Are you frustrated, confused, and upset that you can't make money online?

19 replies
Lots of well meaning and motivated people are drawn to online business for a variety of reasons - the dream lifestyle, the potentially high earnings, the work-at-home ability, and the anti-corporate work environment. Some land here out of desperation and unemployment.

Most often, however, after a few months (or even long years of hard work) the motivation wanes and the thoughts of doubt take over, i.e. that this career path is a cruel hoax and that every guru is lying about what's really possible. It's all just a fantasy and every system and product is a big scam!

Contrary to often given advice on this forum, hard work alone, 100% focus, and any system or niche you choose may not result in earned income.

The work you do and the focus you have should be on applying techniques and strategies that actually work. Some are saying any niche, any system, and anything you do, if you set your mind to it, work hard and focus, will give you online income if you're persistent. WRONG!

You see, a washing machine can work hard all day long and still not get anywhere! Same thing applies to doing the wrong things in your business.

You can work 24 hours a day checking email, building web sites, learning IM techniques, building a presence on social media, and planning your next product launch . . . and it can all be for naught! You're working hard. You're focusing like a laser! But you're not doing everything that's necessary to make money.

Lots of marketers struggle a long, long time until they finally quit this business in frustration and say IM is a big hoax because they themselves were never able to figure out the "IM puzzle" and how it works.

Often the difficult thing to grasp for new marketers is this:

Every marketing system, every business model, every niche you enter, and everything a coach or mentor has you do . . . can result in total failure - or wild success - or anything else in between! It's quite simple really. So what determines which it will be?

You do!

You see, every person is different. We all have different aptitudes for creating and running a business. We all have different work ethics. We all have varying degrees of creativity, of ability to solve problems, to figure things out. We all have a different capacity to read or hear instructions and then apply them properly in order to get the results we want.

We all have varying backgrounds, educational levels, goals for our business, previous training, time available to start and execute a business, etc. We all have different resources we bring to the table (money, time, energy, influence on other people, support from spouse, family, and close friends) and we all have a different propensity or natural inclination for being our own effective boss.

Most any proven money making system can work well . . . and it can also fail miserably.

The key to success in all this . . . the missing piece of the puzzle . . . is you.

Can you implement a system (your own or someone elses') that fits your current situation given everything you know and can do? Can you choose a path that takes advantage of your personal strengths and minimizes any deficiencies (weaknesses) you may have?

Here's a quick example: Can't write a lick? Then don't choose a business model or strategy that is heavily dependent upon your own writing skill. Or, figure out how to outsource your writing needs. Or join with a partner who is a great writer.

Here's another example: You don't relate to people well? Don't focus your effort on blogging, building a community, or building a social media based business. Do you get what I'm saying?

Pick and choose your IM path based on what you can do well, on what you enjoy doing, on what you can do consistently over the long haul, and on what will ultimately allow you to focus on your knowledge/talents/passions on a daily basis.

"But I don't have any talent or skill" you say.

Fine. There are ways to make money online that don't require specific personal skill.

Always, YOU are the key. You will determine how easily you figure out an online money making path that's right for you. Some never get there! Some work hard for years and years but don't figure out how to do something that they can do and get paid for doing it.

Is every guru's system fit for you? No. Even though a guru tells you otherwise, your skills and abilities are not a good fit for his product or strategy. Of course when you're not successful, the guru is going to say you didn't apply yourself or follow his exact instructions.

Is every mentor or coach going to "make" you successful? No. They may instruct you to do things you can't do, or that aren't a good fit; but again, it's your fault when you fail because they told you to do things how they would do them.

Is every niche and every business model going to prove profitable? Not for you . . . maybe someone else with a different set of skills can make money with them, but there's no guarantee you can.

The bottom line is this: we are all unique and quite different individuals from one another. What someone else does in his/her business to make money has no bearing whatsoever on what you can do with the very same approach or system. If it did . . . if every system was easily duplicated . . . we'd all be millionaires! Online business just doesn't work like that.

Complicating things even more, the online selling environment and consumer sentiment is dynamic, ever-changing, and the successful sellers learn to recognize, even anticipate, changes and new opportunities inside and outside their niche.

Anyone can be successful in IM . . . and anyone can be a total flop. It's all up to you. Don't "blame" the system you employ, or the niche, or business model you might choose.

You, and you alone are accountable for your own success.

I hope you discover the path that fits you best! Good luck.

Steve
#confused #frustrated #make #money #online #upset
  • Profile picture of the author KipalSapaderrr
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  • Profile picture of the author shaunybb
    Hey steve!


    Buddy this is an excellent thread and as usual you have really added immense value, just like when ever you post!


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    ====>READY To Be Successful Online? FIND OUT more!?<====
    You FAIL online because you have the WRONG information.....
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  • Profile picture of the author BigFrank
    Banned
    Exactly what I always try to communicate to people, but you say it so much nicer than I ever could. I'm a bit more pithy, also. Life is short. I'm old. lol

    Frank
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  • Profile picture of the author Brent Stangel
    successful sellers learn to recognize, even anticipate, changes and new opportunities inside and outside their niche.
    I think of this as "seeing around corners." The more experience I gain, the further I can see.
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    Get Off The Warrior Forum Now & Don't Come Back If You Want To Succeed!
    All The Real Marketers Are Gone. There's Nothing Left But Weak, Sniveling Wanna-Bees!
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  • Profile picture of the author CityCowboy
    Great points!

    I believe "writing" is the most important ingredient to be successful in IM.

    ALL business models in IM require the ability to write.

    For non-native English marketers like me, it's very difficult to be successful in this, I spend too much time re-checking to see if my grammar is acceptable Lol.

    Writing full blog posts is a pain in the ass.
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  • Profile picture of the author msibd777
    Hello Steve B! I need a help about to increase traffic to my blog. This is my blog. This is an Islamic Religious blog.
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  • Profile picture of the author discrat
    Originally Posted by Steve B View Post

    Anyone can be successful in IM . . . and anyone can be a total flop. It's all up to you. Don't "blame" the system you employ, or the niche, or business model you might choose.

    You, and you alone are accountable for your own success.

    I hope you discover the path that fits you best! Good luck.

    Steve

    Steve good post and you had me til this above

    Sorry, I could not emphatically disagree with you more.

    This is something I mistakenly believed in when I was young and naive in my late 20s and had for the first time made a full time living as a business owner ( it was a sign business I started in 98' and since then I have only worked a total of 1.5 years for anyone else)

    But over the years as I met more people and had more and more life experiences ( and business experiences, offline and online) I begin to realize how well.... not true your assertion is.

    This stuff cannot be done by ANYONE.

    It can be done by MANY, MANY people.

    Which is a huge difference.

    But the fact is I have ( and I suspect you have as well) run into people who just plainly do not have the general aptitude to do this stuff.

    Or people who do NOT have the organizational skills to do it,

    Or people who do NOT have the creativity to do it,

    Or people who do NOT have entrepreneurial "wiring" to do it.

    The list goes on and on.

    You and I know these people, and we all have met them at one time or another. ( NOTE : I am basing this on the assumption of "ANYONE" being able to make consistent full time IM income sustained over a number of years)

    And it is not an excuse.

    It's just reality.

    The longer that we keep espousing this notion that ANYONE can do this stuff,
    the longer we will continue to carry the tainted stain of a business perceived by the outside world as a bunch of hypsters and charlatans.

    If we want people to start taking our industry serious, we will come to the conclusion (much like a doctor) that there is a certain skill set and experience necessary to have great success.

    And unfortunately NOT anyone can do it . At least sustain a true, viable "Business" over a given period of time.

    We can continue to blow this feel good, hot air mantra in our Sales Pages, our Webinars, videos, and yes even Forums .

    But we will just continue the perpetual cycle of disillusionment and distrust by the world around us.

    No thanks !



    - Robert Andrew
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    • Profile picture of the author Mark Singletary
      Robert,

      If you truly believe what you wrote here, then you'll need to change some other posts of yours.

      For example: http://www.warriorforum.com/mind-war...n-product.html you say

      But remember this and this is KEY: in the midst of of everything, with EVERY word you write, with EVERY second of video you produce, with EVERY audio bit of Podcast you record you are building towards a long term Asset which can literally pay you for years to come over and over again !! Just keep reminding yourself of this when you feel like shutting down your Laptop.
      That, to me, sounds like anyone can do it - anyone that types words can build a business. We've had a bunch of people here, that can't seem to make it but they've written a bunch of words. Either it works or it doesn't.

      Second example is here: http://www.warriorforum.com/warrior-...-6k-posts.html

      Are you tired of being broke with Online Marketing and Email Marketing and clueless on how to write profitable emails to your List ? ...This is for YOU ! -

      Are you an Experienced Email Marketer who wants to even do better with Profitable Techniques you haven't seen or heard before until NOW ? ...This is for You !


      Or are you just Brand new and want to get a head start on being highly profitable with Email Marketing and Writing effective Emails ? ...This is for You
      That sounds like it pretty much covers everyone. Everyone is the same as anyone in my neck of the woods.

      If you believe that there are some people that can't do it, then preface all your posts and ads with "unless you are one of the ones that can't do it" or something similar - just to be fair to those that you believe can't do it.

      There was a thing going around about Jon Morrow who is a very successful blogger. He can only move his face. And he did it. What's everyone else's excuse?

      All the things you mention below such as creativity, entrepreneurial spirit, etc. are what I got out of Steve's post - it's up to you and me whether we can succeed or not.

      We can choose to stay stuck. We can choose to not outsource. We can use this reason or that excuse for not getting anything done. But in the end, our success is up to us.

      Now, imagine some guy that is "challenged" in their thinking. I'm not talking about an emotional or physical disability but I have a couple forum members in mind. I'm talking about people that think it's all a scam, we are all cheating people, we are all liars, no one makes any money, everything should be free, it's a rip off, why won't anyone help me, why isn't my monthly check more, why did FB shut me down- I didn't do anything wrong but everyone is always bullying me, etc. type folks.

      They can succeed too, in my opinion, if they can figure out how to stop doing what they are doing and change their ways.

      Now, if you are talking about me being the next LeBron James I would say that is an impossibility because I'm 5'9", 50+, no interest, etc. Even if I were interested I think it would still be an impossibility no matter how my attitude or personality was just because of physical issues.

      If you are talking about just about anything else from business to politics to money to going places to doing things I think my only limitations are within me.

      Mark

      Originally Posted by discrat View Post

      Steve good post and you had me til this above

      Sorry, I could not emphatically disagree with you more.

      This is something I mistakenly believed in when I was young and naive in my late 20s and had for the first time made a full time living as a business owner ( it was a sign business I started in 98')

      But over the years as I met more people and had more and more life experiences ( and business experiences) I begin to realize how well.... not true your assertion is.

      This stuff cannot be done by ANYONE.

      It can be done by MANY, MANY people.

      Which is a huge difference.

      But the fact is I have ( and I suspect you have as well) run into people who just plainly do not have the general aptitude to do this stuff.

      Or people who do NOT have the organizational skills to do it,

      Or people who do NOT have the creativity to do it,

      Or people who do NOT have entrepreneurial "wiring" to do it.

      The list goes on and on.

      You and I know these people, and we all have met them at one time or another. ( NOTE : I am basing this on the assumption of "ANYONE" being able to make consistent full time IM income sustained over a number of years)

      And it is not an excuse.

      It's just reality.

      The longer that we keep espousing this notion that ANYONE can do this stuff,
      the longer we will continue to carry the tainted stain of a business perceived by the outside world as a bunch of hypsters and charlatans.

      If we want people to start taking our industry serious, we will come to the conclusion (much like a doctor) that there is a certain skill set and experience necessary to have great success.

      And unfortunately NOT anyone can do it . We can continue to blow this feel good, hot air mantra in our Sales Pages, our Webinar, videos, and yes even Forums .

      But we will just continue the perpetual cycle of disillusionment and distrust by the world around us.

      No thanks !



      - Robert Andrew
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      • Profile picture of the author discrat
        Originally Posted by Mark Singletary View Post

        Robert,

        If you truly believe what you wrote here, then you'll need to change some other posts of yours.

        For example: http://www.warriorforum.com/mind-war...n-product.html you say



        That, to me, sounds like anyone can do it - anyone that types words can build a business. We've had a bunch of people here, that can't seem to make it but they've written a bunch of words. Either it works or it doesn't.

        Second example is here: http://www.warriorforum.com/warrior-...-6k-posts.html



        That sounds like it pretty much covers everyone. Everyone is the same as anyone in my neck of the woods.

        If you believe that there are some people that can't do it, then preface all your posts and ads with "unless you are one of the ones that can't do it" or something similar - just to be fair to those that you believe can't do it.

        There was a thing going around about Jon Morrow who is a very successful blogger. He can only move his face. And he did it. What's everyone else's excuse?

        All the things you mention below such as creativity, entrepreneurial spirit, etc. are what I got out of Steve's post - it's up to you and me whether we can succeed or not.

        We can choose to stay stuck. We can choose to not outsource. We can use this reason or that excuse for not getting anything done. But in the end, our success is up to us.

        Now, imagine some guy that is "challenged" in their thinking. I'm not talking about an emotional or physical disability but I have a couple forum members in mind. I'm talking about people that think it's all a scam, we are all cheating people, we are all liars, no one makes any money, everything should be free, it's a rip off, why won't anyone help me, why isn't my monthly check more, why did FB shut me down- I didn't do anything wrong but everyone is always bullying me, etc. type folks.

        They can succeed too, in my opinion, if they can figure out how to stop doing what they are doing and change their ways.

        Now, if you are talking about me being the next LeBron James I would say that is an impossibility because I'm 5'9", 50+, no interest, etc. Even if I were interested I think it would still be an impossibility no matter how my attitude or personality was just because of physical issues.

        If you are talking about just about anything else from business to politics to money to going places to doing things I think my only limitations are within me.

        Mark
        Sorry Mark to burst your bubble,
        But what you are doing is taking things out of Context with trying to call people out to bolster your own narrative
        up. ( but I admit it is flattering that you think enough of me to spend time and effort constructing a Thread based on stuff I have posted in the past )

        Sorry but you failed

        Go back and reread what you just wrote and you will figure it out

        ( btw, Iam not trying to be condescending but just honest)

        HINT : My WSO ist geared towards people who are already in this game, already sending out emails.

        My "Just can't" do it thread is again already for people who are in this game and know a little bit about it and trying to create their own product.

        In no way, shape, or form did I say ANYONE can do this. ( ANYONE, inferring and referring to total newbies and the avg. joe citizen)

        Please point that out and then we can have a relative discussion

        Please highlight where I said that ANYONE can do this. I will be patiently awaiting and Iam sure you will probably attempt to find more stuff to try to catch me in my tracks with hypocrisy. oh the horror lol

        But go ahead and knock yourself out if it makes your day

        BOTTOM LINE : Mark, If you truly believe that anyone can do this stuff, i.e. sustaining a full time business over an extended period of time ,then you are just kidding yourself and not being honest to yourself and others

        OR

        you have NEVER truly had a long term viable business of any sorts that you started and ran.

        If you had , you wouldn't be saying this stuff.
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      • Profile picture of the author Frank Donovan
        Originally Posted by Mark Singletary View Post

        If you believe that there are some people that can't do it, then preface all your posts and ads with "unless you are one of the ones that can't do it" or something similar - just to be fair to those that you believe can't do it.
        Mark, it's not the job of the marketer or the product creator to help the buyer know themselves. That takes time, experience and a lot of internal discovery. Some people never get it, and are doomed to keep buying every shiny new product until either their money or patience is exhausted. All any responsible product creator can do is provide quality tools and information - I believe that's pretty much what Steve meant in his OP, that ultimately individuals are responsible for their own success.

        It's down to everyone to discover their own strengths, weaknesses and aptitudes. The truth is, running your own business - or even making money outside of the job market - is not for everyone.
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    • Profile picture of the author Steve B
      Originally Posted by discrat View Post

      Sorry, I could not emphatically disagree with you more.

      This stuff cannot be done by ANYONE.

      But the fact is I have ( and I suspect you have as well) run into people who just plainly do not have the general aptitude to do this stuff.

      Robert (Discrat),

      I welcome your contrary opinion and didn't expect that everyone would agree with me. I am grateful that you spoke your mind and added to the thread.

      Of course, you are right in that there are some people that will never be able to create and run a profitable business. But how do you identify those people within the pool of everyone that comes to IM hoping to make money online? How do you tell someone, in advance of them trying this business out, that they just don't have what it takes and they should never give IM a try?

      I don't know how to do that. Some of the newbies that I thought would never amount to anything online have really surprised me.

      So we welcome everyone and let them be the ones to judge whether they can make a go of IM or not.

      When I say "anyone can be successful online" I'm not excluding anyone from trying. I've giving everyone the same benefit of the doubt to see what they can create for themselves.

      Really my point was not that there are surely people that should not enter into this business. My point was that anyone could be successful. Anyone can try out this business path to see how it fits them and how they fit its requirements. But obviously not everyone is cut out for this IM challenge.

      Thanks for responding. I don't think our views about this subject are really that far apart.

      Steve

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      • Profile picture of the author discrat
        Originally Posted by Steve B View Post

        Robert (Discrat),



        Really my point was not that there are surely people that should not enter into this business. My point was that anyone could be successful. Anyone can try out this business path to see how it fits them and how they fit its requirements. But obviously not everyone is cut out for this IM challenge.

        Thanks for responding. I don't think our views about this subject are really that far apart.

        Steve

        Save
        Thanks and I see your point, Steve.

        Anyone could be successful. Maybe not EVERYONE.

        And sometimes success is found in people we would least expect it to come from.
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  • Profile picture of the author yukon
    Banned
    Are you frustrated, confused, and upset that you can't make money online?

    Yes, I'm frustrated, confused, and upset... but you know what I like better than being frustrated, confused, and upset? Lamborghini and knowledge.
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  • Profile picture of the author spartan14
    Yea it depends from person to person .In my opinion i think its too much important the "MINDSET" as if you think that you are a prosper man then you will find your way and money will come to you .But if you think you dont have luck and nothing works then you will find your reality
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  • Profile picture of the author menjac21
    yeah your right invest in yourself first because more you know yourself more you can help othedrs why because we all framed in the same way we all have bones minds etc... when you know how to influence yourself in the hardest place inyour life and you act on them after you can help people in their hardest place in life thanks
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  • Profile picture of the author Randy McLean
    Most people like the "idea" of making money online. They just aren't willing to put in the work.

    Nice post Steve. It took me awhile to grasp what you're saying.

    No one is going to do the work for you. It's up to you to figure it out.

    You have to be relentless.
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  • Profile picture of the author laurencewins
    Hi cowboy. If you hate writing, why not dedicate that aspect of your business to a writing who can do it for you?
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    Cheers, Laurence.
    Writer/Editor/Proofreader.

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  • Profile picture of the author Splatterfox
    Thats a really, really accurate and well-written post, I completely agree.

    What most entrepreneurs (and "wantrepreneurs") miss out, is their part in the value creation chain and their own ideas and strategies. What I see everyday is people copying stuff they see online, mixing together different sources of information but not putting them into a congruent whole.

    Its not about watching YouTube videos and reading blogs all day until you have enough "theoretical" knowledge to build a business yourself (which usually means copy-and-paste an existing one). Its about using this knowledge, making crosslinks to other knowledge and situations and coming up with a solution that really provides a benefit and is of higher values than all the fragmented parts it consists of.

    Example:
    - most people can source products on AliExpress and list them in their shop
    - setting up a basic Shopify store is not that hard
    - learning at least the basics of Facebook advertising is also not rocketscience

    However, putting everything together to a profitable E-Commerce business involves more than just a pure combination of isolated tasks, its about working and pursuing a certain strategy consistently, crafting a USP for your business and make all different parts of the business work together in a way that is more efficient or more differentiated (which can also mean better marketing for example) than others.

    YOU are the only changing variable between other businesses doing the same stuff you do.
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  • Profile picture of the author Maruf5555
    Hello Steve B! I need a help about to increase my Gig View
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  • Profile picture of the author Jonathan 2.0
    Thanks for the post, Steve. (I actually found that quite inspiring/empowering.)

    Originally Posted by Steve B View Post

    You, and you alone are accountable for your own success.
    Nice. : ) Well said.

    Jonathan
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    "Each problem has hidden in it an opportunity so powerful that it literally dwarfs the problem. The greatest success stories were created by people who recognized a problem and turned it into an opportunity."―Joseph Sugarman
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