Good Morning: As a subscriber to your newsletter I Haven't Made
My $100,000 Yet Part Time. When Am I
ABC News carried a story of a man who was selling his 3-year-old
Internet business for 3.2 million with stock in the company that
was buying. He stated, " I want to do something else with my
life. I just graduated from high school and want to have time
for college activities and have a full social life. Besides I
can invest and do my thing."
We have all read these stories. College students in a small room
started Yahoo. We read and at least hope that we can do
something ourselves..
So many who read these things want a miracle? Ads for Internet
opportunities tell of that at least 100 thousand, at least a
better home with a new BMW in the three car garage. After all
Bill Gates, and the person selling you the opportunity made it.
Here are some things that must be considered to live a real life
on the Internet.
1) MOST BUSINESSES ARE UNDER CAPITALIZED. Only about 2% of all
SMALL businessmen are still in business 2 years after they
start. Why should it be any different on the Internet? The
biggest reasons for failure is not enough money. After you buy
your computer equipment, you need about $400 to start at least.
Yes, there are those who started with less who made it. Ruth
Townsend of Cortland, New York started with free ads
(http://www.lifestylespub.com/). It is being done all the time.
But only a few make it. But the Internet business cost
considerable less to start than the hundred thousand needed to
start most businesses.
2) LACK OF TRAINING. Some men and women think that owning a
computer is the key to success. The computer age is still just
starting. We are the silent movie stage. We need to learn and
learn more. Take one course at a time at your community college.
The way computer science of going, we will always be in need for
more training. Spend at least an hour per week learning
computers, business skills. Admit that you don't know
everything. When you find something that you don't know, go to
people who will help you. One site has some courses about the
Internet at http://www.sonic.net/~rwreyman/ Use other people's
energy.
3) NO DISTINGUISH BETWEEN GOALS AND COMMITMENTS. A goal and
commitment are not the same. To sell 50 ads is a goal. To be
committed to making the sales is hard work. Give yourself some
slack, but don't let yourself slack off. Make realistic goals
and work towards it. Did you know that most fortunes are still
made one step at a time? Carry out one step at a time with
commitment. Make bit size portions and win one step at a time.
4) NO GOALS AT ALL. Define what you want. One my early
advertisers didn't want to be on the Internet, but wanted to be
a weekend artist. He has the talent, too. Do you really want to
be an Internet marketer? Write down your goals and the keep them
in sight. Do check them daily. Some days you will have holes in
your plan, but by daily glancing at them, you will eventually
think the holes full. One goal that successful businessmen
always have is to take a percentage of their earnings and
reinvest it. If you spent $100 to take $200, pyramid with $150
to make $300. Plan your strategy.
5) TAKE TIME. In Mail Order that I came from, experts said that
it took about a year to learn that trade. I believe that it
takes the same on the Internet. Make a learning period first.
Learn as much as you can. But unlike mail order, I believe that
you must continue to learn. I got an email from someone in New
Zealand once that outlined my mistakes. And told me that I must
change because in so many words he was an expert. There is no
total expert in this business because both technology and
practice is still growing. The persons who think he or she is an
expert will eventually run out of the expertise that he had
because it will have changed.
The Internet is still as land of opportunities, but you must be
realistic and then work hard. Some will disagree with me, but I
believe that one should try until you get it right. Where else
can you start a business with $400 or less and have a chance to
make it. Sound unpleasant, but some will have to invest that
$400 and about the third or fourth $400, he will make it.