The Cost of Success

14 years ago

I would say as I look back, success to me has a lot to do with what I contributed to the internet, and the people I helped along the way. I don't think of the money part as much. It just came along with the other things.

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Paul Guilfoyle

14 years ago

The more you can help people to get what they want the more you will get what you want and the more succesful you become.Success is being able to do what you want,when you want, and get what you want from life. This often has very little to do with money. Do the right thing and money flows as a natural consequence.

Good luck.

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jbsmith 14 years ago

Louise, great point.

A big difference between those people making $6 on $5 investment and those making $10 on a $5 investment is...

1. They have tried more things and found the right system for turning $5 into $10

2. They started much lower and tested/improved their way to where they are today

3. They have learned something about their market that is much more fundamental - what their market values most which allows them to make $10 for every $5 invested.

Finally, nothing will happen if you don't make NOT succeeding with your business more painful than succeeding.

People who try once or twice and then give up have not associated enough pain and unpleasantness with NOT succeeding, otherwise they would not have given up.

Jeff
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Dennis Gaskill

14 years ago

True enough, Louise, and a good point to make.

As an aside, success is self-defined. It doesn't have to be measured in monetary value.

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johnben1444

14 years ago

Your idea of the cost of success is quite different from mine. I am a member of one affiliate program who has a section in this forum, they helped me to create a site as well as gave me some internet marketing trainings. There is this one particular tips titled "burn your ship" that really motivated me, it wasn't about promoting your site or business but rather about encouraging you.

I have included it here

******Day 27 - Burn Your Ships, John

I'd like to take a moment and congratulate you for your commitment to stick with the program up to this point.

It looks like you have "the right stuff"!

The fact is some people drop out when they see there is a little work involved in building an Internet business. I don't really know why that is... People are willing to work their butts off for the guaranteed pay (however small it is) of a regular job, but some aren't willing to work toward building a business of their own and achieving financial freedom.

But you are different and I applaud you for that.

I'm different too.

When I got online and decided that I was going to make my living from the Internet, I personally committed myself to doing whatever it takes. As I explained in my story on the Plug-In Profit Site sign up page: "I stayed up learning, working and drinking coffee until 5:00 in the morning month after month filled with the hope of making money online. There were days when I'd come home late from my job, start working on the Internet, and work the entire night without going to sleep -- and then go back to work the next day."

That story is exactly true for me and I personally believe that it's this level of commitment that is necessary for anyone who wants to break through and succeed on a high level with an Internet business - the Plug-In Profit Site or anything else for that matter.

Do you have that level of commitment?

In fact, it wasn't until I was in a "sink or swim" situation until my Internet business really took off. As I talk about on the Plug-In Profit Site sales page, I was in the restaurant business. I owned the restaurant, but the reality of the situation was that the restaurant owned me.

I was the "Chief Cook and Bottle Washer" which basically means I did everything from prepare the food to serving customers, to washing dishes to mopping floors... I could never take a vacation because if I did, the restaurant would go out of business. It couldn't operate without me and I couldn't operate without it.

The restaurant was the thing that was keeping myself and my family afloat financially, but I was no better off than someone tied down to a job. I felt trapped, but I was determined to find a way out. That's when I read Robert Allen's "Multiple Streams of Income" book and decided that I was going to find a way to build a business online.

So I started working part time (in every spare minute) on figuring out how to make money with affiliate programs. Over time, I started figuring things out and making some money through many of the methods outlined in previous pages of this guide, but it wasn't until my landlord for my restaurant space told me that they weren't going to renew my lease that I really broke through the the next level.

I was losing my restaurant location and I had a major life choice to make. I was earning a few thousand dollars a month from the Internet, but it wasn't enough to replace my restaurant income or provide for my family. I had to decide between moving my restaurant to a new location, getting a job "for the man" or sitting at home and completely figuring out how to make this business work so that it could be the sole financial provider for my family.

Obviously, I chose the latter. It was actually an easy decision. I was following my one true passion at the time. My dream of being able to control my financial destiny through a little box (laptop) that I could carry with me anywhere in the world was too exciting to pass up. I had an opportunity to go full force for my dream and I grabbed it.

In those 30 days after losing my restaurant, it was either make this business work and go broke trying.

This is the sink or swim situation I was in and that I needed to make the necessary psychological shifts to succeed.

In those first 30 days of going full-time online, I multiplied my online income 5 times. In the 90 days that followed, I doubled that. In the years since, my income as continued to grow exponentially.

But it's this sink or swim mentality that defines my success and the success of everyone who make it in this business.

You must eliminate the option of failure.

There is a famous story of Hernando Cortes that goes something like this:

"Hernando Cortes had a plan, he wanted to lead an expedition into Mexico to obtain its many treasures. He presented his plan to the Spanish governor, who was so excited that he gave him eleven ships and seven hundred men. Cortes did not tell the men or the governor the complete plan. After months of travel the eleven ships landed in Veracruz. Cortes had the men unload everything from all eleven ships. As they headed into their new adventure the men turned back and saw all eleven ships burning! Their reaction was to fight back, as surely an enemy had initiated such an attack. Cortes halted the men, as this was in his plan, he had ordered the ships to all be burned. Cortes did not know what he and his men would encounter in their expeditions. What he did know was that by "Burning the Ships" he had completely eliminated their option of going back. At the same time creating an intensely powerful motivation to succeed."

John, you must burn your ship(s) if you are going to succeed in this business.

What ship(s)? Most likely your current job...

I'm NOT saying you need to quit, but whatever it is that you are holding onto for security is keeping you mentally unprepared to pursue your Internet business with the FULL determination needed for you to break through to success.

INTERNALLY, you must find a way to "burn your ships of security" and start relying on your Internet business AS IF IT'S THE ONLY THING YOU'VE GOT.

Read that last line again. And again. And again...

THIS is the secret to success in this business or any other.

As soon as you make this internal shift, you will unlock forces inside you for growing and succeeding in your business that will surprise everyone - including yourself.

Likewise, if you cannot burn your ships of security, those same forces that exist inside you right now and which can set you free immediately will remain dormant and unable to carry you to the EXTRAORDINARY life that is possible.

This is something no marketing technique I can teach you in this guide can do for you. It's something that must come from within you, and if it doesn't, no marketing technique I can teach you here will make a bit of difference.

Examine my words on this page and then examine yourself and your commitment to this business carefully.

Do you have what it takes? Are you as committed as you must be? Can you burn your current ships of security and are you willing to do whatever it takes to build new ones?

These are the central questions that must be answered by you and you alone which will determine your destiny in this business. Nothing is more important than this.

In reality, if you aren't willing to burn your internal ships of security, your success will be dramatically limited.

However, if you are absolutely committed to becoming successful, there is nothing ANYONE can do to stop you.

Success is purely a matter of commitment. If you are willing to keep going UNTIL you succeed, you WILL succeed.

It's that simple.

Quote of the Day:

"Many of life's failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up."

- Thomas Edison ******

After going through this section, i decided i was going to burn my ship. To cut long story short, i was running my home based business and working a full time day job at the same time. My day job was very demanding and time consuming because i desperately want to own a business i worked hard and slept less for over 10 months.

I woke up one morning to take a look at my face and i discovered i had grown a lot of gray hair overnight. I didn't even notice, at 27 almost all my hair has gone gray.

But am glad, i finally made a head way.

I guess along the way i picked up an unwanted companion, today and looking for solution to my problems which is not forthcoming and also thinking of how to expand my business.

That is the cost i have to pay for success!

Best Wishes

John

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Gary King

14 years ago

We all have successes each day. Some will argue that one success is "bigger" or "better" than another, but consider this - if you are reading this message:

1 - you were successful in getting your butt out of bed (or at least opening your eyes) today

2 - you are continually, on an on-going basis successful at breathing and numerous other autonomous functions - hey, without these successes, you wouldn't be able to read #3!

3 - you managed to pay your internet bill for this month, or were resourceful enough to be able to get somewhere that has internet access

4 - you were successful in navigating to and filtering though thousands of posts on this forum to find this one

Hey look, I know these are hokey, but when listen folks, when you get frustrated that you are only making that one dollar profit, remember that you made a profit.

If you aren't making that profit, then focus on the successes you do have like those above AND get moving! Take the bumps and lumps and use your successes to heal them and motivate yourself.

All success.

Gary

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Louise Green

14 years ago

Great points all, yep I agree there's more to success than financial gain, but to me it's the most important one of all (next to being legal, ethical, and positive about each venture).

The road to long term success is paved with many small victories, so making a $1 profit is perhaps the very first of those many small victories.. for those who are just starting out and a great sign that they should be encouraged to continue/stay in the game.

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Zanti

14 years ago

Hi Louise,

This is one of the topics that I love, thanks for starting it.

A little while back I wrote a book that is essentially about being a man and creating success in one's life. Below are some excepts from my book that address Success and Freedom.

Brian

Success will always be contained within Freedom, and as such, is a by-product of Freedom. You cannot have Freedom without having success, but you can have Success without having Freedom.

SUCCESS
There are as many definitions of success as there are individuals in the world. For most, what we define as success when we are 18 is very different when we are in our 30's, 40's and beyond. For some, success is measured by how much money they have in their bank account, the value of their investments and the worth of the property they own.

For some it may be the validation from others that they are successful. And for still others it may be achieving a career as a teacher or having a loving family or self-love. The bottom line is, success and happiness go hand in hand. If you are truly happy with what you are doing, where you are in life and what you have achieved or are working towards achieving, then you are successful.

Far to many equate success with money. Let me be really clear. Having a lot of money is not a bad thing, if you are happy with your life. If you are using the energy of money to create happiness in your life and making the world a better place, well, that's a good thing. Far too often the media portrays successful people as those who have money, cars, million dollar homes and a life that is interesting to others. Upon examination of many of these so called successful individuals, we repeatedly find that they have dysfunctional family lives, drug and alcohol abuse, major self-love issues and self- destructive behaviors. They are not happy, but they have many of the identifiers of success: money, cars, expensive homes, high profile careers, and the adulation of thousands of people. Again, there is nothing wrong with having these things when they are gained by being a MAN OR WOMAN OF HONOR and you are genuinely happy.

FREEDOM
Freedom is the opportunities created by our choices to own and create our destiny without infringing on another's freedom. In my estimation there are ten components to freedom. They are:

BELIEF -- Creating a loving connection with a source greater than you.

GRATITUDE -- Having true appreciation for all that comes into your life each day.

HONOR -- Integrity with your Choices, Actions, Attitude and Engagement with life.

RELATIONSHIPS -- Created with love for self, family, friends and all living things.

GIVING -- Giving your talents, gifts and energy to others and the world.

RECEIVING -- Learning to receive gifts and energy from others and the universe.

ADVENTURE -- Seeking self-growth, development, fun and going beyond preset boundaries.

DEBT-FREE -- Moving towards and achieving the goal of a debt-free life.

HAPPINESS -- Self-expressions of love manifested in thoughts and actions.

SUCCESS -- Self-motivation to learn the skills of success and applying them in your life.

The journey that you are now on, because you are DOING THINGS IN A CERTAIN WAY will result in you obtaining freedom in your life.

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Emily Meeks

14 years ago

Originally Posted by Zanti

Hi Louise,

This is one of the topics that I love, thanks for starting it.

A little while back I wrote a book that is essentially about being a man and creating success in one's life. Below are some excepts from my book that address Success and Freedom.

Brian

Success will always be contained within Freedom, and as such, is a by-product of Freedom. You cannot have Freedom without having success, but you can have Success without having Freedom.

SUCCESS
There are as many definitions of success as there are individuals in the world. For most, what we define as success when we are 18 is very different when we are in our 30's, 40's and beyond. For some, success is measured by how much money they have in their bank account, the value of their investments and the worth of the property they own.

For some it may be the validation from others that they are successful. And for still others it may be achieving a career as a teacher or having a loving family or self-love. The bottom line is, success and happiness go hand in hand. If you are truly happy with what you are doing, where you are in life and what you have achieved or are working towards achieving, then you are successful.

Far to many equate success with money. Let me be really clear. Having a lot of money is not a bad thing, if you are happy with your life. If you are using the energy of money to create happiness in your life and making the world a better place, well, that's a good thing. Far too often the media portrays successful people as those who have money, cars, million dollar homes and a life that is interesting to others. Upon examination of many of these so called successful individuals, we repeatedly find that they have dysfunctional family lives, drug and alcohol abuse, major self-love issues and self- destructive behaviors. They are not happy, but they have many of the identifiers of success: money, cars, expensive homes, high profile careers, and the adulation of thousands of people. Again, there is nothing wrong with having these things when they are gained by being a MAN OR WOMAN OF HONOR and you are genuinely happy.

FREEDOM
Freedom is the opportunities created by our choices to own and create our destiny without infringing on another's freedom. In my estimation there are ten components to freedom. They are:

BELIEF -- Creating a loving connection with a source greater than you.

GRATITUDE -- Having true appreciation for all that comes into your life each day.

HONOR -- Integrity with your Choices, Actions, Attitude and Engagement with life.

RELATIONSHIPS -- Created with love for self, family, friends and all living things.

GIVING -- Giving your talents, gifts and energy to others and the world.

RECEIVING -- Learning to receive gifts and energy from others and the universe.

ADVENTURE -- Seeking self-growth, development, fun and going beyond preset boundaries.

DEBT-FREE -- Moving towards and achieving the goal of a debt-free life.

HAPPINESS -- Self-expressions of love manifested in thoughts and actions.

SUCCESS -- Self-motivation to learn the skills of success and applying them in your life.

The journey that you are now on, because you are DOING THINGS IN A CERTAIN WAY will result in you obtaining freedom in your life.

Zanti,

Thank you for that excerpt. To me, financial freedom is just one aspect of true freedom, even though (I hate to admit this) sometimes I get narrowly focused on that one aspect. There's always some lame excuse why or how, but no matter. You've reminded me I'm better than that and pointed out correct perspective. Thank you.

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Geoff A

14 years ago

Originally Posted by Louise Evans

What is "success" anyway? In business, and yes that means you too, success is measured by the ability to break-even and turning a profit, no matter how small that profit might be.

Hi Louise

It really depends on how you individually define success for you. For some people it's raising a family. For some it's career achievement. For some it's financial goals. For others it is to be happy etc etc

I think it is important though to work out what "success" means to each of us

Great positive post!

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Anonymous Affiliate

14 years ago

Originally Posted by Louise Evans

What is "success" anyway? In business, and yes that means you too, success is measured by the ability to break-even and turning a profit, no matter how small that profit might be.

Sorry, but no. Have you ever heard of "Cost of Opportunity"? It's basically what you could have earned/gained/achieved had you followed an alternative route.

So, if you make $1 in profits for the month, that cannot be labeled as "success" since you can probably make more than $1 had you put your efforts in another alternative venture.

At the very minimum, I'd call "success" if you can replace a decent full time salary, and I'd probably require for some extra more since there's a higher degree of risk associated with being an entrepreneur than a wage-warrior.

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Andyhenry

14 years ago

Hey Louise,

I'm sure you knew that there would be alternative opinions about this subject.

It's been said already that success is subjective and each person defines it for themselves.

I agree with that.

I don't see money as being the primary measure of success. I've happily turned down many opportunities to make money because I had other things I prefered to do.

On Zanti's point on Freedom - That is the context within which I view money. People always want money from you (for your home, fuel, food etc.), so it's very difficult to live in this world without some level of financial income.

Once you have enough money so that people won't interfere with you going about your daily activities, then the rest is gravy.

There was a fellow warrior I was fortunate to meet many times who has now passed away who used to say to me "any day I wake up alive is a good day".

He truly believed that and although he was in a lot of pain constantly he really did have a solid outlook on life and how important it was to do things.

It's easy for us all to get focused on our problems, but we really do all have something to be thankful for everyday.

I don't believe that making $1 a day from Adsense is running a successful business - especially if your rent/mortgage is $1000 a month. In that situation you could have a successful business but be homeless because you can't pay your bills.

Many newcomers to IM spend thousands on products and systems before they ever build any sustainable income, so even if breaking even was a measure of success - it often takes people years to actually break even financially. Then if you include the opportunity costs of learning IM (the stuff you could've been doing to make money in other ways) then IM is definitely not easy to be profitable for most people.

I know we all want to say nice things and give everyone supportive messages about keeping on going no matter what but.....

The truth is - many people will not ever create a full-time income using IM and would be better off having never wasted their time trying.

I'm a glass half full person so I wouldn't usually say such things, but in the context of this thread - some people would be much more successful in many ways by doing something they love rather than turning in desperation to IM to save them from their problems.

Sometimes having the ability to quit something that isn't working is the way to speed up success.

Andy

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Zanti

14 years ago

Originally Posted by moneysoapbox

Zanti,

Thank you for that excerpt. To me, financial freedom is just one aspect of true freedom, even though (I hate to admit this) sometimes I get narrowly focused on that one aspect. There's always some lame excuse why or how, but no matter. You've reminded me I'm better than that and pointed out correct perspective. Thank you.

Originally Posted by Andyhenry

Hey Louise,On Zanti's point on Freedom - That is the context within which I view money. People always want money from you (for your home, fuel, food etc.), so it's very difficult to live in this world without some level of financial income.

Once you have enough money so that people won't interfere with you going about your daily activities, then the rest is gravy.

....It's easy for us all to get focused on our problems, but we really do all have something to be thankful for everyday.

I don't believe that making $1 a day from Adsense is running a successful business - especially if your rent/mortgage is $1000 a month. In that situation you could have a successful business but be homeless because you can't pay your bills.

Many newcomers to IM spend thousands on products and systems before they ever build any sustainable income, so even if breaking even was a measure of success - it often takes people years to actually break even financially. Then if you include the opportunity costs of learning IM (the stuff you could've been doing to make money in other ways) then IM is definitely not easy to be profitable for most people.
Andy

Thank you moneysoapbox and Andy. This subject has brought up a few things for me. So instead of hijacking your thread Louise, I'm going to start another one on something similar.

Brian

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The Cost of Success

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