keys that will unlock the doors to
the treasures you seek. Finding the right key for each
door requires guidance, time, effort and the discipline
to balance exuberance with common sense.
Hermas Haynes is the author of a detailed blueprint
that lays out the steps for starting and managing a
profitable online business. Visit his Web site http://sixfigureprofits.net/
and download a free preview today.
|
