How long have you been working online? Or how long have you been researching & learning, and desperately wanting your own successful online business?
Maybe you've already started an online business, but you're struggling to reach your financial goals. Whatever the case, something is holding you back from reaching your true profit potential.
Maybe you started out with a great idea but got confused or lost along the way.
That happens to a lot of people. Most people actually. Trying to learn Internet Marketing is a rabbit hole you can get sucked into that leaves you spinning your wheels without ever really getting anywhere at all.
It's time to hop off that hamster wheel and MAKE things happen! 😉
Think about it for a moment. How much time have you invested in the idea of starting your own business so far? How much money have you invested?
Are you where you want to be?
How much closer are you, really, to your ultimate goal?
I want to share a secret with you...
There is no secret. 🙂
Most people try to learn everything upfront so they can make smart decisions, or be totally prepared. And I definitely see the logic in that line of thinking. However, we're talking about the constantly evolving web here. The most consistent thing about the internet, and technology in general, is change.
What that means is that you can never learn everything you need to know about running an online business upfront. By the time you learn everything you think you need to know, things have changed - and you're back at square one.
Frustrating, isn't it?
The people I know that have been successful online jumped in headfirst and figured things out as they went. That has been my own method as well, including my very first business almost 19 years ago - where I had no experience, no back up plan, and no idea going in if it would even work at all. But I was determined, figured things out as I went, and that business did six figures it's first full year.
That could be YOUR story this year.
Make a commitment, today, to stop learning (only) and start doing.
NOW is the time to put your plan into action. NOW is the time to stop focusing on what everyone else is doing, and how they're doing it, and to focus instead on what you most want to accomplish in your life - and to get started doing it!
There are no rules.
There are no failures.
There's nothing "real" to be afraid of or worried about. Except NOT achieving the success you truly want, and you already know deep down you are fully capable of that.
Read: You’re Guaranteed To FAIL If You Do This…
Keep in mind that we're in a first generation trend with online business. We can make up the rules as we go. We can figure things out along the way. We can test various things and find out what works and what doesn't. We can get creative, and innovative even, and we have the whole world and endless resources at our fingertips to make cool things happen. There are no standards, no rules, no guidelines.
The only real failure, or risk even, is doing nothing - or stalling yourself - and dealing with the regret of knowing you could have totally changed your life.
It's time to take that leap and finally put your plan into action, MAKE things happen, and get serious about starting a fun and successful online business - or taking yours to the next level. Imagine how awesome that would make you feel!
Imagine looking back a year from now, having reached your goals, and saying, "man, I should have done that sooner!"
In February 2016 I will celebrate 19 full years in business. I've screwed up along the way. I've made plenty of mistakes. I've pissed off a few people (oops!). There were things I could have done better. There are STILL things I could be doing better...
But I wouldn't change a thing. 😀
I have a lifestyle most people would LOVE to have. And I am forever grateful that I took that leap, fear and all, and created the life I knew I really wanted.
It's your turn! 😉
Best,
p.s. I would love to help you reach your goals! Join my Private Brainstorming Group today and let's get started working together on your business. You can expect very practical hands-on help, plus a powerful mastermind group and active community of action-takers to help you every step of the way.
If you enjoyed these thoughts & tips, you'll love this free download where I share the inner workings of my day to day business as a niche blogger. 🙂 *cheers*
And be sure to download these 6 FREE online business cheat sheets
About Lynn Terry
Hi Lynn,
Happy New Year to you. Great post. I sense quite a lot of determination in many people this coming New Year by the way they post and seem to have a renewed excitement about 2016.
I know, New Year's Resolutions sometimes go in one ear and out the other but I do hope that they keep on track this year and that includes myself and of course we know you will.
Have a wonderful New Year.
Thank you, Monna 🙂 I am definitely feeling motivated, inspired and determined! This is a year of CHANGE. I feel it, and like you... sense it across the web. It should be an exciting year indeed! *cheers*
Learning can certainly become a distraction and often be used as an excuse for not taking action.
Today I am going through my email accounts, unsubscribing from lists that I am no longer finding useful or lists that I just haven't paid any attention to for a while. I am also going to consolidate email accounts, meaning get rid of email accounts that I have for god knows what reason...
E-Books, tons, GIGs of E-Books. It's time to skim and trash what isn't relevant to any of my plans. The ones that I am keeping I will be printing out.
I agree, Johnathan. And smart move - less distractions, more focus. This year is all about priorities for me.
Agreed.
Also taking one of your suggestions. Instead of using my note book or wunderlistst to jott down post ideas I'm moving that task into just going into WordPress, entering a rough post title and putting notes in the draft. I've already moved most of my post ideas from my notebooks into WordPress.
I've also made a couple posts already just to pop the cherry and put myself into the habit of posting instead of pondering on posts for too long. I know I have to work my way into creating more "thought out" posts. I think putting out short posts while working on longer posts will help keep the ball rolling.
Plan A: Kick 2016 in the nuts and take its lunch money!
Lynn you're always such an inspiration! I love this post because it made me THINK. I've been in online business in one way or another since 2002 and no answer your question, no, I'm not where I want to be. Something IS holding me back and I think it's me, I just gotta figure what exactly I don't like about being successful lol.
Now I've had plenty of people CALL me successful and I'd even call myself that but it's such a hard to define term that is always moving I'd rather say I've achieved some awesome successes (quitting my job almost 9 years ago (WOW), buying my first home, having high five figure months, thousands of customers, etc) but that target seems to move every time I achieve something.
My word for this year is 'STRONG' and I'd like that to be part of my story of the year to come. I'm building strength in myself and my business in all ways I can think of... physical, mental, financial.
I've often thought about that 'first generation' of online marketers thing. How cool will it be in 30 years to see where it's gone and know we were in at the beginning. Not that I'm wishing my time away.
Anyway great post!
Angela
p.s. Anyone reading this and wondering about the Elite Group - it's AWESOME!!! Lynn is by far the most active and involved membership site owner it's like having a private coach who knows a hell of a lot about how to earn a great living online. Sign up 😉 (and Lynn did not pay me in any way to say so)
Can I quote you on that, Angela? 🙂 Thank you!!
I love that word: STRONG. That is very much in line with where I am as well, across the board. My word this year is: CHANGE. I aim to do (a lot) more of what's working, and change everything that is... not. 🙂
I understand the resistance issue. I'm pushing past some pretty uncomfortable barriers myself at the moment, and I'm having to FORCE the change, but I have a feeling I am going to LOVE what's on the other side (results!). 🙂 *cheers*
For sure feel free to quote to your heart's content (I had to write more words so that's what I came up with lol!)
Thanks Lynn!
Very encouraging to read this message at the beginning of the year!
Thank you, Alex - I'm glad you enjoyed it! 🙂 *cheers*
Hello Lynn,
My personal views are quite similar to the idea you have put in here. Learn how to do things would never get you anywhere. You have to do it to see what goes into it.
Here's my story of I got a full time income from marketing without even learning about it!
So, I was on freelancer looking for some part time income source. I found a project where someone wanted me to write a few blog posts for their business blog. It was a small company with even smaller budget.
I got the project. Then I visited their Facebook page which was very poorly managed. They hardly posted anything. I asked them to let me work on that (of course, for free).
That was what I got to learn. That facebook page was my lab where I did things. I read a technique. Implemented it. Check the results and continued. And today, I am handling facebook page of some quite big brands which pay me good money.
I would not have been able to do all this if I had not adopted the policy of doing things, instead of learning. I learned by doing. And it really works!
Your readers (including me now) are very lucky to have you guide them to the right path. Great job!
Regards