Here's What It Takes To Succeed In Internet Marketing

When you ask what is the #1 phobia people have, you often get the response of "public speaking". I think that bothers some people, but not everyone.

Here's my answer and it requires a little set-up. A lot of people try to fill their days with activities--and not so much because the really enjoy those activities, but because they fear the consequences of not having their daily time card completely filled.

I honestly believe that for the vast majority of people their number one fear is that of having free time and having to use that time to THINK. I'm talking about introspection, self-evaluation, and and genuine conscious thinking. Conscious thinking--Mike? I do that all the time. I'll bet you don't. Most of us do very little conscious thinking. We are conscious when we think, but that's not the same as conscious thinking.

But I think about what I want for dinner! No, not really. You mistake basic biological, hormonal, metabolic feedback your body gives you for conscious thinking. Even solving math problems, for the most part, involves regurgitating rote mental motor patterns previously learned.

Conscious thinking is something entirely different and to be a successful Internet marketer I believe it is a necessary requirement. Here is where the fear factor comes in.

Some night stay up until 3A.M. No television, no radio, no iPod, no sensory distractions. Sit alone in a dark room and think. Think about what you are doing. What's going right? What's going wrong? Conceptualize a great idea. Make a plan. Chart a course of action. Let your mind roam freely so that no idea that sails in is shot down by the thousand-and-one mundane distractions in everyday goings on.

If you can do this and get excited about doing it--I think you may have what it takes to succeed in marketing online. If the thought of doing some genuine stream-of-consciousness, free associative, unbridled conscious thinking like this terrifies you--I think you are missing a key ingredient to success in any entrepreneurial endeavor, especially making money online.

We live in a country where are great institutions jockey for position to become our surrogate thinkers, or thinkers by proxy. And most people are happy to let this happen. They don't want to think so they let large groups of other people do their thinking for them. Think about it, it's true.

So my real question, especially to newbies out there, is, "Are you willing to do your own thinking? Are you able to do some conscious thinking?" If you can't answer yes to those questions I believe you are in for a long, heavy haul trying to make money online.

I understand when beginners want to find mentors. I understand when they want short cuts. I understand when they want the secret formula for online wealth. But more often than not, the biggest "secret formula" is simply the ability to study, research, formulate, conceptualize, operationalize, and then give it your best shot. You need to make hard decisions along the way. But once you've put a plan together--go with it until the market proves you wrong. You can't be afraid of failure--it is an important ingredient to success.

And finally; It isn't about having money to get started. I often see posts here where the OP asks what you would do if you had $1,000 or $5,000 to invest in your IM business. And those are interesting posts to think about.

But know this: There are any number of people right here on this forum who could take, not a thousand dollars, or even a hundred dollars--but only ten dollars--and invest it in a domain name and one month of web hosting and parlay that into $1,000 in the blink of an eye. You don't need money to start. You simply must be dedicated and have a fire in your gut to succeed--you must have a hunger for success that will not die.