Saturday, May 24, 2008

Introduction to Making Money, CASH even, with a Home Business on the Internet

Oh, brother! The Internet world needs MORE advice on making money, doesn't it? God knows I'VE visited about 50,000 make-money sites, hundreds of how-to guru's web pages, bought a thing or 80 , signed up for a few "we'll help you succeed" opportunities -- I learned a lot (about what NOT to do), and nothing was EXPLODING for me!

Everything was supposed to "explode!"
Why didn't it?


-- because I was learning everything the hard way. Websites LIE, things that used to work in marketing DON'T any more, people who SAY they are looking for an Internet Home Based Business DON'T TRUST ANYONE, etc. I'll bet there are billions of wasted hours by all the people who have done all that I've done, or more. Romanced by HYPE while having no real direction!

There was a time when I couldn't surf the Internet without being distracted from my purpose by 100 things that looked exciting! I absolutely WANTED my income to explode. (Are you tired of that word yet?) All that was really exploding was my BRAIN from the rats maze of opportunities. Marketing was (and is) no easy task.

Here are some basic facts:

  • Most people who are telling you how to make money on the Internet are, themselves, trying to make money OFF YOU. The Biz Ops that are going to explode your finances, the gurus who are going to explode your income, the FREEBIES that will tell you what you need to know (except there's tons of BETTER stuff you need to BUY!).
  • 90%+ of people who market on the Internet don't know how. They're NEW at it, and, often, all they're provided by their "mentor" is a loooong list of links, websites, off-line places on which to market, some general advice (which has been passed down for generations and isn't even current any more) -- 'buy solo ads' or stick to ezine advertising. This is all mudslinging, and everyone is doing it.
  • 99% (my guestimate) of people advertising on the Internet aren't interested in YOUR "amazing" opportunity -- they're just there to earn points so they can advertise TO YOU. I, myself, mass-delete all the emails I get from most of the sites I signed up for before I knew what I was doing. I just wanted to put MY ad on their site or in their email blasts. VERY low return on these.
  • Another sad statistic (that I won't invent a # for) is that most people trying to make money on the Internet aren't serious enough to stick with it until they succeed! Unless you're desperate -- going to lose your house or your car, going to have to file bankruptcy, can't find a REAL job anywhere -- you likely don't have the passion to make an Internet op work.
  • IT'S NOT EASY! It's NOT a slam dunk, as so many marketers would have you believe. You most likely DO have to step outside of your comfort zone, and THAT requires a passion to succeed.

So, whaddya do?

First -- everyone says it and most people don't do it -- KNOW WHAT YOU WANT. Be specific!

Here's one of my favorite quotes on the topic --

If you want to be happy, set a goal that
commands your thoughts, liberates your
energy, and inspires your hope.
Dale Carnegie


In other words, to be successful at anything, you have to have a burning passion for the work or for the goal.

Here's another one (don't know the author) --

Don't censor your dreams with practicalities
and probabilities. You don't need to know
every single step it will take to achieve them.


In other words, don't stifle your REAL dreams based on what you THINK you can achieve. That is, actually, how most of us determine our goals. Because we're afraid of failing!

Here are some IMPORTANT ideas:

  • I have to stress PASSION first and foremost --
Find a business opportunity that you CAN be PASSIONATE about! And, just because you believe in vitamins doesn't mean you can SELL them (but it helps!). With a business that requires you to sell a product, if you don't have a first-hand success story, you will lack passion. I have actually CAUGHT people pitching the same "success story" (provided, I'm sure, by their "company" and presented as a personal experience. Turned me wayyy off.

I have to admit that a couple of the MLM opportunities I tried were because a sales job was done on me, and I liked the person who did the selling. WRONG REASON. Just about every opportunity has the potential for you to make a good living, but if it's not a BIG passion, enough to get you over the initial rough spots, you WON'T be.

Ask yourself a bunch of questions. What excites me in this world? What am I willing to do to make a home opportunity GO? How much can I invest to see this happen (time and money)? How patient can I be for it to happen (this is where many people fall short; they just give up)?

Be cautious of any opportunity where you have to purchase and stock product. It's a big investment, and if your passion falls short, you lose! (I know whereof I speak, here!) I'm not saying those aren't good opportunities for the right people.

  • Do work that PAYS, first!
Here's a warning:
Many of us waste all our time doing things
that don't earn us anything!


I was guilty of this until I heard myself described to a T on an audio training tape. I would write out my goals (and re- re- rewrite them), I would organize my "stuff," I would listen to tapes and take notes -- but I wouldn't pick up the phone and just call someone! I was afraid! It didn't make sense to me because being rejected by someone I'll never meet isn't so awful, but it was very stressful for me. It was my old "programming" sabotaging me. I don't deserve to have a lot of money, if they say 'no' I am a failure, etc.

The ideas I have outlined below turned that around for me.
  • Practice GRATITUDE Every Day!
Sound hokey? Make no mistake, this is powerful! Write down ANYTHING you can feel grateful for that day, large or small. This will start steering you towards more consistent positive thinking. FEEL grateful for these things. And, never phrase anything in the negative (I'm grateful I didn't die). Examples --

I’m grateful that...
1. I have a roof over my head
2. I did the work I had planned today
3. My business is improving
4. Someone smiled at me today
5. My computer is hanging in there
6. Dinner was good
7. Whatever......

  • BELIEVE that you deserve success, happiness, wealth, etc. Easier said than done you say? (I hear ya!)
I learned a lot from this website -- http://secretsofunlimitedwealth.com.

There's some GOOD free information there. Yes, it's about the Laws of Attraction! Get over it! Call it what you like, but it teaches you to focus on positive things, it teaches you to define what you really want, it teaches you how to FEEL like you have what you want already. It EMPOWERS you. Very important.

And, don't do what I used to do -- try it for two days, forget, have difficulty "visualizing" good things, think it's stupid and give up. What you THINK does have power! Start re-directing your mind's old (usually negative) thought processes.

Partly it's discipline, which you need to develop to be successful in your own business. And partly it's stuff that we don't really understand. But I can tell you IT WORKS. Just in being a positive person, people are more attracted to your "vibes." It stands to reason that people, also, will start trusting you and wanting to do business with you. Just try it (for at least 30 days)!

  • Yes, I'm actually going to say it -- Write down your specific goals (even if you have no clue how you're going to achieve them)
Your subconscious mind can wrap itself around anything specific -- real or imagined. If your goal is to "be happier" -- what the heck does that mean? What will MAKE you happy? If a vacation home in Lake Tahoe would make you happy, THAT is one of your goals. Be brief, and write your goals in a sentence using present tense -- I have a wonderful home in Lake Tahoe, overlooking the lake; it has 3 bedrooms and I LOVE meeting my friends there for the weekend. GET EMOTIONAL ABOUT IT.

And, this one is one of my favorites --

  • Create a visual montage of things that represent your goals/dreams
Use your own photos, cut out pictures from magazines, download just about anything from http://images.google.com/ or any other image bank. What I did was get a bunch of pictures, different sizes (for visual interest) and added some text boxes, also. A picture of me on the Colorado River and with my horse (that I had to send to a new home! Yuk!), images of the car I want, MONEY, people, the words "expect Miracles," "I have a LARGE Savings Account" and "Joy * Discipline * Giving * Living."

When I look at my DREAM pages, I can FEEL those things. When I read my goals and affirmations (2-3 times a day!) I look at the pictures, too. It connects me to the life I WANT, and am working towards.

  • Memorize this mantra: Some Will, Some Won't, Who Cares! NEXT
In other words, your job in your Internet business is to FIND WHO WILL. They're definitely out there. Learn to be somewhat detached when you're talking to people, and, focus TOTALLY on what THEY are looking for. If they perceive that your efforts are about what YOU want, you're done! Maybe your opportunity really isn't right for them. "Well, thank you, and good luck. Bye."

Ok, all this lengthy info has just been about how to mentally prepare to work an Internet business. The bottom line to Making Money on the Internet -- is PASSION. You gotta want it! Then, learn how to market (more on that later) and never give up.

You cannot FAIL --
You can only GIVE UP


Later: * What's hot in marketing and how to do it (Web 2.0!)
* How to get around Web 2.0 until you're ready (financially and emotionally) to tackle that.

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  • I am Linda Scott, and I live in Kansas City, MO
  • I have "putzed" on the Internet for 8 years, and I now have a full time opportunity, finally, that energizes and inspires me
  • My Passion is HELPING PEOPLE understand and achieve their true goals
  • In so doing, I have a LARGE Savings Account
  • I am a genuine Mentor and Motivator
Visit my website at http://Number1CashGifting.com