What Do You Have To Lose?
April 21st, 2008
If you have been following any part of my make money online challenge series you will know that I have been trying to come up with some ways to become a full-fledged lifestyle entrepreneur by either creating some niche websites, or via affiliate marketing.
This post today is really written as a kick in the ass for myself because I have regressed from the research and action stage back to inaction.
Inaction - the lack or absence of action.
As I sit here not taking action towards my goal to generate income online, I thought that maybe there are other folks out there having similar issues even if their objectives are different.
Perhaps YOU are trying to grow personally, or maybe you would like to open a business? At some point we have all been stonewalled with one of the infinite possibilities that we are faced with on a daily basis.
What do you have to lose? What is holding you back?
- Do you want to restructure your career or rebrand your image?
- Maybe you want to write a book or market an ebook?
- Would you like to become more efficient with your limited time?
- Or, possibly, you would like to be more productive?
I ask again, what do you have to lose?
- Would you like to own up to not being so nice to someone?
- Do you dream about becoming a millionaire?
- Would you like to start a side business?
- Perhaps you have been dreaming about getting in shape?
- Or, do you have the goal of losing weight?
You can do it!
- Would you like to go to Europe or travel endlessly?
- Has the plan been in the back of your mind to sail around the world?
- Do you want to be a stay at home mom and work online, or with social media?
- Maybe you want to become a Virtual Personal Assistant?
What is holding you back? There are people OUT THERE and they are DOING exactly what it is that you would LIKE to be DOING!
- Would you like to establish a popular online profile?
- Or for something completely different, perhaps you have had enough and want to take a sabbatical?
- Do you have the goal of giving back and volunteering?
- Maybe you want to become a search engine optimization master?
- Finally, if you are like me, perhaps you would like to start a second website?
These days, when I am thinking about taking on a new project or challenge, Scott Rigsby’s story still comes to my mind. I figure, if Scott can have the courage, drive, and determination to do a full IronMan Triathlon as a double below the knee amputee, then whatever I want to do is NOTHING.
If you have a goal or specific objective in mind, then everyday that you wait to take action becomes one more day that you are further away from realizing your dream.
What are you planning to do?
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April 22nd, 2008 at 5:30 am
I know exactly what you mean. I’m facing the same problem with my challenge - and have to kick myself to keep moving. My first set of Google Ads have generated no clicks at all so I now need to choose my next move carefully.
Luckily it also means that I have lost no money so far - other than in form of missed opportunities, that is.
Well, thanks for the encouragement. Let’s keep working!
Here are some motivational images for the day: http://www.jonathanvolk.com/affiliate-marketing/my-first-5-figure-day-11000-in-commissions.html
April 22nd, 2008 at 6:10 am
Hi Jarkko - THANKS for the support! I am off to check out the images that you have included in your comment.
April 22nd, 2008 at 7:34 am
Hi Mark
I have been active on the research stage, but need to give myself a push into developing a course of ACTION and then just DOING IT. I must admit though this has not been a high priority as I’ve been pretty busy with my trip organisation and family stuff.
My son turned 4 this past weekend so the last week has been taken up in lots of kid get-togethers, trips to the relatives, party organisation and last minute shopping. I am such a last minute chick, and I’ve been flying pretty solo because my husband’s work has taken him away a bit.
But I have made some decisions. Firstly, I’m not going to go with multiple websites, and will instead focus on actions which will take me towards my long term goal:
To be a best selling author, mentor/speaker, and columnist/blogger.
I really want to get paid well to write what I like. I’ve already been paid to write what others want, so I don’t have to get over that “Do I have writing talent?” mental hurdle. But I am lacking courage in going for the dream. Basically, I seem to have a block on the whole idea that I can make money writing about my passions (celebrating life, inspiration and womens issues) and from my fiction as well.
So, where to now? I do have a potentially huge opportunity in the works at a major new website for women. That will pan out more with time so I need to get some other stuff happening. My blog traffic and ALEXA ranking is growing nicely, so maybe I should start getting some sponsors or putting ads on SHE-POWER…? I don’t know… do those TEXTLINK ads really make money for anyone except blogs with 25,000 subscribers?
Must keep up with SHE-POWER Fiction too as it’s been getting some great feedback. Never know, could always score a publisher (fingers crossed), or even SELL the next serial from the site. Or write an e-book, if I can ever figure out what I might have to say.
Anyway, I think I’m making progress, but it’s slow. Any thoughts you have for achieving my goals would be appreciated.
I thought you received some great advice in your last post, particularly from Terence. God, he’s a gem, isn’t he? I think going with a site focused on Culebra is the best idea because you know it and focus makes anything you do so much more powerful. Dispersing yourself over many sites is tedious if you’re not totally into that.
I also think you should ask yourself why you’re really doing this? If there’s inaction maybe it’s because you’re not in line with your true motivations. This is why I won’t do lots of sites. I COULD do it because I’ve got years of marketing and copywriting experience under my belt, but it doesn’t excite me enough to learn how to be good at it.
What excites me is the thought of earning money from my stories and words and having the freedom to be a hands on mum and travel when I want to. Personally I’m not fussed as to whether I become a millionaire, though I’m not averse, but what I do want is the freedom to earn an income from my creative expression anywhere in the world, if I choose. Luckily though, for successful writers that is one of the perks.
What do you REALLY REALLY REALLY want Mark? If you knew you would succeed, what would you change about your life?
Maybe the answer to that question will shed some light on this.
:) Kelly
April 22nd, 2008 at 10:04 am
Hi Kelly - First, congrats on your son’s fourth birthday! *BRAVO*
Also, you said, “Any thoughts you have for achieving my goals would be appreciated.” If I were you I would start by printing out the comment you left above and continue to refer to it…You spell out quite nicely exactly what you would like to do. I am sure it is just a matter of time before your book deal comes through :) (Don’t forget us little people.)
For me, I would like to figure out a way to earn enough passive income to cover my living expenses. I have MASTERED the lifestyle portion of being a lifestyle entrepreneur. But, at some point it would be nice to be able to close the business for two or three months every year, go off traveling and volunteering, and know that our mortgage etc…is covered.
Like you, I could care less about monetary wealth (in excess) and I have successfully removed myself from the office, but it would be comforting to have enough passive income coming in to cover monthly expenses.
So far, from what I am hearing it does not seem as though adsense is the way to go. The reason I have held off on the monetizing my Culebra site is there just aren’t enough people traveling here to make it worth my while. And I am sure Google will wind up placing the ads (on my site) of competing properties.
I received a very nice email from a reader this morning with so much detail in it that I am actually going to publish it as a guest post later on this week.
Have you thought about self-publishing a book of your fiction and selling it via ejunkie?
April 22nd, 2008 at 12:05 pm
Hi Mark - thanks for the link. I think that sometimes people are held back because they simply have too much on their plates and don’t know what to give up in order to get what they want.
For personal reasons - over 4 years ago, I deviated from my goals. At the time, I was doing an ok job and committed to writing a novel in my spare time. I could’ve got back on track about 18 months ago, but it’s very easy to carry on as normal and forget what you’re aiming for.
I’m now gradually winding down my business to free up my time to write and I’m aiming to emigrate to Australia this year, if they’ll have me.
April 22nd, 2008 at 1:17 pm
This exact question is what finally allowed me to start my business. My product has been in development for a about 9 months now and some of that time was simply saving up money but I am launching in about 6 weeks… my goal is June 1st.
The book that really kicked my ass into gear was the four hour work week.
I am launching a sports nutrition consumable like he did but it was something I had wanted to do even before I read the book but had no idea that contract manufacturers or all those freelance companies existed.
But one of his questions in the book is “what exactly do you have to lose” and picture the absolute worst case scenario if every thing that could go wrong did. And when I did that, just like he says in the book, I started to automatically find answers or ways to mitigate those risks so instead of a perceived apocalypse in my life it would be at most an unfortunate financial set back… and the benefits if this business is even moderately successful would be huge.
Not only that, some of the most daunting things like filing state and federal documents, papers for sales tax returns and LLC documents and placing legal notices in the paper I’ve done now and I am the legal owner of my own LLC. And if I wanted tos tart up another I could have it done in a few days now that I know the process.
I always had an “entrepreneurial spirit” but I think my parents (well meaning mind you), teachers and society quietly and slowly snuffed it out in me and told me to “be practical”
I think we’re at a pretty amazing point in time to start a business, particularly a lifestyle business. With online sales expected to double in the next 5 years, technology making it possible to stay in contact any where in the world and the availability off all these freelance and contract suppliers, its really the perfect time to start a lifestyle business…
April 23rd, 2008 at 5:44 am
Hi Cath - Moving to Australia…that’s huge!
Hopefully you will be able to qualify for the Australian Bloggers Union Card (ABUC). With members like Darren Rowse, Yaro Starak, Skellie, Kellie (from she-power), and more you will be in very good company ;)
April 23rd, 2008 at 12:33 pm
Hey Mark - Instead of “…it would be nice to be able to close the business for two or three months every year…” How about finding someone willing to run it for you for a shared profit for those few months? It’s something I have thought of over the years as a way to see the world an not have the expense of hotels.
I’m not currently not in a position to offer myself up for the task but maybe someone else would be. That way you can still travel but not loose all the income from your business.
Just another idea that popped in my head.
April 24th, 2008 at 5:29 am
Oh Mark, if I told you everything I planned to do, we’d be here all day. I am so full of ideas that I constantly look pregnant.
What I will say is that I would LOVE to live the life I want and at the pinnacle of that are the words: CREATIVITY, FREEDOM, FINANCIAL HEALTH.
I am learning to follow my own rhythm, one guitar string at a time.
Take care and I really wish for you everything you wish for yourself (that goes out to everybody else too).
April 24th, 2008 at 7:24 am
Hey Matt- Good luck with your launch! Please let us know when your site goes live.
Also, you said, “I always had an “entrepreneurial spirit” but I think my parents (well meaning mind you), teachers and society quietly and slowly snuffed it out in me and told me to “be practical.”” I seriously think that they should start elementary/high schools for the entrepreneurial minded because I am sure many of today’s students who have been characterized as ADD or whatever, have plenty of intelligence and ideas but for some, they are expressed in a different manner. As opposed to sitting in a class taking requisite subjects…
April 24th, 2008 at 7:31 am
Hi Stephen - Good point! We have considered letting someone run the business for us for the couple of months that we would like to travel…I guess it would just be finding an equitable situation that everybody felt comfortable with.
Before we get to the travel part, I seriously would like to try to come up with some kind of online venture that covers our monthly expenses.
April 26th, 2008 at 6:21 pm
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April 29th, 2008 at 9:00 pm
Perseverance is the key. Most people look at their dreams like unattainable goals or too wild to achieve. The fact is with doing little things on a consistent basis you will start seeing more results. By setting realistic goals and scheduling the time you can make it happen. “Energy and persistence conquer all things.” - Benjamin Franklin
May 1st, 2008 at 1:14 am
Mark
Where are you? When are we getting another post? Talk to us!
Kelly
May 1st, 2008 at 3:25 am
Apologies for the lack of activity…I am off on a quick surf trip. :)
More to follow and I have a killer interview in the works that will help us look deep into the Four Hour Work Week!
May 1st, 2008 at 9:36 am
I will definitely keep you posted with regard to my product launch…
I seriously think that they should start elementary/high schools for the entrepreneurial minded because I am sure many of today’s students who have been characterized as ADD or whatever, have plenty of intelligence and ideas but for some, they are expressed in a different manner. As opposed to sitting in a class taking requisite subjects…”
It’s so funny you said that because I have rampant ADD which I think CAN be a good thing but am trying to tame the beast a little bit lately. It causes me to go off on too many useless tangents and waste time but it does allow me to see and think about the world in a different way than most people and I think my success will be partially because of my ADD, not in spite of.
Ok that was a tangent - the reason its funny you say that is because i’ve had this idea a few times and I think it would be such a great idea to provide an alternative learning method for kids who are more active and don’t learn by sitting in a chair and being taught. I’ve always been a hands on learner. For the most part, unless I’m actively participating it’s hard for me to pay attention..
BTW - I was wondering what the hell happened to this blog…