Look At The Picture On The Box First!

John Taylor · 03-15-2009, 08:03 AM

When you want to complete a jigsaw puzzle
it makes it a lot easier if you start by looking
at the picture on the box.

It shows you how big the finished puzzle will
be. It shows you the "big picture" and it even
shows you how all the pieces fit together.

Over all my years in business, both offline and
offline, I've always had a very clear set of
objectives. I've always had the big picture in
mind and that's helped me to figure out what
I need in terms of structure and resources to
achieve my objectives.

So why don't the vast majority of Internet
Marketers start out with the big picture in mind?

Most people seem to be collecting little pieces
of jigsaw puzzle and then trying to fit them all
together. The problem seems to be that the
pieces they have are from different puzzles!

Decide what business you are in. Set yourself
some clear objectives and then determine what
resources you need and what action you need
to take to make it happen.

Choose between a "piecemeal" approach and a
strategic approach..

When you have the big picture in mind, you'll
find it becomes much easier to pick the right
pieces of the puzzle and how best to fit them
together

John

Rupps · 03-15-2009, 08:07 AM

Curiosity got me on the title of your post for me to open it.

Great advice John - now where's that picture I have, I know it's around here somewhere

Steven Wagenheim · 03-15-2009, 08:07 AM

John, I think the bigger problem is most people don't know what jig saw
puzzle to get.

They see the one with the New York skyline and say, "Ooo, that looks cool"
and then they see the 3D one with the battleship and they say, "Wow,
that's even cooler."

As a BIG jigsaw puzzle maker from way back, I can tell you from personal
experience that there have been times I've gone to the store to get A
jigsaw puzzle and could not just decide on one and ended up buying 4 of
them.

Trust me...sometimes deciding on that big picture is the hardest thing.

Charles E. White · 03-15-2009, 08:12 AM

Excellent post John!

I sure the hell was one of those with all the little pieces of the puzzle and no big picture when I started out so I can relate to what you're saying for sure! Finally, Willie told me to say focused and quit jumping around all over the place, it was some of the best advice I ever got.....made the puzzle a lot easier to put together!

John Taylor · 03-15-2009, 02:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steven Wagenheim

Trust me...sometimes deciding on that big picture is the hardest thing.

Steven,

But investing the time to identify that picture will
probably reap the maximum return. ;-)

John

Steven Wagenheim · 03-15-2009, 02:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by John Taylor

Steven,

But investing the time to identify that picture will
probably reap the maximum return. ;-)

John

Absolutely, which is why I say, if you can't figure it out on your own, get
a business planning expert to help you...whatever it costs.

Too many people pinch pennies only to end up costing them dollars.

Or in your case, pounds.

Minisite Frog · 03-17-2009, 12:12 AM

Thanks for that insight John.

It is so true and i find that is sometimes the hardest thing for me is determining what that puzzle is, but like you said if you don't know then you will have a lot of trouble finding all the pieces!

DiamondPed · 03-17-2009, 07:39 AM

Great post John.

Loved the title as well !

I think this is one of the most important first steps in anyones career (IM or not) and I liked your way of describing it clearly, to get an overview first.

Stephens' point about there being so many "choices" ~ particularly to people who are new to IM ~ is also relevant, as there are so many shiny, new, super-dooper ways/ gadgets/ courses etc etc., that people (me included) have lost (or forgotten how to), FOCUS.

Good points also about getting some help in that department, focus / accountability, but as always : Caveat Emptor (buyer beware) as there are mentors & better mentors .... choose wisely

Onwards & Upwards ...

ivana · 03-17-2009, 07:47 AM

One of the many questions we all see, is so when do I move onto the next niche! People don't know that that one NICHE can feed you for years to come! Guilty of that myself as many others

ExRat · 03-17-2009, 08:04 AM

Hi John,

Anarchy-Based Sadism (By Proxy) For Beginners - go around purchasing jigsaw puzzles, remove one inner piece (in case they build the edges first) from each of two similar puzzles and place it in the wrong box (so that if the pieces are counted they appear to be correct) and then distribute the puzzles to jumble sales far and wide.

pjCheviot · 03-17-2009, 08:12 AM

Quote:

distribute the puzzles to jumble sales far and wide

My wife's just got a couple of those Roger!!

The most difficult one she's had so far, though, is the one with the cockerel on the front - thousands of pieces!! (made by Kelloggs I think!)

ExRat · 03-17-2009, 08:18 AM

Hi Paul,

Quote:

My wife's just got a couple of those Roger!!

Tell her I'm really sorry - I was bored.

PS Love the sig - reminds of the classic 'Del Griffith' line (shower-curtain ring guy) - 'Still a million short of my first million...'

BizBoost · 03-17-2009, 08:35 AM

My big picture is to sit behind a big desk, like Tony Montana in "Scarface", with a whole bunch of software in a big pile in front of it and ask everyone who comes into my office, "Are you lyin to me? Are you lyin to me, Frank?"

And then fire off a bunch of water cannons at the roof.

I know it's not perfect, but it's a start....

03-15-2009, 08:03 AM	#1
John Taylor Recovering Millionaire War Room Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Langholm, Scotland, United Kingdom. Posts: 10,049 Blog Entries: 3 Thanks: 1,214 Thanked 2,451 Times in 638 Posts Social Networking Contact Info	Look At The Picture On The Box First! When you want to complete a jigsaw puzzle it makes it a lot easier if you start by looking at the picture on the box. It shows you how big the finished puzzle will be. It shows you the "big picture" and it even shows you how all the pieces fit together. Over all my years in business, both offline and offline, I've always had a very clear set of objectives. I've always had the big picture in mind and that's helped me to figure out what I need in terms of structure and resources to achieve my objectives. So why don't the vast majority of Internet Marketers start out with the big picture in mind? Most people seem to be collecting little pieces of jigsaw puzzle and then trying to fit them all together. The problem seems to be that the pieces they have are from different puzzles! Decide what business you are in. Set yourself some clear objectives and then determine what resources you need and what action you need to take to make it happen. Choose between a "piecemeal" approach and a strategic approach.. When you have the big picture in mind, you'll find it becomes much easier to pick the right pieces of the puzzle and how best to fit them together John
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03-15-2009, 08:07 AM	#2
Rupps Warlord of Jam War Room Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Florida Posts: 244 Thanks: 91 Thanked 6 Times in 5 Posts Social Networking	Re: Look At The Picture On The Box First! Curiosity got me on the title of your post for me to open it. Great advice John - now where's that picture I have, I know it's around here somewhere

03-15-2009, 08:07 AM	#3
Steven Wagenheim Content & Copywriting Wiz War Room Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Roselle, NJ, USA Posts: 16,394 Blog Entries: 11 Thanks: 1,531 Thanked 6,192 Times in 2,288 Posts Social Networking	Re: Look At The Picture On The Box First! John, I think the bigger problem is most people don't know what jig saw puzzle to get. They see the one with the New York skyline and say, "Ooo, that looks cool" and then they see the 3D one with the battleship and they say, "Wow, that's even cooler." As a BIG jigsaw puzzle maker from way back, I can tell you from personal experience that there have been times I've gone to the store to get A jigsaw puzzle and could not just decide on one and ended up buying 4 of them. Trust me...sometimes deciding on that big picture is the hardest thing.
	The 2nd Best Newsletter On The Web Next To Paul Myers Talk Biz News...Please See Paul's Sig For A Link To It

03-15-2009, 08:12 AM	#4
Charles E. White Senior Warrior Member War Room Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: , , USA. Posts: 4,678 Thanks: 100 Thanked 121 Times in 64 Posts Social Networking	Re: Look At The Picture On The Box First! Excellent post John! I sure the hell was one of those with all the little pieces of the puzzle and no big picture when I started out so I can relate to what you're saying for sure! Finally, Willie told me to say focused and quit jumping around all over the place, it was some of the best advice I ever got.....made the puzzle a lot easier to put together!
	Charles E. White

03-17-2009, 12:12 AM	#7
Minisite Frog www.minisitefrog.com War Room Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Sydney, Australia Posts: 67 Thanks: 0 Thanked 80 Times in 11 Posts Social Networking Contact Info	Re: Look At The Picture On The Box First! Thanks for that insight John. It is so true and i find that is sometimes the hardest thing for me is determining what that puzzle is, but like you said if you don't know then you will have a lot of trouble finding all the pieces!
	MinisiteFrog.com – High Converting Minisite and Salesletter Designs

03-17-2009, 07:39 AM	#8
DiamondPed HyperActive Warrior War Room Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Inverkip Village, Scotland, UK. Posts: 187 Thanks: 232 Thanked 57 Times in 47 Posts Social Networking Contact Info	Re: Look At The Picture On The Box First! Great post John. Loved the title as well ! I think this is one of the most important first steps in anyones career (IM or not) and I liked your way of describing it clearly, to get an overview first. Stephens' point about there being so many "choices" ~ particularly to people who are new to IM ~ is also relevant, as there are so many shiny, new, super-dooper ways/ gadgets/ courses etc etc., that people (me included) have lost (or forgotten how to), FOCUS. Good points also about getting some help in that department, focus / accountability, but as always : Caveat Emptor (buyer beware) as there are mentors & better mentors .... choose wisely Onwards & Upwards ...
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03-17-2009, 07:47 AM	#9
ivana Full Time Affiliate War Room Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Around the World Posts: 793 Blog Entries: 5 Thanks: 99 Thanked 93 Times in 47 Posts Social Networking Contact Info	Re: Look At The Picture On The Box First! One of the many questions we all see, is so when do I move onto the next niche! People don't know that that one NICHE can feed you for years to come! Guilty of that myself as many others
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03-17-2009, 08:04 AM	#10
ExRat Dare To Be Different War Room Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: U.K. Posts: 8,875 Thanks: 1,318 Thanked 2,807 Times in 1,041 Posts	Re: Look At The Picture On The Box First! Hi John, Anarchy-Based Sadism (By Proxy) For Beginners - go around purchasing jigsaw puzzles, remove one inner piece (in case they build the edges first) from each of two similar puzzles and place it in the wrong box (so that if the pieces are counted they appear to be correct) and then distribute the puzzles to jumble sales far and wide.
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03-17-2009, 08:35 AM	#13
BizBoost Marketing Savant War Room Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: In front of a grey/blue backpack, Yourtown USA Posts: 471 Thanks: 269 Thanked 147 Times in 78 Posts	Re: Look At The Picture On The Box First! My big picture is to sit behind a big desk, like Tony Montana in "Scarface", with a whole bunch of software in a big pile in front of it and ask everyone who comes into my office, "Are you lyin to me? Are you lyin to me, Frank?" And then fire off a bunch of water cannons at the roof. I know it's not perfect, but it's a start....