If I Had Only Known Then What I Know Now!

Hindsight, we all know only too well, is a wonderful thing. For example, if we had only known that the ceiling on membership at a popular site was going to be subscribed so quickly - we would have joined up the minute we heard about it.

If we had only known that niche marketing was going to be so wildly popular we would have focused on that instead of MLM.

If we had only known that Google was going to change its algorithm and the rules of AdWords were going to change we would have...

Stop.

Stop, stop, stop.

In the world of Internet marketing, you can safely bet that the only constant is the rate of change! There's always news of the latest product dropping into your email inbox. There's always another promise of quick and easy money. Google will keep changing its algorithm, and new search engines are quite likely to pop up to challenge Google.

What can you do about this? Four main things:


(1) Continue To Educate Yourself.

Understand that those who rise to the top of any field - whether it's internet marketing or something else - are good at what they do. This means that they never stop learning. There are always new materials, new techniques and probably new 'experts' showing the way.

Most of us learn in three main ways: (a) from experts who specialize in a certain niche related to our field; (b) from others who are following the same path as we are, and (c) by trial and error, from our own results.

You will find that the more you immerse yourself in the world of internet marketing, the more you will be able to analyze which products, services and opportunities are right for you.


(2) Focus. Pick One System And Give It A Fair Go.

Countless people who start out on the internet with high hopes follow the same pattern. They get excited about a new product or system. They throw themselves into it and invest long hours (and potentially quite a bit of money) in getting it up and running. It might be e-books sold from mini-sites; it might be setting up an eBay business; it might be directory-type sites with text manipulators; it might be AdWords or content sites optimized for AdSense.

Then one day they get wind of another new system (probably one created by someone who claims "the gurus are angry with me for giving away all their secrets..."). Discouraged by the lack of results with the first "opportunity", they decide to let it rest for a while and try the new one. Back they go into the cycle of try-the-new-product, get-discouraged, discard-it-and-try-the-next-thing.

And so it goes on. Months pass. Perhaps years pass. They struggle to pay the credit card bills mounting from buying into every new system that comes along... with very little money coming in to offset their 'investment'. As they look back, they start muttering "If I had only known then what I know now..."

If you can recognize yourself in this scenario, the good news is this: Now you DO know better. You don't know what the next new product will be that's going to set the internet world abuzz, but you do know enough to choose a system that's right for you and stick to it.


(3) Take The Time to Plan.

Give yourself from two to four weeks to regroup. Go through all the products you have on your shelves or on your computer. Make a list. Decide which products you now know (so wise with hindsight!) to be worth keeping. Then analyze the 'keepers' and pick on the best system for YOU to use at this time. (This will depend upon your level of knowledge and which one you would enjoy most. Work with your strengths.)

Finally, devise a game plan. You are going to focus on this ONE method and devise a practical time-line to achieve results. Don't be in a rush. Make sure you give yourself enough time to see it 'take hold' so the money starts flowing in. That will give you the motivation to continue.

Clear the decks, physically as well as mentally. Put all the products that don't fit in with your plan in boxes or on disk for safekeeping. You may return to them one day, but if you've chosen the system that's right for you, you probably won't.

4. Don't Get Distracted by New Products.

Resolve to buy ONLY products or services that will save you time or money in implementing the system you have chosen. Never buy anything on impulse. Print out the sales letter, read it through, then put it aside. Read it through again the next day. Does it still seem so appealing? Check out a few forums to listen to the buzz. If a product doesn't deliver, you'll soon hear about it. If it is exceptional value, you'll hear about that, too.

Some questions to ask: "Will this help me to streamline the business I have chosen? Is it worth the money? Will it make a significant difference?" And above all, "Do I need this, or is it just another distraction?"

Resolve to make this the year you will succeed. No more pocket change. No more "If I had only known..."

You DO know.

So make it work.

3 Essential Elements of Operating a Successful Business

By Michael Brassil

Have you ever imagined what it would be like to live your dream?
A good place to start would be to recognize that there are three
elements, and only three elements, that separate success from
failure. If you exercise one of the elements, you might just be
successful. Two and you will probably succeed. Three, and you can
practically guarantee your success.

What are they? They are deceptively simple, and deep down inside
you know what they are. But to purposefully write them down and
use them as guides in selecting your dream business will make all
the difference in the world. As you go through this exercise, you
will dramatically build on your chances of success. Nowhere will
it count more than right here, deciding how many of the three
essential elements will qualify you to realize your dream.

1. Find a need!

Is there a market niche for your particular product or service?
Does the world, or even your community, need what you have to
offer? Only by sampling and testing will you be able to determine
this with any degree of certainty, but we will be covering this
as we go along in greater detail. The most important aspect would
be to determine a Unique Selling Proposition for your product or
service. Too many business owners are just trying to be me-too
companies. You cannot be just like the next guy and expect to
prosper in this volatile economy.

One of the most important things I learned from my Dad was, there
are really only two things to consider, and next to them
everything else is minor. Those two things are: (1) What do you
really want? And just as, and perhaps even more important, (2)
Are you willing to do whatever it takes to achieve it?

What do you really, really want from this endeavor? What is your
ultimate goal? Are you willing to do whatever it takes to achieve
this goal? Instead of looking for a business based on how much
money you can earn up-front, select a business based on your love
for that endeavor. The most successful and fulfilled people are
individuals who are following a dream or vision of their own.
They are not just out trying to make a buck.

What opportunities can you act upon? Woolworth saw a need for
small inexpensive items and opened the chain of stores that
grossed billions. Wrigley started giving gum away as a bonus, and
seized the chance to expand worldwide.

You must create a uniqueness to your product or service. What can
you offer that no one else can offer? Is it a better warranty,
improved customer service, more technical support, faster
shipping, or lower price? Think of something that will set you
apart from your competitors and describe in detail exactly what
it is.

2. Be good at what you do.

Are you as good as, or better than, the next guy when it comes to
producing/marketing your product or service? This element
requires an honest self-assessment. "What are my abilities?" To
determine your abilities you must take an honest inventory of
yourself. Examine every possibility and be sure to include
strengths and weaknesses. Will your strong points be able to let
you overcome your deficits?

3. Have true passion for the business.

If there is one element you absolutely cannot do without, it is
passion. Passion is an irresistible attitudinal energy that
generates power. Do you have a passion for working with your
particular product or service? Notice, I didn't say "do you like
what you want to do?" There are too many competitors out there
who are ready, willing and able to "eat your lunch" when it comes
to competing with you. They may have found the same niche that
you have found. They may like what they do as much as you do. But
what separates the winners from the losers is passion.

What are you really passionate about? If your answer is, "I'm
passionate about making a lot of money." That is not the right
answer. Making a lot of money is consequence of engaging in a
successful activity where you remain motivated long enough to be
successful. The key to creating passion is to find and do what it
is that you truly love. Passion is the laser-like focusing of our
creative life force. We do not create passion. (Don't confuse
passion with being a workaholic. Workaholism devours while
passion amplifies.)

So there they are, the three key elements to having a successful
small business.

About the author:
Michael (Mike) Brassil is author of "The Only Business Start-Up
Guide You Will Ever Need." Download two chapters - Starting a
New Business and The Home Working Revolution - at:
http://www.ImpactGuide.com


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Thought and The Law of Attraction

We have all heard the expression, "if at first you don't succeed, try, try again." But to carry on without thinking about why you failed only leads to more failure.

The ability to create is a God given gift. A gift given to everyone without exception. Thought is the first step to manifesting any creation. Thoughts are energy, they are real. Your thoughts act as magnets and attract other thoughts, people, and circumstances that harmonize with them.

Thoughts operate and adhere to certain universal laws. Without these laws there would be no order; the universe itself would sink into chaos.

The Law of Attraction states that like attracts like. Much of what was once considered metaphysical, esoteric knowledge in the past is now scientific fact. Physics has shown that the principles involved in the Law of Attraction are every bit as valid as those governing the Law of Gravity. So it should come as no surprise that dwelling only on your problems simply attracts more problems.

The idea of attracting success by thinking about it is very appealing. So appealing in fact, people often get the wrong impression that it's easy. Affirmations can be helpful, but mindless affirmations alone have no real value. On the other hand, once an affirmation becomes part of your belief system the subconscious goes to work attracting opportunities. It is not the success itself we attract, but the opportunity to succeed.

Our world is ruled by cause and effect, yet we often fail to see how this rule applies to the thoughts we think. This happens because the results of our thoughts are so far removed from the cause that we fail to see the connection.

The subconscious mind is working tirelessly 24 hours a day. It doesn't analyze, it doesn't judge, it simply accepts and attracts more of what the conscious mind is focused on. Are you attracting problems or solutions? By focusing on desire and showing gratitude for what you already have, the subconscious mind is given the necessary material to provide a constant stream of opportunities. Whether we take advantage of these opportunities or not is another story.

It's impossible to operate outside the law of attraction. Consciously or unconsciously your thoughts, feelings, and emotions, determine if this law works for or against you. Stay focused on your success and reaching your goals. As one success leads to another, success becomes a habit. Problems and obstacles are seen as no more than stepping stones on the road to your ultimate goal.