Put All Your Eggs in One Basket?

I strongly believe we can do only one thing well at any one time - that is focus.

But our definition of what that one thing is can be a tad broad.

For example, I can identify a whole string of revenue streams feeding my bottom line. I do not see each one as being a different thing, they are pretty much all about the same purpose - I help people to attain their goals. No big fuss or song and dance. Almost all (I ain't perfect) of my revenue comes from that purpose,even though the form may vary.

And there's more.

All of my revenue streams feed my overall life goals (many of which I have attained over the past few years). I defined those goals quite a few years ago and every one of my revenue goals is designed to support my life goals.

Now, I am looking at new life goals, compatible with those already attained or in progress, and all my revenue streams will continue to feed and be compatible with those life goals.

It makes my life easy and relatively stress free.

Upthread somebody mentioned Warren Buffet as somebody who did many things in comparison to Bill Gates. Well, actually Warren does just one thing and does it very well (actually he is probably a statistical outlier more than anything else) He is an investor. Each investment is simply one more facet of the one 'thing' - investing.

For many of us the issue is not doing too many things but not defining the purpose that those activities serve. We need a single purpose and then our activities all become as one.

I started making good money out of internet marketing when I focused heavily on copywriting.

I was a very good writer with good marketing knowledge and a lot of real world business experience so I studied all the greatest ads and started picking up business clients who wanted their websites to make more sales for them.

I charged very little to begin with but I was making a modest living and studying like a maniac.

I bought or traded services to get marketing and copywriting courses from some of the greats like Gary Halbert, Dan Kennedy and especially Jay Abraham.

I devoured that stuff listening to audio as much as 14 hours a day.

After I started charging more and more for my copywriting services I reached the point where if I thought a copywriting course or product had any value for me I would buy it.

I was very tightly focused on becoming a really exceptional copywriter.

And it worked.

With this approach I was making a good living within 6 months and an exceptional rate per hour worked within around 14 months.

I could work 4 days a month and make a good full time living.

That was the coolest part.

I also learned a tremendous amount about how to integrate online and offline marketing in small businesses (the real world application is a whole lot different to the theory).


Having worked with many online marketers over the years I can tell you that most are really good at one skill and have developed other skills over time.

It's that specialization that gives them enough of an edge to stand out in the marketplace and make a great living.

In fact if you wanted to test what I'm saying just go through a list of the names of successful internet marketers you've heard of and think of the first thing that springs to mind.

For example:
John Reese - SEO
Perry Marshall - Google Adwords (pay per click)
Joel Comm - Google Adsense (getting paid per click)
Jim Cockrum - Ebay
Michel Fortin - Online copywriting
Jim Edwards - Ebook marketing
Rosalind Gardner - Affiliate marketing

Now it would be dumb to try to compete with the market positioning of these guys.

But you can find a ton of sub niches even in these niches that are easy to dominate.

And in many cases if you do it well these leaders in internet marketing will even promote your related but non-competitive products.

But the first step is to get really good at something or to really dominate a niche (it certainly doesn't have to be a niche in internet marketing).

Kindest regards,
Andrew Cavanagh