Rich! Who wants to be rich?

[Eric Louviere]

This may be of absolute no surprise to you... and most likely this is NOT you... and most likely, will never be you... because you are here, you're a Warrior, and you're a go-getting action taker.

However, if this is you I'm referring to here, then consider it "tough-love" and understand that it very well could be the missing link you need to hear.

or read.

You see, I'm convinced now.

I've had thousands of customers and tons of students, and I've also paid close attention to many people here on this forum too. I've been around a little while now in this market and I've watched and learned and tried to figure out what makes people tick. What makes some succeed and most fail...

I'm convinced now that it is indeed a complicated web of barriers, learning curves, and emotions, etc that get in the way for most who strive to succeed online (scratch that, most don't strive to do a damn thing). Most who exist in this market.

I'd have to say that there are MAJOR barriers for most people, and until they "fix" or overcome those barriers, I personally never see any of them ever succeeding at this, nor anything remotely resembling a real income online.

Here's one of the big ones:

Initiative!

If we are talking about "most people out there" then this is a huge one IMO. Most out there never take initiative. They never put the responsibilities on their own shoulders. They never take the initiative to figure things out, take some method and roll with it, fill in the blanks as they go... or "just do it".

It is the BIG separator. Those who succeed, figure it out. They just do it. They do not need every single detail covered, nor everything done for them. They dont need every question answered or every *unknown*, known.

They just figure it out along the way. They put the responsibilities on their own shoulders and they dont blame everyone, everything out there under the sun. They blame themselves. They dont say, "Damn Guru, I dont know what to do here in this method you showed me".

Instead, they say, "I need to figure this part out". Hence the keyword: "I"

It's called "something for nothing". Give me something, so I dont have to do anything. In fact, aren't you supposed to do this for me?? I mean, I paid $47. Make me rich already.

Hell, I remember buying a WSO for like ten bucks or something ridiculous, and inside the cheap report was a traffic method using image ads on Adwords. The report said, "there's no quality score on image ads".

WHOA! I never thought about that (then). That $10 turned into who-knows-how-much for me. One insight can make all the difference. But, instead here's what people do in this market:

Buy:: refund :: buy something else:: refund that new thing:: buy something else again:: refund that new thing, and so on and on and on

Never fully ever getting good at a damn thing. Never fully taking initiative to move forward with any method they ever learn. Never focusing on anything, or getting good at anything. They become 10% good at everything, and 10% is not good enough to earn a real income.

Who's fault is it? The answer should be YOURS.

And that's why there are people in this market, who have been here for 5 years or more, and still make squat. It's called initiative.

What are some other BARRIERS that get in the way for most people in this industry?? I'd love to hear of others.

Rock On,

Eric Louviere

[George Wright]

Eric,

I really would like to get the info in your post but I didn't feel like reading that much toinght. Could I have the short version? Otherwise a refund will do.

George Wright P.S. Really, great post.

[Tony Dean]

Thanks Eric.

There is a printed sign in RED on my desk:-

"PROCASTRINATION IS A THIEF!
DON'T LET IT STEAL FROM YOU!"

Everyone should have the same sign in front of them when they are working.

[Amfire]

Good one. got a printout. putting it next to my work space now.

Originally Posted by Tony Dean

Thanks Eric.

There is a printed sign in RED on my desk:-

"PROCASTRINATION IS A THIEF!
DON'T LET IT STEAL FROM YOU!"

Everyone should have the same sign in front of them when they are working.

[funlosingweight]

Thanks for the truth. It hurts..oh yes...I'm one of them.

After getting out from the rat race and doing things on my own ( being my own boss ), it has changed my attitude from "I think this is ok", to a "solve this now attitude or else it will come back to bite you attitude". And yes, it does come back to bite you!

Having that mindset and attitude change has been good in everything I do now. Your post reminded me of that time for me.

Thanks for reminding me again in the field of IM. As long as I move forward each day will be a day nearer to being free....

[hotlinkz]

Great post Eric!

Lack of Focus is one of the bigger "dream killers".

Also, people get confused by the saying "Knowledge Is Power" -- when in truth it should read "Action Is Power - Knowledge Is the Fuel"!

The road to failure is littered with geniuses with heads full of knowledge.

Calvin

[Zack Lim]

Hi Eric,

You have mentioned a few very important points that all marketers must read.

I am going to print it out and put somewhere near my working laptop.

I agree 100% with you that "I" will have to take the personal responsibility on the results that "I" will be getting.

Zack

[Patrice Le Vexier]

Definitely right, lack of focus, jumping from one product to the other etc.

Also I think that a lof people are here to make a quick buck and don't think IM as a long term business. The result is they give up on a method if it didn't make them $$$ after few days/week.

Another big I, Impatience.

Patrice

[TLTheLiberator]

Fear of failure is stopping a lot of people from moving ahead.

But...

folks need to understand that successful online business is not a one shot deal, it's a ongoing process.

Don't be afraid to test a niche, concept, product, model, traffic generation tactic etc. like a Jr. scientist and you can cheaply test your way to success.

It's not important that you do everything perfectly the first time around.

What is important is that folks get into to habit of actually taking actions - without fear, that brings success.

Hope This Helps!!

TL

[EndGame]

Eric, I'd love to be rich, but I can't be bothered to read your post. If you could just direct me to the nearest red button that makes this happen, that would be awesome.



In all seriousness though, excellent post! Initiative is often the missing ingredient and it's something that can't really be taught. You have to develop it through hard work and time.

[Dwayne Pressley]

Eric,

I also hear people giving up b/c someone around them (in most cases they respect) have told them, it was foolish, they couldn't do it, it wasn't for them, etc.

Looking for advice from others that don't even do what they do.

For example, taking marketing advice from people that don't know a thing about marketing (instead of testing).

If I had to sum it all up, I guess what I'm saying is a lack of confidence.

[Kevin-VirtualProfitCenter]

Awesome thread AND comments.

A little reflection from my own experience.

When I started online in late 2000 I had to work really hard. I mean 60-70 hours of REALLY working per week, not just reading forum posts.

It took me too long to get to the $100K level because I was stubborn and didn't have a step-by-step plan. But still, I was there in less than 3 years.

Once I got there I rarely worked more than 20 hours a week and had many weeks where I didn't work at all.

Here's my point: Go ahead and work hard now, while you are getting started, and you can take off the rest of your life. In fact, if you follow a plan from someone who is already successful then you can probably get to the $100K level in 12 months.

Trust me, it's worth it.

[TimCastleman]

Warriors -

I heard Eric speak at an Offline event a few months ago. He was nervous as hell but he had the courage to stick with it and delivered what I thought was one of the best presentations of the entire event.

He is someone who is tells it like it is and someone who gives a lot of great info away for free that others make you pay for.

If you sign up for his list he has a 20 minute free presentation that if you followed what it said could start making you money tomorrow.

Eric - thanks for another great post.

Tim

[JasonParker]

Agreed... You just have to do it an figure out the rest as you go. 9 out of 10 things I try don't work that well for me... but I've tried 1000 things. Now I have like 100 things that work well for me.

You just have to do it, and in my case at least... the more you fail, the better you get at marketing.

But that experience never comes until you get out there and give it all you got.

[Nicholas Ho]

Rather do the right thing wrong than doing the wrong thing right.
Consistently do the right thing to get something.

[kevinpotts]

Staying positive is the Key to achieve whatever you have in mind but is not an easy task.

You need to set your mind in the goal and never lose track. In order to do that you should always have a reminder of why you're working so hard.

Been an E-marketer is not an easy job but, once you're on it, you'll enjoy the ride.

K.

[Eric Louviere]

Cool replies.

I agree on the fear of failure one for sure.

And, I think the number one trait to have, or to grow for yourself, is not:

It's not any of these:

Brains
Looks
Talent
Skills
Personality
Charisma
Etc

The number one trait to grow is:

Courage.

Most everyone starts out timid in this business. Everyone is a little insecure anyways. Most everyone is hesitant to start something (especially if they do not know what they are doing like the back of their hand). Everyone is not perfect, or even very good when they first start anything. How good at driving were you when you sat on your dad's lap and took over the steering wheel of the car... compared to when you got your drivers license, compared to how good of a driver you are now?

Courage is the key.

I've seen plenty of IMers who have terrible products, terrible advice, terrible videos, ridiculous claims, unbelievable terrible AR emails, sucky-as-hell salesletters, etc.....

But, they have the courage to "throw themselves out there" and see what happens. They have the courage to try new things... not be afraid of ridicule... take their licks while they push ahead.

Courage is the key.

Courage makes you more aggressive too. And, if you're just a bit more aggressive than the rest of the "herd", then you get results. Results = get to do it better the next time around and so on.

While everyone else out there simply "reacts" -- by logging on to the net, checking email and living by other people's time and desires, you should be out there having courage to implement things (even if you are not ready) and make things happen (where you are proactive and taking your time under YOUR control).

It is courage. That is the key.

And, for me, here's the HUGE reason why "courage" is the key. If you have courage, then you escape comfort zones. You stretch your own belief factors about yourself. You grow your own self confidence. You take bolder action, because you have more faith and courage. Escaping comfort zones will catapult your results, and your bank account.

How many out there never ask others to promote their stuff?

How many never ask anything of anyone?

How many are afraid to do a screen cam video, or a tele-seminar, or put their face or voice online for the world to see?

How many are afraid of paid traffic, creating their own products, starting a membership site, conducting interviews, or shall I even say it?? How many are scared to death of being a SALESPERSON??

Ouch!

I dont know how many times I've heard that one as an excuse, "I'm not a salesperson, so I cant do this". Are you fricken kidding me? Isnt this Marketing? If you suck at sales, then you need one bad-ass partner.

A partner who is the MARKETER. Nothing wrong with that, but it's just another barrier people throw up there to "self-prevent" themselves from every achieving squat.

Eric
PS - Tim, I was very nervous? Damn, I must have looked nervous. I hate speaking in-front of people (that's why I always turn speaking down)... but I had to have courage to even do that. I ended that speech talking about this very thing, "courage". And, it got me a standing ovation right? hehe -- at least it did in my mind. lol

[Timothy Reuscher]

The thing is, what makes you happy. I can go to some hole in the wall joint, enjoy a few drinks with my friends, and I'm as happy as can be. Being with friends and loved ones doesn't cost much money at all.

I'm not completely out of the rat race, but once I do, I can have the time and money to do what I want.

At the end of the day, I don't really think about being rich. I'm just happy that I'm doing the things that I want to do.

I try to live my life, as if it were an adventure book. Make your life adventurous.

Later.

[Eric Louviere]

Originally Posted by Timothy Reuscher

The thing is, what makes you happy. I can go to some hole in the wall joint, enjoy a few drinks with my friends, and I'm as happy as can be. Being with friends and loved ones doesn't cost much money at all.

I'm not completely out of the rat race, but once I do, I can have the time and money to do what I want.

At the end of the day, I don't really think about being rich. I'm just happy that I'm doing the things that I want to do.

I try to live my life, as if it were an adventure book. Make your life adventurous.

Later.

That *IS* being rich.... IMO. freedom

[actionplanbiz]

great thread.

initiate and follow through

[Jermaine Tabor]

Originally Posted by TLTheLiberator

Fear of failure is stopping a lot of people from moving ahead.

TL

This and fear of success too but a lotta people are afraid to fail when in actuality a failure is not a failure unless you quit afterward's.

So warriors never give up and accept that failure is part of success. Think where civilaztion would be if everyone quit after a failure. Dust yourself off and do it again until you find a market that work for you.

[KEY]

a massive amount of GO! in this thread...the only thing that I can add is this:

part of what can hold you back (or down) is being too focused on learning, and too drawn into the next 'thing', the next 'must have' secret knowledge or technique product that is being pimped.

you can get caught up in a near constant reinvention cycle. like Eric said about courage...you have to have the courage to say to yourself (at some point) "nah! I am pretty good at (insert skill x/y/z), I will just keep working on my new site/program/pdf/???"

otherwise it would be like training and training and training for something like the Boston Marathon and just never getting to the point that you actually enter!?!?

someone mentioned failure? there is no failure, just a lack of success . the perspective makes all the difference...

take care all,

KEY

[davidomni]

I would also like to add to Eric`s post and say that, I have noticed one thing that most successful people (on the internet) have in common is this:

They forced themselves to achieve success because there
backs were to the wall. At the end of their rope.

If they didn`t take action, they knew something really bad would happen.

I.E- Loose their house, car etcetera..

So they knew intuitively, from a subjective and conscious survival level,
that they quite literally needed to take action. And not just some hokey poky
action. The kind of action that define`s a mans (or womans) life. The kind of action that dosn`t stop until mega success comes forth. Not, oh I tried this, and it sounds good, NEXT.

Honestly I think we have all been there. But you really need to decide, and make a commitment. A similar commitment to marriage. I think its that serious.
Because, I don`t know about you, I am going to do everything I can to succeed.

Failure is not an option.

Its almost like, if I don`t do this, I will die.

You need your actions to have this type of mentality to them, not just for IM
but for life in general. Actually DO what you want to DO! Don't let YOU
get in the way of YOU!

If thats not living, then I don`t know what is.

Cheers.

[jhongren]

Eric...why is your post so long and not teaching me how
to make money step by step? "lol

Anyway, great post....love to have it on my IM blog.
Is it ok with you? I will send you a PM to request...

It is "I" again who take initiative... =)

John