Let this be a reminder to you...

Very true, this could be applied in all aspects of life as well..

Good post man

Hi E. Brian,

Great idea for a post.

I would add that even when things are going great, stick to the basics.

When I used to invest in stocks and forex the #1 rule was do not let your emotions rule your decisions. Same deal with poker, I would believe. Sometimes when you hit the peaks in IM there is a tendency to think that "You've made it" and ignore what brought you to this point. The emotions of feeling successful can get to you and alter your future results.

If you begin to generate a sizable income and gain some level of fame or just find yourself become more successful never deviate from the strategy which brought you there: providing increasing levels of value and networking with success conscious people. Stick to the basics at all times.

Ryan Biddulph

Damn true.

My *Secret* folder is my best friend. I often go there, more then once per day, to re-check what I need to do.

Back to work.

Back to basics - Keyword Research. The numbers are changing all the time, so don't rest on your laurels: revisit your KW research at intervals to find new keyword phrases to target or tweak old ones.

Try to leave emotion at the door.

If something works...do not take it for granted. Don't think you are a 'master' at anything. Always be willing to keep learning.

If a method you are trying is not working...don't beat yourself up about it. Oh well, you learned the best way not[B] to do something.

Although sometimes it cannot be avoided, business is best done when you do not let your emotions get the best of you.

Always the way.. basics keep you focused instead of running to every retarded money making quick shot in the bucket idea that arrives online and is gone tommorow.

I've been doing IM for about 3 years, ever since discovering Ed Dale's 30-Day Challenge. Since then, I've gone in multiple directions, not all of them good. The new 30-Day Challenge is just getting launched and I'm about to jump back into the Newbie pool. How's that for getting back to the basics?

back to basic :
1. ask yourself, how many project you are working now? dont handle too much..be focus
2. invest more time in keyword and niche research

When I get off my game, I look back at prior results and see where my successes and failures were. That is usually enough to get momentum going again on a project that seems rudderless.

Another big thing for me is a simple change of scenery. Sometimes we develop bad productivity habits working in the same place all the time. As an example, I sat in the car dealer repair shop for five hours one day last week and solved a few thorny issues that have been bugging me for weeks.

Staying with the basic's is the best course of action to make sure your business flows. That's all the major league's do in spring training, practice catching grounders, fly balls and just the basic's of the game.

Like Poker,
Don't Gamble with Scared Money.

The first seminar I ever attended cost me over 2 Thousand.
I thought I would leave knowing everything about IM and quickly make it back.
However if you don't know the basics you end up getting lost quickly.
I really could not afford that seminar at the time
and I suffered financially for months.

When in the Valley... I go back and evaluate what I really want to re-align perspectives. Revising training videos are also helpful.

Okay Brian, you're the poker expert, so I hope this goes with your thinking...

When I was in college we used to have some mega poker sit downs. We didn't play any of the fancy stuff you see on TV today, just five card draw and 7 stud. But what I always tried to remember was it doesn't matter how many rounds of raises you've stayed in for, or how much of your money is in the pot--if the odds are not with you in winning the hand--you've got no business staying in.

What happened earlier in the hand doesn't matter. It all about right now. Look at the odds right now. If they're against your winning drop the hand.

What I'm trying to say is that if you go down a road in Internet marketing and it just isn't working for you, sometimes, regardless of what you've invested in it, it's better to drop that hand and take a new approach. Sure, like you said, there are valleys--but when the valleys turn into bottomless pits, it's time to cut your losses and take a different approach.

One other thought. When we used to play, especially if we had a couple babes around, if I were holding a great hand and I was nearly certain to win, I would often raise the hell out of the guy before me and say, "Okay, let's separate the men from the boys here."

If you can challenge the other guy's manhood you can often get them to bet on emotions rather than logic.

The same thing is true in some sales letters-the good ones. They can con you into purchasing on the emotional rather than the logical level. Just a thought.

Raise, call, or fold? --Good post B.

Good post. IM is like technology that it's a continuous learning. Some would agree that IM tactics changes very fast. So I'd say never limit yourself with what you know but get more knowledge and add them to what you already have.

One thing I have to constantly do is remind myself to stay focused. I have so many ideas in my head that I want to exploit but there is no point to doing so right now because I'm profitable with my current projects.

What usually gets me back on track is when I look at another article marketer who has submitted 4000 articles in the same niche all leading back to the same squeeze page.

That's a lot of traffic being generated and subscribers obtained from a ton of articles that all started with a single submission.

Respectfully,
Tim

Hi ExRat,

I'll never play poker with you, you're too smart.

You have to remember that in my college days I played with dullards and drunkards! But yes, challenging them emotionally can probably only work once a night--you're right there. And bluffing, that's a huge thing. It's what keeps people honest and on their toes.

Bluffing works online too--just look at my sales or WSO pages . OMG, just kidding, just kidding!

Okay ExRat, poker is out with you! How 'bout a round of golf instead? No, wait--I lie, cheat, and use all forms of skullduggery there too. And that, I'm being serious about. Remember, all golfers start out honest--they just outgrow it. Ha!

Here's my 420 yard drive a couple weeks ago (that's the bluff). Truth is it went 170 yards out and 250 yards down the mountainside. Still, 420 yards at my age in any direction is an accomplishment.



And that myth about keeping your head down at impact. Never believed it for a minute.